polamalubeast
07-24-2015, 04:58 PM
When Antonio Brown was drafted by the Steelers in 2010, the team was in the middle of six consecutive seasons in which it ranked among the top five in the NFL in defense.
That generally mirrors the franchise's storied history, particularly during the post-Chuck Noll era.
So does the fact that the Steelers' offense — statistically, at least — was no better than average over that particular six-year span.
My, how things have changed.
“(Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger) talks about it a lot — how we want our offense to be known,” Brown said. “The Steelers are always known for great defense. So anytime we can flip that around is always exciting.”
Wide receiver Brown, center Maurkice Pouncey, running back Le'Veon Bell — all first-team All Pros in 2014 — and NFL co-leader in passing yardage Roethlisberger have turned the Steeler, as the nation has come to know them, upside down.
The Steelers last season had the NFL's No. 2 offense, 16 spots better than where their defense ranked.
How rare is that?
It marked the first time since 2006 and only the third occasion over the past 22 seasons that the Steelers' offense was better relative to its NFL peers than its defense.
In fact, over the 75 seasons since the franchise adopted the “Steelers” moniker (they were the “Pirates” from 1933-39), the offense has had a better league ranking than the defense just 17 times.
The 2014 ranking differential the Steelers' offense carried over its defense is easily the biggest in club history. By comparison, during the 18 seasons between 1993-2013 that the Steelers' defense was statistically higher-ranked better than their offense, the average difference was almost 12 spots.
“People still talk about that defense,” said guard Ramon Foster of the unit that led the NFL in yardage, points allowed or both five times in six years between 2007-2012. “Those guys left a legacy.
“We (as an offense) now have to stay on top. (The defense) did it year after year. We can't come around in camp and this season … as if we have made it. It doesn't mean anything unless we can keep it up.”
History suggests that won't be easy, despite one of the most talented offensive rosters in the league.
The Steelers' No. 2 NFL rank last season was only the second time in 81 seasons of the franchise it had one of the league's top two statistical offenses.
The 1979 team ranked No. 1. Coincidentally, that's also the only team among the Steelers' eight that have played in the Super Bowl in which the offense rated higher in the league than the defense.
The 1979 Steelers defense was the NFL's second-best.
“Of course, it's always good to have a good offense,” said James Harrison, who has played for eight Steelers teams that ranked among the top five in the league defensively but did not have a top-five offense to work with until last season.
“It makes things easier for the defense. It's just a little switched up from what it usually is right now, but it's never a bad thing to have a good offense.”
The Steelers' offense last season was more than merely “good.” It finished three-tenths of a yard behind New Orleans as the best in the NFL in yards per game (411.1) and led the league in time of possession (32:24) and yards per play (6.2, tied with Green Bay).
The Steelers broke 35-year-old franchise records for points (436) and total yards (6,577) and also established new records for first downs (379) and passing yardage (301.6 per game).
The team ranked second in the NFL in passing yardage and first downs. Roethlisberger, Bell and Brown combined to break 10 single-season club records covering a variety of offensive superlatives.
On whole, a tough act to follow.
“We are going to try,” offensive coordinator Todd Haley said. “That's our goal every year. (And we try) to get better every day. We have a lot of people back, which is a good thing.”
The Steelers return all 11 of their starters on offense for the first time since the strike-shortened 1982 season. Even better, in a possible sign that the unit is still ascending and hasn't peaked yet, only two of the offense's starters are in their 30s.
Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/8540819-74/defense-offense-steelers#ixzz3gqffyU9J
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook
That generally mirrors the franchise's storied history, particularly during the post-Chuck Noll era.
So does the fact that the Steelers' offense — statistically, at least — was no better than average over that particular six-year span.
My, how things have changed.
“(Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger) talks about it a lot — how we want our offense to be known,” Brown said. “The Steelers are always known for great defense. So anytime we can flip that around is always exciting.”
Wide receiver Brown, center Maurkice Pouncey, running back Le'Veon Bell — all first-team All Pros in 2014 — and NFL co-leader in passing yardage Roethlisberger have turned the Steeler, as the nation has come to know them, upside down.
The Steelers last season had the NFL's No. 2 offense, 16 spots better than where their defense ranked.
How rare is that?
It marked the first time since 2006 and only the third occasion over the past 22 seasons that the Steelers' offense was better relative to its NFL peers than its defense.
In fact, over the 75 seasons since the franchise adopted the “Steelers” moniker (they were the “Pirates” from 1933-39), the offense has had a better league ranking than the defense just 17 times.
The 2014 ranking differential the Steelers' offense carried over its defense is easily the biggest in club history. By comparison, during the 18 seasons between 1993-2013 that the Steelers' defense was statistically higher-ranked better than their offense, the average difference was almost 12 spots.
“People still talk about that defense,” said guard Ramon Foster of the unit that led the NFL in yardage, points allowed or both five times in six years between 2007-2012. “Those guys left a legacy.
“We (as an offense) now have to stay on top. (The defense) did it year after year. We can't come around in camp and this season … as if we have made it. It doesn't mean anything unless we can keep it up.”
History suggests that won't be easy, despite one of the most talented offensive rosters in the league.
The Steelers' No. 2 NFL rank last season was only the second time in 81 seasons of the franchise it had one of the league's top two statistical offenses.
The 1979 team ranked No. 1. Coincidentally, that's also the only team among the Steelers' eight that have played in the Super Bowl in which the offense rated higher in the league than the defense.
The 1979 Steelers defense was the NFL's second-best.
“Of course, it's always good to have a good offense,” said James Harrison, who has played for eight Steelers teams that ranked among the top five in the league defensively but did not have a top-five offense to work with until last season.
“It makes things easier for the defense. It's just a little switched up from what it usually is right now, but it's never a bad thing to have a good offense.”
The Steelers' offense last season was more than merely “good.” It finished three-tenths of a yard behind New Orleans as the best in the NFL in yards per game (411.1) and led the league in time of possession (32:24) and yards per play (6.2, tied with Green Bay).
The Steelers broke 35-year-old franchise records for points (436) and total yards (6,577) and also established new records for first downs (379) and passing yardage (301.6 per game).
The team ranked second in the NFL in passing yardage and first downs. Roethlisberger, Bell and Brown combined to break 10 single-season club records covering a variety of offensive superlatives.
On whole, a tough act to follow.
“We are going to try,” offensive coordinator Todd Haley said. “That's our goal every year. (And we try) to get better every day. We have a lot of people back, which is a good thing.”
The Steelers return all 11 of their starters on offense for the first time since the strike-shortened 1982 season. Even better, in a possible sign that the unit is still ascending and hasn't peaked yet, only two of the offense's starters are in their 30s.
Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/8540819-74/defense-offense-steelers#ixzz3gqffyU9J
Follow us: @triblive on Twitter | triblive on Facebook