View topic - How different is this team to 2005??

[steelslep Profile]

I just finished watching the 2005 Steelers Superbowl run DVD...always puts a smile on my face...

Here's my question..Is this year's team worse, better or the same? Let's hear your thoughts...

[isfry Profile]

The defense this year is better. Ben played more cautiously that year, more of a manager. The complete absence of a running game is the big question mark on this year. However, we had the Bus to rally around in '05, someone everybody could feel they were playing for. The sense of team unity this year, without a central uniter, is impressive.

[thesteelhammer Profile]

That team had a sense of destiny about it that just isn't there with this one.

This team seems more like the 76 team, which is often said to have had the greatest defense ever, but didn't win the Super Bowl.

Hope I'm wrong.

[bdl Profile]

76 team had the D but didn't win the SB....78 team beat Dallas in XIII.....this years team does seem close to the 76 team....all they gotta do though is get hot for three games and nothing else matters....the 05 team had a running game that could just take over games....haven't seem that yet....doesn't mean it won't happen though.

[Snockered Pedestrian Profile]

Better D and HC, worse OL and OC.

[shawnlucas Profile]

Better D and HC, worse OL and OC.

This.

+1

[El Nino Profile]

Now: Arguably the best defensive unit we've had since the 70's. Offense has been inconsistent and mistake prone, and the only dominant rushing was against below .500 teams
Then: Power running game, Ben was better in every category except yards (mainly because of our running game, pass wasn't as needed), better o-line (run game was dominant, ben only sacked 23 times)

Overall the 2005 team was better.

[Homer J Profile]

Three words: THIRD AND SHORT.

The 2005 team, with the Bus, the Bus Driver, and a decent offensive line, could possess the football by gaining first downs on the ground. This team has not shown that ability.

So even though this year's team has a far superior defensive unit, they are unable to play possession football and run a consistent offense, because they lack a consistent running attack - and they can't protect the QB either.

[No l Gravity l Profile]

Pros
Our defense much better...probably as good as its ever been
We have better receivers
Our special teams coverage is a lot better

Cons
Our punt returning is worse
Our offensive line is worse
Ben sucks more
Willie Parker sucks more

[StainlessStill Profile]

The Post Gazette actually did an article comparing the two teams some weeks back. Max Starks pacifically said, while comparing the team unities.. that this years team is FAR MORE CLOSE than the '05 team, and we were pretty damn close that year.. and that's scary.

It's unreal how big of ego's professional sports can take a player, but on this team it seems like there is NONE OF IT. Every article you read out there, some player is always talking about another, never about themselves. This team is truly a family, and I think that's this team's best asset.

[mikeyg Profile]

was thinking about this after initial read this AM.

We got hot, pure and simple, at the right time in 2005. We absolutely stunk up the joint at 7-5 and I wrote us off after that early Dec loss to CINN at home.

Then, the stars aligned.

The D players are much the same except now they are older. I would take KEMO over Kiesel in '05, but Harrison over Porter today (alhtough Peezy was a beast in that playoff run) Farrior and Foote were in their prime.

On O, the BUS was the main difference. that OLINE stunk or was run of the mill that year - Hartings was still solid, but wearing out fast. Faneca was in his prime. Our tackles were average and I have never been a fan of KEN DOLL.

WIZ was a big difference too, running the O and that will be our downfall this year.

[Lake37 Profile]

Lets not forget the trick plays and creativity on offense the '05 team had...Randle El's pass in SB XL, and the double pass in I believe it was the Cincinnati game to name a few

[thesteelhammer Profile]

76 team had the D but didn't win the SB....78 team beat Dallas in XIII.....this years team does seem close to the 76 team....all they gotta do though is get hot for three games and nothing else matters....the 05 team had a running game that could just take over games....haven't seem that yet....doesn't mean it won't happen though.

Typo - my bad - fat finger went right from the 7 to the 8 when my brain was telling it to go left to the 6. Edited it to correct it. further proof I shouldn't drink and post

76 was the year I was talking about cause the D had five shutouts but we lost to Oakland in the playoffs after both Franco and Rocky Bleier were injured.

Here's hoping the team does get hot and pull that 3 game streak.

I also agree with Homer J - 3rd and short is a big difference beween this team and the SB XL team.

[Steel Keeper Profile]

Now: Arguably the best defensive unit we've had since the 70's. Offense has been inconsistent and mistake prone, and the only dominant rushing was against below .500 teams
Then: Power running game, Ben was better in every category except yards (mainly because of our running game, pass wasn't as needed), better o-line (run game was dominant, ben only sacked 23 times)

Overall the 2005 team was better.

What? Where do you get off saying this. We had a good run game, but far from dominant.

It's funny how people's perceptions change over time. Our pass offense was far more effective. The reason people are confused is b/c they look at raw numbers and see that we had a higher league-wide rank in rushing yards than passing yards. That was b/c Cowher took the ball out his QB's hands whenever he got the lead (it worked marvelously with his @100+-1-1 career record when up 2 scores). But no, we did not have a dominant run game.

2008 vs. 2005
Offense: 2005
Defense: 2008
Special Teams: 2005 (El had a good year returning punts)

QB: even
RB: 2005
Receivers: 2008 (although Miller's regression as a blocker is a big concern)
O-line: 2005 (huge margin)

D-line: 2005 (not huge, but having Keisel as back-up and KVO as starter was nice)
LB: 2008 (Peezy sucked until the playoffs. Haggans is no Woodley. Foote and Farrior wash)
DBs: 2008 (basically Clark = Hope, McFadden '08 > McFadden '05)

HC: wash
OC: 2005 (big margin)
DC: wash (although he's been sharp this year except for the Titans game which I suspect wasn't just a bad day and was more consciously vanilla)

So '05 was a better team, but not by much. If the o-line can be decent we've got a really good chance. Especially if the Dolphins win.

[Leo Profile]

The biggest difference is that the Stillers had a good offense in 2005.

How's that for succinct?

[Field General Ben Profile]

This team seems more like the 76 team, which is often said to have had the greatest defense ever, but didn't win the Super Bowl.

Yeah, just too bad the Steelers don't have two 1,000 yard rushers like Franco and Rocky.

[Nel Profile]

further proof I shouldn't drink and post

Yup, not the best idea, IMO.

[StillDodger Profile]

Better:

We have an all-purpose back in Mewelde Moore.....
Our backs don't fumble..... (An unnoticed fact that enabled us to win ugly.)
Our defense is a lot better....... (But not as good as the stats suggest.)
Our kick coverage is marginally better.
Our tight ends play a bigger role.
The backs have more home-run speed......
We have a better backup QB....... (This could be huge.)

Worse:

We have no real fullback......
Our OC/play calling is MUCH worse....... (It wasn't good before, but it's pathetic now.)
We no longer have a power run game......
Our OL is much worse......
Reed's kicking has slipped......
We no longer have a reliable punter......
Ben might be damaged goods........

[jstallworth82 Profile]

That team had a sense of destiny about it that just isn't there with this one.

This team seems more like the 76 team, which is often said to have had the greatest defense ever, but didn't win the Super Bowl.

Hope I'm wrong.

You mean this teams Defense is like that of the 76 team I hope because the Offense is nothing like the 76 team. The 76 Offense was far superior than this one. They had a great O-Line in 76 this O-Line sucks, Until Franco and Rocky both went down in the Playoffs they had a great running game This year we have none. Both have Good WRs but I give the nod to the 76 team Ward and Holmes good Swann and Stallworth great.

To compare this year with 05 I would say 08 has better Defense
05 had better Offense, ST and OC

HC is out because Tomlin hasn't been around long enough to compare to Cowher. both have made misakes in Playoffs but Tomlin hasn't had time to adjust to his so let's give him a little more time to get experience b4 grading.

Overall the 05 team would beat the 08 team. Though the D is better this year the O-Line was superior that year and I believe the 05 Defense would do better against the 08 Offense than Vise Versa. And the STs play of 05 would significantly outplay this ST unit giving them a shorter field to play. Ben wasn't spectacular then but he wasn't getting sacked near as much or throwing as many INTs plus had a solid running game he could have fallen back on if the passing game started faultering.

[WoodsonOfSteel Profile]

Plenty of points and counter-points to be made in this thread.

If it needs it... I'll certainly give an appropriate bump once the season is over.

Only then will I be able to give an honest opinion here.