How bad are the Steelers?
The Steelers were the champions of the AFC in 2010. But as the 2011 season began, it quickly, and painfully, became apparent that something had changed.
Small chinks started appearing in the Steelers’ armor. First, they got manhandled by the Baltimore Ravens. They failed in just about every area in that game. Then their defense couldn’t put pressure on the Seattle Seahawks quarterback for 3 quarters. It wasn’t until the 4th quarter, when the game was already all but decided, that the Steelers were effective at pressuring the quarterback. Then against the Peyton Manning-less Indianapolis Colts, they weren’t able to secure a win until the final 8 seconds of the game. Moreover, they allowed what had been one of the worst run defenses in the NFL to completely shut down their running game.
All of these events leave Steeler Nation with one burning question; How bad are the 2011 Steelers?
On paper, the Steelers look pretty good. Their record is 2-1. That’s good enough to leave them tied for first place in the AFC North. In fact, they have the second best record in the entire AFC.
But looks can be deceiving. What looks like diamonds can quickly be found to be cubic zirconia. That may be the case with the Steelers.
Sure, the Steelers have essentially the same roster that went to the Super Bowl last year. But after 3 games, the Steelers appear to have aged in dog years over the off-season.
The Steelers’ primary weaknesses from last year, the offensive line and the cornerbacks, don’t seem to have improved.
The offensive line may actually be weaker than it was last year. The Steelers released Flozell Adams during the off-season. Flozell had been their 2nd most consistent offensive lineman (after Maurkice Pouncey) last year. But with Willie Colon appearing to be fully healthy, the team made the decision to release Adams. We all know how that turned out. Colon is injured, and will miss the entire season (again), and the Steelers are struggling to successfully fill the right tackle position.
But the left tackle position, arguably the most important position on the offensive line, may be in even worse shape. Jonathan Scott was named the starter at that position, and saying that he has “struggled” would be an understatement. He’s playing so badly that I won’t be surprised if he gets Ben Roethlisberger killed. Literally.
Ben takes another hit.
Cornerbacks Bryant McFadden and William Gay were clearly weak links on the team last year. So the Steelers drafted 2 rookie cornerbacks during the off-season. Unfortunately, the NFL lockout essentially robbed the two rookies of their freshman season. Moreover, Keenan Lewis wasn’t able to surpass McFadden or Gay on the depth chart, and Crezdon Butler didn’t make the final roster. So McFadden and Gay continue to be the #2 and #3 cornerbacks on the team (behind Ike Taylor), just like last year.
The defensive line also seems to have regressed. Aaron Smith returned from the injury that kept him off the field in 2010, but through 3 games, he doesn’t look like the same player. Casey Hampton has been all but invisible this season, and most fans accepted long ago that his days as a Pro Bowl caliber player were behind him. And Brett Keisel is out with an injury.
But the biggest decline may have come from the linebackers. James Harrison is still recovering from 2 off-season back surgeries, and hasn’t looked like himself. James Farrior looks noticeably slower, and the team has been giving Larry Foote more playing time in Farrior’s spot. Lawrence Timmons has been solid, but not outstanding, and LaMarr Woodley has apparently been kidnapped. At least that’s how it appears. I haven’t seen Woodley do anything meaningful on the field yet. Have you?
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is also off to a rough start. He’s already been sacked 9 times in only 3 games. He’s also thrown 3 interceptions. But perhaps the most concerning thing is how often he’s being forced to fumble the ball this season. Some of the blame for that goes to the offensive line, but it’s a concern nonetheless.
The running game also seems to have taken a step backwards. Rashard Mendenhall must have gotten jealous watching Hines Ward compete on “Dancing With the Stars”, because he seems to be auditioning for the show. He spends more time dancing from side to side, and spinning like a ballerina, than he does actually running for positive yardage. Note to Bruce Arians: More Isaac Redman.
On the positive side, Troy Polamalu has been playing great. He seemed determined to beat the Indianapolis Colts all by himself.
The wide receivers may be the best unit on the entire team. Mike Wallace is a legitimate star, and Antonio Brown has made huge improvements since last year. I can’t be the only one who has been thinking that it might be time for Brown to replace Hines Ward in the starting line-up, can I?
Despite these bright spots, the overall picture is not a good one. The team seems to have regressed since last year.
So just how bad are the Steelers? Through 3 games, the answer appears to be “pretty bad”. They’re not as bad as the Kansas City Chiefs or St. Louis Rams. But if they don’t improve drastically, there’s a very real chance that they may go 0-2 against the Baltimore Ravens this year. Moreover, they may do no better than going 1-1 against the Cleveland Browns.
Need I say more?
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EVERY ONE HAS DOWN TIMES AND THAT GOES FOR TEAMS AS WELL. NO ONE CAN PERFORM AT THE TOP 100% OF THE TIME. IN SOME WAYS, THAT IS A GOOD THING. IT IS A HARD ROAD TO GET TO THE TOP, BUT EVEN HARDER TO STAY THERE. IF THE STEELERS HAVE A BAD YEAR, THEY WILL COME BACK WITH A BETTER ONE IN 2012.
1Yeah, I’d say you’re a little pessimistic here. Three weeks into a season without a training camp is a little early to speak definitively. Of course, it doesn’t take much insight to make your predictions in week 12!
I think we can say that the Steelers are dangerously bad on O-line, but we could’ve sad that before the season started, when our already suspect line lost Adams and Starks with no real talent developing to replace them. The loss of Colon made matters more serious, as have subsequent injuries during the season. It all starts up front, and the Steelers’ great skill players will have little impact without time in the passing game and lanes in the running game. OL play is always worst at the beginning of the season and immediately after injuries, so it’s reasonable to expect improvement. Still, this group simply doesn’t have the talent to become more than a liability.
A more surprising development is how the defensive front has been pushed around. In the past, offensive struggles have been masked by defensive dominance, but struggles on both sides of the ball have a synergistic effect that makes victory almost impossible. These guys have been so good in the past, I simply don’t believe that they became terrible overnight. I expect at least some of the veterans here will return to form, or at least close to it. Plus, unlike the OL, we do have quality young guys waiting in the wings who can take over if necessary.
A weak schedule should get us into the playoffs, but will sabotage any chance of success there.
2Aaron Smith can be replaced by Z Hood or even Cam Heyward, the O-line may improve somewhat with time and was never the team’s strength. The secondary should be no worse than last year and better to the extent Troy stays healthy. Our receivers should be better and our running backs the same. The most troubling aspect for this season and beyond, given our recent contract awards, is the performance by Woodley and Timmons. I can’t remember Timmons making any splash plays this year, and he had made several by game 3 last year. Woodley has not brought much pressure from the right side and has only contributed 11 tackles despite being in for almost every play.
3I’m going to hope that this is just a slow, sloppy start; but they need to start getting in gear. They have played some pretty putrid football, and the two teams that they beat were cupcakes.
4The Steeler’s have a lot of work to do, especially on both line. Let’s be glad that the foresight was there and they have spent three number 1 picks and a number 2 on them in the last 3 years. I think Aaron Smith will retire at the end of the year, he just does not seem to have it anymore. I think Farrior may join him and that is why Foote is seeing so much action. I believe Hood and Heyward will slowly start getting more snaps than Keisel and Smith. The Steeler’s had better hope there is a good tackle in the draft to get ready to replace Big Snack. I predict wild card playoff and 1 and done.
5Mark,
6You may just be right on all counts. Although I definitely hope you’re wrong about the 1 and done part.