Are we another dynasty in our own history?

by Mechem on Aug 24, 2011 12:24 AM EDT

Mr Bean's front page post about Tomlin recently got me thinking about us becoming a new dynasty in football in general.

Bean touched on something that made me think bout the word Dynasty. And what it means for us.

When people name dynasties, they just usually think of the best team over the decade. Hence why we think of the Steelers in the 70's, 49ers in the 80's, Cowboys in the 90's, and recently (grr) the Pats of the 00's.

But in the midst of those teams, there are still 23 Super Bowls unaccounted for. Some have won a pair together like the Broncos and Dolphins. Many have a few wins scattered around like the Redskins, Raiders, and Packers. Still others have many losses and close calls, and yet a few havent even PLAYED in the Bowl.

That may be the NFL's definition. But my title is really more about us. Stiller Nation and its team. What is OUR definition of a Dynasty? And are these Steelers one? Will they be?

By the way this is one of my more serious and lengthy thought provoking poasts, so if you're looking for all the profanity and hate, please see the hate guide from before. I got it all out for now until Sept 11. BONUS HATE: We get to kill the Ravens in honor of killing Osama Bin Freaking Laden. That means clearly the Ravens hate America. And that Ray Lewis is probably Taliban, and Ed Reed's doo-rag is actually a Terror Hat! I hate em and they stank!

Had ya going there didn't I :)

When you zoom in on just your team, and forget all others for a second, your definition of dynasty may change. For a team like New York it could have just been enough to make another Bowl win after 20 years. But we have some serious history behind us to consider.

Our own team once produced 4 trophies in 6 years. Something which nobody has been able to duplicate. Does that put this team under a higher standard? I tend to argue no because I feel that its more about the continuity and identity of the actual team itself.

With that in mind, I think about people. People make a dynasty. They are iconic. Who doesn't envision Mean Joe, Chuck Noll, Bradshaw, and the rest of the gang when we hear the Steelers of the 70's. Think about the identity. For us, all 4 wins were more or less with the same people. That ties it all together.

Is it possible for you to really think ''steelers of the 2000's or Steelers of 05-15 and not feel so different about the teams that have won the super bowl? From the Chin to Tomlin, The Bus to Fumbles, Randle El tricks to Mike Wallace Bombs, FWP to Redman (not that I would dare offend Redman for fear of swift dropkicks to my stomach), Porter to Woodley, Haggans to Harrison, Faneca and that beautîful line to the revolving door we have had (save for pouncey omg!).

Consider all those different people and identities in just 4 years. Only 2 between championships. Is it really the same feeling you get as when you think "Steelers of the 70's?"

To me these Steelers have to win two more in a short time for me to feel this is a true Steeler or NFL dynasty. Even with one, I just can't bring 05 close enough to 08's team. Win one in 2011 and maybe 2012 or 13 with this core group, and I can picture the Steelers of the 10's being a real dynasty.

As it stands I cant help but just feel like 2005 was one of those beautiful magical years that sorta normally doesn't happen and probably was a real surprise. A blip on the radar though so to speak. I think this group now has something special. With all the beautiful long contracts in place, Ben, Mendy, Woodley, Harrison, Taylor, Hood, Heyward, Timmons, Polamalu, And lastly but not leastly, Mike Tomlin, you have a real image there. Thats a group of key starters and a Coach that isn't going to part for a long time. And we're set to do something big.

I could really see this team with all the new youth and explosiveness developing well under Tomlin and becoming the next Dynasty in the NFL. We'll have our share of contenders however. But I certainly think it will be down to the Packers and Steelers over the battle for NFL dominance. I think they'll be much like the Cowboys vs. Steelers, 1-2.

But what do you think? What's your definition of dynasty? Is there a simple Wins to years ratio? Is it judged by overall performance year in and out irregardless of rings? Or is it about the people and faces as I say? Speak up.

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i disagree on the percieved differences between 05 and 08

you left out ben, hines, troy, farrior, foote, taylor, townsend, FWP, hampton, smith, heath, jeff reed

all leaders/solid starters of both teams.

by hasay on Aug 24, 2011 9:51 AM EDT reply actions

Figured we knew that

I didn’t want this to get tooooo long. Obviously a lot of the same players and yet many new faces and new styles.

by Mechem on Aug 24, 2011 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions

grrrr Pats!!!

Dang cheating Patsies and their genius coach and pretty boy QB and billions of draft picks! Dang cheating Patsies!!!

IMHO it takes 4 SB wins in 10 years to be a true dynasty. Only the 70’s Steelers and 80’s 49er’s qualify. The 90’s Cowgirls and the 00’s Patsies fall 1 SB short! If the current Steelers can win 2 more SB’s by 2015 they will be a dynasty.

As far as having a dynasty with all the same players being on the team, that just doesn’t fly anymore because of free agency. The Steelers have figured this out. Its all about drafting good players and developing them into great players for our system. Only bringing in a free agent when absolutely necessary, usually because of injury, like we did with bringing in Adams last year after losing our starters at LT and RT. Teams that bring in wholesale FA’s usually arent’ successfull ie: Redskins and Cowboys. Philadelphia is trying it this year and I think the “dream team” will have a worse record this year than they did last year. Its hard to be successful with a “team” of individuals.

Another thing the Steelers do is draft a player with potential, develop him behind a pro bowl player and make him a starter after he has been signed to his second contract. We release or hopefully trade the guy who was the former starter while he still has the ability to get us some good draft picks for the future. An example of this is Porter our starting OLB during the 05 SB win. A pro bowler who was ready for the HUGE contract but we traded him to Miami instead of giving it to him. Most of Steeler nation hated this decision by the front office, but look who stepped into his shoes, James Harrison who became the defensive player of the year in 08. Porter has since declined rapidly over the same time period.

What worries me a little about the Steelers of the present is our D is getting a little old. Was signing Harrison to a huge contract wise? Why wasn’t Worilds ready to step up? Where is Casey Hampton’s replacement? Hope they draft the next NT in the 2012 draft! Troy P is the greatest I have ever seen at his position, nobody brings to the game what he does, but are we too reliant on his being a superman? We have drafted a bunch of CB’s, when is one going to step up? Steelers have one of, if not the best FO in the league, they are keeping us at the top! To stay on the top and become a true dynasty is all about drafting potential and developing them into pro bowl players!

Heres to #’s 7 and 8 by 2015…..GO STEELERS!!!

by steeler fever on Aug 24, 2011 10:20 AM EDT reply actions

When the Steelers traded Porter to the Phins, what did they get in return?

"We use WhipAss by the case, not the can" - RickVa

by chewiesteeler on Aug 25, 2011 12:06 AM EDT up reply actions

He wasnt traded, he was cut

A long way from Pittsburgh PA, in fact, 8653.2 miles to be precise. My blood still bleeds black and gold like the rest of Steeler Nation, proud fan since 2002.

BTSC's token Kiwi fan. That means I'm a New Zealander. Yes, that small country next to Australia....no we are not part of Australia

by Michael Hewitt on Aug 25, 2011 1:45 AM EDT up reply actions

Yep - seeing if anyone was awake.

"We use WhipAss by the case, not the can" - RickVa

by chewiesteeler on Aug 25, 2011 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

yep

I guess I hadn’t had my coffee yet : )

by steeler fever on Aug 25, 2011 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions

The defense is old, but proud and still one of the five best in the NFL.

I feel that any slack they leave this year should be picked up by the offense. It’s time for Ben to step up and put this team on his back. He’s in his prime. He knows the offense. He has the weapons. The opportunity is there for him to do great things, it’s his time now.

by furthur56 on Aug 24, 2011 10:58 AM EDT reply actions

Defense is also getting younger, with Ziggy, Cam, Sylvester, Timmons.....

but Homer’s favorite definition of Dynasty is that Chinese buffet restaurant where you can go up to those steamy hot tables and take all the delicious little shrimp you want. Some in the sweet red sauce, some in that white coconut sauce, some cold, some deep-fried, and ALL KINDS OF SHRIMP.

Dumplings, Mongolian Beef, Hot and Sour Soup. It’s The Land of Chinese Food!

And when you’re almost done, you can go to that machine that dispenses chocolate and vanilla soft-serve ice cream and take all you want. Seconds, too. Even thirds.

Mmm. Shrimp and Ice Cream. That’s what I think of when you say the word Dynasty.

Time for lunch now. Bye.

I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer.
- Homer J. Simpson

by Homer J. on Aug 24, 2011 12:12 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs

rec'ed

for pure entertainment

People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee

by stillergorillar on Aug 24, 2011 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Chinese food

is for people that haven’t yet discovered Japanese food.

by HandsofSweed on Aug 27, 2011 11:15 AM EDT up reply actions

I think we are on the brink

What truly amazes me about the Steelers organization is how they are able to consistently draft at the bottom and end up at the top. Considering the ability of the Steelers to end up in AFC championship games over the last decade and the standard of play and players alike hasn’t dropped off? That is truly something special. I think if we win another in the next year or two, you would have to say dynasty – going to 4 and winning 3 over a span of 5-6 years while also consistently reaching the AFC championship game (5 in the last decade)? We are not really in the right era to accomplish these feats – we are spoiled, spoiled rotten. If we get another win in the next year or two it would be really hard to say we aren’t a dynasty looking back over the last decade.

"The standard is the standard" - Mike Tomlin

by MDSTEELERSFAN on Aug 24, 2011 1:30 PM EDT reply actions

When I saw the title of this post,

I thought it was going to be one of those get-in-the-time-machine-and-discover-that-we’re-really-our-own-grandmothers kind of thing.

But since it isn’t, here’s what I think. If this year’s team takes the whole enchilada (to continue with Honer’s food-related theme) then I think they qualify as a dynasty. Why? Because for the most part it will be with guys we have developed (and mostly also drafted) ourselves. Look at what went on in free agency this season. The Steelers primarily signed their own guys. Unlike some teams on the other side of the state, for instance…

"If you're not getting better, I don't care what business you're in, you're a dead man. I try to look critically at the mistakes that I make and try to learn from them, like our team does." - Mike Tomlin

by Rebecca Rollett on Aug 24, 2011 8:12 PM EDT reply actions

4 Superbowls has always been my impression of a dynasty

Within a 10 year span. Or 3 in 5-6 years. We are certainly one of the two most dominant teams of the last 10 years. Its been a great period to be a Steeler fan.

If we won XLV, that would be a dynasty right there. I cant help being supremely confident that we can get back there this season and win it. Our team looks focused and determined to never ever feel the pain of losing a Superbowl again.

A long way from Pittsburgh PA, in fact, 8653.2 miles to be precise. My blood still bleeds black and gold like the rest of Steeler Nation, proud fan since 2002.

BTSC's token Kiwi fan. That means I'm a New Zealander. Yes, that small country next to Australia....no we are not part of Australia

by Michael Hewitt on Aug 24, 2011 8:55 PM EDT reply actions

I agree with the notion that

if we’d won the Superbowl lasy year, we could arguably be considered a dysnasty, but without that I have to say no. 3 SB appearances with 2 wins in 6 years is outstanding, but not a dynasty. If we were to be lucky enough to get number 7 this year that would be 4 SB appearances in 7 years with 3 wins….I think then we’d qualify.

"I don't want to see anyone injured, but I'm not opposed to hurting anyone" - James Harrison

by LifelongSteelerFanInVa on Aug 25, 2011 3:59 PM EDT reply actions