Forged in Steel: Entire "Super" Coaching Staff Returns

The more things change the more they stay the same in Pittsburgh. The Steelers’ have had only 3 Head Coaches since 1969. And this season they’ll bring back the entire coaching staff from their Super Bowl XLIII winning team.

Mike Tomlin - Head Coach

John Mitchell - Asst. Head Coach / Defensive Line

Bruce Arians - Offensive Coordinator

Dick LeBeau - Defensive Coordinator

Ken Anderson - Quarterbacks Coach

Keith Butler - Linebackers Coach

James Daniel - Tight Ends Coach

Randy Fichtner - Wide Receivers Coach

Ray Horton - Defensive Backs Coach

Amos Jones - Asst. Special Teams Coach

Bob Ligashesky - Special Teams Coach

Kirby Wilson - Running Backs Coach

Larry Zierlein - Offensive Line Coach

Harold Goodwin - Quality Control - Offense

Lou Spanos - Quality Control - Defense

Garrett Giemont - Conditioning Coordinator

You can copy that from the 2008 Steelers' Media Guide and paste it into the 2009 Steelers' Media Guide.  Because in a rarity, the entire staff from a Super Bowl winning team is coming back.

Therefore, the few changes that will be made in the Steelers’ playbook will come from the change or growth in the personnel, not the coaches. Except the added wrinkle that coaches will add.

I believe that the biggest changes on the offensive side of the ball will come in the running game, not the passing game.

The Steelers believe that their O-line will be improved from last season; therefore, they will be able to return to more of a power attack.

The RBs will also have a big say so in this. A fully healthy Willie Parker will give the ground game a more explosive dimension.

A second year Rashard Mendenhall will give the Steelers a more complete look when he is in the game. He has the power to run inside and the speed to get outside.

The biggest change in his game is that he should understand pass protection better being in his second season.

Shawn McHugh taking over as the primary FB for Carey Davis should improve the ground game. McHugh is a much more physical and powerful blocker than Davis, so he should open more holes.

The RB that may have the biggest impact is Frank Summers. He runs with a physicality not seen in Pittsburgh since Jerome Bettis. He is expected to be the short yardage and goal line RB. He will likely see time at FB, so teams can’t just lineup and expect the HB to get the ball every time.

In the passing game, while some changes may be made because of Ben Roethlisberger's growth and maturity, the majority of changes will come from trying to fit a new third WR into the scheme.

Exactly what changes are made from a coaching or scheme standpoint will be determined by which player wins the job.

Last season it was Nate Washington, this year it is likely to be Limas Sweed or Shaun McDonald. The long shot is rookie Mike Wallace.

Sweed is a big, athletic WR. He is fast enough to get behind the secondary, but big enough to just body up a DB and fight for the ball.

McDonald, on the other hand, is a smaller and quicker WR. He has good hands and runs precise routes. He’s at his best when he’s using his quickness to get open.

Speed. That’s what Mike Wallace brings to the table. His strength is taking the top off of the coverage or getting the ball in the open field. Wallace is still raw in his route running, that is what makes him a long shot to win the third WR spot.

Defensively, Dick LeBeau is always going to come up with a few different blitzes and looks. But with the super-athletic Lawrence Timmons taking over at ILB and the addition of first round pick Ziggy Hood, the Steelers will have a couple of new dimensions.

Larry Foote was a solid run stuffer who was rarely asked to blitz. But now with Timmons taking his spot I’m sure Dick LeBeau will come up with a few new ways to get Timmons after the QB.

Timmons pass rushing ability reminds some of Kendrell Bell during his healthy years with the Steelers.

Another way Timmons can be used is in pass coverage. Timmons actually filled Troy Polamalu’s role in the nickel and dime packages when Polamalu was injured.

The most unique change in the Steelers’ defensive packages may come from the addition of Ziggy Hood. The Steelers have not had a DL with his pass rushing ability in a long time.

Although the DE in the Steelers’ 3-4 scheme is expected to hold his ground and take up blocks, Hood could add a new wrinkle in certain situations. He could be allowed to penetrate or focus on getting to the QB from the end position.

Hood, also will be used as a DT in the nickel and dime situations. A position that the Steelers’ have had difficulty getting pressure on the QB from for several years now.

(X's & O's Question No. 2)