2012 Pittsburgh Steelers Preview

2012 Pittsburgh Steelers

The 2011 Pittsburgh Steelers ended their season in the worst possible way for me: an overtime playoff loss to Tebow and the Broncos. I do not think this because I was heartbroken for the Steelers; I’m glad they lost. But that loss singlehandedly brought Tebow-mania to New York and has resulted in endless coverage on ESPN of him and the Jets, and it is doing bad things to my sanity, even as a Jets fan. They did still go 12-4 last season, though, and were still one of the dominant forces in the NFL. It seems like every year I predict them to fall off and they never do. Have I learned my lesson this year? Absolutely not. Down with Pittsburgh! I will be right one of these years about a falloff; why not this one? New offensive coordinator, Wallace potentially rusty after holding out, Mendenhall hurt still, bad offensive line, aging defense, better competition, harder schedule...the reasons go on and on. I think that this will be the year of the melting steel. Not on a grand scale though; I have no doubt that Pittsburgh will be in playoff contention at the end of the season. But as you can guess, I am skeptical about if they can get back...

Offense

I will never question the heart, toughness, and skill of Big Ben Roethlisberger. I can question his motorcycling ability and irresponsible actions with women ability to stay upright in the pocket, however, as he has pretty much been a punching bag for opposing defenses the last few years behind a line that can’t protect him. He won’t put up great numbers, especially switching offensive schemes with the arrival of Todd Haley this year, but he still has the grit to grind out a win. The running game is suspect, with Rashard Mendenhall trying to recover from his ACL injury. Isaac Redman will fill his shoes for now, but that can’t be the long term solution. At receiver, I’m still not high on Antonio Brown as a top receiver, and until Mike Wallace shows up to camp, that’s what he’ll be. And when he reports, who knows how Wallace will perform after missing so much time? This offense could be in for a struggle this season.

Defense

How vaunted can the fearsome Steelers’ D be this year with all the changes to this unit? I think they can still get the job done to a point, but one day the age has to catch up with them, doesn’t it? As long as Troy Polamalu is still flying around like a crazed wildebeest with his dreadlocks flashing through the air, this unit will be one to be reckoned with. They also still have a ferocious linebacking core, as usual, headlined by LaMarr Woodley, Larry Foote, Lawrence Timmons, and potentially the scariest man alive, James Harrison. The Pittsburgh defense will still be great, but their success will come down to turnovers, because if they have to be on the field for a long time, they will get exposed. Even the Steelers defense is vulnerable. Watch out for Week 2: The Return of Tebow.

Schedule

The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming off a 12-4 season in which their only losses came from both games against the Ravens, and on the road against Houston and San Francisco. In other words, really good teams with really good defenses. They of course fell in the first round of the playoffs in dramatic fashion, so a bounce back year could be in store for us. However, I feel that this team will dip the other way in the win column...down into playoff uncertainty. They have to have a horrible feeling starting out in Denver. It’s the scene of the crime from last year, except his time they have to go up against Peyton...good luck. The early bye week could be rough for late in the year.

Week 1: L at DEN (start this year like they ended the last one)

Week 2: L vs NYJ

Week 3: W at OAK

Week 4: Bye

Week 5: W vs PHI

Week 6: W at TEN

Week 7: L at CIN

Week 8: W vs WAS

Week 9: L at NYG

Week 10: W vs KC (watch out for the Chiefs!)

Week 11: L vs BAL

Week 12: L at CLE (classic trap in between BAL games)

Week 13: L at BAL

Week 14: W vs SD

Week 15: W at DAL

Week 16: W vs CIN

Week 17: W vs CLE

9-7 for the Pittsburgh, even after winning their final four games...which means no playoffs for the mighty Steelers. Even if they win that CLE game I have them losing, they will have another loss somewhere to make up for it, either against TEN, or SD, or DAL, or wherever. I could very well eat my words for this prediction, but I don’t see more than nine wins for Steel City this year. Let’s see what they’re made of. After a bold prediction, I’ll recap the AFC North in case you missed anything. Up next is the AFC South, starting with the Houston Texans. Until next time!

Bold Prediction: The Pittsburgh Steelers will win nine games or less and not make the playoffs this season. Also, no Steeler will have double digit sacks this year.

AFC North recap:

BAL: 11-5

PIT: 9-7

CIN: 8-8

CLE: 3-13 

• Torrey Smith explodes onto the scene with over 1,100 yards and 7+ TDs
• The Steelers fall off and miss the playoffs
• The Bengals also slip but show they can beat quality teams
• Cleveland will have the first pick in the 2013 NFL draft