Pittsburgh Steelers 2008 Season Preview

The combined genius of two defensive gurus and a two-headed monster at running back key the Steelers 2008 season.

Pittsburgh Steelers Preview: 07-08

After engaging in a brutal postseason battle with the Jacksonville Jaguars and coming up just short, the Pittsburgh Steelers are ready to build upon their 10-6 record from 2007. With head coach Mike Tomlin in his second year at the helm and his philosophies firmly rooted in the team, the Pittsburgh Steelers are ready to breakout in 2008. The longtime winning combination of power football and aggressive defense continues.

Pittsburgh Steelers Preview: Moves

The Pittsburgh Steelers were floored when RB Rashard Mendenhall fell to them at the 23rd pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. The Pittsburgh Steelers were rewarded again in the deep draft class when WR Limas Sweed fell to them in the 2nd round. The Pittsburgh Steelers used their remaining picks to bolster their linebacking corps and offensive line. Heisman nominee QB Dennis Dixon was also drafted in later rounds and brings up thoughts of Kordell Stewart.

The Pittsburgh Steelers did their best to keep all their homegrown talent in-house during the free agency period. T Max Starks and WR Nate Washington were the key retained players. RB Mewelde Moore and C Justin Hardwig were big free agent catches. The key free agent loss was longtime guard Alan Faneca, who jumped to the New York Jets. QB Ben Roethlisberger was awarded the biggest contract in Pittsburgh Steelers history upon signing a long-term extension.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Offense

The big arm of QB Ben Roethlisberger is back in action. With a massive offensive line in front of him, Big Ben is almost always kept upright. When pressure does reach him, Ben Roethlisberger has the wheels to escape into the open field. Huge LT Marvel Smith protects the blindside and crushes DEs on running plays. RT Max Starks is of a similar mold on the other side. C Justin Hardwig will run the line and call out assignments. G Kendall Simmons is a beast of a man and the epitome of a Pittsburgh Steelers lineman. The powerful line is the key to the Pittsburgh Steelers power run attack.

A pair of running backs with contrasting styles will be the basis for the Pittsburgh Steelers offense in 2008. Multi-time Pro-Bowl RB “Fast” Willie Parker has blazing speed and a low center of gravity. Rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall is a load at 225 pounds and will be the power runner of the two. Rashard Mendenhall is the classic Pittsburgh Steelers RB and could be a Pro-Bowl favorite. When the running game fails, WR Hines Ward leads the receiving corps with some of the best possession receiving in the NFL. WR Santonio Holmes brings speed to the outside and had a breakout year in 2007. Rookie WR Limas Sweed is a huge target and will pay dividends immediately on 3rd down and in the red zone. TE Heath Miller is another chain-mover.

Pittsburg Steelers: Defense

Head coach Mike Tomlin may be a defensive genius, but defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau is a defensive icon. Dick LeBeau runs the Pittsburgh Steelers fabled 3-4 alignment and oversees the massive assault of blitzes. Enormous NT Casey Hampton can take up to three blockers on by himself and opens huge holes for the linebackers behind him. DEs Brett Keisel and Aaron Smith make up the rest of the three-man line, but many others rotate in. OLB James Harrison has emerged as a deadly pass-rusher, in the mold of Joey Porter. Second-year OLB LaMarr Woodley is also expected to be a great rusher. 2007 first round pick Lawrence Timmons moves inside to ILB along with longtime ILBs James Farrior and Larry Foote to form an impressive center.

The Pittsburgh Steelers secondary is topped off by S Troy Polamalu. Know for his flowing locks, hard hits, and top-notch ballhawking skills, Troy Polamalu is the heart of the Pittsburgh Steelers defense. FS Antony Smith will try and up his game after the 2007 season. CBs Bryant McFadden, Deshea Townsend, and Ike Taylor form a good rotation and can shut down the deep ball with Troy Polamalu playing centerfield behind them. The intense pressure of the front seven often leads to dead-duck balls thrown right to the secondary.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Special Teams

Wideout Jeremy Bloom looks to try and win the return man position for the Pittsburgh Steelers. RB Mewelde Moore is also a talented return man and will specialize in kickoff returns. K Jeff Reed is one of the most clutch kickers in the NFL and is a key contributor to every Pittsburgh Steelers win. With a system based on field position, P Daniel Sepulveda is a very important cog in the machine. Besides his big leg, Daniel Sepulveda is also a punishing tackler and talented athlete.       

Pittsburgh Steelers Preview: 08-09

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ reign as the kings of the AFC North looks to continue in 2008. The hardnosed Baltimore Ravens are very similar to the Pittsburgh Steelers and always meet them in tough match-ups. The Cincinnati Bengals have become hated opponents and the rising Cleveland Browns give the Pittsburgh Steelers a classic game at seemingly every meeting. Opponents from outside the AFC North on the Pittsburgh Steelers 2008 schedule include the Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts, the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants, and the hated New England Patriots. The Pittsburgh Steelers will be glad to have one of the best home fields in the NFL in Heinz Field as the tough opponents come all season long.