Ox Posted October 14, 2006 Report Share Posted October 14, 2006 PFT 9. Steelers Are Done.We've been accused of being Steelers fans. We're not.We've also been accused of hating the Steelers. We don't.But let's just be clear on this -- the champs are done.They've got nothing to be ashamed of. They put together an historic late-season run in 2005, including three playoff wins on the road. Then, they defeated an objectively superior team to win the Super Bowl.But the fact is that, before embarking on what fairly can be called the most stirring December-to-February stretch in league history, the Steelers weren't a great team.And now that the shine of the Lombardi has faded, the fact is that they're still not a great team.Though many teams lose more than they gain during the offseason, the Steelers were hurt considerably by the departure of running back Jerome Bettis, whose brain-busting blasts into the middle of the line helped to burn up the clock once the Steelers found themselves in the lead of any game.We also think that the Steelers would have benefited from the offseason acquisition of a veteran free agent who has not yet earned a Super Bowl ring, and who thus would help the team in the quest to avoid complacency.Likewise, every team wants to knock off the champs. In a parity-driven NFL where the talent is more equal than it used to be, the fact that a team is "up" for a given game can make a big difference.Then there's quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Though some think he's not as good as he used to be, we're not so sure that he was ever very good. Instead, he benefited from a stifling defense and a solid running game, which allowed him to average only 22 passing attempts per game. This year, he's all the way up to 34 throws per game.The extra throws are resulting in a precipitous rise in mistakes. Last season, he threw nine interceptions in 12 games. This year, he has seven in only three.Oh, and no touchdown passes.Finally, some folks around the league think that Coach Chin is in full-blown retirement mode, and that in his mind he's already hanging out at the new family home in North Carolina.The sum of these various parts? The Steelers are in a deep hole with a thin-and-shrinking margin for error. Their only chance of getting back to the top of the mountain might be to author an even more improbable run than in 2005. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengalboomer7 Posted October 14, 2006 Report Share Posted October 14, 2006 I can't believe it's taken the so called media experts this long to realize Big Ben isn't very good. He was nothing more than a "caretaker" or as you like to say Ox "hand off specialist"While you can't take away what they did last year, they got hot at the right time, caught a few major breaks(like Carson's knee, literally breaks) and we're then handed the Super Bowl trophy on a silver platter. You can call it hating, I call it facts.Now, they'll catch a run this year, I expect them to get better, but they won't make the playoffs and will finish third in the division at best. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelerNation Posted October 16, 2006 Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 Steelers 45Chiefs 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PMThor Posted October 16, 2006 Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 Uh. Point? We beat them too. One game is not a season. KC is not good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bens_gals Posted October 16, 2006 Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 Uh. Point? We beat them too. One game is not a season. KC is not good.Uh. You lost to tampa bay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stripes Posted October 16, 2006 Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 Uh. Point? We beat them too. One game is not a season. KC is not good.Uh. You lost to tampa bay. Uh. You lost to Cincinnati. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelerFan87 Posted October 16, 2006 Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 Lol, funny that this article comes out RIGHT before the Steelers make a huge statement against the Chiefs, getting right back into the division race (thanks Ravens, thanks Bungles!). That's what, 2 in a row for both of our division rivals? And with such a huge win yesterday, things are looking up for the Steelers. Yeah, the Chiefs aren't very good, but to blow them out 45-7? To hold Larry Johnson (who IS good) to, what, 26 yards? To have Roethlisberger get back on track with 2 TD passes and a 150 something passer rating? To dominate on defense without our best linebacker, OR his backup? With our #2 CB slowed by a bad hamstring? With one of our offensive linemen out with a freak foot injury? Come on now, done? We have not yet begun to fight!And even before we won, done? Lots of teams have started 1-3 and made the playoffs. Hell, the Pats started 1-3 and won the super bowl in 01! Done? Yeah right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
semiotter Posted October 16, 2006 Report Share Posted October 16, 2006 Steelers 45Chiefs 7 Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!! Another freaking TROLL. Dang nice post, keep up he good work. Did it take you long to put that many words together or what troll bunghole.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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