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Before we unveil No. 7 on our list, we need to reiterate what this list is and what it isn’t.
It’s not a prediction of where teams will finish the year. It’s a snapshot of where they are as the season begins.
And so while we have serious concerns about the ability of the Pittsburgh Steelers to make it back to the playoffs in 2008, we’re giving them a fairly high perch from which they can plummet.
We’ve made our case for potential gloom and/or doom at SportingNews.com.
Still, there are good things about this team.
Ben Roethlisberger is a franchise quarterback. The tandem of Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall can move the chains, even if the blocking isn’t all that great. The receivers are strong — as Hines Ward begins to slide toward the end of his career, Limas Sweed can rise up and ultimately provide a strong one-two punch across from Santonio Holmes.
The linebackers are among the best in the league, with James Harrison and James Farrior and budding star LaMarr Woodley.
Though the corners are generally average, Troy Polamalu is probably the top safety in the sport.
So the Steelers are still the Steelers. Even if this specific season ends up being decidedly un-Steeler-like.
September 6th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Good team, but that schedule will do them in this year. Too bad we can’t see what the Pats could do with that schedule.
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September 6th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
A safety who hasn’t had a sack or interception in a season in a half is the best in the NFL? Must be a sad state of affairs for NFL safeties.
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September 6th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Every one has the Steelers high, but I think that there is going to be a big surprise when it comes to the Steelers. The NFL more than any other level shows that games are won and lost in the trenches, and the offensive line is just not good enough. First, they lost the only bright spot on the line in Faneca, second they were pretty terrible last year even with him. Ben R. just isn’t the kinda QB that can succeed if he is constantly running for his life, infact with his injury problems of the past I would not be surprised if he gets hurt early this year, and then Leftwich is a question mark, and Dixon is an even bigger one.
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September 6th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Junebug, Last year the Patriots played all teams in the NFC East and the AFC North (which includes the big, bad Steelers…. LOL). Also, they played the Colts in Indy, and San Diego. What more do you want? Steeler fans have to realize that their team is just not that good.
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September 6th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
The Steelers had the number one ranked D in the league last year. They have a top 3 three QB who despite being sacked 47 times, threw for 32 TD’s. Parker lead the league in rushing for 14 team weeks.
Clearly, those are the markings of a team that is ‘just not that good.’
Evidenty, there are still people who have difficulty with abstract thinking and many others who pontificate with no evidence to support their illogical claims, so I’ll re-set this for those that can’t understand what kind of QB Big Ben is.
Two stats decide more games than anything else–sacks recorded/sacks given up and yards-per-pass attempt. When you win these two areas you win 90-95 percent of the time.
The Steelers yielded an unbelievably high number of sacks given up–47. They recorded 36. Despite being sacked at an alarming rate Big Ben lead the team to 10 wins. He threw for 32 TD’s and was once again in the top three or four QB’s in the league as it relates to yards-per-pass-attempt.
This cat can and has, lead a team single-handedly. The aforementioned numbers illustrate that perfectly. If you have a big-time QB and solid D, you’ll always be in the mix.
Please, if you’re going to present an argument,at least back it up with some tangible evidence. I’m really tired of having to give ignorant posters history lessons. Follow the league or let the informed fans post commentary.
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September 8th, 2008 at 2:55 am
Now that all the events of Sunday happened all the Steelers critics are looking pretty dumb. Now, all the experts are writing about the Steelers being tops the AFC. And that schedule doesn’t look so hard anymore. You guys probably should have bit your tongues. lol
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