Sunday September 15th, 2019. We all thought the Steelers season was over. Ben Roethlisberger goes down with an injured elbow, that we later found out would need surgery. Unfortunately, the surgery ended Big Ben’s 2019 season, but somehow the Steelers were able to go 8-8 with a mix of QB play from players named Delvin “Duck” Hodges and Mason Rudolph. Their QB play mixed with amazing coaching from HC Mike Tomlin & Co and the amazing defense that led the NFL in takeaways led the Steelers to a .500 season. I’m writing this article to convince the people who don’t believe a healthy Steelers team will take the AFC by storm, that they will.

Lets break it down, flashback to 2018, the Steelers went 9-6-1 with horrible team chemistry. Their playoff hopes were shattered in Week 17. But that year, Ben Roethlisberger put up some of the best numbers in his career at age 36. He led the league in passing attempts and completions (452 CMP & 675 ATT), led the league in passing yards (5,129), and led the league in passing yards per game with 320.6!
Yes, Big Ben had Antonio Brown and a healthy JuJu Smith-Schuster, but this shows Ben still has a lot left in the tank. Not to mention, in 2018 he played and started in all 16 games. If this doesn’t convince you why teams in the AFC should be scared, let me break it down even more.

It’s not going to be all Ben and the offense. The Steelers defense is extremely scary, we are talking like Top 5 scary. OLB TJ Watt just finished his 3rd year in the NFL and put up career numbers. 14.5 sacks, 55 tackles, 14 TFL, and 36 QB hits, 36! Not to mention, they now have, rookie last year going into his second year, MLB Devin Bush. Who tore it up last season and will continue to do so in 2020. Last but not least, S Minkah Fitzpatrick. Minkah was INSANE last year and put the whole league on notice. He was tied for 2nd in the NFL for INT’s. It’s going to be his 2nd year in the scheme and like Watt, Bush, and Co. he is going to tear it up. Watt (25), Bush (21), and Minkah (23), are going to lead this defense to once again be a Top 5 in the NFL. If those three players don’t sell you on defense don’t forget about, CB Joe Haden, DE Camron Hayward, DE Stephon Tuitt, OLB Bud Dupree, and many more. This defense is going to be scary. Plus, if the Steelers draft some defense in this years draft that will help even more.

Now, if you are still reading and your still not convinced, let’s me try to sway your opinion some more.
JuJu and James Connor, both key parts of the offense, struggled to stay on the field last season. Next year will be different, I have a feeling and know they both will be back and better then ever next season. WR James Washington, who proved himself last year as a rookie, will be in his second year and make big strides in that offense.
The new addition of TE Eric Ebron will give Big Ben a red zone threat and another great athletic weapon. The OL is still one of the best in the league, the depth at RB will help Ben and Co. a lot, and the draft picks the Steelers have for 2020 could and will come in handy. The Steelers draft smart, real smart, I wouldn’t be surprised if they made this team even better for 2020.

Let’s look at the team.

(Not the full 53 man roster)

OFFENSE:

QB: Ben Roethlisberger 

QB: Duck Hodges 

RB: James Connor 

RB: Jaylen Samuels 

RB: Benny Snell Jr. 

FB: Derek Watt

WR1: JuJu Smith-Schuster 

WR2: James Washington 

WR3: Diontae Johnson 

WR4: Ryan Switzer 

TE1: Eric Ebron 

TE2: Vance McDonald 

TE3: Zach Gentry 

LT: Alejandro Villanueva 

LG: Matt Feiler 

C: Maurice Pouncey 

RG: David DeCastro 

RT: Zach Banner 

DEFENSE: 

DE: Stephon Tuitt 

DT: Chris Wormley 

DE: Cameron Hayward 

OLB: TJ Watt 

ILB: Devin Bush 

ILB: Vince Williams 

OLB: Bud Dupree 

CB: Joe Haden 

FS: Minkah Fitzpatrick 

SS: Terrell Edmunds 

CB: Steven Nelson 

Draft Needs: SS, ILB, and WR

SS: Terrell Edmunds is more of a backup, if the Steelers can land a Grant Delpit if he falls that would be perfect.

ILB: Devin Bush is not the problem here, in fact he is part of the solution. He is part of the Young Big 3 (Watt, Minkah, and Bush). The problem is actually Vince Williams, if the Steelers can get a guy like Troy Dye. That would be perfect scenario for the Steelers.

WR: This WR class is deep, JuJu and Washington are studs, Johnson and Switzer have potential, but improving the guys around them would help Ben a lot.

The defense mixed with a healthy offense next year is going to be insane. The Steelers division is pretty tough, but their are only a handful of teams that are on/above the Steelers level. (i.e. Ravens, Chiefs, and Bills)

With a good or bad draft this team is still insane and ready to roll. They made some great underrated moves this offseason and they are going to be scary.

Especially now that their are 7 playoff teams per conference. The Steelers have a real legitimate shot at making the playoffs and everyone knows anything can happen in the playoffs.

If I haven’t convinced you yet, then just watch. I have done all I could trying to convince the haters who think the Steelers won’t be a threat next season.

And hey, Bill O’Brian might want to move JJ Watt for the right price. He moved DHop for a bag of chip. Why not unite all the 3 Watt brothers on the same team. 😉

If you are familiar with NFL history of the past 20 years, you’re probably familiar with the infamous 2005 NFL Draft number one pick decision. If you aren’t here’s a quick rundown. 

The 2004 49ers finished the season 2-14 with the worst record in the NFL, clinching the number one overall pick with two more losses than Dolphins and Browns who finished 4-12. This ended the 2-year tenure of Head Coach Dennis Erickson leaving an empty 3 years on his original 5 year deal with the team. Going into the 2005 season with new Head Coach Mike Nolan, the 49ers’ main offseason target and need on their roster was the Quarterback position. In the 2004 season, the 9ers had 3 QB’s make appearances, Tim Rattay, Ken Dorsey, and Cody Pickett. Besides Rattay, who threw as many touchdowns as interceptions (10), the other two threw more interceptions than touchdowns. 

Having the first overall pick, they realized the best and most obvious avenue to snag a QB would be right there in the draft. The two guys the 49ers focused on to be their next franchise QB, in a historic franchise that had rostered the likes of Joe Montana and Steve Young, were Alex Smith out of the University of Utah and Aaron Rodgers out of the University of California Berkeley. Many thought that the obvious choice would be Aaron Rodgers considering that he grew up a huge 49ers fan in Chico, Ca and went to college 30 minutes away from the 49ers then home, Candlestick Park. Unfortunately the 49ers went with Smith at number one, letting Rodgers slide to number 24 overall and the Green Bay Packers. 

Reflecting on the decision the then Head Coach, Mike Nolan, said that the team decided to go with Smith because he was a safe pick that wouldn’t create drama, whereas Rodgers was “very cocky, very confident, arrogant”. 

Looking back at it the obvious right choice would have been Rodgers. Smith was/is mediocre at best, eventually losing his job in 2012 when injured. His backup, Colin Kaepernick, lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl in Smith’s absence. Smith went on to have a couple of okay years on the Chiefs, where he threw screens to the RB’s or dumped it off to Travis Kelce most of the time, and then to the Redskins where he had a gruesome leg injury, he is still recovering from with his career still in question. On the other hand, after being mentored by the great Brett Favre for 3 years, Rodgers became the Packers starter in 2008. Two years later he beat the Steelers in the 2010 Super Bowl in which he won Super Bowl MVP. Along with that, thus far in his career, he has won 2 MVP’s, been selected to 8 Pro Bowls, and has been known as one of the most talented QB’s in the NFL. 

But what if the 49ers made the obvious choice in 2005, and grabbed the local Aaron Rodgers with the first overall pick. Alex Smith would not fall long, picked by the Cleveland Browns at 3rd overall. He would be replacing former 49er, Jeff Garcia, and have a poor season with no talent to support him on the roster. He would continue to struggle until 2007 when he was replaced by 1st round pick, Brady Quinn. With no real legacy as a Brown, he would just be another name on the infamous Browns Quarterback Jersey. He would then sign with the Jaguars in 2008, have some average statistical seasons, and play well enough to get an extension. They sneak into the playoffs in 2010 winning the division with 11 wins thanks to a great season by Maurice Jones-Drew. Eventually, he is replaced by rookie Blake Bortles in 2014, midseason. The rest of his career he has Josh McCown Status, bouncing around as a good backup, eventually retiring in 2017.

With Aaron Rodgers not available at 23rd overall, the Packers pass on a QB and stick with Favre. Favre stays with the team, not threatened by a young and promising backup. Thankfully for them, Packers fans never have to see him in Vikings Purple, as he retires for good after the 2010 season. The Packers still win the 2010 Super Bowl, as Farve rides off into the sunset. In 2011 the Packers sign Vince Young to a 2-year deal, and draft similar style player, Colin Kaepernick in the first round. Young is replaced mid season in 2011 by Kaepernick, who is very happy to play for his favorite team as a child. They win the division with 11 wins, but have a quick playoff exit. They win the Super Bowl in 2014 thanks to an explosive offense of Eddie Lacy, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, rookie breakout WR Davante Adams, and the dual threat Kaepernick. Kaepernick has trouble with injuries, and after a bad 2016 season, the Packers draft Mitch Trubisky 2nd Overall. He starts off good, but with aging weapons, declines as they never win the division the rest of the decade, thanks to Matt Nagy’s amazing offence with Patrick Mahomes who they get with the 4th pick, after their first choice in the draft is taken by the Packers.

Finally the 49ers. After 2 seasons Rodgers looks very promising, but is held back by head coach Mike Nolan, who won’t accept his personality and moxy. He was against drafting Rodgers but the front office overruled him to choose the Golden Bears product. He is fired after the 2006 season, and the 49ers hire USC head coach, Pete Carroll. He is also local, and is familiar with the team as the former defensive coordinator. He loves Rodgers play style, and the Carroll-Rodgers tandem is the next great player coach relationship. In 2007 with all pro rookie Patrick Willis, a big season for Frank Gore, breakout rookie WR Jacoby Jones, that the 49ers trade up to get, and a huge season from Rodgers, the 49ers win the division with 12 wins. They go to the Super Bowl but lose to the Patriots. They draft burner DeSean Jackson in 2008 Draft, who Rodgers has instant chemistry with considering they were both Cal Berkley Alums. They also sign Terrell Suggs to pair with Willis. They lose in the divisional round after winning the division. In 2009 they win the Super Bowl, as Rodgers adds another weapon in rookie Michael Crabtree. Off season addition, Brian Dawkins was a key piece in the run. They go on to win the 2012 and 2015 Super Bowls, as Rodgers is known as the best QB in the NFL. They struggle in 2016 as their talent gets old and Patrick Willis retires. In 2017 they have a great draft adding TJ Watt, Joe Mixon, and Chris Godwin. They also sign Calais Campbell and resign DeSean Jackson. In 2017 they have a great season but lose to the electric Falcons in the NFC Championship. The Falcons lose that Super Bowl as Brady gets hurt, but backup Jimmy Garoppolo steps in to win Super Bowl MVP and take the Lombardi Trophy. In 2018 the 49ers draft Courtland Sutton, and redeem the 2007 Super Bowl loss, beating the now Brady-less Patriots lead by Jimmy Garoppolo in the Super Bowl. In 2019 Rodgers gets hurt, and backup Nick Mullens leads the 49ers to a divisional round loss.

To recap: 

Alex Smith-NFL Journeyman, 1 Playoff Appearance as a starter. 

Packers-Win two Super Bowls and there is no friction between their coach and QB compared to what happened in actuality. Farve rides off into the sunset in 2010 and Kaepernick leads them to a 2014 Super Bowl win. 

49ers-Sign Pete Carroll, and committ to excellence with star QB Aaron Rodgers. They win 4 Super Bowls and aren’t finished.

Although the 49ers are now in an amazing position now with their current roster and Jimmy Garoppolo under center, they would have had much more success if they chose Rodgers over Smith in 2005. In the end it won’t matter when the 49ers beat the Packers on Sunday to clinch a Super Bowl birth, but it’s interesting to think what could have been.

After two seasons with head coach Pat Shurmer which resulted in a combined record of 9-23 , New York Giants team president John Mara and Chairman Steve Tisch announced the organization will be moving on from Shurmer to the delight of many Giants fans. This will be the teams third time searching for a new head coach in the last five years and with many teams doing the same this offseason, the Giants may have the clearest decision of them all; Hiring Baylor University head coach Matt Rhule as the new leader of the New York Football Giants. To preface, after Baylor’s Sugar Bowl loss, Rhule stated that he would like to return to the university but in previous interviews he has expressed interest into coaching in the NFL.

Rhule born and raised in New York City is no stranger to the Giants organization considering he was an assistant coach when Tom Coughlin coached the team in 2012. During Rhule’s time with the team, now General Manager Dave Gettleman was a personnel analyst meaning they have worked together before. In a recent interview with 247sports, president John Mara spoke on his ideal candidate for the open coaching position stating, “I’m looking for leadership that’s the big thing going forward…. somebody who’s gonna help us with our football reorganization we’re in the process of undergoing right now.” Coach Rhule is very well acquainted with the struggles of building a team from the ground up and it is a task he has proved to be very capable of executing. After his stint as an assistant to Tom Coughlin, Rhule was named the head coach of Temple University an American Athletic Conference school that was never taken seriously in the world of College Football. In his first season as head coach Matt Rhule’s Owl’s were once again a laughingstock going 2-10 in a disastrous year. But, by all accounts Matt Rhule is truly a leader of men and the following season he recruited some new players that fit his vision and got seemingly all of the team to buy into his coaching style. That 2014 season Temple went 11-2 and the winning never stopped, 2015 10-4, and 2016 10-3.

When Rhule arrived at Baylor in 2017, the program was in the midst of a rape scandal which caste a dark cloud over the University as a whole. This brings us to this past year 2019 where Matt Rhule in his third year as Baylor head coach, led his team to an 11-2 season and an appearance in the Sugar Bowl. Rhule who took over his second distraught football organization proved once again that he is a true leader of men and effective rebuilder. When speaking to the New York Post, Giants safety Sean Chandler stated, “He’s able to connect with all his players, so that just makes you want to be able to play for him that much harder.” It is clear that coach Rhule garners respect from his players with his “no nonsense” authority that can put a team that has lost hope back in check. Yes the most prolific example of “no nonsense” coaching is Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots but a more suitable example is Miami Dolphins first year coach Brian Flores. When Flores took over the reigns the Dolphins to NFL fans were simply a poor team “tanking for Tua” a team that traded superstars such as tackle Laremy Tunsil and Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick. Although Flores’ Dolphins finished 5-11, Flores similarly to Matt Rhule during his time at both Temple and Baylor, got his players to buy into his system and play for him in the midst of a lost season.

Now, speaking on what goes on in between the hash marks, coach Rhule has spent time coaching on both sides of the ball and has a history of bringing his prefered staff as well as his schemes to the team in which he inherits. Those with high understanding of the wonderous game that is football are aware that it is a monumental task for a young quarterback like Daniel Jones to learn the new offensive scheme that a new coach may bring. This may lead some to believe that the firing of Pat Shurmer may inadvertently hinder the development of the young prospect. So what’s the kicker? Well, Pat Shurmer and Matt Rhule have very similar offensive schemes. Shurmer who came from the Minnesota Vikings brought with him a ‘power spread’ offense with run pass option concepts he picked up on from his time in Philly with Chip Kelly in 2014. Matt Rhule in his three years with Baylor ran a ‘zone spread’ offense which is very similar to what Danny Dimes ran in the 2019 season. But, where the power spread implements a power running game, Rhule’s zone spread provides a zone rushing game which utilizes the athletic ability of a teams running backs. With star second year running back Saquon Barkley having somewhat of a sophmore slump, many in New York pointed to the fact that Shurmer’s power run game does not capitalize on Barkleys explosive one cut ability. If Rhule is in fact next up for the Giants, Barkley will once again excel thereby relieving some pressure from developing quarterback Daniel Jones.

So, Dear New York Giants, if you want your future head coach to be a true galvanizing leader, a proven rebuilder, a man who knows your system, and a coach who is going to bring respect to your organization: hire Matt Rhule.