I think it's pretty impressive how this team ends up in the playoffs just about every year. We all know about the bad losses Cowher has had over the years, but check out his record since he took over:

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/pitindex.htm

only THREE times in 14 years has he been under .500. That is ridiculous. It seems like ever year they plug new guys into their defense and offensive line who become stars. How do they do it?

I've always bashed Cowher for losing all those title games at home...but maybe he deserves some credit for even getting those teams to the AFC championship with clowns like Kordell and Neil O'Donnel at QB.

You'd pretty much have to concede fantastic personnel moves and great coaching.
Having a top 10 defense almost every year helps.

something I never really associated with that team....but how can you argue with that track record? The guy is obviously doing something right.

I think I like this thread.

Yes, you are right, we've been very fortunate in the past years to be guided by that man. He is one hell of a coach, like it or not. Thanks for posting that link. I don't think I've seen that website before.

The owners believe in the coach and give him the chance to bounce back from a sub par season. it's rare to see Owners and coaches and players all buying into a philosophy.

Good draft picks and free agent signings as well.

It doesn't hurt to be an a division with the Browns, Bengals, and Ravens either.

I don't know if you can count the Ravens as being an advantage. They won a SB yanno.

ricardo...it's called scouting.

Kordell going 13-3 was coaching. How he extracted so much from that turd is beyond me.

that's a huge part of it....but look at a guy like Farrior. Very good player with the Jets...but he goes to Pittsburgh and he's a borderline all-pro.

he had 1 good year.

You have give Pittsburgh credit for seeing Farrior is a better fit in a 3-4 than in a 4-3.

Farrior is a stud this year.

Then you have Sir Larry Foote.

As a Browns fan, all I can say is ...

That is immpressive, but not even in the same ballpark as the dolphins cosistancy of being good. They have had a total of 3 seasons under .500 since 1970!!! That is unbelievable if you think about it. Yet they have managed to win only 2 super bowls and none in the past 32 years

I didn't know that - that's a crazy stat, and very impressive. I guess the only way I can counter that is to say that during the Cowher era, the Steelers have managed to win 11+ games a few more times than the Dolphins did.

I wasnt trying to take away from what Cowher and the steelers have done. I was thinking about that during the game yesterday, how they always seem to be contenders no matter what, even if on paper their roster doesnt seem that impressive. I've always had great respect for Cowher, unlike some people.

Mike Shanahan's only had one year under .500 in 11 years. Plus he has two SB rings.

This goes to show you how big of a factor it is to have good ownership and coaching in order to succeed perenially in the league, salary cap or not The Steelers, Broncos, and Patriots are three excellent examples of this.

Great post!! Those three examples are indeed shining stars in this day and age. When I think about the Steelers, I think about this.....there has been one family that has ever owned this team, and in my 37 years on the planet, there has been only two coaches!!