Something noteworthy about the SB teams (1 Viewer)

[Chase Stuart]

Both these teams have played great in the playoffs and deserve their SB berth. Has anyone noticed, though, that both teams have bad offensive lines?

Pittsburgh had a bad OL last year and then last a seven time all pro guard. Roethlisberger was sacked the second highest number of times in the league. The Steelers rank 23rd in rushing yards and 29th in yards per carry. Everyone has acknowledged all season that the weak spot for the Steelers was the OL.

Pitt's OL also consists of two sixth round picks, an UDFA, a fourth and a third rounder.

Arizona's line isn't much better. They protect the passer well but were the worst run blocking line in the NFL. They have an UDFA, a sixth, a third, a second and a first rounder.

So we've got two OLs in the Super Bowl, one bad and one average. We all know that a strong offensive line is the key to success in the NFL, so it's kind of interesting to see a SB matchup with two teams that are weakest where it counts most. And except for Levi Brown, these teams have not looked at OL early in the draft.

Do you think that success changes the way any of the top teams draft? I doubt it, and we might have three Ts go in the first five picks. Just thought it was an interesting observation in that the year we might have the worst OLs in the SB is the same year the highest OL get drafted.

 

[Pip's Invitation]

PIT is here because of its exceptional defense. ARI is here because of its exceptional passing game. (Its line is excellent at pass blocking and picking up blitzes.) This year did not have a dominant team that excelled in all areas. So it's not a huge surprise.

 

[Black]

True that vs. very good DEF, neither ARI or PIT could get the running games going, but both teams stuck with the 2 yards a pop and kept good balance.

Guess the 'must stop the run', 'must be able to run' rule for championship football is out the window?

Or does a short passing game substitute for being able to run and control the clock?

 

[Adebisi]

We all know that a strong offensive line is the key to success in the NFL...

I think a good defense, strong QB play, and good coaching are just as important.

 

[Spartans Rule]

There is no "magic formula" for success in the NFL. Many different types of teams can win.

Offensive line play is important, but like any other area, you can overcome a weakness there with enough strengths in other spots.

 

[Pskov1420]

Just a coincidence. Last years Super Bowl teams had two of the top 5 offensive lines that season.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

There is no "magic formula" for success in the NFL. Many different types of teams can win. Offensive line play is important, but like any other area, you can overcome a weakness there with enough strengths in other spots.

To win more than 1 chamionship you need a HOF level QB, Sure the Ravens and TB and even the 85 bears got their one title.But the Brady,Elway,Montana,Aikman, Bradshaw of the world are keys to win multi titles.Heck Pitt has had a great D system in place for along time but until they figured out the Odonnell/kordell/maddox QB's of the world were not getting it done and grabbed a good QB did they make it work.

 

[Chase Stuart]

There is no "magic formula" for success in the NFL. Many different types of teams can win. Offensive line play is important, but like any other area, you can overcome a weakness there with enough strengths in other spots.

To win more than 1 chamionship you need a HOF level QB, Sure the Ravens and TB and even the 85 bears got their one title.But the Brady,Elway,Montana,Aikman, Bradshaw of the world are keys to win multi titles.Heck Pitt has had a great D system in place for along time but until they figured out the Odonnell/kordell/maddox QB's of the world were not getting it done and grabbed a good QB did they make it work.

Your comment sort of begs the question; you pretty much become a HOF level QB by winning two SBs.I like Big Ben a lot and here's a lot better than Jim Plunkett, who I always say is very overrated. So while this isn't a knock on Ben, a GB of mine brought up a good point: if the Steelers win, will people view the '05/'08 Steelers the way the '80/'83 Raiders are viewed?

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

There is no "magic formula" for success in the NFL. Many different types of teams can win. Offensive line play is important, but like any other area, you can overcome a weakness there with enough strengths in other spots.

To win more than 1 chamionship you need a HOF level QB, Sure the Ravens and TB and even the 85 bears got their one title.But the Brady,Elway,Montana,Aikman, Bradshaw of the world are keys to win multi titles.Heck Pitt has had a great D system in place for along time but until they figured out the Odonnell/kordell/maddox QB's of the world were not getting it done and grabbed a good QB did they make it work.

Your comment sort of begs the question; you pretty much become a HOF level QB by winning two SBs.I like Big Ben a lot and here's a lot better than Jim Plunkett, who I always say is very overrated. So while this isn't a knock on Ben, a GB of mine brought up a good point: if the Steelers win, will people view the '05/'08 Steelers the way the '80/'83 Raiders are viewed?

But do the Steelers and Raiders win without Plunkett/Big Ben? probably notTrent Dilfer and Brad Johnson won superbowls and to me those teams could have won with anyone at QB."multiple" ways to win is not really true. Really there are two, HOF level QB's and All time great Defense's nothing else really.

 

[Chase Stuart]

There is no "magic formula" for success in the NFL. Many different types of teams can win.

Offensive line play is important, but like any other area, you can overcome a weakness there with enough strengths in other spots.

To win more than 1 chamionship you need a HOF level QB, Sure the Ravens and TB and even the 85 bears got their one title.But the Brady,Elway,Montana,Aikman, Bradshaw of the world are keys to win multi titles.

Heck Pitt has had a great D system in place for along time but until they figured out the Odonnell/kordell/maddox QB's of the world were not getting it done and grabbed a good QB did they make it work.

Your comment sort of begs the question; you pretty much become a HOF level QB by winning two SBs.I like Big Ben a lot and here's a lot better than Jim Plunkett, who I always say is very overrated. So while this isn't a knock on Ben, a GB of mine brought up a good point: if the Steelers win, will people view the '05/'08 Steelers the way the '80/'83 Raiders are viewed?

But do the Steelers and Raiders win without Plunkett/Big Ben? probably notTrent Dilfer and Brad Johnson won superbowls and to me those teams could have won with anyone at QB.

"multiple" ways to win is not really true. Really there are two, HOF level QB's and All time great Defense's nothing else really.

Ignoring the obvious fact that several teams have won SBs without either of those two things:1) Plunkett was not even good, much less HOF level.

2) Roethlisberger played the worst SB of any SB winning QB. His regular season this year will rank as one of the worst regular seasons of any SB winning QB. So while I like Ben and think he's played like a HOFer at times in his career, I don't see how he's a great argument for your case.

 

[Spartans Rule]

There is no "magic formula" for success in the NFL. Many different types of teams can win. Offensive line play is important, but like any other area, you can overcome a weakness there with enough strengths in other spots.

To win more than 1 chamionship you need a HOF level QB, Sure the Ravens and TB and even the 85 bears got their one title.But the Brady,Elway,Montana,Aikman, Bradshaw of the world are keys to win multi titles.Heck Pitt has had a great D system in place for along time but until they figured out the Odonnell/kordell/maddox QB's of the world were not getting it done and grabbed a good QB did they make it work.

I agree with this to some extent. QB is easily the single most important position on the field, and QBs have the most longevity of any players aside from K/P, so naturally having a great QB is going to give you a better chance at long-term success than anything else.That said, you can win multiple titles without an HOF QB and I agree with a lot of what Chase has said.

 

[Spartans Rule]

"multiple" ways to win is not really true. Really there are two, HOF level QB's and All time great Defense's nothing else really.

So would you consider the 2007 Giants' 17th ranked scoring defense one of the all-time greats, or is Eli Manning going to Canton?

 

[Jerry Lawler]

Leading up to the conference championship games, I was thinking those 4 teams illustrated the importance of finding creative ways to pressure the QB. This could explain some of the failures of teams with defenses that rely almost exclusively on the front 4 for pressuring the QB.

I hadn't thought about how odd it is that the O-lines are so unimpressive. I still think Pittsburgh has a decent line overall, as they've often had a success in run blocking, and some their problems in pass blocking are actually a result of Roethlisberger's willingness to take a hit if it means giving his receivers more time to get open. Arizona's O-line is terrible though. This matchup may get some front office people thinking about investing in a high-priced offensive line coach that can get mediocre players to hold up just enough to allow the skill position players to excel, but I'm guessing the rest of the league just writes it off as an anomaly.

 

[moleculo]

There is only one way to win a SB, and here it is: get hot in the playoffs. Nothing else matters. The best team in the world will not win a SB if they don't have everything going for them in January, and mediocre teams can put a string of three good games together and win it all.

Of course, it's easier for great teams to get "hot" than mediocre teams, so there is that.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

"multiple" ways to win is not really true. Really there are two, HOF level QB's and All time great Defense's nothing else really.

So would you consider the 2007 Giants' 17th ranked scoring defense one of the all-time greats, or is Eli Manning going to Canton?

I'd say they were an anomaly, Eli might get to Canton especially if he wins another, that plus his spedigree and playing in NY for along time might be enough, he probably wont have the elite stats to get in. But the reason the giants won that superbowl was Strahan (HOF), Osi, and Tuckreally how many superbowl champs didnt have a HOF calibre QB or elite D? maybe those redskin teams? that giant team?

 

[houndirish]

"multiple" ways to win is not really true. Really there are two, HOF level QB's and All time great Defense's nothing else really.

So would you consider the 2007 Giants' 17th ranked scoring defense one of the all-time greats, or is Eli Manning going to Canton?

I'd say they were an anomaly, Eli might get to Canton especially if he wins another, that plus his spedigree and playing in NY for along time might be enough, he probably wont have the elite stats to get in. But the reason the giants won that superbowl was Strahan (HOF), Osi, and Tuckreally how many superbowl champs didnt have a HOF calibre QB or elite D? maybe those redskin teams? that giant team?

The Giants year end ranking in '07 was worse than how they played simply due to getting lit up in the first 3 games of the season. They were still learning the intracacies of Spagnuolo's D. Once they got it down, they were a different unit. Sure the numbers don't lie, but downplaying the effectiveness of the Giants defense last year due to their overall stat ranking seems to be a stretch. If you watched that unit play the second half of the season, you don't come away thinking this is a middle of the pack defense.

 

[CowboyFan]

Leading up to the conference championship games, I was thinking those 4 teams illustrated the importance of finding creative ways to pressure the QB. This could explain some of the failures of teams with defenses that rely almost exclusively on the front 4 for pressuring the QB.

I hadn't thought about how odd it is that the O-lines are so unimpressive. I still think Pittsburgh has a decent line overall, as they've often had a success in run blocking, and some their problems in pass blocking are actually a result of Roethlisberger's willingness to take a hit if it means giving his receivers more time to get open. Arizona's O-line is terrible though. This matchup may get some front office people thinking about investing in a high-priced offensive line coach that can get mediocre players to hold up just enough to allow the skill position players to excel, but I'm guessing the rest of the league just writes it off as an anomaly.

I couldn't disagree more. Pit relies heavily on their defense and special teams, the offense is sub-par; stemming from the problems on the o-line. When they do have a bit of success is when Ben keeps on his feet as he gets knocked around like a pinball. They have slightly above average skill position players (IMHO), they glaring weakness is the line, resulting in poor stats and inconsistence.Arizona has shown, on the other hand, has been successful--when they commit to the run. I actually think they are better at run blocking than pass blocking. The pass blocking is helped by the best wr tandem in the league and a qb with a quick release.

 

[Captain Spaulding]

There is only one way to win a SB, and here it is: get hot in the playoffs. Nothing else matters. The best team in the world will not win a SB if they don't have everything going for them in January, and mediocre teams can put a string of three good games together and win it all.Of course, it's easier for great teams to get "hot" than mediocre teams, so there is that.

This definitely has applied to Superbowl champs in recent years.....although I am shocked that Pitt made it to the Superbowl with that horendous O-line they fielded this season (can't run block nor pass protect...and Willie Colon is good for 2-3 false starts per game). I think either playing Indy or Tenn in the playoffs would have been their downfall. I think they got a little "playoff scheduling-luck" getting the 2 teams that the Steelers beat this regular season vs. the 2 teams they lost to this reg. season.