Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams has never been afraid to speak his mind, and today started somewhat of a firestorm on Twitter when he made some comments about Peyton Manning, who officially announced his retirement from the NFL
Williams, whose Steelers lost to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Broncos in the divisional playoffs, stated on twitter that Manning’s final season, despite ending in a Super Bowl ring, was one to forget.
Look Peyton is a hall of fame qb who couldn’t play dead in a western last year but career over all is astonishing but last year was ??
— DeAngelo Williams (@DeAngeloRB) March 7, 2016
Williams does have a point, as at one point in the 2015 season Manning had thrown 17 interceptions and just nine touchdowns, including four in a home loss to the Chiefs.
He did come back after a foot injury, and played well enough in part of the final regular season game against the Chargers and the playoffs to get a ring, but most of that credit has to go to the Broncos very good defense.
Williams also had a back and forth with NFL writer Pete Prisco about Manning, a rather interesting back and forth.
?u are kidding me right last year Peyton manning without the name would never have been in the NFL anywhere Pete?? https://t.co/C4PvxGztIh
— DeAngelo Williams (@DeAngeloRB) March 7, 2016
At the end of the day, Williams is dead on about Manning, but today isn’t a day that anyone wants to hear the truth about how poor Manning was in 2015, all people want to do is celebrate his legacy.
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DaveB.
March 8, 2016 at 7:37 am
Even though I wouldnt have publicly said it , in all honesty , hes right . Peyton hung on a year to long and it showed in his play . His arm was gone and it was obvious when you watched him play . Multiple neck surgeries and 18 years of hits finally took their toll . He and the Broncos won the Super Bowl because of their defense . That just goes to show the old saying really is true . Offense puts fans in the stands , but defense wins championships . At the end of the day , none of this matters . Peyton won the Super Bowl and in 5 years he’ll be standing on the steps in Canton Ohio at the Hall of Fame . His legacy is cemented as one of the greatest to ever play the game .
DrGeorge
March 8, 2016 at 10:03 am
Manning’s success illustrates Ben R’s deficiencies. It is a point I’ve made here for years: you don’t need a Tier 1 QB with a big arm to win the Super Bowl; you merely need an efficient QB and a strong Defense.
Manning’s performance in the Super Bowl was underwhelming, statistically. He had little velocity on the ball, and he did not throw deep. In fact, he threw for only 104 yards out of 194 total yards. He was sacked 5 times for minus 37 yards. Time of possession favored Carolina (32-47 versus 27:13).
Why did Denver win? The Defense is only part of the answer. They won because Manning was efficient: he completed 13 of 23 passes (Newton was 18 for 41), he moved the sticks when needed, and he forced only two throws into coverage (one was intercepted). Yes, the Denver defense was stout: Newton lost 68 yards on 7 sacks, and Carolina gave up 102 yards in penalties and lost 3 of their 4 fumbles. But Manning allowed the Denver defense to shine by not making stupid mistakes and not giving up field position.
Now compare Manning’s weak-armed performance with Ben R — who routinely throws into double and triple coverage, passes up the prudent short completion for a riskier deep pass to pads his stats, and eschews the running game. His “high roller” gambling style is aided and abetted by Tomlin, who favors “splash plays” over consistency. That’s why the Steelers, with better talent, play like a mediocre team and lose to teams they should beat easily.
Give Pete Carroll or Bill Belichek the Steelers roster, a consistent QB (not Ben R.), and a year to rebuild the defense by shifting money from the offense to the defense, and they would have the Steelers in the Super Bowl again. Conversely, Tomlin’s present “big offense, weak defense” approach is a prescription for mediocrity.