Pittsburgh Steelers 2011 Schedule: One Major Reason to Be Optimistic Next Year

Pittsburgh Steelers fans can look forward to the announcement of next year's NFL schedule tonight more than most fans for a few reasons.

The team doesn't yet have any of the offseason turmoil that haunted them approaching last season. There are quite a few young players emerging that look set to shine in their second seasons, such as Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders.

However, the biggest reason for fans to be optimistic is the lack of elite quarterbacks the team will face. 

On their way to the Super Bowl in 2010, the Steelers lost four regular season games.

In two of those games they were convincingly beaten. The New England Patriots routed the team in Heinz Field while the Saints rode Drew Brees to victory in Louisiana.

Obviously, every defense struggles to shut down elite quarterbacks. For the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense, elite quarterbacks are the only thing that they really struggle against year in and year out.

Shutting down elite running backs such as Chris Johnson or Ray Rice isn't as intimidating a prospect for a team with the best run stuffing defensive line in the league. Rice had a total of 84 yards in three games against the Steelers while Johnson had a measly 34 yards on 16 carries last season.

Even the best of receivers can be contained in the right situation also. Roddy White did have 13 receptions against the Steelers on opening day last season but most of those yards were put up on repeated out routes. He never got behind the coverage (longest reception of 18 yards) while Troy Polamalu's game-changing interception occurred on the same pass route that he repeatedly ran.

Even very good quarterbacks struggle against Dick LeBeau's defense. With the talent that is emerging on the Steelers offense, teams will need to put up more points than they have in recent years.

Looking at the quarterbacks that the Steelers will face in 2011 only two can realistically be considered elite. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning are the only quarterbacks that will actually strike fear into the Steelers secondary.

Others such as David Garrard, Joe Flacco, Matt Schaub and Sam Bradford are all good quarterbacks but not elite. Garrard runs a run-first offense. Flacco has never beaten a Steelers team with Ben Roethlisberger at the helm. Schaub and Bradford are good, but quarterbacks tend to struggle during their first attempt at deciphering Dick LeBeau's defense.

Of last season's losses, only two were to teams without elite signal callers. The Baltimore Ravens snatched victory in Heinz Field during the final game of Ben Roethlisberger's suspension. The Jets snatched victory from the Steelers when Matt Spaeth dropped a touchdown pass on the final play which would have won them the game.

The Steelers went on to beat both of those teams, and their respective quarterbacks, in the playoffs before falling to another elite passer.

Aaron Rodgers is a special talent who the team won't have to face next year unless they meet the Packers again in the Super Bowl.

Instead, they fill out their schedule with matchups against Matt Hasselbeck, Matt Cassell and as of yet unknown quantities. The Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals are all unsure as to who will be under center for their respective offenses next year.

There are even quarterback issues within the division. Carson Palmer wasn't exactly stellar last season and doesn't want to return. Whether Palmer returns or not, the Steelers won't fear facing him. They beat the Bengals twice last year with him playing while the best of his potential replacements—Donovan McNabb, Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert—are not going to be in their primes next season.

Joe Flacco is set in Baltimore even if he has raised concerns over his contract and the tackle situation is a little murky but Colt McCoy has a lot to prove in his second year.  The signs were promising for McCoy during his rookie season but now he needs to take his game to the next level.

A lot is going to happen between now and the start of next season. 

The odds on any more elite passers being added to the Steelers' foes are very long.  That is something that should have Steelers fans anticipating another playoff appearance in 2011.

For any feedback, article updates or to simply talk sports, I am tweeting  @Cianaf