Colbert's Draft Report Card Last 4 Yrs

[crushedspirit]

Not buying it. Why did he ask his 'game manager' QBs prior to Roethlisberger to throw it 35+ times in the playoffs? And you could argue Cowher also failed to develop the first round picks that were busts during his time at HC.

I'm not selling anything. I'm just stating what anyone who watched those 3 losses will tell you. Again, I acknowledge that he gave Stewart and O'Donnell too many chances, and trusted them too much. Maybe he was burned so many times, that he thought there was no way he would give that freedom again to a rookie QB in Ben? I also remember in many of those 30+ throw losses, they struggled running the ball, even though he tried most of the times.

In '94 vs KC, RBs ran for 31-87
In '95 vs SD, RBs ran for 25-65
In '96 vs IND, RBs ran for 18-61
In '96 vs DAL, RBs ran for 25-88
In '98 vs NE, RBs ran for 26-77
In '02 vs NE, RBs ran for 13-19
In '03 vs TEN, RBs ran for 17-55

Coach Cowher loved to play with the lead, and grind the game out with a physical run game, and a tenacious defense. Sometimes, that didn't work out, so he depended on his QB to make some plays.

[Northern_Blitz]

Pretty much how I remembered it, but here's a writeup that sheds some light on it.


Retrospective: The Cowher vs. Donahoe debate had a clear winner
Getty Images
Bill Washinskiby Bill WashinskiFebruary 17, 2021

...They disagreed over many things, especially who had the greater say–the coaches or the scouts–over player personnel. Cowher felt he didn’t have the necessary players to get over the hump; Donahoe felt the talent was there and it was the coaching that fell short. .......

Interesting that Cowher's thinking here is that talent is more important than coaching.

Not that it will put our discussion here to bed.

[NorthCoast]

I'm not selling anything. I'm just stating what anyone who watched those 3 losses will tell you. Again, I acknowledge that he gave Stewart and O'Donnell too many chances, and trusted them too much. Maybe he was burned so many times, that he thought there was no way he would give that freedom again to a rookie QB in Ben? I also remember in many of those 30+ throw losses, they struggled running the ball, even though he tried most of the times.

In '94 vs KC, RBs ran for 31-87
In '95 vs SD, RBs ran for 25-65
In '96 vs IND, RBs ran for 18-61
In '96 vs DAL, RBs ran for 25-88
In '98 vs NE, RBs ran for 26-77
In '02 vs NE, RBs ran for 13-19
In '03 vs TEN, RBs ran for 17-55

Coach Cowher loved to play with the lead, and grind the game out with a physical run game, and a tenacious defense. Sometimes, that didn't work out, so he depended on his QB to make some plays.

I've said it before. Cowher ran a team that looks a lot like TEN these days; power run game, game manager QB. Pretty much the same results too. So far it's been shown not to work in the modern NFL in getting to the SB.

[feltdizz]

I'm not selling anything. I'm just stating what anyone who watched those 3 losses will tell you. Again, I acknowledge that he gave Stewart and O'Donnell too many chances, and trusted them too much. Maybe he was burned so many times, that he thought there was no way he would give that freedom again to a rookie QB in Ben? I also remember in many of those 30+ throw losses, they struggled running the ball, even though he tried most of the times.

In '94 vs KC, RBs ran for 31-87
In '95 vs SD, RBs ran for 25-65
In '96 vs IND, RBs ran for 18-61
In '96 vs DAL, RBs ran for 25-88
In '98 vs NE, RBs ran for 26-77
In '02 vs NE, RBs ran for 13-19
In '03 vs TEN, RBs ran for 17-55

Coach Cowher loved to play with the lead, and grind the game out with a physical run game, and a tenacious defense. Sometimes, that didn't work out, so he depended on his QB to make some plays.

teams will always try to take away what you do best in the playoffs. Teams would force us to pas and QB’s failed at key moments.

[hawaiiansteel]

PS. post #278 isn't my post

post #278 is where you deleted your "hahahahahahaha" after I captured your post #282 and exposed you for sounding like Steel Maniac.

it shows where you edited it trying to remove the evidence.

hahahahahahaha

hahahahahahaha

who else on this board says "hahahahahahaha" exactly 7 times like you and Steel Maniac?

hahahahahahaha

hahahahahahaha

you're so busted dude.

[hawaiiansteel]

Yo NJ-Steeler,

Sorry you have to deal with that guy. Just put him on ignore like I have. Don't waste your breath on him.

that's hilarious, how has putting me on ignore been working out for you coward?

I know you and NJ are the same guy.

hahahahahahaha

hahahahahahaha

so busted dude.

[crushedspirit]

I've said it before. Cowher ran a team that looks a lot like TEN these days; power run game, game manager QB. Pretty much the same results too. So far it's been shown not to work in the modern NFL in getting to the SB.

SF went to the SB in 2020 riding their run back and defense, (Garoppolo attempted 8 passes against GB). Seattle went to consecutive SBs riding Lynch and that defense. Manning won a SB his last season on the back of his run game and defense. Tampa won this past SB game itself with a run game and defense. The most potent offenses right now are based on play action, which needs a run game to be successful. Imagine if Ten had a Cowher defense. That's the only thing missing in that comparison, and it's a huge factor.

[hawaiiansteel]

lol

you're an idiot


PS. post #278 isn't my post

lol

looks like you're the idiot

PS. post #278 is your post

[feltdizz]

wrong. ebron did but not as many

Not as many? So how many did he drop?

[feltdizz]

I supplied the games lost as reference, and I said Ben, or anyone capable. It's easy to see anything more than garbage QB performances take them to the SB in '98 and '02. I'm not talking Divisional or WC losses, it's all in the one game that gets you to the SB. Special teams was bad as well in '02, but Stewart's turnovers were brutal, and cost them when they had several chances to overcome it. Denver, that was all Kordell. SB, that was all O'Donnell. Game is at 7-13, when Neil throws the first one that sets up Dallas from the 18. Game is at 17-20, and he throws another to set up Dallas at the 6.

See, there's a difference when fans say, man we would have had a better season with a better QB. I'm pointing out the one game that gets you to the SB. These are Conference games, and the SB itself. Not that difficult to acknowledge the major reason why they lost those 3 games.

We were ROLLING on the ground vs Denver. Quarter ends and we passed on the first play and it was an INT. Now maybe a better QB throws a better pass but IMO we outsmarted ourselves and tried to get cute.

Now, not to bash Ben but his first playoff game, INT in the endzone vs Jets. Next week, pick 6 vs NE.

Superbowl vs Seattle, INT in the endzone. Just saying we can’t say a better QB will always make all the right plays.

One thing people on here love to do is blame Tomlin for all the playoff losses.. but Ben has thrown a lot of INT’s in playoff losses. This idea that having Ben or someone similar would give us more SB’s is just talk.

[feltdizz]

So did the steelers just start doing it this way since Tomlin was given the job?

I mean, whatever you need in order to paint Tomlin in a negative
light, thats how we have done it.

I’m not even sure what you are asking.

[crushedspirit]

We were ROLLING on the ground vs Denver. Quarter ends and we passed on the first play and it was an INT. Now maybe a better QB throws a better pass but IMO we outsmarted ourselves and tried to get cute.

Now, not to bash Ben but his first playoff game, INT in the endzone vs Jets. Next week, pick 6 vs NE.

Superbowl vs Seattle, INT in the endzone. Just saying we can’t say a better QB will always make all the right plays.

One thing people on here love to do is blame Tomlin for all the playoff losses.. but Ben has thrown a lot of INT’s in playoff losses. This idea that having Ben or someone similar would give us more SB’s is just talk.

Maybe Tomlin should use Ben to his strengths, and not expect success with 40+ passes a game.

Gb, 2011, 25-40-263-2-2
Den, 2012, 22-40-289-1-1
Bal, 2015, 31-45-334-1-2
Ne, 2017, 31-47-314-1-1
Jax, 2018, 37-58-469-5-1
Cle, 2021, 47-68-501-4-4

This passing formula hasn't worked with Ben. He's best utilized in a play action capacity with a knack for big plays, as was the case when he started with Cowher. Again, I'm not talking about WC and Divisional losses. We are talking about 1 SB loss, and 2 Conference losses under Cowher where the QB was the main reason. If you want to compare with Tomlin under similar circumstances, we can. In 2011, Ben was part of the reason, especially due to a pick-6, but they still could have recovered until Mendenhall handed it away. In the beat down to NE in 2017, Ben was not the main reason. As one can see, there's a big difference. One was denied directly due to QB play in all 3 losses.

***The first pick Kordell threw against Denver was a play action pass, and why not try? It's tried hundreds of times each season. Why he threw into double coverage is the concern. That second pick in the end zone I would have run it instead, but my goodness, there were 3 Bronco defenders there. The fumble on 2nd and 11, again, brain dead QB play who had ample time to throw it. He was awful***

[Northern_Blitz]

Maybe Tomlin should use Ben to his strengths, and not expect success with 40+ passes a game.

Gb, 2011, 25-40-263-2-2
Den, 2012, 22-40-289-1-1
Bal, 2015, 31-45-334-1-2
Ne, 2017, 31-47-314-1-1
Jax, 2018, 37-58-469-5-1
Cle, 2021, 47-68-501-4-4

This passing formula hasn't work with Ben. He's best utilized in a play action capacity with big plays thrown in, as was the case when he started with Cowher.

Do you think that Ben is able or willing to run an offense like that again?

I think it's much different for a 20-something to take the kind of pounding he used to take vs. doing it when approaching 40.

Ben doesn't seem to have the elite ability to extend plays anymore. That's what made him a great QB. On the plus side, I think he's better at making quick reads now than he ever was.

I'm not sure Tomlin could use him that way unless we have a Fountain of Youth at the South Side facility.

[crushedspirit]

Do you think that Ben is able or willing to run an offense like that again?

I think it's much different for a 20-something to take the kind of pounding he used to take vs. doing it when approaching 40.

Ben doesn't seem to have the elite ability to extend plays anymore. That's what made him a great QB. On the plus side, I think he's better at making quick reads now than he ever was.

I'm not sure Tomlin could use him that way unless we have a Fountain of Youth at the South Side facility.

Not anymore of course, as father time has caught up. Games I listed before this season, he was more than capable to be used the same way. Now, he is just a first read and quick release QB on most passing plays. I'm not sure how that will fit into Matt's offense.

[Steel Maniac]

I wonder will/ can Canada convince Ben to get under center more?