Pittsburgh Steelers 2015 Season Preview

Pittsburgh Steelers

2014 record: 11-5

Over/Under 8.5

Off Season overview:

When a future Hall of Famer played for one team his entire career retires with said team it should always be the first note when mentioning any off-season moves. Troy Polamalu hangs it up after 11 seasons, but honestly this guy was a few years away from his Hall of Fame prime playing days. I would even go as far as saying that he was below average in 2014 on tape. His partner in the secondary for the past decade, Ike Taylor also leaves the team via retirement, but the Steelers had been planning to replace him for about two years now. While those two lifelong Steelers were expected to retire, their starting outside linebacker Jason Worilds was entering his first free agency period before deciding to join the boys and hang up his cleats. Fortunately for the Steelers they had already signed James Harrison back OUT of retirement this time to finish 2014 and decided to bring him back for the 2015 campaign. Aside from dealing with career long Steelers the team did add Brandon Boykin via trade to help the lack of secondary experience that is in play now. This was extremely typical as far as Steelers off-seasons go, where you look at the whole and don’t see much, but didn’t expect much and know this team will be competitive.

Offensive Strengths

The greatest show on turf has moved to one of the few true grass surfaces left in the NFL. “The Killer Bs” is the name resurfacing in Pittsburgh and Big Ben, Bell, Brown, and Bryant are expected to be delivering knock out blows all season. Ben Roethlisberger is the most experienced of the crew and has his two Super Bowl rings to show for it. Roethlisberger is coming off by far his best offensive season of his career, and now can only hope to improve on a career highs in attempts, completion %, TD rate, INT rate, touch down passes, yards and QBR. It is tough to expect more from Roethlisberger in 2015, but with his weapons how can you not? His running back Leveon Bell, who is only entering his third season may I add, was second in the league for catches by a running back with 83 of them for 854 yards. Bell was also 2nd in the league in yards after the catch, and that includes wide outs as well. That is great for an up and coming receiver, but I said he is a running back and run he did to a tune of 1,361 yards. Only Demarco Murray had more yards from scrimmage, 45, and that is despite Bell having 438 more receiving yards. For my money, in a season where Adrian Peterson did not play, Leveon Bell was the best running back in the NFL. Roethlisbergers’ actual #1 target threw his name into consideration for best WR in the NFL in 2014 and many, including myself believe he took that spot. Antonio Brown finished second in the league in targets, he lead the league in catches by 18 catches, yards by over 80 yards, and receptions for a first down by 9 receptions. There are wide receivers taller than him and probably stronger than him but nobody has better footwork, and nobody out produces Antonio Brown on a per game basis. While he doesn’t have the height it doesn’t stop him from being a red zone target and he is second in the league in touchdowns, tied with Jordy Nelson and only behind Dez Bryant. Whether Brown is the best in the league or not it is a clear fact he is a top tier wide out and gives Roethlisberger, a top tier QB, two of the best playmakers anyone can ask for. Brown has experience now but is still in his prime at age 27, and I expect he gets a big second punch in the receiving core this year. Martavis Bryant, at 23, the last of the B’s, is the one with the least expectations, but may make a huge leap towards the three stars. Bryant didn’t play a snap until week 7 of his rookie season in 2014, but when he came in it immediately was on. Roethlisberger missed him on his first attempt and almost connected on an 80-yard bomb. From there he put up six touch downs in his next four games, and finished with 8 TDs while only playing in ten games and starting in just three. Bryant averaged 21 yards per catch in his rookie season and was used primarily for the deep ball, but I would expect with a full off-season the 6’4 speedster will begin to develop a role. Markus Wheaton has been the starter and has been waiting for someone like Bryant to take his job. Wheaton enters only his 3rd season but he looks and plays more like a slot wide out than a outside threat, and I think the move only makes him more dangerous. Roethlisberger the offensive line as a whole is strong, but losing Maurkice Pouncey for 6-10 puts a damper on what could have been a top offensive line.

Offensive Weaknesses

Losing Pouncey is going to be the biggest thing that sets this team back. Cody Wallace is the replacement and he has subbed in for an injured Pouncey at times, but there really is no replacing Pouncey and his relationship with Roethlisberger. The team does have another weakness on the line, and that is Marcus Gilbert. Gilbert cannot defend elite pass rushers and is slow off the line. The Steelers may be looking to bring to options like Alejandro Villanueva, or Mike Adams if Gilbert cannot either stay healthy, or stay effective. Overall this should be a top tier offense, but the Pouncey news does temper the ceiling of what this team could have really done.

Defensive Strength

While the offense struggles to have a weakness you have to dig deep to find strengths on defense. While Dick Lebeau is a Hall of Famer already, I think it was an upgrade to move on from the legendary defensive coordinator. The team had its replacement waiting in the wings, and after a sluggish season from Polamalu and Taylor, it seemed Lebeau was sluggish on the sideline to make any adjustments. The team will still run a 3- 4 and they really have to do it with their strength being this defensive line. The Steelers were the 30th ranked defense in efficiency, but ranked 17th against the run. That success (if that is what you want to call it) should be attributed to the big run stuffers who should only grow in 2015. Cam Heyward is the big name and is now the leader of the defense. He was given a contract that resembles some of the top tier defensive ends in the league and despite playing 3-4 defensive end he was able to grab 7.5 sacks. Beside him is Steve Mclendon who does not profile as your typical 3-4 nose tackle but his work against the run can’t be denied by the Steelers. Stephon Tuitt will join the three on the line as a first year starter. Tuitt took the Martavis Bryant route and was eased into snaps, but almost immediately blossomed into a must starter. At 6’7” 313 pounds he is a load for how quick he can move and honestly I have my highest expectations for him to breakout in 2015 and lead that momentum into a great career. Behind that line isn’t much at all with the exception of Lawrence Timmons. Timmons doesn’t flash and is most known for throwing up on the sideline in 2014, but every year he is a borderline pro bowler, who doesn’t miss assignments and can help most effectively when it comes to mucking up the run.

Defensive Weaknesses

The rest of the defense is the weakness. Most of these guys are not weak, but more inexperienced and unproven and in that list can be Jarvis Jones, Bud Dupree, Ryan Shazier, and Shamarko Thomas. Dupree and Shazier get a pass because Dupree is a rookie and Shazier was hurt for his rookie season, but Jones and Thomas need to step up and they cannot wait another year. Jones, a former first round pick entering his 3rd year has three career sacks, and starting for a team that finished 26th in the league in sacks. To Jones’ defense he has missed a lot of time in his first two years due to injury, but the Steelers cannot rely on 36-year-old James Harrison to carry the load forever. Jason Worilds was tied with Heyward for the team lead in sacks, and someone has to replace and exceed those 7.5 sacks whether it is Dupree, Jones or Arthur Moates who had 4 in 2014. I don’t hate the idea of rotating four outside linebackers and it may keep the old man Harrison sharp, but this secondary is truly bare at the moment. Ranking 30th against the pass in 2014, 2015 only brings up more questions. William Gay was the most consistent corner in 2014, but his best role is in the slot. Cortez Allen was paid to guard teams #1 wide outs, but he only started seven games before finishing his season on the IR and those seven games could have been the worst of his career. Trading for Brandon Boykin gives them a high-end slot guy who can shift outside at times, but this team is certainly reaching for unproven success. The Troy Polamalu replacement only recorded seven tackles in 2014 and has yet to start a game in his two years. On paper there is direction, but how can you really get excited about a secondary currently so blurry?

Where do they rank O/U 8.5

I am going to be betting the Steelers and the over a lot this season. The Steelers were able to score 30 points seven times last season including a two weak binge of 94 points. They also survived that 30th ranked defense to put up 11 wins in 2014. In Ben Roethlisberger’s career the Steelers average 4 division wins per season, and have only had 1 year out of 10 with a losing division record. If you give them their 4 and claim they will split road games in San Diego and Kansas City as well as at home against the Colts and the Seahawks, Patriots and Rams on the road. I personally believe they can take at least two of those home games and may only need 1 tough road win to get to nine here and I am going to say despite the defense they do it. They get the Pats at a nice time and the Seahawks after a bye and personally I don’t know how this offense will be stopped. If any youngsters can keep the Steelers in games I think this is a 10 win team and will be betting them to win over 8.5 games. As for the division I am surprised they are currently given the third best odds, and think they would be the smartest bet to win the division given that pay out.

Parkers Picks: 1st place in the AFC North, Over 8.5 wins

Logans Pick: 1st place in the AFC North, Over 8.5 wins