NFL Predictions: Why No One Should Count out the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2012-13

The Pittsburgh Steelers opened the offseason with 6-1 odds to win Super Bowl XLVII, but now that free agency has played out the way it has, they've dropped to 15-1 alongside the defending champion New York Giants.

While these odds will change a great number of times before next January rolls around, one thing is clear—the Steelers aren't thought of as the perennial Super Bowl contenders they once were. But this is flawed thinking.

Things have changed for the Steelers, to be sure, but one thing has remained the same—they're one of the teams to beat, not just in the AFC but in the entire league.

Now, I'm not saying the Steelers should be ascribed the same 5-1 odds given to the Green Bay Packers. However, a drop like the one the Steelers have had in the past months has to make one wonder where that comes from.

Part of it is likely related to the glut of veterans they cut in order to get under the salary cap. At first glance, it looks like the Steelers have voluntarily gutted their core and as such, should take a step backward this year.

However, many of those cuts were necessary and not just for financial reasons. Players like James Farrior, Hines Ward and Aaron Smith could no longer contribute to the team the way they did in the past, and the Steelers do have a fair amount of depth, so losing them won't hurt terribly.

Further, Pittsburgh has 10 draft picks this season with which to rebuild their linebacking corps and add reliable, resilient talent to their oft-troubled offensive line.

That line may have been shaky for years now, but that hasn't stopped Pittsburgh from reaching the postseason all but twice and the Super Bowl three times since Ben Roethlisberger took over as starting quarterback in 2004.

A Sampling of 2011 Pittsburgh Steelers Stats:

Yards Per Reception Average 12.7 Yards Per Pass Completion 8.0 Yards Per Carry 4.4 Total First Downs 317 Opponent Third Down Success 38.9%

Roethlisberger has become the key to the Steelers' success in recent years, and that shouldn't drop off in 2012, even though he has a new offensive coordinator calling his plays.

Todd Haley isn't coming in with a system he's looking to install—instead, he's going to be playing to the strength of his charges in order to call the best possible plays.

That means more of the same as far as the passing game is concerned, with Roethlisberger tossing the football to receivers Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders and perhaps either Jerricho Cotchery or another player they pick up in the draft.

Tight end Heath Miller has gotten older, yes, but he's still a reliable target for Roethlisberger, and it's also possible the Steelers draft another tight end as well.

The biggest question mark of the Steelers offense is their running game. Haley proved himself as a running back guru of sorts by turning the Kansas City Chiefs into the top rushing offense in the league, and he should try to improve that area for the Steelers this year. A stronger offensive line will clearly help in this effort.

Though they'll be without starting running back Rashard Mendenhall for most, if not all, of the upcoming season, the players the Steelers have on the roster behind him—Isaac Redman, Baron Batch, John Clay and Jonathan Dwyer—are more than capable of picking up that slack.

If they don't seem to think so, the Steelers can certainly add another via the draft or even free agency depending on what their cap situation looks like come May or June.

Defense is another area in which the Steelers are projected to slide this year, but I am not in complete agreement with that assessment. No, James Harrison and Troy Polamalu aren't getting any younger, but people seem to forget they aren't the only contributors on that side of the ball.

LaMarr Woodley is but 27 years old. Brett Keisel may be 33, but he doesn't seem to have slowed, and Lawrence Timmons is just 25. Stevenson Sylvester, Ziggy Hood and Jason Worilds are considered up-and-comers who will ultimately become starters as well.

And remember, the Steelers secondary was one of the best in the league last season. Losing William Gay in free agency hurts, but again, the draft is but a few weeks away, and the Steelers will be able to get a replacement if their own roster depth doesn't prove adequate.

Pittsburgh is an experienced playoff team that knows how to step up and win games when necessary. No, they aren't perfect, but no team really is.

However, the Steelers have proven in the past eight seasons that—regardless of personnel and coaching staff—they find ways to win, get into the playoffs and, most importantly, reach and win the Super Bowl.

Things have changed in Pittsburgh this offseason, but it's what has stayed the same that should make the Steelers remain in the conversation when it comes to being intimidating, Super Bowl contenders.

Sure, we are a long ways off from the Steelers taking the field and knowing for sure how well or poorly they could ultimately play. But right now, in early April, there's little indication that they won't be a playoff team in 2012.

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