Training Camp for Fans Part 6: The Emergence of Steeler Nation

1934 Pittsburgh [Football] Pirates Team Photo

by Ivan Cole

As noted in his previous post, this series is a continuation of Ivan’s “Training Camp for Fans” series which ran last August. Those links can be accessed below. Back to Ivan…

1. B. C. (Before Chuck)

You could also, if you choose, refer to this period as B.M.J. (Before Mean Joe) or B.D.R. (Before Dan Rooney). This represents a clear demarcation between the approximate first half of the Steelers’ franchise existence, which was characterized by a losing culture, and the soaring success of the more recent past.

Those like myself who claim this period as our initiation into the Nation share the characteristic of being well grounded—in part, because if you have any memory at all of this period, you are pretty old (hate admitting that). But also because you had to withstand the trials of being immersed within a losing culture. Because of that, and the fact that the NFL and sports generally did not have the reach or popularity that they enjoy today, a fan in this era (no term as fanciful as “Steeler Nation” existed at that time)  was almost certainly indigenous.

Developing the Talent: Inside Linebackers Coach Jerry Olsavsky

via Steelers.com

Many of you know Jerry Olsavsky played for the Steelers. His career spanned the end of Chuck Noll’s career and the first trimester, if you will, of Bill Cowher’s stint as head coach—1989-1997.

Looking at the Steelers’ record during this time period is interesting. There are a lot of entries during these years in the slot for playoff results (in Pro Football Reference’s Franchise Encyclopedia page). There is a Wild Card loss, two Conference losses, three Divisional losses, and a partridge in a pear tree. Or, more precisely, a Super Bowl loss. I can see why Bill Cowher earned the reputation as a great regular season coach—between 1992 and 1997, Cowher’s first six years, the worst record was 9/7, and the rest were double-digit wins. But he never quite closed the deal.

What you may not know about Olsavsky’s NFL career is that he signed with one current rival and played for another—he signed with the Bengals during the post-97 offseason, and played for the Baltimore Ravens. This would be his last year in the NFL.

A Blast from the Past: Some Things Never Change

via elizabethvincentphotography.com

Although there was only one week between this and the previous set of Burning Questions, another game had occurred. And a fine one it was. The Steelers had beaten the Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium a few weeks before, 24-17, and just to make sure everyone was paying attention, they beat them 35-7 at home.

Anthony Defeo wrote an article for Behind the Steel Curtain after the game titled Little Room for Complaint with the Steelers 35-7 Victory over Bengals. In it he went through the litany of complaints from fans about the 2011 team—too much passing, too little running game, Steelers don’t put opponents away when they have the chance, too few takeaways, red zone inefficiency, Ike Taylor dropping interceptions, you name it. It’s a fun piece—check it out.

Some of Hombre’s questions were specific to that particular roster, but there were several still worth considering. The first one is somewhat along the lines of the Anthony Defeo article:

1. The NFL is a passing league and the Steelers are a passing team. Ok, with that out of the way, did it or did it not stir something in your soul to see the Steelers pound in not one, but two runs from inside the red zone?

I suspect the answers to that question would still be just the same—some longing for the old days, and some happy to have points however they come.

Surviving the Off Season, Part Six: Our Life’s Work

via Steelers.com

by Ivan Cole

Tired old ladies kissing dogs
I hate the human love of that stinking mutt

I can’t use it
Trying to make it real compared to what
– Les McCann and Eddie Harris

I was mourning the retirement of Heath Miller as I was reading Rebecca’s piece on the subject and something clicked.

Part of me is thrilled for Heath that he went out his way, when he wanted, hopefully before any hope of leading a relatively normal life is gone. I hope all players are feeling increasingly comfortable with doing this. (Which means, of course, that they leave before their team and/or their fans are ready to see them go.)

And part of me is bracing for the various comments that “he was washed up anyhow, better to save the cap space.” Football may be a business for the league and the owners, but it always grieves me to see people treated as expendable.

Surviving the Off Season, Part 5: Trashing Tomlin

via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette/Matt Freed photo

by Ivan Cole

In Part 4 Ivan gave us the background. Here’s the explanation:

The black box

This is a term that has been associated with behavioral psychology, a branch of the discipline that didn’t concern itself with describing the mechanisms that were at work driving human behavior. Something happened in that black box and behaviors came out. What happened in the box was anyone’s guess.

It’s just like coaching in the NFL.

Criticizing a head coach becomes an easy eye-of-the-beholder exercise because few really have a clue as to what precisely goes on in the black box that is team preparation.

Things Bigger than Football: Head Coach Mike Tomlin

steelers.com

I’ve really enjoyed the feature “Asked and Answered” on steelers.com. In it Bob Labriola fields an astonishing variety of questions. This question from October 29th got the normally phlegmatic Labriola a little fired up:

PAUL CUZ FROM FRANKLIN SQUARE, N.Y.:
Bill Cowher won with average quarterbacks. Mike Tomlin has a franchise quarterback. Tomlin is a defensive coach like Cowher and the Steelers defense is below average. Do you think Tomlin deserved a contract extension?

[Bob Labriola answers:]

I’m going to go out on a limb here and guess you don’t believe Mike Tomlin deserved a contract extension, but let me ask you a few things: Exactly what did Bill Cowher win with an average quarterback? Not the Super Bowl, because the Lombardi Trophy won during his tenure came after Ben Roethlisberger was drafted. Certainly not the AFC Championship games – at home – in 1994, 1997, and 2001. And let me take this discussion in a different direction and ask you: What did Bill Belichick ever win, either in Cleveland or in New England, without Tom Brady? What did Chuck Noll ever win without Terry Bradshaw? Tom Landry never won anything until the Cowboys went with Roger Staubach.

The Pittsburgh Steelers All ‘Bust’ Team: Offense

via helmet2helmet.com

by Ivan Cole 

Roxanna Firehall’s “All Good Guys” team has been a source of inspiration for another category of all-time team. This is one person’s view of at least some of the most prominent ‘busts’ in team history. First, some ground rules.

‘Bust’ vs. Bust

This is not a listing of real busts. You won’t be finding Alonzo Jackson or Limas Sweed listed here. That would be boring and frankly, depressing and not a little bit negative. No, the ‘Bust’ team is a listing of players who were written off by the fans, media or even some within the Steelers organization itself. Each went on to enjoy a level of success playing the game. There are a few other practical parameters that I will be observing.

To make this list a player has to meet one or more of the following criteria—be declared a failure before ever putting on a uniform or playing in a game, take longer to develop than deemed appropriate, be dismissed as being too fragile, rejected over personal conduct issues or declared washed up prematurely.

A bias will be given to the Super Bowl era, and the latter portion of that time at that. Not only does that allow for a more inclusive conversation where multiple generations of fans can weigh in, but also the presence of social media and multiple media outlets allows us a better picture of what the evolving input on players has been.

The Good Guys: Roxanna Firehall tackles the receivers

This week, I tackle the wide receivers. Through the seasons, the Steelers have been blessed with wideouts who are winners in the game of life and have what it takes to earn a spot on Going Deep’s Good Guys:

(5). Sammie Coates.

Yes, I know. Sammie Coates has caught one ball in the NFL. His resume as a player is shorter Danny Woodhead standing in a sinkhole. You know what, I don’t care. I love this kid. The whole point of this series is to celebrate the character, the characters and the great players who have impressed me as men.  Sammie is a man of character.

Sammie was a third round draft choice in the 2015 draft. He is fast and appears to be motivated to get better. He’s worked hard, both at the college level and now with the Steelers. But that, my friends, just scratches the surface.

The Little Darlin’/Roxanna Firehall Football Jamboree, Part 6

Day 9. Game Day.  

Fear and Loathing in Tarentum, or How I Almost Didn’t Make It to the Ravens Game.

We left Canton early, eagerly anticipating getting to the campground north of the ‘Burgh, a place called Tarentum.  As my story unfolds, you will discover why the memory of Tarentum, aye its very mention, will scare the bejibbers out of Roxanna, and even more so Little Darlin’, until they shall breathe no more.

Our trip began innocuously enough.  We packed up quickly and efficiently getting on the road by 9:20, hoping to get into the campground by noon or so.  The plan was to eat lunch, take a nap and get ready for the game.  We were planning to meet Rebecca and her husband for a drink at Station Square and go on to the game.  Eeeeeeehhhhhhhhh, NO.

Mike Tomlin and the Art of NFL Clock Management

via WTAE

One of the things I’ve been hearing since first becoming a Steelers fan is how bad Mike Tomlin is at clock management. I’ve even been guilty of making such assumptions myself, as you can see from my post-game comments last week. 

A question in this week’s “Asked and Answered” feature on the Steelers website got me to thinking how easy it is to make solemn pronouncements from the comfort of our couches as we watch a game. It’s easy to assume we know more about what’s happening than we actually do, even if we are actually more knowledgeable about the game than are most fans.

So I read Bob Labriola’s answer to the following question with great interest: