Pittsburgh Steelers: Why the Steelers Are the Class of the AFC in 2011

As players, owners, and fans alike hope for a 2011 season that is not marred by labor dispute and unrest, the time has come to start putting together some very early and premature predictions about how, if the season is played, things will shake out.

The 2010 AFC Champions Pittsburgh Steelers will return to the field in the fall set to prove that they can once again be a dominant force in the league and that they can survive a Super Bowl loss and use that setback as motivation toward future successes.

Here are six reasons to consider the Steelers the class of the AFC in 2011.

1. Champion Status

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PITTSBURGH - DECEMBER 19: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers hands off to Rashard Mendenhall #34 during their game agasint the New York Jets at Heinz Field on December 19, 2010 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Karl Walter/Getty Image

The Steelers are not accustomed to losing Super Bowls. 6-2 overall in title game play, this will be the first time since 1996 that the team will take place as vanquished AFC Champions.

Teams do not usually respond well under such pressures. For Pittsburgh, the outcome could be much the opposite. The past two times the team won the Super Bowl, they had mediocre results the following season. Pittsburgh seems to thrive as the underdog. Losing the Super Bowl could prove to be a powerful motivator for the players.

If the Steelers seize the underdog role as usual, they may be very, very dangerous in the conference this season.

2. Talent Level

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Troy Polamalu #43 of the Pittsburgh Steelers lines up on defense against the Green Bay Packers during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. The Packers won 31-25. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/G

Few teams in either conference boast the talent level that Pittsburgh does at virtually every position.

The Steelers have on their roster an elite, championship quarterback, one of the best (if not the best) safeties in the NFL, a running back that will only improve on already stellar numbers as the offensive line in front of him grows, and the league's top linebacker corps.

In addition to that, the Steelers also boast one of the most talented receiving corps in the NFL and a defensive line that, despite age, always seems to perform at a high level.

Add all of that together and you have a roster that's poised to compete for a championship every season.

3. Coaching Staff

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ARLINGTON, TX - FEBRUARY 06: Ben Roethlisberger #7 and head coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers look on during the National Anthem during Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium on February 6, 2011 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Im

As if the talent on the player roster is not enough, the Steelers also have a championship-caliber coaching staff.

Mike Tomlin is one of the best motivators in the NFL. He knows what buttons to push and what calls to make to keep the team atop the standings. He did arguably the best coaching job of his career in 2010 and will be tasked with motivating the Steelers to remain competitive in 2011 despite falling just short the previous season. If anyone is equal to the task, it is Tomlin.

Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau is the league's finest coordinator and his ability to shape young talent and to get the most out of veterans has helped make the Steelers' defense among the NFL's best year after year.

The Steelers also possess one of the best sets of position coaches in the league, led by up and coming offensive line coach Sean Kugler, who's work with spare parts helped put the Steelers in the Super Bowl and by linebacker coach and coordinator heir-apparent Keith Butler, who's helped grow so many young, talented linebackers into perennial Pro Bowl performers.

4. The Level of Competition

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FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 16: Quarterback Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots throws a pass during their 2011 AFC divisional playoff game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium on January 16, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty

While the level of talent in the AFC has vastly improved in the last few years, only a handful of teams in the conference can be considered elite. All, just like Pittsburgh, have questions surrounding them as the league waits for 2011.

For their part, the Steelers must answer whether they can plug the holes so easily exploited by Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. They also must show that they can recover quickly from disappointment and buck the trend of Super Bowl losers.

Among the other AFC teams, only New England and Indianapolis can be considered truly elite. Indianapolis appears to be aging and must answer the question of what will happen if Peyton Manning's supporting cast falters once again. New England is always competitive but must answer the question of why they have begun bowing out early in the playoffs.

Among the rest, only the New York Jets and Baltimore Ravens present a consistent challenge to the top spot in the AFC.

The class of the AFC isn't just one team, but Pittsburgh must be mentioned with New England and Indianapolis in that regard.

5. Draft Day Success

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GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 25: Offensive lineman Marcus Gilbert #76 of the Florida Gators takes a breather during a stoppage in play against the Kentucky Wildcats at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 25, 2010 in Gainesville, Florida. Florida defeate

On the days of the draft, the Steelers enjoyed their usual success. They plucked a talented defensive end that should have gone much higher, a sturdy and talented offensive tackle, a likely future starter at the corner position, and several talented players that have great potential to grow in the Pittsburgh style and system.

The draft was all the more important this year because of the lack of free agency beforehand. With the draft becoming the first opportunity of any team to improve the roster, the Steelers managed to fill major needs while still receiving great talent.

Pittsburgh increased its depth at key positions and ensured that they could outlast injuries yet again should they arise with the frequency that marked the 2010 season.

6. Expectations

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BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 05: Wide receiver Hines Ward #86 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on while playing against the Baltimore Ravens during the fourth quarter of the game at M&T Bank Stadium on December 5, 2010 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Geof

Fans of other teams and NFL pundits will likely expect and predict the Steelers to struggle, citing their struggles in the Super Bowl and the lack of a proven shutdown corner among other reasons.

The Steelers will likely thrive on this.

And they will ask the same question of their detractors that I ask you now for our last point:

Why NOT the Steelers?