Problems in the Steel City

I just watched the Steelers drop their latest game to the Colts, which shows the biggest problem with Pittsburgh: Their offensive line.

None of these guys have played together before this year, and the last holdover from Superbowl XL was Alan Faneca - the left guard who departed via free agency to a more lucrative contract with the Jets. That's a huge loss - almost half (13) of the sacks that Roethlisberger sustained this year came from the left side - a position now manned by Chris Kemoeatu (who has . Big Ben cannot keep on being Filbert the Turtle and operating from his back - last time I checked, it's not a forward pass if it's thrown whilst the player is on the ground. Someone may need to check that one for me (and Roethlisberger for that matter) - because he keeps trying.

Their defense can only take them so far. Even if they lead the league in overall defense (the jury's still out on that one after giving up 302 yards to Indy) - without offensive output, they're going to be the 2000 Baltimore Ravens - even though they won the Super Bowl; they won against a mismatched NY Giants team (with the currently unbeaten Kerry Collins under center). Even then they had a fully healthy running back in Jamal Lewis.

So, with Fast Willie being down likely for another two games and an upcoming schedule that includes the unbeaten Titans and a Cowboys team that is getting Tony Romo back, Steeltown will be hard-pressed to go 5-2 the rest of the way and finish with a record of 11-5.

Super worthy? Highly unlikely. Maybe next year.

So it goes,
The Max