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Split decision on Steelers' status
ESPN.com
Updated: November 14, 2007
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Our experts offer insight on the Pittsburgh Steelers' status, Steve McNair's future and why the Philadelphia Eagles are so inconsistent.
Are the Steelers an elite team?
Sean Salisbury: The Steelers have an excellent defense, a fantastic offense and a very good coaching staff, so they are one of the elite teams. They are a step below the New England Patriots because every team in the league is a step below them, but the Steelers are on par with the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys, especially with the way quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been playing.
Eric Allen: Let's slow down before calling them one of the elite teams in the NFL. They have losses to the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals, and that is not a sign of an elite NFL team. They still are a little topsy-turvy at times, and they need more consistent play from Roethlisberger and the defensive secondary to be considered one of the best in football.
Is Steve McNair done?
Salisbury: It's not that McNair is done, it's that his team is pretty close to being done. The Baltimore Ravens aren't a Super Bowl contender as they were when McNair was brought into the fold, and that is affecting McNair's play. All of a sudden, he's not playing with one of the best offensive lines in the game, he doesn't have a great running game and he definitely doesn't have a dynamic downfield receiver. I still believe that McNair is a player who can make a difference for a team if he has enough weapons.
Allen: I don't know if he's done yet, but I do think he's in a bad situation. When he was brought in by the Ravens, he was brought in to take care of the ball and score enough to points to win. This was a team that was predicated on defense. This defense has gotten older and it isn't the dominant force it once was. So instead of just being a Trent Dilfer-type, the Ravens need him out there making big plays with his legs and arm, and I don't think he's that type of quarterback anymore.
Why are the Eagles so inconsistent?
Salisbury:The Eagles are a bad mix of young and old players. They don't have enough middle guys who are on their way and can make the big plays at times. That's why they have to rely heavily on Brian Westbrook offensively when he could be so much more explosive if the Eagles had another offensive playmaker for Donovan McNabb, but they simply don't. Because they don't have another playmaker, opposing defenses are able to key in on Westbrook, and if he's not able to beat the coverage, this team is dead in the water.
Allen: This Eagles team doesn't have enough explosive playmakers on offense and defense. This is a defense that has, in the past, prided itself on its ability to pressure the quarterback with exotic blitzes as well as pressure from the front four. That was possible because the secondary could be relied upon to stop the big play from happening. That isn't the case anymore, because the secondary isn't as strong and the front four isn't getting a good enough upfield push.
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ESPN.com
Updated: November 14, 2007
Comment
Our experts offer insight on the Pittsburgh Steelers' status, Steve McNair's future and why the Philadelphia Eagles are so inconsistent.
Are the Steelers an elite team?
Sean Salisbury: The Steelers have an excellent defense, a fantastic offense and a very good coaching staff, so they are one of the elite teams. They are a step below the New England Patriots because every team in the league is a step below them, but the Steelers are on par with the Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys, especially with the way quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been playing.
Eric Allen: Let's slow down before calling them one of the elite teams in the NFL. They have losses to the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals, and that is not a sign of an elite NFL team. They still are a little topsy-turvy at times, and they need more consistent play from Roethlisberger and the defensive secondary to be considered one of the best in football.
Is Steve McNair done?
Salisbury: It's not that McNair is done, it's that his team is pretty close to being done. The Baltimore Ravens aren't a Super Bowl contender as they were when McNair was brought into the fold, and that is affecting McNair's play. All of a sudden, he's not playing with one of the best offensive lines in the game, he doesn't have a great running game and he definitely doesn't have a dynamic downfield receiver. I still believe that McNair is a player who can make a difference for a team if he has enough weapons.
Allen: I don't know if he's done yet, but I do think he's in a bad situation. When he was brought in by the Ravens, he was brought in to take care of the ball and score enough to points to win. This was a team that was predicated on defense. This defense has gotten older and it isn't the dominant force it once was. So instead of just being a Trent Dilfer-type, the Ravens need him out there making big plays with his legs and arm, and I don't think he's that type of quarterback anymore.
Why are the Eagles so inconsistent?
Salisbury:The Eagles are a bad mix of young and old players. They don't have enough middle guys who are on their way and can make the big plays at times. That's why they have to rely heavily on Brian Westbrook offensively when he could be so much more explosive if the Eagles had another offensive playmaker for Donovan McNabb, but they simply don't. Because they don't have another playmaker, opposing defenses are able to key in on Westbrook, and if he's not able to beat the coverage, this team is dead in the water.
Allen: This Eagles team doesn't have enough explosive playmakers on offense and defense. This is a defense that has, in the past, prided itself on its ability to pressure the quarterback with exotic blitzes as well as pressure from the front four. That was possible because the secondary could be relied upon to stop the big play from happening. That isn't the case anymore, because the secondary isn't as strong and the front four isn't getting a good enough upfield push.
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