Week 17 Next Season

[rpmpit]

Nothing to gain. Same as this past season. Do we rest Ben and any of the starters?

I say no. Never been a fan of doing this. Unless someone is coming off injury then everyone should play.

Discuss...

[papillon]

My take is to play it like the 3rd pre-season game. The starters play the first half and then turn it over to the depth chart to finish the game. Unless, the starters stunk up the joint then they can play the 2nd half as well to try and correct what went wrong.

Pappy

[Starlifter]

the browns are surging. the rats will be in the mix. the bungles may have a good season depending on JB's knee. We are starting a 39 year old QB who can't run anymore and who's arm is still suspect.

If this were vegas, I wouldn't be putting money down on the steelers being in a position to rest anyone in week 17.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Nothing to gain. Same as this past season. Do we rest Ben and any of the starters?

I say no. Never been a fan of doing this. Unless someone is coming off injury then everyone should play.

Discuss...

Depends on the situation next year, but I did agree and still do resting Ben this season. I think that we downplay the fact that the team did not have a bye this year. For years we have touted the benefits of the extra week off. A bye week is a complete week off. Go home, relax, play with the kids, rest your weary bones, enjoy life.

If you look at the team from the beginning of the year to the end, take a look at the play of the older guys. At the end of the season, during the losing streak, who were the most commonly named culprits? The O line and the QB. Let's look closer:

Ben 38
AV 32
Feiler 28
Pouncey 31
Decastro 30
Okorafor 23

And think about how Cleveland ran through the line with ease:

Tuitt 27
Heyward 31
Alualu 33

Not an excuse for failure, but definitely a competitive disadvantage. I think that the older guys did need some time, and even though the Steelers lost, I don't believe that not resting them means a win.

[NorthCoast]

Brady supposedly took no 'veterans day' off this season and practiced fully with the team each week. You can't make a great play until you first do it in practice - Chuck Noll

[fordfixer]

Nothing to gain. Same as this past season. Do we rest Ben and any of the starters?

I say no. Never been a fan of doing this. Unless someone is coming off injury then everyone should play.

Discuss...

I wouldn’t even let the veterans take the “Vets” day off during the regular season.

[feltdizz]

Brady supposedly took no 'veterans day' off this season and practiced fully with the team each week. You can't make a great play until you first do it in practice - Chuck Noll

Brady has something to prove. He would take every snap in preseason if he could.

[NorthCoast]

Brady has something to prove. He would take every snap in preseason if he could.

These aged QBs all look at him and think 'I can do that too'. But I think Brady has already proven he is an extreme outlier in the QB world. Late 30s seems to be the upper norm in terms of older QBs playing in a SB. That's only based on history and we know the rules have changed to favor keeping the QB in one piece compared to the old days where body-slamming was acceptable

[Oviedo]

Nothing to gain. Same as this past season. Do we rest Ben and any of the starters?

I say no. Never been a fan of doing this. Unless someone is coming off injury then everyone should play.

Discuss...

Never a fan of that. IMO Ben's history is not great coming out of an off week

[feltdizz]

These aged QBs all look at him and think 'I can do that too'. But I think Brady has already proven he is an extreme outlier in the QB world. Late 30s seems to be the upper norm in terms of older QBs playing in a SB. That's only based on history and we know the rules have changed to favor keeping the QB in one piece compared to the old days where body-slamming was acceptable

Lebron is a great comparison to Brady.

We see load management being used in the NBA and a lot of guys are taking days off.

Lebron is on some “if I’m healthy, I’m playing”

and I believe this is why everywhere Bron goes a championship follows. He practices hard, plays hard and still has that hunger to get to 6 rings.

[pfelix73]

the browns are surging. the rats will be in the mix. the bungles may have a good season depending on JB's knee. We are starting a 39 year old QB who can't run anymore and who's arm is still suspect.

If this were vegas, I wouldn't be putting money down on the steelers being in a position to rest anyone in week 17.

His arm is suspect?? Come on, Man. Everyone who thinks his arm is suspect, hasn't been watching Steeler games.

[Starlifter]

His arm is suspect?? Come on, Man. Everyone who thinks his arm is suspect, hasn't been watching Steeler games.

clearly we have different takeaways from his performance and abilities the last half of the season.

perhaps it's all the takeaways defenses were feasting on that has caused me to question his ability to pass at a high level.

[pfelix73]

clearly we have different takeaways from his performance and abilities the last half of the season.

perhaps it's all the takeaways defenses were feasting on that has caused me to question his ability to pass at a high level.

Yep. Clearly we do. Heck, even the old coach Cowher said he still has an arm.

Quote- “I think Ben can still make plays, there’s no question about it,” Cowher said. “I think he absolutely needs to play. He can still throw the football."

[NorthCoast]

clearly we have different takeaways from his performance and abilities the last half of the season.

perhaps it's all the takeaways defenses were feasting on that has caused me to question his ability to pass at a high level.

if by not having an arm you mean less accurate then I agree. His completion rate for deep balls has been on a slide for the last few years.