Pittsburgh Steelers Preview: 10 Things To Watch For vs. the Atlanta Falcons

Fantasy Football, Football Polls, and Suicide Leagues.

The 2010 NFL Season is FINALLY here.

It is exciting, because at this point, there is optimism in every city across the NFL.  All of the teams are in first place. It's 0-0 across the board.

Some teams come into the 2010 season with lofty expectations, with anything less than the Playoffs unacceptable.

Other teams, the perennial doormats, are hoping for respectability. They look to make a push to the playoffs, and shock the world.

Then there are the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Normally, anything short of a playoff appearance is unacceptable for Steelers Nation. ESPECIALLY after missing the playoffs the year before.  ESPECIALLY after winning the Super Bowl the year before that.

Without the suspension to Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers would probably be favored to win the AFC North, or at least compete for a Wild Card birth. Due to the fact that Roethlisberger will be missing for the first four games, many people are counting the Steelers out.

Regardless, there are four games the Steelers are going to have without Roethlisberger. Here are the 10 things for Steelers fans to look for against the Atlanta Falcons.

Will Dennis Dixon Be All That Steelers Nation Hopes For?

Nick Laham/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 21: Dennis Dixon #10 of the Pittsburgh Steelers drops back to pass against the New York Giants during their preseason game at New Meadowlands Stadium on August 21, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Ge

Since the suspension of Ben Roethlisberger, and subsequent trade for Byron Leftwich, the biggest talk in Pittsburgh is, who would be the starter come Week 1?

The debate raged on through preseason, with Mike Tomlin having the question answered for him, when Byron Leftwich sprained his MCL, and lost for 2-4 weeks during the fourth preseason game.

Dixon will get the start, much to the delight of most of Steelers Nation. Steelers fans have wanted to see exactly how good Dixon would be able to be, once he had the chance to showcase his skills.

Will The Steelers Be Committed to the Success Of The Running Game?

Larry French/Getty Images

BALTIMORE - NOVEMBER 29: Rashard Mendenhall #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs the ball against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 29, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Steelers 20-17. (Photo by Larry French/Getty I

The 2009 Steelers running game in short yardage situations was unacceptable. There were many games that the Steelers lost as a result of it.

It was so bad that even Art Rooney II, stated that the Steelers will be recommitted to making the running game work.

The real question now is, the Falcons know this, and they are to be certain to put 8-9 men in the box, to force the Steelers to pass? Probably.

What are the Steelers going to do, to counter? It will be something to watch for.

How Will Isaac Redman Do In The Short Yardage Role?

Nick Laham/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 21: Isaac Redman #33 of the Pittsburgh Steelers rushes in for a touchdown against the New York Giants during their preseason game at New Meadowlands Stadium on August 21, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick L

After spending a year on the Steelers practice squad, Isaac "Red Zone" Redman is going to be the short yardage back the Steelers have been looking for since the retirement of Jerome Bettis.

Mike Tomlin stated on post-gazette.com, that Redman has a specific role with the Steelers, and that will be short yardage.

Will Red Zone fill the shoes that Jerome Bettis once left?

Will The Steelers Miss Santonio Holmes?

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 22: Wide receiver Mike Wallace #17 jumps on the back of teammate Hines Ward #86 of the Pittsburgh Steelers after scoring a touchdown in NFL game action against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on November 22, 2009 in

IF the Steelers are forced to put the ball in the air, how good are the Steelers receivers going to be?

There is little question that Hines Ward is one of the best in the NFL, but at age 34, he is not the young man he once was. He is getting up in age, and the younger guys are going to have to step up.

Will Mike Wallace be able to fill the shoes of Santonio Holmes? He has done a respectable job in the preseason, and looks like he is nearing the level Holmes was already.

The real question is, will either Emmanuel Sanders or Antonio Brown step up to fill the shoes Mike Wallace had last year?

Will The Offensive Line Hold Up?

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 01: Offensive linemen (L-R) Willie Colon #74, Darnell Stapleton #72, Justin Hartwig #62, Chris Kemoeatu #68 and Max Starks #78 of the Pittsburgh Steelers stand in the huddle against the Arizona Cardinals during Super Bowl XLIII on Fe

Almost half of the Steelers offensive line has been replaced since last season. This is not necessarily a bad thing, when most people believe that the offensive line is the biggest weakness of the team.

There are two players that were starting for the Steelers, that will not be a part of the teams success in 2010.

In the first instance, first round draft choice, Maurkice Pouncey will take over for Justin Hartwig. Hartwig was not able to save his job, and hold off the rookie.

Flozell Adams will replace Willie Colon, which could go a way toward an improved running game. Adams is better than Colon at the running game, and if he adapts well enough to the right side, which he seems to be doing,  will make it worth the money they are paying him.

Will Bruce Arians Call Plays to The Strength Of His Players?

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

LATROBE, PA - AUGUST 8: Bruce Arians, offensive Coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers, talks with Hines Ward #86 during training camp at St. Vincent College on August 8, 2007 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. (Photo By Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

One of the biggest questions for the Steelers against the Falcons, how will Bruce Arians call the game?

Unlike most games, when you are starting a player for the first (or second) time, you are going to have to play to his strengths. Arians is going to have to allow Dennis Dixon to play the way that he can play the best, but at the same time, he has to mix the game plan up enough to keep the Falcons from knowing what is happening.

Will Arians be able to make the adjustments?

Will Troy Polamalu Return to His All Pro Form?

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH - OCTOBER 25: Visanthe Shiancoe #81 of the Minnesota Vikings can't make a catch with pressure from Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field on October 25, 2009 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh won 27-17. (Photo by Rick

In the Steelers opening game of 2009, during the first half, Troy Polamalu looked like he could be the best player in the NFL. Breaking up passes, making tackles behind the line of scrimmage, and interception that was one of the best plays of the year.

And he did it all in less than one half.

When Polamalu was lost for the season, the Steelers defense suffered more than anyone had expected. They were ranked 16th against the pass, after being the top defense against the pass the year before.

If Polamalu can return to form, you can expect big things out of the Steelers defense in 2010.

One of the most important things we will learn out of the Falcons game is, the health of Troy Polamalu.

Will Ziggy Hood Be The Force That the Steelers Hoped He Would Be?

Larry French/Getty Images

BALTIMORE - NOVEMBER 29: Ziggy Hood #96 of the Pittsburgh Steelers signals possesion of a Ravens fumble during the game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on November 29, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens defeated the Steelers 20-17.

When the Steelers drafted Ziggy Hood in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft, he was not expected to contribute right away. Much to the surprise of many, as the season went on, Hood earned some playing time, and played well.

Hood had a great training camp, but a slow preseason. Some people think Hood is not ready to step up as and earn his time on the line, while others believe it was the basic game plan that kept Hood from playing great.

Either way, first round draft picks are expected to play well in their second season, and this is the time for Ziggy Hood to shine.

Will he be able to?

Will James Farrior Play The Passing Downs?

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

DENVER - AUGUST 29: Linebacker James Farrior #51 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is attended to after loosing his helmet and bleeding from an injury on the play in the first quarter against the Denver Broncos during preseason NFL action at INVESCO Field at Mi

It became clear during the 2009 season, that James Farrior was no longer playing at an elite level. Maybe it was because of the injury to Aaron Smith in front of him, or possibly the injury to Troy Polamalu behind hi.

Either way, James Farrior showed that even though he is still an animal on running plays, he is now a liability in pass coverage.  Lawrence Timmons is going to be the obvious choice on third downs, but what about second?

Against the Falcons, and Michael Turner, we will see if James Farrior is capable of covering running backs out of the back field anymore?

Will The Steelers Secondary Return to Their 2008 Form?

Andy Lyons/Getty Images

CINCINNATI - OCTOBER 19: Bryant McFadden #20 of the Pittsburgh Steelers jogs on the field during the NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on October 19, 2008 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)

After dominating the passing game in 2008, the Steelers secondary fell to the middle of the road in 2009.  The result was the Super Bowl Victory in 2008 as opposed to missing the playoffs in 2009.

Maybe it was because Bryant McFadden had left for the Arizona Cardinals.  Maybe it was because Troy Polamalu was out most of the year with a knee injury.

Either way, both of those issues have been resolved, and the Steelers will receive their first test against Matt Ryan of the Falcons.

Can the Steelers shut down the passing attack of the Falcons?

Will The Special Teams Actually Be Special?

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH - AUGUST 14: Daniel Sepulveda #9 of the Pittsburgh Steelers congratulates teammate Jeff Reed #3 after kicking a field goal against the Detroit Lions during the preseason game on August 14, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Pho

The 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers special teams were anything but special.  Jeff Reed was Franchised, paying him the average of the top five kickers in the NFL, and is not happy.  How someone could be paid in the top five in the league at his position, and can not be happy is beyond me.

The kick off units MUST be better than they were in the past.  The punt return units have to be better.

Stefan Logan, who was supposed to be a return specialist showed that he was not capable of breaking a big run in any game, ending the season with as many scores ad I had, 0.

The Steelers drafted many players that would be able to come in and contribute on Special teams, including Jason Worilds, Thaddeus Gibson, and Stevensen Sylvester. All three, who will some day be active members of the defense, will need to step up, and make the Steelers special teams better.

Can the rookie class improve the Steelers special teams?

OOPS!

Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

DENVER - AUGUST 29: Head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers leads his team against the Denver Broncos during preseason NFL action at INVESCO Field at Mile High on August 29, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Steelers 34-17. (P

OK, that was 11.  The last one was extra credit I guess.

Take this challenge, answer the questions, and check back on Monday for the recap of how the Steelers answered these questions against the Atlanta Falcons.

If you want credit for being right, you have to answer in the comments.

Who ever gets the most right, wins a free year on Bleacher,