Life BEFORE Ben...

[Starlifter]

I still don't understand what they were thinking there????????

other than that blip in the late 80's to early 90's we have been very fortunate to have great teams to cheer for. and the cowher era was nothing short of amazing. If you only define a successful season by a super bowl victory - then of course you're disappointed. but if you define a season by being competitive and making the playoffs - the numbers speak for themselves.

The era BEFORE ben was terrific and had been for a long time.

But it took BEN to get us over the hump and win superbowls. There's no debate, no argument possible. He's a franchise QB. the ones before him weren't. you can MAYBE get lucky and win a superbowl with a trent dilfer or a jeff hostetler but that comes down to luck. No sir, to have the best chance you need the QB to be superior - and that's what we got.

the era before ben was great. the era since has been spectacular.

that's a darn good position to be in!

[SteelBucks]

Cliff Stoudt
Mark Malone
David Woodley
Scott Campbell
Bubby Brister
Steve Bono
Todd Blackledge
Neil O'Donnell
Mike Tomczak
Jim Miller
Kordell Stewart
Kent Graham
Tommy Maddox

A shiver went down my spine reading those names. It was a football nightmare I hope to never relive.

[SteelBucks]

and we made it to the playoffs 12 times and 5 AFCCG's and 1 SB appearance in those 23 or so years...

that isn't bad

Sounds like a Browns fan I know. Reason it any way you want, it wasn't good enough.

[bostonsteeler]

and we made it to the playoffs 12 times and 5 AFCCG's and 1 SB appearance in those 23 or so years...

that isn't bad

O'Donnell and Kordell were both good enough to win SBs with some luck, which we just didn't have. We were one badly run route away from an SB in 95. We were one silly RZ pass away from going to the SB in 97. We were a Troy Edwards special teams error (and a pile of ** cheating) away from getting to the SB in 01.

[Moonie]

Cliff Stoudt
Mark Malone
David Woodley
Scott Campbell
Bubby Brister
Steve Bono
Todd Blackledge
Neil O'Donnell
Mike Tomczak
Jim Miller
Kordell Stewart
Kent Graham
Tommy Maddox

Holy hell! No wonder I was drunk during those years. What a crew. Brister was the only one with any mojo.

I remember once hearing: "Mark Malone - king of the bounce pass." Always thought that was funny. No. 1 pick even!

[The Man of Steel]

I got to admit that I really hated the Kordell pick in 1995. As a Pitt alum I really wanted the Steelers to draft Curtis Martin in the second round that year but it was not meant to be. Oh well we got Bettis the next season anyhow and the rest is history.

[Sword]

I remember a lot of bad games with Kordell...they kept sticking with him 2 years longer than he should have been there....
passing on Dan Marino was a fail!!!!

[url]http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2014/2/25/5446512/draft-debate-what-if-pittsburgh-drafted-marino-back-in-83[/url]

[Notleadpoisoned]

I remember a lot of bad games with Kordell...they kept sticking with him 2 years longer than he should have been there....
passing on Dan Marino was a fail!!!!

[URL]http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2014/2/25/5446512/draft-debate-what-if-pittsburgh-drafted-marino-back-in-83[/URL]

Marino will always be one of the biggest draft "what ifs?" for the Steelers. You could also make the claim that picking Tee Martin over Tom Brady was an even bigger "what if?"

[feltdizz]

other than that blip in the late 80's to early 90's we have been very fortunate to have great teams to cheer for. and the cowher era was nothing short of amazing. If you only define a successful season by a super bowl victory - then of course you're disappointed. but if you define a season by being competitive and making the playoffs - the numbers speak for themselves.

The era BEFORE ben was terrific and had been for a long time.

But it took BEN to get us over the hump and win superbowls. There's no debate, no argument possible. He's a franchise QB. the ones before him weren't. you can MAYBE get lucky and win a superbowl with a trent dilfer or a jeff hostetler but that comes down to luck. No sir, to have the best chance you need the QB to be superior - and that's what we got.

the era before ben was great. the era since has been spectacular.

that's a darn good position to be in!

this is exactly my point...

I know the ultimate goal is a SB but lets be realistic. That would imply every time Ben and Tomlin didn't get a SB they failed as a player and coach.

I think any time your team makes a deep playoff run it's a successful season.

People make it sound like we were the Browns EVERY year prior to Ben. I'm pretty sure our winning percentage is in the top 1/3 for those last 25 seasons before Ben

[feltdizz]

Marino will always be one of the biggest draft "what ifs?" for the Steelers. You could also make the claim that picking Tee Martin over Tom Brady was an even bigger "what if?"

Brady lasted til the 6th round. Every one passed on him multiple times but I see your point since we drafted a QB...

[feltdizz]

Sounds like a Browns fan I know. Reason it any way you want, it wasn't good enough.

Thanks Ricky Bobby...

[Notleadpoisoned]

Brady lasted til the 6th round. Every one passed on him multiple times but I see your point since we drafted a QB...

We also could have drafted another Pittsburgh Central Catholic QB, Marc Bulger, over Tee Martin too and that may have actually worked out for us.

[Captain Lemming]

Perhaps would have never drafted Ben. Not good.

[Notleadpoisoned]

Perhaps would have never drafted Ben. Not good.

Ben's motorcycle accident and multiple rape allegations also not good.

[WindyCitySteel]

Not sure it would had made as difference because Cowher's philosophy was ALWAYS don't trust the QB to win the game just make sure he doesn't lose it. Ben would never had become what he has under a Cowher regime.

What, a fantasy QB who hasn't won a playoff game in five years? Cowher managed a young Ben magnificently. I think he would have adjusted as Ben grew.