2009 Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Football Predictions

2009 Pittsburgh Steelers Predictions
Preview courtesy of Ted Sevransky, An award-winning professional football handicapper featured on Touthouse.com. If you are interested in football betting this season, be sure to buy Ted Sevransky’s football picks at Touthouse.com

Overview
The Pittsburgh Steelers come off their second Super Bowl victory in the last four years, using their homefield edge to knock off Baltimore and San Diego in the playoffs before beating Arizona in the big game. The Steelers accomplished that task despite an under-achieving offense that finished 22nd in the league in total yardage. They were mediocre in the red zone. Ben Roehtliserger’s QB rating dropped more than 20 points from ’07 to ’08, in large part thanks to mediocre offensive line play that left him running for his life. The Steelers running game, particularly in short yardage situations, was simply not very good. Pittsburgh’s success can hardly be credited to a weak schedule. The Steelers faced a litany of tough foes all season long, facing only five sub-.500 opponents all year long (the Bengals and Browns twice along with Jacksonville). Pittsburgh faced one of the five toughest slates in the league, leaving them well prepared for quality opposition once the postseason began. Of course, now comes the really hard part – doing it again, with a bullseye target on their collective backs.

Offense
As mentioned above, the Steelers offense was not particularly dynamic last year. Ben Roethlisberger was sacked 46 times and threw 15 interceptions to go along with only 17 touchdown passes, while completing less than 60% of his pass attempts. Leading rusher Willie Parker didn’t even reach 800 yards, and Steelers running backs were held to a modest 13 touchdowns. The loss of big play threat Nate Washington (a team high 15.8 yards per catch) doesn’t help matters much, nor does the loss of OL mainstays Marvel Smith and Kendall Simmons in the offseason. That being said, the Steelers return all five starting linemen from last years run to the Super Bowl, three of whom signed contract extensions in the offseason. That stands in sharp contrast to the team from August last year, when only one starting linemen returned to his same position. Pittsburgh also has a healthy Rashard Mendenhall to share carries with Willie Parker at running back. Last year, the Steelers #1 pick got hurt in Week 2 and didn’t play again. Starting receivers Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward were nothing short of outstanding in the playoffs, but Limas Sweed or free agent acquisition Shawn McDonald must fill Nate Washington’s big shoes as the slot receiver. On paper, Pittsburgh’s offense looks a notch or two better than last year’s version.

Defense
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin worked his way up the coaching tree on the defensive side of the football. That defensive mentality has played well in his first three seasons on the job in Pittsburgh. The Steelers defensive numbers were impeccable last year. The Steelers finished the season with the #1 overall defense in the NFL, #1 against the pass, #2 against the run and #1 in points allowed. Pittsburgh also finished near the top in both sacks and interceptions. The entire defense returns nearly intact from last year, starting right at the top, with 71 year old Dick LeBeau calling blitzes with reckless abandon as the defensive coordinator. Linebacker Larry Foote and defensive back Bryant McFadden were the lone starters to depart via free agency, a rarity in this era of free agency. Age is a concern on the defensive line, as all three starters are on the wrong side of 30. First round draft choice Ziggy Hood from Missouri brings some much needed youth to the DL. The Steelers linebacking corps ranks among the elite groups in football even after Foote’s departure. Last year’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year, James Harrison and his counterpart at outside linebacker on the other side, Lamar Woodley, are as dangerous a duo as you’ll find in the league. Lawrence Timmons, Pittsburgh’s first round choice back in 2007, will step into Foote’s footsteps, another speedy linebacker with superstar potential. In the secondary, safety Troy Polamalu and cornerback Ike Taylor lead the way. Veteran William Gay should be a capable replacement for McFadden, although rookie Keenan Lewis (third round, Oregon State) could work his way into the rotation as a nickel back.

Schedule
Last year, the Steelers faced a brutal slate from start to finish, and they still emerged from the fray with Super Bowl rings. This year, Pittsburgh’s strength of schedule has declined markedly. Last year, the Steelers faced the mighty NFC East as well as the equally mighty AFC South. This year, AFC North teams face the NFC North and the AFC West, arguably two of the weakest divisions in the league. From a top five schedule in terms of toughness in ’08, the Steelers get to face the single weakest schedule in the NFL in ’09 based on this year’s season win totals. That gives the Steelers a better chance to repeat their Super Bowl title than any recent NFL champ.