Bradshaw's Steelers had an all pro type at every position on Defense. The cap is the reality and that reality says you're never going to see that again. This team was the best in football with guys like Torbor, Mitchell, Ross, Wilson,Chase Blackburn and lots of ordinary. It's important to understand that..
I think that we're loaded (relatively speaking). And I think that becomes self-evident if you break that down into categories.
ALL PRO TYPES 9+)...Cromartie, Prince, Kennard, JPP, Hankins, Beckham, Eli, Jennings/Verdeen, Cruz, Harris.
I think Beckham is so good that you might almost count him as two players in terms of impact, but (and counting Verdeen/Jennings as one player) I find 8 players within this category.
TOP PROS(10).....Avery, Schwartz, Beason, Randall, McBride (or is it Thurmond we lost), Beatty, Ellis, Brown (F.G), Steve Weatherspoon
YOUNG EMERGING PLAYERS IE, guys you can reasonably expect to emerge as very good (8)....Richenberg, Collins, Flowers, Moore, Donnetell, Williams, Odi, Pugh (that's a very rich group of potential top talent, I wonder if there's as strong a group anywhere)
You could add another category for potential players but not as sure as above (Bromley,Ch.Brown, Cooper, Beher, Washington, Harris, Bradshaw) And still another for serviceable (Selvy, Preston, McCain, etc.).
If Dallas is the favorite...I can do that match up and find as many "All pro types" but still see grevious holes there (eg at defensive tackle and maybe rb, cb, safety) and I still think Eli is better than Romo.
And meantime there are so many question marks at Philly at the all important QB spot with Bradford, that until you have some resolution on the capabilities at that position it's impossible to make any judgments there.
I think we're the best in the division going in. I think that if we're healthy we're the team (with Eli/Beckham) that no one is going to want to play if we get into the playoffs.
I see a well balanced team with great playmakers on offense and a very good defense and superb special teams including the kickers/punters and return men.
Just give us a fair shake with injuries from here on in and we're gonna be very tough.
lol
Guys who are better than avarge: Pugh, Beason (healthy), Kennard, DRC, Prince,
Guys we hope are better than average and have a good chance to be: Jennings, Schwartz, Richburg, Donnell, Randle, Vereen, Ayers, Moore, Bromley, Collins.
It's more potential because guys like Cruz, Schwartz, Beason, Jennings are coming off injury. Also, recent drafts have add some young players who have show talent but need to take the next step (Moore, Randle, Donnell, Bromley.)
Not a big stretch to see a pretty good team here but things have to work out well across the board.
Well it's good for a laugh, I guess.
Been saying for years, it's a crime the way Reese has set this team up for Eli....we have a franchise qb, and we can't protect him, and we limit his options, because we can't run the ball, WHEN WE NEED TO!
Looking back at that 2011 season, how the heck did he do it, with the line he had in front of him? That was just a magical year for Eli....Aaron Rodgers got the award that year, but Eli should have, in terms of putting a team on his back, and carrying them to a championship...