Pittsburgh Steelers

NFL Previews - Pittsburgh Steelers

The PIttsburgh Steelers team preview for the 2007 nfl football season. Our 2007 pro football preview covers all 32 teams to advise you on your NFL fantasy football draft, as well as to help you with your NFL betting online with our top sportsbooks. We can hardly wait for the 2007 NFL season to start. How bout it owners? Email me your thoughts.

Pittsburgh Steelers 2007 Preview

(My Sportsbook) - As the calendar flipped from 2005 to 2006, the situation would have seemed implausible.

Mike Tomlin was still the virtually unknown secondary coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at that time, and few would have considered him a likely candidate to take over the program at his alma mater, William & Mary, much less one of the most storied organizations in the history of pro sports.

The Pittsburgh Steelers, meanwhile, had gone on a late run to sneak into the playoffs as the No. 6 seed, and were just about to embark upon one of the unlikeliest Super Bowl marches ever. Their head coach, Bill Cowher, had been in his job just about forever in NFL terms, and had job security like no one else in the league could ever hope to enjoy.

My, says the worn out clich, what a difference a year makes.

While the Steelers were playing road warrior and finishing off their first Super Bowl title of the Cowher era, Tomlin was moving his desk from Tampa to the Twin Cities, where he had just been named defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings under Brad Childress.

Tomlin would have an eye-opening 2006 season with the Vikings, molding a unit that was one of the best ever at stopping the opposing run.

At the same time, Cowher was nursing a raging Super Bowl hangover, as his Steelers limped to 8-8. The week after the season careened to a halt, Cowher did what had been speculated about for weeks and called it a day in the Steel City.

Enter Tomlin, who beat out top in-house candidates Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm to become just the third Steelers head coach since 1969 and to prove that timing is indeed everything.

Tomlin and his Steelers can't afford much of a getting-acquainted period, as Pittsburgh's sizeable fan base wants back into the playoffs immediately, and wishes to be a part of the Super Bowl discussion in the same time-frame.

If Tomlin can deliver, the 35-year-old's story just might complete one of the fastest ascendances in the history of the sport.

Below we take a capsule look at the 2007 edition of the Pittsburgh Steelers, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

2006 RECORD: 8-8 (t2nd, AFC North)

LAST PLAYOFF APPEARANCE: 2005, defeated Seattle, 21-10, in Super Bowl XL

COACH (RECORD): Mike Tomlin (first year with Steelers, first overall)

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Bruce Arians

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Dick LeBeau

OFFENSIVE STAR: Ben Roethlisberger, QB (3513 passing yards, 18 TD, 23 INT)

DEFENSIVE STAR: Troy Polamalu, SS (76 tackles, 3 INT, 1 sack)

OFFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 10th rushing, 9th passing, t12th scoring

DEFENSIVE TEAM RANKS: 3rd rushing, 20th passing, t11th scoring

FIVE KEY GAMES: at Cleveland (9/9), at Cincinnati (10/28), Baltimore (11/5), Miami (11/26), Jacksonville (12/16)

KEY ADDITIONS: RB Kevan Barlow (from Jets), TE Matt Spaeth (3rd Round, Minnesota), OL Sean Mahan (from Buccaneers), DE Nick Eason (from Browns), LB Lawrence Timmons (1st Round, Florida State), LB LaMarr Woodley (2nd Round, Michigan), P Daniel Sepulveda (4th Round, Baylor)

KEY DEPARTURES: WR Sean Morey (to Cardinals), C Jeff Hartings (retired), OLB Joey Porter (to Dolphins), DE Rodney Bailey (to Cardinals, April 13), P Chris Gardocki (released)

QB: The 2006 calendar year went from bad to worse for Ben Roethlisberger. After winning a ring but playing poorly in the Super Bowl, Roethlisberger dealt with a serious motorcycle accident, a bout with appendicitis, then a very hit-or miss season in which he and his team failed to live up to expectations. The strong-armed signal-caller is poised for a comeback season, though the change of coaching regime leaves some doubt about whether Roethlisberger will thrive. Backup Charlie Batch (492 passing yards, 5 TD, 0 INT) won his only start and threw five touchdown passes in just 53 pass attempts last season. His job is secure. Roethlisberger's injury history and Batch's age (33 in December) could prompt the team to keep a third quarterback, and longtime "camp arm" Brian St. Pierre would be that guy.

RB: Though some passionately suggest that Willie Parker (1494 rushing yards, 31 receptions, 16 TD) is not a "Steelers kind of runner", the fleet back was a Pro Bowler last season and isn't going anywhere. Without Jerome Bettis to get carries at the goal line, Parker's touchdowns went from five in 2005 to a team-best 16 a year ago. That said, the Steelers missed having a change-of- pace back like Bettis in the lineup. Najeh Davenport (221 rushing yards, 15 receptions, 2 TD) has a big body but is not as tough between the tackles as Bettis, meaning the Steelers might give a guy like second-year fullback Carey Davis a chance for more touches this year. As camp neared its midway point, it appeared that Davis had a better chance of making the club than holdover Verron Haynes (78 rushing yards, 18 receptions) or free agent pickup and local favorite Kevan Barlow (370 rushing yards, 6 TD with the Jets). Dan Kreider (8 receptions) is one of the few old-school fullbacks left in the league, and it would be a shock if Pittsburgh parted ways with him.

WR/TE: In an unusual turn of events, the Steelers ended up with over 4,000 passing yards last season yet did not boast a 1,000-yard receiver. No. 1 wideout Hines Ward (74 receptions, 6 TD) came up just short of the mark after missing a couple of games due to injury. His usual counterpart, then-rookie Santonio Holmes (49 receptions, 2 TD) registered 824 of the quietest receiving yards the league has ever seen, but should be more of a deep threat in his second year. Holmes will have to fight off veteran Cedrick Wilson (37 receptions, 1 TD) and other holdovers Nate Washington (35 receptions, 4 TD), Willie Reid, and Walter Young for time this year. New offensive coordinator Bruce Arians would like to get the tight ends more involved. Third-round draft choice Matt Spaeth was a good pass-catcher at Minnesota, and should free up more opportunities for holdover Heath Miller (34 receptions, 5 TD). Third tight end Jerame Tuman (7 receptions, 1 TD) is back for his ninth season as a blocking specialist.

OL: The Pittsburgh line had its struggles last season, allowing 49 sacks and not showing a lot of power in the running game either. But last year's group returns virtually intact save Pro Bowl center Jeff Hartings, who retired. Former Buccaneer Sean Mahan was brought into replace Hartings, though there is a chance he will be moved to guard depending on what happens elsewhere up front. The strength of the group is on the left side, where guard Alan Faneca remains among the best in the business and tackle Marvel Smith is solid though unspectacular. The right side is average at best, with guard Kendall Simmons unable to make much of an impact and tackle Max Starks still a work in progress after three years in the league. If Starks struggles, either Trai Essex or Willie Colon will be next in line to take his place. The backups at guard should include Chris Kemoeatu, who started a couple of games last year, and fifth-round draft choice and Rutgers product Cameron Stephenson. Numbers might dictate the team taking a hard look at whether Chukky Okobi, who has appeared in 63 of 64 regular season games over the past four years, is worthy of a roster spot.

DL: Tomlin's decision not to scrap the 3-4 and go to his preferred 4-3, Tampa-2 scheme has much to do with the returning personnel along the line. Nose tackle Casey Hampton (40 tackles) and ends Aaron Smith (61 receptions, 4 sacks) and Brett Keisel (55 tackles, 6 sacks) work well out of the 3-4, and would not be as naturally suited for the system Tomlin ran in Minnesota. The top backup at end will against be Travis Kirschke (8 tackles, 2 sacks), who played in all 16 games a year ago, while the solid Chris Hoke (12 tackles) will back up Hampton in the middle. The team would like to see fourth-round draft pick and Oklahoma State product Ryan McBean make an impact in year one, and his early development could determine whether or not the club hangs on to Browns castoff Nick Eason (23 tackles with Cleveland).

LB: There is a changing of the guard in the linebacking corps, where longtime face-of-the-defense Joey Porter is now a Dolphin and the team's first two draft picks of 2007, Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley, have been introduced. That said, Timmons and Woodley might not start right away, as there are capable returnees on both the inside and outside. On the pass rush, Clark Haggans (76 tackles, 6 sacks, 1 INT) is basically guaranteed a spot and either Timmons or Woodley will have to beat out veteran James Harrison (20 tackles) on the other side. In the middle, James Farrior (126 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 INT) and Larry Foote (90 tackles, 4 sacks, 1 INT) are both underrated talents who are unlikely to have their jobs challenged. Besides the rookies, other backups should include special teams ace Clint Kriewaldt (17 tackles, 1 INT) and third-year-pro Rian Wallace (8 tackles, 1 INT).

DB: Some of the most notable training camp competitions were in the secondary, which has long been a weak spot for the defense. Cornerbacks Deshea Townsend (41 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 INT) and Bryant McFadden (54 tackles, 3 INT) were both fighting for a job opposite starter Ike Taylor (69 tackles, 2 INT), and veteran Ryan Clark (72 tackles, 1 INT) was trying to beat out second-year- pro Anthony Smith (28 tackles, 2 INT) at free safety. The strong safety (and new defensive leader now that Porter is gone) will again be Troy Polamalu, who is unquestionably one of the most dynamic defensive players in the NFL. The losers of the corner and safety battles will provide secondary depth along with returnees like Ricardo Colclough, Tyrone Carter (42 tackles, 2 sacks), and perhaps fifth-round draft pick William Gay.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Jeff Reed (20-27 FG) is not among the top kickers in the league, but has made some clutch field goals during his time in Pittsburgh and will keep his job. There is a change at punter, however, with Chris Gardocki being sent off despite never having a kick blocked in his 16-year career and rookie Daniel Sepulveda taking over. Greg Warren begins his third year as the Steelers' long snapper. Santonio Holmes (10.2 punt return avg., 1 TD, 24.2 kickoff return avg.) handled many of the team's returns last year, but he could be replaced there by wideout Willie Reid, who excelled as a return man at Florida State.

PROGNOSIS: Coaching transitions are difficult more often than they aren't, and this one figures to include its fair share of growing pains. That Tomlin and coordinator Dick LeBeau have extremely different defensive philosophies looks like a situation that predicts disaster, and that's even if the unit can find a playmaker or two to make up for the absence of the omnipresent Porter. The offense is also a question mark, as Roethlisberger will need to find his confidence while working under a new regime and behind a line that is as shaky as it has been in awhile. There is enough talent here for a Wild Card berth if things go extremely well, but the more likely scenario has the Black and Gold finishing at or near .500 and out of the playoff money.

August 20, 2007, at 11:08 AM ET

WagerOnFootball.com - Pittsburgh Steelers Predictions

More 2007 NFL Previews >>

Click For The 2007 Fantasy Draft Guide...

USE THESE NFL PREVIEWS TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR NFL BETTING AT OUR BEST FOOTBALL SPORTSBOOKS ONLINE FOR THIS SEASON