MVN - a Pittsburgh Steelers blog
The Steel Tradition
New Poll: As a Steelers fan, I am content at the end of the season if the Steelers…
A special thanks to the 1,400 Steel Tradition readers that voted in our last poll, ‘Who is the Steelers’ biggest rival?’ I don’t think it was any surprise that the Ravens and Browns finished in the top two, although I did figure that the Browns would be in first. Of course, the “Real Browns” did, with the Ravens, scoring 31% of the vote. The ‘New Coke’ version of the Brownies showed up in second (go figure) with 28%. Once again, close only counts if you are dealing with hand grenades, or are a Browns’ fan.
Today, we are going to focus on the end of the season a bit. After a conversation here with a few of our readers, I’m curious about what the bulk of fans that root for the Steelers not only expect from the Steelers, but are content with.
As a lifelong Steelers’ fan, I’ve always had the motto, “I’m happy with the playoffs, but only really content with a Super Bowl victory.” Maybe growing up in the dynasty era spoiled my line of thinking, but I’ve started every season since being a fan thinking Super Bowl or bust. Every year, I put on my very unbiased hat, and figure out a sensible way to show everyone who asks that the Steelers are the best team in the league, and will surely waltz to another title. It’s worked once in the nearly 30 years since the dynasty years, but it doesn’t stop me from believing it can happen.
What are you content with each season?
Are you content with winning, making it to the playoffs, and losing before the Super Bowl?
Let Steel Tradition know what your expectations are as a Steelers’ fan!
I would like to speak for all the writers here at MVN’s Steel Tradition in saying thank you to the thousands of fans that visit here every day. For the first time in the history of this site, we were ranked in the top five of MVN’s monthly rankings. It just goes to show you that Steelers’ fans are the best in the league, whether we agree or not. Thanks for all the visits, and we look forward to another successful year, that hopefully ends in another Super Bowl.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, May 15th, 2008 at 7:43 pm and is filed under James Pete, Steel Tradition, Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, Super Bowl, Cleveland Browns, Playoffs.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
THE AUTHOR
POLL
ARCHIVE
RECENT ARTICLES BY DIVISION RIVALS
SPONSORS
Online Seats
Steelers Tickets Pittsburgh Pirates Schedule
Ticket Specialists
Pittsburgh Steelers Tickets Pittsburgh Pirates Tickets
Coast to Coast Tickets
Pittsburgh Pirates Tickets NFL Football Sports Tickets Super Bowl Tickets Pittsburgh Steelers Tickets NCAA Football Tickets
Great Seats
Pittsburgh Steelers Tickets NCAA Football Tickets Super Bowl Tickets Mellon Arena Concerts Pittsburgh Event Tickets
30 Responses to “New Poll: As a Steelers fan, I am content at the end of the season if the Steelers…”
May 15th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Should be a fourth option
…make it to the AFC Conference Championship. Getting to the playoffs is easy, the Superbowl might be out of reach, but the Conference Championship is where we should be EVERY year.
May 15th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Win the Super Bowl!
May 15th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Beat the Browns, Ravens and Bengals twice! Beat the Cheating Patriots!
Win the Super Bowl!!
Go Steelers!!
May 15th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Yeah, I too begin each new season believing that the Steelers will win the Super Bowl….as I suspect most fans wish for their teams. I always expect them to go deep into the playoffs, and am bitterly disappointed when they are eliminated from post season play. I agonized over last year’s quick exit for weeks after that loss to the Jags.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:24 pm
Okay, realistically I feel we should be in the playoffs every year regardless of talent level, etc. I lack acceptance when that doesn’t happen and tend to point blame and finger more frequently. Under typical circumstances, I believe the Steelers can be in the AFC Championship game most years (with possible exceptions of retooling or reloading). Ideally the Super Bowl every year but learning to implement practical applications in daily living and thus transfer that skill to viewing football, it is unrealistic for that goal to actually take place (it beats the alternative of punching holes in walls.). It would be cool, though, to see us put together this (potentially) dynamic linebacking corps, an above average secondary with all the weapons on offense and for once (in a long time) go and get a high profile free agent DL or something to make a push this year (actually next) toward Lombardi. That was long winded and I’m sorry but I am excited (as I am every year) for the upcoming season—this year more than others because of all the young firepower on offense.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
AFC Championship game. I figure if we make it to the final four I can’t complain
May 15th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Go undefeated and beat the Browns, Ravens and Bengals both times by at least 40 points. Beat the Patriots once in the reagular season by 60 points and in the AFC championship game by 80 points. Then cap it off with a good trashing of the Cowgirls 100-0.
I will then be pretty content.
May 15th, 2008 at 11:29 pm
I agree with all wendell h said plus two no.1’s for the cheating done in the 2 playoff games.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:47 am
Lets get past the first round for a change
May 16th, 2008 at 4:17 am
Beat the Browns and Bengals two times and win the AFC Title.
May 16th, 2008 at 6:53 am
Without sounding unrealistic, I believe that the Steelers can win it all this year. If the rookies contribute and the OL jells well, then I see no problem winning it all again for ring number six. If we suffer injuries, the OL blows again and the rookies spend most of their season on the bench, then we’ll be lucky to win the division. A healthy Polamalu, Aaron Smith and Marvel Smith will be huge.
May 16th, 2008 at 7:32 am
3. Win the division
2. Win the AFC title
1. Win the S.B.
May 16th, 2008 at 9:01 am
My contentness at the end of the season is based on our talent level. If we have a really strong team & fail then I am disheartened. 3-4 years ago when we went 15-1 & lost to the Pats, I honestly thought we had the best team in the league. I thought we had a strong team in 2001 too but again lost to the Pats. No wonder I hate them so much. This past year I was somewhat content because I felt we werent that strong of a team.
Really it all boils down to the talent level of the team, I’m a realistic fan & I dont get too down if a better & more talented team beats us but seasons like that 15-1 season, that 2001 season & in ‘95 when we went to the bowl & lost against Dallas. Those are the most recent seasons where I felt we really had the chance to make some noise. We had stacked teams from top to bottom but just came up short & those years really hurt.
Its hard to assemble a talented roster & when you fail to take advantage of your talent that stings.
May 16th, 2008 at 9:09 am
I’m going to say somethin & this is just my feelings. I believe we are atleast 1-2 drafts away from being a really strong team. Another draft or two should produce us with some new blood on the Oline & dline & secondary. We have the luxury of not having to draft anymore skill players on offense thanks to this year’s coup.
But if Tomlin & Colbert target linemen & secondary in these next 2 drafts or even the dreaded “Free Agency market” than I truly feel we wll be amongst the league’s elite. We’re fortunate to have a young QB(26) who is still learning & will get nothing but better & better. & by the time Ben is 28-29 we “should” have a real solid team from top to bottom. I can see atleast 2 more rings in Ben’s future if we draft well these next 2 years. New England & Indy are on their way to a decline & us along with San Diego & Jacksonville are next up for AFC’S new elite teams.
May 16th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
If you say 1 or 2 drafts, Danny, you are saying 3 or 4 years. Rookies almost never make a big impact in their first couple of seasons, especially at the positions you mentioned. Better to look to the players they drafted at those postions in the past few drafts for help. Max Starks, Bryant McFadden, Trai Essex, Chris Kemoeatu, Anthony Smith, Willie Colon, Ryan McBean, Tony Hills, etc. Possibly some undrafted free agents familiar with the system such as Scott Paxson, Mike Lorello, Jason Capizzi, Doug Legursky, etc. Admittedly they’ve had some disappointments like Colclough, Orien Harris, Cam Stephenson. But they did bring in free agent veterans Ryan Clark, Nick Eason, Sean Mahan, and Justin Hartwig to fill the gaps until a younger player emerges at the position.
Bryant McFadden looks like a solid CB to me, and Ike Taylor is still at the top of his game. Polamalu has one spot locked in the deep secondary, and I think that Anthony Smith, or possibly even Mike Lorello, will step up to hold the other spot. Deshea Townsend and Ryan Clark provide solid veteran backup. The defensive line players are older, and none of them is very high profile, but the team’s defensive scheme does not ask them to stand out individually. It is the position of most depth on the team, I think. Hampton, Smith, and Keisel are backed up by Hoke, Kirschke, and Eason, even without considering the younger players trying to break in. The offensive line, like the defensive line, relies more on cohesion as a group to achieve success. Granted, the players they have starting may not be high profile or high draft picks, although at least 4 of them were first day picks, but they all have starting experience and none of them is yet to reach the age of 30.
May 16th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
I dont think any of us would really be satisfied unless we won the superbowl. Last year left me kinda empty.
Unfortunately, SB40 did not leave me with the same feeling as previous SB wins by the Steelers because of the controversy and the ugliness of game. Granted, I was happy we won, but it was not convincing like the Superbowls of the Bradshaw era.
But, a competitive Team that looks like they at least have a chance to win a Superbowl and beat a NE team would be most satisfying. Whether Steelers actually do it, is another story.
May 17th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
I’ll be content when all the players on all of the other teams in the league are running on wheels inside Heinz Field to supplement the power supply, and all the other coaches in the league are dodging around inside a booth while Steeler fans try to hit them with baseballs in order to win a Teddy Bear.
Think Big!
May 17th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
I live in Ohio, so they need to beat the Browns & Bengals twice a year. It would be great to get another crack at the Patriots in a championship game, (without the cheating of course). And it will be great to be the first team to have 6 trophys. Get us one, Mike.
May 17th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
This year, at this point, I’d be alright to make it to the AFC championship. I’d like to echo some of what Danny had to say. The 15-1 year was hurtful, because we were the best team on all but one level… Roethelisberger didn’t get it done. We should have won the SB that year. But who could have predicted that season from the year before? I cut my teeth in the dynasty era, and slobbered back & gold until I was able to wipe my lips with SB XL. We got what we need to get there this year. Everything hinges on Ben implementing and executing an explosive offense. I think our linebacking corps will lead our defense. After 35 years, I’ve developed a good perspective on where we’re at. Again, we got what we need to do it this year. This sh*t is what I love about the Steelers and the game in general.
May 18th, 2008 at 4:29 am
The Defense worries me. Last year we were EXPOSED and BURNED countless times by High Powered Passing offenses….Esp.are D.Ends! I am not sold on Ike Taylor/Anthony Smith?…to small to handle big/powerful receivers ( think Randy Moss/ T.O.). We are playing the toughest schedule I’ve seen in quite sometime and there is not one EASY TEAM on that schedule. It’s going to be a Dogfight every week.
If the STEELERS are going to make a run at it this year (the playoffs/Super Bowl ) they have to play each team like its a DO/DIE…Elimination! They have to start strong….But more importantly….FINISH STRONG and don’t sit on a lead and play CONSERVATIVE BALL. Look what the JETS did to us last year… That being said, They also have to STAY HEALTHY …Offensive Line….but more so on Defense!
May 18th, 2008 at 7:37 am
beat the browns, ravens and bengals (twice) new england and the cowpies (not cowbys or cowgirls).
May 18th, 2008 at 8:59 am
MY EXPECTATION FOR ANY GIVEN YEAR WILL ALWAYS
WIN THE NORTH
WIN THE WILDCARD
AND AT LEAST MAKE IT TO THE CONFERENCE GAME, AT LEAST. I LOVE SUPERBOWLS, BUT IT DOESN’T REALLY DEFINE THE STEELERS SEASON TO ME, WE ARE ALWAYS IN THE TOP TIER, AND AS A DIEHARD STEELERS FAN, I AM GLAD I AM NOT A DETROIT FAN. WINNING, PLAYOFFS, AND SUPERBOWLS ARE ALWAYS ON OUR MENU. YOU CAN’T SAY THAT FOR TWO/THIRDS OF THE TEAMS IN THE NFL.
GO STEELERS!
May 18th, 2008 at 9:06 am
THE YEAR WE WENT 15-1, WHEN MADDOX WENT DOWN, AND ROTH CAME IN AS A ROOKIE, I WAS REALLY EXPECTING A 1-15 SEASON, BUT WITH THE HE CAME IN AS A ROOKIE AND IMPLEMENTED, AND AS ROTH WOULD SAY, ” LEARN ON THE FLY ” HE GAVE EVERY PITTSBURGH STEELERS FAN REASON TO BELIEVE, AND RAISED ALL OUR EXPECTATIONS, THAT ANYTHING IN THE REALM OF FOOTBALL IS POSSIBLE WITH HIM, AND THE STYLE OF PLAY THAT DRIVES HIM, THIS GUY IS NOT A LOSER, AND HE RAISES THE PLAY OF EVERYONE ELSE
May 18th, 2008 at 9:13 am
If it were about sportsmanship, values and having fun they wouldn’t keep score. The score determines who wins and who loses. That’s the point of the game, to win. Improving that’s an excuse 31 teams who end the season loosing use to ease the pain and build up hope they will win the next years competition. Completion for what? The Lombardi Trophy! Dah! Not even going to the big show is enough, ask Buffalo Fans, the team with the trophy are called World Champions. Nothing less is “Good enough” The goal, every year, is the Lombardi Trophy. Ask the 18-1 Patriots if they had a fulfilling season. Ha. Ha.
May 18th, 2008 at 10:38 am
If they beat the jags this year they will get to the super bowl. I think the pats are done.
May 19th, 2008 at 6:57 am
BS …… you all are crazy the steelers are loaded with talent the question mark is the O line thats it , if they get it goin there is no telling where the steelers end up alot has to happen to have a superbowl season injurys are huge if they can stay healthy I see them as pure contenders Ben is going to have a great season he has many wepons and he is a superstar QB realax the steelers are still a top team regaurdless what the meadia says
May 19th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Making the playoffs isn’t good enough for me. I’ll call it a good season if we win at least one playoff game. To me, that says we’ve got a good team.
Of course winning the Superbowl is the ultimate, but there’s never a guarantee for that, no matter how stacked the team is.
For moral victories, in this order of priority…
1. Beating Dallas
2. Sweeping our division rivals
3. Beating Jacksonville
4. Beating New England
May 19th, 2008 at 11:36 am
I always accept not going to the Super Bowl instead of going and loosing, for the Steelers it is ok not to go to the Super Bowl but it is defenetly not acceptable to and loose it, thanks to that lose against Dallas in the nineties the Fourty Niners rank on top of History wins 5 attempts and 5 wins followed by Steelers 5-1 and dallas 5-3, thus for me the only place I do not want to see the steelers lose is in the Super Bowl infront of 200,000,000 people!!
May 19th, 2008 at 3:48 pm
“I believe we are atleast 1-2 drafts away from being a really strong team. Another draft or two should produce us with some new blood on the Oline & dline & secondary.”
“If you say 1 or 2 drafts, Danny, you are saying 3 or 4 years. Rookies almost never make a big impact in their first couple of seasons, especially at the positions you mentioned. ”
I cant agree with you on that Rob, I think we are 1-2 drafts away and for the positions I named, those guys if talented enought could come in off the top & provide results immediately. Oline, running back, & secondary are probably the easiest positions to come in and learn as an NFL rookie. Oline may be the easiest to perform as a rookie.
Aside from our past misfortunes, there are several rookie Olinemen who come into an organization & due a solid job blocking, rookies in the secondary can be difficult to find, but its not out the ordinary for a rook to come in & perform well, & in our defense, all we want our Dlinemen to do is occupy blocks. THATS ALL! nothing more nothing less, the hardest position on our defense to learn is linebacker & our young guys should be up to speed in no time.
Bottom line Rob, its not out the realm to expect talented rookie linemen to come in and perform well, just block & take on some blocks. If we draft some guys in the first 2 rounds, this shouldnt be too much of a difficult task if the guys we draft possess some talent.
May 19th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Ed T. says:
May 18th, 2008 at 9:13 am
“If it were about sportsmanship, values and having fun they wouldn’t keep score. The score determines who wins and who loses. That’s the point of the game, to win. Improving that’s an excuse 31 teams who end the season loosing use to ease the pain and build up hope they will win the next years competition”
Ed , you have to be realistic, this isnt college or high school where one team can just dominate year in & year out, the talent level in the league is too good for just one team to win it all every year unless they “cheat” or something.
& sometimes a losing season or a mediocre season not only allows you to reload with high draft picks but it also helps you apprieciate the rewards of winning season more.
With injuries, coaching changes, player losses & additions, fluke calls by the officials, fluke games & balanced talent across the league, a team is “LUCKY” to get to the bowl. A coach or a player should have the motto of Super Bowl or bust every year but a fan cant really expect Super Bowl every year, playoffs maybe but Bowl is a bit too lofty. My hopes are to get into the playoffs first, than let the chips fall where they may.
Leave a comment