2010 RECORD: 12-4-0
(1st in AFC North)
HEAD COACH: Mike Tomlin
Offense: Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is back again to lead the offense after throwing for 3,200 yards and 17 touchdowns with just five interceptions in only 12 games last season.
Big Ben put the off the field controversies regarding his legal matters behind him a year ago and nearly led the Steelers to a second Super Bowl title in three years.
Backing up is Byron Leftwich, Dennis Dixon and the ageless Charlie Batch.
Rashard Mendenhall leads the way for the running backs after posting another good season in 2010, running for 1,273 yards (3.9 ypc average) and scoring 13 touchowns.
Isaac Redman (247 yards rushing) and Mewelde Moore are also in the fold in the backfield. David Johnson is the fullback.
The wide receivers are led by the duo of Hines Ward (59 catches for 755 yards and five TD) and Mike Wallace, who hauled in 60 catches for 1,257 yards (21.0 average) and ten touchdowns. Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown are also available in 2011.
The tight end is Heath Miller, a favorite target for Roethlisberger, who had 42 receptions for 512 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The men up font include center Maurice Pouncey, guards Jonathan Scott and either John Malecki or Nevin McCaskill. The tackles are Ramon Foster and Willie Colon with Marcus Gilbert also ready in the trenches.
After finishing 14th overall on offense (averaging 345 yards per game), Pittsburgh would like to increase those numbers, especially on the ground. The Steelers averaged 120 yards per game in 2010 and would like to see that improve as it has been their signature over the years.
Defense: The 'Steel Curtain' defense led the NFL in scoring defense last year, allowing just 232 points during the regular season. In fact, Pittsburgh finished number two in total defense, allowing 277 yards per game, with just 63 yards rushing per game allowed.
Leading the way in the Steelers' 3-4 scheme is nose tackle Casey Hampton and ends Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel. Ziggy Hood will get a chance as well along with top draft pick Cameron Heyward (Ohio State) on the defensive line.
The linebackers are among the best in pro football with James Harrison (10.5 QB sacks) and LaMarr Woodley (10 sacks) on the outside. James Farrior (six sacks) and Lawrence Timmons are the inside linebackers.
The secondary, which was suspect at times last season, has Ike Taylor and Bryant McFadden at cornerback and the perennial All-Pro Troy Polamalu (seven interceptions) at strong safety. The free safety is Ryan Clark.
Will Allen, William Gay, Ryan Mundy and Crezdon Butler, along with rookies Curtis Brown and Cortez Allen, provide depth in the secondary.
Pittsburgh led the league with 48 quarterback sacks and dwarfed the competition in run defense. But they also allowed 214 passing yards per game and got torched deep more than Head Coach Mike Tomlin would like to see.
OUTLOOK: The Steelers are a veteran team that knows how to win and rarely loses focus.
With the controversy surrounding Roethlisberger last year, it could have been a major distraction as he sat out the first four games of 2010 serving a suspension.
Roethlisberger should be solid again and Mendenhall leads the ground attack. Wallace is the big play receiver for Pittsburgh that keeps opposing defenses honest and Hines Ward, even at age 35, still is a go to receiver for the team.
The defense is starting to age, but they are experienced and held their own in the huge come from behind playoff win over Baltimore last year.
The key cog in the defense seems to Polamalu, evidenced in 2009 when he played just two games and the Steelers struggled big time and missed the post-season.
With perhaps the best linebacking unit in the game, the Steelers relentlessly pursue the quarterback and stuff the run on a consistent basis.
Add it all up and it looks to be a 12-4 first place finish for the 2011 season for the Steelers. Expect them to make a deep playoff run, barring any major injuries of course, and possibly reach (and maybe even win) the Super Bowl again.
TEAM SCHEDULE:
Week 1- at Baltimore
Week 2- vs. Seattle
Week 3- at Indianapolis
Week 4- at Houston
Week 5- vs. Tennessee
Week 6- vs. Jacksonville
Week 7- at Arizona
Week 8- vs. New England
Week 9- vs. Baltimore
Week 10- at Cincinnati
Week 11- BYE WEEK
Week 12- at Kansas City
Week 13- vs. Cincinnati
Week 14- vs. Cleveland
Week 15- at San Francisco
Week 16- vs. St. Louis
Week 17- at Cleveland
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