2009 Steelers Set for a Super Repeat?

By clemsoncannon  |   Thursday, August 20, 2009  |  Comments( 0 )

Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Pittsburgh Steelers won the Super Bowl for the 6th time in team history following the 2008 season becoming the only NFL team to win that many championships. But this Steeler team will not be satisfied to rest on their laurels and cruise through the coming season. This team will be hungry for a repeat performance in Super Bowl XLIV. And there is every reason to believe that they can pull it off. This is a team, like New England and Indianapolis, that is built for continued success year after year.

So how does a franchise like this sustain a winning tradition? It all starts with drafting. The Steelers have been outrageously successful in the draft year after year. At the present time 8 of their last 10 first round picks are still with the team and all of them are major contributors. Not to mention all of the later round picks that have turned into solid professionals. With this kind of draft success a team is able to build from within. This is why the Steelers are almost never major players in free agency. Because of their careful drafting and nurturing of their talent they always have someone who is ready to step into a starting role. Alan Faneca left and was easily replaced by Chris Kemoeatu. Plaxico Burress left and Santonio Holmes stepped in. Larry Foote left but will be ably replaced by Lawrence Timmons. They have an amazing ability to replenish the starting roster so they are largely unaffected by losses to free agency. And their roster is so deep that they do not have to go bidding on high priced free agents to fill holes in their starting line-up.

This year’s team returns 20 of 22 starters including all 11 offensive starters. They will also have Rashard Mendenhall back to help bolster a running game that was less than effective last season. But defense wins championships and the Steelers defense is top notch. In 2008 they led the NFL in total defense (237.2 ypg), passing defense (156.9 ypg) and points per game (13.9). With 10 starters back and a relatively easy schedule they should be near the top of the ratings again this season.

And let’s talk about that schedule. I know that it is nearly impossible to predict how most teams will finish. And there is always a dark horse that comes out of nowhere to have a great season (i.e. the 2008 Arizona Cardinals). But the Steelers have games against the Bengals (twice), Browns (twice), Lions, Raiders, Chiefs and Broncos. Those are 8 very winnable games for the defending champs. The other 8 are tough games but overall this schedule, on paper anyway, is a cakewalk compared to last season.

Another important factor is stability at the coaching level. Mike Tomlin is entering his 3rd season as head coach of the Steelers and he has remarkably been able to keep his entire coaching staff intact to this point. That is critical to the success of this team. The players know what to expect and are not trying to learn someone else’s system year after year. Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau is entering his 6th season in that position and deserves all the credit for building this defense into the dominating force that it is. Bruce Arians has also been with the team for 6 years and has been offensive coordinator for three. Coach Tomlin has shown complete confidence in his assistants and does not try to force his own ideas on them. He lets them control their areas of responsibility and it has paid big dividends.

This team is reminiscent of the great Steeler teams of the 1970's and could very well match or surpass the achievements of those awesome Steel Curtaint teams. Taking everything into consideration I will predict an 11-5 finish and an AFC North crown.
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