Who is our best offensive player?

Today my Supervisor told me that all the supervisors are being told that they have to try and make "teams" out of their workers. They have to sort of decide which of their guys would play certain "positions". When he was explaining it to me he used the Steelers as an example and tried to say that he thought that Ben would be our "best" guy. He's not a Steelers fan and just as an outsider looking in that's who he thought. I stopped him and said "No. Our best offensive player is Heath Miller." He goes "Wait. Isn't he a tight end?" I said "Yeah. But he's an all around beast. He can catch, block, pass protect, and run routes." So that's my opinion of who our best offensive player is. So how crazy am I? Yes I know that he doesn't have "fantasy" numbers but he's got all the intangibles.

 

No its big ben the plays he makes are unreal andyes we won without him but it was a totally different game plan. Under that gameplan I would go with whoever is at running back. Heath is very good but big ben I great.

 

Biggest impact, of course it's Ben. He's the QB and a great one. Good case for the Hall of Fame. Top 5 in the league in a lot of books, including mine. When he's on his game and healthy, he's top 3 for sure, but unfortunately that's not always the case.

If you're talking most talent packed into one player for his position though, it's definitely Miller. In my opinion he's the best in the league, and he's the best all-around tight end I've ever seen play. I'm only 26, but that includes all of the fancy guys of today, as well as Shannon Sharpe, who was probably the best of my youth. I've never seen anyone do it like Heath. He's the most talented.

Pouncey is up there too, probably the best at his position in the league. He's only getting better, too. DeCastro could be in that league soon.

 

"BEST", makes it a tricky question.
You would almost have to break it down by position, is our tight end better than any other tight end in the league?(Personally, I would say yes, based on all around perfomance, not just pass catching)...
Is any of our runningbacks better than any other rb`s in the league? (Hate to say, I doubt it)...
Same with the rest of the positions, wr, center, guard, tackle, etc...
Now, if you exchange "Best", with "Most Important", it almost HAS to be Ben, with the possible exception of Pouncey, who I have heard makes all the calls for the protection schemes, and gets the ball to Ben, in the first place.
If Hines was still here, I would make a case that his veteran leadership, and clutch play, when it counts would be considered "Best/Most Important".
Since he`s not, that would leave Heath, In My Opinion, to fill that role.
You could also argue that a lineman who keeps the defense off Ben long enough for him to make a play is deserving of the title.
Time wilL tell if we have any of those, besides Pouncey, but it sure looks possible!
GO STEELERS!!!!

 

Ahh, I don't know Bruener was a beast when he was on the team. Also, Green had a shorter, but great run as well.

But, that's off-topic.

I don't know if it is Ben. We saw what the team could do without him. They look like a more consistant offense. They may lack a busted big play or 2, but you know what they're going to put on the board. I'd probably go with Ben if pushed on it, but leaning towards Brown/Wallace.

 

If it was "most important" it would be our QB, even if his name was Tyler Palko.

 

Bruener was a beast of a blocker. Heath is an incredible receiver as well.

 

Good point, and well taken, but If we are gonna throw in recent tight ends to play the game, I always wished we would have had Todd Heap...
Until we got Heeeeeaaattthh!!!
Sorry to bring up a hated rival, but he was for them, pretty much what Heath has been for us, just, not quite as good of a blocker.

 

not sure of BEST? but if you said most important... least able to lose for a season.. there is no doubt its Ben.. i would think 99% of people would agree with that ...
but isnt the QB the most important player on 90% of the teams...
maybe detroit with megatron? maybe a couple running backs..maybe even rice with the ravens? but we live and die with ben long trem.. sure batch won what 3 of 4 when ben was on suspension .. but without ben we dont go 12-4 over a whole season..
HINES

 

If we are talking pure impact player and a guy that we would suffer most without, it's Ben, by light years. We might have been good before he got here, but we were only playoff good and never a threat to win it all IMO.

I was so glad when he was drafted because I then for the first time in a long time felt we were finally trying to get to the next level. Before that, I was always let down and thought the Rooney's were comfortable enough with a deep playoff run and could live with that level and not break the bank on a top tier QB. A full stadium every week for eternity some sold out playoff games could curb any capitalist desires.

When Ben got here the culture of winning and rose and he was the game changer.

A. Brown could belong in this place as a complete player and athlete, as well as putting up the numbers in his young career. And I believe he'll only be getting better.

I too think Heath is def in the running despite how under used (statistically wise) he's been. It would be shocking to non Steeler fans, but he's the child you secretly tell that they're your favorite.

Pouncy could be once he finishes a full season and playing at or near his best.

 

I think I can agree with this

 

Ben with Pope at TE is still a Super Bowl team

Charlie Batch with Miller is maybe a playoff team...maybe not.


Ben is the franchise...hands down.

HACK

 

My vote is for Ben, both for importance and skill.

 

We're sitting around debating criteria, but I thought the criteria was clear by the OP. Your answer was for importance. There's no debate for that, it's always the QB. Do you think Ben is the most talented?

 

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE Ben! I named my son after him! Our offense definitely RUNS THROUGH Ben and I would NEVER take anything away from him. I was just saying from an all around football perspective Heath is great. He's dependable. He's classy. He's the kinda guy that if I had a daughter I would hope she would bring home. Actually I told my boss that I would actually say Hines if he were still with us. My supervisor also asked me if I wouldn't put Wallace before Heath and I said "No way! No how!" You would NEVER hear Tomlin call Heath a "one trick pony" now would you? If we were in a spot where it came down to locking up Heath or Wallace I wouldn't even hesitate to kick Wallace to the curb. AB has potential but we've still gotta see if he has the lasting power of Heath. Pouncey has a problem staying healthy but we know we can depend on Heath. So maybe we can just compromise and call Ben 1A and Heath 1B.

 

The fact that you would say Hines kind of confuses me....Hines was never the best at anything....he was all heart and determination...but almost the op of Heath...as you say Heath is the total package.

I have to say Ben is still the best on the team.....he is the team....there are other players who can come close to what Heath does....what Pouncey does....etc....there is no one that can come close to what Ben does.

HACK

 

I agree that Ben is one of a kind. But it's weird that you would say that Hines was not the best at anything when besides Ben he is probably the only other Hall of Famer on offense that we've had in a while. I mean besides Jerome Bettis what other recent offensive player do we have that would even be considered by the Hall? That's why I would say Hines.

 

I also can't think of another player that we have right now that can "come close" to what Heath does. I'm really not trying to be combative. I'm just being honest. Who do you think can come close to Heath's versatility that we have right now?

 

o.k., Snack, I`ll play...
To answer the question you posed to Hack...
Yes, I think Ben is the most talented qb, on our team, but probably not in the league.
Could he do Heath`s job?
I think he probably could, if a high school coach, somewhere along the way, told him...
"I think you would be a better tight end, than qb"...(Shame on that coach, given what we know now)...
Same goes for Heath. Could he do Ben`s job, given the chance?
I would say probably.
Possibly even better, hard to tell, since he hasn`t had the chance, but most here, would agree that Ben is not the most cerebral QB in the league.
So, how do you judge "best"?
Most physically gifted?
Best at knowing what to do when the ball is in their hands?
For all we know, Heath might be better at it than Ben. He has just never had the chance to show it.
Could either of them pick which hole in the line to go through, if they were a runningback? ( We already know they can both break tackles)..
Point being, how do you judge "most talented"?
Sheer physical gifts?
Anyone in the NFL has those.
Smarts, or instinct for the game? Again... If they made it as a starting NFL player, they have that...
So, could it be a combination of skill, and luck, to be playing the position that suits them best?
What defines "Best"?
Is a hardcore, never miss a game, keep your qb clean, center, like Mike Webster, any less of a "best" player, than a touchdown grabbing wide reciever, like Swann, or Stallworth?
Or a guy like Dan Krieder, that opens holes for people like Bettis, or Parker, or....(Actually, a couple other guys, like Foster, or Morris, who actually played at the same time he did, and probably wouldn`t have put up the numbers they did, without him) Hahaha
Wait.
Are they the "best", `cause they just know how to run, no matter what?!?
I think I confused myself.
Is the recentley hated Mike Wallace the best player on the offense, simply because he can run faster than any D-back can keep up with?
Or is one of our other receivers better, because they are more "clutch" at coming up with the ball on third downs?
Or they run trickier routes?
Or they are better at "getting the ball at it`s highest point"?
What exactly IS this criteria of which you speak?
To me, it is simply that Ben is our best player, because we couldnt seem to get to a Superbowl, let alone, win a couple, without him.
(ok, We finally got to one, then gave it to Dallas, but I almost had that one blocked out...)
Long story short, this is a team sport, and I love our team, but it sure seemed to help when we got Ben!!!
Unfortunately, before I confused myself, the point I was trying to make, is that this is a TEAM sport.
The other ten guys on the field can help or hurt your "superstar" inhis quest to look good.
We are lucky enough to root for a team that has been (since the `70`s, and hopefully will continue to be), stocked with enough talent to make every other team in the league, jealous to their bones.
ONE BEST PLAYER?!?! We have at least 8 of`em on each side of the ball!!!

 

I know it really is hard to define the word "best" or "better". I bet you would really start a crapstorm if you started saying that Ben was "better" than Bradshaw just because the numbers he's put up are so astronomical. Some people define "better" by numbers. Some by overall efficiency. When I really think about it it's hard to nail down a game or a moment where when you look at Jerome Bettis and say "that's why he's great". But when you look at the big picture of how he was a great closer for so long and helped us to ice so many games that's when it comes clear. It really is incredible to think that he retired as the 5th leading rusher in NFL history w/o being the "fast" guy like Barry or Emmitt. And that's how I feel about Heath. There's not really all these eye popping numbers but there is just this feeling of security you get when he has the ball in his hands or when we need a big play. Yes Ben is DEFINITELY THE BESSSSSST PLAYMAKER THAT WE HAVE! BUT HEATH HAS SURE BEEN ON THE RECEIVING END OF A WHOLE LOT OF THEM.

 

I hope it does not come off that I am being combative....as it it not what I am trying to do...just being part of the discussion.....but again you say Hines is probably our only guy that is HOF possible in recent years....that includes Heath....Heath is not even sniffing the HOF right now....thats part of what makes him great IMO as he just wants wins and rings....but no way he makes it anywhere near the hall unless Haleys new system completely turns his career into overdrive.


HACK

 

I agree with that. It's really sad because Heath is a guy that could be great for years to come. If the Hall was more than just a numbers game Heath would be a 1st ballot. As far as the Hines thing another poster said that Hines was not the "best at anything" and I was just making the case that Hines was the best considering that he owns our record books. As far as saying that Ben is a shoe in or whatever for the Hall I think that honestly we are being presumptuous and probably bias to assume that. I'm just saying that since we live in a pass driven era alot of guys are gonna put up some big numbers and not get in the Hall. Also sadly Ben is one of those guys that is a victim of the whole "yeah he's ok but he has a great team around him" type of players. I know it's hard to say that a guy with 2 rings won't get in but Jim Plunkett has 2 and he's not in. But Ben's winning percentage really works in his favor and unless he really drops off for the next few years I think he will get in. But honestly I think alot of the elitist punks in Canton are gonna really hold their nose while they vote for him.

 

#7 is the most gifted player the Steelers have had in years.
Have you ever seen him play basketball/Golf? Just as gifted as he is with a
football. He can do it all, and with ease. It just comes so natural its scary. And @6'5" 240
he makes it look like men playing with boys in all these sports. God graced him with supreme
natural ability.

 

Yes, all true. It's also the case that this has perhaps led to some bad habits as well - not checking down, always extending the play, not perhaps spending enough time in the film room, etc. Of course, all of these are just the way Ben is, and also a big reason for his success (extending the play, at least).

I was trying to think of how we could compare other positions to the QB, though, and I remembered how a few seasons back Steve Smith single-handedly put the Panthers in the championship game. He was all over the field, making plays, absolutely destroying the defense. On that day, he was clearly the best player the Panthers had. With our current offense, I guess it's harder to think of games like that. For example, who was the "best" player on the final drive against the Cardinals - Ben or Holmes? I couldn't honestly say.

In a situational game like this it's difficult to look across the different positions for the entirety of the game; it's perhaps better to think of who is (or has the consistent ability to be) a "gamechanger." Holmes was such a player, and I think Brown has the potential to be. Ben obviously. But you can't compare that kind of "best" to the grinding, consistent workhorse like Miller or Pouncey who may not "make" the splash play, but will certainly be involved in some way.