Cowboys v. Steelers- Unit Breakdown

[Teague31]

Someone earlier posted on the similarities between the two teams- just how far away are we from being able to compete with Pitt?

QB- Edge Steelers- I think both are about alike but Ben is young, Drew is on his last legs.

RB- Slight edge Dallas- Bettis will likely retire. the combo of jj and barber is better than the combo of parker and staley.

TE- Edge Dallas. Miller is a good player but Witten is one of the top 5 TE's in the league.

WR- Even. People will probably disagree with me. I agree that Ward is better than Keyshawn but i think Glenn is better than Randle El. Crayton is also better than Wilson.

OL- Huge edge to Pitt. Flo may be the equal to Smith at LT but Pitt gets the nod at every other position.

DL- Even. Spears and Canty are studs and better than their Pitt counterparts. Hampton is better than Fergi.

LB's- Edge Pitt. Ware is the best player period. But Pitt's depth gives them the edge.

DB's- Edge Dallas. Polamalu is a beast but their corners are average at best, no one on their team can come close to newman/henry/glenn.

ST- Edge Pitt. Punters and coverage units are equal. they clearly are better at kicker and the return game.

Overall i don't see that we are that far behind- a young qb and a good OL and kicker are that seperate the two teams. the gap can be closed.

[CactusCowboy]

Difference is DAY and NIGHT- Steelers deliver, Boys do not...............

[dbair1967]

Someone earlier posted on the similarities between the two teams- just how far away are we from being able to compete with Pitt?

QB- Edge Steelers- I think both are about alike but Ben is young, Drew is on his last legs.

RB- Slight edge Dallas- Bettis will likely retire. the combo of jj and barber is better than the combo of parker and staley.

TE- Edge Dallas. Miller is a good player but Witten is one of the top 5 TE's in the league.

WR- Even. People will probably disagree with me. I agree that Ward is better than Keyshawn but i think Glenn is better than Randle El. Crayton is also better than Wilson.

OL- Huge edge to Pitt. Flo may be the equal to Smith at LT but Pitt gets the nod at every other position.

DL- Even. Spears and Canty are studs and better than their Pitt counterparts. Hampton is better than Fergi.

LB's- Edge Pitt. Ware is the best player period. But Pitt's depth gives them the edge.

DB's- Edge Dallas. Polamalu is a beast but their corners are average at best, no one on their team can come close to newman/henry/glenn.

ST- Edge Pitt. Punters and coverage units are equal. they clearly are better at kicker and the return game.

Overall i don't see that we are that far behind- a young qb and a good OL and kicker are that seperate the two teams. the gap can be closed.

the one thing that wont be closed is the way the two teams are coached...the Steelers are extremely well coached on offense and defense...fundamentally they are very sound and their defense is extremely aggressive and makes alot of plays...this team just won 3 road playoff games, two against teams that were 13-3...we'd have been mauled by any of those teams on the road...the Cowboys were 9-7, our single 3 game win streak consisted of beating three 10+ loss teams

the other thing is the QB play...Ben R is going to be a tremendous QB for years to come, he is still learning the game but is already one of the top players at his position...Bledsoe is not going to get better

David

[big dog cowboy]

You forgot one big unit...asst coaches. Big edge: Steelers.

[MichaelWinicki]

Someone earlier posted on the similarities between the two teams- just how far away are we from being able to compete with Pitt?

QB- Edge Steelers- I think both are about alike but Ben is young, Drew is on his last legs.

RB- Slight edge Dallas- Bettis will likely retire. the combo of jj and barber is better than the combo of parker and staley.

TE- Edge Dallas. Miller is a good player but Witten is one of the top 5 TE's in the league.

WR- Even. People will probably disagree with me. I agree that Ward is better than Keyshawn but i think Glenn is better than Randle El. Crayton is also better than Wilson.

OL- Huge edge to Pitt. Flo may be the equal to Smith at LT but Pitt gets the nod at every other position.

DL- Even. Spears and Canty are studs and better than their Pitt counterparts. Hampton is better than Fergi.

LB's- Edge Pitt. Ware is the best player period. But Pitt's depth gives them the edge.

DB's- Edge Dallas. Polamalu is a beast but their corners are average at best, no one on their team can come close to newman/henry/glenn.

ST- Edge Pitt. Punters and coverage units are equal. they clearly are better at kicker and the return game.

Overall i don't see that we are that far behind- a young qb and a good OL and kicker are that seperate the two teams. the gap can be closed.


Ben and Bledsoe are a lot alike?

Man you've been hitting the koolaid again!

[DefendeR]

If that was the case,then why the Steelers came out of the dominant AFC and the Boys didn't even make the playoffs in an inferior NFC?

Steelers are far better.

[Big Country]

Someone earlier posted on the similarities between the two teams- just how far away are we from being able to compete with Pitt?

QB- Edge Steelers- I think both are about alike but Ben is young, Drew is on his last legs.

speaking literally huh?! Drew can deliver with protection... NFC offensive player earlier in the 05 season is proof what protection can do for you... However, Ben R. is going to be a great QB obviously.

RB- Slight edge Dallas- Bettis will likely retire. the combo of jj and barber is better than the combo of parker and staley.

are you kidding?? Steelers hammer the run effectively on 8 man fronts all the time... always have. Dallas RBs have tons of potential, but it goes as far as the blocking goes. Dallas OL has been overrated for about 5-6 years... Draft needs to start on OL first in April 2006.

TE- Edge Dallas. Miller is a good player but Witten is one of the top 5 TE's in the league.

Miller is a super TE... He was highly regarded coming out of the draft and he is paying big dividends in the playoffs already this year... I love Witten though... He's special too.

WR- Even. People will probably disagree with me. I agree that Ward is better than Keyshawn but i think Glenn is better than Randle El. Crayton is also better than Wilson.

Comparison of WRs is good, Ward is tough anywhere on the field and he can get long on a defense... helluva player... Keyshawn is as tough as they come too on the field, but he goes long on American Airlines, not on the field. Glenn is still the best Cowboy deep threat, and I have all the faith in the world that Crayton could be a #2 receiver when healthy... He was the offensive wildcard last year when the running game was shooting blanks.

OL- Huge edge to Pitt. Flo may be the equal to Smith at LT but Pitt gets the nod at every other position.

Huge edge to Pittsburgh obviously... Dallas needs help!!!


DL- Even. Spears and Canty are studs and better than their Pitt counterparts. Hampton is better than Fergi.

Agreed... Spears and Canty will be studs... Dallas would have to somehow get Ngata in the draft and have him produce to be equal to Casey Hampton... Hampton is awesome and the anchor of the steel curtain DL.


LB's- Edge Pitt. Ware is the best player period. But Pitt's depth gives them the edge.

Dallas doesn't have a Joey Porter... Porter is a quarterback's worst nightmare this post season... Hasselbeck will know him well on Feb. 5. DeMarcus Ware hopefully can be that type of player next year.

DB's- Edge Dallas. Polamalu is a beast but their corners are average at best, no one on their team can come close to newman/henry/glenn.

Dallas has edge in CB talent hands down, end of discussion... The Steeler defense is so good up front with DL and LBers it can afford to put S Troy P. anywhere... Dallas can do that with Roy W. when it becomes dominant in it's own right in a tough NFC East division. Next year hopefully can be that year. But for now, if teams make Roy W. chase nickel RBs and TEs, Roy W. is rendered pretty much powerless.

ST- Edge Pitt. Punters and coverage units are equal. they clearly are better at kicker and the return game.

I agree with that. The Steelers have Randel El... he's a really good return man... Dallas doesn't have a gamebreaker at returner... They can use Newman to return, but this year yellow flags have slowed anything good Newman showed us on returns... Kicker... well we don't have to go there do we?

Overall i don't see that we are that far behind- a young qb and a good OL and kicker are that seperate the two teams. the gap can be closed.

I think the Dallas coaching can obviously be a bit stubborn, but I think the plan is a solid one... Great defense, bludgeoning running game... Dallas still led ALL teams in time of posession and number of offensive plays... It's time to do something with those plays next year... Protection helps...

Front office has been a strength in Pittsburgh for eeons... Hope Dallas can let the scouts scout, sign manageable FAs that fit the system, and let the product speak for itself next year with sound coaching...

[kojak]

Overall i don't see that we are that far behind- a young qb and a good OL and kicker are that seperate the two teams. the gap can be closed.

This is something that should have been addressed since day one, when Big Bill saddled his horse and rode into Dallas.

3 years, 3 diffrent QB's, same crappy o-line play. Same story diffrent day.

[GoDallas]

Fix our O Line & maybe Ben & Bledsoe are close.

I think if Ben were behind our line - we would be running him out of town.


The Steelers have a HUGE edge in OL, LB & scouting! Not to mention a kicker that is decent (at least average).

[jterrell]

QB- Edge Steelers- Ben is vastly more mobile and just as hard to bring down. Bledsoe is a bit better in the pocket but Ben R. is far superior out of it.

RB- Slight edge Dallas here. Julius and Barber make a great long term tandem provided JJ isn't hurt every year. Parker is a speed back and Bettis is retiring.

TE- Edge Dallas. Witten is an every year Pro Bowler.

WR- Pitt. Slight edge based on youth of Ward compared to our best WRs. Were we to steal Randel El we get the edge.

OL- Huge edge to Pitt. Not even close really.

DL- Pitt is better but we are younger. A chance for us to emerge here next year as a top 5 DL depending on how we handle Glover, Ellis and the sophs step up.

LB's- Edge Pitt. Porter and Ware are similar guys but Pitt has much more depth and experience in the 3-4. We have to replace either Dat or Singleton with an experienced NFL backer who can diagnose plays.

DB's- Edge Dallas. We lack a FS but are good to outstanding at CB1,2,3 and SS.

ST- Edge Pitt. Huge kicker edge. Returners are slightly better.

The real difference is the OL and the experience on defense. They weren't relying on a bunch of young guys playing in their rookie or 2nd season where we were. Because Pitt can run the ball and pass protect their offense can do whatever it wants most games. They can overcome off quarters by Ben R or drops by the WRs. The OL is probably the 2nd best in the league behind only Seattle. Denver and Carolina's OL are also up there very highly.

Lots of folks want a franchise QB but I'd prefer a franchise OL. :)
As great as Aikman was we won with lesser QBs because that OL was very good.

[jterrell]

This is something that should have been addressed since day one, when Big Bill saddled his horse and rode into Dallas.

3 years, 3 diffrent QB's, same crappy o-line play. Same story diffrent day.
lol. its not like he hasn't tried.
two 2nd rounder, one 3rd, a 2nd on a TE. free agent dollars on a RG.

[Hostile]

Ben and Bledsoe are a lot alike?

Man you've been hitting the koolaid again!That is the best avatar you've ever had. Instant classic.

[aznhalf]

OL- Huge edge to Pitt. Flo may be the equal to Smith at LT but Pitt gets the nod at every other position.


LT: Pitt
LG: Pitt
C: Pitt
RG: Pitt
RT: Pitt

Thats about half of there offense that is leaps and bounds above ours. Unfortunately for us you actually need that half of the offense for the rest of it to be effective.

It all starts at the line, and it doesn't matter if we have the edge at skill positions (which we really don't). Without a line, we don't really have the edge in anything.

[MichaelWinicki]

That is the best avatar you've ever had. Instant classic.


Thank you sir!

I do consider that to be a top compliment. :)

[Seven]

TE - edge Pitt. Miller blocks.....well. Witten needs a lot of work there. A lot. Pretty important trait for a TE. They both have good hands.

[ChldsPlay]

I'd give the WR edge to Dallas. Ward is great and all, but his numbers aren't that much better than Glenn's. Keyshawn is way better than anyone else they have, and Crayton is solid as well. Granted, Pitt is definately younger.

[CrazyCowboy]

Something is MISSING.......maybe it is the Coaching edge to the Steelers?

[goshan]

Many of you guys are such homers about our RB because you see the potential. If you ask an unbiased NFL analyst based upon reality not potential, he wouldn't list our RB situation as top 15 in the NFL. Yet many of you are arguing that our RB situation THIS YEAR is better than the Steelers. Sorry but it isn't the case.

[big dog cowboy]

TE - edge Pitt. Miller blocks.....well. Witten needs a lot of work there. A lot. Pretty important trait for a TE. They both have good hands.
I thought Campbell was our blocking TE.

[MichaelWinicki]

I thought Campbell was our blocking TE.

He is... he just wasn't very good at it this year.

[dbair1967]

He is... he just wasn't very good at it this year.

I didnt think he had that good a yr either, then again when your offensive tackles are the worst starters in the NFL, its hard to really lay alot of blame at the TE's

NFL sacks allowed...Petitti #1, Tucker #2...the run blocking was just as bad, if not worse

David

[Woods]

I didnt think he had that good a yr either, then again when your offensive tackles are the worst starters in the NFL, its hard to really lay alot of blame at the TE's

NFL sacks allowed...Petitti #1, Tucker #2...the run blocking was just as bad, if not worse

David

Being number 1 and number 2 in sacks allowed is an incredible statistic. I wonder if any other team has ever had the top 2 guys in this category?

It seems to me that a healthy (and motivated) Flo plus a quality RT SHOULD do wonders for our offense.

If with our OT debacle we were FIRST on offense in time of possession and if our offense was ranked around the top 12-14, just imagine if we could solidify our OT position . . . . drives which were being cut short due to QB sacks and pressure could be sustained, which should theoretically also help our running game, especially in the 4th quarter.

[jterrell]

Many of you guys are such homers about our RB because you see the potential. If you ask an unbiased NFL analyst based upon reality not potential, he wouldn't list our RB situation as top 15 in the NFL. Yet many of you are arguing that our RB situation THIS YEAR is better than the Steelers. Sorry but it isn't the case.

They wouldn't rate the Steelers top 15 either.

That line makes running a bit easier and they do have a short yardage back extraordinaire but Parker is average at best and wouldn't start for about 20 other teams including ours.

[jterrell]

If anything we are overrating the Steelers because they are in the Super Bowl. That team was a 6th seed not a 15-1 juggernaut.

The OL is really their only truly special group. Ben R is very good and the D gets great pressure behind Porter but the other LBs are just solid and the secondary only features 1 playmaker.

Without Marvel at LT that wasn't a very good team the past 2 seasons.

LT's have become the new franchise position.

Walter Jones is the best in the league and Marvel is definitely top 5.