- Joined
- Apr 7, 2014
- Messages
- 2,542
- Reaction score
- 4,985
- Points
- 93
Despite the Pittsburgh Steelers finishing the 2003 season with a losing record, then head coach Bill Cowher and general manager Kevin Colbert were in agreement that quarterback was not the team’s primary need. While Tommy Maddox did not have a great season, the pair were convinced it was not all his fault. Cowher felt the team could be successful with Maddox going forward as he had showed confidence in the pocket and his ability to throw the ball with accuracy initially transformed the Steelers into a passing offense and high scoring team.
Nonetheless, Cowher acknowledged the offensive line was not very good and never gave Maddox a chance. The inconsistency of the line exposed that the Steelers were not efficient with their passing game and felt the team probably needed an offensive lineman more than a quarterback. He also felt the team had lost their identity as a tough, physical team and vowed to reestablish that identity as his top priority.
Bill Cowher, per Heart and Steel: (Atria Books)
The first time Cowher met Ben Roethlisberger was during an interview at the 2004 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, where he certainly made an impression. He was fiercely competitive, and it bothered him with how the draft experts had higher grades for Eli Manning and Philip Rivers, primarily because they had played in the SEC and ACC, which were higher-profile conferences and against stronger competition.
Bill Cowher, per Heart and Steel: (Atria Books)
Cowher and Colbert were clearly intrigued with Roethlisberger’s physical capabilities and the ability to make any throw that put him on par with the more polished Manning and Rivers. They also saw him as rough around the edges and even though the raw talent was there, were all too aware that talent alone was often not enough.
On the day of the 2004 NFL Draft, Dan Rooney observed that once Manning and Rivers were off the board, there was increased focus on OT Shawn Andrews to be the Steelers number one pick and was not inclined to allow the same mistake that happened in 1983 when the Steelers passed up Dan Marino.
Dan Rooney; per My 75 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL: (Hachette Books)
Rooney’s argument – when a potential franchise quarterback comes your way, you don’t weigh other possibilities and you take him – was persuasive enough that it convinced Cowher and Colbert to decide that while they would not trade up for Roethlisberger, should he still be available at pick No. 11, they would not let him get past them.
Unlike 1983, this time it was a decision the Steelers would not regret.
#SteelerNation
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
Nonetheless, Cowher acknowledged the offensive line was not very good and never gave Maddox a chance. The inconsistency of the line exposed that the Steelers were not efficient with their passing game and felt the team probably needed an offensive lineman more than a quarterback. He also felt the team had lost their identity as a tough, physical team and vowed to reestablish that identity as his top priority.
Bill Cowher, per Heart and Steel: (Atria Books)
The first time Cowher met Ben Roethlisberger was during an interview at the 2004 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, where he certainly made an impression. He was fiercely competitive, and it bothered him with how the draft experts had higher grades for Eli Manning and Philip Rivers, primarily because they had played in the SEC and ACC, which were higher-profile conferences and against stronger competition.
Bill Cowher, per Heart and Steel: (Atria Books)
Cowher and Colbert were clearly intrigued with Roethlisberger’s physical capabilities and the ability to make any throw that put him on par with the more polished Manning and Rivers. They also saw him as rough around the edges and even though the raw talent was there, were all too aware that talent alone was often not enough.
On the day of the 2004 NFL Draft, Dan Rooney observed that once Manning and Rivers were off the board, there was increased focus on OT Shawn Andrews to be the Steelers number one pick and was not inclined to allow the same mistake that happened in 1983 when the Steelers passed up Dan Marino.
Dan Rooney; per My 75 years with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL: (Hachette Books)
Rooney’s argument – when a potential franchise quarterback comes your way, you don’t weigh other possibilities and you take him – was persuasive enough that it convinced Cowher and Colbert to decide that while they would not trade up for Roethlisberger, should he still be available at pick No. 11, they would not let him get past them.
Unlike 1983, this time it was a decision the Steelers would not regret.
#SteelerNation
Support SteelerNation by clicking here to read the story..
