A little history

I am a historian by habit, by hobby, and by trade. Therefore, if you can allow me to indulge in my favorite subject for a second, perhaps I can lift the mood in here a bit.

Once upon a time, there was a very good football team, with a number of all pro players and an excellent coach, with trips to the Super Bowl in their past. They had several good players at the running back position, an outstanding center, and a great deep threat at wide reciever.

Their starting quarterback was a Hall of Famer, known for his ability to move around, make big plays, with highly accurate passing.

Their backup was a journeyman, a guy who had been good enough to get his last team into the playoffs, but fail miserably in the end. He had been dumped by no less than 3 teams in the past, was considered old, immobile, and technically flawed.

The team got off to a good start, was playing great- and then the Hall of Fame quarterback broke his leg, and was out for the rest of the regular season. Everyone panicked- disappointment reigned.

The backup went and followed the same game plan from the same offense as before. The team won -and won - and won.

In fact they won every game the backup started, up through and including the AFC championship on the road.

That happened 40 years ago, and that team was the 1972 Miami Dolphins.
17-0.

Don't give up yet, friends.

 

Now if we could just get the no name defense to come up and play for us I think we'd be in good shape. I hope you're right though. I really do.

 

Also the 72 fins only beat one team with a winning record too.

 

Heh, I thought it was going to be the New York Giants with Hostetler...

 

Or a Rams with Kurt Warner.

 

How did they wind up playing a playoff game on the road? Were the rules different then? I mean no homefield advantage?

 

Yes, in those days they rotated playoff game sites. Home field advantage based on record did not come into play until 1975. Wild card teams still always had to play on the road though. The Steelers, btw, have only one team left with a winning record as well.

 

and we only have to beat one team with a winning record ,just we seem to bring out the best in every team we play,or do we just play down to the competition.I don't give up or in,we'll be ok

 

This is the only area that I think will help the Steelers regarding Ben's injury. With their franchise QB down, they know that they have not room to let up or to "play down to the competition". There should be a sense of urgency in every game that prohibits any let-downs. Also - a team like the Ratbirds may expect that the Steelers will be underachieving on Sunday, giving them the chance to perhaps take them by surprise.

Nope - it's not time to give up hope. Let's see how Leftwich performs after working with the 1s all week - and for the next several, and then make the judgement over whether to give up the ship.

 

This part is HUGE. I think this Sunday they can do it. Flacco may think he is elite, but until he can actually do on the road what he does at home....he won't be. Our D coaches MUST go into meeting today with the mentality that the D must win the games now. The offense will help by not screwing up...at least that is the hope. Our rookie punter has just become a weapon which will be used more often. If you can't win on offense like you used to be able to, your other 2 areas of special teams and defense must step up and help you win.

 

UNLESS 6 POINTS WINS THE GAME WE LOSE IF WE START LEFTY AND HE HAS BEEN ANOINTED THE STARTER.... I THINK WE HAD 60% CHANCE TO WIN WITH BEN..... 25% WITH CHARLIE..... 5% WITH LEFTY AND ONLY IF THE D HOLD BALT TO 6 POINTS ...

hines

 

is earl still available?

 

lol

 

We have had Leftwich for how long now, I forget. But my point is if the coaches knew that he is so slow on the release, why did they not work with the guy or did they and he just can't get the concept of a faster release. I just do not understand their thinking on this. And now it seems to be a problem.

 

A few things to consider:

1. In the 70s, it was easier to get by with a back-up QB because so much depended on the run game. Plus, a good defense could consistently keep an opponent to 10 points and under. See Mike Kruczek and the 1976 Steelers. Not so with today's NFL. It's a wide open sport, now, and you had better be able to score points (if the conditions allow).

2. You can't judge Leftwich's abilities solely on Monday night's game. He came in cold. This week, he will get all of the snaps with the first-team offense. He'll be better prepared, as will the rest of the team.

3. The Steelers still have an excellent chance to win this game. But they will need some things to happen: Todd Haley will have to call a heck of a game--he's capable of that; the o-line will have to dominate and run game will have to pound the ball all night long--they're capable of that; thye defense will need to make a few splash plays, with key turnovers and sacks--not sure they're capable of that.

 

Interestingly enough of the things you list that we need to do, running the ball to me is the hardest. Haley can call a good game, of that I have no doubt. The defense is playing Flacco on the road, that might as well be Matt Cassell over there, because their playing level is about the same when Flacco isn't at home. Running the ball against a team that KNOWS you want to run the ball in today's game, especially the Ravens, can be really tough.

IMO, we are no worse off today than we were in 2010 when Ben was suspended. We can win this game, I truly believe that.

 

I think we can too. I think Haley's play calling and the team running the ball go hand-in-hand. Haley will need to keep the Ravens off balance all night. This might depend on establishing the pass before establishing the run. Heath Miller will play a key role in this game.

 

Or the Patriots with Tom Brady...

 

Still a great post, JimmyAllen!
I was thinking maybe the `Skins after Theisman got his leg broke, but couldn`t figure out who the backup qb was...
As is... I agree... our Defense needs to step up big time... And I think they CAN... "WILL they"? is another question...
I would still like our odds better with Charlie, than Lefty... but either way, Haley gives us a chance to win, that Bruce, wouldn`t, in my opinion.... Regardless of what he`s doin in Indy.

 

Circle the wagons my friends,if we can play 500 ball for a month, I think we
will be OK. The so called Superstars (Woodley, Harrison, Troy haha,Timmons,
Wallace,Brown, Miller and the whole OL must step up, we have lost our franchise QB
The Straw that stirs the drink. These players I mentioned must raise thier game.

 

I'm more concerned with what Lefty can do to us than I am what the Ravens can do. Everything mentioned here is valid but I believe this game will come down to how well left does. If he plays to manage the game I think he will surprise. If he plays thinking he can make plays he never could we will be in big trouble. Who knows, maybe they are playing the old injury game and Ben will come trotting out on the field...I know wishful thinking!

 

We might still end up with the 25% guy before the game is over given Byron's luck with injuries.

 

Can we get Czonka to come down from Alaska and suit up?