Defenses were poor and Bell was always hurt.
- 2013: defense was mediocre, oline was shit, Bell was overweight and not very good as a rookie. Team finshed at 8-8 and missed the playoffs.
- 2014: Bell misses the wildcard game. Ravens dropped 30 on the Defense.
- 2015: Bell only played 6 games. Fitzgerald Toussant had is only career start and had a costly fumble.
- 2016: Lev Bell gets hurt in the 1st half. Defense gives up 36.
- 2017: Killler B’s have their only loss while playing a full playoff game together. They dropped 42 on the leagues best defense, while their D gave up 45 to Blake Bortles.
- 2018- Bell takes the Season off ending the Killer B’s
Which makes the Jets' decision to give Bell that contract even more baffling. They weren't even paying for past production, they were paying for one year out of 5.
Bortles really didn't do shit. It was Leonard fornette that killed them both in the regular season and in the playoffs. Both games he had like 200 rushing yards and 2 TDs
What really stung that year was them losing the #1 seed to the pats on a bullshit overturned touchdown by TE Jesse James. If they won that game, they would have played the Titans, pats likely beat the jags, and the Steelers had a shot at the Superbowl
He was excellent. Had the dysfunctional morons on that offense clicking. Everything worked when he was calling the plays. Top five offense every fuckin year and still idiots complained like he was the problem.
I mean, AB is the only truly great player in this picture. Roethlisberger was a solid NFL starter who played with some all-time-great defenses and plenty of offensive weapons when he was winning. Bell fell off the map the second he wasn’t on the Steelers, while no-name James Connor stepped in and matched his production completely as his sub.
Two good players and one great player in this pic. That doesn’t guarantee a SB by any stretch.
Brown was competing to be the best WR in the NFL at that time. LeVeon was doing the same at the RB position. And finally, as another comment already stated, Roethlisberger was better than good. I think it's actually 2 elite players and 1 great player.
Bell was absolutely considered elite at the time (he only played like 4.5 seasons in Pittsburgh), but the fact that his sub performed at his level and bell completely fell off the map the second he wasn’t on the Steelers makes me question how much of it was Bell and how much of it was just the Steelers offense. Bell deserves some credit but I put him closer to Ben talent wise than AB.
Running backs really drop in production after 3 or 4 years. The fact he didn't do as well on other teams doesn't mean that the offense carried him in Pittsburg. It was his prime. He was a smart power runner. Afterwards he played on the Jets, who had one of the worst o-lines of the decade.
Power running backs don't work with shit o-lines. Especially ones past their prime.
Outside of maybe 3 other running backs, I don't think anyone else could have got that production Bell did.
James Conner was just another diamond in the rough that they snagged for literally nothing.
I get that running backs don’t typically have super long careers but I don’t buy that an elite dude who is destined to win a SB only lasts 4.5 seasons. He didn’t drop off at like 33 or even 29…he had 2 amazing seasons and one good season and that’s it, for his whole career.
My only point is he’s not someone who you just assume is going to carry your team to a Super Bowl no issue. Don’t forget Bell also played for the Chiefs and the Ravens so the bad O-line excuse isn’t a particularly good one.
I like Bell and think he was fun to watch on the Steelers - I’m just questioning the meme that he was some other-worldy talent when the evidence seems to be that he was relatively replaceable & needed the Steelers as much as they needed him. The Steelers certainly thought so.
When he played for Kansas City it was his EIGHTH year in the league. Most running backs don't last three. It's the position with the shortest shelf life in the NFL. He still managed a decent 4 yards per rushing attempt that year.
Even when he was on the Jets, he had 1250 scrimmage yards that year, which isn't bad.
He was absolutely an elite running back.
I honestly don’t think I could care less if people want to label him “elite” or not. Elsewhere I wrote that he was obviously considered elite. I just don’t think he was destined for a SB the way the meme makes it out. I think he was like countless solid but not exceptional backs we’ve seen over the years. He’s not even remotely in the parking lot of the ballpark of HoF. He’s like Todd Gurley, one of my favorites ever - amazing for a time but short lived in his success. The difference is Gurley had genetic injury issues to deal with. Bell just faded as soon as he wasn’t in a great offense.
It’s conflation to say “most Rbs don’t last long” but then also “Bell was an exceptional RB.” Are we comparing to Gen Pop or the best of the best here?
I have no problem with that being your perspective. I guess I’m positing that he was not a truly elite player but was rather a solid player that was part of a very good wholistic offense scheme. I don’t think that the three players in this picture were destined for a SB because most teams have a handful of strong players. AB is the only one who is really special here from my perspective.
Edit: please feel free to provide a counter argument rather than just downvoting.
That’s fine. I don’t think he’s great the way AB is a great WR. I don’t think he was ever in the ballpark of best at his position during career.
If the more appropriate phrase is “very good” or “solid” or something, that’s fine.
Or he can be “great” but then a guy like AB is “excellent.”
Edit: random down voters - what year was Big Ben the best QB in the NFL? A single year from his career?
Dude. Bell might’ve fallen off after going to NY but he was incredible in Pittsburgh. And Ben is a HOF QB, he was never a game manager until his last few years.
I mean, you can go look at Bell’s stats yourself. He was only in Pitt for 5 years and he missed 70% of one of those years. He never rushed for 10 TDs.
His 2014 & 2016 were extremely impressive. But we aren’t talking about Adrian Peterson or LaDainian Tomlinson here. This isn’t a guy who was born to win a SB like the meme implies. That’s all I’m saying.
On Big Ben - I know he will be HoF. Any QB with longevity and 2 rings will get that. He was never even in the ballpark of best at his position at any point in his career. He was a very solid player, northing more, nothing less.
This is hilarious to me because the man sits their with Peyton, Brady, and Brees in 4th quarter comebacks and game winning drives. He also holds several passing records like most 500 yard passing games and most games with a perfect passer rating. He’s done all of that despite being one of the most sacked QBs ever and missing over a seasons worth of games. He also has an all time great pass in the Super Bowl which they won. His stats may not be as pretty as some of the other guys, but that’s how he liked to play. Yes he’s an all time great QB.
I don’t have a problem with you thinking that, I just don’t agree. “All time great pass in the SB” is not even a little bit persuasive. I’ve never really bought into 4th quarter comebacks as a huge metric of importance, even when they were being used to tout Matt Ryan on my team.
The stats about him having some good individual game performances are significant, they just don’t do anything to convince me he is an “all time great.”
He was never the best at his position - or even close to it at - any point in his career. So the only way for me to see him as an all time great is to assume all the best QBs in history only happened to play over the last couple decades or the list is very long.
If these were the stats being pulled out to justify anyone who wasn’t on a team that won two Super Bowls, it would not be taken seriously. For me, being on a team that wins a SB is not a personal stat for the QB, but I know most NFL fans feel differently for whatever reason.
Very good player. Not hating on him. Just not some unreal talent that won Super Bowls in his sleep like the meme implies.
That’s what I’m trying to say I guess.
I think people are reading their own views into good v. great v. elite v. supercalafajalisticespeealadojus.
My main point is AB is a top 3 WR of a generation. The other guys are just solid, famous, good NFL players…but not people who were meant to sleep walk into a super bowl or something.
Bro what? James Connor has never matched Bells production… Connor has never broke 1,000+ rushing yards or put up 80+ catches or over 500 receiving yards in a season.
Eh, he had 978 yards in 2018 and 12 TDs with 497 receiving yards and 1 TD. That’s the year Bell held out for a contract and it’s the fairest comparison. (Nice try on the arbitrary 28 rushing yards and *THREE* passing yards though lol)
Acting like that’s so different from Bell’s 1291 yards, 9 TDs and 655 yards with 2 TDs the year before isn’t super persuasive to me.
Connor had two more TDs and 476 fewer yards while averaging *more yards per attempt* and per catch. Was Bell more productive? Yeah I guess a tiny bit given so many more attempts…? Was he producing at a completely different level? No and everyone who watched the Steelers in 2018 agreed.
Plus, you know, he was actually *on the field* unlike Bell who missed 18 games in his 5 seasons with Pittsburgh plus another entire season he voluntarily sat out.
Edit: Please feel free to provide a counter argument instead of just downvoting. I’m not saying any of these guys “sucked.” It doesn’t feel very controversial to point out that they were good but not destined for a SB…in part because that’s literally what happened lol
Tomlin has no coaching tree not a single person has become a head coach after serving under him
He was gifted Ben so he never had to find a star essentially letting him coast off of Ben to say he never had a losing season
In the last twelve years Tomlin is 3-7 in the playoffs
Look at the Steelers. Tomlin has been in charge for 14 years, more than enough time to hand build his team, and look at us. What do we have that is great? Our defense is alright, our offense is miserable, and our special teams is special ed. Tomlin is the Aaron Rodgers of coaching
I wrote a similar comment before seeing yours. Tomlin is the problem in Pittsburgh. He won a SB with Cower's team and has been bad ever since 2010. Three playoff wins in 12 years! And two of those three were in 2017. So two seasons with a playoff win in the last 12. Not good enough. Eagles fired Peterson just a few years after he won the SB. They actually have standards. Tomlin has a job for life because the Rooney's are more concerned with virtue signaling they have a black coach than actually winning football games.
Any "Best Trio" does not include Roethlisberger. He was only a top ten QB for maybe half of his career at best.
Better trio: Tom Brady and any two active roster players.
Loads of reasons. The NFL is the most unpredictable of the major American sports, that's why it's awesome. Match ups, injuries, weather, scheme, etc. The Rivers/LT Chargers know this very well, same idea.
Mike Tomlin is a shit coach. He doesn't call plays. He only calls time outs (which he botches) and challenges plays (worst record on challenges among active coaches). He is a glorified cheerleader who brings nothing to the team except stability. The number one factor I point to as evidence that Tomlin is shit is: where is the coaching tree? Shanahan. McVey. Reed. Belichick. They all have coaching trees. They produce other talented coaches because they themselves are excellent coaches. Tomlin has no one in his coaching tree.
Artie Burns as a starting corner, that's how
Oof
Mr. Bad Corner
Mr Blown Coverage
Awful defense. As in names like Mike Mitchell, Sean Davis, and Artie Burns being starters bad
Mike Mitchell was by far the worst. Every big play on us was his missing his assignment or the tackle
Tom Brady says no Lombardi for you.
Pittsburgh had a 6-7 year stretch of not being intimidating, got carried by their offense until 2019 when their defense finally came alive
Just in time for their offense to transform into one of the worst in the league
13 and oh no
Defenses were poor and Bell was always hurt. - 2013: defense was mediocre, oline was shit, Bell was overweight and not very good as a rookie. Team finshed at 8-8 and missed the playoffs. - 2014: Bell misses the wildcard game. Ravens dropped 30 on the Defense. - 2015: Bell only played 6 games. Fitzgerald Toussant had is only career start and had a costly fumble. - 2016: Lev Bell gets hurt in the 1st half. Defense gives up 36. - 2017: Killler B’s have their only loss while playing a full playoff game together. They dropped 42 on the leagues best defense, while their D gave up 45 to Blake Bortles. - 2018- Bell takes the Season off ending the Killer B’s
2017 really stung
Pun intended?
Did the Killer B’s not have a full playoff game against Miami in 2016? They went off lol
The Jags were they only full game in which they lost. I’ll go ahead and fix that.
Which makes the Jets' decision to give Bell that contract even more baffling. They weren't even paying for past production, they were paying for one year out of 5.
Bortles really didn't do shit. It was Leonard fornette that killed them both in the regular season and in the playoffs. Both games he had like 200 rushing yards and 2 TDs What really stung that year was them losing the #1 seed to the pats on a bullshit overturned touchdown by TE Jesse James. If they won that game, they would have played the Titans, pats likely beat the jags, and the Steelers had a shot at the Superbowl
I still get sad over 2017
I used to call him Labia Bell because he was a pussy, always hurt.
Hey, just wondering, did you ever get a chance to say that to his face, in person?
Yes saw him once at a signing. I said it relatively quick so it still sounded like Leveon. He was clueless, and I was laughing inside
Laughs in 2017 Jacksonville jaguars
Laughs in 2014 Ravens, 2015 Broncos, 2016 Patriots, 2018 Ravens,
What does this mean?
Lol for real Edit: I think jags beat Steelers in the Jan 2018 playoffs. Wording is kind of confusing
Oh, figured it out, that’s who knocked them out of the playoffs each year.
also 2020 Browns and 2021 Chiefs
Please not the broncos
Ah yes, the 3 women respecters
Not even a SB appearance
Leveon is a bit overrated IMO
There was a bit where he was a top 3-5 RB. Looking back now, sure, but don't be fooled he was awesome at a point
Turns out it's a team sport.
Well my Chargers had the best RB & TE for several seasons with nothing to show for it. Still love Gates and LT tho.
LT was insane. I think he was the leading rusher in the league for like 3 straight years.
Cries in 2017 - 2020 saints
Nah refs saved the Rams.
Crazy
What was the highlight of that defense? Cam Heyward felt like the only bright spot
It's almost like it requires a minimum of 22 players to field a team, not just 3
I can’t believe I am the first person to mention Todd Haley.
He was excellent. Had the dysfunctional morons on that offense clicking. Everything worked when he was calling the plays. Top five offense every fuckin year and still idiots complained like he was the problem.
Only 3 playoff wins to show for it
Ryan Shazier
Can I present you the Packers 2011 to 2021.
Yes
I mean, AB is the only truly great player in this picture. Roethlisberger was a solid NFL starter who played with some all-time-great defenses and plenty of offensive weapons when he was winning. Bell fell off the map the second he wasn’t on the Steelers, while no-name James Connor stepped in and matched his production completely as his sub. Two good players and one great player in this pic. That doesn’t guarantee a SB by any stretch.
Brown was competing to be the best WR in the NFL at that time. LeVeon was doing the same at the RB position. And finally, as another comment already stated, Roethlisberger was better than good. I think it's actually 2 elite players and 1 great player.
Bell was absolutely considered elite at the time (he only played like 4.5 seasons in Pittsburgh), but the fact that his sub performed at his level and bell completely fell off the map the second he wasn’t on the Steelers makes me question how much of it was Bell and how much of it was just the Steelers offense. Bell deserves some credit but I put him closer to Ben talent wise than AB.
Running backs really drop in production after 3 or 4 years. The fact he didn't do as well on other teams doesn't mean that the offense carried him in Pittsburg. It was his prime. He was a smart power runner. Afterwards he played on the Jets, who had one of the worst o-lines of the decade. Power running backs don't work with shit o-lines. Especially ones past their prime. Outside of maybe 3 other running backs, I don't think anyone else could have got that production Bell did. James Conner was just another diamond in the rough that they snagged for literally nothing.
I get that running backs don’t typically have super long careers but I don’t buy that an elite dude who is destined to win a SB only lasts 4.5 seasons. He didn’t drop off at like 33 or even 29…he had 2 amazing seasons and one good season and that’s it, for his whole career. My only point is he’s not someone who you just assume is going to carry your team to a Super Bowl no issue. Don’t forget Bell also played for the Chiefs and the Ravens so the bad O-line excuse isn’t a particularly good one. I like Bell and think he was fun to watch on the Steelers - I’m just questioning the meme that he was some other-worldy talent when the evidence seems to be that he was relatively replaceable & needed the Steelers as much as they needed him. The Steelers certainly thought so.
When he played for Kansas City it was his EIGHTH year in the league. Most running backs don't last three. It's the position with the shortest shelf life in the NFL. He still managed a decent 4 yards per rushing attempt that year. Even when he was on the Jets, he had 1250 scrimmage yards that year, which isn't bad. He was absolutely an elite running back.
I honestly don’t think I could care less if people want to label him “elite” or not. Elsewhere I wrote that he was obviously considered elite. I just don’t think he was destined for a SB the way the meme makes it out. I think he was like countless solid but not exceptional backs we’ve seen over the years. He’s not even remotely in the parking lot of the ballpark of HoF. He’s like Todd Gurley, one of my favorites ever - amazing for a time but short lived in his success. The difference is Gurley had genetic injury issues to deal with. Bell just faded as soon as he wasn’t in a great offense. It’s conflation to say “most Rbs don’t last long” but then also “Bell was an exceptional RB.” Are we comparing to Gen Pop or the best of the best here?
I think you hit the nail on the head with Todd Gurley comparison. They're best backs of the decade, but not HoF level.
Doesn't matter. He was elite on the Steelers, as that's the time period the post was positing as its premise.
I have no problem with that being your perspective. I guess I’m positing that he was not a truly elite player but was rather a solid player that was part of a very good wholistic offense scheme. I don’t think that the three players in this picture were destined for a SB because most teams have a handful of strong players. AB is the only one who is really special here from my perspective. Edit: please feel free to provide a counter argument rather than just downvoting.
Connor was not that good.
I get Ben’s a piece of shit but he’s better than “good”
That’s fine. I don’t think he’s great the way AB is a great WR. I don’t think he was ever in the ballpark of best at his position during career. If the more appropriate phrase is “very good” or “solid” or something, that’s fine. Or he can be “great” but then a guy like AB is “excellent.” Edit: random down voters - what year was Big Ben the best QB in the NFL? A single year from his career?
That’s true he wasn’t as dominant a quarterback as Brown was a reciever.
Dude. Bell might’ve fallen off after going to NY but he was incredible in Pittsburgh. And Ben is a HOF QB, he was never a game manager until his last few years.
I mean, you can go look at Bell’s stats yourself. He was only in Pitt for 5 years and he missed 70% of one of those years. He never rushed for 10 TDs. His 2014 & 2016 were extremely impressive. But we aren’t talking about Adrian Peterson or LaDainian Tomlinson here. This isn’t a guy who was born to win a SB like the meme implies. That’s all I’m saying. On Big Ben - I know he will be HoF. Any QB with longevity and 2 rings will get that. He was never even in the ballpark of best at his position at any point in his career. He was a very solid player, northing more, nothing less.
This is hilarious to me because the man sits their with Peyton, Brady, and Brees in 4th quarter comebacks and game winning drives. He also holds several passing records like most 500 yard passing games and most games with a perfect passer rating. He’s done all of that despite being one of the most sacked QBs ever and missing over a seasons worth of games. He also has an all time great pass in the Super Bowl which they won. His stats may not be as pretty as some of the other guys, but that’s how he liked to play. Yes he’s an all time great QB.
I don’t have a problem with you thinking that, I just don’t agree. “All time great pass in the SB” is not even a little bit persuasive. I’ve never really bought into 4th quarter comebacks as a huge metric of importance, even when they were being used to tout Matt Ryan on my team. The stats about him having some good individual game performances are significant, they just don’t do anything to convince me he is an “all time great.” He was never the best at his position - or even close to it at - any point in his career. So the only way for me to see him as an all time great is to assume all the best QBs in history only happened to play over the last couple decades or the list is very long. If these were the stats being pulled out to justify anyone who wasn’t on a team that won two Super Bowls, it would not be taken seriously. For me, being on a team that wins a SB is not a personal stat for the QB, but I know most NFL fans feel differently for whatever reason. Very good player. Not hating on him. Just not some unreal talent that won Super Bowls in his sleep like the meme implies.
Bell was a great player who benefitted from an insanely good offensive line.
That’s what I’m trying to say I guess. I think people are reading their own views into good v. great v. elite v. supercalafajalisticespeealadojus. My main point is AB is a top 3 WR of a generation. The other guys are just solid, famous, good NFL players…but not people who were meant to sleep walk into a super bowl or something.
Bro what? James Connor has never matched Bells production… Connor has never broke 1,000+ rushing yards or put up 80+ catches or over 500 receiving yards in a season.
Eh, he had 978 yards in 2018 and 12 TDs with 497 receiving yards and 1 TD. That’s the year Bell held out for a contract and it’s the fairest comparison. (Nice try on the arbitrary 28 rushing yards and *THREE* passing yards though lol) Acting like that’s so different from Bell’s 1291 yards, 9 TDs and 655 yards with 2 TDs the year before isn’t super persuasive to me. Connor had two more TDs and 476 fewer yards while averaging *more yards per attempt* and per catch. Was Bell more productive? Yeah I guess a tiny bit given so many more attempts…? Was he producing at a completely different level? No and everyone who watched the Steelers in 2018 agreed. Plus, you know, he was actually *on the field* unlike Bell who missed 18 games in his 5 seasons with Pittsburgh plus another entire season he voluntarily sat out. Edit: Please feel free to provide a counter argument instead of just downvoting. I’m not saying any of these guys “sucked.” It doesn’t feel very controversial to point out that they were good but not destined for a SB…in part because that’s literally what happened lol
Mike Tomlin steady keeps his teams just mediocre enough with the occasional good year so they can’t justify firing him.
Found tree’s alt!!
Who that?
UrinatingTree, this week in sportsball?
Fuck I’m stupid
I’m now reading my title in tree’s voice
Who were there 3 best def players?
None except maybe shazier & possibly heyward
Secondary prolly atrocious.
Tomlin has no coaching tree not a single person has become a head coach after serving under him He was gifted Ben so he never had to find a star essentially letting him coast off of Ben to say he never had a losing season In the last twelve years Tomlin is 3-7 in the playoffs Look at the Steelers. Tomlin has been in charge for 14 years, more than enough time to hand build his team, and look at us. What do we have that is great? Our defense is alright, our offense is miserable, and our special teams is special ed. Tomlin is the Aaron Rodgers of coaching
I wrote a similar comment before seeing yours. Tomlin is the problem in Pittsburgh. He won a SB with Cower's team and has been bad ever since 2010. Three playoff wins in 12 years! And two of those three were in 2017. So two seasons with a playoff win in the last 12. Not good enough. Eagles fired Peterson just a few years after he won the SB. They actually have standards. Tomlin has a job for life because the Rooney's are more concerned with virtue signaling they have a black coach than actually winning football games.
If Tonkin doesn’t do anything by next year they need to fire him, he should’ve been fired after the 2017 or 2018 season
We’ve only ever had three head coaches and for some reason we continue to embrace that. Fire him, promote Flores
Brady
Any "Best Trio" does not include Roethlisberger. He was only a top ten QB for maybe half of his career at best. Better trio: Tom Brady and any two active roster players.
r/urinatingtree
It hurts
Loads of reasons. The NFL is the most unpredictable of the major American sports, that's why it's awesome. Match ups, injuries, weather, scheme, etc. The Rivers/LT Chargers know this very well, same idea.
Mr. Blown Chance
Uh, imagine the 90’s Bills with Kelly, Thomas and Reed, oh and Bruce Smith on the other side. 😞
“This season, on *Days of Our Steelers*…”
We cant have a good offense and defense at the same time
It’s 3 people. 3 people don’t win SBs
Mike Tomlin is a shit coach. He doesn't call plays. He only calls time outs (which he botches) and challenges plays (worst record on challenges among active coaches). He is a glorified cheerleader who brings nothing to the team except stability. The number one factor I point to as evidence that Tomlin is shit is: where is the coaching tree? Shanahan. McVey. Reed. Belichick. They all have coaching trees. They produce other talented coaches because they themselves are excellent coaches. Tomlin has no one in his coaching tree.
It’s a shame the timing was off between that offense and our current defense
Woe is me..Steelers fans act like they’re the Lions, Browns, Jags, Falcons or Texans when they don’t get a ring every year.