How Does Pitsburgh Have A Better Lineup

[mhead66]

[quote name='wizard1' timestamp='1314991529' post='774640']
Ok I luv my team but we are not ready for Pittsburg. For to many reasons to list but I will list the top 5.
!. [b]Joe Flacco[/b]-The Steelers know the formula with Joe-in your face pressure=happy feet and the big mistake-it has happened in every Steeler game since Flacco came on board. And opening day will be no different.
2.[b] Steeler defense[/b] has played together longer which is an added strength unto itself. They aren't consistently rated No. 1 for nothing .
3[b].Our pork belly offensive line[/b]. Bigger doesn't always mean better and in this case these guys are hauling around an extra 400 lbs collectively.
4. [b]Ben Roethlisberger[/b] is exactly the opposite of Joe Flacco. Hard to sack-able to scramble,decisive and a real field general, comfortable throwing on the run doesn't need constant protection to make the big play! Plays tough and plays hurt.
5.[b]History[/b]-those who don't remember it are condemned to repeat it and we have very short memories when it comes to the Steelers
[/quote]
With all due respect...

You're either the most pessimistic Ravens fan in the world, or a closet Steelers fan.

just sayin'...

[TheRavenouseD2008]

if woodly is out of shape, does he look more like vince wilfork ? or can we mistake them for having 2 hamptons?

[RavenousBG]

They have a more experienced players. We have some change going on. When you break things into pieces, we have a lot of advantages.

But the Steelers have done it and most of the line up is the same. They are experienced. We have been on the cusp for a few years now. We need experience as a team, as a group.

Do we surge ahead of Pittburgh this year? I think so, just not early. I think it happens late this year. So I can see us losing on Sept 11th and while I will be disappointed if we do lose. It will a lost battle in a war.

We will be better later.

[gregreid5]

[quote name='ellicottraven' timestamp='1315003500' post='774879']

No? Double J is not better than fat Woodley? I think he is a more complete player who just played hurt last year... Fat Woodley is a pass rusher and is all he has ever done!
[/quote]

I mean I am a ravens fan, even a homer a decent amount of the time, but this is ludicrous. JJ isnt really close to Woodley. Its not even close.

I think Suggs is the best of the 4 OLBs. He gets all the attention. We havent had a pass rusher opposite him for a long time (and no one as good as the steelers duo ever) so Suggs gets extra attention. I do think hes better than harrison and Woodley, but the difference is minimal, and the difference between Woodley and Harrison and JJ is massive.

As for MLBs, Timmons is a beast, but him and Ray really play different styles. VERY hard to compare them. Timmons is clearly the more complete player, and probably more talented at this point, but Ray brings out extra effort out of his teammates, makes every call, and is irreplaceable. I am really interested to see McClain this year, I think he will do very well.

The steelers have a better LB core. Its not hard to admit that.

Here is my list for the teams in general

QB- PIT- Ben has won rings and finds ways to win big time games. Joe needs to pull a playoff game out by making a play (Big Ben to Holmes in the SB type moment) to compare to Ben. Talent wise they are very similar, except Ben is much better at extended the play and not fumbling when hit)

RB- BAL- Mendenhall is good but Ray Rice is a FAR more complete player. His receiving skills are top 3 in the NFL for a RB

WR- PIT- I like the Ravens 1/2 combo better but Wallace is the best out of the 2 teams and PIT has a deeper WR core. If Doss or Torrey steps up the Ravens have the potential to be the better unit by playoff time. This one is close.

TE- DRAW- Heath is a vet but he hasnt done much the last couple of years. Ravens have 2 TEs who have good potential but they are young. I see the ravens leading this by the end of the season but Dickson/Pitta need to prove themselves first.

OL- BAL and its not that close. C is the only position PIT has a better player

DL- BAL- Ngata and 2 college players would better, hes that good. Redding has had a great preseason and living in the southeast, I watched a lot of Bama and Cody is a BEAST. Hes a top 5 potential NT, and I think he might be a year away from showing that kind of talent, but he will flash it this year. He is insanely athletic for that size. Steelers have some good players but they are all getting old and maybe Heyward provides some youth off the bench, but they are not better than BAL.

LB- PIT- See above

DB- DRAW- As a whole unit, it really is a draw. Troy might be SLIGHTY better than Ed Reed, but the other safety is a push and Ike Taylor is probably the better #1 CB but we have a better #2, #3, and #4 CB. There 2 best are better but our depth is better so I say draw. I do think this will be clear by the end of the year. if Jimmy and Cary are the real deal, BAL is better. if they struggle, PIT is better.



As you can see, I have BAL and PIT as VERY close in terms of talent. Both have good coaches and talented, veteran leaders sprinkled in with young talent. BAL is younger and therefore has more potential but not as many sure thing players. The Ravens have the talent on the roster to take out PIT, it all depends on ability to capitalize on the Steelers weakest unit (OL) and sack Big Ben. The Steelers OL is a HUGE liability. If we can get a pass rush out of McPhee and Kruger/Kindle we win. If Ben has 10 seconds and receivers break off their routes for bombs they win. To me, its that simple. For our O, its about McKinnie and Oher stopping their 2 stud rush backers, and Flacco/Birk finding out who is blitzing where and picking out the blocking assignments and flacco finding the hot receivers on jailbreak blitzes. I think we are positioned better for the future than the steelers, and next year will see us make a bigger jump than Pitt, but if a couple of the young guys step up, this could be the year.

[ellicottraven]

[quote name='gregreid5' timestamp='1315064078' post='775391']

I mean I am a ravens fan, even a homer a decent amount of the time, but this is ludicrous. JJ isnt really close to Woodley. Its not even close.

I think Suggs is the best of the 4 OLBs. He gets all the attention. We havent had a pass rusher opposite him for a long time (and no one as good as the steelers duo ever) so Suggs gets extra attention. I do think hes better than harrison and Woodley, but the difference is minimal, and the difference between Woodley and Harrison and JJ is massive.

As for MLBs, Timmons is a beast, but him and Ray really play different styles. VERY hard to compare them. Timmons is clearly the more complete player, and probably more talented at this point, but Ray brings out extra effort out of his teammates, makes every call, and is irreplaceable. I am really interested to see McClain this year, I think he will do very well.

The steelers have a better LB core. Its not hard to admit that.

Here is my list for the teams in general

QB- PIT- Ben has won rings and finds ways to win big time games. Joe needs to pull a playoff game out by making a play (Big Ben to Holmes in the SB type moment) to compare to Ben. Talent wise they are very similar, except Ben is much better at extended the play and not fumbling when hit)

RB- BAL- Mendenhall is good but Ray Rice is a FAR more complete player. His receiving skills are top 3 in the NFL for a RB

WR- PIT- I like the Ravens 1/2 combo better but Wallace is the best out of the 2 teams and PIT has a deeper WR core. If Doss or Torrey steps up the Ravens have the potential to be the better unit by playoff time. This one is close.

TE- DRAW- Heath is a vet but he hasnt done much the last couple of years. Ravens have 2 TEs who have good potential but they are young. I see the ravens leading this by the end of the season but Dickson/Pitta need to prove themselves first.

OL- BAL and its not that close. C is the only position PIT has a better player

DL- BAL- Ngata and 2 college players would better, hes that good. Redding has had a great preseason and living in the southeast, I watched a lot of Bama and Cody is a BEAST. Hes a top 5 potential NT, and I think he might be a year away from showing that kind of talent, but he will flash it this year. He is insanely athletic for that size. Steelers have some good players but they are all getting old and maybe Heyward provides some youth off the bench, but they are not better than BAL.

LB- PIT- See above

DB- DRAW- As a whole unit, it really is a draw. Troy might be SLIGHTY better than Ed Reed, but the other safety is a push and Ike Taylor is probably the better #1 CB but we have a better #2, #3, and #4 CB. There 2 best are better but our depth is better so I say draw. I do think this will be clear by the end of the year. if Jimmy and Cary are the real deal, BAL is better. if they struggle, PIT is better.



As you can see, I have BAL and PIT as VERY close in terms of talent. Both have good coaches and talented, veteran leaders sprinkled in with young talent. BAL is younger and therefore has more potential but not as many sure thing players. The Ravens have the talent on the roster to take out PIT, it all depends on ability to capitalize on the Steelers weakest unit (OL) and sack Big Ben. The Steelers OL is a HUGE liability. If we can get a pass rush out of McPhee and Kruger/Kindle we win. If Ben has 10 seconds and receivers break off their routes for bombs they win. To me, its that simple. For our O, its about McKinnie and Oher stopping their 2 stud rush backers, and Flacco/Birk finding out who is blitzing where and picking out the blocking assignments and flacco finding the hot receivers on jailbreak blitzes. I think we are positioned better for the future than the steelers, and next year will see us make a bigger jump than Pitt, but if a couple of the young guys step up, this could be the year.
[/quote]

Since I obviously didn't make sense to you the first time, and do not have the intention to write as much as you do or even debate you on this subject, I propose to agree to disagree if that's alright with you....

[gregreid5]

[quote name='ellicottraven' timestamp='1315064487' post='775395']

Since I obviously didn't make sense to you the first time, and do not have the intention to write as much as you do or even debate you on this subject, I propose to agree to disagree if that's alright with you....
[/quote]

you made sense I just dont see how you see that but fair enough. The big post I made had more to do with the fact that I never really contributed to the intentions of the topic, I just broke down your comment with my first post in here.

[mhead66]

[quote name='TheRavenouseD2008' timestamp='1315022136' post='775156']
if woodly is out of shape, does he look more like vince wilfork ? or can we mistake them for having 2 hamptons?
[/quote]
I know Harrison is out of shape, with the back surgery, but I hadn't heard Woodley was out of shape...

[mhead66]

[quote name='gregreid5' timestamp='1315064078' post='775391']

I mean I am a ravens fan, even a homer a decent amount of the time, but this is ludicrous. JJ isnt really close to Woodley. Its not even close.

<snip>
[/quote]
Really nice write-up, and I agree with most of your points.

I think, in the end, it comes down to one single point separating the teams: the most important position on the field, QB.

IF the Ravens can stop Roethlisberger in the 4th quarter from another comeback, and...

IF Joe can lead the team in the 4th quarter on game-winning drives.

Joe's national recognition and our Super Bowl chances come down to that.