Status quo in Pittsburgh; Super Bowl within reach

[FrancoLambert]

Originally Posted by Fire Arians

i think this year's team will be better than last. hell, we had a championship team last year until injuries took over imo

even if wallace is a no-go this year, i feel really good about this year's team. our passing attack will still be one to be reckoned with. AB, sanders, cotch are already a decent squad, but don't forget about heath and rainey (if he's as impressive on the field as reports have been, he'll be a big part of our offense) either

Couldn't agree with you more.
Throw in Haley's contributions (game planning, play calling, exploiting mismatches), better O-line play, substantial contributions from Heyward and Hood, and hopefully a few surprises (Rainey as mentioned, improved CB play), we could sneak up on some.
I like the fact that many are forecasting a decline for the Steelers.
It provides an nice mental edge.

[steelfury02]

3 guys I've ever cared about when facing the Ravens

Rice
Ngata
Suggs

You can take Suggs off that list this season and replace him with Torrey Smith's big play capability.

[tanda10506]

Originally Posted by steelfury02

You can take Suggs off that list this season and replace him with Torrey Smith's big play capability.

Agreed. This year I don't think Ngata will be a problem if both our Guards play well. I will admit I'm a bit worried about the negative reports about DeCastro, but I'm confident they will get him on the right page and he will be a major factor in neutralizing Ngata. Ray Rice will always need to be worried about, nothing you can do there. But Smith probably would be the next on my list too, I think this year we might need to put Ike on him and see if our #2 can hang with an older Boldin.

As for the new offense being a "surprise", that might end up being a bigger deal then most think. We have been running the same plays from the same formations for years and the Ravens have been able to continue to find ways to beat it over and over again since it stays the same. But it took them years to really get past us like they did this year, and that was after years of planning against the same offense. Baltimore will still have a pretty good defense this year and I don't think the "surprise" of the new offense will catch them really off guard and blow them out, but hopefully it will be one that is constantly changing so that the Ravens can't continue to try plays against our same formations year after year until one works.

[TheDude]

Balt got old....QUICK

As long as Ben outplays the Unibrow...the ravens wont be a problem

[fastscirocco]

I would prefer NONE of the media outlets thought the Steelers had a chance. Just push through the season
with an "average" win/loss ratio and hit their stride as they enter the playoffs.

[steelfury02]

our Steelers always play better as the underdog anyways but we need to get home playoff games - they always seem to have that extra heroic gear at home that propels them to the big show . . .

[Harley Quinn]

Originally Posted by teegre

I was watching NFLN, and everyone's favorite A-hole, Warren Sapp, was saying that the Steelers were no longer "elite". His rationale (get this): "They were a wildcard team." He went on to say that the division winners were elite.

Sooo...a 12-4 wildcard team (who had been to the SuperBowl the year prior) is not as good as an 8-8 division winner. Got it.

That dude is just plain dumb.

Considering he's currently hocking Jordan's on the open market for lunch money his opinion is moot as is his existence.

[teegre]

Originally Posted by Harley Quinn

Considering he's currently hocking Jordan's on the open market for lunch money his opinion is moot as is his existence.

Indeed.  

I just don't get how NFLN can employ an analyst who is so obviously biased.  I know that that is his schtick... but, every time he speaks, no one takes him seriously  (not just Steelers fans).  It makes their presentation second rate.  At least when other networks rip the Steelers, they point out actual facts (BB's ankle, question marks at the third CB spot)... as opposed to "obvious" vitriol.  

As you said: his comments are moot... which is why I (& many others) prefer ESPN.