Opinions are everywhere about where the Steelers will finish in 2008, and Mike Florio of Yahoo Sports seems to think one thing about the 08 Black and Gold – They won’t make the playoffs. Florio writes in Yahoo Sports that Pittsburgh is the #1 team that will not make the playoffs. Below is what Florio wrote about the Steelers:
1. Pittsburgh Steelers The Steelers of the free-agency era have developed a trend of exceeding low expectations and failing to meet high ones. In 2006, the Super Bowl champs didn’t make it back to play in January. A year ago, with no one expecting much from a team breaking in only its third head coach in nearly 40 years, the Steelers won the division.
This year, expectations are high again—especially with the Bengals imploding, the Ravens rebuilding, and the Browns generally regarded as overrated. In other words, the stage is set for the Steelers to fail.
If they do, it will happen because of an offensive line that got much worse after the departure of left guard Alan Faneca. Although the team used its first two draft picks on high-profile skill-position players (Rashard Mendenhall and Limas Sweed), these rookies won’t make much of an impact with no one to block for them. The defensive line received no real upgrade despite the team’s desire to do so, and the linebackers and defensive backs are getting older but not necessarily better.
In all, six of 11 starters on defense will be 30 or older by the end of September. That’s not a good sign for a team that will need strong performances from the traditional strength of the franchise to prop up an offense that might not score points in bunches.
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Mark
May 22, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Who says the Steelers wont score points in bunches? We certainly have plenty of weapons to do just that.I do agree about the aging defense and the suspect O-line.I think the Steelers make the playoffs because they will win their division but how far they go is another issue. Steelers have to find a way to beat the Patriots and Jaguars if they are to make any dent in the post-season.How convenient that they play both of these team in the regular season! The Steelers have to beat some of the better teams this year. They will certainly have the chance to because the schedule is littered with upper tier teams. If the Steelers can navigate this schedule to a 10-6 or 11-5 season, I would be confident that they could do damage in the post season.
Jay
May 24, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I don’t know if I necessarily agree with the two “high impact” rookies not making an impact. I think they will have some impact and I believe the offense scoring points in bunches is not ALWAYS a function of talent; usually yes but not always. Arians needs to call the right plays and put the proper personnel on the field and the Steelers have to develop the talent but if all that happens, yes we will score a lot of points. Also, if McFadden beats out Townsend, that makes only five starters that are over 30 (3 Dlinemen, Farrior, Harrison).
My hope is this: yes I agree that we are getting old up front on D; McFadden comes out in training camp like gang busters (he kind of has to if he wants a lucrative contract from ANY team being that he’s never been a starter for any considerable amount of time) and the Steelers give him a long term extension before the season (yes, even in light of his %#@hole new agent, Rosenhaus)-that will shore up the starting defensive backfield with a wily vet like Deshea as nickel and the young Gay as his replacement. If Mundy makes the team in lieu of Carter, we suddenly have a nice young secondary. I also hope that either Marvel or max proves to be the answer at one of the tackle positions and the Steelers long term either one of them (if I had my druthers, I’d like it to be Marvel because he provides savvy leadership at left tackle)–and then they can develop the rookie Hills to play on the other side as well as Legursky as a future center. These hopes, if come into fruition, will enable the Steelers to focus on defensive linemen in the drat and free agency.
Ekwaun
May 28, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Everyone talks about the O-Line but Willie rushed for over 1300 yards and Ben had the best year of any Steelers QB ever! Just because been took a lot of sacks by holding on to the ball does not make the O-Line horrible. This guy will be eating crow (raven) half way through the season. We do seem to play better in the underdog role but I see that changing. Tomlin has said there is two ways to help a struggling o line, either beef it up or provide more weapons…we did the latter in the draft. Trust me Steeler Nation….we will be just fine and should win the Division. Those other teams have the same brutal schedule as us (except for about 3 games)and they are not as good as we are.
Our Defense…even with the age is one of the best in the league and proved it by finishing at the top. With Clark and Smith healthy we are the best in the game.
Marc
June 21, 2008 at 8:07 pm
I agree with all these educated insights from the other comments made by these other fans. We do have a tough challenge ahead of us in “08”. Think back to the superbowl. Who in their right mind expected the Steelers to win the Superbowl and on the road everywhere they went. I’ve been an advid fan since the “77” season and I didn’t expect them to do what they did. Which wasn’t much short of a miracle. Then all the haters came out of the closet with the lies of cheating officals. Anyway, my point is that we went all the way with a lot of late 20 somethings and 30 somethings. Age is a state of mind and only comes into play if its allowed. We didn’t go after O-line guys cause they were all drafted by the time we picked. I applaud the the choices that were made. Pittsburgh is a blue collar football team and has been since their conception. They may not do as well as all of us fans wish but, they still do what they do with professional pride and great work ethics which makes them winners regardless of their win loss record. Arians was in his first year as an O-coordinator. He will be better this year. Ben has made it clear he would rather take sacks then give up interceptions. I agree to a point. However he is only human and can’t take the abuse of 250 lbs Linebacker’s or 300lbs D-line men. Our O-line will have to “GELL” and “work together better this year”. The Steelers are going to win the division and they do need to play “Shut down Defense” and “Finness-Smash Mouth Offense”. It can be done and Tomlin, Arians and LaBeau will do just that! Remember those draftees we drafted in “06” and “07”? Their turn to bring in the pain! They’ve already begun!
My only real concern is our special teams. Or lack there of. We’ve got to do something that works better than what has been going on. Special teams will win us the close ones and keep us in the not so close ones. I hope we see a hugh improvemnt in our special teams unit this year. I think we are going to need them more than ever. “GO STEELERS”