Pittsburgh Steelers: Hines Ward and 4 Players Who Need to Step Up in Week 7

The Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Arizona Cardinals in University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday.  Ben Roethlisberger leads a streaking, but injured, Steelers franchise into the West to look for its third straight win since losing the last time the Steelers crossed the Mississippi.

While Sunday’s matchup doesn’t appear difficult for Mike Tomlin’s team, the Cardinals are coming off a Bye when they’ve had a chance to regroup and salvage their season.  Currently, they’re third in the NFC West and looking for momentum. 

A win over the Steelers would certainly give the Cardinals a boost before they return to their NFC schedule.

Who needs to step up and lead this Steelers team which nearly gave the game away against a bad Jacksonville Jaguars team?

Championship Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger

Ben Roethlisberger had an excellent game against the Tennessee Titans, lighting them up for 228 yards and five touchdowns.  Against the Jaguars, Roethlisberger came out strong in the first half, leading his team to a 17-3 halftime advantage. 

The second half proved stagnant and frustrating for the Steelers quarterback, as Pittsburgh struggled to do anything more offensively.

If the Steelers are going to avoid a “trap” game against the Cardinals, Roethlisberger is going to have to take charge of his offense and offer a dominant performance to show Arizona whose field it really is.

Backup Safety Will Allen

Though Troy Polamalu is listed as probable for Sunday’s game, there is still a slight chance he won’t play.  Even more likely is that another shot to the head and Polamalu will have to leave the game.

Will Allen will have to be ready as Polamalu’s backup.  The Steelers know they lose something when their starter isn’t playing, expectations aren’t as high for the Ohio State product, but Allen will have to perform solidly and avoid mental mistakes against a quarterback who was a prolific passer at the University of Houston. 

If Allen enters the game, you can bet Arizona’s Kolb will take a deep shot at him immediately.  Will Allen be up to the task?

Tackle Max Starks

Max Starks came back to the Steelers with much fanfare before the Tennessee game.  Unfortunately, however, the Pittsburgh offensive line is still porous, and teams are still getting to Roethlisberger regularly. 

There are rumbles among fans wondering if Starks is really the answer for the line or if he’s ever the man to possess his tackle spot.

Though many of the criticisms are uncalled for, Starks has an opportunity to silence any doubters on Sunday.  The Cardinals are 20th in the league against both the run and the pass, which means they aren’t getting much pass rush or defending the run very well. 

If Starks can rally this offensive line and give Roethlisberger time to throw against the Arizona defense, he should prove himself a capable leader and deserving of his spot at tackle.

Defensive Lineman Hood, Hoke & Kiesel

The defensive line must step up against this Arizona team that likes to pass.  It’ll have to disrupt Kevin Kolb so the secondary can stop any Cardinals attempt to find a rhythm against the Steelers.  Arizona is desperate to salvage its season, and it’s going to hang its hat largely on its passing game.

But, the defensive line can’t be fooled.  Though the Cardinals are 21st in rushing, they have a solid running back in Beanie Wells who is averaging 4.8 yards per carry with six touchdowns.  If the Steelers defensive line can pressure Kolb while containing Wells, the second tier of Pittsburgh’s defense can focus on assisting the secondary against the pass.

Ziggy Hood, Chris Hoke, and Brett Kiesel are more than capable of handling this Arizona offensive line, but will they do enough to stop a potentially explosive Cardinals attack?

Veteran Receiver Hines Ward

Hines Ward is the leader of this Steelers receiving corp, having 14 years in the league.  Despite his experience, he’s kept a relatively low profile this season, while his more youthful counterparts have soaked up the stats. 

Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace are immature compared to their aging mentor.  Ward must reign in these future stars, teaching them the merits of discipline routes and doing the little things correctly. 

There is arguably no better blocker in the NFL than Ward, so it would be wise to teach these youths his skills.  There is no better team for Ward to impart his wisdom than against this struggling Cardinals defense.

Ward needs to step up to show Brown and Wallace how receiver is played.  Not only is important to the future of the program, but Ward needs to show the Steelers organization that he still matters.