NFL Preview: 9. Pittsburgh Steelers
Uncategorized August 17th. 2006, 7:33pm
We’ve got the 12 NFL playoff teams for you, and we’ll be previewing them in order of how they’ll be bounced from the postseason. We’ll alternate between leagues until we unearth your Super Bowl Champion. Can’t wait for September 7? Neither can we.
Offseason: If you like to draft talented convicts, then you will have little problem with Pittsburgh’s first-rounder, Santonio Holmes. Grabbing Miami DT Orien Harris in the fourth round was nice though; later, another MAC QB in Omar Jacobs. Free agency was blah, as the Steelers lost two replaceable starters in S Chris Hope and WR Antwaan Randle-El.
Schedule: The non-conference portion is cruel, but the Steelers get all these toughies out of the way early – vs. Miami, at Jacksonville, at San Diego, vs. KC, at Atlanta, vs. Denver. The second half is mostly league play, except for a trip to Carolina in December, which we assume many will erroneously label as a Super Bowl Preview.
Projected record: We except Cincy to drop a tad, and Cleveland and Baltimore to be slightly tougher to beat, but Pittsburgh remains the class of the AFC North. A 10-6 mark will win the division.
What they’re lacking: Not much. A goal line bruiser? Depending on the rap sheet of Holmes, a potent No. 2 receiver? Certainly a backup quarterback, because Charlie Batch is not going to cut it.
Why they’re in the Playoffs Cowher is one of the best coaches in the AFC; Roethlisberger, assuming he’s kept off motorcycles, is a proven winner; Hines Ward is the consummate receiver, and the defense is always there. Oh, and Troy Polamalu is nasty.
Why they’ll lose in the first round: Has Pittsburgh improved? No. Has Miami? Yes. Has Kansas City? Yes. The guess here is that the Steelers are plagued by uncertainty all season about the status of coach Bill Cowher, and Pittsburgh doesn’t escape the first round of the playoffs. Who will emerge as the team’s veteran leader in place of Bettis? And can Willie Parker duplicate his 1,200 yard season?
Recommended Blog: Steeler Gridiron
Recommended Blog: One for the Thumb
Video: We attempt to refrain from allegiances, even though one of our best friends is a die-hard Steeler fan – but Big Ben totally didn’t get into the end zone. We could have used another angle, though.
One Response to “NFL Preview: 9. Pittsburgh Steelers”
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August 17th, 2006 at 9:39 PM
I’d also add http://www.stillers.com to your recommended blog list. By far the best Steelers blog out there.
If the Steelers can make TE Heath Miller a bigger part of the offense, then your 10-6 prediction goes up to at least 12-4. Miller is an absolute stud and conservative play calling is the only thing holding him back from being a star in this league.