Dr. Z on WFAN

[Pats Fanatic]

HILARIOUS interview....what a grouchy old bastard. Joe and Evan could barely contain their laughter.

Even if Pats go all the way he thinks they are "maybe top 15".....his #1 team was '76 Steelers that didn't even win the SB, because hypothetically speaking, had they been healthier, they COULD/MIGHT/WOULD HAVE been the most dominant. His point was that they suffered because they lost their running game....

The 76 Steelers, the 76 Patriots beat the 76 Steelers in Pittsburgh that year. They would have again it wasn't for Referee Ben Dreith.

 

[hambone1818]

Steelers of the 70's: In their best 5 year stretch they had a .777 winning percentage. The Patriots from 2003 to this season (not including tonights game) have a winning percentage of .822. While they currently have about 3 locks for the HOF, who's to say that doesn't change? Plus, when looking at the Steelers of the 70's everyone gives them credit for Stallworth, but he was just coming on in the late 70's and took off in the 80's. Swann is so overrated...decent receiver, played on some great teams, doesn't deserve to sniff the HOF. His highest yardage total in a season: 880. Most catches in a season: 61. Basically, he has Deion Branch numbers if Deion were to play for 2-3 more seasons.

Similarly, Bradshaw couldn't hold Brady's jockstrap; he threw two fewer interceptions than TDs in his career and has a QB rating of 70.9. His best season (88.0 in 1975) isn't even close to Brady's career rating.

Defense: clearly the Steelers made their name on defense. They were top 5 in either points or yards in 7 out of 8 seasons from '72 until '79. Well guess what...the Pats have been top five (and actually, top TWO) in points our yards 4 out of 5 seasons from 2003 until present. Guess what? The Pats current stretch--ranking-wise--in points allowed goes like this: 1st, 2nd, 17th, 2nd, 1st. The Steelers best stretch in points allowed: 1st, 17th, 1st, 2nd, 2nd. Looks kinda similar, huh?

This isn't to discount the Steel Curtain and all their steroid-enhanced players. They had a great run. But the Pats are having their own great run, during a time when it simply isn't supposed to happen. One common theme with the Steelers was consistency: they had almost no roster turnover year-to-year, they just drafted well and 'developed' (*cough* steroids *cough*) their players better than anyone. The Patriots have had to get rid of some very fine players (Milloy, Law, Branch, among others) and are sure to lose some more (Samuel?, Wilfork?, Seymour?) during the coming years.

Anyway, sorry for the rant. I just think it's ridiculous to think the Steelers are even in the same league as the Patriots...their accomplishments are many and their teams were fantastic, but they didn't have to do it during this era with constant roster turnover, and if anyone wants to start throwing out asterisks, how bout taking a look at the Steelers. You want an unfair advantage, how about shooting your players full of steroids for a few years, see how that goes. Friggin' videotapes of coaches aren't going to give you an advantage like that (if it even gave an advantage, period).

 

[everlong]

The problem with Dr. Z is the game has passed him bye. He's one of the perpetrators or the you must run to win fallacy. Also he longs for the old days and is overly romantic about those teams. I'm not saying the Steelers teams weren't great they were, better than the Dolphin teams IMO.

If the Pats win it all this year and go undefeated and you want to compare the dynasties based on what they did.

Steelers 4/6 Pats 4/7 but the Steelers never went undefeated, if the Pats were to win again in 08 that would give them 5/8 and 4/6 with an undefeated team and clearly put them above the Steelers.

Cowboys 3/4 Pats 3/4 this year would put them above the 90's Cowboys on many levels.

Dolphins 2 in a row undefeated, Pats would have the undefeated and more championships.

Niners 4/9 5/13 Pats 4/7 and an undefeated team. Pats would just need to win another one after this year to move ahead of the Niners.

The Packers were before my time and had all of those pre-merger championships and 3 in a row. Hard for me to really talk about what they did.

Also from this run for the HOF we don't know yet but these are the potential candidates.

Brady
BB
Seau
Bruschi
Moss
Law
Harrison
Seymour
Vrabel

Many of those won't get in purely based on lack of pro bowls which is a joke considering the pro bowl is simply a popularity contest.


Who's to say if this run continues that 5 years from now

Wilfork
Warren
Koppen
Mankins
Samuel

And other are not view as HOFers. I'm sure in 1976 Bradshaw wasn't viewed as a HOFer. He had been benched many times in 75 and his status was still very unclear.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Dr. Z "has done his best work" but is now living an American Dream: he's in his dotage and still has a soapbox from which to pronouce increasingly ill-informed, biased and at times irrational opinions. What's really scary is that he still has a vote for the NFL HOF.

 

[Rob0729]

All these people talk about the Pats/Colts game as it being a few dropped balls from being a Colts victory, but they aren't realizing it is a few bad calls away from being a Pats' blowout.

One thing that hurts the Colts big time in the next match up with the Pats if they meet is that Freeney is gone and Mathis will be out of position on Light and not Kazcur. Personally I thought Mathis' total domination of Kazcur was a big reason the Pats' offense struggled in the first half. Freeney and Mathis tired out in the second half making it easier for Brady to get the ball down field. I don't see this pressure this time around.

 

[Rob0729]

As for Dr. Z, the guy is old school. He still wishes the 70s were here. The guy predicted the Dolphins would go to the Super Bowl last year and he can barely out pick a swimsuit model every week. Why would we care about his opinion?

 

[Patriot Missile]

I like the Colts chances although slim. I just can't see us getting another team record in penalties. Especially at home. If I see one more bogus PI call against Hobbs I swear I will throw up. Faceguarding without touching and being beaned by the football between the shoulder blades? Being infront of a WR and being tackled from behind is defensive pass interference? Again, I just keep telling myself there is no way these calls will go against us at home.

 

[ClevTrev]

1. Anyone who takes this guy seriously is missing the point.
2. Anyone who engages in the "best ever" argument before a particular team and coaching staff has finished its run engages in premature speculation.
3. Anyone who engages in premature speculation is wasting time with a pointless discussion.
4. There are known treatments that help those suffering from premature speculation.

 

[LiveShot]

Dr Z has been making an ass of himself for tooo many years. He's almost always wrong.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

1. Anyone who takes this guy seriously is missing the point.

He has a HOF vote, dude. Of tens of millions of fans, thousands of former and current players, thousands of sportswriters across the country, he's one of only 44 Selectors who decide who goes into Canton and who doesn't. Unfortunately, we have to take him seriously.

 

[rabthepat]

Another Pats "Hater".