Pittsburgh Steelers 2010 Season Preview, Predictions Picks & Odds
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Pittsburgh Steelers 2009 NFL Record: 9-7 Home: 6-2 Away: 3-5
Pittsburgh Steelers 2010 Preview
The Pittsburgh Steelers will continue to jolt the club long after Ben Roethlisberger’s four- to six-game NFL suspension ends. Roethlisberger will be out until mid- to late October while serving his suspension for violating the league’s personal-conduct policy. He was not charged after his birthday-night incident in Georgia, but commissioner Roger Goodell took action following the second set of allegations of sexual misconduct against him in a calendar year. There was more. Super Bowl XLIII MVP and star receiver Santonio Holmes was traded to the New York Jets for a fifth-round draft choice hours before he was handed a four-gan1e suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. On the same day Holmes’ trade was announced and a Georgia district attorney declared he wouldn’t pursue felony charges against Roethlisberger, kicker Jeff Reed had various misdemeanor charges against hiln dropped after completing community service with the Salvation Army. Beyond criminal matters, on-field questions persist. How will Roethlisberger perform after starting cold in October? Who will replace Holmes’ receptions and steady play? Can Rashard Mendenhall carry the running load by his lonesome? Can Troy Polamalu stay healthy enough to carry the defense, and maybe the entire team? With 10 starters back from Super Bowl XL and 20 from XLIII, these old champs know best: They need health, defense and Polamalu to win. And a potent-passing Roethlisberger wouldn’t hurt, either.
2010 Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterbacks
The youngest quarterback to win one Super Bowl, and the second youngest to win two, now must mature under a harsh glare that isn’t exactly a grow light. Will Roethlisberger return to record-setting, playoff-leading form? For one thing, the skill around him is less talented and experienced, with running back Willie Parker in Washington and Holmes, especially, in New York. For another, Roethlisberger thrived in the no-huddle, pass-itaround offense the past two seasons, but this defense and this club both require a slightly more old-school Pittsburgh offense that eats up more clock and protects an aging defense from overexposure. The Steelers, finding solace and comfort in bringing back familiar players from their recent championship seasons, traded with Tampa Bay for Byron Leftwich and added him to an interim quarterback derby already crowded with Dennis Dixon and longtime backup Charlie Batch. Most likely, Leftwich and Dixon will compete for the starting job sans No.7; expect Dixon to start the Atlanta opener, but Leftwich to spell him if early stun1bles come. However, should one of those gents perform well while Roethlisberger is out, and should the fallen star falter fron1 there, it will be interesting to see if the playing order changes.
2010 Pittsburgh Steelers Running Backs
Given the circumstances, this is the most important position on the offense, and the farthest off the radar. Parker was a Pro Bowl runner who was injury-prone the past few years. But his heir, Mendenhall, owns just 13 gaInes experience as the fixture in the offense, a one-back set that cries for two. Mendenhall, in just his second year and his first full season after injury abbreviated his rookie campaign, cut loose for 1,063 yards in those 13 games. But, as is the poker hand played across the NFL, you need a pair. Third down back Mewelde Moore rushed for just 118 yards last year. No other back on the roster owns a game-day carry. Mendenhall needs help, particularly in short-yardage situations. No pure backup appears on the horizon unless Moore becomes a workhorse, which he did by default twice before in his six-season career. Maybe rookie Jonathan Dwyer can throw his 229 pounds around, but there n1ust have been a reason he fell to the sixth round.
2010 Pittsburgh Steelers Receivers
With 400,000 nliles on the odometer, Hines Ward posted his second-most productive season – 95 catches for 1,167 yards – at the age of 33. The old faithful might need to top that at 34. Gone is his over-the-middle mate, Holmes, and with him went those career highs of 79 catches for 1,248 yards last season. Mike Wallace was among the NFLs leaders with nearly 20 yards per catch as a rookie, but he won’t get to run as many deep routes now that he will be entrenched as the second receiver. His speed and downfield matchup with the bombing Roethlisberger (or perhaps Leftwich) will remain a vital part of the passing game. Antwaan Randle El, the Steelers’ second receiver until he left via free agency right after Super Bowl XL, is headed for the slot, a job that suits him well. It would greatly help, but it’s doubtful rookie Emmanuel Sanders can win the No.4 receiver spot in empty sets. But if Wallace can’t average four catches or more each game, either Randle El or somebody else must step forward. Don’t forget tight end Heath Miller; Steelers quarterbacks surely won’t. He snagged a career-high 76 catches last season, and his workload figures to increase.
2010 Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Line
Welcome to the AFC cellar-dweller, and the league’s third-worst group, when it comes to sacks allowed lately. Over the past three seasons, this bunch has graciously permitted 47, 46 and 50 sacks, and Roethlisberger escaped from seemingly a like number of near-misses each year. The front office reaction: It locked up most of this bunch to long-term deals worth $70 million. Nothing, of course, is guaranteed. Tackle Willie Colon might someday move to guard to replace Chris Kemoeatu, a solid run-blocker but lacking pass-blocker – especially if one tackle spot is won by free agent acquisition Jonathan Scott, who started eight games last year for new line coach Sean Kugler in Buffalo. First-round draftee Maurkice Pouncey, who turns 21 just before training camp, must learn quickly if he can provide any help. He’ll start at guard before eventually moving to center. For now, Justin Hartwig and Max Starks return at center and left tackle, respectively.
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2010 Pittsburgh Steelers Defense
Not the old Steel Curtain, but still formidable after all these years. Two of the past three years when the Steelers missed the playoffs, two noticeable variables were the injuries to, and prolonged absences by, Polamalu and end Aaron Smith. Noseguard Casey Hampton was re-signed to plug his girth and run-stopping skills into the middle of the 3-4 front, and end Brett Keisel plus 2009 firstrounder Ziggy Hood complete a sturdy line that occupies offensive linemen and gives the linebackers so much room and freedom. At some point, though, more youth must be added.
Larry Foote, a run-stopper extraordinaire, returns from Detroit, perhaps to start, perhaps to spell Lawrence Timmons (more of an athletic, outside guy) and the aging James Farrior at both inside spots. If Foote doesn’t start at one or the other, he’ll play significant snaps. James Harrison went from NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 to Vanishing Act in 2009, held in some offensive linemen’s arms longer than their own spouses. But LaMarr Woodley helped pick up the slack with a career-high 13.5 sacks. With Foote on patrol, Timmons wiser after a year of starting, and Harrison and Woodley ready to rumble, this position should return to its scary 2008 level.
Out went Holmes, in came Bryant McFadden – for the same fifth-round selection for which Holmes was traded. The Steelers did the next-best thing to trading into the top-IS picks by bringing back McFadden, who had left in free agency after Super Bowl XLIII. Restoring the McFadden/William Gay double-team at one cornerback spot should settle the other corner, Ike Taylor, and the entire secondary. The group also gets an upgrade with a re-signed Ryan Clark alongside all-universe playmaker Polamalu, whose cycle points toward a healthy 2010. As last season showed, the Steelers are mortal when Polamalu-less.
Pittsburgh Steelers 2010 Season Prediction
SO much falls on the running game, the defense and Polamalu, you have to wonder if each can support the weight. And will Roethlisberger be worth the wait? So many steady Super Bowl starters – Polamalu, Farrior, Harrison, Hampton, Ward, Miller, Smith, et al. – and so much character remain a part of this club, it’s hard to count out the Steelers with or without Roethlisberger. Still, it’s tough to envision this club posing too much of a threat to the elite in the AFC.
We predict that the Pittsburgh Steelers will finish 3rd in the AFC North, with a record of 7-9.
Pittsburgh Steelers Betting
AFC North Odds: 2-1 AFC Conference Odds: 10-1 Super Bowl Odds: 20-1
Pittsburgh Steelers Five-Year Win Betting Trends
2005: 11 2006: 8 2007: 10 2008: 12 2009: 9
Bet on the Pittsburgh Steelers
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