Bob Smizik: Steelers' Holes Are On Offense

Monday, August 22, 2005
The Pittsburgh Press

How do the Steelers improve on the 15-1 record they achieved last season? They don't. Even duplicating such a record would be close to impossible. That does not, however, mean 2005 can't be a more memorable season.

The Steelers are eminently capable of improving on their postseason record.

After two exhibition games, both wins, the Steelers stand pretty much as expected. They have a defense that is championship caliber and one that can become dominating and an offense rife with question marks and one that can be their undoing.

Improving on last season's playoff performance would involve advancing further than the New England Patriots, the team that has won three of the past four Super Bowls -- a major challenge. The Patriots look as loaded as ever, but the very nature of the NFL, more so than any excellence on the part of the Steelers, will move them aside. Winning three of four Super Bowls is a stunning achievement. The fates will catch up to the Patriots. In an NFL where parity usually rules, the Patriots are overdue for a tumble.

Which is where the Steelers can step in.

It won't be easy because the offense needs to be upgraded.

What is unusual about the Steelers' offensive shortcomings is that they are not a result of the players who have left but of the players who return.

The departure of the right side of the line -- Keydrick Vincent and Oliver Ross -- will be more than overcome by the return from injury of Kendall Simmons at guard and the emergence of second-year player Max Starks at tackle.

Nor will the loss of Plaxico Burress cause the offense to stumble. Eventually, it can only be hoped, the Steelers will begin to utilize the skills of rookie tight end Heath Miller. He'll pick up some of what Burress did. The elusive and electric Antwaan Randle El, who is neither as fast nor as tall as Burress, will present defenses with just as many problems and be a more-than-adequate replacement.

The offensive concerns for the Steelers can be found at positions that are expected to be a team strength -- quarterback and running back.

Ben Roethlisberger seemingly has shrugged off his late-season slump, which began before his playoff meltdown, and that's good. Lack of confidence is not a shortcoming for Roethlisberger. That doesn't mean that slump can be dismissed or that it was a case of the quarterback suffering a case of late-season fatigue, as he has suggested.

Roethlisberger was unimpressive Saturday against the Miami Dolphins. Exhibition games are usually meaningless, but Roethlisberger needs to have a good preseason performance. His confidence in his ability might not be waning, but his teammates' belief in him might.

At running back, it's more a case of health than anything. Will Duce Staley, who has averaged only 11 starts the past five years, be durable enough to be the workhorse feature back this team needs? If not, does Jerome Bettis have another miracle season left?

The defense that was No. 1 last season only figures to get better. Such a unit can make up for a lot of offensive shortcomings.

All of last year's starters return along with the kind of depth not found in the salary-cap era. There's reason to believe this unit can become dominant.

"We've got the group to do even better," said James Farrior, who emerged as one of the NFL's best inside linebackers last season. "The coaches have done a great job of coaching us up. We've tweaked our defense a little bit and added a few new things.

"Everybody feels comfortable, everybody knows how everybody is going to play."
The front seven are excellent with remarkable depth. Nose tackle Chris Hoke and linebacker James Harrison stepped into starting roles last season and performed well above expectations. With Casey Hampton healthy, Hoke returns to a backup status. When Joey Porter returns, probably for the season opener, Harrison also goes back to the bench. Few teams have that kind of talent not starting.

Third-year cornerback Ike Taylor, a project whose time has come, is pushing starters Deshea Townsend and Willie Williams. Rookie Bryant McFadden will be an NFL starter.
If Roethlisberger can just come close to his rookie standard and if the running backs stay healthy it can be a better season for the Steelers.

Bettis said it best: "The sky's the limit for this team."

(Bob Smizik can be reached at bsmizik@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1468.)