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Kordell Stewart retires (1 Viewer)

Copeman

Copeman

Footballguy
:shrug:

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By Dan Gigler / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

One of the most popular yet polarizing local sports figures of the 1990's and early 2000's, Kordell Stewart returned to Pittsburgh today to "retire" as a Steeler, nearly a decade after he last played for the team.

A second round draft pick in 1995, Stewart played eight seasons in Pittsburgh. He rose to fame during his first two seasons when he saw game action as a wide receiver, a quarterback, a running back and even a punter, earning him the nickname "Slash."

He became the team's starting quarterback in 1997, leading the team to the AFC Championship. In 2001, he was the AFC Offensive Player of the Year, the team MVP and a Pro Bowl selection.

Stewart also was a target of rumors about his personal life and, according to him, death threats during seasons in which he struggled.

Of returning to Pittsburgh today for his "retirement," Stewart said: "It's not closure in a negative way, it's closure in a positive way ... I had a great time doing it. It's about the experience."

After leaving the Steelers, Stewart signed as a free-agent with Chicago in 2003 and played a season there before finishing his career with two seasons as a member of the Baltimore Ravens. He has since worked as an NFL analyst on ESPN. He resides in Atlanta with his wife and son.Former quarterback Mike Tomczak and tackle John Jackson also returned to "retire" as Steelers years after their playing careers ended.

 
It's too bad that the Steelers didn't try to develop him more as QB early in his career.

 
I don't think he received the proper chance from Cowher. And after reading John Steigerwalds book "Just Play the Game", my suspicions were confirmed.

 
'Copeman said:
I don't think he received the proper chance from Cowher. And after reading John Steigerwalds book "Just Play the Game", my suspicions were confirmed.
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Hiring of Ray Sherman to implement an offense that failed to take advantage of Stewart's talent is probably the biggest blunder of his career. At that time running QB's were not popular but the Steelers went 11-5 with a very good offense with Stewart at QB. What is mind-boggling is that a team with a poor OL and mediocre receivers doesn't say "maybe we should go all-in with the most talented guy on the team and see what he can do".
Ray Sherman had one ill-fated season as the Steelers offensive coordinator. Picked after the 1997 season on the heels of Jerry Jones surprise decision to hire Chan Gailey as his head coach, Sherman arrived as a second tier choice.Still, Sherman had a good track record with Brad Johnson and it was thought that he would transform Kordell Stewart into a finished product.Instead Sherman was an unmitigated disaster.Stewart had his own weaknesses, so perhaps it is too harsh to condemn Sherman for “ruining him,” but Ray Sherman certainly failed to foster Kordell Stewart’s development.Under Sherman, Stewart became tentative, the long ball disappeared and Sherman was either unwilling or unable to call plays that capitalized on Stewart’s mobility. Bill Cowher took note and stripped Sherman of his play calling duties late in the season. What amazes me is that the team is hurting at OL so Bettis is less effeSherman’s offense was predictable. I can remember a third and long situation during one late-season drubbing, where I said to my buddies at the Baltimore’s Purple Goose Saloon, “Watch, it is going to be a weakside pitch to Fred McAfee.” Sherman called just that, and to the surprise of no one, the Steelers failed to convert.In Sherman’s defense, John Jackson’s departure had already weakened his offensive line and disintegrated further with Justin Strzelczyk’s injury. The Steelers had also lost Yancy Thigpen and neither Charles Johnson, Will Blackwell nor Jahine Arnold could pick up the slack.
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he was a beast who was not used corretly and the league and nfl are at a loss because of it if he was used on trickery plays all the time it might have changed the league into a trick play bonanza

 
'cstu said:
'Copeman said:
I don't think he received the proper chance from Cowher. And after reading John Steigerwalds book "Just Play the Game", my suspicions were confirmed.
Click to expand...
Hiring of Ray Sherman to implement an offense that failed to take advantage of Stewart's talent is probably the biggest blunder of his career. At that time running QB's were not popular but the Steelers went 11-5 with a very good offense with Stewart at QB. What is mind-boggling is that a team with a poor OL and mediocre receivers doesn't say "maybe we should go all-in with the most talented guy on the team and see what he can do".
Ray Sherman had one ill-fated season as the Steelers offensive coordinator. Picked after the 1997 season on the heels of Jerry Jones surprise decision to hire Chan Gailey as his head coach, Sherman arrived as a second tier choice.Still, Sherman had a good track record with Brad Johnson and it was thought that he would transform Kordell Stewart into a finished product.Instead Sherman was an unmitigated disaster.Stewart had his own weaknesses, so perhaps it is too harsh to condemn Sherman for “ruining him,” but Ray Sherman certainly failed to foster Kordell Stewart’s development.Under Sherman, Stewart became tentative, the long ball disappeared and Sherman was either unwilling or unable to call plays that capitalized on Stewart’s mobility. Bill Cowher took note and stripped Sherman of his play calling duties late in the season. What amazes me is that the team is hurting at OL so Bettis is less effeSherman’s offense was predictable. I can remember a third and long situation during one late-season drubbing, where I said to my buddies at the Baltimore’s Purple Goose Saloon, “Watch, it is going to be a weakside pitch to Fred McAfee.” Sherman called just that, and to the surprise of no one, the Steelers failed to convert.In Sherman’s defense, John Jackson’s departure had already weakened his offensive line and disintegrated further with Justin Strzelczyk’s injury. The Steelers had also lost Yancy Thigpen and neither Charles Johnson, Will Blackwell nor Jahine Arnold could pick up the slack.
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:goodposting: Stewart excelled when the offense was spread out. It opened up running lanes and gave him easy reads. If he would have stayed in Chan's offense he would have had a much different career.
 
This brings up a point I have been wondering about...

If the spread offense can put up good numbers and help QBs go from average (or below average) to good, why don't most teams employ this? What is the downside?

Same goes with the zone blocking running scheme. You can basically plug and play RBs, use an undersized line and put up wonderful rushing numbers, yet only a couple of teams do this.

 
'Copeman said:
I don't think he received the proper chance from Cowher. And after reading John Steigerwalds book "Just Play the Game", my suspicions were confirmed.
Click to expand...
First off Steigerwald is an idiot and jerk. That must be repeated every time that %$%$%^'s name is mentioned.Secondly, you can argue that Cowher may not have developed Stewart as well as he should have been BUT Cowher gave many chances (probably too many) to Kordell. Kordell was a great talent and not nearly as bad as some Steelers fan think, but he was wildly inconsistent, not only from season to season but from game to game and even quarter to quarter. His main problem was inaccuracy and he really never seemed to learn how to read a defense and go through progressions. Maybe that was Cowher's fault but it certainly wasn't from a lack of opportunities.
 
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