Position by Position, Are the Pittsburgh Steelers Ready for Another Run?

I believe the CBSSports job has really brought out the best in all of the football writers here on the Bleacher Report.

Everyone has come out to say what they really feel about the Steelers moves, and non moves for that matter. Everywhere from the articles to the comments, the rage has been to rate the Steelers, players and coaches, and our chances at our seventh Lombardi.

Here is my breakdown on where the Steelers stand heading into training camp at each position.

Quarterback

Big Ben Roethlisberger, coming off his second Super Bowl victory in his first five years leads the charge. There is no QB Controversy in Pittsburgh. Barring injury, Ben is the man, as his $100 million dollar contract extension demands.

The battle for the back up is between veteran Charlie Batch and second year pro, Dennis Dixon.

Batch was placed on IR last year after breaking his collar bone. It was not a season ending injury, but the roster spot he was taken needed to be freed up so that a veteran could be brought in. Dixon clearly was not ready to step in if Big Ben got hurt.

This year is a different story all together. Dixon is no longer six months removed from the torn ACL he suffered his senior year at Oregon, and has had an entire year to digest the playbook.

I look for Dixon to win the back up role, and Batch to be the third man on the depth chart. If a serious injury to Ben were to happen, Dixon is now capable to take over.

Running Back

This is going to be the most entertaining competition to watch this pre season. 

"Fast" Willie Parker is coming off his second injury filled year, while last years first round pick Rashard Mendenhall will return from injury as well.

Like Batch, Mendenhall's injury would not have been season ending, but not knowing the healing ability of Mendenhall, the Steelers opted to place him on IR. Kevin Colbert even said, had they known how he healed, he would have never been placed on IR.

Look for Parker and Mendenhall to battle it out to see who will be the starter.

Mewelde Moore is pretty much a lock as the third down running back. He is great at picking up blitzes, and has great hands out of the back field. Moore filled in well when Parker and Mendenhall were hurt.

The Steelers' biggest weakness last year was in the short yardage situation. Pittsburgh drafted Frank "Tank" Summers in the fifth round out of UNLV.

Tank is a smaller version of Jerome Bettis. Though not ready to come in and take playing time away from Parker and Mendenhall, Tank will be used in short yardage and goal line situations.

Wide Receiver

There aren't many teams that can say both of their starting receivers have won the Super Bowl MVP. Pittsburgh can.

Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes both return as possibly one of the most lethal combinations in the league. Holmes can stretch the field with his speed, and Ward can get open against anyone and has some of the best hands in the league.

Nate Washington left to join the Tennessee Titans. Limas Sweed is going to be expected to take his place.

If Sweed can get used to cathcing the ball, then he will eventually be able to replace Ward as the No. 2.

The Steelers also drafted speedy Mike Wallace out of Mississippi.  Wallace will step in immediately in the return game, and could end up as the number four receiver.

Tight End

Heath Miller is steadily becoming one of the best in the game. He has great hands, and is able to stay in and block when necessary.

Matt Spaeth has a ton of size and decent hands, he just is not consistent enough to take it to the next level.

The Steelers drafted David Johnson out of Arkansas State in the seventh round.  This should serve as a wake up call to Spaeth. Johnson will probably spend a year on the practice squad, so if Spaeth doesn't want to be replaced, he better learn how to be more consistent.

Offensive Line

According to most Steeler fans, this is the greatest weakness of the team. Gone are LT Marvel Smith and RG Kendall Simmons, who were allowed after two injury plagued seasons.

I agree with both of these moves completely. You cannot have players that can not stay healthy on the roster. It takes up too much money and roster positions to benefit the team.

The Steelers did make a point of keeping what they won the Super Bowl with. LT Max Starks was once again franchised tagged, and LG Chris Kemoeatu was kept from leaving the for the Jets like Alan Fanaca did.

The only help that came to our line was in the form of third round pick Kraig Urbik in the third round of the draft and A.J. Shipley in the seventh.

Would I have liked for the Steelers to go out and sign a proven veteran to help the line?  Absolutely. The only problem was there really weren't any that were available that are proven.

So, the Steelers did what the Steelers do. They drafted them.

The key to success for an offensive line is being able to play as a unit. The only way that happens is playing together, and learning each other.

Last year Alan Fanaca left, then in the first 4 games, Smith and Simmons were lost for the year with injury. The line that was in there had no experience together, and improved as the season went on.

If the line can continue to improve as they did last year, it could be a strong suit for the Steelers. If they already are as good as they are going to get, it is going to be a long year.

Defensive Line

Last year, the defensive line was stellar, as always. The only problem was, they were getting too old.

Of all the starters and back ups from last year, only one, Nick Eason, is under the age of 30. This group is still going to be solid, but an infusion of youth was needed.

The Steelers used their first round pick on Ziggy Hood. A 300 lbs., monster from Missouri. Hood is going to have the chance to be groomed to play end for the Steelers.

And no one could ask for a better tutor than Aaron Smith. I look for Hood to earn some playing time and experience this year.  Hood will eventually be a force to be reckoned with.

Linebackers

Always a strong suite for the Steelers. James Harrison, the reigning Defensive MVP returns with a big contract extension. In his interview after signing, he stated that now he can go out and play like a mad man without worrying about injury.

Could you imagine him actually being more of a force than last year?

Across from Harrison, LaMarr Woodley enters his second-year starting. Woodley holds the NFL record for most consecutive playoff games with two sacks, at 4. That is four playoff games and 8 sacks. Amazing.

If Woodley can start doing in the regular season what he does in the post season, our OLB's are going to be the starters in the Pro Bowl next year.

James Farrior returns as the leader on the inside, and third-year pro Lawrence Timmons takes over for Larry Foote.

Foote asked to be released because he knew Timmons was ready to take his place.

Timmons is stronger, faster, and better at defending the pass than Foote. If Timmons can play the run as well as Foote did, we could be looking at one of the best line backers the Steelers have ever had.

Secondary

The two biggest performers in the Steelers secondary are Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor.

Ike Taylor did a fantastic job last year taking the other teams best receiver out of the game.

In Weeks 7-14, Ike Taylor went up against TJ Houshmandzadeh, Plaxico Burress, Santana Moss, Reggie Wayne, Vincent Jackson, TJ (again), Randy Moss and Terrell Owens.

In those eight games, Taylor only allowed Reggie Wayne over 50 reception yards and held all seven receivers to only three touchdowns combined!

Troy Polamalu is, well, Troy Polamalu.

Polamalu is the best safety in the game. Against the run, against the pass, where ever the ball is going, you know Troy will be there.  And he will be ready to kill whoever has the ball. 

Running back, tight end, receiver, it doesn't matter—when Troy hits you, you go down.

William Gay will take over for Bryant McFadden, and the Nickle battle will be between Deshea Townsend and the two rookies that were drafted.

Special Teams

Jeff Reid is the only kicker in the NFL that has been successful kicking in Heinz Field. Reed is entering the last year of his contract, and I expect big things from Mr. Automatic.

Punter Danial Sepulveda returns from a torn ACL in his kicking leg. Sepulveda showed in his rookie season he is capable of pinning the opposition inside the 20 on most of his punts.  He also helped out on onside kick receiving.

Sepulveda was a high school line backer, he is not afraid to hit someone or take a hit.

With the returning of most of the Super Bowl Championship in tact, Steeler Nation has every reason to expect another long playoff run, and hoisting another Lombardi in February is not that far fetched.