STEELING PLAYERS IN THE DRAFT

By Jared Trexler

Kevin Colbert finally smiled. Bill Cowher raised his arms and looked to the heavens. With Pittsburgh's Immaculate Road Trip through a gauntlet of AFC juggernauts and an equally talented Seattle squad complete, the stiff-jawed, spirited and spitting coach finally touched the trophy that had eluded him so many times in the past.

Colbert and Cowher are the ultimate professionals. They have a system that works -- aggressive, blitzing defense and an offense built around a punishing offensive line and an equally physical running game. Add to that a locker room molded by mutual respect, and Pittsburgh has the NFL's most stable franchise.

The Steelers have quietly and successfully gone about their business for years, playing in six AFC Championship games under Cowher's direction. Pittsburgh never makes a free-agent splash. While your Philadelphia Eagles bring in the Jevon Kearse's and Terrell Owens' of the world, the Steelers usher in Cedric Wilson. James Farrior. Quincy Morgan. Mike Logan.

The result: World Champions.

The method to the pigskin madness is simple -- draft to the system, shy away from egos and agendas and add spare parts during free agency. Pittsburgh knows something that every team south of Foxboro has yet to figure out in the new NFL.

The big splash doesn't occur with a seven-year, $75 million contract handed out to football's next egomaniac. The tidal wave mounts on Draft Day, eventually crashing to the shore after a season's success.

Looking at Pittsburgh's Super Bowl starters, the evidence to support my claim is clear.

QB: Ben Roethlisberger (First Round Selection, 2004)
FB: Dan Kreider (Undrafted Rookie, 2000)
RB: Jerome Bettis (Draft Day Trade with Rams, 1996)
WR: Hines Ward (Third Round Selection, 1998)
WR: Antwaan Randle El (Second Round Selection, 2002)
TE: Heath Miller (First Round Selection, 2005)
OT: Marvel Smith (Second Round Selection, 2000)
OT: Max Starks (Third Round Selection, 2004)
OG: Alan Faneca (First Round Selection, 1998)
OG: Kendall Simmons (First Round Selection, 2002)
C: Jeff Hartings (Free Agent from Detroit, 2001)
DE: Aaron Smith (Fourth Round Selection, 1999)
DT: Casey Hampton (First Round Selection, 2001)
DE: Kimo von Oelhoffen (Free Agent from Cincinnati, 2000)
LB: Clark Haggans (Fifth Round Selection, 2000)
LB: Larry Foote (Fourth Round Selection, 2002)
LB: James Farrior (Free Agent from Jets, 2002)
LB: Joey Porter (Third Round Selection, 1999)
CB: Ike Taylor (Fourth Round Selection, 2003)
CB: Bryant McFadden (Second Round Selection, 2005)
SS: Troy Polamalu (First Round Selection, 2003)
FS: Chris Hope (Third Round Selection, 2002)

Breakdown of the Super Bowl Champions: (starters)

First Round Selections: 6
Second Round Selections: 3
Third Round Selections: 4
Fourth Round Selections: 3
Fifth Round Selections: 1
Undrafted Rookie/FA: 1
Draft Day Trade: 1
Free Agents: 3

Only five of Pittsburgh's 22 starters in Super Bowl XL were not drafted by the club. Pittsburgh has also found late-draft steals -- eight starters were selected between the third and fifth rounds. Bettis was acquired via a trade(looking back at the trade, Pittsburgh basically stole the bruising back) on draft day. Willie Parker, who galloped for 1,202 yards last season, was an undrafted free agent.

Cowher loves to draft collegiate rush ends -- Porter and Haggans are prime examples -- and convert them into Blitzburgh outside linebackers in the 3-4 defensive scheme. He loves to draft offensive lineman -- first-round picks spent on Faneca and Simmons are an indication of that. More than anything, Cowher and Colbert draft to the system. Polamalu is an undersized safety who plays recklessly and is one of the quicker last lines of defense in the league-- a perfect fit for defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau's confusion-causing defense.

One of the few times Cowher deviated from the smash-mouth plan was the selection of Roethlisberger, and even that worked out. If Pittsburgh would have had the first pick in the draft, its choice would have been the same. Roethlisberger was the top quarterback on the Steelers' draft board. Eli Manning and Philip Rivers were the two signal-callers taken ahead of Big Ben.

Manning struggled in his first season and hasn't won a single playoff game during his brief two-year career. Rivers has barely seen the field, finally getting the San Diego starting job for the upcoming season.

Big Ben won his first 15 starts. He set almost every rookie quarterback record. And to back it up, his arm led Pittsburgh to victories over Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Denver in this year's playoffs. He also has this fairly coveted ring.

Always a step ahead, Cowher realized an important security blanket for a young quarterback is a pass-catching tight end. So when teams passed on Virginia's Miller, Cowher eagerly grabbed him. Miller recorded 39 catches for 459 yardsand six touchdowns during his rookie campaign.

How does this relate to Philadelphia sports? Because the Eagles will never get over the hump until they become what the Steelers have been for over three decades.

A team that embraces its identity and drafts players that fit its mold. Pittsburgh will always be a franchise built around a fast, blitzing defense (Porter, Haggans, Polamalu) that needs a run-clogging defensive tackle(Hampton) with an offense geared toward a run-oriented attack (Parker, Staley) with a fantastic offensive line (Faneca, Smith, Hartings) and a quarterback that understands his role (Roethlisberger).

Eagles head coach Andy Reid loves to pass the football. Fine (though I believe a team can't win in the NFL without a running game). Then why do the Eagles draft interior lineman on such a consistent basis? Teams that grab linemen with first-round selections are teams that want to run the football. Reid would rather chuck the pigskin around the field 50 times a game.

As you watch the draft this weekend, remember that the quality personnel departments in this league (New England, Denver, Pittsburgh to name a few) draft to a mentality, a team persona.

When war rooms like Philadelphia's banter about a player's name value, Pittsburgh and New England will be wondering how that player would fit in the team's current system.

And on Draft Day it will again be evidently clear. I'll listen to my trusted colleague -- shut up, turn around and look at my Lombardi Trophy. I don't need to say a word.

The Draft will speak for me.