polamalubeast
10-19-2014, 06:38 PM
Bill Cowher is in his eighth season of sitting on the CBS studio set every Sunday analyzing NFL games, yet his legacy remains with the Steelers.
Not just with the Lombardi Trophy won during the 2005 season, which is proudly displayed at the Steelers' South Side headquarters, but perhaps in an unexpected place — on their roster.
Seven of the current Steelers' 53 players are from the Cowher era that ended after the 2006 season: Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Polamalu, James Harrison and Brett Keisel, Ike Taylor, Heath Miller and long snapper Greg Warren.
That's a striking number, especially in comparison to this: Only six players remain from coach Mike Tomlin's first four draft classes from 2007-2010, and only nine are around from his first five classes.
All of this adds to the conversation these days, from talk radio to tailgate debates: Is the deterioration of the once-mighty Steelers due to poor drafting over the first seven years of the Tomlin era?
The Tribune-Review performed an extensive review of Tomlin's and Cowher's first seven drafts to attempt to answer a long-standing question among Steelers fans: Who's drafted better, Cowher and general manager Tom Donahoe or Tomlin and GM Kevin Colbert?
Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/6900630-74/tomlin-cowher-draft#ixzz3GdYzYwLw
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook
Not just with the Lombardi Trophy won during the 2005 season, which is proudly displayed at the Steelers' South Side headquarters, but perhaps in an unexpected place — on their roster.
Seven of the current Steelers' 53 players are from the Cowher era that ended after the 2006 season: Ben Roethlisberger and Troy Polamalu, James Harrison and Brett Keisel, Ike Taylor, Heath Miller and long snapper Greg Warren.
That's a striking number, especially in comparison to this: Only six players remain from coach Mike Tomlin's first four draft classes from 2007-2010, and only nine are around from his first five classes.
All of this adds to the conversation these days, from talk radio to tailgate debates: Is the deterioration of the once-mighty Steelers due to poor drafting over the first seven years of the Tomlin era?
The Tribune-Review performed an extensive review of Tomlin's and Cowher's first seven drafts to attempt to answer a long-standing question among Steelers fans: Who's drafted better, Cowher and general manager Tom Donahoe or Tomlin and GM Kevin Colbert?
Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/6900630-74/tomlin-cowher-draft#ixzz3GdYzYwLw
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook