Official Super Bowl XLV thread: Ah, the power of Cheeseheads

[Dr. Evil]

Joe Buck is kind of annoying. He gets names wrong all the time. Anyone catch that great run by "Aaron Starks" the other night?

He also has this grating tendency to overemphasize and stretch out certain words. "In FIEEEEEEEELLLLLD goal range."

He's a baseball guy. Of course he'll get NFL names wrong.

 

[Ring Deacon]

Yeah, their repeated habit of drafting linebackers is a little mind-boggling to me. Yeah, I understand: you want to make the linebackers your primary weapon... But what did Worilds do for the team this year that maybe a corner couldn't have done better? Just about the same Big Ben did during his suspension.

There were many spots that could have been filled instead that may have even provided instant upgrades (like the offensive line and secondary), or even drafting a replacement for a player that's almost literally on his last legs (Casey Hampton, for example). And if McCoy was available, I'd have definitely said go for him.

The only people I think are not expendable on this team, at this point, are Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Wallace, Troy Polamalu, Lamarr Woodley, James Harrison, and Aaron Smith (although they're both getting old), and maybe you could argue Brett Keisel after his performance this year. The refusal to sign "big names" or draft for needs when the need is there strikes me more as arrogance or refusal to sway from the trend they've built when they really should.

Still, I would kill to see Nnamdi join Pittsburgh, still. Reports are actually circulating that he's looking to go to a championship caliber team. With his demeanor and coverage abilities, the dude could very easily be Pittsburgh's next Mel Blount or Rod Woodson. The difference between the '70s Steel Curtain and today's "Blitzburgh" isn't Mean Joe Greene, or Jack Ham, or Lynn Swann, or Franco Harris- you could really argue we have young incarnations of many of those players (probably not to that caliber, but it's clear there's a lot of young, really good players at key positions for the Steelers). The difference was Blount. You could argue that they have Polamalu now, but back then they had Mike Wagner AND Donnie Shell, and while neither of them were quite what Troy is now, they were a damned good duo, and- just my opinion- I feel like safety is an easier position to "heal" than corner is (given how safeties are used nowadays especially).

They need Nnamdi. That frees up other draft picks to get more O-linemen, a free safety, maybe a backup/project quarterback, and a tall wide receiver.

I was shocked during the draft that The Steelers didn't go for McCoy when they had the chance, and why they keep drafting linebackers when they have a nice crew of them already is beyond me.

Pittsburgh's current defense reminds me a lot of the Steel Curtain I grew up with, there are just a couple more pieces to the puzzle to get. One would most definitely be a safety that would complement Troy and strengthen the secondary. Just imagine if they had two players of Troy's ability, it would be an awesome sight to see.

The only other needs I hope they go for are a few more offensive linemen like Pouncey. If the Steelers had more like him no one would get through to Ben. The second need would be a quality back-up QB, face it Leftwich isn't going to take over as a full time starter anytime soon and Dixon is just Kordell Stewart lite he will not be more then a slash type player. That leave Batch who more then likely may move to a coaching role if Arians does retire this year like he is saying he will.

Now if Arians does retire or is let go finally I am interested in who will get his job. Batch will more then likely become a QB coach so who is out there that would be a good fit for the Steelers? If anything as long as there is no walk out it should be an interesting off season. Bring on the draft!

 

[Alex The Great]

So...When this thread is Thread Manager'd we'll make the 2011 NFL Thread? There's not really much to talk about anymore so...

 

[NewYorkSpider]

I'll send Holiday a PM to make the first of many 2011 NFL Threads.

edit: He's viewing this thread at the moment. Go ahead and make the new one Holiday.

 

[Matt]

I was shocked during the draft that The Steelers didn't go for McCoy when they had the chance, and why they keep drafting linebackers when they have a nice crew of them already is beyond me.

Pittsburgh's current defense reminds me a lot of the Steel Curtain I grew up with, there are just a couple more pieces to the puzzle to get. One would most definitely be a safety that would complement Troy and strengthen the secondary. Just imagine if they had two players of Troy's ability, it would be an awesome sight to see.

The only other needs I hope they go for are a few more offensive linemen like Pouncey. If the Steelers had more like him no one would get through to Ben. The second need would be a quality back-up QB, face it Leftwich isn't going to take over as a full time starter anytime soon and Dixon is just Kordell Stewart lite he will not be more then a slash type player. That leave Batch who more then likely may move to a coaching role if Arians does retire this year like he is saying he will.

Now if Arians does retire or is let go finally I am interested in who will get his job. Batch will more then likely become a QB coach so who is out there that would be a good fit for the Steelers? If anything as long as there is no walk out it should be an interesting off season. Bring on the draft!

Has Arians announced his retirement? If so, it is little more than the Steelers forcing him out and allowing him to claim 'retirement,' to save the humiliation of not having his contract renewed. His retirement will be short lived and he will pop up as a position coach in a year or so.

And sadly, I just can't see the Steelers going the route of drafting a cornerback in their first round. They will likely go the PR route and draft Mike Pouncy, Maurkice's brother. Sadly I cannot see Mike being even half as good as his brother so I see it being a Jordan Palmer situation rather than a Eli Manning situation, so I see this blowing up in their faces.

 

[steintym]

I'm just glad ESPN got rid of Joe Theismann and that PTI guy, and added Jaws and John Gruden. Now MNF crew is kickass.

Jaws and Gruden are pretty cool. The only thing that has started to get old with Gruden is when he gets excited about a certain player. The constant emphasis of "THAT guy" when he starts to talk about someone.

THAT guy is something special
THAT guy is one of the best
THAT guy blah, blah, blah

 

[Boom]

New Bengals Offensive Coordinator Jay Gruden:

I want to be hopeful .

 

[Holiday]

I'll send Holiday a PM to make the first of many 2011 NFL Threads.

edit: He's viewing this thread at the moment. Go ahead and make the new one Holiday.

Thread is done.

 

[Immortalfire]

That'll do it for this year's party! Thanks for coming t:


Now someone get Kane52630 out of that pile of beer bottles and soda cans.