With the strain Ben Roethlisberger’s escapades put on the Pittsburgh Steeler organization in the offseason, many thought they would barely be able to even make it to the playoffs, much less make it all the way back to a seventh Super Bowl. Yet after all the drama, the inconsistency on offense and injuries to key positions, the Steelers went 12-4 are back in the big one. With a rough loss to the Patriots and a failed comeback against the Jets in the regular season, the Steelers didn’t look as reliable as usual. After huge wins over the Ravens and Jets in the playoffs, the Steelers have scrapped their way to Dallas. Let’s break down the roster.
When you talk Steelers, you have to examine their defense first. Still one of the best units in the NFL, they managed to keep the team ahead in the standings early in the season with a 3-1 record while Roethlisberger was out. At the front of their 3-4 scheme is nose tackle Casey Hampton, who even at 33 (and tenth year in the league) is still absorbing blockers and stuffing the run in the middle of opposing offensive lines. On his right is Brett Keisel, who has had a Pro Bowl season coming off the edge. (Not to mention he has the best beard in football. I mean seriously, have you SEEN this thing? It’s straight out of a Civil War reenactment. General Longstreet anyone?) Moving on, second year end Ziggy Hood has had a solid year anchoring the left side of the front, but he can’t get in the backfield with any regularity. His 300+ pound frame is there to shut down the running game by taking up as much space as possible. (As big guys tens to do.) Defensive end Aaron Smith has been out most of the season with a ruptured triceps, but the Steelers have hoped he might make an appearance in the playoffs. It’s still unlikely that he’ll be on the field, but nothing can be ruled out yet. He’s a great rusher, so if he can be used in passing situations and can give the defense anything, it might be worth it.
Where the Steelers really shine is in their line-backing corps. It’s hard to find any weakness in that unit. In spite of the fines for his vicious tackling, James Harrison has had another defensive MVP calibre year, with 10.5 sacks and 100 credited tackles. He’s still a beast and can wreak havoc off the edges. (Don’t forget his crazy play in the last Super Bowl he starred in.) On the opposite side, LaMarr Woodley is getting better with age. (Kinda.) He’s certainly not as fast as he used to be, but he knows exactly where to be in pass coverage and in run defense. In the middle, Farrior and Timmons may not be the biggest of ‘backers, but they complement each other extremely well. Farrior’s experience and Timmons’ youth provide Pittsburgh with an impressive interior defense.
In the secondary, not enough attention gets paid to Pittsburgh’s corners. Ike Taylor is the most underrated defensive back in the NFL. He’s 6’2” and nearly 200 pounds, so his speed, length and height let him match-up with just about any receiver. Bryant McFadden is a solid two and is a fantastic tackler. (Which is a trait most Steeler corners share.) William Gay will get duty at the nickel spot, but beyond him the depth chart gets dicey. At free safety, Ryan Clark has good range and lays the wood as well as anyone, but he can get exposed in pass coverage and can whiff on a tackle every now and again. Despite Defensive Player of the Year Honors, Troy Polamalu had an off year in my estimation. He was out for a few games with injury, had a few bad games down the stretch (in the playoffs, no less), but can still be the deciding factor on Sunday. He has tremendous instincts for the ball when it’s in the air and plays the run as well as any safety in the NFL. His blitzes can cause a problem for any offense and he becomes an extra run-stuffer near the goal line. His skill set is second to none.
On special teams, the Steelers have a serviceable return man in Antonio Brown. He has the ability to take it to the house, scoring a touchdown off a kick return this year. Kicker Shaun Suisham has looked solid in a Steeler uniform, but he’s not overly dependable. In a close game, relying on him may be too much to ask.
Switching to the offense, the biggest injury question for the Super Bowl is certainly rookie center Maurkice Pouncey. The Pro Bowler has a high ankle sprain (or even a break, depending on the report), putting his ability to play in serious jeopardy. He’s athletic and gets off the ball well, which has freed up Rashard Mendenhall to stretch runs into the secondary. His back-up, second year pro Doug Legursky is certainly slower and lacks the depth of talent that Pouncey has. It’ll be tough sledding if Legursky plays. At right tackle, veteran Flozell Adams has extended his career with a dependable performance this season. Fourth year man Jonathan Scott has filled in admirably for LT Max Starks, who went on IR in November. Still, he needs help to keep Roethlisberger upright. Chris Kemoeatu and Ramon Foster are at the guard spots, with the second-year Foster the greater liability in pass blocking.
That offensive line blocks for Mendenhall surprisingly well, making up for some of their issues in pass protection. Rashard has proven himself to be an every down back in the league this season, racking up 1273 yards and 13 touchdowns on the year. Mendenhall has speed to break the big one and the strength to pound it the middle. He’s backed up by veteran Mewelde Moore, whose heyday is far behind him. (If he ever had one.) He’s decent blocker and average receiver out of the backfield, but I don’t expect to see much of him Sunday.
Shifting their roster in recent years, the Steeler receiving corps is now made up of speedy receivers without a lot of length or size. Hines Ward is still physical and the best blocking receiver/dirty player around, but he’s not a game-breaker on the outside anymore. Mike Wallace is all speed, as is Emmanuel Sanders. Wallace had a quietly fantastic year, with over 1200 yards receiving. Keep an eye on Wallace on Sunday… there could be a big play close behind. Sanders is also a fast one, but he’s just as liable to drop a pass as he is to score a TD. If there’s a trick play to be made on Sunday, Antwaan Randle El is a likely participant. He’s not the burner he used to be, but he’s wily… and old.
Tight end Heath Miller is Big Ben’s security blanket and will factor large in any win, whether it stems from his blocking or excellent pass catching skills. Matt Spaeth, the second tight end on the depth chart, is more of a blocker than a receiver. He could get on the field in two-tight end sets if Pittsburgh wants to establish the run.
After all that analysis, the Steeler offense still goes as far as Ben Roethlisberger can take them. His footwork may get sloppy and he may take idiotic sacks because he keeps trying to make a play downfield, but Roethlisberger knows how to win. His mobility in the pocket and ability to shake would-be tacklers can keep the chains moving in ways few QB’s can. He can be inaccurate at times and may throw an errant ball or two in triple coverage, but he minimizes his turnovers for the most part. If he’s down one score with less than two minutes left, I have to believe he can drive his team down for the win, since he’s done it time after time. Having two rings already doesn’t hurt, not to mention I’m sure he’d like to dig himself out of all the crap he piled on himself in the offseason.
Impossible to ignore, head coach Mike Tomlin is one of the best coaches around, in any sport. He takes no crap (from anybody) and expects the best from his players. We never hear about his X’s and O’s, but he’s a crafty motivator. Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau’s defense is legendary at this point in his career and I know he’ll have his men ready to go.
The Steelers don't have cheerleaders... so here's a picture of this guy. McBeam.
Strengths: Roethlisberger, Mendenhall, run defense, getting sacks, creating turnovers, gaining yards after the catch, Miller, tackling.
Weaknesses: Offensive line, especially without Pouncey, pass defense can be inconsistent, offense settles for field goals too often.
Not to be overlooked, I’ll be back tomorrow with a breakdown of the Green Bay Packers!
Keywords: Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Anello, Mike Tomlin, NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl XLV, Troy Polamalu
