stillers4me
02-12-2011, 11:24 AM
Steeler fans, I feel your pain. After closing the gap to 21-17 in Super Bowl XLV (http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2011020600/2010/POST22/steelers@packers), it looked as though the game was playing into Pittsburgh's hands. Even on the final drive, it was almost as if it was a foregone conclusion that Ben Roethlisberger (http://www.nfl.com/players/benroethlisberger/profile?id=ROE750381) would make plays out of the pocket, hit some of those annoying dinks and dunks that drive guys like Dom Capers crazy, and ultimately lead the Steelers to the winning touchdown.
Didn't happen. And thus begins the 2011 offseason for Steel City. As we continue our series of exit interviews, we take a look at some issues confronting the defending AFC champs.
1. Age becoming a concern?
One issue that could become huge is age. Having a veteran team is good, but much of the core is either rapidly approaching 30, or well past it. Pittsburgh has 23 guys on its roster that will either turn 30 in 2011, or are already past it. The majority of them are on defense.
Coach Mike Tomlin and his staff must find ways to take some of the toll off players in minicamps, training camp and preseason to save some legs, while also getting younger players first team reps as much as possible. One draft will not completely fix this concern.................
Read more @ http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81e36d93/article/father-time-steelers-biggest-hurdle-to-return-to-super-bowl?module=HP_cp2
Didn't happen. And thus begins the 2011 offseason for Steel City. As we continue our series of exit interviews, we take a look at some issues confronting the defending AFC champs.
1. Age becoming a concern?
One issue that could become huge is age. Having a veteran team is good, but much of the core is either rapidly approaching 30, or well past it. Pittsburgh has 23 guys on its roster that will either turn 30 in 2011, or are already past it. The majority of them are on defense.
Coach Mike Tomlin and his staff must find ways to take some of the toll off players in minicamps, training camp and preseason to save some legs, while also getting younger players first team reps as much as possible. One draft will not completely fix this concern.................
Read more @ http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81e36d93/article/father-time-steelers-biggest-hurdle-to-return-to-super-bowl?module=HP_cp2