Key cog in what has been the best defense in the NFL overall year in, year out. The Steelers D was historically good last season and won the Super Bowl in good part because Aaron Smith helped control the line of scrimmage as a 3-4 DE. Get real people, Smith has been one of the best at his position in a system that does not live off of statistics, unless you count leading the league practically every year against the rush, total defense, division titles, playoff wins, and Super Bowls...Give me a break. If Aaron Smith is not one of the 10 best DE's in the league well forget it...lord almighty.
The guy is an admitted Patriots homer so that helps.
I think it's an embarressment that this guy never get the credit he deserves. The Steelers defense fell apart in 2007 when he got hurt and teams ran all over us. This is become a league of eye popping stats and flashy plays. That is why the best 3-4 and run stopping end in football never gets his due, people think Ben isn't elite, and why many rank Ed Reed so far ahead of Troy. But we come to expect this with the Steelers. The media never gives the team or players it's due because they aren't big and flashy like New England or full of drama like Dallas. But it is something we should enjoy.
Seriously, Jason freaken Taylor? Didn't he get cut? Julius Peppers? This is more proof it is all about numbers. Nine guys that get sacks and a Patriot. Instead of just sacks look at all-around. Dwight Freeney is a pass rusher but apparently doesn't know how to tackle other then that. Smith also has 5.5 sacks for the stat freaks. Proves Prickso doesn't know how to analize football. Again, all you have to do is look at the before and after with Smith in 2007.
Yes, Aaron Smith is the best DE in football today. He is a 3-4 end though and that means he doesn't spend 60 plays a game with his ears pinned back sprinting after the QB. Most of the players on these lists are stat-hogs, true, but by no means the best defensive ends. You actually have to be able to play the run and half the players on the lists above are average to poor against the run. Aaron Smith has no real weakness. I will give him props since much like the hall of fame farces, players that don't score TDs or get sacks rarely get their due.
The lists above are about half right. There are a few other DEs in 3-4 defenses that are better than half the glorified OLBs on that list that ONLY rush the QB and average 1.5 sacks a game and almost NOTHING else. Wow. Throw in an occassional tackle of a running back or a twice a year forced fumble and you get 3 out of 60 plays they actually do something. Try taking on double teams and actually engaging and tying up offensive guards, tackles and tight ends like the 3-4 DE must do. 4-3 DE are merely ESPN highlight DE, but not anywhere near the best in the NFL. They make one highlight play a week and do nearly nothing else while DE's like A. Smith go to war every play with strength and agility and, hold your breath, strategy. They must detect a play and hold the lineman up and make the tackle or knock down the pass. They are so lucky as to just sprint at the snap until the whistle like the mind-numbling simplistic 4-3 ends.
Aaron Smith is one of the select few DEs playing today that actually deserves the HOF. Most are 3-4 DE, but the childish preoccupation with ESPN highlights means that media and many fans will never understand. I say make the two authors of the lists above play 3-4 DE for 5 snaps and then play a 4-3 for 5 snaps and see which DEs actually earn their paychecks (as underpaid as they are they actually do more than 4-3 ends who are vastly overpaid).
I think it's an embarressment that this guy never get the credit he deserves. The Steelers defense fell apart in 2007 when he got hurt and teams ran all over us. This is become a league of eye popping stats and flashy plays. That is why the best 3-4 and run stopping end in football never gets his due, people think Ben isn't elite, and why many rank Ed Reed so far ahead of Troy. But we come to expect this with the Steelers. The media never gives the team or players it's due because they aren't big and flashy like New England or full of drama like Dallas. But it is something we should enjoy.
In other words, I'm happy about it. I'd rather fly under the radar.
And go ahead, defend the fact that Dallas always seems to have a headliner on NFL Live or Sportscenter.
I'm glad Aaron Smith was brought up, because he is the most underrated player not DE in football. 3-4 DEs get the shaft like Seymour and others, but Smith is the best of them all. He stops the run and pushes the pocket, all while taking on 2 guys. In case you guys didn't realize it, the Steelers blitz a lot less than people think, because they don't need to with guys like Smith, Hampton and Keisel up front.
I agree. Pass rushers get all the press, but guys like Aaron Smith are just as great. The 3-4 is linebacker-oriented, but it requires three guys doing the job of four, so that four guys can do the job of three. Which do you think is harder, 3-4 end or 4-3 end?
Amen SB...Nothing better than being a Pittsburgh fan. No need for Sportscenter highlights, supermodels, or drama...Just wins.
Table Blade...
As a Chicago fan, you should as well as anyone, have a respect for defensive football and give key guys who make a unit great, not just accumalate stats...
Dwight Freeney gets his double digit stats in sacks, but his defensive unit is not very good. I will sacrifice some sacks in order to have a player (Smith) who controls his gap, is unstoppable against the run and makes this linebackers life easy. Dont get me wrong, Freeney has his strengths, so does a guy like Jason Taylor, but they are one trick ponies who leave you vulnerable in others areas, not Aaron Smith.
Keep up with me here slippy, James Harrison, defensive MVP of the NFL, James Farrior, multiple pro-bowler, Lamarr Woodley, considered one of the best OLB's in the league as a 2nd year player, not to mention Lawrence Timmons, who will be the next great LB for the Steelers in no small part to the incredible play of Aaron Smith. Do you think Troy Polamalu, all-pro safety, does not love having Aaron Smith to help him be able to roam free at the line of scrimmage without worrying about OL being able to focus on him???
If that does not get you some recognition, particularly after the 08' Steeler defense helped the Steelers win a Super Bowl, and compares with the Steeler D's of the 70's, the 85' Bears, and the 00' Ravens, well, again, change the subject to jealousy instead of the topic brought up there killa..
Yes, I am a Pittsburgh fan, which usually means more times than not that I know football. Accusing me or any other PGH fan of bias is natural and typical, but if you had Smith with the Bears or actually knew what you were talking about, you would understand his value.
If that does not get you some recognition, particularly after the 08' Steeler defense helped the Steelers win a Super Bowl, and compares with the Steeler D's of the 70's, the 85' Bears, and the 00' Ravens, well, again, change the subject to jealousy instead of the topic brought up there killa.. Ok man, I'm as big a Steelers fan as you'll ever meet, but to compare the '08 Steelers D to the '00 Ravens and '85 Bears is going a bit far, methinks. But otherwise, pretty much everything in this topic hits it right on the head. Aaron Smith is one of the most underrated players in the league. I wouldn't want any other DE in the game manning the end in a 3-4 D.
So this is where you went hiding steelersb? hahahahahahaahaha You had enough of getting S**T on in the other thread? hahaha now you've decided to spread your lies to this thread, praying that someone wouldn't be hear to correct your ignorance? Well sorry, bud, I have to educate people so they don't start thinking anything you say is actually true...The steelers don't get overhyped and the ravens DO? HAHAHAHAHAH you are an IDIOT! The steelers get 10x the media attention of the ravens...As I said before, the reason everyone with semi-intelligence thinks Ed Reed is WAY BETTER THAN POLAMALU IS BECAUSE HE IS MORON! WHEN THEY PLAYED THE SAME POSITION, ED REED WAS BETTER IN EVERY SINGLE STATISTICAL CATEGORY!!!!!!! Yes, EVERY SINGLE statistical category...Reed averaged MORE TACKLES, SACKS, FFs, FRs, 1.5 X AS MANY PDs, 2.5 X AS MANY INTs, ABOUT 10X AS MANY TDs, AND ABOUT 10X AS MANY RETURN YARDS!!! Damn, anyone who thinks Polamalu is worse is clearly BIASED RIGHT? hahahahahah Polamalu is an absolute joke in comparison, there is no denying that, and there is no argument that can possibly be made to suggest otherwise...How can one player be better in EVERY SINGLE STATISTICAL CATEGORY when they played the same position? And not only that, how can so many of the stats be SO RIDICULOUSLY LOPSIDED? And to the idiot, poster THE RAVENS ARE THE LEAGUES #1 DEFENSE SINCE 1999 IN TERMS OF YARDS ALLOWED AND POINTS ALLOWED!!!!! That makes them, WITHOUT QUESTION THE BEST DEFENSE OF THE DECADE!! Again, this can't be argued....Ignorant steelers "fans" come on here and just spread their lies and prove they know NOTHING ABOUT FOOTBALL..."year in and year out the best defense in the league." hahaha the intelligence of Pittsburgh natives is LAUGHABLE
Aaron Smith is very good. However, the best 3-4 end? You'd really rather have 33 year old, 298 pound Smith (invited to the Pro Bowl once) over 29 year old, 310 pound Seymour (invited to the Pro Bowl five times, named All-Pro four times)? The same Aaron Smith who, statistically, has been beat by Seymour in pretty much everything since Seymour came into the league (Seymour has 39 sacks since 2001, Smith has 38, Seymour has batted 24 passes, Smith has 20, Seymour has 2 int, Smith has 1, Smith takes Seymour in tackles). The same Smith who helped the All-Star defense of the Steelers win 2 championships, with another AFC Championship loss (to the Pats), over Seymour, who helped a very good defense of the Patriots win 3 championships, with another Super Bowl appearance and another AFC Championship loss (to the Colts).
Stats: Seymour Rings: Seymour Wins of the team this decade: Seymour Accolades: Seymour
(invited to the Pro Bowl once)Well that sure is a great way of looking at it, a popularity contest and the guys most puplicized.
The same Smith who helped the All-Star defense of the Steelers win 2 championships, with another AFC Championship loss (to the Pats), over Seymour, who helped a very good defense of the Patriots win 3 championships, with another Super Bowl appearance and another AFC Championship loss (to the Colts). That's why your comparing this? Because of who has more rings? A defensive end will not carry a team to a ring, sure helps though.
And finally the stats, 3-4 ends aren't supposed to put up big stats. Their job is to stop the run and open up lanes for the linebackers.
And please explain Jason Taylor. All those awards came in 2006 and before. This is not guys with the best career, it's the best guys today and Jason Taylor clearly isn't or else he wouldn't have been cut.
Typical Pats fan. Somehow turns the thread into something to do with the Pats...
I dont know why you felt the need to defend your highly skilled, decorated and oft-injured Richard Seymour. Last I checked no one said anything about him or that Aaron Smith was the best DE end, 3-4 or otherwise. I simply said that Smith needed to be included on any list when discussing the top 10 in the league. Seymour is on that list and I agree completely, I just feel Smith should be on it too.
Your opinion is as good as mine. However, look at the stats, they simply dont lie. I did not say they were better, but that they are comprible. It certainly is one of the best of the last three decades, which means they need to be mentioned with the 00' Ravens and '85 Bears...
this ravens fan is mad cus the Steelers defense is the best yr in and yr out...get over it. the Steelers are 1 and the ravens are 2. thats how the defensive rankings play out in the end.
Aaron Smith is awsome. more ppl need to recognize what he brings to the table for the Pittsburgh Steelers defense! tough, gritty, run stuffing mean nasty defensive end.
