That could be true, maybe a little of both. The NFL today is built around the passing game, the rules are skewed toward the offense in a big way. When he coached it was defense and the running game. There wasn't the roughing the QB calls like today, DB's could be very physical with the WR's.
Here are the QB's that went in round 1 or 2 while Cowher was here:
92-Klingler and Maddox went in round 1, no QB's went in round 2. We picked 11th
93-Bledsoe and Mirer went #1 and #2, no QB's went in round 2. We picked 23rd
94-Shuler went #3, Dilfer went #6, the next QB wasn't drafted until the 4th rd. We picked 17th
95-McNair went #3, Kerry Collins went 5th. Todd Collins and Kordell went in round 2. We picked 27th.
96-No QB's went in round 1, Tony Banks was the only QB drafted in round 2.
97-Drunkenmiller went 26th in round 1, Jake Plummer went in the 2nd. We picked 24th
98-Manning and Leaf went #1 and #2, Batch went in round 2. We picked 26th
99-Couch, McNabb, Akili Smith, Culpepper, McNown all went top 12 in round 1. Shaun King only QB in round 2 we picked 13th.
00-Pennington went 18th, no QB's were taken in the 2nd. We picked 8th
01-Vick went #1, Brees, Quincy Carter, Tuiasosoppo all in round 2. We picked 19th
02-Carr, Harrington, Ramsey went in the 1st. No QB's went in round 2. We picked 30th.
03-Palmer, Leftwich, Boller, Grossman went in round 1, no QB's in round 2. We picked 16th
We didn't really have a chance at any good QB's.