Here's my theory - All that matters is an Elite QB or an Elite defense

[Mr. Miyagi]

They say you have the build the team from inside out, blah blah blah. My theory is all you need is either an elite QB or an elite defense.

Look at all the teams that are sustained powerhouses in recent years:

Patriots - Elite QB (Brady)
Baltimore - Elite defense (in SB years)
Pittsburgh - Elite defense (in SB years)
Giants - Elite defense (in SB years)
Denver - Elite defense last year, elite QB and defense this year
Falcons - Elite QB
Houston - Elite defense
SF - Elite defense
Seattle - Elite defense
Packers - Elite QB
Washington - Elite QB

I cannot think of a single team in the last 10-15 years that went all the way or come close to it to not have either on of these.

On the other side of the argument: what about elite RB or WR or other skill positions?

Arizona - Fitzgerald without elite QB, nothing
Viking - Peterson without elite QB or defense, barely anything
Lions - Megatron without elite QB or defense, nothing
Way back to Barry Sanders, nothing

Give up the house to get an elite QB, Buffalo.

[Ingtar33]

Re: Here's my theory - All that matters is an Elite QB or an Elite defense

the Panthers got to the superbowl without an elite QB or defense. but your point stands.

[X-Era]

Re: Here's my theory - All that matters is an Elite QB or an Elite defense

It's a legit theory IMO.

If you remember the comments from folks that thought Fitz was just fine... It was based around an elite defense.

We never built that defense.

I still want the legit stud QB.

[Mr. Pink]

Re: Here's my theory - All that matters is an Elite QB or an Elite defense

the Panthers got to the superbowl without an elite QB or defense. but your point stands.

I don't think the Giants, the second victory vs the Pats, had either. They just got hot at the right time and rolled off the momentum.

[Ingtar33]

Re: Here's my theory - All that matters is an Elite QB or an Elite defense

I don't think the Giants, the second victory vs the Pats, had either. They just got hot at the right time and rolled off the momentum.

yep. eli never really has put up elite numbers. And their 2nd superbowl team's defense was middling at best. They lucked out with a few timely drops and gronk being hurt... plus that defense as it's made is tailor-made to beat the pats.

[justasportsfan]

Re: Here's my theory - All that matters is an Elite QB or an Elite defense

When teams stack the box to stop a dynamic RB like Spiller, you need a qb who can compliment him by making them pay with his arm. Fitz's wasn't that qb.

[imbondz]

Re: Here's my theory - All that matters is an Elite QB or an Elite defense

Eli is an elite QB. Not Brady/Brees/Rodgers elite, but still elite.

[Mr. Miyagi]

Re: Here's my theory - All that matters is an Elite QB or an Elite defense

the Panthers got to the superbowl without an elite QB or defense. but your point stands.

Yes there are a few outliers, but I'm talking about sustained powerhouses not one and dones (09 Cardinals, 06 Seahawks, etc)

[Don't Panic]

Re: Here's my theory - All that matters is an Elite QB or an Elite defense

So do we swing for the fences and trade up for Geno or should we keep adding to the D (cough, cough... MLB)? What should be our recipe?

[Mr. Miyagi]

Re: Here's my theory - All that matters is an Elite QB or an Elite defense

We're tried for years to build the D. I think we have most of the players to make a good D, just need a field general MLB (damn it we had Fletcher and let him go).

Go for the QB I say. Haven't had one forever.

[notacon]

Re: Here's my theory - All that matters is an Elite QB or an Elite defense

I think this theory is already outdated.

All a team needs is an elite QB. An elite defense, in and of itself, does not mean much these days.

Last year the Pats had the second worse defense in the league and was in the SB. This year, the best defensive team, Pittsburgh, is on the outside looking in.

QB, QB, QB, QB, QB....that's ALL that matters!!

[Mr. Miyagi]

Re: Here's my theory - All that matters is an Elite QB or an Elite defense

I think this theory is already outdated.

All a team needs is an elite QB. An elite defense, in and of itself, does not mean much these days.

Last year the Pats had the second worse defense in the league and was in the SB. This year, the best defensive team, Pittsburgh, is on the outside looking in.

QB, QB, QB, QB, QB....that's ALL that matters!!

Then how do you explain Houston, SF, and Seattle this year, or Chicago, Baltimore, or Pittsburgh in recent years? Plus, Pittsburgh has been competitve this year as well, just couldn't make it in a tough tough division.

[EDS]

Re: Here's my theory - All that matters is an Elite QB or an Elite defense

They say you have the build the team from inside out, blah blah blah. My theory is all you need is either an elite QB or an elite defense.

Look at all the teams that are sustained powerhouses in recent years:

Patriots - Elite QB (Brady)
Baltimore - Elite defense (in SB years)
Pittsburgh - Elite defense (in SB years)
Giants - Elite defense (in SB years)
Denver - Elite defense last year, elite QB and defense this year
Falcons - Elite QB
Houston - Elite defense
SF - Elite defense
Seattle - Elite defense
Packers - Elite QB
Washington - Elite QB

I cannot think of a single team in the last 10-15 years that went all the way or come close to it to not have either on of these.

On the other side of the argument: what about elite RB or WR or other skill positions?

Arizona - Fitzgerald without elite QB, nothing
Viking - Peterson without elite QB or defense, barely anything
Lions - Megatron without elite QB or defense, nothing
Way back to Barry Sanders, nothing

Give up the house to get an elite QB, Buffalo.

Ben Rothlisberger and Eli Manning are both likely to go to the hall of fame, so to say they are not elite QBs is a stretch. Eli for sure is streaky, but he is unbeatable when he is on one of his streaks - which explains the two super bowl rings.

[notacon]

Re: Here's my theory - All that matters is an Elite QB or an Elite defense

Then how do you explain Houston, SF, and Seattle this year, or Chicago, Baltimore, or Pittsburgh in recent years? Plus, Pittsburgh has been competitve this year as well, just couldn't make it in a tough tough division.

Houston, SF and Seattle had QB's playing on an elite level....or pretty damn close. Smith last year for SF was at an elite level, especially in the playoffs. Houston has an elite QB. Seattle has a gem of a rookie that is playing at elite level.

Chicago hasn't done crap.

Baltimore has had decent level of QB play from Flacco. When not, they pretty much suck.

Pittsburgh has an elite QB.

It's all pretty clear.

look at the SB teams for the past number of years. All had either a flat out elite QB...Manning, Brady, E. Manning, Brees, Rodgers, Rothlisburger. Even Seattle in 2006 had Hasselbeck, who was playing very close to elite.

The last 10 Super Bowl teams had the very elite of the elite playing QB. Every single winner had first or second best QB for that year, and those QB's played at an elite level during the playoffs.

It's been over 10 years since a defense carried a team to a SB win.

[Mr. Pink]

Re: Here's my theory - All that matters is an Elite QB or an Elite defense

Ben Rothlisberger and Eli Manning are both likely to go to the hall of fame, so to say they are not elite QBs is a stretch. Eli for sure is streaky, but he is unbeatable when he is on one of his streaks - which explains the two super bowl rings.

Was Terry Bradshaw an elite QB? He's in the HOF.

He got lucky and rode one of the best defenses ever to 4 titles.