Biggest Steelers Loss May Be Off The Field

[SteelCrazy]

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – In a Steelers season featuring far more losses than expected, The Fan’s Andrew Fillipponi believes that the biggest one may have happened off the field almost four years ago.

Doug Whaley spent 12 years with the Steelers organization as General Manager Kevin Colbert’s right-hand man.


Andrew calls Whaley “a guy who has been a Pittsburgher through and through.”

An Upper Saint Clair native who played at Pitt, Whaley is now the general manager in Buffalo and the Steelers will get a chance to view what he has been up to this week when the Bills roll into town.

Andrew makes a case for the timing of Whaley’s departure coinciding with the start of a decline in Steelers player evaluation competency.

The NFL is a copycat league and when you are successful like the Steelers have been for so long, other teams will try to mimic that success by hiring away the guys who know how to do things successfully.

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There's an audio file on the website that covers everything else not in this article above

[url]http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/11/08/andrew-says-biggest-steelers-loss-may-be-off-the-field/[/url]

[flippy]

This sounds like it could very well have some truth to it???

[pfelix73]

Well, I'm not at all impressed with what Buffalo has been up to. I will predict that in about 3 to 4 years they will look back and conclude that they wasted a #1 draft pick on that QB they drafted. He'll be avg. at best. Their Defense hasn't lived up to their billing, and they just aren't all that good.....

[SteelBuckeye]

Well, I'm not at all impressed with what Buffalo has been up to. I will predict that in about 3 to 4 years they will look back and conclude that they wasted a #1 draft pick on that QB they drafted. He'll be avg. at best. Their Defense hasn't lived up to their billing, and they just aren't all that good.....

Well, the rats just won a SB with a QB who is really average at best. I hope the players for the Steelers are not thinking like you do ... because seriously, right now, this team can't afford to look past anyone.

[pfelix73]

I totallly disagree with you that Flacco is just an avg qb.

[SidSmythe]

Bills are a good QB away from being competitive .......oh and 1 QB less away from competing in the Division.

[winwithd]

Well, the rats just won a SB with a QB who is really average at best. I hope the players for the Steelers are not thinking like you do ... because seriously, right now, this team can't afford to look past anyone.

I couldn't agree more. Flacco is a big-armed guy who is inconsistent. He has had several years to prove otherwise and hasnt. If not for Raheem Moore's mistake in last years playoff game Flacco would not have a ring, an MVP, or such an outrageous contract.

We cant afford to overlook anyone, take Oakland for example.

While I cant say I've seen enough of Manuel to judge how good he will be, he appears to be a very physically gifted individual. He could be the next Kapernick.

I think Buffalo is on the upswing and for whatever reason we are not. Kiko Alonso appears to be quite a find.

[SteelBuckeye]

I totallly disagree with you that Flacco is just an avg qb.

And you are free to do so. However, statistically speaking, over the course of his career, he has been a middle of the road QB. Doesn't mean his "team" hasn't won with him, and I respect that more than talk of "elite" or not.

[url]http://www.thesportspost.com/blogs/view/the-consistent-mediocrity-of-joe-flacco[/url]

[steelz09]

I couldn't agree more. Flacco is a big-armed guy who is inconsistent. He has had several years to prove otherwise and hasnt. If not for Raheem Moore's mistake in last years playoff game Flacco would not have a ring, an MVP, or such an outrageous contract.

We cant afford to overlook anyone, take Oakland for example.

While I cant say I've seen enough of Manuel to judge how good he will be, he appears to be a very physically gifted individual. He could be the next Kapernick.

I think Buffalo is on the upswing and for whatever reason we are not. Kiko Alonso appears to be quite a find.

sounds like our very own qb

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I totallly disagree with you that Flacco is just an avg qb.

Go back and watch last year's playoffs in which Flacco "established himself" with such exceptional play. See how many awful throws became lucky completions due to great plays by his receivers (mostly the since departed Anquan Boldin) or sheer incompetency by defensive players (especially the elite Champ Bailey). I'm not talking about close plays that were just out of the reach of defenders, because that is skill. I'm talking about balls heaved up in the air for anyone to get, defenders dropping balls like the went to the Ike Taylor School of Soft Hands, a safety on Denver gift wrapping a long TD out of an easy int. It happened all playoffs long for him. The greatest thing to come out of the Ravens SB is going to be that they tied themselves to this average QB for a long, big money deal.

[BlitzTo7]

sounds like our very own qb

^Sounds like one of the people that wanted Bradshaw gone, then complained endlessly about how the Steelers need a franchise QB and realized how great he was afterward.

[Jigawatts]

Go back and watch last year's playoffs in which Flacco "established himself" with such exceptional play. See how many awful throws became lucky completions due to great plays by his receivers (mostly the since departed Anquan Boldin) or sheer incompetency by defensive players (especially the elite Champ Bailey). I'm not talking about close plays that were just out of the reach of defenders, because that is skill. I'm talking about balls heaved up in the air for anyone to get, defenders dropping balls like the went to the Ike Taylor School of Soft Hands, a safety on Denver gift wrapping a long TD out of an easy int. It happened all playoffs long for him. The greatest thing to come out of the Ravens SB is going to be that they tied themselves to this average QB for a long, big money deal.

Spot on. Flacco was heaving up some jump balls and the Ravens receivers were coming down with them or pleading for pass interference which they go more often than not.

[pfelix73]

So then you all think Manuel is on even playing field or better than Flacco? LOL.

[DukieBoy]

And you are free to do so. However, statistically speaking, over the course of his career, he has been a middle of the road QB. Doesn't mean his "team" hasn't won with him, and I respect that more than talk of "elite" or not.

I don't think of Flacco as "elite", but he optimized his opportunity last year at the right time of year when he had two bully WR's, especially Boldin. Boldin made Flacco's year last year. Besides, they were one inept Chargers tackle of Ray Rice on 4th and 29 away from not making the playoffs.

What will be the next "word" the talking heads use when the word "elite" becomes overused and diluted on players like Flacco ???

[SteelBuckeye]

So then you all think Manuel is on even playing field or better than Flacco? LOL.

Not yet .. he hasn't played enough ... Needs to show he can stay on the field. That said, it's interesting to note that in his limited playing time, their completion percentages are close (59.4 Flacco/56.7 Manuel) as are their ratings (79.3 Flacco/79.4 Manuel). I realize that this is subject to change as Manuel gets more time to make rookie mistakes, but that's where they stand as of now.