Would Steeler fans put up with anything besides a run first team? (1 Viewer)

[JohnnyU]

The traditional Steeler teams are run to set up the pass. Would the Steeler faithful ever put up with the reverse of that? If the Steelers were to ever obtain a couple franchise WRs like Harrison and Wayne, or Fitgerald and Boldin, etc. etc., would they ever utilize them to their potential and Big Ben's potential? Disclaimer, I don't own Big Ben in any league. Just curious if it's set in stone with the so called "Steeler Way"?

 

[Iron Mike Tomczak]

I believe that Ben has the potential to carry the team if surrounded by the right personell (line especially, recievers as well). As we speak, I think that Ben doesn't have what he needs to be a Pass 60% kind of QB. The line is shady, the recievers are young minus Ward who's injuries are catching up with him. The Steelers have some needs the certainly need to address.

To answer your question, I believe that the Steelers can change, and have proven this with Maddox who passed a large percentage in his first year. I dont have the numbers but Im sure someone will back me up on that one.

I expect some heat from die hard fans, but no one will die harder than I as a Steeler fan, Ill be at the games long after my death, and I believe if the Steelers never change, the world is all the better. BUT and this is a big BUT, the Steelers have the speed with young WRs and Ben to change the scheme alittle. Fast Willie Parker is no Bettis and no Franco. If you ask me, id say the Steelers have been building for SPEED. Which is kind of odd to say.

I enjoy watching the Steelers keeping Opponents off guard, so a balanced offense as opposed to a run heavy offense would be appreciated personally.

 

[Joe Bryant]

I'd say yes, JohnnyU. The Steeler fans will "put up" with any team that wins. Just like all fans.

J

 

[Godsbrother]

I would accet anything as long as it works!

But I really believe the best way to win is to control the clock with a punishing run game. It keeps your defense fresh, keeps the opponent's offense on the sideline, and it is demoralizing to the opponent's defense.

 

[Lutherman2112]

For me, I wouldn't mind seeing the Steeler offense open up, if they have continued success with it.

However, I believe defense should always be the Steeler Way. It just seems to me that a rushing offense goes well with a good defense.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

No.

 

[Biabreakable]

I think the shift in philosophy has allready begun. When the Steelers got big Ben it opened up that possibility for them. Since then the Steelers have drafted TE and WR with thier top draft picks.

The Steelers have not had a great Qb like Ben since the blonde bomber. And they had some pretty good WRs in those days as well. That was very successful for them. That is the direction I see them going. I suggested it would be after Bens 1st year as did EBF. When people were saying Ben would never reach his potential because of the Steelers run 1st philosophy.

I agree the defense still should be the Steelers top priority. Many more teams are playing 3-4 defense right now so they have not been able to take as much advantage there personel wise as they were able to before.

Still not sure who the new coach will be. That will be very important. I hope they don't take the Vikings DC for the Vikings sake.

 

[nightshift]

no.

 

[SteelerMurf]

no.

Gladly put up with a pass first team.If you missed the 2005 playoffs, check out the Cincy, Indy and Denver games. They used the pass to set up the run.Any team should be balanced, it's not like they are gonna bring in a coach that is gonna play a Rams 2000 type of offense. They don't have the personell to do that anyway.

 

[Borat]

no.

I'm sure Steelers fans would be absolutely outraged if they ran a Colts-style offense with similar success.

 

[RTB1]

I seem to recall a lot of 5 WR sets when Chan Gailey was the OC, O'Donnell was QB and Slash was still Slash.

In 1993 O'Donnell was tied for 4th in the league in pass attempts.

 

[Biabreakable]

I seem to recall a lot of 5 WR sets when Chan Gailey was the OC, O'Donnell was QB and Slash was still Slash.In 1993 O'Donnell was tied for 4th in the league in pass attempts.

I guess Leroy and Nightshift were not happy with those teams or going back longer the 3 super bowl teams either. Steeler lost super bowl to the Cowboys when they made it with the chin before. Mainly due to O'Donnell throwing interceptions IIRC. But they made it to the super bowl with a more balanced attack then too.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

I seem to recall a lot of 5 WR sets when Chan Gailey was the OC, O'Donnell was QB and Slash was still Slash.In 1993 O'Donnell was tied for 4th in the league in pass attempts.

I guess Leroy and Nightshift were not happy with those teams or going back longer the 3 super bowl teams either. Steeler lost super bowl to the Cowboys when they made it with the chin before. Mainly due to O'Donnell throwing interceptions IIRC. But they made it to the super bowl with a more balanced attack then too.

So it is your position that those teams which featured Barry Foster and Bam Morris at RB were teams that used the pass to setup the run?ETA:In 1992 Barry Foster lead all rushers with 390 carries.In 1993 Foster played in only 9 games where he had 117 carries for 711 yards, 8TDs and still made the pro-bowl. Leroy Thompson had 205 carries and Merril Hoge another 50 carries that year. The Steelers leading receiver was TE Eric Green who had 63 receptions for 942yds and 5TDs. Their leading WR was Dwight "hands of" Stone with 41 receptions for 587 and 2TDs. Hardly the wideopen pass first attack referred to in the OP's question

 

[Biabreakable]

I seem to recall a lot of 5 WR sets when Chan Gailey was the OC, O'Donnell was QB and Slash was still Slash.In 1993 O'Donnell was tied for 4th in the league in pass attempts.

I guess Leroy and Nightshift were not happy with those teams or going back longer the 3 super bowl teams either. Steeler lost super bowl to the Cowboys when they made it with the chin before. Mainly due to O'Donnell throwing interceptions IIRC. But they made it to the super bowl with a more balanced attack then too.

So it is your position that those teams which featured Barry Foster and Bam Morris at RB were teams that used the pass to setup the run?

No.I just am not sure why you guys are so against the offense making the best use of its weapons.Or maybe you disagree with a pass 1st offense completly? Honestly I am not sure. All you said was "no" to the question of if you would put up with anything besides a run 1st team.

 

[nightshift]

no.

I'm sure Steelers fans would be absolutely outraged if they ran a Colts-style offense with similar success.

You mean that playoff team we beat last year? The one where Manning got sacked more times than a loser on Trump TV? That team?Right. See any championship trophies held high by Manning? nope.Sorry, but I'd rather see hard running, knock you on your butt defense Steelers any Sunday over the Colts.

 

[Borat]

no.

I'm sure Steelers fans would be absolutely outraged if they ran a Colts-style offense with similar success.

You mean that playoff team we beat last year? The one where Manning got sacked more times than a loser on Trump TV? That team?Right. See any championship trophies held high by Manning? nope.Sorry, but I'd rather see hard running, knock you on your butt defense Steelers any Sunday over the Colts.

Right, the offense that is still playing right now, and seems to win a round or two and compete for the championship every year. That team.There are very, very few teams that wouldn't trade their offense for Indy's. The Steelers aren't one of them.

 

[Jous]

no.

I'm sure Steelers fans would be absolutely outraged if they ran a Colts-style offense with similar success.

You mean that playoff team we beat last year? The one where Manning got sacked more times than a loser on Trump TV? That team?Right. See any championship trophies held high by Manning? nope.Sorry, but I'd rather see hard running, knock you on your butt defense Steelers any Sunday over the Colts.

Right, the offense that is still playing right now, and seems to win a round or two and compete for the championship every year. That team.There are very, very few teams that wouldn't trade their offense for Indy's. The Steelers aren't one of them.

If it works, I'll gladly "put up" with a wide open attack. Anything that wins... I mean, it's not like if I had a choice between a "Colts style team with 10+ wins" or a "Old-school Steelers style team with 6 wins" I'd take the latter. I don't care how we play, as long as they are results, I'm fine with it.The reason that Steeler football is associated with run first and tough defense is because out of all winning forulas, it's the easiest to establish for a team and not as hard to put together as an elite offensive, wide open passing team. But yea, whatever works.In the 2005 playoffs for the first 3 games we went pass-first but retained our tough defense, so I don't think sacrificing the run game means the defense leaves with it. In the 4th game (Super Bowl) we tried to have a balanced offense which for the most part didn't work too well, so we instead had to rely on big plays and bend but don't break defense...which, while it worked in that game, shouldn't exactly be the main recipe for a team's success.

 

[Frenchy Fuqua]

The climate in Pittsburgh, like other cold weather cities, lends itself to running the ball in December and January. Having said that, don't forget the Steelers 3rd and 4th SB wins came with an outstanding passing attack.

In 78-79 the Steelers led the NFL in TD passes and YPA

In 79-80 the Steelers were 3rd in the NFL in passing yards, 5th in TD passes and 1st in YPA

Really the Steelers defense has dictated how much they throw the ball, not the coach. When Noll & Cowher had top defenses they preferred to limit turnovers by pounding the ball. In years where their D was less stout they threw the ball more frequently.

 

[Black&Gold]

The climate in Pittsburgh, like other cold weather cities, lends itself to running the ball in December and January. Having said that, don't forget the Steelers 3rd and 4th SB wins came with an outstanding passing attack.In 78-79 the Steelers led the NFL in TD passes and YPAIn 79-80 the Steelers were 3rd in the NFL in passing yards, 5th in TD passes and 1st in YPAReally the Steelers defense has dictated how much they throw the ball, not the coach. When Noll & Cowher had top defenses they preferred to limit turnovers by pounding the ball. In years where their D was less stout they threw the ball more frequently.

This is what I was going to get on here and write. Sure, it would be fun to win with a "Colts attack", but everyone knows that the Colts are much more dangerous at home in the dome. They won this week, not by their offense, but with their defense. In December and January, it gets pretty cold in Pittsburgh. The playoffs are at this time and with a wide open attack, you lose your home field advantage if you get bad weather. How many good cold weather teams have won the SuperBowl without a good defense and running game? You have to have balance though. If a defense can put 8-9 in the box everytime, you aren't going to run either. I agree that the weather is why the Steelers have been a run first time throughout their life. You can look back and see though that most successful Steeler teams have had a good passing game as well.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Right, the offense that is still playing right now, and seems to win a round or two and compete for the championship every year. That team.There are very, very few teams that wouldn't trade their offense for Indy's. The Steelers aren't one of them.

If that's your measuring stick, then I'll point out that since 1994 the Steelers have been in 6 AFCC games while the colts have been in 2 (and since '01, the Steelers have been in 3 while the colts have been in 2).The team Pittsburgh fields is competative year in and year out. This year is only the 6th year in the past 15 they have not been playing in the post season. I wouldn't want to trade Offense with Indy's, because the Steelers entire package works. That includes a clock control offense. The entire package in Indy has yet to bear any fruit. Now, I'm not blind to the fact that the Steelers have had a better defense than Indy for most of recent memory, but one aspect of a good defense is clock control, half of which falls on the O's shoulders. I don't know offhand what Indy's TOP stats have been recently, but I'd guess not as good as PGH.

 

[AhrnCityPahnder]

Also, when you say "switch offense with the Colts", I guess I'm not clear on whether you mean employ the Colts style of offense with the Steelers current roster, or if you mean some land of make believe where there is no salary cap rammifications on the discussion, and you mean the Steelers now have Manning, Harrison, Wayne and co.

My reply above is addressing the former. I'm not even interested in bothering to discuss the latter.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

Down the road a ways, sure. Right now, no. The personnel they have offensively (great run blocking line that can be iffy in pass protection, an explosive RB, a fullback suited for blocking rather than as a reciving option, receivers who block well in the run game, etc..) dictate their philosophy. If, in ensuing drafts and free agency, the value is in more explosive players that can set up a more open offense, I'm all for it. For now, though, they need to run the ball to be successful.