NFL 2010 Camp Preview: Pittsburgh Steelers
On the heels of a disappointing regular season at his been a rough off season for Steelers fans.
Steelers’ fans have seen their franchise quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger earn a six week suspension to start the season as a result of a night club incident in Georgia following the season. Willie Parker was let go and Santonio Holmes was dealt to the Jets prior to earning a four game ban for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
On top of all that starting right tackle Willie Colon was lost for the year after tearing an Achilles tendon during one of the team’s mini-camps this spring. Aside from losing Roethlisberger this really hurts. The Steelers offensive line was shaky to begin with and Colon is arguably their best and most consistent performer. With a lack of quality depth he is going to extremely tough to replace.
The good news is head coach Mike Tomlin received a three year contract extension last week.
The Steelers have a lot to figure out this summer. Who will open the season as the starting quarterback? Who is going to replace Colon at right tackle? Will they miss Santonio Holmes and Willie Parker?
The Steelers will likely look to Rashard Mendenhall to shoulder the work load on offense until Roethlisberger returns from suspension. Mendenhall had a breakout season in 2009 rolling up 1,108 yards making Parker expendable.
The defense is keyed by the dynamic duo of James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley who combined for 23.5 sacks last season.
Tomlin is also banking on the return of Troy Polamalu bringing the defense back to where it was when they won the Super Bowl two years ago.
Key Veteran Additions – Byron Leftwich (QB), Bryant McFadden (CB), Antwaan Randle El (WR), Jonathan Scott (OT)
Leftwich was brought back for a second run in Pittsburgh after Roethlisberger was suspended by the league. With Dennis Dixon not quite ready for prime time as a starting QB just yet Leftwich is expected to keep the seat warm until Roethlisberger returns from suspension.
After a sub par year from the secondary the Steelers are bringing Bryant McFadden back into the fold at corner back.
Antwaan Randle El could replace Santonio Holmes but he seems more likely destined to be the team’s slot receiver with Mike Wallace assuming Holmes spot in the starting lineup. Randle El never quite lived up to expectations coming out of college but he is still a solid possession receiver who can give a team 50 catches a year.
With Colon going down for the year Jonathan Scott could slide into the right tackle job unless the Steelers go out and acquire a veteran to plug in on the right side.
Key Rookie Additions – Maurkice Pouncey (OL), Emmanuel Sanders (WR)
Pouncey was regarded by many as the best center prospect in the draft this spring and the expectation is the Steelers will plug him in at guard until Justin Hartwig is out of the picture and then move him over to center.
With Mike Wallace presumably moving into the starting lineup the speedy Sanders should compete with Randle El, Arnaz Battle, and Limas Sweed for the #3 receiver spot. Many see Sanders as a prototypical slot receiver in the NFL.
Key Position Battles
Charlie Batch, Dennis Dixon, and Byron Leftwich will duke it out for the starting QB job with Roethlisberger potentially out for the first six games of the season. Dixon showed some flashes of what he could do last season but he was still clearly not ready to be a starter. Batch lost the #2 job to Dixon last summer and at 35 is getting a bit long in the tooth. Leftwich is considered to have the inside track at being the starter when the season opens as the team heads into camp.
Players to Watch
The secondary went to pieces when Troy Polamalu was not in the lineup last season. The return of Polamlau should provide a significant boon to the defense this season.
Mike Wallace showed a penchant for making big plays as a rookie last season catching 39 balls for 6 touchdowns and a 19.4 yard per catch average. Wallace is expected to slide into Holmes’ spot opposite the seemingly ageless Hines Ward.
Will the Steelers refusal to give LaMarr Woodley the new contract he was seeking affect his level of play this year? He is a major key to the Steelers defense registering 25 sacks over the last two seasons.
Can the offensive line step up and do a better job of protecting the quarterback this season? The Steelers cannot continue to allow upwards of 50 sacks per season and expect their quarterbacks to survive year-after-year.
Will the secondary step up and play better this season? Pittsburgh’s corners were picked on quite a bit without Polamalu back there to cover up their mistakes.
