Face it, Steelers mediocre

[Ox]

Face it, Steelers mediocre

By: Mark Madden

09/03/2007

Steelers fans are to be commended for not accepting mediocrity.

But they look kind of silly when they can't spot it.

This year's model looks like an 8-8 team, and is closer to 6-10 than 10-6. Only a miraculous year by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger could propel the Steelers into the playoffs.

Don't rule that out. If Roethlisberger plumbs the versatility and unpredictability of his new offense while avoiding capital punishment at the hands of his line, great things are possible. If the Steelers fail, Roethlisberger will wake up with a headache most Mondays while absorbing an unfair share of the blame, but every quarterback signs that Faustian contract.

Beyond Roethlisberger, the Steelers are average. That's a blasphemous thought in these parts. But in the land of the wild-eyed yinzer, the objective thinker rules.

Consider this: How many Steelers starters are good enough to start for a legitimate postseason contender? How many Steelers defenders could start for, say, Baltimore?

The Ravens would laugh at Clark Haggans and James Harrison.

The Ravens would laugh at the Steelers cornerbacks.

James Farrior, Larry Foote, Casey Hampton, Troy Polamalu and Aaron Smith provide the only true quality on the Steelers defense. Brett Keisel may join that pack; he has the football sense and athletic ability to handle his expanded role.

How many starters on the Steelers offense could start for Cincinnati? wines hard could be the third receiver. Maybe.

Roethlisberger, Alan Faneca, Willie Parker and Marvel Smith are legit big-timers. Santonio Holmes and Heath Miller might be. Ward is a lot closer to the end of his prime than the beginning.

It's a bit skewed to compare the Steelers to the best their division rivals have to offer while ignoring the worst of the Ravens and Bengals. Baltimore quarterback Steve McNair could easily jump back on the scrap heap, while Cincinnati's rotten defense doesn't have even a single playmaker.

But it's difficult to imagine the Steelers outscoring Cincinnati, and equally difficult to imagine the Steelers scoring enough against Baltimore. The Steelers figure to again be brutalized two straight by the Ravens. Going 1-1 against Cincinnati seems possible only because the Bengals loathe prosperity.

If the Steelers really see themselves as a Super Bowl contender not far removed from winning XL, hiring a rookie head coach from outside the organization was bad. Continuity from within would have been better.

The Steelers' saving grace may be their undemanding early schedule.

At Cleveland this coming Sunday, then Buffalo and San Francisco at home, at Arizona, then home against Seattle. If the Steelers get through that stretch 4-1 (or, speaking idealistically, 5-0), momentum has been built and wiggle room created.

The schedule gets a lot harder. But if the Steelers begin 5-0, 10-6 and a playoff berth seems realistic. If the Steelers begin 3-2, that might seem OK but will actually be a deep hole.

The Steelers will come up short at center, where behemoth foes will bully Sean Mahan physically. Tackle Willie Colon is unproven. Holmes and Miller must fulfill their promise. More important, each must be given ample chance to fulfill his promise.

On defense, the outside linebackers are below average. The best cornerback won't be starting.

It all adds up to mediocre. It all adds up to 8-8. Recognize, will you?

Mark Madden hosts a sports talk show 3-7 p.m. weekdays on ESPN Radio 1250.

http://www.timesonline.com/site/news.cfm?n...78568&rfi=6

[duus]

True. True. ... and then those Steeler fans will come around and try to push the belief that Madden is just trying to get attention. Queue the goggles.

[NYBengalfan]

Wow the Steelers first5 games are not that difficult. SF show me that you are a playoff team. SEA get back to your SB caliber year( got lucky to get as far as they did at 9-7.)

[HoosierCat]

On a related note...

PFT's caption is: "Big Ben is having trouble understanding how Tom Brady gets all the chicks." :lmao:

[BengalszoneBilly]

PFT's caption is: "Big Ben is having trouble understanding how Tom Brady gets all the chicks."

Who said it's

[ArmyBengal]

I think the Steelers will be right there again this year and their schedule doesn't look that rough. They didn't lose much from last year and Rottenfurburger is healthy. I liked their first two draft picks in Timmons and Woodley and I just don't see a 6-10 season in their future. At least not this year. Oh yeah, they better never let Polamalu go or their CB's will look like the turds they really are...

WHODEY !!!

[Stripes]

I think that Mark Madden is off his rocker when claiming the Steelers are closer to a 6-10 team than a 10-6 team. Frankly, I think they're closer to a 12-4 team than a 6-10 team.

[The PatternMaster]

I think that Mark Madden is off his rocker when claiming the Steelers are closer to a 6-10 team than a 10-6 team. Frankly, I think they're closer to a 12-4 team than a 6-10 team.

You think the Steelers could go 12-4, really. I don't know, Parker already has a bum knee, the o-line can't pass protect(Max Starks sucks!), the cb's still suck, and they have a rookie head coach. I like the new offense but I don't know if Ben is ready to be Dan Marino, last year he proved that he will make plenty of bad throws and decisions. If Parker gets a more serious injury that would be trouble because they don't have a viable back-up, unlike the Bengals who claimed the great Clifton Dawson off of waivers..

There defense looks good thought, I like the Timmons pick.

Heath Miller and Santonio Holmes are going to have to have a big year if Pitts is going to go 12-4.

Btw, keep on with the Steelers will be 12-4 and I could see charges of treason in your future.

[SteelerFan87]

True. True. ... and then those Steeler fans will come around and try to push the belief that Madden is just trying to get attention. Queue the goggles.

Haha, I knew you'd eat up all this crap Madden is spewing. Seriously duus, your man-crush on him is getting a little disturbing.

Anyway, I love how Madden totally glosses over the weaknesses of the Bengals and Ravens. Sure, your offense might be better than ours, but is it enough to overcome your defensive weakness? And sure, the Ravens D might be better than ours, but does it matter if their offense can't score?

Really, the Steelers, Bengals, and Ravens are all very close, overall. The Bengals are way at one end of the spectrum, the ravens are way at the other end, and the Steelers are pretty much in the middle. This all adds up to 3 teams of pretty equal talent. The AFC North should be wide open this year.

BTW, thanks to PatternMaster, TDB, and ArmyBengal for being objective and not letting your hatred of the Steelers convince you that Mark Madden isn't a fat moron.

[duus]

BTW, thanks to PatternMaster, TDB, and ArmyBengal for being objective and not letting your hatred of the Steelers convince you that Mark Madden isn't a fat moron.

Well, for what it is worth to you, I surely (uh, completely, absolutely, without-a-doubt) hate the city of Pissburgh and all it has (doesn't have) to offer ... YET ... I actually do my best to look at the team and its outlook objectively. I do not agree with Madden here ... just enjoy how he goes to the other extreme of typical Pissburghers ... sort of balances things out around here for me. 6-10? Nah. 8-8 is more like it. And maybe even true for the Ravens and Bengals. I expect one of those teams will find 2 more wins somehow. Hoping it's the Bengals of course. I just see it more likely that it is the Ravens, and then followed in likelihood by the Bengals, and least likely to go 10-6 (among the three) would be the Steelers. My perspective.

What I absolutely do find true in his statement is something that few if any Urine Goggle-wearing fan will admit to ... that if on the Bengals roster, Hines Ward would be the third receiver. That's where I do agree. How about you on that one? Objective or not? Curious.

[SteelerFan87]

BTW, thanks to PatternMaster, TDB, and ArmyBengal for being objective and not letting your hatred of the Steelers convince you that Mark Madden isn't a fat moron.

Well, for what it is worth to you, I surely (uh, completely, absolutely, without-a-doubt) hate the city of Pissburgh and all it has (doesn't have) to offer ... YET ... I actually do my best to look at the team and its outlook objectively. I do not agree with Madden here ... just enjoy how he goes to the other extreme of typical Pissburghers ... sort of balances things out around here for me. 6-10? Nah. 8-8 is more like it. And maybe even true for the Ravens and Bengals. I expect one of those teams will find 2 more wins somehow. Hoping it's the Bengals of course. I just see it more likely that it is the Ravens, and then followed in likelihood by the Bengals, and least likely to go 10-6 (among the three) would be the Steelers. My perspective.

What I absolutely do find true in his statement is something that few if any Urine Goggle-wearing fan will admit to ... that if on the Bengals roster, Hines Ward would be the third receiver. That's where I do agree. How about you on that one? Objective or not? Curious.

Oh no doubt. (Well, personally, I'd like to put him ahead of Douchemanzadeh, mostly because I hate Douchemanzadeh) But ahead of Chad? Yeah, there's no way that would ever happen. But that doesn't mean Hines isn't a good player. I think he's excellent. Does he have the talent to start on a team as deep at WR as the Bengals? Probably not, especially given his age. I think there's no doubt the Bengals' WR corps is better than the Steelers. But that doesn't mean the Steelers WRs suck, just that the Bengals have alot of skill at the position.

Of course, by the same token, would Douchemanzadeh be any higher than a #3 WR on the Colts? Probably not.

[duus]

Of course, by the same token, would Douchemanzadeh be any higher than a #3 WR on the Colts? Probably not.

Arguable ... but fair enough.

[ArmyBengal]

I love TJ as a player, but the "Douchemanzadeh" diss is pretty funny !!! I hate many teams in the league, but as a fan of football, I enjoy reading up on the other teams and what they have going on. Objectivity makes or a better fan in my opinion. You see the boneheads all the time who just can't let it go that their team sucks balls and are real jerkoffs about it. Anyway, just my 2 cents... That and I really do dislike the Steelers !!!

WHODEY !!!

[skyline]

The article is completely over the top.

That said, I do think Steelers fans should have some legitimate concerns heading into the season with concern #1 being Ben. We'll see which Ben shows up this season, but the answer to that question will say a lot about how the Steelers do in general.

[Stripes]

Btw, keep on with the Steelers will be 12-4 and I could see charges of treason in your future.

Nah, If I had a gun to my head and was being ordered to predict the Steelers final 2007 record, I'd probably go with 10-6. I just meant that 12-4 would surprise me far less than 6-10.

[Kazkal]

ure, your offense might be better than ours,

Might be? LOL it's like saying our defense might be better then the ravens or the Clowns might finish first in the north.

But I do think the steelers have 2nd best Offense & Defense in the north so pretty much as you said in the middle where Bengals are offensive heavy and ravens are defensive all in all should make for intresting race to capture the AFCN title.