Hopefully the young guys will step up...

I trust that the Steelers have a plan, because on paper everything looks like a mess. Outside of Ben and Troy, maybe Timmons and Pouncey, the Steelers really don't have those "All-Star" type players, or players that we know that we can rely on in pressure situations. We had a load recently, like Aaron Smith, Farrior, Hines, Harrison, Hampton, and so on.

We just don't know what we have yet, as there will be a lot of new faces, and the remaining familiar faces are still somewhat new, like Brown and Sanders. I think this season and next will be telling if the Steelers have the next generation nucleus on the team. It is a tossup, and I am hoping that they do.

 

And I will be perfectly honest, I think we will be better next year. There was too much fat that needed to be trimmed from the team, and a lot of it has. There are still a few players that need to go in my opinion, like Ziggy Hood and Heyward, as they were complete rubbish last season (as was Keisel and whoever was playing nose tackle unfortunately....the D-Line was the worst I have ever seen it). I recall thinking to myself last season that the Steelers could probably get more production from practice squad defensive linemen than what they were getting from Ziggy and Heyward...

Bottom line, I am excited to see which young players will become the next impact performers for the team. The Steelers really cannot perform worse than they did last season, as long as Ben stays alive.

 

There are lots of question marks for next season, but we all know that we play best when we're under the radar - a few seasons back the pundits were all talking about how we had no receivers now Holmes had gone, how we were too old, etc. etc. A solid draft, a focused camp, and the bit between the teeth - we will surprise people.

 

Hood is an enigma. He's apparently the strongest player on the team but that strength doesn't seem to translate on the field. He's been average at best. You expect more than average out of your number one pick. I'm not as ready to give up on Heyward. He's shown flashes and this will be a pivotal season for him.

 

Next man up. Its been the Steelers way for a while. I think the problem with the D-Line is that the ends we have with Heyward and Hood are better suited 4-3 lineman. As a 3-4 end or DT you have to be unselfish player. Take Aaron Smith for example. Peter King from SI put Smith on his all decade list as a DE for the 2000's. People told how can you put Smith on the list. He said Smith is one of the best DE to play the game and no one knows about it. Smith made players like Jason Gildon, Joey Porter, James Harrison and Lamarr Woodley better, because he could take up two lineman at times and he always got the edge and wouldn't make dumb moves to where he would get burnt by a running back. Trust me if it wasn't for Smith our pass rushing LB's wouldn't have been as good as they were. Hood and Heyward have impossible shoes to fill with Smith. Heyward needs to play more, needs to be a starter, I like Kiesel and all, but Heyward is a much better player in my own opinion. As far as Hood you see flashes from time to time but he hasn't lived up to his 1st round talent level.
All will be well, sometimes in the past when you think the Steelers are going to be bad, they have a great season. When you think they will be good, then they usually have a bad season.

 

I miss Aaron Smith big time. The guy was extremely talented, worked hard and had the heart of a lion. The only guy we have like that now is Heath. Most of the other guys just cant seem to put the talent, work ethic AND heart together the way players like Aaron and Heath always did.

 

The sky is not falling to me; there are several good players on this team. I like to see a whole team of good players better than mostly ok players and a few superstars.

I think if these things happen this team could be anything from 9-7 to super bowl champs:
- Stay healthy
- New starters step up
- A good draft with guys who play and play well this year; hopefully 1 or 2 starters and some role players who are future starters

If players regress, injuries happen, and there is a bad draft this could be a 6 or 7 win team. With the guys that have left there is less depth; while some of these players may have been surpassed they were solid backups or role players that you knew at the least.

One could say that this is true of any team and I would disagree with that. The Steelers are in a partial rebuild not a complete rebuild as there is a core of good players.

I am still a fan, and I am hoping for a Super-Bowl win.

 

That's why the boys in the FO with ties on get paid the big bucks. Let them worry about it, I know I won't be. Let the chips fall were they may.

 

Yeah, Aaron has been sorely missed (and still is in my book).

 

it seems as if Ziggly played better when McClendon was in the game. im hoping now that Hampton looks to be gone and McClendon is the guy, Ziggy will have more of an impact.