Best Set of Starters From the Ben Era?

[snarky]

How would you assemble a team of the best starters throughout Ben's tenure as a Steeler? Here's what I came up with. Felt a bit wrong leaving Hampton and Clark out but there's only so much room (I went 4-3 on defense and moved Kiesel inside)...

Ben
Bell
Heath
Brown
Ward
Santonio
Villanueva
Faneca
Pouncey
DeCastro
Starks

Watt
Heyward
Kiesel
Harrison
Timmons
Shazier
Porter
Ike
Haden
Troy
Minkah

Boswell
Sepulveda (I guess)

[Ernie]

How would you assemble a team of the best starters throughout Ben's tenure as a Steeler? Here's what I came up with. Felt a bit wrong leaving Hampton and Clark out but there's only so much room (I went 4-3 on defense and moved Kiesel inside)...

Ben
Bell
Heath
Brown
Ward
Santonio
Villanueva
Faneca
Pouncey
DeCastro
Starks

Watt
Heyward
Kiesel
Harrison
Timmons
Shazier
Porter
Ike
Haden
Troy
Minkah

Boswell
Sepulveda (I guess)

I'm not sure Minkah gets the nod over Ryan Clark. Would be a good comparison to revisit 5 years from now...
And it would be very difficult to keep Aaron Smith off of that unit.
I'm also taking Farrior over Shazier..

[snarky]

I'm not sure Minkah gets the nod over Ryan Clark. Would be a good comparison to revisit 5 years from now...
And it would be very difficult to keep Aaron Smith off of that unit.

It's very close in my opinion and I can see solid arguments for both. Clark's attributes complemented Troy very well. In some ways I feel like he allowed Troy to be Troy. I think Minkah is a bit more of a playmaker.

[JTP53609]

Aaron smith was the most underrated Steeler in the last 20 years, he’s on that lost but tough to choose who he takes the spot of, same with Hampton

[T.Ferguson]

I'm not sure Minkah gets the nod over Ryan Clark. Would be a good comparison to revisit 5 years from now...
And it would be very difficult to keep Aaron Smith off of that unit.
I'm also taking Farrior over Shazier..

Oh he definitely gets the nod from me. Clark did have some punishing hits I'll give him that but he was fortunate to play with some great players around him, I think Minkah is definitely an overall better player though. Just this year he had like 120 tackles that's insane for any safety and he's had some very questionable guys back there with him lol.

[Ernie]

Aaron smith was the most underrated Steeler in the last 20 years, he’s on that lost but tough to choose who he takes the spot of, same with Hampton

No doubt about that. IMO injuries kept him from being very easily on that list.

[Ernie]

Oh he definitely gets the nod from me. Clark did have some punishing hits I'll give him that but he was fortunate to play with some great players around him, I think Minkah is definitely an overall better player though. Just this year he had like 120 tackles that's insane for any safety and he's had some very questionable guys back there with him lol.

With a "Last in the league" run defense... the safeties are surely going to get more opportunities to make tackles. I'm not throwing shade at Minkah. Hes obviously very good.

[T.Ferguson]

Also where is Hampton?? The guy was awesome against the run, very, very, very important part of those defenses.

[Ernie]

Oh he definitely gets the nod from me. Clark did have some punishing hits I'll give him that but he was fortunate to play with some great players around him, I think Minkah is definitely an overall better player though. Just this year he had like 120 tackles that's insane for any safety and he's had some very questionable guys back there with him lol.

And I wouldnt throw shade at the group he worked with. Edmunds and Haden are solid.

[snarky]

Also where is Hampton?? The guy was awesome against the run, very, very, very important part of those defenses.

As i said in the first post, I'm interested to see how others would assemble the team. I'm not here to dig my heels in and say this is THE lineup -- just what I came up with. My issue with Hampton is he forces you into a 3-4.

[T.Ferguson]

With a "Last in the league" run defense... the safeties are surely going to get more opportunities to make tackles. I'm not throwing shade at Minkah. Hes obviously very good.

Yeah big reason why, it's still a pretty crazy number though, I think it's top 5 all time for a safety.

[Ernie]

If you guys get a chance.. look up Joey Porter's stats v James Harrison. Theres another very interesting conversation to be had...

[hackjam]

Marcus Gilbert over Max Starks. Marvel Smith or Kelvin Beachum over Villanueva.

Aaron Smith over Brett Keisel.

James Farrior over Lawrence Timmons.

[LPMAN]

How would you assemble a team of the best starters throughout Ben's tenure as a Steeler? Here's what I came up with. Felt a bit wrong leaving Hampton and Clark out but there's only so much room (I went 4-3 on defense and moved Kiesel inside)...

Ben
Bell
Heath
Brown
Ward
Santonio
Villanueva
Faneca
Pouncey
DeCastro
Starks

Watt
Heyward
Kiesel
Harrison
Timmons
Shazier
Porter
Ike
Haden
Troy
Minkah

Boswell
Sepulveda (I guess)

Kiesel couldn't carry Aaron Smiths jock strap. Marvel Smith over Villy. James Farrior over Shazier. Bettis over Bell.

[Ernie]

Marcus Gilbert over Max Starks. Marvel Smith or Kelvin Beachum over Villanueva.

Aaron Smith over Brett Keisel.

James Farrior over Lawrence Timmons.

I think Timmons belongs on the list.. the odd man out is Shazier... and that's only because of his injury.