Life BEFORE Ben...

[WindyCitySteel]

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.

You have to win with a franchise QB early, before they suck 20% of the salary cap. You can't build a great OL and 3 levels of defense when the QB makes all the money.

[feltdizz]

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.

yeah... Big Ben became a legend because we threw early and grinded out wins with good D and a running game.

We had everything but a franchise QB and it's much easier to win with a stocked team instead of a few playmakers and a patchwork defense.

The same people screaming about Ben being the answer won't admit that without a good defense it's almost impossible to win playoff games in this era.

Throwing for a bunch of yards doesn't win playoff games. We need TD's and turnovers that lead to points.

Ben is fun to watch but also frustrating.. not sure how anyone can say our team has lived up to its potential the last few years. We underacheived... and while we knock the D, they saved us for years...

It's time for our offense to win a few playoffs games IMO

[feltdizz]

You have to win with a franchise QB early, before they suck 20% of the salary cap. You can't build a great OL and 3 levels of defense when the QB makes all the money.

which is why I feel a little better now that Landry is tutoring under Ben. I think the FO did a good job laying a solid foundation for the future...

hopefully we raise another Lombardi under Ben if he can get healthy and get that chip back in his shoulder.

[Northern_Blitz]

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.

I think that this is in response to me, so I'll throw my $0.02 in here.

Before Ben (with Stewart), we could win but the margin of error for the rest of the team was very small.

With Ben, we can win even if the rest of the team plays poorly because he's a franchise QB.

It's easier for a great QB to carry a team than it is for a team to carry a poor QB.

I think that Landry Jones is a poor QB. I think he is prone to making mistakes. So, in small sample sizes (relief) he's been OK because he didn't get time to make big mistakes. I hope that I'm wrong.

I also think relief in the NFL is much easier because no one was game planning for Jones. I think Ben's talk of coming back this week is an effort to split the Brown's focus...but Ben's a bit like Wolverine with the injuries.

[Shawn]

Dizz what's up with your recent vitriol towards Ben? The guy is the best thing that has ever happened to this franchise.

[feltdizz]

I think that this is in response to me, so I'll throw my $0.02 in here.

Before Ben (with Stewart), we could win but the margin of error for the rest of the team was very small.

With Ben, we can win even if the rest of the team plays poorly because he's a franchise QB.

It's easier for a great QB to carry a team than it is for a team to carry a poor QB.

I think that Landry Jones is a poor QB. I think he is prone to making mistakes. So, in small sample sizes (relief) he's been OK because he didn't get time to make big mistakes. I hope that I'm wrong.

I also think relief in the NFL is much easier because no one was game planning for Jones. I think Ben's talk of coming back this week is an effort to split the Brown's focus...but Ben's a bit like Wolverine with the injuries.

but I disagree, I think it's easier to carry an average QB with a great team than a great QB with a bad team.

We have gone .500 2 years with a great QB and an average team and haven't won a playoff game in 5 years with a great QB.

A great QB is only one player...and if your D is bad or the OL is bad, a great QB can't save it.

I think Landry is servicable and will end up being a decent QB. Not great but also not bad.

[feltdizz]

Dizz what's up with your recent vitriol towards Ben? The guy is the best thing that has ever happened to this franchise.

It isn't vitriol towards Ben. It's vitriol towards fans who act like we didn't win after Bradshaw (minus SB's of course) and won't win once he leaves.

I'm more of a realist too... this place b!tched and moaned when the O under performed even though we were winning SB's... and a lot of the same people are happy with this fantasy team offense that can't win a playoff game.

Like I said earlier... when this O steps up and wins a playoff game I'll shut up. Until then I will keep yammering about how this O is great on paper but can't win when we need it the most.

[RuthlessBurgher]

The two people who touch the ball most on offense are the QB and RB. The two most important people in terms of keeping those guys clean to gain yards and score points are the left tackle and center.

Ben has missed time due to two separate injuries. Bell has missed time due to suspension and injury. Pouncey hasn't played at all this year. Beachum was replaced by a guy who played WR at Army and was signed as a UDFA by the Eagles to play DE.

And we are still the 7th ranked offense in the NFL right now.

[papillon]

The two people who touch the ball most on offense are the QB and RB. The two most important people in terms of keeping those guys clean to gain yards and score points are the left tackle and center.

Ben has missed time due to two separate injuries. Bell has missed time due to suspension and injury. Pouncey hasn't played at all this year. Beachum was replaced by a guy who played WR at Army and was signed as a UDFA by the Eagles to play DE.

And we are still the 7th ranked offense in the NFL right now.

Ok, so what's your point?

Pappy

[RuthlessBurgher]

Ok, so what's your point?

Pappy

That Ben, Bell, Pouncey, and Beachum all suck and we can win without those losers anyway? Something like that.

[papillon]

That Ben, Bell, Pouncey, and Beachum all suck and we can win without those losers anyway? Something like that.

Just checking to make sure you're awake up there in NEPA.

Pappy

[feltdizz]

The two people who touch the ball most on offense are the QB and RB. The two most important people in terms of keeping those guys clean to gain yards and score points are the left tackle and center.

Ben has missed time due to two separate injuries. Bell has missed time due to suspension and injury. Pouncey hasn't played at all this year. Beachum was replaced by a guy who played WR at Army and was signed as a UDFA by the Eagles to play DE.

And we are still the 7th ranked offense in the NFL right now.

well, that's kind of my point...

I don't care about having a 7th ranked offense.

if we had a 21st ranked offense and we were 8-1 some people would scream for Haleys head.

Another thing, injuries happen and we were a few plays from winning the Baltimore game and the KC game.

DW stepped up, Army vet stepped up... our FO does a decent job of fielding and restocking a competitive team.

[feltdizz]

That Ben, Bell, Pouncey, and Beachum all suck and we can win without those losers anyway? Something like that.

I wouldn't call them losers but yes, we can win without them.

I'm not big on excuses... the way our FO operates, we tend to stay competitive when the next man is up. We rarelt get blown out.

[fordfixer]

The two people who touch the ball most on offense are the QB and RB. The two most important people in terms of keeping those guys clean to gain yards and score points are the left tackle and center.

Ben has missed time due to two separate injuries. Bell has missed time due to suspension and injury. Pouncey hasn't played at all this year. Beachum was replaced by a guy who played WR at Army and was signed as a UDFA by the Eagles to play DE.

And we are still the 7th ranked offense in the NFL right now.

I thought the Center touched the ball the most and then the Quarterback. Unless you're running the Wild cat.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I thought the Center touched the ball the most and then the Quarterback. Unless you're running the Wild cat.

The center gets his balls touched the most. By the quarterback. Unless you're running the shotgun.