Pittsburgh Steelers: In-Depth Look at Offensive Depth Chart Shows Few Problems

Every team has definite strength and weaknesses. Sometimes, the beauty of a roster is only as deep as the starters. Other teams have poor veteran starters but a wealth of talented, youthful backups.

For the Pittsburgh Steelers, it's a little bit of both. They certainly have the starting talent. No team that makes it to the Super Bowl does so without that. But how good is the depth on this team? Is age creeping up on them or are they prepared to replace whatever they need?

Here's a look inside the Pittsburgh offensive depth chart.

Quarterbacks

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers drops back against the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

Starter: Ben Roethlisberger

Backups: Byron Leftwich, Charlie Batch, Dennis Dixon

Analysis

You have to figure that one of Batch and Leftwich, if not both, will be gone before the team opens camp in July. It just doesn't figure that the Steelers would attempt to keep four quarterbacks.

They are still hopeful that youngster Dennis Dixon can prove a capable backup for Roethlisberger, who is unquestionably one of the most talented elite passers in the league. Dixon, so far, has been rather quixotic. If he can improve his accuracy and his defensive reads before the snap, he can become a serviceable backup.

Batch is due to retire at some point and take on another role with the organization. The Steelers value his steady hand in the development of Roethlisberger, so it would be surprising to see them let him go somewhere else. His on-field value is slowly declining.

Leftwich never played after being re-acquired during the Roethlisberger legal mess, injuring an MCL in the final preseason game. He's not mobile and isn't particularly accurate. He's an okay backup, but the team might opt for a younger player and Leftwich may want to go somewhere where there's a glimmer of hope that he'll play.

Final Postion Grade: B

Running Backs/Fullbacks

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Rashard Mendenhall #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers tries to avoid the tackle of Clay Matthews #52 of the Green Bay Packers during the third quarter of Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas.

Starters: Rashard Mendenhall (RB), David Johnson (FB)

Backups: Isaac Redman (RB/FB), Mewelde Moore (3rd Down RB), Jonathan Dwyer (RB), Frank Summers (Practice Squad, FB)

Analysis

This is probably one of the deepest units on the team. They are all younger. Moore is the oldest and his role is not nearly as essential given the emergence of Redman.

Rashard Mendenhall is a more than capable feature back and his impact on the team should only increase as they gain more confidence in him and as the talent along the offensive line improves. He's a punishing runner who has great vision, speed, and elusiveness. One of the best things is that he keeps his legs churning through hits and often takes tacklers for a ride. He's put together two 1,000+ yard seasons. That trend should continue.

Redman is a good second option. He's big and tough, able to get yards up the middle and also as a receiver out of the backfield. He's also got decent wheels for his size. He should eventually ascend to the role of 3rd down back in addition to spelling Mendenhall on earlier downs.

Moore is reaching the limit of his effectiveness in Pittsburgh's scheme and it wouldn't be a surprise if he was on the bubble in training camp. Dwyer is raw but talented and could push him for a roster spot after appearing only once as a rookie.

At fullback, Frank Summers will again push David Johnson for a spot, but Johnson proved to be such a tough, successful blocker last year that it would be a shock to see him not continue to play the fullback position in the offense. Fullback isn't essential to their current scheme, so having a full-time player there is unnecessary. Johnson can also play tight end.

Final Position Grade: A

Wide Receivers

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 15: Wide Receiver Hines Ward #86 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after defeating the Baltimore Ravens 31-24 in the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Heinz Field on January 15, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gregor

Starters: Hines Ward, Mike Wallace

Backups: Antwaan Randle El, Emmanuel Sanders, Antonio Brown, Arnaz Battle, Tyler Grisham (Practice Squad)

Analysis

This is another position of strength, but only for as long as Hines Ward is around. Ward just completed his 13th year in the NFL. Due to his style of play, he's starting to slow down. His statistics dipped markedly this season. He's still got a lot left in the tank, but it wouldn't be a shock to see him retire in another year or two.

Wallace is emerging as one of the league's top players. He has blazing speed, great hands and runs crisp routes. He's a complete receiver at the entry his third year. He was a draft steal, one of many for Kevin Colbert, and figures to only get better as his rapport with Ben Roethlisberger develops further. The two seemed out of sync for stretches during the season, so it's reasonable to think Wallace could be even better than his stellar 2010 numbers indicate.

Randle El is a nice gadget piece, but isn't a true threat at receiver anymore. He's been supplanted in Pittsburgh by a combination of Sanders and Brown, two rookies that were much better than expected after being taken in the middle and late rounds of the draft. Both figure to have bright futures. Sanders may eventually replace Ward as a starter, although there's a lot of time between now and then.

Battle is strictly a special teams player and Grisham is a perennial camp participant with little chance of cracking the active roster.

Final Position Grade: A

Tight Ends

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Heath Miller #83 of the Pittsburgh Steelers is tackled after a catch by Desmond Bishop #55 of the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Gett

Starter: Heath Miller

Backups: Matt Spaeth, David Johnson, Eugene Bright (Practice Squad)

Analysis

Miller is one of the most underrated pieces of this offense. He had a statistically off year, but there's no reason to believe that he won't rebound with a full season of work with Ben Roethlisberger, who considers Miller one of his top targets. Miller is a strong receiver and blocker, so his value to the team cannot be understated.

Spaeth is a quality veteran, but he looked poor when replacing the injured Miller late in the season. He is a much better blocker than receiver, but can catch the occasional pass. He would be a starter on some teams that don't use tight ends in the passing game.

Johnson is primarily the team's fullback, but he's shown an ability to block from the tight end spot as well and is able to make some catches when necessary. He might be a more versatile weapon than Spaeth given his ability to play fullback.

Bright is another player who's best value is strictly on the Practice Squad.

Final Position Grade: A

Offensive Line

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Maurkice Pouncey #53 of the Pittsburgh Steelers lines up against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Geoff Burke/Getty Images)

Starters: Maurkice Pouncey (C), Ramon Foster (RG), Chris Kemoeatu (LG), Willie Colon (RT), Max Starks (LT)

Backups: Flozell Adams, Trai Essex, Jonathan Scott, Chris Scott, Tony Hills, Doug Legursky, Dorian Brooks (Practice Squad), Kyle Jolly (Practice Squad)

Analysis

This unit was hard to judge in 2010 because they were decimated by injuries. Every player on the line spent a part of the season injured. Colon never made it out of camp. Starks was gone by the season's halfway point.

It's safe to say that Adams won't be back and that Essex, Jonathan Scott, and Tony Hills are fringe players at best. All could be gone if the line gets a major overhaul in free agency and the draft.

Pouncey lived up to his status as a first rounder, starting every game but the Super Bowl and earning a Pro Bowl nod in his rookie year. He was sturdy, versatile, and steady. He was able to make all the line calls and was the team's most consistent lineman.

Foster stepped in at right guard after Essex was hurt and ineffective and he proved to be a capable player. There's every reason to believe he'll be allowed to challenge for that job again in camp this season. He's a sturdy run blocker and isn't a liability in the passing game. He'll improve with time and could be a piece for the future.

One of the big off-season questions will be resigning Colon. If the team can get him healthy and at an injury discount, he'll definitely be back. If he's still looking for a big payday, he may go elsewhere.

Kemoeatu was steady but unspectacular. He's also prone to anger outbursts and bad penalties. He's inconsistent, something that will have to change if he is to remain a fixture at left guard. The position is highly important in the Pittsburgh rushing attack.

Starks was effective before being injured and will likely be ready for camp. If he can put together another strong campaign, it would go a long way toward justifying the big payday he received in his last contract. So far, he's not lived up to that billing.

Legursky is the team's most versatile player. He's played all of the offensive line positions and is also a fullback when needed. He proved his worth in two playoff games at center and could challenge for a starting job at one of the other four spots this year in camp. He's got a bright future for sure.

There's not much to make of the others. Scott, Jolly, and Brooks played no role in the team this year and Hills, for all the injuries, only saw a few snaps. None are locks to be back.

Final Position Grade: C+