So far, the Steelers stink— but there are reasons

By Darrell Laurant  |   Friday, October 06, 2006  |  Comments( 6 )

Pittsburgh Steelers
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
It's not the end of the world -- or even the end of the season.

Yes, the Pittsburgh Steelers have started the season 1-2, with a Sunday night game this week against the top-rated defensive team in the AFC (San Diego).

So, would 1-3 be the end of the world? Nope. Pittsburgh started out that way in 2000 and 2002, and rebounded both years to 9-7 and 10-5-1.

Still, there is definitely cause for concern when your Super Bowl-winning quarterback has a passing efficiency rating (34.3 percent) roughly the same as his waist measurement.

Ben Roethlisberger's performance in a loss to Cincinnati last week was especially dismal -- 18 of 39 with three interceptions and no touchdowns. But is Big Ben worried? Not to hear him tell it.

"It may sound funny, but I think we're playing well offensively," the third-year QB said last week. "We're almost ready to start clicking."

Roethlisberger wasn't making any excuses, although he could have. After all, the guy was nearly killed in a motorcycle accident over the summer, then was rushed to the hospital for an emergency appendectomy in September. He missed a lot of practice time because of that, and the rust has shown.

How tentative has Roethlisberger been? He's averaging 4.9 yards per completion, and the Steelers' leading receiver is safety valve running back Verron Haynes.

But there's a reason for that, as well. Hines Ward, Roethlisberger's favorite target last season, has been hampered by a nagging hamstring injury that sidelined him for all of the preseason, and has caught just nine balls for 99 yards. Fellow wideout Cedrick Wilson has yet to get involved in the offense, for whatever reason, making only four catches, and rookie Santonio Holmes is still low on the learning curve.

"It's getting better," said Ward of his injury, "but there's some scar tissue, and on certain routes, I can still feel it."

The bright spots have been RB Willie Parker, who has topped 100 yards rushing in two of the first three games, and the Steeler defense. That unit held Jacksonville to nine points in the second game of the season, which would be a lock for a victory 95 percent of the time in the NFL. Problem was, the Steelers scored zero, as the Jaguars kept serious pressure on Roethlisberger and stuffed Parker for a 1.3-yard average.

Yet it's not as if the defending champs have been getting blown away. The Cincinnati game was close throughout, and the Bengals scored twice on Steeler mistakes deep in their own territory, including Ricardo Colclough's muff of a punt inside the 10.

"That just made me stronger," Colclough said this week. "It made me work even harder."

Which seems to be the general mood of the Steelers at this point.

"We're not where we want to be," Bill Cowher said, "but nobody's pushing the panic button."

NOTE: A key matchup in Sunday night's game will be All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates of the Chargers against All-Pro DB Troy Polamalu of the Steelers. This pair should be on camera a lot.
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (6)

About Darrell Laurant

Sorry, Darrell Laurant's bio is currently not available. Please check back soon!
read more
Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report