thedynasty1998;540764 wrote:The Sanchez comment was stupid. Plus his receivers played very poorly.

Didn't get to watch the SF game, so I can't really comment on Smith, but I did see the highlights and he looks small.

I was able to watch online. He is small. But he uses his sneaky mobility to move around in the pocket giving his WRs time to get open, and he's still very accurate.


Alex Smith may not get his job back, especially if the team rallys behind Troy.

Alex Smith is done. I was really surprised with Smith's day considering the circumstances.

What I've always found a little ironic is that Troy Smith is "small" for NFL standards, yet it's not a problem in college. At a school like OSU that runs a pro style system, you would think that if he can be successful at the college level, it would translate to the NFL, but NFL guys think you have to prove it all over again. It's not like NFL offensive and defensive lineman are any taller than college.

^^^ As a corollary. The Sanchez comment wasn't stupid. He's 24th in passer rating with a heckuva lot of team around him and a fantastic defense that allows him a nice comfort zone. This is a team that was designed to go all the way, and even during Sanchez' good games he floats easy passes and its obvious they don't trust him to make plays.

thedynasty1998;540802 wrote:Alex Smith is done. I was really surprised with Smith's day considering the circumstances.

What I've always found a little ironic is that Troy Smith is "small" for NFL standards, yet it's not a problem in college. At a school like OSU that runs a pro style system, you would think that if he can be successful at the college level, it would translate to the NFL, but NFL guys think you have to prove it all over again. It's not like NFL offensive and defensive lineman are any taller than college.

Dynasty, it's more of the fact that no team Troy Smith faced will be as big as an entire NFL defense, even if he happens to face a defense with some future NFL players (best example: 2006 Michigan with Branch and Woodley). So while Troy might face some 6'3 270 Dlinemen in college, he faces an entire defensive front of them in the NFL.

Manhattan Buckeye;540803 wrote:^^^ As a corollary. The Sanchez comment wasn't stupid. He's 24th in passer rating with a heckuva lot of team around him and a fantastic defense that allows him a nice comfort zone. This is a team that was designed to go all the way, and even during Sanchez' good games he floats easy passes and its obvious they don't trust him to make plays.

I'm not saying he's an elite QB, I'm saying you can't say he has regressed.

lhslep134;540804 wrote:Dynasty, it's more of the fact that no team Troy Smith faced will be as big as an entire NFL defense, even if he happens to face a defense with some future NFL players (best example: 2006 Michigan with Branch and Woodley). So while Troy might face some 6'3 270 Dlinemen in college, he faces an entire defensive front of them in the NFL.

I understand that, but I would imagine the bigger difference between college and pro is more so speed than heighth.

thedynasty1998;540811 wrote:I understand that, but I would imagine the bigger difference between college and pro is more so speed than heighth.

Speed too, but the reason QB's are judged on height is their ability to see over and through the O-line and D-line. I'd think the speed difference is offset by the offensive speed too.

lhslep134;540816 wrote:Speed too, but the reason QB's are judged on height is their ability to see over and through the O-line and D-line. I'd think the speed difference is offset by the offensive speed too.

I understand that. I just think that maybe for a guy like Troy Smith (who played in a pro style offense) it might be made too big of a deal. Absolutely there is an adjustment and the biggest is that your first read is rarely open in the NFL so there is more of an emphasis of being able to scan the field (where height is important).

Isn't Drew Brees at or just under 6ft?

Ended up 12 for 19 with 196 yards. No too bad.

As we remember it took a long time for Troy to get the job at TOSU... If it were not for a dropped pass against Texas, he may never have gotten a legit chance at OSU. Zwick was the tall QB that was the safe play. I am glad he is getting a few chances anyway... Wish him the best!

Y-Town Steelhound;540735 wrote:You mean like he did against the Steelers a few years ago the last time he started a game (and also won it)? Your act is becoming a bit tiring. Still don't know what that word is

A Steelers team that had a playoff spot wrapped up and sat the majority of their starters for that game. Nice try!

rock_knutne;541794 wrote:A Steelers team that had a playoff spot wrapped up and sat the majority of their starters for that game. Nice try!

Sorry but last I checked Dick Lebeau (one of the greatest defensive minds in the HISTORY of the NFL) was still calling the plays. As long as that was happening, it doesn't matter who was on the field (see Porter, Joey). Nice Try!

Y-Town Steelhound;541911 wrote:Sorry but last I checked Dick Lebeau (one of the greatest defensive minds in the HISTORY of the NFL) was still calling the plays. As long as that was happening, it doesn't matter who was on the field (see Porter, Joey). Nice Try!

LMFAO........just like how the Colts fold like an old dish rag when they sit Peyton Manning after a playoff birth has been locked up? Coaches are only as good as the players they field, ultimately, the players win the game, especially ones that have been on the field all year. Get a clue.

rock_knutne;541946 wrote:LMFAO........just like how the Colts fold like an old dish rag when they sit Peyton Manning after a playoff birth has been locked up? Coaches are only as good as the players they field, ultimately, the players win the game, especially ones that have been on the field all year. Get a clue.

Ok so you're comparing a team that sits the QUARTERBACK (who also happens to be one of the best of all time) to some defensive players.

BTW I decided to check out the box score from that game. You can view it here if you like: http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2007123001/2007/REG17/steelers@ravens#tab:analyze/analyze-channels:cat-post-boxscore

Polamalu was the only Steeler of note that didn't play on defense. While he is obviously a great player, he's not the whole defense. Some players that DID play and recorded tackles in the game: James Harrison, Casey Hampton, James Farrior, Larry Foote, Ike Taylor, Haggans, Keisel, Smith, Woodley.....not to mention the aforementioned LeBeau calling the plays.


Feel free to pick up the pieces of your argument off the floor.

^^^^Most of those guys played a quarter, maybe half the game tops. Roethlisberger didn't play at all but that didn't make a difference.:rolleyes: As for Polamalu, look what happened to the Steeler defense when he was out most of last year......one great player makes a huge difference on either side of the ball. Again, get a clue!

rock_knutne;541967 wrote:^^^^Most of those guys played a quarter, maybe half the game tops. Roethlisberger didn't play at all but that didn't make a difference.:rolleyes: As for Polamalu, look what happened to the Steeler defense when he was out most of last year......one great player makes a huge difference on either side of the ball. Again, get a clue!

Oh, I didn't know Roethlisberger played defense or that Troy Smith played defense. Besides, as we saw this year...the Steelers didn't skip much of a beat without him.

As for Polamalu, yea he's a great player....but great defenses overcome the loss of one or two great players. (Again, see Porter, Joey.) There have been great steeler defenses for a while now and the common factor is Dick LeBeau. I don't care if Polamalu, Harrison, and whoever is out there.....If LeBeau isn't calling the plays/scheming that Steeler defense is NOWHERE near as good. He's a bigger asset than a safety. Sounds like you're the one that needs a clue

The Steelers D is completely different without Polamalu. A lot of what LeBeau does and is successful with takes advantage of his play making ability. The drop off to the second string changes the dynamic of that defense. They are still a very good defense without him, but nowhere close to elite. Also, Aaron Smith (one of the most underrated players in the league) was hurt and didn't play then either. That's arguably their two most important defense players not playing.

grodt;541999 wrote:The Steelers D is completely different without Polamalu. A lot of what LeBeau does and is successful with takes advantage of his play making ability. The drop of to the second string changes the dynamic of that defense. They are still a very good defense without him, but nowhere close to elite.

Thank you very much!

Y-Town Steelhound;541975 wrote:Oh, I didn't know Roethlisberger played defense or that Troy Smith played defense. Besides, as we saw this year...the Steelers didn't skip much of a beat without him.

As for Polamalu, yea he's a great player....but great defenses overcome the loss of one or two great players. (Again, see Porter, Joey.) There have been great steeler defenses for a while now and the common factor is Dick LeBeau. I don't care if Polamalu, Harrison, and whoever is out there.....If LeBeau isn't calling the plays/scheming that Steeler defense is NOWHERE near as good. He's a bigger asset than a safety. Sounds like you're the one that needs a clue

Singing another tune when I brought up Big Ben aren't you? Didn't you say sitting a great QB makes a big difference? Please, stop with "it's all about Lebeau"! To a certain extent LeBeau's scheme's and ability to dial up that zone blitz is a huge factor but the scheme is only as good as the players who are on the field executing it. Again, get a fucking clue!

I'm starting to see now that you guys are missing my point. The original reason that I brought up that game is because someone suggested that Troy's performance this past weekend was somehow illegitimate and that he wouldn't do it against a good defense. Though the Steelers D obviously wasn't its elite level in that game, it was still (as grodt admitted) a very good defense.

rock_knutne;542016 wrote:Singing another tune when I brought up Big Ben aren't you? Didn't you say sitting a great QB makes a big difference? Please, stop with "it's all about Lebeau"! To a certain extent LeBeau's scheme's and ability to dial up that zone blitz is a huge factor but the scheme is only as good as the players who are on the field executing it. Again, get a fucking clue!

Sitting a QB makes a difference for the offense yes because he has the ball in his hands every play. He has to make throws and decisions to advance the ball. The Steelers quarterback doesn't affect Troy Smith (the topic of discussion) in this situation because he plays offense. Again, you missed my point (while increasing your swearing for no reason at all, some good catholic ND fan you are). The point was that Troy Smith has never faced a decent defense, my point is that since the Steelers DID have a lot of great players playing that game and DID have LeBeau calling the plays, they were STILL a very good defense.

As for your disregard for the importance of a great defensive coordinator, that's a completely seperate debate. But I'll ask you this: How many Super Bowls have the Ravens won since Marvin Lewis left? How many Super Bowls have the Patriots won since Romeo Crennel left? How many Super Bowls did the Bears win after Buddy Ryan left? Teams with great defenses are often a result of a great D-Coordinator and without the coordinator that defense tends to suffer regardless of the fact that the Head Coach and personnel remain the same.

^^^^Nice jab at ND.:rolleyes:

The bottom line is that the players make the plays and if you don't have good players that fit your scheme you're not going to be every successful in the NFL.

If Troy Smith had to play against the entire starting Steeler defense for 60 minutes, I can guarantee you the outcome would have been very different, even with Ben on the bench.

rock_knutne;542165 wrote:If Troy Smith had to play against the entire starting Steeler defense for 60 minutes, I can guarantee you the outcome would have been very different, even with Ben on the bench.

Fair enough, and you might be right. But the Steelers defense he DID face was better than a lot of "starting" NFL defenses so you can't really disregard the performance.....and don't try to play the "they didn't try card". It was Baltimore-Pittsburgh.

^^^^^LOL.......they didn't try! For Christ's sake, if they really cared about winning that game don't you think the starters would have played the entire 60 minutes? Agree to disagree, we'll see what Troy Smith does against a good NFL defense, IMO the Broncos stink.