Pittsburgh Steelers Midseason Report Card

It is officially midseason, and the Pittsburgh Steelers have defied the expectations of many and stand at 6-2 and first place in the AFC North pending Sunday night's game against the New England Patriots at Heinz Field. Not many teams could have withstood the adversity that comes with having your franchise quarterback suspended for the first four games of the season, but the Steelers have. What follows is a look back at the season so far, with evaluations of each position as well as coaching.

Quarterback: B-

It was hard to settle on a grade for this position, given that there have been three different starters so far this season. The Steelers began the season with Dennis Dixon under center. There was talk around the time of the draft in some circles that the Steelers should trade Ben Roethlisberger and groom Dixon as the quarterback of the future.

Thank God the team didn't listen. In his two starts, he showed a lot of inconsistency and poor decision making. The play of the defense was the only reason the Steelers won those games. When Charlie Batch came in, he did what was expected of him; in other words he managed the game. He looked impressive against Tampa Bay, but was mediocre against Tennessee and Baltimore.

As for Ben Roethlisberger, it is clear to me that he is not up to full speed yet. However, I am confident he will get there as the season goes on.

Running Backs: B+

The Steelers rank 13th in the league in rushing, but starter Rashard Mendenhall has performed very well to this point. Since the return of Roethlisberger, the offense has utilized the passing game more with its main weapon back. In those first four games though, Mendenhall was invaluable. The running game could be better. The team lacks a second option at running back. Isaac Redman and Mewelde Moore have not offered much so far. Perhaps rookie Jonathan Dwyer could step up?

The other issue is the absence of a fullback. When they need a fullback, they have used TE David Johnson and OL Doug Legursky, but a more permanent fix is needed at this position. The success of the running game with FB Dan Kreider in the recent past is a good example of why this should have been taken care of in the offseason.

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends: A

Obviously, everyone knew that if Hines Ward was coming back for another season he would perform, and he has for the most part. Any anxiety over the departure of Santonio Holmes has been put to rest by the continued blossoming of Mike Wallace, who looks like a star in the making, and rookie Emmannuel Sanders' contributions have been promising.

The re-signing of Antwaan Randle El is looking good at this point too, with his decent contributions and what he can bring in terms of gadget plays, such as the touchdown pass he threw Monday night against the Bengals. Heath Miller has not made much of a mark so far in the passing game this season, but he still could redeem himself for that fumble against New Orleans. And besides, nobody has ever mistaken him for Antonio Gates or Dallas Clark.

Offensive Line: A-

The offensive line has to be given a high mark so far for two reasons. First of all, the choice to draft Maurkice Pouncey in the first round is looking better and better by the day. By all accounts, he is playing far beyond the level that a typical rookie center would play at.

Secondly, the line has been ravaged by injury. Before the season, starting T Willie Colon was lost for the year. T Max Starks was placed on IR this week. Trai Essex has missed time and Flozell Adams has been bothered by some injuries. Despite this, they have performed admirably, and it seems like new OL coach Sean Kugler may have something to do with that. The greatest testament for the success of the offensive line so far: Ben Roethlisberger has only been sacked seven times in four games.

Defensive Line: A

The loss of DE Aaron Smith for much of the season will hurt, but this unit has a lot to be proud of. They have been dominant against the run, holding Ray Rice to 20 yards and Chris Johnson to 34. Obviously the whole defense contributed, but the defensive line plays an important part. Backups Chris Hoke, Ziggy Hood and Nick Eason have stepped up all season when called upon, which makes the loss of Smith a bit easier to take.

Linebackers: A+

When was the last time the linebacking unit of the Steelers got a lesser grade? Lamarr Woodley, James Farrior, Lawrence Timmons and James Harrison, along with backups Larry Foote, Jason Worilds and Stevenson Sylvester are a formidable force on both defense and special teams. They have made big plays in every game, and should continue to do so.

Defensive Backs: C

Even with Troy Polamalu back, the secondary is still the defense's Achilles heel. The loss to New Orleans was one thing, same with the close game with Miami. Monday night's game against the Bengals was a near epic meltdown, though. In the fourth quarter, Carson Palmer was completing passes at will. It had the looks and feel of one of the many late game disasters that sunk the 2009 season. Sunday night's game against Tom Brady and the Patriots will test this unit greatly.

Special Teams: C

A low grade, but let me explain. Yes, the kickoff and punt return coverage has not been the fiasco it was last season. In fact, they have only allowed a few big returns and none of those for touchdowns. Yes, Daniel Sepulveda continues to be probably the most worthwhile fourth-rounder spent on a punter ever.

The problem this season with special teams has been Jeff Reed. So far this season, he has been very inconsistent, and has been missing kicks that observers of the team have come to expect him to make. In a contract year, this performance is highly unusual. The bottom line is the team needs Reed to improve as the season goes on.

Coaching: A+

Mike Tomlin has erased all doubt in his abilities as head coach with his performance this season. His handling of the Ben Roethlisberger suspension could not have been better. Nobody expected the Steelers to go 3-1 without Roethlisberger. He is tied with Tom Coughlin for second place in Coach Approval Ratings at 88 percent.

Of course, Tomlin's staff plays a role in this. Having Dick LeBeau as defensive coordinator is a huge advantage. Bruce Arians is not nearly the idiot that many Steeler fans make him out to be, and the new hires for Special Teams Coach and Offensive Line Coach appear to be working out nicely.