Pittsburgh Steelers: Earning a B+ and Other Midseason Thoughts
Eight games are in the books and, for the Pittsburgh Steelers, it's been a very successful first half of the 2010 season.
The Steelers, who sit at 6-2 and tied for first place with Baltimore atop the AFC North, can't rest on their laurels, however. They tried last year after a 6-2 start and ended up finishing 3-5. This team must continue to step up and deliver. If they do, it could be a seventh Super season in the Steel City.
Here are some mid-season thoughts on the Pittsburgh Steelers and a look ahead at the second half of the 2010 NFL season.
1. Grading The First Half
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Overall Team Grade: B+
The Steelers, as a team, have overcome the adversity of losing a star wide receiver (Santonio Holmes) in the offseason, having to play four games without their star quarterback, and a host of injuries.
They're 6-2 when most expected them to be 4-4 at best.
But they aren't perfect. Giving them an "A" is impossible until they learn how to finish off teams. They're still too shaky in the fourth quarter and the offense has yet to find consistency. Those two items drop them to a B+.
Considering that many thought this team was on the verge of collapse after all of the offseason turmoil, a B+ is an excellent grade.
Position Grades and Comments
Quarterback: A-
Hard to find any fault here. Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch filled in admirably during a 3-1 start and Ben Roethlisberger looks to be in the best shape of his career.
Running Backs: B-
Rashard Mendenhall has been stellar. Isaac Redman and Mewelde Moore have both contributed as well. The problem is that there is a lack of consistency here. They also have trouble near the goal line. That's got to change.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: B+
Mike Wallace has emerged as a huge threat. Hines Ward is still at the top of his game. The supporting cast is also good. Heath Miller has to become more of a factor, though. There have been a few costly mistakes by this group, but overall they're excellent.
Offensive Line: B
A unit that was maligned has prospered. Rookie Maurkice Pouncey is a force at center. Doug Legursky is emerging as a great lineman. Flozell Adams has been better than expected. If not for injuries, this unit would be even better. They've got to gel just a little bit more.
Defensive Line: A
It's hard to beat these guys up. Casey Hampton has done well and is staying healthy for a change. Aaron Smith's loss is a huge blow, but Ziggy Hood and Nick Eason are filling in well for him and also for Brett Keisel, who was having a good year until his hamstrings betrayed him.
Linebackers: A+
Lawrence Timmons is having his breakout season. James Harrison and Lamarr Woodley have been spectacular. James Farrior is proving ageless like Ward. The youngsters are even excelling.
Secondary: C
Troy Polamalu has been a non-factor for the most part. Ryan Clark is playing well. Ike Taylor and Bryant McFadden have been serviceable, but not spectacular. This unit is their biggest weakness.
Specialists: B
Jeff Reed's misses have cost the team. Otherwise, the coverage units are spectacular, Daniel Sepulveda has become real weapon, and the returners are having a good season as well.
2. Coaching Concerns
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Offensive Coordination
Bruce Arians is probably the most talked-about assistant coach on the team. Not much of the talking is good.
The biggest problem with the team's offense is that it lacks consistency while not lacking talent. Some days they look good, some they don't. They even change identity during games. It's somewhat disturbing. It also makes for a very dangerous brand of football.
Arians needs to commit to being either a passing team or a running team. He also needs to start becoming less predictable on first and second down by mixing in some effective passes with play action and running plays. Currently, the Steelers run on a very high percentage of first and second downs. This trend needs to end.
Arians likely will be replaced at season's end, but his inability to be unpredictable and his unit's lack of identity could hurt the Steelers' title hopes.
Defensive Breakdowns
There is no disputing Dick LeBeau's genius or his ability to call one of the most devastating defenses in the NFL.
This year and last year, however, there has been a marked lack of finish to their efforts. The Steelers, usually so good at shutting opponents down, have struggled to finish teams off in the fourth quarter. Against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football, it almost cost them a win.
The secondary is also a big concern, as teams are successfully passing on the Steelers. LeBeau needs to bring the pressure even more often late in games and try to keep quarterbacks from having time to beat his weak secondary.
He also needs to get more out of Troy Polamalu. The Pro Bowl safety's lack of impact has been troubling. Now is the time for him to breakout again and become the dangerous force he has been throughout his career.
3. First Half Surprises
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Lawrence Timmons
Timmons' emergence has made the Steelers' always dangerous linebacker corps even more threatening. He's proved to be both an effective blitzing threat and an intelligent run stopper. He rarely gets fooled and his ability to crash in behind Casey Hampton as well as use his speed to make it around the line has been essential to the team's success. He's primed for his first Pro Bowl appearance if he can keep this up.
Mike Wallace
Wallace was excellent as a rookie slot receiver and he's carried that ability over to this year as a starter. His blazing speed is a huge weapon with a quarterback who can stretch the field with his arm strength. He also is sure-handed and precise. His long touchdown catches also have had the added effect of making the team's running game more potent. He is starting to draw double teams, which leaves Hines Ward and Heath Miller free to roam the field.
The 3-1 Start
Everyone said how nice it would be if they could bring Roethlisberger back with a 2-2 record. Most people thought they'd be 1-3. Unbelievably, the Steelers handed Big Ben a 3-1 record thanks to some lights-out defense and some timely offensive plays. That 3-1 record has been duplicated by Roethlisberger and has the Steelers in prime position to return to the post-season with a good finish.
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4. Looking Ahead: Game By Game Thoughts
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New England Patriots (Home)
Another big test. Coming off a loss to Cleveland, the Patriots will be angry and determined. The Steelers are off a big win in Cincinnati and a three game road trip, but must not be fooled into a false sense of security. One of two big tests in the second half. A win would make them favorites in the conference. A loss wouldn't be devastating but would create a question about their ability against the AFC elite.
Oakland Raiders (Home)
The Raiders are playing their best football in nearly a decade. The Steelers match up favorably against them, however. Oakland doesn't have the receiving threats of most teams and their biggest threat, running back Darren McFadden, is likely to be neutralized by the Steelers' defense. The Steelers simply need to limit mistakes and they should triumph.
Buffalo Bills (Away)
Buffalo is currently 0-8, but they are a passing team that is playing very, very tight games with almost everyone. The Steelers should win this game, but have to be concerned about the passing game of the Bills.
Baltimore Ravens (Away)
This game will likely decide the division. The two teams have played to a tie in the standings. A Pittsburgh victory would give them a game over their biggest rivals. A Pittsburgh loss would likely put Pittsburgh into a wild card spot. With Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers likely would have won the Week 4 matchup, so they will be looking to prove themselves the true AFC North powerhouse in this game.
Cincinnati Bengals (Home)
Back to back division games are brutal. The Steelers narrowly beat Cincinnati on Monday Night Football, but would have thrashed the Bengals if they'd been able to finish off games defensively. In the rematch, the Steelers will need to be every bit as aggressive and will need to find a way to prevent any late-game heroics by Carson Palmer and Terrell Owens.
New York Jets (Home)
This will be another big test. The Jets have proven to be somewhat mistake prone on offense. If Pittsburgh can capitalize, they will likely win the game. This probably won't be a high-scoring affair with two of the league's best defenses on the field. With offense at a premium, mistake free football will be a must. Also, this will be Santonio Holmes' first game against his old team. Stopping him will be essential.
Carolina Panthers (Home)
The Panthers are 1-7 and haven't proven dangerous to anyone. With the Steelers likely to be fighting for playoff positioning by this point, this is the perfect trap game. The Steelers will need to come out, take control early, and assert full control of the game. Playing down to an opponent is never good.
Cleveland Browns (Away)
The Steelers finish on the road against a Browns team that, since losing to Pittsburgh in Week 6, has been exceeding expectations. Colt McCoy has been dangerous at quarterback and Peyton Hillis is a huge weapon. The Steelers may or may not need this victory, but beating Cleveland is always a point of pride for this franchise, so look for the Steelers to try to take over early and put the game out of reach.
5. Second Half Predictions
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Overall Record: 12-4
I think the Steelers can beat the Patriots and Jets, but if they are going to lose again, those are the two teams where it makes the most sense. After last year, I don't see the Bills, Browns, or Panthers trapping them into a loss to a weak opponent.
Division Standing: First Place, AFC North Champion
Baltimore is going to terrorize the Steelers down to the wire but, with a win against them in the rematch, they can likely take control of the division. A few other losses by the Ravens would help, but can't be counted on. The Ravens could easily take control if Pittsburgh loses. Both teams are playing well, so this will be a very close race.
Team MVP: Mike Wallace, WR
Wallace is the easy pick now, but that could change if someone else has a breakout performance. His ability to effect a game with his speed and hands is second to none. As he and Roethlisberger continue to get more comfortable together, he'll likely become the favorite target and will probably finish well over 1,000 receiving yards.
Most Intriguing Game Left on the Schedule
Pittsburgh @ Cleveland, Week 17: Can the upstart Browns beat their rivals? It's a compelling question now that they've knocked off New Orleans and New England.
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