Life BEFORE Ben...

[feltdizz]

I keep reading about how fans forget what life was like before Ben.

Well, IMO life before Ben wasn't nearly wasn't as bad as people remember. Sure, we had down years and frustrating QB play but most of these Steeler teams played to their full potential.

One of the frustrating things about having a franchise QB is thinking you are always a SB team and watching them prove they are far from it

After 4 SB's in the 70's we hit a rough patch but we made it to the AFC game in 84 vs Marino

We also hosted 3 or 4 AFCCG's and of those 3 losses to the Chargers, Broncos and Pats we were a few plays from winning each game.

I'm not suggesting life without Ben is better but it,damn sure isn't that bad when you have a decent QB, good WR's and a good RB.

so... when people ask if we remember life before Ben are they just focusing on the bad years? Because I remember a nice amount of playoff football where we were usually a play or 2 away from a SB.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

I remember a nice amount of playoff football where we were usually a play or 2 away from a SB.

There were a few of those years...and if the Steelers had had a franchise QB during those years, would have likely not just finished "a play or two away."

Without Ben--or with a less-than-franchise QB--I don't think this team would have made ANY of their last three Super Bowl appearances.

[Oviedo]

There were a few of those years...and if the Steelers had had a franchise QB during those years, would have likely not just finished "a play or two away."

Without Ben--or with a less-than-franchise QB--I don't think this team would have made ANY of their last three Super Bowl appearances.

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.

[Ghost]

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

[steelsnis]

Dizz, I usually agree with a lot of what you say but I do NOT get your not-so-subtle trolling of Roethlisberger. Not sure if you're just trying to get a rise out of people? Maybe you just don't like the guy?

The NFL is soooooo much different now and w/o a franchise QB it's REALLY hard to compete regularly for a championship. The days of maintaining a HOF caliber defense with only a strong running game are long gone. You might be able to do it for a year or two if all of the chips fall into place (see Seattle in 2013) but sooner or later, you have to pay for your QB and don't have the $$$ so keep everything else up.

[feltdizz]

Dizz, I usually agree with a lot of what you say but I do NOT get your not-so-subtle trolling of Roethlisberger. Not sure if you're just trying to get a rise out of people? Maybe you just don't like the guy?

The NFL is soooooo much different now and w/o a franchise QB it's REALLY hard to compete regularly for a championship. The days of maintaining a HOF caliber defense with only a strong running game are long gone. You might be able to do it for a year or two if all of the chips fall into place (see Seattle in 2013) but sooner or later, you have to pay for your QB and don't have the $$$ so keep everything else up.

This isn't a trolling of Ben though... Pointing out that we weren't scrubs until Ben arrived isn't a knock on Ben.

All I'm saying is when people say "remember life before Ben" you have to realize life wasn't THAT bad and we had a lot of success as a football franchise even when we didn't have Ben.

[feltdizz]

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

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

[steelsnis]

This isn't a trolling of Ben though... Pointing out that we weren't scrubs until Ben arrived isn't a knock on Ben.

All I'm saying is when people say "remember life before Ben" you have to realize life wasn't THAT bad and we had a lot of success as a football franchise even when we didn't have Ben.

Yeah not just this post tho. This isn't to say that you shouldn't criticize Ben for any reason. I'm just kind of surprised that YOU seem to be so critical of him in general. Maybe I'm reading things wrong?

[Shoe]

Our 80's teams were like the MIA Dolphins or the BUF Bills of today. Just middling around in that lower-middle tier... And don't be fooled by that '84 AFCC game appearance. I don't remember, but that team certainly wasn't considered SB material (i.e. we were lucky to get to the playoffs, and just caught some good match-ups in the playoffs).

It was a decade of mediocrity. Houston would pummel us, so would Cincy, and Cleveland back then was a legit contender (young people = believe it, they were!). I remember everytime we'd get some hope, a team like the Washington Redskins or the Bills would soundly put us in our place. Cowher changed all of that.

That's why I give less credence to Steeler fans of today. You gotta be a fan, over the age of 40. Because we legitimately earned our stripes. Kids born in the 80's... this is pretty remarkable: They've never felt a prolonged stretch of misery (to test their fandom). Mine was tested, boy! Cheering average players like Mark Malone, Walter Abercrombie, Bryan Hinkle, Keith Willis, Craig Wolfley, Dwayne Woodruff as stars... cuz it was all we had.

[buccoray61]

If the Steelers would have had a QB like Ben with the team they had in the 90's,they could have possibly won two Super Bowls durning that period.

[buccoray61]

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

Some of those stiffs made Bubby Brister look good LOL

[Slapstick]

Our 80's teams were like the MIA Dolphins or the BUF Bills of today. Just middling around in that lower-middle tier... And don't be fooled by that '84 AFCC game appearance. I don't remember, but that team certainly wasn't considered SB material (i.e. we were lucky to get to the playoffs, and just caught some good match-ups in the playoffs).

It was a decade of mediocrity. Houston would pummel us, so would Cincy, and Cleveland back then was a legit contender (young people = believe it, they were!). I remember everytime we'd get some hope, a team like the Washington Redskins or the Bills would soundly put us in our place. Cowher changed all of that.

That's why I give less credence to Steeler fans of today. You gotta be a fan, over the age of 40. Because we legitimately earned our stripes. Kids born in the 80's... this is pretty remarkable: They've never felt a prolonged stretch of misery (to test their fandom). Mine was tested, boy! Cheering average players like Mark Malone, Walter Abercrombie, Bryan Hinkle, Keith Willis, Craig Wolfley, Dwayne Woodruff as stars... cuz it was all we had.

Being in middle school in NE Ohio and a Steeler fan during the 80s was a nightmarish experience...

[Jooser]

Listen, most of my life was Steelers without Ben. I was a kid in the 70's, watched the 49er's and Cowgirls dominate the 80's. I also watched the Browns and Bengals embarrass us time and again. Cowher came along and things' slowly started to change, but still no Super Bowl WINS until Ben came along. Brister was fiery and fun to watch, same for Kordell. O'Donnell was my first glimpse of hope for a SB win. Graham was horrible, and poor Tommy was in over his head. Life before Ben was what Lt. Frank Drebbins would describe sex: A long, arduous task and just when things looked like they were going your way ....nothing happened.

M2C

-Joos out

[feltdizz]

Listen, most of my life was Steelers without Ben. I was a kid in the 70's, watched the 49er's and Cowgirls dominate the 80's. I also watched the Browns and Bengals embarrass us time and again. Cowher came along and things' slowly started to change, but still no Super Bowl WINS until Ben came along. Brister was fiery and fun to watch, same for Kordell. O'Donnell was my first glimpse of hope for a SB win. Graham was horrible, and poor Tommy was in over his head. Life before Ben was what Lt. Frank Drebbins would describe sex: A long, arduous task and just when things looked like they were going your way ....nothing happened.

M2C

-Joos out

I thought we we're SB bound with Kordell before we decided to pass in the RZ when we were running down the Broncos throat

[fordfixer]

I thought we we're SB bound with Kordell before we decided to pass in the RZ when we were running down the Broncos throat

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