A Look Back – Losing SS Troy Polamalu for a good chunk of the 2009 season really destroyed the Pittsburgh Steelers defense. However, the offense had very little excuse not to perform at the highest level. A five game losing streak, including defeats to both Cleveland, Kansas City, and Oakland ended any chances of making the playoffs. The black and gold have plenty of work to do to improve this year.
Key Addition – OL Maurkice Pouncey – It was fairly clear that the Steelers badly needed some offensive line help, especially after OT Willie Colon was lost for the season before training camp. Pouncey was the most versatile option on the board when Pittsburgh’s name came on the board, and he was the clear selection to make. He should fit well right in the middle of the OL either at guard or center.
Key Loss – WR Santonio Holmes – Holmes quickly became the top target for QB Ben Roethlisberger to throw to last year when he accounted for 79 catches, 1,248 yards, and five TDs. However, all of that went up in smoke for the former Ohio State Buckeye in the offseason when he ran into some off the field problems. The Steelers were determined to get rid of their team cancer and essentially sent him to the New York Jets for a song and a dance. Holmes probably wasn’t getting another contract after this season anyway, but at least for 2010, the QBs for the Steelers are going to have their work cut out for them.
2010 Will Be a Success if… – The Steelers hold it together while Roethlisberger serves his suspension. Big Ben would be lucky to only serve a four game suspension, but six is possible. There is a big question about who will replace him, but regardless of who does, they must hold this team together. Facing Atlanta and Baltimore before the bye week won’t be easy, and a 1-3 record is a real possibility right out of the chute.
The Crucial Game – The home date with the Ravens on October 3rd is a game that cannot be lost if the Steelers hope to win this division. By that point, whomever is playing quarterback will have had three games under his belt, and though Baltimore probably has a superior team, winning at Heinz Field is a task that not many teams are capable of pulling off.
Predictions – The Pittsburgh Steelers could sneak into the back end of the playoffs because its schedule is very manageable, especially after the bye week. Still, Roethlisberger needs to come back with guns blazing in the second half of the season, and the defense is going to have to perform a lot better than it did last season when it ranked 13th in the NFL in scoring allowing 20.2 PPG. The Steelers Super Bowl odds are +2200 which is indicative of a team with an outside shot of winning it all.
2010 Pittsburgh Steelers Regular Season Schedule
9/12 vs. ATL
9/19 @ TEN
9/26 @ TB
10/3 vs. BAL
Bye
10/17 vs. CLE
10/24 @ MIA
10/31 @ NO
11/8 @ CIN
11/14 vs. NE
11/21 vs. OAK
11/28 @ BUF
12/5 @ BAL
12/12 vs. CIN
12/19 vs. NYJ
12/23 vs. CAR
1/2 @ CLE
Ben Roethlisberger Cleared to Work Out
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has cleared Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to start working out which is the first step to getting his six game suspension reduced to four.
Obviously this is excellent news for the Steelers whose stable of stop-gap quarterbacks might be able to get some wins with games against Atlanta, Tennessee, Tampa Bay and Baltimore, but aren’t going to make Big Ben expendable.
A loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4 would be bitter, but not insurmountable and it would be the only divisional game that he would miss and he would make it back just in time to put the beat-down on the Cleveland Browns.
The Pittsburgh Steelers starting the season without Roethlisberger and without an elite receiver are longshots in Super Bowl odds at +2200.