I have been asking myself the question, “What am I excited to see this season?” I seem to ask myself the same question each year, but I will be honest, it has been difficult this year. We all know about the off-field issues/trades/injuries the Steelers organization has had to go through this off-season, and that has made it difficult for some fans to look forward to this upcoming season. I am here to show other fans (and try to convince myself) that there are a few things to look forward to this upcoming season.
Here are my top 5:
1. Pre-season
Most NFL fans have a very firm opinion on how they feel about pre-season football. Personally, I think 4 games is a bit too strung out, but I do understand that it is also a great opportunity for many players to impress their coaching staff. I am looking forward to seeing our rookies play this preseason. I think we added a lot of great depth, but I don’t see anybody wowing us like Stefan Logan did last year. Because of that, I am sure some fans will be shouting that they are busts, but just remember …most of the Steelers’ picks from 2010 were to add depth. No one drafted was intended to step in as a starter.
Not only am I excited to see the Steelers rookies out there, but I am also looking forward to the opportunity to see a couple of prized college prospects play against our Pittsburgh Steelers in the pre-season … more specifically, the Lions DT Ndamukong Suh and the Broncos QB Tim Tebow. I wasn’t really a fan of either in college (I’m a Penn State Fan), and I don’t really see myself jumping on either of their bandwagons, but I am interested to see how their college talent will carry over to the pros.
2. Will it be four games or six?
Everyone in Pittsburgh is probably wondering the same question. When will we find out if Big Ben’s suspension will be cut down from 6 games to 4 games? (It has been reported that Goodell can reduce the suspension as long as Ben cooperates with clinical evaluators and continues to demonstrate positive behaviors)
Obviously this is a huge deal… In the NFL you need to be able to take advantage of every game, you’d hate to look back at the end of the year and have a rough start be the reason the Steelers couldn’t secure a post-season berth. With a possible six game suspension the Steelers are hoping Byron Lewtfich (and/or Dennis Dixon) can keep the Steelers afloat against a tougher-than-it-looks opening schedule.
Here are the first six games of 2010:
| Week 1 | VS Atlanta Falcons | (9-7 last season) |
| Week 2 | @ Tennessee Titans |
(8-8 last season) |
| Week 3 | @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers | (3-13 last season) |
| Week 4 | VS Baltimore Ravens | (9-7 last season) |
| Week 5 | BYE | |
| Week 6 | VS Cleveland Browns | (5-11 last season) |
| Week 7 | @ Miami Dolphins | (7-9 last season) |
I looked at this while writing and first thought it was not asking much to win 3 of these games, but looking at it more closely it will be a tough task. Don’t be fooled by last years records, every team on this list has gotten better over the off-season.
I think the (hopefully) obvious W’s looking at the schedule are versus Cleveland and at Tampa Bay, but the other four teams scare me. Atlanta has a solid core lead by their own franchise QB Matt Ryan, Tennessee always plays us tough (Just thinking about last years opening game), Baltimore is a rivalry game and they are always ugly (oh, and they added Anquan Boldin) and finally I have heard “NFL Analysts” say that the Miami Dolphins are their dark horse to win the Super Bowl this year.
Hopefully, Ben does what he needs to do to get only 4 games and he has a bye week with the team before he gets to come back and smack the Browns around. If not… our 7th game (Week 8) is in New Orleans where Ben will have to take on the defending Super Bowl Champs his first game back.
3. New faces in our division
The third thing I am looking forward to seeing are all the new faces in our division. Every year new faces emerge due to the draft, but this year there were many high-profile signings to the AFC North.
Baltimore:
I am just going to say it…Baltimore scares the hell out of me. I think they are built well defensively (for one or two more years), they have a good QB in Joe Flacco, and they now have a much scarier WR corps.
The two new faces on the team that I want to see however are:
Terrence Cody was a second round pick this year out of the University of Alabama. “Mount Cody” was supposed to be a high first round draft choice, but his attitude as well as a high weigh-in caused his draft stock to fall. I think he still has 1st round caliber talent, and if he can stay focused he will be a disruption in the backfield every time he is in the game (Although I see him being a 2 down player this year).
WR Anquan Boldin:
Probably one of the only positions keeping he Raven’s from being a Super Bowl caliber team last year was their receiving corps. Their leader in receptions was their RB Ray Rice and other than WR Derrick Mason, no other receiver had more than 34 catches. In the offseason they add Boldin (84 catches for 1024 yards last year), and now I can’t easily spot a weak point on their team. I am however interested to see how the physical corners of the AFC North fare against him, and if his attitude ever becomes an issue for the Ravens.
Cincinnati:
The Bengals are getting better, but I still see them looking up at the Ravens and Steelers. They did add some nice players with the draft, but it might take a while for most of them to make an impact. They also continue to sign players with attitude and/or legal problems. (Someone tell me why? … Have they had success with this?)
The two new faces I am most interested in seeing are:
Wilson was selected from Oklahoma with the Bengal’s first round selection. I think this is a player that was a perfect choice for the Bengals, but he will need time to develop into what they want him to become. This pick does give Cincinnati a true middle of the field threat now, which is something they have lacked in years past. Now that they have that mid-field threat, look for the stats of Chad Ocohocinco, Antonio Bryant, and Carson Palmer to rise, especially if they can stretch the field.
The biggest question in my mind, looking at some of the Benglas choices is, why? I don’t understand why they keep targeting players with troubled pasts. There are always Bengals’ in the news for the wrong reason and I see that continuing this year. I think the signing of Pacman, and others, is saying that they are a franchise that needs to take risks in order to compete at this time. So as long as the signings of Matt Jones and Pacman Jones continue, I don’t see this team as a legitimate threat.
Cleveland:
Finally, the Cleveland Browns. I think they also got much better, and much deeper, but they forgot one thing… a proven quarterback! Now I loved Jake Delhomme when he was in Carolina, but at 35 I think it was foolish for the Browns to sign him. I think his best years are behind him, but luckily I’m not a Browns fan.
(Watch…Delhomme has a career year, and says it was this post that propelled him to the MVP season)
The two new faces I am most interested in seeing are:
Joe Haden was drafted by the Browns with their number one pick, which was pick number 7 overall. Reading any blog or column after the draft, everyone loved this pick and I am no different. It was the right pick, and gives the Browns a playmaker and potentially a shutdown corner for years to come. I think he will show flashes this year, but does need experience to excel.
You probably won’t get to see a lot of Colt McCoy this year, unless Delhomme really flops, but I am excited to see what type of Pro he will be. I think everyone was surprised when he fell to the Browns in round 3, so I think he will play with a chip on his shoulder during the Pre-Season, trying to show other teams what they passed on. However, with Delhomme, Seneca Wallace, and Colt McCoy likely to be the three QB’s on the Browns roster this season, it would be unlikely the Browns throw him into the fire. But now McCoy is their quarterback of the future.
4. Familiar Faces
The Steelers also added some new talent this year through the draft, trades, and other signings…but I am most excited about seeing the returning faces. It feels like a reunion with the additions of DB Bryant McFadden, LB Larry Foote, QB Byron Leftwich, and WR Antwaan Randle El. Below, I discuss how I feel about each player:
Bryant McFadden:
My favorite Draft Day addition wasn’t any draft choice the Steelers made, it was a trade with the Arizona Cardinals that brought back McFadden. McFadden left after the Super bowl run, and played for Arizona in 2009. McFadden cost the Steelers a fifth round pick, but they got a player that they know, a player who fits into the system, a player who knows the system, and someone who won two rings with them.
Larry Foote:
I knew Larry Foote would be back. He left last year to return and play for his hometown Detroit Lions, the only problem with his plan was he was playing for the Detroit Lions. He had a great year last year, at least better than most he had in Pittsburgh, but playing on a terrible team isn’t very rewarding. He has returned to a very deep LB group, so don’t expect him to repeat what he did last year. However, having a rested Foote coming of the bench for 3rd down has to be a scary thought for most teams.
Antwaan Randle El:
I was a huge Randel El fan, while he was a member of the Steelers. I am also glad I get to dust off the jersey I bought 6 years ago. I think the signing of Randel El was a good one. He is a smart player who knows the system, and with the injury to Limas Sweed, it also looks like a very smart choice by the Steelers brass. I don’t expect him to be what he was in 2005, and I don’t expect him to pull in 50 balls either, but anything he can provide to our sometimes predictable offense would be appreciated.
Byron Leftwich:
I discussed earlier how much pressure will be on the starting quarterback while Ben is out, and most likely that pressure will on the shoulders of this man. I love Leftwich, I think he is a capable fill-in, but honestly I think this is a safe move for the Steelers. I would have liked to see what Dennis Dixon could do as starter, especially since we, the fans, keep hearing how great he is maturing… plus we all saw how well he preformed against Baltimore last season.
5. Will the Steel Curtain return to form?
The final thing I want to see this season is how well our defense can perform. True, pressure will be on Leftwich to lead the offense while Ben is away, but just as much pressure if not more will be on the defense to make sure they keep the team in a position to win. The one thing I think every Steelers fan wants to see, including myself, is a lead being held in the fourth quarter. We can’t have late collapses in our early games this season, because we won’t have Big Ben to lead those familiar 4th quarter comebacks. At least the first 4 games of this season, we don’t have that luxury so the defense needs to be that much better. Hopefully the healthy return of Troy Polamalu will help the situation, but everyone needs to step up and understand that with the talent on the defensive side of the field, there really is no excuse why the Steelers can’t return to form as the top defense in the NFL.
Well, that’s that I’m looking forward to seeing during the pre-season and the early part of 2010. What are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments!
