4 Reasons the Pittsburgh Steelers Should Feel Confident Heading into OTAs

OTAs started this week for all 32 teams in the league, and the Pittsburgh Steelers spent their week under quite the microscope.

The Steelers have a new offensive coordinator and don't have their No. 1 running back and wide receiver on the field. They cut a number of veterans in the offseason to get under the salary cap. They're working on improving their haggard offensive line.

Despite all of these seeming obstacles, the Steelers have much to be confident about now that the offseason program is in full swing. In the following slides, I detail four reasons why.

The Todd Haley Offense Is Just What the Steelers Need

When the Steelers brought on Todd Haley to be the new offensive coordinator, it was clear things were going to change. Some tweaks are more subtle—terminology, for example—and others will be more noticeable, like more receivers catching passes, more two-tight end sets and the use of fullbacks.

Now, the team and Haley have time to work out this new offense, install it and get everyone comfortable with it. And should they succeed in doing so this offseason, look for a much-improved Steelers offense this year.

Change is difficult, and there will be pushback, not just from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but also from other members of the Steelers offense, because there will be struggles to take all of this new information in. However, once things start really taking shape, Haley's offense will give the Steelers just the boost they needed.

The Steelers have both the time and the talent to make Haley's offense work. The team has embarked on a seriously exciting period of transition.

Competition at Running Back Is a Win-Win

The Steelers have five running backs on the roster, not counting Rashard Mendenhall (who now looks likely to play in 2012 after tearing his ACL in Week 17 of last season).

Until Mendenhall is cleared to take the field, those five backs will be duking it out for top positioning on the depth chart. With Todd Haley as new offensive coordinator, no back's job is a given, meaning this is a time for experimentation at the position in order to find a formula that works.

Isaac Redman looks primed to get the majority of the carries in Mendenhall's absence, but the other backs—Jonathan Dwyer, John Clay, Baron Batch and Chris Rainey—will all have roles to play as well.

With Haley wanting the backs to be more involved in the passing game, the pecking order at running back may not be as cut and dry as it initially seems. OTAs and camps will help determine who does what and when, ultimately leading to a more multifaceted and balanced Steelers offense.

Safety Troy Polamalu Is Taking on a Bigger Leadership Role

Steelers star safety Troy Polamalu generally does not attend team OTAs, instead preferring to work out with his private trainer in southern California. This year, however, he chose to join his teammates in order to take on a bigger leadership role in the Steelers defense.

Polamalu did so because many defensive veterans are gone—linebacker James Farrior, cornerback William Gay, defensive end Aaron Smith—and he wanted to fill the leadership void that was caused by the loss of these players.

Polamalu didn't have to attend—he's certainly done enough in his time with the Steelers to be able to bow out of OTAs—but his presence on the field will help younger players and longtime veterans alike.

Veteran starters like Polamalu realize this is an uncertain time for the Steelers. That he thinks enough of the situation to change his offseason routine and attend OTAs shows just how dedicated he is to the team.

Knowing that Polamalu has reaffirmed that commitment is a confidence boost to a team that could use one right now.

Mike Wallace Isn't Around Now, but He'll Be Back

It's a bit of a disappointment that Steelers starting wide receiver Mike Wallace is in the midst of a contract holdout that has kept him out of OTAs. After all, if the Steelers had the cash available to give him a deal, they likely would. As such, Wallace is likely wasting his time by not signing the first-round tender.

However, Wallace's absence gives fellow receivers Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Jerricho Cotchery and other, younger players a chance to work with Ben Roethlisberger and begin mastering the new playbook.

Wallace will have a bit of catching up to do once he does join his teammates, likely later this summer. But there's little to worry about in his absence right now. It could be worse—he could have left for another team in the offseason. 

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