2014 promises to be a huge season for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh has missed the playoffs the previous two seasons, which is beyond out of character for this franchise. In fact, this team hasn’t missed the playoffs three consecutive seasons since a very dark stretch from 1998-2000.
This is also a significant season for head coach Mike Tomlin. The Steelers went to the Super Bowl twice in his first two seasons as head coach. However, they did so with a roster comprised primarily of players assembled by former head coach Bill Cowher.
As we enter 2014, the bulk of this roster has been turned over, and for the most part, this team belongs to Tomlin. No franchise covets loyalty like the Steelers. In a league where there is a revolving door at head coach for many teams, the Steelers have had four in 45 years. That does not absolve Tomlin from his responsibility to maintain the team's success, however.
This current incarnation of the Steelers roster is loaded with talent. The front office has taken strides this offseason to shuck the “old and slow” criticisms that plagued the team in 2013. Not to mention, this team, even at 8-8, was one of the best in the league the second half of the season.
When talking about ceiling and floor for the 2014 season, it really comes down to whether this team is the group that went 2-6 to start the year or the one that went 6-2 down the stretch. Let’s take a closer look at both.
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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...eelers-in-2014
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