Pittsburgh Steelers Season Preview

(Courtesy of My Sportsbook) - Lest you forgot, Ben Roethlisberger's record is still intact. Roethlisberger, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback who implausibly began his rookie season by reeling off wins in his first 13 starts, begins 2005 with a NFL record 13-0 mark in regular season games.

Because Big Ben showed his human side during the playoffs, throwing five picks in two contests against the Jets and Patriots, and failing to down New England on his home field, some might be tempted to forget the incredible year the kid had. But 13-0 by rookie standards, or any standards for that matter, in the topsy-turvy world of the NFL was an achievement, one not approached by the likes of Marino, Montana, or Unitas, and a milestone that at the moment has yet to see its conclusion. When Tennessee visits Heinz Field on Sept. 11, Roethlisberger will seek to continue his streak, while the Steelers look to him for an even greater degree of leadership. The offseason departure of wideout Plaxico Burress, starting linemen Oliver Ross and Keydrick Vincent, and a training camp injury to running back Duce Staley means the QB will have fewer weapons at his disposal as '05 commences. Despite those personnel shifts, Pittsburgh fans will not be lowering their expectations of Roethlisberger in the least.

They'll be expecting Ben to come up even bigger, as the Steelers vie for their first Super Bowl title in two-and-a-half decades. Below we take a capsule look at the 2005 edition of the Pittsburgh Steelers, with a personnel evaluation and prognosis included therein:

RB: Duce Staley (830 yards, 1 TD) suffered through an injury-plagued 2004 that included a grand total of 41 carries and no touchdowns in the team's final nine regular season games combined. Staley's hamstring is healed, but he suffered a torn lateral meniscus in his knee just a day into training camp and might not be ready for the start of the season. That thrusts the spotlight back upon 33-year-old Jerome Bettis (941 yards, 13 TD), who showed that he had plenty left in the tank last year and is expected to play at least one more season. Third-down back Verron Haynes (272 rushing yards, 18 receptions, 2 TD) was vital to the team's success in Staley's absence last year, and Willie Parker (186 rushing yards) averaged almost six yards per rush as a change of pace. The Steelers used a seventh-round draft choice on Noah Herron (Northwestern), who is a long shot to make the team. Dan Kreider (10 receptions, 1 TD) is back for his sixth year in the Steel City, and should be backed by six-year veteran Matt Cushing.

WR/TE: There is turnover here, as four-year starter Plaxico Burress (35 receptions, 5 TD) took his 6-foot-5 frame and some big free agent money with him to the Giants. Burress was a two-time 1,000-yard receiver in Pittsburgh, but was always overshadowed by Hines Ward (80 receptions, 4 TD) in a town that values its hard-working players. Ward was involved in a contract squabble with the Steelers as training camp began, but is not expected to let those objections spill over onto the field. To replace Burress, the team picked up free agent and former 49er Cedrick Wilson (47 receptions, 3 TD with San Francisco), who lacks Burress' size but comes off his finest season as a pro. Antwaan Randle El (43 receptions, 3 TD) should also benefit from Burress' departure, and fourth-round draft choice Fred Gibson (Georgia) is a 6-4 athlete who can catch some of the jump balls that were Burress' specialty. Lee Mays (9 receptions) will probably make the club as a fifth receiver, and Sean Morey (1 reception) has value as a special-teamer. At tight end, first-round draft choice Heath Miller (Virginia) has a chance to offer the team an added dimension in the middle of the field. Miller will have to beat out incumbent Jerame Tuman (9 receptions, 3 TD), who is a stronger blocker and will appear in two-tight end sets. Matt Kranchick and Walter Rasby were battling to make the squad as a third tight end during training camp.

OL: The right side of last year's line has departed, as tackle Oliver Ross and guard Keydrick Vincent signed free agent deals with the Cardinals and Ravens, respectively. That's not a huge problem, at least at right guard, as Kendall Simmons was a former 16-game starter at the position before losing all of 2004 to a knee injury. The right tackle spot should be occupied by Max Starks, a third-round pick and the son of former Bengals All-Pro Ross Browner who played in 10 games as a reserve a year ago. The rest of the line is set, as left guard Alan Faneca, left tackle Marvel Smith, and center Jeff Hartings were all Pro Bowlers a year ago. Tackle Barrett Brooks and guard Chukky Okobi are veterans that can start in a pinch. The club also used 2005 draft choices on tackle Trai Essex (3rd Round, Northwestern) and guard Chris Kemoeatu (5th Round, Utah), both of whom will offer depth.

DL: One of the amazing aspects of the Steelers' 2005 success was that they dominated defensively without the services of Pro Bowl nose tackle Casey Hampton (15 tackles), who missed the last 10 games of the year. Hampton is back to re-claim his spot, and should anything happen to him, Pittsburgh has a proven backup in Chris Hoke (24 tackles, 1 sack). Ends Aaron Smith (43 tackles, 8 sacks) and Kimo von Oelhoffen (24 tackles, 1 sack) were both 15- game starters last season, with Smith earning his first career Pro Bowl citation. Backups Travis Kirschke (12 tackles, 1 sack) and Brett Keisel (9 tackles) were contributors as backups a year ago, and will both hang around provided seventh-round draft choice Shaun Nua (Brigham Young) doesn't pass them on the depth chart.

LB: The Steelers' 2004 linebacking corps made numerous big plays a year ago, with inside backers James Farrior (94 tackles, 4 INT, 3 sacks) and Larry Foote (69 tackles, 3 INT) meshing with outside men Joey Porter (53 tackles, 7 sacks, 1 INT) and Clark Haggans (37 tackles, 6 sacks) to form one of the league's most effective units. Farrior, who many believed should have been named the league's Defensive Player of the Year, was selected to the AFC Pro Bowl squad along with Porter. Porter was expected to miss most of training camp following knee surgery, meaning James Harrison (45 tackles, 1 sack) will have to be ready there. Clint Kriewaldt (15 tackles) and Alonzo Jackson (8 tackles) were both backups a year ago, and should contribute on special teams along with fifth-round draft choice Rian Wallace (Temple).

DB: Cornerback Chad Scott (29 tackles, 1 INT) was released in the offseason after spending the better part of six seasons as a starter, meaning his left cornerback job belongs to 34-year-old Willie Williams (56 tackles, 1 INT, 1 sack) until further notice. Williams played well in Scott's absence a year ago, but his age prompted the team to use a second-round draft choice on Florida State's Bryant McFadden in April. Deshea Townsend (56 tackles, 4 sacks, 4 INT), who had a strong 2004, is set at the other corner. Ricardo Colclough (26 tackles, 1.5 sacks) is a special teams ace who will be pushing for more time in the secondary during his second pro season. Ike Taylor (16 tackles, 1 INT) has value on special teams as well, and should make the club. The Steelers are set at safety, where Troy Polamalu (96 tackles, 5 INT) operates on the strong side and Chris Hope (89 tackles, 1 INT) serves at free safety. Russell Stuvaints (31 tackles) can back up either of the safety positions, and Mike Logan (7 tackles) will battle veteran Tyrone Carter (7 tackles) for the other reserve job.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Pittsburgh is set in the kicking game, with Jeff Reed (28-33 FG, 40-40 XP) back to handle placements and kickoffs and Chris Gardocki (43.0 avg.) on punts. Antwaan Randle El (8.3 punt return avg., 23.1 kickoff return avg.) remains one of the most explosive return men in the game, and Ricardo Colclough (21.8 kickoff return avg.) has ability as well.

PROGNOSIS: Some are predicting doom for the Steelers this season, with factors such as a possible sophomore jinx for Roethlisberger, an uncertain situation at running back, an overall lack of depth, and the apparent improvement of division teams Baltimore and Cincinnati playing a part in that projection. And while Pittsburgh probably can't hope to win 15 games for the second season in a row, there is no logical reason to suspect the franchise won't again pile up victories in the double digits. Cowher and company are still rock-solid on both lines, have sufficient playmakers at receiver, linebacker, and in the secondary, and will feature a quality special teams unit. Roethlisberger didn't go 13-0 on a whim, and he'll get better, not take a step back. Provided Bettis and Staley can give the running game a spark, and there aren't a rash of major injuries on the defensive side of the ball, the Steelers will remain the best team in the AFC North.