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Really since the start of the late Noll to early Cowher years, when the Steelers began to re-emerge as a team among the leagues elite; there as been a leader in the locker room who stands above. While this leader is among the best players on the team, often times he has not been the best on the field -- but rather a combination of one of the best on the field combined with being the locker room general.
From the 1989 team through 1991 -- even though Rod Woodson had already become a legit superstar and Greg Lloyd re-started the tradition of the truly dominant Steelers LBs, it was DE Kieth Willis that set the example of professionalism to an extremely young team, with Tunch Ilkin helping out the offense full of first and second year starters. Bubby Brister was vocal on the field, but really it was these solid vets that had played with some of the 70s greats that taught the sense of what Steeler Nation really was about in their waning years.
1992-1996: Rod Woodson remained the best player on the field; and even with the play of Barry Foster and Jerome Bettis -- the heart and soul of the Steelers was Greg Lloyd and Greg Lloyd alone. He was unchallenged as "the man" in that locker room and nobody challenged.
1997-2000: These lean years didn't lack talent, but lacked the locker room leadership. Bettis had no yet truly taken over; there was still question about his future long term in Pittsburgh considering the number of free agents lost. Talents like Gildon, Thigpen never really took over as a locker room leader and Dawson and Kirkland's games were fading fast - and they weren't true locker room leaders; Greg Lloyd's injuries effectively ended what should have been a Hall of Fame career
2001-2006: If Lloyd was the best locker room leader in a generation, Joey Porter wasn't far behind and he embraced the role faster than anyone could have hoped. While Jerome Bettis had more respect than anyone in the locker room as the elder statesman, it was Porter who stirred the drink. One could even say it was Porter who rallied the team utilizing the impending Bettis retirement to raise everyone's game. However you cut it, there is no Super Bowl XL without Porter.
2007-2011: James Farrior immediately took over where Porter left off while Hines Ward did the same with Jerome retired. Even with the dominance of Troy Polamalu, Ben Roethlisberger, James Harrison -- Farrior was the godfather of the locker room with Ward as his underboss. 2 Super Bowls in 3 years, 3 seasons out of 4 with 12-4 records speaks for itself.
2012-2013: Ben Roethlisberger was by far the best player, but never took over as a real leader. Same with Troy -- they just don't have the personalities to be that leader on and off the field. Lamar Woodley was set to take over the defense but got overweight and lazy.
2014: The slow start the Steelers had coincided with a lot of young players making mistakes; but as the year went on it seems as if Maurkice Pouncey has demonstrated leadership on the field and the strong personality off the field in the locker room. While Timmons is being more vocal on defense, Pouncey is universally respected and setting the tone for the young guys like Bell, Brown, Heyward, Tuitt, Bryant etc.
That strong and successful locker room leader who policies the internal workings of the locker room is the difference between the Browns and Bengals implosions while the Steelers "down years" are 8-8. There have been a lot of veteran players who set good examples, but the special leadership aspects of a Pouncey is what sets the STeelers apart.
From the 1989 team through 1991 -- even though Rod Woodson had already become a legit superstar and Greg Lloyd re-started the tradition of the truly dominant Steelers LBs, it was DE Kieth Willis that set the example of professionalism to an extremely young team, with Tunch Ilkin helping out the offense full of first and second year starters. Bubby Brister was vocal on the field, but really it was these solid vets that had played with some of the 70s greats that taught the sense of what Steeler Nation really was about in their waning years.
1992-1996: Rod Woodson remained the best player on the field; and even with the play of Barry Foster and Jerome Bettis -- the heart and soul of the Steelers was Greg Lloyd and Greg Lloyd alone. He was unchallenged as "the man" in that locker room and nobody challenged.
1997-2000: These lean years didn't lack talent, but lacked the locker room leadership. Bettis had no yet truly taken over; there was still question about his future long term in Pittsburgh considering the number of free agents lost. Talents like Gildon, Thigpen never really took over as a locker room leader and Dawson and Kirkland's games were fading fast - and they weren't true locker room leaders; Greg Lloyd's injuries effectively ended what should have been a Hall of Fame career
2001-2006: If Lloyd was the best locker room leader in a generation, Joey Porter wasn't far behind and he embraced the role faster than anyone could have hoped. While Jerome Bettis had more respect than anyone in the locker room as the elder statesman, it was Porter who stirred the drink. One could even say it was Porter who rallied the team utilizing the impending Bettis retirement to raise everyone's game. However you cut it, there is no Super Bowl XL without Porter.
2007-2011: James Farrior immediately took over where Porter left off while Hines Ward did the same with Jerome retired. Even with the dominance of Troy Polamalu, Ben Roethlisberger, James Harrison -- Farrior was the godfather of the locker room with Ward as his underboss. 2 Super Bowls in 3 years, 3 seasons out of 4 with 12-4 records speaks for itself.
2012-2013: Ben Roethlisberger was by far the best player, but never took over as a real leader. Same with Troy -- they just don't have the personalities to be that leader on and off the field. Lamar Woodley was set to take over the defense but got overweight and lazy.
2014: The slow start the Steelers had coincided with a lot of young players making mistakes; but as the year went on it seems as if Maurkice Pouncey has demonstrated leadership on the field and the strong personality off the field in the locker room. While Timmons is being more vocal on defense, Pouncey is universally respected and setting the tone for the young guys like Bell, Brown, Heyward, Tuitt, Bryant etc.
That strong and successful locker room leader who policies the internal workings of the locker room is the difference between the Browns and Bengals implosions while the Steelers "down years" are 8-8. There have been a lot of veteran players who set good examples, but the special leadership aspects of a Pouncey is what sets the STeelers apart.
