2015 NFL Offseason: Pittsburgh Steelers

[hawaiiansteeler]

2015 NFL Offseason: Pittsburgh Steelers

http://walterfootball.com/images/fball/steelers2_logo.gif Pittsburgh Steelers (Last Year: 11-5)

2015 Pittsburgh Steelers Analysis: The Steelers have one of the top offenses in the NFL, and if Ben Roethlisberger continues to play as well as he did in 2014, the team could make an extremely deep playoff push. However, the defense is still a major question mark, and it could be the reason why Roethlisberger fails to claim his third Super Bowl ring.

Projection: 10-6

2015 Pittsburgh Steelers Offense:

Ben Roethlisberger has won two Super Bowls in his career, yet the 2014 campaign in which he was one-and-done in the playoffs was arguably his best season as a pro. Roethlisberger set career-highs in completion percentage (67.1), yards (4,952) and touchdown passes (32). He also tossed just nine interceptions. Roethlisberger is at the top of his game right now, and there's not much doubt that he's one of the four best signal-callers in the NFL...

to read rest of article:

http://walterfootball.com/offseason2015pit.php#0u9uDsf0cQbWVxLJ.99

[salamander]

I'm sorry, but Troy was not our best DB last year... in fact, the defense finally played better when he wasn't playing.

[86WARD]

I'm sorry, but Troy was not our best DB last year... in fact, the defense finally played better when he wasn't playing.

It's funny because he wasn't even remotely close to the best DB last year...he did more bad than good being out there.

[fansince'76]

I'm sorry, but Troy was not our best DB last year... in fact, the defense finally played better when he wasn't playing.


It's funny because he wasn't even remotely close to the best DB last year...he did more bad than good being out there.

Got a feeling this was written up by somebody who last watched a Steelers game around 2010 or so...

[TeeTee]

Got a feeling this was written up by somebody who last watched a Steelers game around 2010 or so...


Our best DB? More like our worst.

[steelerdude15]

The best back was Willie Gay.

[hawaiiansteeler]

The best back was Willie Gay.

3 interceptions returned for TDs, including this Gay end zone dance...


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfClSGi-KwY

[hawaiiansteeler]

The 10 biggest concerns facing the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015

By Neal Coolong

Highlighting the strengths of the Steelers in 2015 reveals a weakness in itself. A lack of balance. We suggested the NFL is one-sided today compared to years past, but no championship team won without positive contributions in all three phases of the game.

It’s tough to say the Steelers have reason to feel incredibly confident in all three phases right now. It’s a critical training camp and preseason for them in terms of defense and special teams. Those areas generally encapsulate the weaknesses of this team heading into 2015.

Questions in the secondary

This has been the headline all offseason, and it’s not without reason. The Steelers will throw its third pair of starting safeties into their defense for the third straight year. With the retirement of Troy Polamalu, largely unproven third-year man Shamarko Thomas will attempt to win, and maintain, the position. There’s reason to be optimistic about Thomas, but a shaky injury history casts a shadow of doubt as well.

Kick returns

The Steelers were a brutal kick return team in 2014, largely high(low)lighted by the lack of vision of then-rookie Dri Archer. He was benched toward the end of the season after ranking near the bottom of the NFL in return average (17.9). Markus Wheaton replaced him with a reasonable 24.7 yards per return, and the Steelers will have to find a way to boost that again in 2015.

Punting

It’s almost comical how bad of a punting team the Steelers have been the last few seasons. From Zoltan Mesko to Mat McBriar to Drew Butler to Brad Wing, the Steelers have consistently ranked in the bottom of the league in net yards. They brought in Jordan Berry to compete with Wing for the job this year, and judging by history, Berry will win. The Steelers haven’t used the same punter for two full consecutive seasons since Chris Gardocki in 2005-06.

Red zone offense

The Steelers haven’t had a problem scoring from 25 yards or more away. They struggle quite a bit scoring from inside the 20, though. They converted red zone opportunities to touchdowns 51.7 percent of the time, down one percent from 2013. That can be a significant problem, and it’s one that needs to be fixed up front. For as good a runner as Le’Veon Bell is, and as much talent as there is among the team’s offensive line, they do not execute in the power running game well, and that hurts their dynamic ability in close.

Depth at running back

DeAngelo Williams is a quality veteran, and he doesn’t have the same kind of wear on his tires as many 32-year-old running backs do. To stick around in the NFL at that position into his 30s, a player has to be doing something right, but Williams is going to have to show what that is. Bell will serve a three-game suspension to start the year, and the Steelers are 0-4 in Bell’s career when he doesn’t play. Behind Williams is Josh Harris, who looked unspectacular in the team’s playoff loss to Baltimore (another game played without Bell), and Dri Archer, who looked lost.

Schedule

Odds are excellent the Steelers will have faced the Super Bowl champion in 2015. The only powerhouse team not on their schedule this year is the Green Bay Packers, and they play them in the preseason. With a tough division (Baltimore will be among the league’s best this year), they have the league-opener at New England. The visiting team essentially never wins that game. They have Indianapolis at home in Week 13 but that’s after a trip to defending NFC champion Seattle in Week 12. They’ll host Denver as well, but have to play at San Diego on Monday Night Football in Week 5.

to read rest of article:

http://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2015/07/14/the-10-biggest-concerns-pittsburgh-steelers-in-2015/