After coming off of a bipolar year last season, the Steelers enter the coming season of 2008 with 10 questions that have to be answered. Some of them are pressing, and some of them, not so much.
Either way, the people demand answers.
I come to you to ask that which needs to be asked and fish for answers that may not come about for months.
10.) Will Ben continue to improve?
After a career year, throwing 32 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, with a passer rating of 104.1, and over 3,000 yards thrown, has Big Ben peaked? He's 26-years old, and usually in athletics, this is the peak age, physically.
However, for a scrambling quarterback that takes a lot of abuse, the question hangs if he's aged anymore. Is he peaking right now, or is he still away from the ceiling?
9.) How much gas does Hines Ward have left in the tank?
- B/R Ticket Guide
He plays a physical game, and as I said with Ben, that takes a toll. He's 32-years old, his games played, yards a season, and receptions have declined in the past three seasons. This could be attributed to a bad season and then the emergence of Santonio Holmes, but Hines was generally still the go-to guy. Is he nearing his end, especially with the arrival of "tall receiver" Limas Sweed?
8.) Heinz Field: benefit or burden?
Will we see another season of terrible field play on the hallowed play area of Western PA's holy ground? Will the terrible rains continue to drown the greater Pittsburgh area into late fall, causing another snooze fest and media embarrassment that was the Sunday-night game against the Dolphins?
7.) Will Troy Polamalu stay healthy?
Since the magical 2005 season, Troy has gone from playing in all 16 games to 13 games and now 11 games. When he's out, the defense does not play the same. When he's out, the hard-hitting legends of Pittsburgh look softer than the Penguins' pre-Therrien blueline. Troy needs to stay healthy. Can he?
6.) Are the Browns really a threat?
The Cleveland Browns came out of nowhere with a high-powered offense, behind the arm of the season's starting backup, Derek Anderson. Is this team for real? Have the moves that the Browns made on defense really helped, and will Anderson and company keep their rhythm going? Or are they just a one-year wonder like the "Who Dey?" Bengals of 2005?
Click here to view part two, questions five through one.
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4 months ago
I'll answer #6 for you. Pittsburgh fans should watch the play of numbers 92 and 99 on the Cleveland D line this year. Shaun Rogers and Corey Williams are going to surprise quite a few folks this year, none the least the interior Steeler O linemen. The loss of Jeff Hartings after the '06 season and Alan Faneca after last year should cause concern for Steeler fans who, if they don't consider the Browns a serious threat, are in for a rude awakening.
from 4 months ago
Absolutely. R+W are the most exciting thing to happen to the Browns since we realized Derek Anderson could play. Plus I do think Big Ben might peak - head injuries never lead to improved futures.
4 months ago
10. I'd say quarterbacks are more like Major League pitchers than running backs. Pitchers hit their peak around age 30 or so, while RB's are over the hill by age 28 or 29. I wouldn't count out Ben to keep improving, but the offensive line sucks.
9. Ward's done. Did anybody else realize how many easy balls he dropped last season? He's value to the team is his reputation. That does count for something, but so does the drafting of Santonio Holmes and Limas Sweed.
8. I was at that Monday night game against Miami. Definitely the strangest sporting event I've been to. Without looking up stats, it does seem that the Steelers do play much better at home than on the road. I think the terrible surface is their advantage like the turf is in Indianapolis.
7. Polamalu is a great player only when healthy. His style doesn't lend itself to being only 65% healthy. If he's good to go, he's the best in the business. If not, then he needs to be in sweats on the sideline.
6. They're still the Browns. Their uniforms still look like the Dawg Pound made bathroom on them. I'll see it when I believe it.
from 4 months ago
Ii'll take my poop brown jersey over the Steelers yellow tinkle pants anyday.
At least we admit they are brown and don't try to pass yellow off as gold. LOL.
The AFC North will come down to Cleveland and Pittsburgh. Just like it always should.
4 months ago
It's good to have folks like Barry to pooh pooh how far the Browns have come on both sides of the ball since Romeo Crennel took over. All I can say in reply is to quote Steeler HC Tomlin, "The tape will tell the tale". I think many, many Steeler fans are living in denial about how good the Browns have become. Time will tell, but I think Barry will see it and may even believe it once he does.
4 months ago
The Browns are an enigma. I "think" they're a playoff team, but I don't "know" they're a playoff team. The Steelers fate, I think, is up to the Browns.
from 4 months ago
You hit it right on the head, Sean.
It will be interesting to see how the Browns handle the limelight in 2008.
4 months ago
no stats...from the gut:
10) Ben will continue to improve, no matter the O-line, unless there isn't one
9) Hines Ward is past his prime...keep the SI cover from after the Super Bowl
8) Heinz Field better be a benefit, we paid for it, and it's contracted to the Steelers until 2030, not that they need a reason to stay.
7) Taz will come back from Cali 110%, which will result in his best year yet
6) Are the Brown-Eyes ever really a threat?
3 months ago
ok ill break it down for all u folks out there
im a steelers fan but ill be honest..
#10)ok no doubt big ben will improve,think about this.. if steelers dont have a good o-line,big ben will learn how to move in the pocket and stuff.he already does that well sometimes and he is not easy to take down.. so no doubt he will improve..
#9)well hines ward isnt as good of a receiver as he was in the superbowl,but in preseason games he looks like he is doing fine..
#8)heins field is a big benefit,steelers are adapted to play in their weather conditions
#7)doesnt look like it,he already got injured,but i think he could go for a while and make big plays
#6)browns i have to admit,have improved a lot!! last time they played they got very close!
so now that they have improved,they can very well be a threat..
3 months ago
btw for # 10 i mean that big ben will get sacked a lot,but will adapt and year after will do better
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