By Sean Geddes 

If you’re a Pittsburgh Steelers fan, this, more than maybe any other time before, is a season of football that is long overdue. The offseason lasted far, far too long. When camp pads started popping in Latrobe, PA just a few short weeks ago a breath of fresh, cool air most likely blew across your face that took you back to a time not so long ago. Better days. Football days. Championship days.

I know I felt it.

After an offseason of turmoil, an offseason of questions no one ever wanted to ask, when we saw our franchise quarterback embroiled in another incident that nobody would ever want to be on either side of, when we saw our budding (in more ways than one) star, a Superbowl MVP wide receiver shipped away for what could be rationalized as pennies in NFL currency, and change over on the coaching staff on all sides of the ball; only one thing could save us from this mess, this malaise, this never ending nightmare of accusations, of allegations, of reaffirmations and (perhaps) some self-contemplations… We, Steelers Nation, needed football back.

And so it’s here.

Don’t let the opening of this fool you. It wasn’t all doom and gloom in the city of bridges this summer. Dick LeBeau got into the Pro Football Hall of Fame after what was in reality, what I felt our offseason was… far, far too long. In typical Coach Dad fashion, he took his moment in the sun to reflect some back on his men. The Steelers defense.

Troy Polamalu and Aaron Smith are back from shoulder and knee injuries respectively, and look to round out a group of both veterans and young players that are always poised for greatness under LeBeau’s tutelage. Casey Hampton returns to anchor the middle of the veteran defensive line bookended by Smith and grizzled (no… literally) veteran Brett Keisel. The “ideal people” for the defensive line, according to LeBeau, will be taking on double teams all season to protect our brigade of ‘backers starting with veteran captain James Farrior, 2009 Defensive League MVP James Harrison and young beasts Lawrence Timmons and LaMarr Woodley. One of the smartest players to wear a Steelers uniform, also according to LeBeau, Ryan Clark will look to be the balance to Troy Polamalu at the two safety positions, with Ike Taylor, William Gay, Joe Burnett and Keenan Lewis covering wide receivers. To add to this stout group, the Steelers brought back veteran Steelers Bryant McFadden to help with coverage duties, and Larry Foote to be a leader at linebacker as well.

Not to be outdone, offensively, the team brought back Antwaan Randle El to add to a receiving crew (and maybe even throw one or two too) already featuring all time great Hines Ward, the electrifying Mike Wallace and tight end Heath Miller. Rashard Mendenhall will be the young bell cow of this offense at running back, with reliable veteran Mewelde Moore providing both fresh legs and good hands. An unfortunate injury early in camp to Willie Colon left a challenge for new line coach Sean Kugler who came in from Buffalo, and a hole at right tackle which may have been filled by the late veteran signing of Flozell Adams. Justin Hartwig, Trai Essex, Chris Kemoeatu and Max Starks will still be in charge of protecting our quarterback.

And about that quarterback. Before I start, let me be clear, this is Ben Roethlisberger’s team. After what will hopefully be a four game suspension there is little to no chance anyone else will be taking snaps in a Steelers uniform at the start of that fifth game. But who will be taking all of the snaps in the previous games?

Byron Leftwich was resigned after what he would describe as a disappointing season in Tampa Bay. He has taken a majority of the reps with the first team all camp, and has been given every opportunity to prove this can be his team (for a month or so). Byron played well for us in spot and mop up duties two seasons ago, and his experience and proven talent give him the apparent favor of Coach Tomlin and his staff. But this Dennis Dixon? Well, he provides a sizzle that is hard to deny. Between his speed, and potential for playmaking, he will make a strong push for playing time. Local guy and crafty vet Charlie Batch is in the running as well, but looking at camp reps and preseason playing time, it’s fairly clear this is a two man race. For Leftwich’s sake, I hope an actual two man race isn’t part of the criteria.

Special teams will look to rebound from a forgettable season last year, but not because of kicker Jeff Reed or punter Daniel Sepulveda. Joining them are long snappers (yeah, plural) Greg Warren and Matt Stewart… two will enter, one will leave.  New ST Coach Al Everest will be have to repair the gaping hole that was kick return coverage last year, and given his track record he should be up to the job. Giving him some young players to help clog the leak won’t hurt either.

Already mentioned were second year DB’s Keenan Lewis and Joe Burnett, 2009 third and fifth rounds respectively. Crezdon Butler (5^th round 2010) joined that group of young corners this season. Last year’s first round pick Ziggy Hood (32^nd overall) looks to bolster our three man front defensively, along with late round picks Sunny Harris (6^th round 2009) and Doug Worthington (7^th round 2010). Linebackers Jason Worilds (2^nd round 2010), Thaddeus Gibson (4^th round 2010) and Stevenson Sylvester (5^th round 2010) all will look to continue the legacy of great Steelers linebackers into the future (and our kick coverage current), and all have shown reasons to think the future will be bright.

On the offensive side, second year wide out Mike Wallace (3^rd round 2009) will look to take his game to the next level, replacing Santonio Holmes who took his skills elsewhere. He will be joined by rookies Emmanuel Sanders (3^rd round) and Antonio Brown (6^th round) who have each shown glimpses of flash early on. First round pick out of Florida, Maurkice Pouncey (18^th overall) will bring some much needed new life to an offensive line that has struggled in the recent past. They will be looking to make running lanes for Jonathan Dwyer (6^th round 2010) and second year player Isaac Redman (undrafted 2009), who has been turning heads for two seasons between both the preseason and practice squad.

This is a year of tempered, in some case non-existent praise from the Media, but as always high expectations from the fans. A year no one thinks we can do it, but a year us fans know, deep down inside, we love. Our players love. Sleep on the Steelers. Because these fans, our owners, our coaches, our team sleeps on no one. We’ll be ready to play, and we’ll be bringing it on every down, on every drive, in every game… all season. This can be a championship year in Pittsburgh. We know it.

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