PITTSBURGH STEELERS
2009 RECORD: 9-7-0
(3rd in AFC North)
HEAD COACH: Mike Tomlin
Key Additions: LB Larry Foote (FA/Detroit), WR Antwaan Randle-El (FA/Washington), WR Arnaz Battle (FA/San Francisco), CB Bryant McFadden (trade/Arizona)
Key Losses: RB Willie Parker (FA/Washington), WR Santonio Holmes (trade/NY Jets), CB Deshea Townsend (FA), WR Joey Galloway (FA/Washington), S Tyrone Carter (FA)
Offense: The biggest question for the Steelers' offense is when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completes his suspension for league disciplinary reasons, what will the team record be?
Dennis Dixon and Byron Leftwich are the quarterbacks who will be there for the team while 'Big Ben' is gone.
Roethlisberger put up really good numbers in '09, passing for 4,328 yards and 26 TD while throwing just 12 interceptions.
The wide receivers will be different this year as Santonio Holmes, the hero of Super Bowl 43 victory, is gone to the New York Jets. However, dependable Hines Ward is back for another season after leading the Steelers with 95 grabs for 1,167 yards and six TD catches a year ago.
Mike Wallace (39 catches, 756 yards, 19.4 ypc average and six TD) is the other starting wideout. Antwaan Randle-El is back for Pittsburgh after leaving the Redskins via free agency. The Tight End is Heath Miller, who made a career high 76 catches in '09, good for a 10.4 ypc average and also caught six touchdown passes.
The running backs are Rashard Mendenhall (1,108 yards rushing, 4.6 ypc average and seven TD) and Mewelde Moore, who is a reliable backup.
Defense: Troy Polamalu.
It seems the Steelers are a DIFFERENT defense when he is off the field. With Polamalu, the Steelers defense is top notch, having run the table a couple of years ago on the defense. Without him, they struggle against the pass.
Pittsburgh allowed 215 yards per game through the air a year ago while ranking 16th in that category, a far cry from the number-one pass defense they had two years ago. The run defense is solid, ranking third in 2009 by allowing just 90 yards rushing per game.
The Steelers finished fifth overall on defense, and can get after the opposing quarterback as well. They registered 46 sacks a year ago, which was second in the NFL.
Polamalu anchors the secondary at strong safety and the free safety is Ryan Clark, with Will Allen filling in there as well. Ike Taylor and Bryant McFadden are the cornerbacks.
Up front in the Steelers 3-4 defense is nose tackle Casey Hampton, and the ends are Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel.
The linebacking corps for Pittsburgh is perhaps the NFL's best.
Lawrence Timmons (seven QB sacks) and James Farrior are the inside linebackers and outside are James Harrison (10 QB sacks) and LaMarr Woodley, who led the Steelers with 13.5 quarterback sacks last season.
It seems the Steelers are a DIFFERENT defense when he is off the field. With Polamalu, the Steelers defense is top notch, having run the table a couple of years ago on the defense. Without him, they struggle against the pass.
Pittsburgh allowed 215 yards per game through the air a year ago while ranking 16th in that category, a far cry from the number-one pass defense they had two years ago. The run defense is solid, ranking third in 2009 by allowing just 90 yards rushing per game.
The Steelers finished fifth overall on defense, and can get after the opposing quarterback as well. They registered 46 sacks a year ago, which was second in the NFL.
Polamalu anchors the secondary at strong safety and the free safety is Ryan Clark, with Will Allen filling in there as well. Ike Taylor and Bryant McFadden are the cornerbacks.
Up front in the Steelers 3-4 defense is nose tackle Casey Hampton, and the ends are Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel.
The linebacking corps for Pittsburgh is perhaps the NFL's best.
Lawrence Timmons (seven QB sacks) and James Farrior are the inside linebackers and outside are James Harrison (10 QB sacks) and LaMarr Woodley, who led the Steelers with 13.5 quarterback sacks last season.
OUTLOOK: The Steelers have it stacked against them early on with Roethlisberger being suspended, but they have a solid defense that will keep them in games. A somewhat easy schedule through the first six games will also help in the absence of 'Big Ben.'
Pittsburgh seemed to be in transition a year ago on the offense as they passed the ball more often than in years past. The reliance on the run seemed to be a second thought as they battled teams through the air.
With a healthy Troy Polamalu playing in 2009, the Steelers went 5-0. Without him, they were 4-7 and costly losses against AFC punching bags Cleveland, Kansas City and Oakland came back to haunt the team as they missed the playoffs for the second time in five seasons after winning the Super Bowl.
As long as the defense stays solid (and it should) the Steelers are contenders. They play in the always tough AFC North division against Cincinnati and Baltimore and that will bolster the Steelers.
The call is for Pittsburgh to go 10-6 and earn a wild card spot for the post-season. How far they go from there depends on 'Big Ben' and the defense, especially Polamalu.
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- vs. Atlanta
Week 2- at Tennessee
Week 3- at Tampa Bay
Week 4- vs. Baltimore
Week 5- Bye Week
Week 6- vs. Cleveland
Week 7- at Miami
Week 8- at New Orleans
Week 9- at Cincinnati
Week 10- vs. New England
Week 11- vs. Oakland
Week 12- at Buffalo
Week 13- at Baltimore
Week 14- vs. Cincinnati
Week 15- vs. NY Jets
Week 16- vs. Carolina
Week 17- at Cleveland
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