DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Talent-wise have we caught/passed the Steelers

The "six teams that won't make the playoffs" thread prompted me to ask this. Simple question. Do you think we have bridged the gap (or passed) with the Steelers on a talent level?

Im not sure yet...But I do think we are right with them.

Talent-wise I think we are pretty equal. We have more offensive talent, they have more defensive talent, and overall it's pretty equal IMO. What Pittsburgh does have is team chemistry and confidence that Cleveland doesn't have quite yet because Pittsburgh has been a perenial winner and Clevelands only had one winning season together.

But the tide is changing in our favor

I think the second game last year showed we have closed the gap significantly. The reality is though, we still have to beat them. With our revamped line, if we can stop their running game and keep pressure on Ben then I think we have a very good chance of doing just that. Roster for roster I believe it has been Savage's & RAC's design to not only match up well with them but with anyone in the league. Are we there yet? That remains to be seen but I do feel we're close. Some seasoning and maybe a player or two away, perhaps. We won't know for sure until we actually beat them and are in the playoff hunt.

Very true

We've caught up in talent, but talent is only as good as the team. We have all the pieces.

We have talented QBs, but one without experience. Those QBs are protected by a phenominal line. Our WRs are far above average, and we only need one to find rhythm with the QB. Our RBs are above average, and all reports have Harrison coming into his own (this kid was very quick to the holes last year). The TEs are probably the best crew in the league.

Our D is good on paper. We have talented DLmen that need to gel. Our LB corps have been together for some time, and they should benefit from the DL if they are as good as advertized. Our corners are probably very good, as we all saw Wright and McDonald come into their own last year. We do need their backups to show themselves. Our safetys have been together for 3 years, and should be on the verge of a strong unit. Once again, good on paper. We just need to see if it's perferated or not.

I think overall we have more talent than they do, I think we have a better coach (definitly more experience), Their oline I believe is going to be a significant issue in pitt I think. They have a winning attitude that we are only beginning to develop. I think their defense is better and more aggressive. The biggest question to me is...are we going to FINALLY beat them this season, which I think we will.

Lets break it down

QB- Advantage Steelers
Say what you will, we had one decent year from Anderson, Roethlisberger has had a few more. Hes consistent.

RB- Advantage Steelers
Yes Lewis came on strong last season, but Willie Parker is just as good and younger, add the fact thet just picked up Mendenhal.

FB- Browns
Vickers will be a future pro-bowler

WR- Draw
A slight edge still goes to the Steelers but adding Stallworth and the breakout year by Edwards gets us on par. Ward isn't getting any younger either.

TE- Advangtage Browns
This isn't even close. The only TE's who could even compare to Winslow are Gates and Gonzalez.

OL- Advantage Browns
We had one of the best OL's last season while Pitt lost their best player to FA.

DL- Steelers
This could change, but these guys haven't proven themselves yet while Pitt has.

LB- Steelers
Again, could change, but Pitt still has a leg up

DB- Steelers
Without question, their backfield trumps ours

KR/PR- Browns
Cribbs beats anyone Pitt has

K/P- Draw
Reed and Dawson are both solid. Zastudil is good and Spedulva did great for a rookie.

Not sure of the answer, but I think we are heading in that direction..

Lets break it down

QB- Advantage Steelers
Say what you will, we had one decent year from Anderson, Roethlisberger has had a few more. Hes consistent.
I think you are being a bit generous to Ben, He does like to hang onto the ball and seems prone to fumble. He has more experience and can hang his hat on the superbowl- but this gap is closer then many would think and i optimistically will call it a draw.

RB- Advantage Steelers
Yes Lewis came on strong last season, but Willie Parker is just as good and younger, add the fact thet just picked up Mendenhal.
Lewis vs. Parker -edge Browns. But Mendenhal gives them an edge to the future, not sure how it really upgrades them as a team this year.
FB- Browns
Vickers will be a future pro-bowler
gotta agree here, but FB isn't going to change a game

WR- Draw
A slight edge still goes to the Steelers but adding Stallworth and the breakout year by Edwards gets us on par. Ward isn't getting any younger either.
IMO, we smoke them on widereceiver, not even close. Even adding Sweed- he is a year away from really be a contributor.

TE- Advangtage Browns
This isn't even close. The only TE's who could even compare to Winslow are Gates and Gonzalez.
actually, this is closer then one would think- their TE is very solid and is a good run blocker. is a nice complement to the passing game

OL- Advantage Browns
We had one of the best OL's last season while Pitt lost their best player to FA.
this could be the achilles heel of the steelers- we will soon see how good they really are at developing guys because it sure looks like they have some holes to fill. The draft experts went on and on about their RB/WR- but that is for the future, they needed a line for today and did nothing to address this in the draft

DL- Steelers
This could change, but these guys haven't proven themselves yet while Pitt has.

LB- Steelers
Again, could change, but Pitt still has a leg up

DB- Steelers
Without question, their backfield trumps ours

defense: until proven otherwise, edge steelers. but the browns have some serious potential here, especially if the d-line gels.

KR/PR- Browns
Cribbs beats anyone Pitt has
Cribbs is a beast
K/P- Draw
Reed and Dawson are both solid. Zastudil is good and Spedulva did great for a rookie.

We haven't passed the Steelers IMO. We are catching up for sure, but until we beat them, they are the team to beat.

And if we beat them, it will be because of one of their strengths.. and that is Ben Rothlesburger. He holds the ball entirely too long, and he does make plays on the run (which i HATE!!), but he is going to take some sacks, and also with pressure give our DB's a chance to make some plays on the ball (i.e. Pool's 100 yard INT).

Special Teams helps us as well. Cribbs is dangerous. And even if he doesn't get the TD, we will start on an average close to midfield on the offensive possession.

I really hope the defensive line does wonders for our defense. I am so glad we have Rogers and Williams to line up against them in the trenches. It WILL help!

Not to change the topic here but most Steeler fans that I talk to really aren't concerned about their O-Line. Granted, Ben holds on to the ball too long and he weighs, what, 300 lbs , but he was sacked FORTY-SEVEN times.

They just invested $100 million on their franchise QB, he's sacked 47 times and they are not concerned with their O-Line? Eventually, he WILL get hit the wrong way and will suffer a major injury if they don't take care of it. He's not Superman.

Maybe they are just blinded by their "sexy" skill position draft choices but a lot of them are "poo pooing" the fact that pass protection could be a major issue. I'm just hoping with these new additions (Corey Williams/Shaun Rogers), we show them.

On that same vein of talking to Steeler fans, there was a gentleman in the station over the weekend that has absolutely no confidence in his team this season. He is disgusted with the fact that they didn't do anything with their OL after they lost Faneca to FA. He even went as far as to say that the Browns will beat the Steelers this year and said he could be quoted on that. I was very surprised when he said he felt that the Browns were the better team this year already.

With the things that Savage has done over the 3 seasons he has been here I will say that is just short of amazing the talent he has pulled from the colleges and FA's. I believe it all started when we saw Bentley go down and we had the revolving door at Center. Savage went out and got a rock solid player in Hank Fraley less than 2 weeks before the start of the season (actually I think it was less than a week) and folks were complaining left and right about the first game and how horrible our OL was. I kept telling people that if you change companies do you think your boss thinks in 5 days you can do the job perfect? They would think on that and then realize that we had to give Fraley a chance to get settled in and let him do his job. We all know how that ended. Then last year in FA he went out and got Steinbach and Peek to name 2 players. This season he went out and got Corey Williams and Shaun Rogers. When the last whislte blows at the end of this season (be it regular or deep into the post season) we will know just how far this team has come in the last 3 seasons. It's going to be a pleasant surprise for all involved. With what we have on PAPER it appears we may have closed that gap between Pittsburgh and the rest of the elite in the NFL. Now all we have to do is wait for training camp, pre-season and the regular season to see truly just how far our beloved Browns have come.

I have been hearing some really great things from folks that are in the know and it truly makes me smile. It appears from the OTA's that we may have some folks that will step up and shine over all others and that's something that we need very much in Cleveland.

Another thought, how many on here are as pleasantly surprised as myself at how many established players WANT to play for Cleveland? Players just itching to put on the Orange and Brown. One of the most pleasant changes I've watched over the last 10 years of Browns football is the fact that people WANT to play on this team instead of trying to make a name for themselves so they can go play somewhere else and win. (rats leaving a sinking ship)

jmo

Talent wise.. I don't know, I would have to say it's pretty close. What the Browns need to build on from last year, that the Steelers already possess, is the confidence and belief that they will win games in the end. I believe it is that mentality of finishing games and expecting to win that separates 10 win teams from 12 win teams..

I agree. It isn't so much the talent, it is the mind.

Expect to win!

On paper it is us. That doesnt mean it will translate on the field at all. I really do think though that this is the year we beat them......COUNT DOWN TO WEEK 2!

I thought that we were there last year, especially in light of the numbers DA out up once, and later in the year the way they struggled. It is still going to take a mighty wind to blow them off the mountain. We play them without much pressure ITO blitzing. They are the opposite and have success relentlessly. I suggest that it is sound football to concentrate on things that beat you (regularly), get better at them, and "give unto others." Talentwise, closer than it has been for sometime. ITO coaching and the intangible I call mental toughness, they are still ahead of us, but they can be had.

i don't think it matters...

this team won't beat the steelers consistently until they start playing better defense...

stopping the run, not letting ben take 25 seconds to throw the ball...

i think the additions can help that issue...

The only thing paper is good for is fires and airplanes. Prove it on the field.

they are the favorites based on their draft.....we must take it from them....beat them twice this year...nothing else matters....

We are better offensively. They are way better defensively. I think we may pass them up this year, but one can not underestimate experience and knowing how to win.

Exactly... when we are competing with and BEATING them regularly, THEN I'll be willing to say we've caught up with the Steelers. Even if we somehow take both games this season, IMO, it's only a start.