View topic - Steelers hire first GM in franchise history

[thesteelhammer Profile]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Pitt ... ger-082911

But don't get excited cause it's Colbert.

[dirtydave61 Profile]

Why not get excited? Why dump on the move "only being Colbert"?

I know he takes a little bit of grief from this site because of some of the deals he's made and because he's elected to keep and bring back some of the players StillMill can't stand. (Taunto Farrior, Larry Slow-A-Foot and Fat Casey)

But seriously, how can you complain about a man who has helped build a team that has won two Superbowls in the past decade and gone to three?

Let's look at his draft record. While some point to the "busts" after Round 1 (which he's always hit on), I think it's pretty clear he has done a fantastic job.

Future Hall of Famers: Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Polamalu

Legit NFL stars: Rashard Mendenhall, Lawrence Timmons, LaMarr Woodley (despite what mill says), Santonio Holmes, Heath Miller, Ike Taylor, Casey Hampton, Plexico Burress

Budding stars: Maurkice Pouncey, Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown

Solid players: Ziggy Hood, Emmanuel Sanders, Daniel Sepulveda (when he's not hurt), Willie Colon, Bryant McFadden, Max Starks, Kendall Simmons, Chris Hope, Antwaan Randle El, Larry Foote, Brett Kiesel (a starter now who was taken in the 7th round), Clark Haggans, Marvel Smith

Late-round picks who have contributed: Stevenson Sylvester, David Johnson, Tony Hills, Dennis Dixon, Ryan Mundy, Willie Gay, Chris Kemoeatu, Verron Haynes

Oh, and don't forget some of the undrafted players he's brought in over the years who have become stars. (James Harrison, Willie Parker)

Or key free agent signings, which is rare for the Steelers even needing to sign anybody to fill a hole. (James Farrior and Jeff Hartings)

Yeah, Colbert is pretty mediocre. Anyone could have had that good of luck.

[thesteelhammer Profile]

We'll have to agree to disagree on the success of Colbert's picks (at least the ones that weren't first rounders)

Bottom line - big shoes to fill considering who use to do the GM's work.

[dirtydave61 Profile]

If you mean Chuck Noll's big shoes, then I'll let that fly. I mean, he did draft 4 hall of famers in 1974 alone. But seriously, that was another era, and you can't really compare then to now.

But if you're talking about Tom Donahue, Colbert's predecessor, then I'll have to disagree with you again. However, it's the case of a pretty good director of football operations compared to a very good one. We're lucky to have a team that drafts well.

But let's look at some of Donahue's drafts:

1991 was a total bust other than Ernie Mills who contributed on teams into the mid-90s.

1992 was a great year, taking Leon Searcy, Levon Kirkland, Joel Steed and Darren Perry.

1993 only produced Chad Brown, who left after a few seasons for more money and had a long, successful career in Seattle.

1994 produced Charles Johnson, who had a couple OK seasons; Jason Gildon, who "donged" his way to the team's all-time sack record; Bam Morris, who turned into a pleasant surprise for a season before his career went up in smoke; and Brentson Buckner, who contributed on D for a few years. Oh yeah, and Jim Miller, the team's savior at QB was drafted, too.

1995 had Mark Bruener, who was a solid blocking TE for years; Lee Flowers, who started on D for a couple seasons and brought some 'tude; and, of course, Kordell Stewart - I'll let you determine how good that worked out, but I feel it set the team back 5 years.

1996 produced solid players Earl Holmes and Jon Witman. Orpheus Roye and Carlos Emmons contributed, too. But no great picks.

1997 had Chad Scott taken in the first and being a serviceable CB for a few seasons. And then Mike Vrabel in the 3rd round was a "bust" who ended up being cut and having a heck of a career in New England, winning 3 Super Bowls. Way to go!

1998 was a great year, I'll give him that. He actually hit on a first round pick with future Hall of Famer Alan Faneca. Hines Ward turned into a borderline Hall of Famer from a third round pick - of course he wasn't really allowed to play his first 3 years in Pittsburgh despite being the team's most productive WR. Deshea Townsend went in the 4th and was a solid player for almost a decade.

1999 was Donahue's last class. Troy Edwards was a bust. Scott Shields was a bust. Joey Porter was a great player for a few seasons but wore out his welcome with his big mouth and underwhelming play. Kris Farris was a bust. Amos Zereoue contributed for a couple seasons. Aaron Smith went from 4th round to potential Hall of Famer. Jerame Tuman contributed on a few teams. Who the heck were Malcom Johnson, Antonio Dingle and Chad Kelsay. And Kris Brown was a decent kicker before leaving for more money.

So, we've got about the same amount of potential Hall of Famers, but no Super Bowl, which, I suppose you can blame on Bill Cowher.

In 9 years, he only hit on 2 first round picks: Faneca and Bruener. He had such busts as Jermain Stephens, Troy Edwards and Huey Richardson.

Donahue had more luck getting talent in the mid to late rounds, but overall, I'm tipping the scales in Colbert's favor, especially because he's been able to hold on to players instead of letting them walk.

And after some friction with Cowher, Donahue left for Buffalo. That really turned out well. That franchise has never been the same since.

I guess we can agree to disagree, but just look at the evidence.

[thesteelhammer Profile]

The job and work we are talking about is G.M. not director of football operations.
neither chuck or tom were ever GM nor did that work.

Read the article. It tells you who did.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Pitt ... ger-082911

ROONEY

[dirtydave61 Profile]

This is how I understood how it worked:

There has never been a GM until this year, but the position is the same thing is director of football operations. They basically just gave Colbert a different job title to A) show respect, B) pay him more, C) call his position the same thing as all the other teams, and/or D) technically promote him. For whatever reason, the Steelers just had a "director of football operations" instead of a general manager. He's doing the same things he, Donahue and all the people before them did.

Sorry if I misunderstood you from the start.

I guess you just meant don't get "excited" because there was no one new to the organization or a new position created.

I thought you were dissing on Colbert because everyone on this site seems to hate him. I took "don't get excited" in that people would be excited he was potentially replaced.

[relictele Profile]

.....of course, Kordell Stewart - I'll let you determine how good that worked out, but I feel it set the team back 5 years...
...

Wow excellent detailed history. I know we all have QB horror stories to share but I will never forget the fall of 2002 when Pittsburgh sports talk radio was a nightly panic session especially over the QB position. Also often forgotten is the 'Maddox as savior' flash in the pan contrasted with what transpired later.