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stillers4me
11-01-2010, 08:16 AM
November, 1, 2010 Nov 1
1:36
AM ET


By James Walker

NEW ORLEANS -- With the past two Super Bowl champions facing off in prime time, you were bound to learn something.

The Pittsburgh Steelers (http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/pit/pittsburgh-steelers) found out plenty Sunday night during a 20-10 loss (http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=301031018) to the New Orleans Saints (http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/no/new-orleans-saints). Many rated Pittsburgh as the best team in football entering Week 8. But it turns out Ben Roethlisberger (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?playerId=5536) & Co. have some holes that need to be patched this season.

Here are five things that stood out in the Steelers' loss in the Superdome:

Roethlisberger, offense still a work in progress: You didn't think it would be a cakewalk for Roethlisberger, did you? You didn't think he would come off his lengthy suspension, run through the entire schedule and avoid all potholes?

Roethlisberger had his first major stumble of the season. An energized Saints defense pressured and confused Roethlisberger, who threw for a season-low 195 yards and an interception. He was also sacked three times and hit an additional seven times.

"We just never got into any rhythm tonight," Roethlisberger said. "This is definitely a gut check for us. We got knocked down a little bit tonight and now it will be interesting to see how we will bounce back."

In addition, Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians called his worst game of the season. Pittsburgh was predictable by running too often on first down, which New Orleans picked up on quickly. That produced long down and distances for the Steelers.


Arians did some of his best work with limited resources while Roethlisberger was suspended. Arians needs to continue to get the most out of his talented personnel for the rest of the season for Pittsburgh to reach its potential.................

http://espn.go.com/blog/afcnorth/post/_/id/19722/five-things-we-learned-about-the-steelers

stlrtruck
11-01-2010, 08:58 AM
New Orleans is not the strongest defense, but Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams came up with a plan that other teams may use. New Orleans spread out its front seven and often overloaded one side to bring multiple players through the gaps.


I believe the Steelers will fix this.



more and more teams will aim to beat the Steelers via the pass.



I and I believe that Dick LeBeau will have an answer for them.



Don't pencil in the Steelers to win the AFC North just yet. The Ravens (5-2) are now in first place in the division.


And I believe that Flacco will throw the season away down the stretch. And Ben will find his stride. We still have a game to play in Baltimore (primetime at that - oh yeah remind me again what team doesn't like to play primetime in Pittsburgh).

Let the ravens, jets, patriots*, etc take the limelight.