The D' won the big one. So can we name them yet?
by SoCalSteelerFan on Feb 24, 2009 10:47 PM EST
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PrintAll of the Steeler defense didn't want to be recognized as one of the greatest defenses of all time until they brought home our 6th Lombardi. Now that history is history, what can we call these guys? I want to be able to tell my kids in 20 years about the most amazing defense ever to take the field. But, my kid is going to want to know what their nickname was. And all I can say is "well they didn't have one, but they were badass I promise you that!" Nah, I want to say that the_____________ defense was the best D. I know towards the end of this season someone put up a post about figuring out a name but now it has to be done. So what will it be? Anyone have a final say?
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Don't have a name for the defense as a whole yet
but I thought we’d use some major moments from the season to give names to as they might end up in Steelers lore.
1. I think James Harrison’s interception will be known in the future as the “The Pick-6”
2. Likewise, Limas’ drop will be known as the “The Dimwitted Drop”
3. The Troy Pick-6 from the first SD game, “The Best Play Ever But The Refs Are Brainless Idiots”
Ok, so the last one is kinda stupid, but anyways, other ideas?
Well
Troy’s play from the first game was a fumble recovery because it came on a lateral. Still, the name stands.
by CarlWeathersMustache on Feb 25, 2009 6:52 AM EST up reply actions
Limas' drop(s) can be known as
“missed-6”
"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)
my dad calls Harrisons Pick-6 the...
The Immaculate interception
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Feb 25, 2009 11:41 AM EST up reply actions
If none scores in the second half
Harrison wins MVP most likely. I know, that was random.
"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)
if we lost the superbowl
The Arizona Cardinnals are Champions
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Feb 25, 2009 1:53 PM EST up reply actions
If the Ravens had won
There would have been two bird teams in the Super Bowl
"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)
God hates Kurt Warner
because he didn’t win the superbowl
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Feb 25, 2009 2:02 PM EST up reply actions
Why are there so many bird teams in the NFL? Who cares about birds? Why not more snakes or maybe dinosaurs?
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
The NBA has dinosuars,
Why shouldnt the NFL?
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Feb 25, 2009 2:16 PM EST up reply actions
How about these?
The Tennesse Tyranosaurus Rexes
The Arizona Anacondas.
The Seattle Stegosauruses.
Cleveland Copperheads.
No wait…Tennessee Trouser Trouts
"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)
Man
That was one yard short cold.
"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)
Trouser Wha?
Man, I was going to say that the Arizona Anacondas would be a cool name and then I read your final Tennessee suggestion and fell out of my chair. Hilarious.
I was wondering if anyone would catch that.
"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)
by PixburghArn on Feb 25, 2009 10:50 PM EST up reply actions
Agree
2000 Ravens did way more than Pitt did this year to get to the superbowl. They are the greatest defense of all time, yep those rat birds.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
Nonsense
5 shutouts & the last 9 weeks of the season opponents scored a TOTAL of 28 points (138 for the year). Even this years defense is better. They shut down spread offenses and power running games. They were by far the best defense in the league. Baltimore didn’t even have the best defense in 2000 let alone ever. Let’s play the stats game shall we? This is the ranking during each season
Total Rush Pass Rush avg. Pass avg. total avg.
2000 Ravens 2 1 8 60.6 187.3 247.9
2008 Steelers 1 1 2 80.2 156.9 237.2
1976 Steelers 1 1 6 104.1 133.3 237.4
1985 Bears 1 1 3 82.4 173.9 258.4
All four led the lead in scoring defense in their perspective year.
On top of that, the 70’s Steelers defense won 4 titles, and the 2005-2008 version has won 2. The Ravens were one and done. I have more if you want it.
"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)
Formatting
Total Rush Pass Rush avg. Pass avg. total avg.
2000 Ravens
Total =2, Rush= 1, Pass=8, Rush avg.= 60.6, Pass avg. = 187.3 total avg. = 247.9
2008 Steelers
Total = 1, Rush =1, Pass =2, Rush avg. =80.2, Pass avg. =156.9 total avg.= 237.2
1976 Steelers
Total =1, Rush =1, Pass =6, Rush avg. = 104.1, Pass avg. =133.3, total avg. = 237.4
1985 Bears
Total =1, Rush =1, Pass = 3, Rush avg. =82.4, Pass avg. =173.9, total avg.1= 258.4
That’s better, now I think saying this year’s dee is the greatest ever isn’t a stretch. Not saying they are, but I’m saying the stats have something to say about it.
"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)
I knew a nerd would come back and research what I said like it was their job.
One goal for the defense, too allow none or the least amount of points as possible. Ravens allowed 165 points total that season, lowest ever in a 16 game season. And every team you listed above had stand out players on offense to win their games for them. Bears, Walter freaking Payton. 70’s Steelers, Swann, Stallworth, Bradshaw, Harris. The 2000 Ravens started their season with Tony Banks at QB and a rookie running back, Jamal Lewis. Quadry Ismial was our best WR and we went a month without scoring a touchdown. Defense had 4 shut outs that season and literally won nearly every game for us. We had to shut teams out to win.
The fact that our offense was so bad that year I think gives the 2000 Ravens an edge.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
You don't have to be a nerd to use nfl.com
But you have to be a homer to make statements like that without something to back it up. nerd
"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)
by PixburghArn on Feb 25, 2009 11:51 AM EST up reply actions
Confused yet?
What does Qadry Ismail have to do with a discussion of great defenses? Unless the Ravens defense played the Ravens offense in a game, the defense would have nothing to do with this conversation.
What you should be talking about is strength of offenses faced. 9 of the Steelers’ game this year came against the top 14 offenses in points per game. They also played three of the top 3 and 4 of the top 6. Something to think about.
by CarlWeathersMustache on Feb 25, 2009 3:02 PM EST up reply actions
The Ravens
played only 1 of the top 10 offenses in 2000. If you include the playoffs add 2 more. Not damning to Baltimore, but something else to think about.
"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)
While it isn’t a main point the offense should be taken into account, especially as it relates to scoring defense. If your offense spends most of the game going 3 and out that makes it much harder on the defense to defend their side of the field. We take Ben’s turnovers against say, Indy as well are our abysmal punting situation especially with Deadleg Ernster into account because they left the defense with their backs constantly against the wall. Our defense likely gave up more points due to our offense/punters ineptitude and likewise I think that it should be taken into account for the ravens. Is it the most important point? No, but it is relevant.
For the record I do think that baltimore’s 2000 defense was demonstratively better than the steelers defense was this year. Would they have done as well as the steelers defense did this year against the offenses they faced? That’s open for debate. I don’t think so, but there is no way to find out.
Stats I believe support the ravens cause: 4 shutouts, 10.3 avg points allowed. For reference, the 1976 steelers only allowed 9.9 avg and were much better.
They just didn’t let the other team score. They held their conference opponent to 3 and their superbowl opponent to 7. That’s good. All I care about in the end is points allowed. Turnovers are nice too because of the opportunity it gives the offense as well, and the ravens weren’t slackers in that dept either.
I believe the ravens 2000 defense against their opponents was better than the 2008 opponents were against theirs. The argument of which offenses were played is certainly valid, but I won’t take away from the 2000 ravens because they didn’t have the opportunity, just like I won’t relinquish my belief that the 1976 steelers had the best defense ever due to the era they played in.
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
Here's a little more info to take away from the Ravens' 2000 defense
Games against bottom 3 offenses (Pts) that year: 5
Games against bottom 10 offenses (Pts) that year: 8
Games against offenses in the bottom half of the league (Pts): 11
Games against bottom 3 offenses (Yds) that year: 4 (5 against bottom 4 offenses in yards)
Games against bottom 10 offenses (Yds) that year: 8
Games against offenses in the bottom half of the league (Yds): 10
Games against top 10 offenses in either category: 2 (Both against the Jags, who were 8th in points scored and 7th in yards)
Nearly a third of their games were against 3 of the worst offenses in the league. Four of their games (against Cleveland and Cincy) were against the two worst scoring offenses in the league. A full half of their game were against teams in the bottom ten in offense. If you combine those in the bottom ten in both yards and points, it accounts for over half of their opponents that year. Then, 2/3 of their opponents were in the bottom half of the league in offense, with only one opponent in the top 10. Again, that was agains the Jags, and they weren’t a high top ten, either (7 or 8 being near the bottom of the top ten).
I’m not saying the Ravens 2000 defense was not good, but it play many bad offenses.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on Feb 25, 2009 5:46 PM EST up reply actions
Wait a minute
I just checked the offensive rank that year for the Ravens. It was ranked 14th in points scored and 16th in yards. The 2000 Ravens were also 5th in rushing offense that season.
The Steelers offense this year was ranked 20th in points and 22nd in yards. The Steelers ranked 23rd in rushing offense this year. As we all know, a strong rushing game is a huge help to a defense, keeping it off the field and more fresh.
So, your argument that the Ravens’ 2000 offense was sooo bad doesn’t hold up either. And, as ’stache points out, the Steelers faced much better offenses this year than the 2000 Ravens. In fact, I also believe that the NFL as a whole scored more points this year than any other year. The more we learn here, the less impressive the 2000 Ravens defense seems.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on Feb 25, 2009 5:12 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Ha ha, yeah I had that argument on baltimore beatdown this year. Eventually they acknowledged that it wasn’t the worst offense ever, just the worst to ever win a superbowl.
Who owns that record now little birdies?
Oh wait, guess that’s not nothing to be proud of.
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
I'm glad you got the offensive data
Because I was tired of throwing defensive stats at him.
"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)
by PixburghArn on Feb 25, 2009 10:53 PM EST up reply actions
Another thing
That same defense in 2001 had all the same players except for Kim Herring. Here is how they did.
2001 Ravens Total =4, pass =8, rush =4
Oh and by the way here are the Steelers defensive ranking for the SAME year:
2001 Steelers Total =1, pass =4, rush =1
Anymore questions? Ok…..next.
"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)
Super Bowl Champs
I think someone suggested that.
"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)
The Steel Jaws
because right at the center you have The Big Snack.
Also a side benefit: we could play the theme song to JAWS before the game and after every sack.
The Stainless Steel Curtain
They never get rusty , always stay sharp and shine!
Pick and Roll
Deebo in the Super Bowl and Troy against the Chargers. It’s not very sexy. Personally, I still like my Strip District.
Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history
Sounds like
a nose cleaning technique.
"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)
by PixburghArn on Feb 25, 2009 10:54 PM EST up reply actions
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