recievers

how would steelernation compare this recieving group to the recieving group that had thigpen, mills, hastings, johnson and stewart? those guys were very very good. this years groups also extremely good. no divas in either group either. lets go steelers!!

 

Last year, that group was better.

This year, this group is better.

Why? Because of who the QB is/was.

Hated to see Thigpen leave. Stewart was a playmaker. Had the Super Bowl turned out differently and N.O. sign with the Steelers, who knows if Stewart stayed "Slash" and never became a starter.

 

Thigpen was the clear cut #1!
Ward was the clear cut #1!
Brown was the clear cut #1!
Who is the clear cut #1 now?!

 

We might be better off without a clear cut #1. Ben hits the open man. No forcing throws = less turnovers.

 

As for the OPs question. This group is better.

 

we have a very good receiving room, I am content, not envious of any other stable of receivers on other teams, we may not have a clear #1 but we have four excellent options: Washington, Claypool, Johnson, Smith-Schuster, I think the best group in a long time

 

I forgot about how good Yancey was...for 2 seasons. In his 10 year career he only started 16 games 2x, those 2 years he was a terror. He had about 3 other years where he was good, but never really equaled what he showed those 2 monster years with the Steelers.

 

the 1995 5 of Thigpen, Mills, Johnson, Stewart,and Hastings all averaged over 10 yards a reception, 3 over 15. Mark Bruener a rook TE averaged nearly 10. This was with O'Donnell at QB. So far this year Chase is just above 14 avg and the other 4 near or just above 10.

That is not necessarily the only measurement, but makes you wonder what a younger Ben could have done with that crew in 1995.

Another thing that caught my eye. Kordell was only targeted 20x and caught 14 a 70% rate. A small sample and certainly the advantage of other very good receivers on the field, but you wonder is he had dedicated to being a receiver what he could have become. His rushing avg was over 8 per carry as well. Again hard to say what would have happened as tams would have focused more on him, but he was good in that role.

 

ill say one thing. i was seeing film on the 95 squad and those recievers were a real joy to watch just like this years group. i also agree that we might be better without a true number 1. who would be the #1 on the 95 squad? thigpen? i like to think of thigpen as the juju of that group without the toughness. thigpen as more of a finesse type.

 

Imagine that 1994 and 1995 team with Dan Marino. Steelers would have been in the Super Bowl 3 or 4 times in the 90s. Damn.