Q: Over the past six seasons, who has been the best/most talented team in the NFL?
A: The Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s not close.
How have they gone about it?
Most glaring: they got their franchise QB. This, though, got them an invitation to the dance. It didn’t ensure that they’d come away with any trophies. Aside from Big Ben, they’ve continued to build their team the way they have for years; they’d likely have more SB’s if it weren’t for poor QB play letting them down in prior seasons.
So, again, how did they amass such talent?
Well, let’s talk about what they didn’t do—using the Jets and Patriots as talking points.
They didn’t trade away draft picks and spend big bucks on big-name FA’s. They didn’t mortgage their future for a three or four year run—while implementing a rookie QB into the mix. I maintain that the Jets methodology is extremely flawed.
They didn’t continuously trade away their proven players for draft picks or continuously trade down to acquire more draft picks—giving up quality for quantity in the delusion that they’re THAT much smarter than the rest of the NFL. Unlike the Patriots—who lost to the Jets, even though they had the much better QB, because they were the much less talented team—they didn’t/haven’t held the position that they’re the only team in the NFL that knows how to evaluate draft talent, that other teams will pass on players who should be rated higher.
The Steelers spend their cap money primarily on retaining players, and they spend their draft picks on the best available players at position that will improve the team. Do they miss? Everyone misses. But, they don’t often trade up or down (I can’t remember them doing either), and they draft players who fit their system. Worilds will likely one day be a major contributor on that D—likely have 10+ sack seasons. Many people on FH loved him as a prospect. No surprise he ends up in Pittsburgh—even though they already have Harrison and Woodley.
They keep their players, and they draft with purpose and without ego.
I should add a caveat: getting their franchise QB was paramount. Big Ben happened to fall to them. If you have to trade up to get your franchise QB, by all means, you do it. Without Big Ben, you’re talking about the most talented team that can’t win a SB.
A: The Pittsburgh Steelers. It’s not close.
How have they gone about it?
Most glaring: they got their franchise QB. This, though, got them an invitation to the dance. It didn’t ensure that they’d come away with any trophies. Aside from Big Ben, they’ve continued to build their team the way they have for years; they’d likely have more SB’s if it weren’t for poor QB play letting them down in prior seasons.
So, again, how did they amass such talent?
Well, let’s talk about what they didn’t do—using the Jets and Patriots as talking points.
They didn’t trade away draft picks and spend big bucks on big-name FA’s. They didn’t mortgage their future for a three or four year run—while implementing a rookie QB into the mix. I maintain that the Jets methodology is extremely flawed.
They didn’t continuously trade away their proven players for draft picks or continuously trade down to acquire more draft picks—giving up quality for quantity in the delusion that they’re THAT much smarter than the rest of the NFL. Unlike the Patriots—who lost to the Jets, even though they had the much better QB, because they were the much less talented team—they didn’t/haven’t held the position that they’re the only team in the NFL that knows how to evaluate draft talent, that other teams will pass on players who should be rated higher.
The Steelers spend their cap money primarily on retaining players, and they spend their draft picks on the best available players at position that will improve the team. Do they miss? Everyone misses. But, they don’t often trade up or down (I can’t remember them doing either), and they draft players who fit their system. Worilds will likely one day be a major contributor on that D—likely have 10+ sack seasons. Many people on FH loved him as a prospect. No surprise he ends up in Pittsburgh—even though they already have Harrison and Woodley.
They keep their players, and they draft with purpose and without ego.
I should add a caveat: getting their franchise QB was paramount. Big Ben happened to fall to them. If you have to trade up to get your franchise QB, by all means, you do it. Without Big Ben, you’re talking about the most talented team that can’t win a SB.
