Bill Cowher
Bill Cowher
William Laird Cowheris a former professional American football coach and player in the National Football League. In Cowher's 15 seasons as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team won eight division titles and made 10 playoff appearances. Cowher led the Steelers to the Super Bowl twice, winning one. He is the second coach in NFL history to reach the playoffs in each of his first six seasons as head coach, a feat previously accomplished by Paul Brown. Cowher resigned...
ProfessionCoach
Date of Birth8 May 1957
CityCrafton, PA
asking game patient stand
You're asking them to stand up for the first time. They look around and, after about a year, they see the game differently. You have to be patient with them.
ask blessed coaches fortunate improve players question stable starts understand year
It starts at the top, there is no question about that. I've been very blessed and fortunate to be in a very stable organization. At the same time, you can take nothing for granted. You still have to go out there every year and improve yourself. You ask players to do it and I think as coaches you have to do it. I think we all understand that. I'm just very fortunate and blessed to be part of an organization that is very open, very stable and very understanding.
affects asked believe circumstance close deal good players quality step teams truly win
Good teams win close games. Good teams have quality depth, and when players are asked to step in, there's not a drop-off, ... It's not the circumstance that affects you. It's how you deal with it. I truly believe that.
ask backs ball certain chance curtail earned express front good gotten hit indeed offense opportunity patient people plays rather run runners running watch willie within
We don't ask people to run differently, ... Runners are runners. I never try to curtail a runner. Our offense has got enough plays that within the running play a ball carrier has a chance to express his ability. I think Willie has gotten more comfortable with the plays we've run. He's had a chance to watch some pretty good backs in front of him be patient on certain plays, hit it on certain plays. I think he's earned this opportunity if indeed Jerome can't go. I'm not concerned; I'm rather excited.
ask chance curtail express gotten offense people plays run runners running tried willie within
We don't ask people to run differently. I mean, runners are runners. I've never tried to curtail a runner. Our offense has got enough plays that, within the running play, a ballcarrier has a chance to express his abilities. I think Willie has gotten more comfortable with the plays we've run.
asked drop football good lose players quality rare season step teams
Good football teams have quality depth. When players are asked to step up, there's not a drop off. Ideally, you go through the whole season and don't lose anybody. But those are rare occasions.
against caliber cannot dwell football game learn move obviously ruin
In hindsight, obviously you wouldn't want to do that in a game like this. Against this caliber of a football team, you cannot ruin opportunities like that. He understands that. I just told him to let it go, learn from it, and let's move on. Don't dwell on it.
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In Denver, they had a chance to win. I think this team could very easily be 4-0, ... I think that says a lot about the fact that they've really picked up where they left off a year ago. I don't feel like we're playing like we did a year ago, but I think San Diego is.
consider fact guys reflective special teammates themselves
In my 14 years, I don't think we've ever had so many guys get votes. As I told the team, it was very reflective of what they thought of their teammates and the fact that they really do consider themselves a team. That is pretty special to get that many guys with two or more votes.
ability course deal good happen job plays respond teams trying weather within
In any big game, a lot of it comes down to an ability to weather storms, to be able to respond to situations. We did a good job down there but we didn't do a very good job up here. It comes down to making plays and trying to be opportunistic and deal with circumstances that happen within the course of a game. With these two teams it's going to come down to execution.
ball fourth fresh hand ideal negative nice quarter
In an ideal world, yes. I don't know how it's always going to unfold. It was nice to be able to have a fresh Jerome Bettis in the fourth quarter (Monday) night. That was a luxury. That's what you'd like to have in an ideal world. When we hand the ball to him, you know there was not going to be a negative play.
fact far knows likes pressure trying
In a lot of respects, we are going to be able to go as far as he is going to take us. I'm not trying to put any pressure on him. That's the fact and he likes that, he knows that.
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I know we just tried to limit Ben's access this week, so I think it was just the way it is. You'll have plenty of chances to talk to him throughout the course of the week.
certainly choice decision knew mike respected talking
I knew Mike, obviously, beforehand, and then after talking with him, it was kind of a no-brainer. I think it was a choice up to Mike and I certainly respected any decision that he made.