Andy Dalton Anyone?

[Captain Lemming]

Fair enough. I don't really disagree with you (although there are some one the board who think we've dramatically underachieved over those two contracts).

With franchise QBs, you're kind of damned if you do and damned if you don't.

The competitive advantage in today's NFL with a good QB on a rookie deal is huge.

We've been very good with Ben making big money. But I do wish we could have squeezed him a bit more and had some better defenses over those 2 contracts.

Pre- Ben Steelers with elite defenses, and recent "paid" Ben Steelers with average defenses...are essentially the same as far as success.

ROOKIE deal Ben with paid defense was the sweet spot.

[Northern_Blitz]

Pre- Ben Steelers with elite defenses, and recent "paid" Ben Steelers with average defenses...are essentially the same as far as success.

ROOKIE deal Ben with paid defense was the sweet spot.

Yep.

I think it's too bad that we couldn't get him to sign a hometown discount this last time (although maybe it matters less with in injury last year).

[feltdizz]

Dak is second in NFL history in lowest interception percentage.

Dalton? Way down the list behind Ben of all people who we all know has interceptions as his biggest weakness.

I would suggest that without question, your description of "the most important part of being QB" (the ability to make the correct reads, make the proper throws and eliminate mistakes.) are in fact his greatest strengths, not running ability.

We can excuse Dalton all day but he has had elite skill players his entire career. He is MUCH more likely to throw a dumb ill timed pick than Dak. ROOKIE DAK played smarter than Dalton ever has.

Daks weakness is his arm ain't elite. But neither is Dalton's.

Just cause the guy has got wheels, don't mean he can be a superior QB mentally.

Typical example of one QB being viewed as “gifted and athletic” and the other as “smart and a student of the game”

[Steel Maniac]

Dak is second in NFL history in lowest interception percentage.

Dalton? Way down the list behind Ben of all people who we all know has interceptions as his biggest weakness.

I would suggest that without question, your description of "the most important part of being QB" (the ability to make the correct reads, make the proper throws and eliminate mistakes.) are in fact his greatest strengths, not running ability.

We can excuse Dalton all day but he has had elite skill players his entire career. He is MUCH more likely to throw a dumb ill timed pick than Dak. ROOKIE DAK played smarter than Dalton ever has.

Daks weakness is his arm ain't elite. But neither is Dalton's.

Just cause the guy has got wheels, don't mean he can be a superior QB mentally.

Good point. Looking at Dallas's history, they always have gone after solid back up options at QB. Dak has all the tools in the world at his disposal this coming season. If he can't light it up, it won't be for lack of weapons. It's all on him now.

[feltdizz]

Its never all on one player to live up to the expectations. Dak could make all the right moves and still miss the playoffs because of dropped passes or better talent/coaching by other teams (they have a new coach in Dallas right?).

[Northern_Blitz]

Its never all on one player to live up to the expectations. Dak could make all the right moves and still miss the playoffs because of dropped passes or better talent/coaching by other teams (they have a new coach in Dallas right?).

Or by signing a market level deal that makes it harder to put together a competitive team.

I don't begrudge players for getting all they can because it's exactly what I'd try to do in any job, especially one that shortens my life span.

But, the cap makes it a zero-sum game on every roster (at least in an individual year). But I also think the competitive balance it brings (along with revenue sharing) makes the league grow faster.

[feltdizz]

Or by signing a market level deal that makes it harder to put together a competitive team.

I don't begrudge players for getting all they can because it's exactly what I'd try to do in any job, especially one that shortens my life span.

But, the cap makes it a zero-sum game on every roster (at least in an individual year). But I also think the competitive balance it brings (along with revenue sharing) makes the league grow faster.

Teams will usually spend big money on a QB who gives them a chance to compete for a playoff spot and a chance to win a SB.

I think fans get it twisted because they think SB or failure but all everyone really wants is to enter the season believing they have a chance to win a SB if they get a few lucky bounces.

[hawaiiansteel]

I think fans get it twisted because they think SB or failure but all everyone really wants is to enter the season believing they have a chance to win a SB if they get a few lucky bounces.

I would love to win the Super Bowl every year, but I'm always proud when the Steelers do their best and are competitive.

some "fans" just can't understand that, and that's fine. I enjoy most seasons and they don't....

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

My memory is murky, was there as much pre-draft hype for Class of '84 as there has been for some more recent? I'm thinking the hype levels have gone way beyond the actual talent recently.

There was a ton of pre-draft hype for the class of '83 (I assume you meant '83). Probably more if you considered the limited capacity to create hype compared to today. And now look at that draft.....

First overall pick - John Elway - HOF
Next QB - Todd Blackledge 7th overall - mostly career backup
Next QB - Jim Kelly 14th overall - HOF
Next QB - Tony Eason 15th overall - see Blackledge
Next QB - Ken O'Brien 24th overall - nothing to see here
Next QB - Dan Marino 27th overall - another HOF QB

So even the vaunted '83 draft had as many useless first round QBs as success stories. The only difference is that all the successful picks became HOFers and talked about among the greatest.

[feltdizz]

I would love to win the Super Bowl every year, but I'm always proud when the Steelers do their best and are competitive.

some "fans" just can't understand that, and that's fine. I enjoy most seasons and they don't....

I think if you put together a team that has fans thinking they can win a SB before the season starts you have done a pretty good job as a franchise.

[Northern_Blitz]

I would love to win the Super Bowl every year, but I'm always proud when the Steelers do their best and are competitive.

some "fans" just can't understand that, and that's fine. I enjoy most seasons and they don't....

This.

I always want them to win.

But a loss doesn't stay with me for more than a few hours or so.

[feltdizz]

This.

I always want them to win.

But a loss doesn't stay with me for more than a few hours or so.

the Pats loss stayed with me for more than a few days. The AFCCG loss and the Jesse James catch. Only reason the championship game stayed with me for a few days is because even tho we didn’t play that well we were close at halftime. That defense infuriated me tho. Which is what made it so upsetting.

The Jags playoff game wasn’t as bad as others because we were down quickly and played from behind the whole game.

[Northern_Blitz]

I think if you put together a team that has fans thinking they can win a SB before the season starts you have done a pretty good job as a franchise.

The Cleveland Browns say "Hi!"

[NorthCoast]

There was a ton of pre-draft hype for the class of '83 (I assume you meant '83). Probably more if you considered the limited capacity to create hype compared to today. And now look at that draft.....

First overall pick - John Elway - HOF
Next QB - Todd Blackledge 7th overall - mostly career backup
Next QB - Jim Kelly 14th overall - HOF
Next QB - Tony Eason 15th overall - see Blackledge
Next QB - Ken O'Brien 24th overall - nothing to see here
Next QB - Dan Marino 27th overall - another HOF QB

So even the vaunted '83 draft had as many useless first round QBs as success stories. The only difference is that all the successful picks became HOFers and talked about among the greatest.

Thanks for the lookup sfinto. The 1st rd QB success rate seems to mirror the overall 1st rd success rate. Somewhere read that only about half the players in a recent draft had their options picked up by the drafting team. So almost a flip of the coin could do as well.

[whatever]

I think if you put together a team that has fans thinking they can win a SB before the season starts you have done a pretty good job as a franchise.

So you are saying every franchise does a good job.