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The lethal combination of Tomlin and Rooney

Discussion in 'Steelers Talk' started by TrueFan, Jul 15, 2026.

  1. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

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    Yes he did. Where did you get that crap
     
  2. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

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    I would have like to have taken part of the swim team. I also wanted to do gymnastics, but there was only so much time in a day, and the year.
    Hell I played what I could just to get off the farm at that time of my life
     
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  3. jeh1856

    jeh1856 Buds

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    I lived in the north side of Pittsburgh and it was sort of like cross country

    If you were in the wrong area and there were six of them and one of you then you ran
     
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  4. TrueFan

    TrueFan Well-Known Member

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    You were a busy dude! I can't believe the football coach let you change uniforms and go out with the band at halftime!

    OOPS ETA: busy dude not bust dude.:huh:
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2026 at 5:56 PM
  5. Steelersfan43

    Steelersfan43 Well-Known Member

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    In 2004 and 2005, when Ben was the starter, the Steelers were rarely behind in the second half.

    It was all about taking the lead early and protecting the lead late by playing Cowherball. You can't ignore the fact that the Steelers were the best first-quarter scoring team in the league both years and one of the best for first-half scoring. I don't care if you don't think Cowher was aggressive in the first half, because who cares, the results speak for themselves regardless. They also weren't built to come from behind, which is why having an early lead was very important in that style.The low pass attempts mean that the Steelers were often ahead in the second half, rarely playing catch-up. They were only behind for about 8-9 minutes at home combined in 2004!
     
  6. NorthernBlitz

    NorthernBlitz Well-Known Member

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    Do you have passing breakdowns by quarter?

    I was looking for them, but seems like they are behind paywalls like stat head.

    You don't think that part of the reason we had the lowest attempts in the league was that Ben had a very high INT%? And that Cowher tried his best to manage Ben's attempts?

    That seems pretty self-evident to me.
     
  7. Steelersfan43

    Steelersfan43 Well-Known Member

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    I don't have the passing breakdowns unfortunately... But I remember they were run heavy in the second half when they had the lead.

    Of course, in some games, like our loss against the Colts and Bengals in the regular season in 2005, they were playing catch-up in the second half, so the context matters too....They were running 61% of the time in 2004,a big part was because they had the lead much of the time.Biggest deficit in the second half in 2004 was only 4 points vs Giants if I exclude the game vs Baltimore.They were also behind 16-14 late in Jacksonville and 3 points vs bengals early in the year,so it was only like 3 games with Ben as starter they were behind at some point in the second half
     
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  8. NorthernBlitz

    NorthernBlitz Well-Known Member

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    Here are the 2004 rushing stats:
    • Attempts: 618 (1st...84 more attempts than Denver in 2nd)
    • Yards: 2464 (2nd...actually a little dissapointing here since we ran so much more than everyone else...almost 100 more attempts than ATL who's in 1st here)
    • YPC: 4.0 (19th)...probably because everyone knew we were running...which is again why the Denver playoff game caught them by surprise
    • TDs: 16 (26th)...again, surprising and disappointing because of how much we ran. Probably because we had a QB who could throw TDs...remember that this discussion started when I said that Tomlin was using Kenny similar to how Cowher used Ben early. This is probably the big difference. Ben threw TDs. Kenny is probably the worst QB since at least UFA/cap re: TD passing.
    I think what the data is telling is is that we were conservative AND very good at running the ball. I didn't look up the defensive stats, but my guess is that they are going to tell us that the D was also good at getting opponents off the field quickly...and maybe also turning it over?
     
  9. NorthernBlitz

    NorthernBlitz Well-Known Member

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    Thanks 43

    It would be good to see those splits. I'll see if I can find them.
     
  10. Steelersfan43

    Steelersfan43 Well-Known Member

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    • Informative Informative x 1
  11. NorthernBlitz

    NorthernBlitz Well-Known Member

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    That's great 43!

    So conservative early. And even more conservative late (probably score effects like you say).

    I guess that's how you end up with almost 100 more rushing attempts than everyone else in the league...

    And I be their points / drive was quite high because we were good at running and had a budding star at QB.

    Again...I think we were trying the same thing when Kenny was a rookie. But (1) the OL was much worse, (2) the RB wasn't as good, and (3) the QB wasn't anywhere near as good (since Ben has to be in the conversation for best rookie QB ever...and Kenny is in the conversation for worst QB since UFA/cap - at least re: scoring points).
     
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  12. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    Todd Haley and Al Davis never played football at any level.

    Charlie Weis who was an OC in the NFL never played the sport at any level.

    Belichick, Reid, Gibbs, Walsh and Tomlin only played in college, not a single down in the NFL.

    And Belichick played for Wesleyann, thats like me going to the park to play a pickup game :lolol:

    You dont need to play the game to understand it.
     
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  13. NorthernBlitz

    NorthernBlitz Well-Known Member

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    To be fair, he didn't say "played football". He said "played sports".

    I took that to mean that people who play sports understand that the outcomes are based on some combination of skill and chance. And that the results of the game are more a result of the players on the field and not the coach on the sidelines....which is why I liked the comment.

    But (like everyone), I'm probably reading my own biases into the statement.
     
  14. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

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    Only someone that never played would think playing college anywhere would be like playing a pickup game
     
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  15. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    Tongue in cheek but let’s not pretend that was some big time university.

    And you played HS, calm down :lolol:
     
  16. Pittsteely9

    Pittsteely9 Well-Known Member

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    But man he was a pretty good corner at east south bumbneck central in Arkansas.
     
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  17. HeinzMustard

    HeinzMustard Well-Known Member

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    I thought Belichick only played high school football... and that was it. If he played NCAA football, I stand corrected.
     
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  18. jeh1856

    jeh1856 Buds

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    Wesleyan College

    Division III

    He definitely worked his way up
     
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  19. HeinzMustard

    HeinzMustard Well-Known Member

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    So... pretty much high school football. :lolol:
     
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  20. jeh1856

    jeh1856 Buds

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    It gave me a flashback to my younger years

    At our division 3 football stadium tickets were free and you could come and go as you please with whatever you wanted

    And it was across the street from my fraternity that had beer on tap 24/7
     
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  21. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    And Divison III didnt start until like his last year in college.

    Playing at Wesleyan has little to do with Belichick being one of the best coaches ever.
     
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  22. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    It’s an arrogant disparaging commented meant to belittle anyone who hasnt. Its lame.

    And I competed in martial arts.
     
  23. Steelpens65

    Steelpens65 Well-Known Member

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    My wife wishes she can put me on ignore
    Not working
     
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  24. Steelpens65

    Steelpens65 Well-Known Member

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    Did you sink?
     
  25. Steelpens65

    Steelpens65 Well-Known Member

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    What art ?
     

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