Maybe.
However, a championship season might be necessary to support such a claim.
The 70's teams had some pretty good O-linemen and a few championships to support their case for that title.
I'm not sure about the best ever, but we have our best OL coach ever.
Too early. They have only had a season and part of another to judge them.
They are on their way and yes, Munchak, is our best OL coach ever.
I know it's one of the best in the NFL today for sure, the depth is great also with Finney, Hubbard, and hopefully Hawkins.
Top 2 center in Pouncey, top 3 guard in DD, best right tackle with Gilbert, and if it matters, PFF rated Foster as one of the top left guards in football.
Too early, they are on their way though, this O-line is stacked and is one of the most talented in the league
Mike Webster > > > Pouncey. I have seen them both play and Webster is the black and gold standard.
All Defense!
These Steelers in my eyes don't deserve to be called the best of anything until they actually prove they are the best. So far to date the only things they have to show for their talent is one uncompetitive loss to New England in the title game.
This teams' talent cannot be denied for sure, but they have to prove it. They need a championship season.
Will be.
It's so nice to see threads like this considering what a train wreck the OL was not so long ago. We probably would've won SB XLV with a better OL.
I was about to say that the O-line of the 70's is often overlooked (ignored), because so much attention is given to the defense and the skill players. But, they were freakin' outstanding... specifically Webster.
Oh... and I would throw the line from the mid-90s into the ring, as well, because Dawson is the most talented O-lineman I've ever seen. (Webster was more powerful, but Dirt could pull like a guard.)
1. Webster
1-a. Dawson
a huge gap
5. Pouncey, Hartings, Mansfield
6. Velasco
7. Hartwig
8. Corky from Life Goes On
9. a chair
10. Mahan
Webster, Dawson, Faneca, Pouncey, Hartings.
I'm good with 3 centers!
The organization thought so. Woodson was jettisoned from Pittsburgh and never came back. Not even to retire.
You can think the Steelers' players are the best, and that is fine, but I just think they don't deserve much credit or be considered the best until they prove it, or at least put up a better fight than 36-17 against the eventual World Champions.
Inability to punch it in from the 1 when the game was growing desperate. Had to settle for three. "Best O-Line in the league".Our o-line was not the problem against the Pats.Our WR and our defense was the problem.
Yes, they were a problem.
I think this may be the best line ever. Exciting stuff!
IMO, that was due more to shit playcalling by Haley than any perceived deficiency with the OL. Lining Williams up 7-8 yards behind the LOS and trying to run it up the gut twice in a row? Stupid. You'd think he'd have learned after Williams lost almost 2 yards on first down, but no, he calls essentially the exact same play and formation again and it loses 3 more yards on second down.
It's incumbent on the coaches to put the players in a position to succeed to begin with. Didn't happen there.
You can't be the best as a team if you don't the win super bowl but as a unit or as a player, you can be one of the best even without super bowl.
I mean, the chargers in the early 1980s had one of the best offense of all time even though they did not win a super bowl.
How about one of the best coached? Thanks to Munchak.
Hater = Realist
“I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play!” - Jack Lambert
SB XLIII O-line:
LT Max Starks
LG Chris Kemoeatu
C Justin Hartwig
RG Darnell Stapleton
RT Willie Colon