The Many Misconceptions of Pittsburgh's Much Maligned Start

For the record, I don't like yardage statistics. They are deceiving and quite possibly mean absolutely nothing in the end. However so many people put so much stock into the numbers that I thought I’d provide some food for thought that will likely shock some based on their notions of how the six-time Champions have played thus far.

And while the best numbers in most categories on both sides of the ball did nothing for San Diego last year as they even missed the playoffs, I am not comparing these two teams at all. Just facts that I’m assuming few people have taken the time to notice in their early criticism.

But the Pittsburgh Steelers are 10th in total offense (rush: 11th, pass: 12th). However, they are 22nd in points scored at 19.8 a game.

Their total defense is No. 1 in yards against. And they do not allow a lot of points.

Since the week one drubbing by Baltimore, they’ve allowed 13.4 pts/gm. Unless I am mistaken, that is a league-best since that point. They are currently fourth in points against opponents scoring 17 per game over the season.

The defense is still good and stout, it's just on the field more because it is still stopping people but not making as many game-changing plays as it used to. And the offense has turned it over as well.

In week five, they poured it on the Titans. Last week, they did essentially nothing in the second half. While they are inconsistent, they are improving. And since when have the Steelers won pretty and by vast margins on a week-in week-out basis?

By the numbers, the Steelers are quite solid. A 4-2 record ain’t bad anywhere. Whether it is the offensive line's fault or carelessness with football, the offense needs to stop turning it over and produce more points. They need to keep up the tempo in games when they have a lead.

Jonathan Dwyer had one very long carry in his 100-yard game in Week 5. Other than that, the run game had been poor. Again, it is probably a bit of the changes on the line and just poor performance by the backs.

Rashard Mendenhall finally had a good game last time out with 146 yards on 23 carries after missing a week of action.

Turnovers decide most professional football games. The Steelers are dead last at -10. That is the problem. The defense has one interception and fumble each while the offense has given away six per stat.

That is why their 4-2 record feels like a bad 4-2 to many. All the other numbers are actually quite good that I was surprised myself.

However, people criticize them too much. I am not saying that the Steelers or any other team is free from negative press, but they were sacked one whole time in SB XLV when so much was made about Pouncey being out and Doug Legursky getting his first start in the biggest game in the world.

They have two very good young Gators, one of whom is already a pro-bowler, which means the line is going to be very strong in a couple of years, no? When they are older with a few seasons under their belts, the Steelers should have one of the bets o-lines correct? Their critics can’t have it both ways.

The Steelers run defense was never going to be as good as it was last year when it set multiple records. This season they will face arguably four of the top five running backs (excluding Adrian Peterson) in the league.

With the exception of another date with Ray Rice, they have already gotten all of the big names out of the way. It’s only uphill from here, and they are already improving, regardless of how big of strides they are taking weekly.

Ray Rice ran for 107 yards on 19 carries in week one against the defending division and conference Champions. They responded by holding Seattle’s rushing attack to 31 yards on 13 carries.

Joseph Addai had 86 yards on 17 carries the following week. The next week Arian Foster burst out 155 rush yards on 30 in Pittsburgh’s second loss.

They then held Chris Johnson to 51 yards on 14 carries, but who hasn’t stopped him this season? Johnson’s sole 100+ yard game came at Cleveland. His second best outing was 53 in the win versus Baltimore.

And last week Maurice Jones-Drew had 96 rushing yards on 22 carries.

The Steelers schedule is rather easy this year. Or at least it should be. I assume they will be favored in their remaining games but one: New England at home on October 30th. They also host Baltimore and go to San Francisco for a Monday Night game, but the Steelers should have a fair shot at winning both of those.

While Cincinnati has been a revelation, the Steelers will be expected to beat them twice.

The Texans had Mario Williams when they beat Pittsburgh. While Arian Foster was returning from injury, it is quite possible that he has become the best back in the league. Andre Johnson did exit with an injury, but so did James Harrison.

And of course the constant rearranging of the offensive line that they’ve had to deal with all year affected that game and every other. Many had Houston in the playoffs before Peyton Manning went down. Losing to them on the road early in the season is nothing to be ashamed of.

I don’t know if the offensive line is good enough to win three or four straight playoff games. But the Steelers are very capable of playing good, hard-nosed winning football. They are a real contender in the AFC.

Like a few others, I expected Big Ben and the offense to have a potent year. The Steelers have one of the deepest receiving corps. They have multiple good backs for any down and situation.

And so far, the defense (overall) is not much worse than last year's. It is giving up six less total yards and two-and-a-half more points per game. But yes I'd like the run defense to get stronger. Of course that is the case.

If some of the offensive linemen can stay healthy for weeks at a time; providing any consistency at all, they need to punch in a few more points and just create more turns that's all.

While these are not minor issues and it is quickly already a third of the way through the season, the Steelers are working on fixing these uncharacteristic traits.

Slowly but surely is a lot better than the bleak outlook the majority have pinned on them.

They have been hit by the injury bug early as well and that's fine, because they will continue to improve and peak at the right moment as usual.

All the criticism has been so overblown and some of it just absurd.

I don’t know how one person let alone an entire team becomes old over one summer and not even a full season but apparently the Steelers did it. Give me a break.

Have they not been up to standard? No one is saying they have. They have still looked poor while correcting the awful things they did in Week 1.

They still don’t look completely right because they are not—but to not only completely miss the improvement and disregard the much better numbers since that opening embarrassment is outrageous. And it’s disrespectful.

As this team gets guys back on both sides of the ball; if the offensive line has just some stability, and they work on their effort to play a full game like they’ve shown to do better than anyone the past few years, all will be well in Steel Town.

I have outlined a few issues. They are certainly still there. But it is obvious that this team, while getting into somewhat of a groove, is still getting good results.

I’m not at all saying the problems are fixed. But they have been in that process for about a month now. It has been slow and gradual, but they have a winning record and are within reach of a high playoff seed.

As they grow, it will be impossible to keep asking these frankly annoying questions of them.

To dismiss the Pittsburgh Steelers this season is just ridiculous. Simply, it’s stupid. And it’s disrespectful. Caution at your own risk.

The Steelers are never a favorite to win it all coming out of training camp, pre-season, or even when they put together a solid regular season and earn an opening-round bye. This has all the makings of another potentially great year when Pittsburgh is in the back of peoples’ minds.

We hear all too often analysts and fans saying “Why don’t we ever talk about this team?”

It’s as though they can’t keep doing it, playing such good football in their own authentic style. Maybe this is the year their run finally ends and changes are needed due to age but who knows.

What I know is it’s crazy to write them off. Look at the figures. They are on their way to making you ask the same questions, but not these new ones about their many problems. The old ones about how you always forget about them.

Teams who lose the Super Bowl often stink the next year. Considering the Pittsburgh Steelers usually take a step back after winning the Super Bowl, I actually think they have done a good job of damage control thus far.

Here we go Steelers, here we go.