Cook: Let's not forget, Ben Roethlisberger is still a Steeler

[salamander]

Sunday, July 22, 2012
By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


It's become popular to write off the Steelers in the 2012 season even before they report to training camp Wednesday in Latrobe. ESPN analysts have said the window is closing quickly for the current players. SI.com says this could be the year the team takes a big step back. Others are saying much worse.


Read more: http://old.post-gazette.com/pg/12204...#ixzz21M7az3dT

[GBMelBlount]

We are definitely under the radar this year which is a good thing.

Teams will under prepare and our team will work that much harder to prove the pundits wrong.

...I guess I just don't have the concern that others have about an off year.

We are younger

We are hungrier

Our offense looks better this year.

Our defense should be just as good.

Our special teams should be solid.

Can our kicking game really get any worse?

Only down side is the new OC and new playbook imo. Fortunately our early schedule looks winnable and may help us ease into the new playbook by playing a little conservative early on.

Barring injuries to key players I really like our chances this year.

and yes, I am a complete homer on this.

[steel striker]

Also not to mention who we play the first two games this year. We all know must people will pick Denver because, of Peyton Manning. The Jets are the most over hype team outside of the Cowboys and The Cheats. I like under the radar and, as we know in the past the steelers play better when most of the so called experts pick against them.

[suitanim]

Conversely, we could be 0-3 heading into our way-too-early-in-the-year bye week.

We couldn't beat Denver in Denver when they had one of the worst QB imposters in history playing the position with a dumbed-down high school offense, so why do we think we can go into Denver, after how poorly we played on the road in general last year, and beat a Denver team that is virtually the same with one of the BEST QB's to ever play the game?

Then we play the Jets. We always play like dogshit against them, and they also have a very good defense.

Then we go on the road again to the West Coast and play an Oakland team that is finally unburdened of it's massive handicap (an owner with dementia), against another team with a good defense.

I think the script is horrible for us.

[fansince'76]

Conversely, we could be 0-3 heading into our way-too-early-in-the-year bye week.

That would very quickly end the Haley honeymoon for many. Or, more likely, Ben will catch the blame because he's "still pining for his golf buddy" and refuses to "get with the program."

[SteelGhost]

ESPN analysts have said the window is closing quickly for the current players. SI.com says this could be the year the team takes a big step back. Others are saying much worse.

BSPN and SI in the same conversation =