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As we dawn upon a new season....GM Sack has a lot to prove...as his performance has been subpar for the last few years.
As the Steelers were in the driver's seat for a wild card birth last season...they let it slip away in the final weeks. The Pittsburgh fans are hungry to get back to the playoffs and have a roster full of experienced vets and inspired youth.
The AFC North saw the evil YoYo depart to New England but in return gained 2 STAR owners in Sully and Echo.
Sully takes over the Ravens and will be able to utilize the weapons that they have and most likely will be the favorite to win the division.
Echo takes on the Clevaland Browns and looks forward to the challenge of rebuilding this franchise but also plans to be a threat THIS season.
The Steelers have their work cut out for them as they open up the season on the road vs. the Ravens. They also have games against the Pats, Colts, and Texans that will prove to be tough non-divisional games.
The roster going into the season is set but GM Sack will be working the phones to try an upgrade at the CB position.
The Offense:
QB: Big Ben is Big Ben...he's going to bring it every Sunday. He is married now so we don't plan on seeing any bathroom incidents this season. He is one of the more underrated QB's in the league but all he does is win.
RB: Rasharrd Mendenhall will be the workhorse. Sack would love to get Issac Redman more involved (especially in goal line situations).
WR: This is the position to watch. Mike Wallace is a game breaker. As defenses key in on him...this should open up oppurtunities for guys like Hines Ward, Emmanuel Sanders, and, Jericho Cotchery to work the underneath routes. Also keep an eye on Antonio Brown as he is another young speedster who could pose problems for defenses.
TE: Heath Miller is the guy and does a good job in the run and pass games. This could be a position to look for the Steelers to address in the next draft.
O-Line: Maurkice Pouncey was a stud as a rookie so he is the anchor of the line already. The resigning of Willie Colon was important because the rest of the line is very inexperienced and could be a problem all season for the Steelers. Look for the Steelers to make a splash in the FA market for another Olineman.
The Defense:
DT: Lets face it...the Steelers are old on the DLine...especially DT. But Casey Hampton is still one of the best Nose Tackles in the league and will plug up holes on 1st and 2nd downs. Chris Hoke is a servicable backup. This is also an area of need in the offseason.
DE: The Steelers added Cam Heyward and have Ziggy Hood waiting in the wings as the DE position is held down by Brett Keisel and Aarron Smith right now. Their playing days are coming to an end and Hood and Heyward look ready to fill in.
LB: Farrior, Timmons, Harrison, Woodley is a great 4some. Larry Foote provides depth and the Steelers have hope that Jason Worilds, Chris Carter, and Stevenson Sylvester will pan out, as they all have good speed. Some rumors going around that Woodley is being shopped.
Safety: Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark have a strong hold on the 2 safety positions and don't have much depth behind them so these 2 need to stay healthy.
CB: Ike Taylor being re-signed in the offseason was huge. Sack does not believe that B. McFadden is a #2 and is actively seeking a trade. The young corners are raw but the team has hopes that rookie Curtis Brown (Texas) could develop.
We will see how this current roster looks when the Steelers open up the season...but they have the pieces in place to be a contender.
