# The Myron Cope Memorial Steelers March to the Super Bowl Thread

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [August 7, 2008, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116 "2008-08-07T02:23:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 7

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**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/121 "2008-09-30T15:54:51Z")

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That wasn’t exactly helping me feel better. 😃

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**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/122 "2008-09-30T15:56:54Z")

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I don’t know, this is a two-back league and the Cowboys seem to have done well with Felix Jones.

Then again, I would say never draft any RB in the first round, period. Not surprising coming from a Giants fan, where the most recent first rounder was Ron Dayne, while the current stable is all second-day picks. (Jacobs was a 4th round pick, Ward and Bradshaw were both 7th rounders.) Even Tiki was a second rounder, IIRC.

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**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/123 "2008-09-30T18:15:21Z")

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> [@RyJae](#):
>
> Steeler’s will make the playoffs thanks to a weak division is something I have heard numerous times. And this is the first year I have to agree. They have no redeeming qualities, nothing that a practice can fix. ☹ Fellow Steeler fans can you help me feel better about them?

The half-full glass is that the Pats and Colts are on the downhill side of their cycles. San Diego has as many injury issues as the Steelers, with another fragile feature back. Denver is still a bit of a mystery. Buffalo and Tennessee are unproven and haven’t been in big situations recently. We already beat Baltimore. Finally, the only teams that scare me in the NFC are in the East, and they should beat each other up pretty badly this year.

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2008, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/124 "2008-09-30T20:09:16Z")

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> [@EllisDee](#):
>
> I don’t know, this is a two-back league and the Cowboys seem to have done well with Felix Jones.

Sure, but spending a first-round pick on a guy who will average 10 touches per game- including special teams touches- can’t be described as anything but a luxury pick.

If anything, the Cowboys’ pick was even worse- that first-rounder, their second pick in the round, I might add, should have been earmarked for a wideout. Lest we forget, Mr. “we would win if I touched the ball 46 times per game” is 35 years old, and Patrick Crayton is a #3 playing as a #2.

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**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/125 "2008-10-02T14:28:26Z")

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> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#):
>
> We already beat Baltimore.

That’s funny. As a Ravens fan I’m using almost the same logic, except that I’m counting on another close game with a home win for the Ravens when you guys come to Charm City. Flacco will have more experience and confidence, as well as a home crowd… all the other variables except injuries will be the same. What am I missing?

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/126 "2008-10-02T14:31:53Z")

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> [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](#):
>
> The half-full glass is that the Pats and Colts are on the downhill side of their cycles. San Diego has as many injury issues as the Steelers, with **another fragile feature back**.

Say _what_? LT has missed **one** game in his career. For a running back, that’s almost Farveish durability.

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**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/127 "2008-10-02T14:47:36Z")

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> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> Say _what_? LT has missed **one** game in his career. For a running back, that’s almost Farveish durability.

While I would never call Tomlinson fragile, his 8 years as a RB with one missed game is nowhere near as impressive (or rare) as Favre’s starting streak as a QB.

Tomlinson’s durability is similar to Tiki Barber or Curtis Martin, for example. Nobody ever had a similar durability to Favre.

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/128 "2008-10-02T14:59:07Z")

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> [@EllisDee](#):
>
> While I would never call Tomlinson fragile, his 8 years as a RB with one missed game is nowhere near as impressive (or rare) as Favre’s starting streak as a QB.
> 
> Tomlinson’s durability is similar to Tiki Barber or Curtis Martin, for example. Nobody ever had a similar durability to Favre.

Oh, bollocks. Tomlinson gets hit 30 times per game- probably more, considering how many tackles he breaks. And Tomlinson has to run. A lot.

Favre got hit _maybe_ 10 times per game when we include sacks, hits and knockdowns- and never had to worry about tearing an ACL while making a cut, or separating a shoulder while chipping a defensive end.

I’m not saying that Favre’s streak isn’t astonishing, and one of the top 10 records in football. I am saying that an 8-year streak (well, near as makes no difference) by a running back is almost as impressive.

Curtis Martin is a good comparison. Tiki didn’t start for a good portion of his career, and is not.

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**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/129 "2008-10-02T18:56:57Z")

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> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> I’m not saying that Favre’s streak isn’t astonishing, and one of the top 10 records in football. I am saying that an 8-year streak (well, near as makes no difference) by a running back is almost as impressive.
> 
> Curtis Martin is a good comparison. Tiki didn’t start for a good portion of his career, and is not.

Conceding Tiki – who started 109 games to Tomlinson’s 111 – Curtis Martin is in the ballpark. That’s why it’s not comparable. Nobody in the historty of the NFL is even remotely in the ballpark with Favre.

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2008, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/130 "2008-10-02T20:41:29Z")

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> [@EllisDee](#):
>
> Conceding Tiki – who started 109 games to Tomlinson’s 111 – Curtis Martin is in the ballpark. That’s why it’s not comparable. Nobody in the historty of the NFL is even remotely in the ballpark with Favre.

I dunno, man, your punter is getting up there… 😃

Okay, I’ll concede that nobody is as durable as Favre. My original point- that Tomlinson is not fragile- is well taken, though, right?

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**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/131 "2008-10-03T04:08:26Z")

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> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#):
>
> I dunno, man, your punter is getting up there… 😃
> 
> Okay, I’ll concede that nobody is as durable as Favre. My original point- that Tomlinson is not fragile- is well taken, though, right?

hehheh.

And yeah, your original point is well taken. I was just quibbling about minutia.

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**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/132 "2008-10-06T00:29:13Z")

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BOOOOOO!!! interception right to Mathis

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**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/133 "2008-10-06T00:34:19Z")

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An inauspicious start. The first few plays gave me hope - but the sack and INT scares me. Here’s hoping the rest of the game is better!

I’ll check in tomorrow, I have no doubts that I’ll be sleeping by half time…

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**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/134 "2008-10-06T00:36:28Z")

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Yeah they seem to be doing okay, I just wish it was consistent and that throw why oh why? Is his hand still hurt?

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**Author:** ![RyJae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9d8465/32.png) [@RyJae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RyJae)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/135 "2008-10-06T00:41:19Z")

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Yep that was a nice drive, they need to do more of that. And not just this week either, they need to start and stay doing that. Steelers have always done the best with ball and clock control. TOUCHDOWN MILLER!

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**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/136 "2008-10-06T01:26:10Z")

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Simmons has been a weak point in the line since he signed his contract; Stapleton looks good in there. I’m still hoping, though, that with the bye week they move Colon inside and start Max Starks at RT; we won a Super Bowl with him in there and he’s a monster in the run game, he should be playing.

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**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/137 "2008-10-06T01:31:04Z")

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I expected this to be both fairly defensive and for the Steelers to struggle (and probably lose) in this game. So far, it’s been fairly offensive and the Steelers are looking okay even with all the injuries. Glad I’m wrong so far. (Even more glad the Chargers lost to Miami–seriously, what is going on with the Dolphins these last couple weeks?–and that Denver beat Tampa.)

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**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/138 "2008-10-06T04:32:40Z")

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4 and 1 and crusing at the top of a weak division!

I thought with the injuries that we would go down to Jacksonville and shit ourselves - we usually do that when we play Jacksonville no matter what the circumstances.

However, finally, someone figured out that with our offensive line, seven step drops are not going to get it done. At least, they figured that out in the first half and then promptly came back in the second and forgot it all over again.

All that, and a 99 yard rushing performance as well.

A final observation - that was some really atrocious ref work there. Just awful.

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/139 "2008-10-06T04:34:48Z")

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> [@asterion](#):
>
> …and that Denver beat Tampa.

Bah!

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**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\
**Post date:** [October 6, 2008, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-myron-cope-memorial-steelers-march-to-the-super-bowl-thread/459116/140 "2008-10-06T12:04:50Z")

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I ended up watching it all and am glad I did. Exciting down to the last minute.

I try (note the word _try_) to limit my bitching about the refs to one game a year. I guess this is my game, the refs were horrible.

Maybe it is a good thing we have a bye week, next week. Give us more time to recover.

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