Steelers offer blueprint for Dolphins’ future success | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

Steelers offer blueprint for Dolphins’ future success

hugoguzman

hugoguzman

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http://www.realfootball365.com/articles/dolphins/13565

1) Depth – Few teams can afford to jettison perennial Pro Bowlers and still stay at the pinnacle of competition. However, the Steelers did just that, allowing veteran linebacker Joey Porter to walk prior to the 2007 regular season. Porter has returned to Pro Bowl form with the Dolphins, but his production does not seem to be missed in the least bit. After all, the Steelers were first in the NFL in total defense this season and also boast the league’s defensive player of the year in linebacker James Harrison. This is just one of various examples that bear testament to Pittsburgh’s impressive depth on both sides of the ball.

Miami had a great season in 2008, but its lack of depth means that it is just an injury or two away from falling back into the pack of NFL mediocrity.

Give it a quick read and let me know what you think. Thanks!
 
The Steelers have depth on defense, but not on offense. They drafted a lot on the defensive side of the ball recently (especially linebackers) so of course they could have replaced Porter.

The Steelers O-line was mediocre for most of the season, There is no depth there at all. Their running backs were hurt for most of the year and their running game sagged. It was not nearly as good as people thought it would be coming into the season.

Make no mistake about it, their defense carried them bigtime this season, and a few clutch throws by Roethlisberger in key moments in games to keep some drives alive. Their defense was #1 against the Pass AND #1 against the run through week 15 of the season (when their games really mattered to them). That is not easy to do, to be #1 in BOTH the pass and the run on defense.

The Steelers certainly haven't scored a lot of pts offensively. Their defense has scored quite a bit for them though getting turnovers and putting their offense in great field position time after time after time. And let's not forget that Roethlisberger has been getting killed this season (due to their mediocre offensive line- as mentioned before)
 
The one thing that is overlooked is...the Steelers have a history of replacing Pro Bowl LBs with another potential pro bowler because of their system. Their depth is helped by the fact they have been using the same system since 1992 when Bill Cowher arrived. I think it is easier to create depth when you know what type of players to look for year end and year out.

I definitely agree about the franchise-type NT because that is where the 3-4 defense starts and ends. Casey Hampton is a bigger, badder version of Joel Steed.

It doesn't bother me that we don't have any pro bowl defensive backs, what does bother me is that we don't have any game changing defensive back. Hopefully if we can settle on a coaching staff, system and players, maybe then we can begin to see some consistency that can help us become one of the elite teams again.
 
no doubts about it...the Steelers have one hell of a great defense,and i look for us to field a great defense soon...but as you said Greyboy,their OL allowed Big Ben to get hit quite a bit this season,and i look for our OL to be greatly improved next season between good drafting there,and our new OL Coach coaching,teaching,&mentoring them...
 
All valid points. The Steelers do have some holes on their roster, as do all NFL teams, but I do think that they have a fairly good track record to creating depth at most positions.
 
Good article depth on the Oline kept us from competing with teh Ravens our D was actaully stout... we are well on our way... Henne has a rocket arm (not sure how accurate) and poise not easily unnerved...
 
Good read. I think you could look at it another way as well. You call it depth, which I agree the Fins need more of, but could it be called the "system". We always hear of Patriots players buying into their "system." This is how things get done. That is why Franchises like the Steelers and the Patriots have been perniel achievers. They get players who believe in it, that fit their mold. That allows a team to get rid of aging stars so you don't have salary cap problems or for that matter locker room problems. I really think that is what good organizations do, I think that is what the Tuna Trifecta is trying to do in Miami.
 
Kudos Hugo, It all starts up front and then up the middle. I see a big time NT and safety prospects in our future draft choices. Thanks and keep up the good work!
 
The Linebackers get all the credit for the Steelers, but the three big guys up front do some amount of work. The two DE's Smith and Keisel can take up to 4 players on the O-Line, leaving the OLB's to take advantage of their one on one matchups. I really do believe that a average OLB would get 5 to 10 sacks in that defense because of the front three.

Forget about the linebackers, Smith, Hampton and Keisel are the heart of that defense.
 
I despise the Steelers

I certainly hope that the Steelers aren't an exact blueprint.

Because, My God, they are BORING! It was the Chargers game in the regular season & the one before or after where Pitt threw the ball 80+ times and scored the equivalent of 3 TD's. I'll bet Jaworski is rethinking his theory that points come out of the passing game. :D

Roethlisberger was sacked 46 times this season which I think was most in the NFL. Is it just me or does the media deify B-Roth way too much? He is not in the same class as Peyton, Brady, or even Favre.

Their Secondary other than Poopallamaout is average at best. How is it Troy gets to let his hair go anyway the wind blows and others Polynesians (Satele for example) have to braid theirs? This smacks of NBA like superstar exemptions to the rules.
 
The keys to the steelers D start with their solid LBs- they have LBs that can rush the passer very well as well as play the run

next would be a stud NT- They have Casey Hampton upfront who is a complete beast at taking up space, taking up blockers, and disrupting the backfield

and last but def not least ballhawk SS- Troy P is everywhere on the field and he can do it all.. he alone makes a qb and O cordinater's jobs extremely difficult... they have to design their plays to avoid him and even that is almost impossible..

so recap
1) Solid LB corps
2) Beast NT
3) Crazy-Warrior-I'm Everywhere SS
 
utahphinsfan said:
I certainly hope that the Steelers aren't an exact blueprint.

Because, My God, they are BORING! It was the Chargers game in the regular season & the one before or after where Pitt threw the ball 80+ times and scored the equivalent of 3 TD's. I'll bet Jaworski is rethinking his theory that points come out of the passing game. :D

Roethlisberger was sacked 46 times this season which I think was most in the NFL. Is it just me or does the media deify B-Roth way too much? He is not in the same class as Peyton, Brady, or even Favre.

Their Secondary other than Poopallamaout is average at best. How is it Troy gets to let his hair go anyway the wind blows and others Polynesians (Satele for example) have to braid theirs? This smacks of NBA like superstar exemptions to the rules.
Click to expand...

I would have to argue the Dolphins were a much more boring team to watch then the Steelers this year. I will take wins over excitement anyday.
I think people highly underestimate the steelers o-line. While they are not elite, they are solid. The reason for the amount of sacks is Ben, plain and simple. He holds onto the ball for way too long sometimes, trying to make something happen. I do not believe I have ever seen him just throw the ball away. Now that being said, I am not knocking him, because he gets sacked on play and the next he dances away from 2 guys and throws a strike down the field. Only thing we can be certain is this tendency will shorten his career. And your right hes not in Favre's company, he didn't lead the league in INTS.

You are just plain hating on Palomalu.
 
JimToss said:
I would have to argue the Dolphins were a much more boring team to watch then the Steelers this year. I will take wins over excitement anyday.
I think people highly underestimate the steelers o-line. While they are not elite, they are solid. The reason for the amount of sacks is Ben, plain and simple. He holds onto the ball for way too long sometimes, trying to make something happen. I do not believe I have ever seen him just throw the ball away. Now that being said, I am not knocking him, because he gets sacked on play and the next he dances away from 2 guys and throws a strike down the field. Only thing we can be certain is this tendency will shorten his career. And your right hes not in Favre's company, he didn't lead the league in INTS.

You are just plain hating on Palomalu.
Click to expand...

Totally agree.

The Steelers O-line was poor enough at the beginning of the season but they are now a very solid group. Also they will usually have a blocking TE in most plays meaning pretty much 6 O-Linemen. That is fantastic work by the coaching staff to understand the problem and make an adjustment, but yet keep a good standard of production. Big Ben also will always look to make a play, throwing away the ball is not his strenght and will take many a sack for trying to lenghten plays.

People also forget that the schedule the Steelers had this season was the hardest ever. To still get to the SB and receive a 1st round bye is a fantastic achievement.
 
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