Pittsburgh Steelers: Veteran Team Well-Positioned for Lockout

As each day passes, it is just one less that players have to prepare for the 2011 NFL season, that is if it is even played.

Unlike a young, up-and-coming team, the Pittsburgh Steelers find themselves in a good spot during the lockout.

With Ike Taylor as the team’s only major free agent, the Steelers expect to have at least 21-of-22 starters returning. If he returns, Pittsburgh will have all of their starters back, plus a healthy Max Starks and Aaron Smith.

The lack of offseason workouts has meant that the veterans have had extra time to rest and according to Ryan Clark, the rest has been welcomed.

“The good thing for us is there are no spring chickens on defense,” Clark told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s Ed Bouchette. “This time’s been good for healing of your bodies. The mental part? We know how to play football. We know how to run cover 3. That dog blitz will still be deadly. We’ll be fine.”

The Steelers will be fine. The defense is a close, veteran group who has been at or near the top of the NFL the past few seasons and new comer, Ziggy Hood, finally got acclimated at the end of last season.

Pittsburgh also had the run to the Super Bowl which gave their young players a full month of extra preparation.

Three extra games in the playoffs allowed Maurkice Pouncey, Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown, as well as the team’s other rookies extra time in the film room getting ready for the most intense football that they will ever play.

The extra time in game preparation and game experience is something that only a handful of teams had. This momentum should help carry these players into their second seasons and put them ahead of other second year players around the league.

For Pittsburgh rookies, they will not get a chance to learn the playbook and work with their coaches, but when it comes down to it, they are not expected to play a significant role anyway.

Cameron Heyward, the Steelers' first-round draft choice, figures to be one of the first players on the field. Even with a full offseason, he still would have found himself at no higher than fifth on the team’s depth chart.

Pittsburgh could have used Curtis Brown to make an impact, and he still may be able to play come this fall. Though he would not have a firm grasp of the defense, Brown could get by on athletic ability if he is able to stick with receivers.

Granted, at some point this season, Pittsburgh will need its rookies and other young players to take an increased role in the team, just not to the extent of a team that is building a young roster.

That doesn’t mean that the Steelers can sit back and relax, though. Several teammates have been working out with trainer Tom Shaw in Florida and a select group of offensive players have worked out locally in sessions organized by Ben Roethlisberger.

Others, such as defensive tackle Chris Hoke, have been working out on their own.

“I’m doing the same workouts I always do in June and July,” Hoke told the Post-Gazette. “On Monday, I go to the gym, work out, go down to the soccer fields by my house, run cone drills and stuff.”

Larry Foote has been working out on his own as well but is looking forward to re-joining his teammates.

“You miss your boys,” Foote told the Post-Gazette. “That football itch is starting to come back.”

With only a couple of months until training camp would usually start, that is not a surprise. But what if a labor deal isn’t ready in time for training camp? Foote doesn’t believe that there would be a problem.

“Call us in the middle of August, and we’ll be ready to go for the first week.”

The Steelers may not be running smoothly on such short notice, but they should certainly be in better position than most in the league.

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