"Big Ben" is the face of the Steelers franchise
By Michael Gill
The Pittsburgh Steelers enter the 2008 campaign with a little less buzz then in other years. “The crowds in Latrobe (Steelers training site) are definitely down this year,” said ESPN Radio 1250 Steelers beat reporter Jim Colony. While there is still plenty of fanfare, people in the Steel City aren’t predicting Super Bowl just yet. “Steeler fans are reasonably optimistic,” said Colony. “I don’t think people are thinking the Super Bowl is a real possibility coming out of a real tough AFC.”
While the AFC is a tough conference, the AFC North may be an area the Steelers can dominate. “They have a real tough schedule,” said Colony. “There going to have to go like 6-0 or 5-1 in the North to make the playoffs. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone won the North at 8-8.”
Like most teams, health is a key and running back Willie Parker missed time late last season when he broke his leg. Parker was the leading rusher in the league at the time, but that didn’t stop the Steelers from drafting Illinois running back Rashard Mendenhall in the first round. “Mendenhall needs to adjust to the NFL game,” said Colony. “He has looked a little tentative, but has definitely shown flashes.”
Ben Roethlisberger is the make-or-break figure in the Steeler offense. In the Steelers Super Bowl season, he was brilliant, two years ago he struggled and last season he put up better numbers then any other Steeler quarterback with 32 touchdowns and just 11 interceptions. Roethlisberger also has plenty of options in the passing game. The sure-handed Hines Ward and the emerging Santonio Holmes are now joined by second-round selection Limas Sweed who Colony says has “first-round talent.” Heath Miller is a solid pass-catching option in the passing game as well.
The one issue on the offensive side of the ball is the line. Gone is Alan Faneca, he departed during the off season and became the highest paid linemen in football. Replacing Faneca will be no easy task says Conoly. “Roethlisberger got sacked a lot and took a ton of hits.”
The Steelers have always been known as a defensive-minded team, but according to Colony that’s not the case anymore. “The defense is not the strong suit anymore, they were very deceptive last season and late in the season, they were easy to run on and just couldn’t put teams away.”
Troy Polamalu is still roaming around in the secondary, Aaron Smith will be counted on to get pressure up front and LaMarr Woodley will be teamed with James Harrison to form a solid line-backing duo. “They have to get better, but these guys are getting older on defense,” said Conoly. “And they just can’t afford any injuries.”
Right now the crowds might not be too big in Latrobe, but if the Steelers make a deep run in the playoffs you can be sure that the loyal Steelers fans will be right there with them. The guess here is at least a wild card berth and a quick first round exit.
Next up : Carolina Panthers
This is a series called “2-A-Days” that will preview two teams per day every day this month, where Mike Gill will interview a beat writer or radio personality who covers the team on “The Mike Gill Show” on ESPN Radio 1450 , weekdays from 3-6pm
I really think they’re in for a long season. The loss of Faneca will hit them hard. The running game will struggle. I liked their draft a lot, but Sweed and Mendenhall probably won’t contribute much initially.