Pittsburgh Steelers: Top Issues Before Training Camp

As the Pittsburgh Steelers head to training camp at the end of the month, the reigning Super Bowl champions, like the other 31 NFL teams, have their issues as they gather once again to prepare for a brand new season.

Here's a look at the top five issues facing the Pittsburgh Steelers as they prepare for, with apologies to Mike Tomlin, their title defense:

5. Ben Roethlisberger's Legal Situation

Once again, Ben Roethlisberger is having a post-Super Bowl summer to forget.  In 2006, it was a motorcycle crash and an emergency appendectomy.  This time, its allegations of sexual assault.

Whether or not the allegations against Pittsburgh's beloved Big Ben have any foundation or not, they are definitely a distraction for both Roethlisberger and the team. 

Mike Tomlin is already working hard to get players' minds back on the upcoming season, but it will not be easy as this situation is likely to grow more detailed by the week.  Eventually, there will likely be a hearing as well as subsequent investigations by the NFL.

All of this will challenge the team and Ben in particular to keep their minds on the task at hand and off of the pending legal action.

4. Reviving the Running Game

Pittsburgh, perennially a top-10 rushing team, plummeted last season as Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall went down with injuries.  When healthy, neither was particularly effective.

The biggest concern was in the red zone, where the Steelers failed on every fourth and goal rushing attempt last year.  Gary Russell, Parker, and the team's other backs all failed to score when closest to the goal line.

The team's rushing attack needs to improve for the Steelers offense to catch up with the defense in terms of effectiveness.  Too often in 2008 the Steelers were forced to rely on their defensive production to win games.

An improved rushing attack would also likely ease the strain on Roethlisberger by allowing him to pass less and from closer distances to the down markers.  This would likely lessen his sack total and allow him to stay healthy and be more dangerous.

3. Finding the Missing Pieces

Bryant McFadden, Nate Washington, Larry Foote and Byron Leftwich headline the players that the Steelers lost during free agency. 

Limas Sweed, Shaun McDonald, Lawrence Timmons, William Gay and Deshea Townsend headline the crop of players who will be asked to fill their shoes.

Gay is the most likely candidate to start at cornerback opposite Ike Taylor and replace the departed McFadden.  Gay has similar a similar skill set to McFadden and arguably better hands and a higher vertical jump. 

Timmons will step in for Foote and is probably the most polished of the replacements.  Timmons was already taking playing time away from Foote and should eventually prove himself as an upgrade at the position.

Replacing Washington will be the most difficult.  Sweed and McDonald headline a group of several players with a shot at being the team's slot receiver.  The team may even use a committee approach in filling the vacancy.

The ideal situation would be for Sweed, the team's second round pick in 2008, to step up and fill the spot.  Sweed has exhibited questionable hands and routes in his limited action, but hopefully will be much better after a year of experience in the offensive scheme.

2. The Offensive Line

If a Super Bowl champion is permitted to have an Achilles Heel, the Steelers' was their offensive line. 

Ben Roethlisberger was sacked 46 times in 2008.  That's extremely high for a quarterback who is so mobile and adept at getting away from people.

The line also failed to open holes for the team's talented stable of running backs.  Part of the aforementioned issues in the red zone is unquestionably due to poor blocking by the line.  Often, linebackers were in the backfield at the snap.

The biggest offenders seem to be on the right side, where Darnell Stapleton struggled in his first chance to start.  Willie Colon struggled at tackle, often being turned into a turnstile by opposing rushers.

If the team is to win another Super Bowl, even with the supposedly easy schedule, it will have to be with an improved offensive line. 

The team placed immense trust in the same unit that struggled last year, keeping the starting five intact for a second consecutive season.

There is no question that this unit is composed of talented players.  If the team's brass is right and they can form an effective team, then this could return to being one of the team's greatest strengths.

1. Super Bowl Hangover

In 2006, the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers seemed like a team drunk on their own success.

Bill Cowher was a coach that looked like he'd done all he wanted to do and was now simply coaching one more season for lack of something better to do.

The 2009 Steelers have a lot going for them.

Their coach, Mike Tomlin, is a young, motivated man who has no intentions of even entertaining the thoughts of "repeating" as champions.  Instead, he seems focused on keeping the team facing forward toward the challenges the new season brings.

The schedule is easy compared to the monster the team had to navigate in 2008.  They play only six games against teams who made the playoffs last season and only four against teams with better than 10 wins.

If the Steelers can avoid the euphoria over winning a record-sixth Super Bowl and stay as focused as their tough-as-nails head coach, they will be that much more likely to return to the Super Bowl.