Debunking the Biggest Myths About the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2012

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The Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the best run franchises in the NFL and are almost always a strong contender in the AFC.

Even with their success, the Steelers never seem to get the same kind of respect from the media that other teams get around the league, which leads to so-called myths about the team.

Here are four of those myths and why they will be proven wrong by the Steelers this season.

Myth: The Steelers Will Run the Ball More This Season

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With the change in offensive coordinator this offseason, everyone has expected that the Steelers will run the ball more this season, and there has seemed to be a more concerted effort to do just that in camp so far.

The Steelers run game will definitely be more effective this upcoming season but it won’t be because they are calling more running plays.

The reason the Steelers run game will be better is because the offensive line will be improved and actually opening up holes for the running backs.

The running back position has a lot to prove as well, with Rashard Mendenhall out and Isaac Redman only with two career starts.

So while the Steelers run game may look better, that doesn't mean Ben Roethlisberger is going to throw the ball any less this season.

Myth: The Steelers Chose Antonio Brown over Mike Wallace

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The Steelers just signed Antonio Brown to a five-year contract extension, which seemed odd at first considering they have yet to work out a new deal for holdout Mike Wallace.

Some would argue that the Steelers chose Brown over Wallace, and it is unlikely that a new deal would get done now.

The only the thing the Steelers did was avoid a similar situation for next year, when Brown was set to be a restricted free agent, and Brown then actually agreed to the contract.

It’s not like the Steelers haven’t offered Wallace a contract, he just wants more money and the fact that he is not in camp is why negotiations have stopped.

Once Wallace reports to camp the Steelers will get back to work negotiating a new contract, and I have full confidence that Wallace will get a new deal with the team.

Myth: Big Ben Is Not Elite

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Ben Roethlisberger’s name is never brought up in the conversation of best quarterback in the league, and it’s rare to hear anyone call him an elite quarterback.

The truth is that Roethlisberger is an elite quarterback and is the best QB in the league with his combination of size, accuracy and arm strength.

Everyone is quick to mention the defense, and yet I seem to remember countless times watching the Steelers defense give up a game losing two-minute drive, and let’s not forget, Tim Tebow threw for 316 yards in that playoff loss last season.

Ben may not put up the same numbers as other quarterbacks but he certainly is not just the game manager that he is portrayed to be.

Myth: The Steelers Defense Is Too Old

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The Steelers defense was so old last season that they were ranked number one in the league and that is the same label they are carrying into 2012.

It is true that seven of the eleven starters on defense will be over 30 this season, and that number is really six with Casey Hampton possibly starting the year on the PUP list.

So that leaves Brett Keisel, James Harrison, Larry Foote, Ike Taylor, Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu as the old guys on the aging defense.

The funny thing is that those will probably be the only over 30 guys to even make the team, so that leaves about 19 other young players on the defense.

The main contributors being Keenan Lewis, Cortez Allen, Curtis Brown, Ziggy Hood, Cameron Heyward, Steve McLendon, Alameda Ta’amu, Lawrence Timmons, Stevenson Sylvester, Sean Spence, Chris Carter, Jason Worilds and Ryan Mundy.

Not every one of these players has fully proved themselves on the field, however, I still don’t see how the Steelers defense is aging at all.