Is a seventh Lombardi in the works?

Your next column should examine the competition.

The Colts are playing better this year. They have a good chance to be the #1 seed. They certainly won't be the #5 seed.

The Patriots have Brady back. I feel pretty comfortable to say they will be in the playoffs.

I guess we have already beaten Denver & San Diego so the West is nothing to worry about. But Cincy is looking much better and they might push us to a wild card if we don't win this week. And I'm not counting Baltimore out yet.

But, yeah, we do have a chance. It won't be easy, but we have a chance.

Bob, I have only three words to say to you: in-jur-y.

You saw how the Steelers suffered with Troy out.

One play could effectively de-rail their season.

Let's not jinx things, ok?

The Steelers definitely have a chance to win number seven....But SO many things have to fall in place.

The main thing is they have to avoid major, season-ending injuries....and that in itself is related to pure luck.

The '08 team had that "certain something" that takes teams to the Super Bowl.

In recent weeks, the '09 team has flashed that same thing....but it is too early to tell if it's for real.

It's a rough road....But they're definitely in the running.

Injuries, they've overcome them. I gotta feelin Pittsburgh's going to the Super Bowl. Yeah, that feeling is back. The Steelers will beat the crap out of the Colts. As for New England no problem there either. I don't see them losing another game if they win Sunday.

The Steelers have lost their last game this season.  I doubt they play both New England and Indy in the playoffs.  The only question I have is if they can beat the Whis twice.

Pittsburgh has so far overcome injuries but will that key injury (Ben, Hines, Harrison, etc) occur?

Steelers appear to have the easiest schedule for all of the contenders for the rest of way, but they had the hardest schedule last year and survived.

The Steelers struggled with Browns more than anyone else this year, showed very little on offense vs the Vikes, struggled with the lowly Lions, and just won over what we all knew was a an overrated Bronocs team.

Ben is even better, Wallace and Mendenhall are really stepping up, and the O-line appears to be improved from last year.

I guess my point is .... sit back and enjoy .. this is why they play the games (I would also like to offer this same advice to some of the Pen Fans who apparently already hollering for firings and trades.)

Bob, re: "But at the midway point of the 2009 season, a third Super Bowl in five year -- and another dynasty -- is more than a possibility."

I don't know what is next on your scale above possibility, but if it is likelihood I would have to disagree. I think the Steelers look great, but they aren't even 50-50 to go to the Super Bowl. Three other teams in the AFC have legitimate shots as have been described. If they do make it to the big game they still have to win it, and that took a miracle play against a mediocre (as Super Bowl teams go) opponent last year. I'm guessing this year's NFC representative will be better.  

I'll give you strong possibility.

And before the offers come in, no, I never bet against something I want to see happen.

jstu9, the Pats defense is not as good as the 16-0 team.  I like the Steelers chances against New England.

I agree.  If the defense can play at the level that they played last year, coupled with this years offense, barring injuries we would be hard to beat for any team.   One glaring improvement from last year that you failed to mention Bob, is the punting situation.   Thank goodness for Daniel Sepulveda being back and healthy.  I enjoyed watching Mitch Berger punt for Denver Monday Night.  

"the widely ridiculed offensive line is the now widely respected offensive line"

A bit much IMO Bob, as this is still the weak link of this team, without question.  Otherwise, I agree that the defending Champs are as much a favorite as any.  For those that cite the possibility of Steeler injuries, that is the unknown that faces all other contenders as well.  No one has ever won a title without at least a little help from lady luck.

I wholeheartedly agree with one statement I heard postgame Mon. nite (even though it was delivered by Steve Young with whom I'm rarely in agreement) :  If Mendenhall is gonna run for 150 yds. per game the Steelers will not lose another game!

It says here...if the Steelers can continue to impose their will in the running game, to the tune of Rocket Rashard gaining 120-150 yds. on 18-24 carries, with the winningest NFL QB since the start of '04 leading the O & with this D, what's not to like?

way to jinx it, bobert.

If you factor out k.o & int. return scores, it seems to me that the Steelers' defense has been very effective at keeping opponents off the scoreboard even if their other stats aren't as impressive as last year.  The loss to the Bears was more the result of dismal offense than poor defense.  If the offense can put up at least 20-25 points per game for the rest of the year, I'd be surprised if the Steelers finished worse than 12-4.

Absolutely true that the Steelers may be knocking on Seven's door.  I do hope we have the opportunity to face NE and Indy in the playoffs so that we can prove our mettle to ourselves and all the Brady/Manning-lovers out there.  Big Ben is finally coming into his own, getting appreciation from national sports writers, but is still seen as second fiddle to Brady and Manning.  How I'd love to see our Steelers smash up those two teams in the playoffs.

As far as any worries about this blog being a jinx, c'mon, we all know Coach doesn't go for that hocus pocus stuff.

It's a pretty simple formula; when the Steelers have an elite quarterback, they win Super Bowls.  Even if we are improved from last year, it's such a toss up as to whether or not they win the Super Bowl, but we are certainly in another golden age of Steeler football, due in large part to Mr. Roethlisberger.  We always seem to have the other components, but it takes that quarterback to put us over the top, and we've got one for a while to come. Whether or not number 7 comes this year, you have to believe it's not far off.

last year it was the State of Champs (PENS-STILLERS-phillies) theme...

this year maybe it's uniform number (27 for 27 - 7 for 7) theme???  Of course that logic would make more sense had we re-signed Scuderi.

How awesome is it that you have Ben, Peyton, Brady and Carson all healthy and having some of their best seasons in the same year?  It's never happened before.  Whoever comes out of the AFC will have earned it.  What a way to close out the decade.  I agree with Penn Hills guy and I hope we face both the Pats and Colts in the playoffs.  I don't want to hear anyone taking away from how good this team really is...

PennHillsGuyNC/JBurns-

It doesn't matter who you beat to win the title, fans of the Cheats incoherently think the Steelers titles are lame because they didn't play them & in their view the Steelers beat weak NFC franchises to win the last two.

To that I say...Seattle & Arizona or Carolina & Philly, what's the difference?  None, have won a Super Bowl!  Why is it a negative reflection on the Steelers, if in their 2 Super Bowl runs this decade, they didn't have to face N.E.?  

In the first run, the team that the Steelers beat in the AFC title game, knocked the defending "tainted" champs out, the week prior in the same venue.  In the most recent run, the Steelers Nov. victory in N.E. helped to eliminate the Patsy's from the post-season (which they missed via tie-breaker) by dealing them a key conference loss.  

At least the Steelers were there to compete in 2 of those N.E. runs.   To earn the opportunity to defend, even in defeat is favorable to not be worthy of even competing.

As for the Colts...the Steelers are 7-0 lifetime against the Bal/Ind Colts in the playoffs...nothing to prove there!

Shhhhhh, Bob! You are jinxing us!....just like you are jinxing the Panthers this week! haha

You make a compelling argument though and your points are spot-on. Lets just keep it to ourselves, OK? Don't want the TV talking heads to find out the Steelers are best in the league.

Blitzburgh,

I agree with you that the O-line may remain the "weak" link. But I will go on to say, as my quotation marks indicate, "weak' is a relative word when in comes to the Steelers. Personally, I am just over-delighted and truly amazed that the young 'uns on the offensive line have improved so drastically, in such short order. I mean, we're not just talking about one player who has figured it out -i.e. Rashard Mendenhall. The entire unit, which must work cohesively, is leaps and bounds better than it was just the month before last. It is truly remarkable, and testament to both their own efforts, and the efforts and faith shown in them by the offensive coaches. Big Ben also deserves credit for being a tireless champion and cheerleader of his boys.

On the issue of the Steelers taking it all again, why not? I think our A-game beats anybody else's A-game. And frankly, our B-game also might beat anybody. We only played our A-game in the second half against Denver, yet we left the Broncos in the dust. And frankly, in the last Super Bowl, that fourth quarter was hardly our defense's A-game. My ONLY concern is: January and February football is a game of peaking at the right time. If the Steelers are taking their game to the next level, whereby each and every week they go out with that killer instinct of professionals -a la the Patriots of mid-decade (cheating, notwithstanding)- then the Steelers are the best team, period. BUT, if what goes up, must come down, are the Steelers peaking about four weeks too early??? John Madden closed out his broadcasting career by remarking about Ben Roethlisberger -but really, it could be said for all competitors in sports- "It's not *what* you do, but *when* you do it."

JL-

Agreed "weak" is a relative word when it comes to the Steelers, but until the body of work is more comprehensive, it's merely a work in progress.  

The weak link is still the weak link.  Afterall, when you boast a secondary that recently led the league in pass defense, a LB unit that features multiple Pro Bowlers & still more with future Pro Bowl potential, a D-Line that recently finished #2 vs. the run & just held a 6-1 team to 27 yds. net, upper echelon kicking /punting/coverage units & above average return game, a fresh RB who looks like a rushing title is in his future, a receiving core of Ward-Holmes-Miller-Wallace-Moore & a QB who has won more total games & playoff games than any other since he's been in the league, it then becomes obvious that a unit without a Pro Bowler & one that has allowed it's QB to be sacked & hit more than any other NFL QB & has posted consecutive lower half of the league rushing rankings, is INDEED the weak link.

Bob,

Great stuff as always.

I would only question your declaration that Aaron Smith is the Steelers best D-lineman. I would argue that Smith is an above average player, but Casey Hampton is an elite player. Not sure there is better D-lineman at their position than Hampton (Wilfork is in the discussion though). Something to chew on.

for my money most Maddenisms sound like the ultimate in stating the obvious...

it's not what you do...(really?)

but when you do it...(what exactly is one without the other???)

Is OK to be cautiously optimistic with this team.  They should beat the Bengals this weekend.

My only concern, as expressed by many others here, is in pro football anybody can go down to injury at any time.  There are still two games against the Ravens left -- and those guys still bring it.  Just ask Mendenhall.

BlitzBurghDude - I see your point.  And it's probably naiive to think that even a win over the Colts and Pats would keep critics from marginalizing our 3rd in 5 years... but I still think it would leave very little room for anyone to question how great this team is.  Whatever critics say, I just want to beat the Bungles.  Go steelers.

(A classic case of Pittsburgh Paranoia. Who is going to marginalize three Super Bowls in five years? -- Bob Smizik)

Unless Big Ben gets hurt, I think the Steelers will make it to the AFC title game.  Then it is a toss up.  A few bad plays and Tom Brady is back in the Super Bowl.  I think the Steelers are better than the Pats this year but a few mistakes and we will see the Pats playing for their fourth Super Bowl of the decade.

The Steelers might win it all this year, but this group is a little long in the tooth to become a dynasty..

Bob,

I didn't realize you could "jinx things" by posing the possibility of another Lombardi?  LOL   However it is dream time here in mid season.  And all you say is true - this team could be better.   I'd like to see the defense take it up one more notch between now and the end of the season however.

Look out Colts, Patriots and  Bengals!

Blitzburgh,

No doubt the recent good track record for the O-line is still a short track record. And so, no, we don't put them into the same class as, say, the linebacking corp, or any of the others you mention. I cross my fingers that the young 'uns keep up what they've started. But I'm feeling pretty sanguine about them.

As for the John Madden remark about the "timing" of what you do, it's not necessarily that bromidic a statement. Within that particular game (SB 43), Kurt Warner threw for three TD's to one pick, while Ben had just one TD pass, and one pick.  But could Ben have picked a better time to throw for that one TD? However, even more relevant (and why I first cited Madden) is how his comment can be applied to my point about "peaking." If the Steelers get hot now in Novermber, but have one off day in January, they sit home in February. Whether or not we need to worry any more about that with this year's team, I don't know. But it's something to think about, regarding this thread's topic.

"Long in tooth?"

We're already seeing the team survive (even thrive?) without Aaron Smith. All three defensive line starters might fairly be categorized as closer to the end than the beginning. But other than that, just an occasional older player here or there (Farrior, Ward). On the whole, our team is just hitting it's prime and still has miles to go. Two World Titles already in the books, and still more to come??? The talk of a dynasty is par for the course.

I remember when the Pats had won three in five years there were many discussions about if that was enough to call them a dynasty.It was generally decided that they needed to win another one with the same core of players. So doe the Steelers need to win, say two more in the next three years to earn the D word? two in four?

If the Pats win it this year are they a dynasty?

I can't separate the Pats from their cheating. But let's set that aside for a moment. Tom Brady has been a constant of all their Super Bowls, but how many of their other players have been with them for them all?  (Not a rhetorical question; I really don't know.) The 49er's of the '80's are considered a dynasty, though there was a fair amount of player turnover between their first and their fourth titles, not to mention their fifth. Of course, most people put the Miami Dolphins into the "dynasty" category. They "only" won two Super Bowls, though they went to three in a row. And they did have that perfect season in there, to boot.

Though I personally don't like it, with one more SB title, I think most people assign the "D" word to New England, if they haven't already. (Myself, I'd confiscate their first three Lombardis ;-)   ).

I'm a Roethlisberger supporter, but he has been only above average this season. He makes too many negative plays to be in the Manning-Brady-Brees class.

See the Quarterback Efficiency Ratings at Bleacherreport.com

Well Tom the Bomb, you know what they say about opinions...

Lest there be any doubt, my elipses apply to the Bomb's bomb. Not any of the other opinions found above, which are all far more valid.

TtBTracy -

Most important stats for a QB is Win Pct. - Yds/Att - TD/INT, Passer efficiency rating is convoluted & not an overall optimum measure of QB's...case in point: Chad Pennington is in the top 5-10 all-time in passer rating which puts him ahead of 98% of QB's currently enshrined in Canton, Steve Young being the all-time leader also speaks to that.

Following are up to date (thru '09 wk. 9) CAREER numbers:

Win Pct:

1. Tom       .787 (.042 HIGHER post season than reg. season)

2. Ben       .730 (.078 HIGHER post season than reg. season)

3. Peyton  .668 (.218 LOWER post season than reg. season)

Yds/Att:

1. Ben        7.97

2. Peyton   7.68

3. Tom       7.27

TD/INT

1. Tom       2.3

2. Peyton   2.0

3. Ben       1.5

Super Bowls, since all 3 have been competing for the title:

1. Ben      - 2

2. Peyton - 1

3. Tom     - 0

Now let's tally the rankings, by adding the total number for each, based on 1-2-3 ranking, therefore the LOWER the number the HIGHER the OVERALL ranking;

1. Ben     - 7

2. Tom     - 8

3. Peyton - 9

close, I'll give you that, but Ben not being in the class of the other 2...SIMPLY NOT TRUE!

As for the negative plays, put Ben with the N.E. or Ind. offenses & Brady and Peyton behind the Pitt O-Line the past 5 years...we all saw how Brady folded like a lawn chair in SBXLII when faced with the same pressure Ben faces game in-game out & Peyton has been sacked only 7 times in 8 games this season.

(Win percentage is a TEAM stat, not a quarterback stat. As I've stated earlier, if win percentage is the best barometer of a QB, then Roethlisberger's best year was 2004. -- Bob Smizik)

These are facts, not opinions: Roethlisberger has lost more yards on sacks and turnovers than any QB except Garrard and Favre in the league. He also has been the victim of three defensive TDS via turnovers.

Accordinng to QBER, he ranks 15th overall. (See Bleacherreport.com.)

TomTracy-

Everything I posted above is FACT & in addition is NOT a skewed/spun sampling, but instead is for the entire career of ALL three QB's that you mention.

btw, the lost yardage on sacks hammers my point home furthermore, as it's been my argument all along, that Brady & Manning both are beneficiarys of superior supporting casts on offense, than Ben has been afforded over their entire careers.

I'm not talking about last year or the one before that. I'm talking about now.

The Steelers would be much better without so many negative plays, the kind that the Colts and Patriots don't  make nearly as often.

TomTracy-

Q:  What do the following 11 QB's  have in common:

Chad Pennington - Matt Schaub - Daunte Culpepper - Jeff Garcia -

Trent Green - David Garrard - Matt Hasselbeck - Rich Gannon -

Jay Cutler - Marc Bulger & Mark Brunell ?

A: They ALL have higher career Passer efficiency ratings than ALL of the following QB's, 12 HOFers & 3 borderline HOFers:

Unitas - Elway - Bradshaw - Staubach - Starr - Aikman -

Fouts - Tarkenton - Jurgensen - Dawson - Griese - Moon -

Stabler - Simms & Anderson

A bit of perspective...

Bian Griese ranks  30th in career career pass. eff. rtg.,

father Bob ranks 73rd!

btw, Ben is #8 all-time, so I'm not discounting the stat's import because of convenience.

Bob,

Yards per attempt is also a team stat, as it takes into account the QB delivering the ball, the intended receiver hauling it in & the blockers giving time for both to occur...the same can be said for TD/INT & Super Bowl titles, as FOOTBALL is a team sport Bob, unlike baseball where numbers are accumulated on a more individual basis.

So, I ask, are you discounting my contention that Ben does indeed belong in the class of Brady & Manning based on the numbers provided above?

even in baseball a pitcher's W/L record is directly attributed to the overall run production & fielding of the team

Blitzburgh,

Fine, fine job arguing the case, as usual. It's impossible to refute both your facts, and your overall logic.

Tom the Bomb,

Your original contention is absurd. Just one example, blaming Big Ben for the strip in Monday night's game would be woefully misguided. Ben was standing in the pocket and was hit from behind by the rusher who completely beat Kemoeatu on the play. Blitzburgh has fully addressed the issue of the "negative plays", anyway. But why you believe this completely deceptive and anomaloous "stat" of yours trumps everything else Ben has done -especially in the recent past, when there was not much of anything else around him- defies common sense.

I like Ben as much as the next guy, but I think that clearly Brady and Manning are in their own class.  Ben makes big plays in the clutch, but it's impossible to deny that he throws too many INT's right now. He also doesn't throw the deep ball nearly as well as those 2.  Think of all the bombs where our receivers have had to slow down and let the defender catch up.  They often make the catch, but instead of a TD, it's a 40 yard gain.  Great play, but Brady would prob hit them in stride for 6.  Ben is possibly the best QB I've ever seen throwing passes less than 25 yards, and he's still a top 5 QB, probably #3, but those 2 are out of this world when healthy.

The one thing that makes me think that the Steelers will have a harder time this year than last is Brady.   I really don't want to play NE in the playoffs; Brady just has our number.

thx. JL & can't see how anyone would refute those facts, as they are just that as opposed to opinion...people better get used to it because Ben is already in their class & has a whole lot more upside than the other two...as for the Madden quote, point well taken, it's just that to me, Madden got to the  point of just droning on ad nauseum.

nycrob,

How is Ben not in their class, it's a misnomer as his career numbers are actually better, with a lesser supporting cast???

"Our number" is not all that Brady (& BeliCHEAT) had...

I discount their wins, too.  But I remember some of those games (2004) where Brady absolutely murdered the Steelers D.  

Career stats are a little misleading.  Ben was a trememdously fast learner.  Everyone knows that what he did as a rookie way beyond what the other 2 did.  In Manning's case, that's prob because he stepped into a horrid situation.  Brady just struggled a bit at first (although he did win the SB his first year).  The question is, is he on a par with them NOW.   I have to trust my eyes.  

"I discount their wins, too.  But I remember some of those games (2004) where Brady absolutely murdered the Steelers D."

_________________________________________________

Funny how the playoff rematch in '04 came after the Steelers dominated them on Halloween earlier that season at Heinz, many Steeler plyers were quoted as saying that "no matter what we did, they seemed to be in perfect position to counter it, like they knew exactly what was coming"

" I have to trust my eyes."

_____________________

Sounds to me that you, like many others are ignoring the factual proof & relying on the misnomer that Ben is a game manager, as that propaganda has been force fed the average NFL fan & gobbled up by those less informed.

How about 2007 in the regular season, where the game was over by halftime?  Those rings came before Moss, which adds a whole new dimension to that team.  I think that the memory of that game is what really scares me.

And talk about supporting cast?  Ben has had 1 HOF WR his entire career, plus Heath, who we all agree is a great TE (even if he doesn't get enough credit), another top knotch WR (either Plax or Santonio, who would be a #1 in a lot of towns), a great running game, and and the best D in the world for virtually his entire career.   Brady had cast-off running backs and, besides Moss, no WR that any other team wanted.

True, the OL gives up a lot of sacks, but how much of that is Ben's fault?  Manning's release is ridiculously fast.  

NyCrob,

The NFL cracks down on players and coaches for breaking the rules and tarnishing the game. Atlanta's Mike Smith just got slapped with a 15K fine. They players get hit with fines of $5,000, $10,000, sometimes $25,000. But how in the world can you explain the unprecedented HALF A MILLION DOLLAR FINE the NFL hit Bill Belichick with? And then league promptly destroyed all the evidence to boot!! We all know what the truth is, and if forced to say it out loud, this scandal would have decimated the NFL in proportions that would make the 1919 Black Sox World Series look like a bowl of peaches and cream.

ALL the Patriots titles are illegit, and no facet of their game during that span is more tainted than their passing game. Frankly, I have a hard time swallowing that the anti-social, pathological Bill Belichick isn't now up to something else.

I will say one thing though, Nycrob. You have observed something that I long ago gave up on mentioning, because nobody else ever paid attention to me. And that is, ever since Ben Roethlisberger broke his right thumb during the 2005 season (though Bill Cowher denied it happened) I have thought Ben's arm looks weak on deep passes. He still has a cannon on lasers he throws over the middle. But possibly because throwing deep means holding the ball a different way, Ben cannot unload the way he used to be able to as a rookie. I believe his shoulder is strong, but his grip is forever compromised. Nevertheless, he is among league leaders in completions of 20 yards or greater. So the impediment is not exactly holding him back from being great.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: given the choice of having Brady, Manning, or Big Ben to quarterback my team -or any other team- hands down I WANT BEN.                  

Wow! What came over me on that last post? Nycrob, I guess you just found out which button to push to make me going flying off the handle ;-)

Sorry.

nycrob wrote-

"How about 2007 in the regular season, where the game was over by halftime?  Those rings came before Moss, which adds a whole new dimension to that team."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

How about 2008 when their O-line had no answer for our heat,  do you really think that Brady was gonna beat our D last year?  Afterall, Cassell DID win 10 of his other 14 starts!

As for the supporting cast.  Since Ben has been in the league the Steelers have averaged 4.1 yds./rush...the Colts & BeliCHEATS each have averaged 3.9...do you really think that the additional 7 INCHES per attempt has aided Ben more than his talent?  That's less than 7 yds. rushing per game when averaging 30 carries, C'MON MAN!   Likewise, Ben has been sacked 42 times per season on average, Brady 26 times & Peyton 17 times.  Even if 1/4-1/3 are on Ben, he's still been sacked & pressured more, rarely having a clean pocket from which to throw.

Furthermore, how many more sacks would he have if he lacked elusiveness like Brady & Peyton, he breaks as many potential sacks as he creates, and he makes MANY big plays because of his willingness to take the punishment to extend the play, that should be praised not ridiculed!!!

Cart then horse ..... sorry you need to win out .... make playoffs ... win .... come to Cincy & win again.

0-3 vs Bengals would quiet you.