With the Pittsburgh Steelers set to begin their regular season Thursday night against the New England Patriots, the team heads into week one and beyond with a number of question marks. Let’s look specifically at three key questions for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2015.
Can the Pittsburgh Steelers offense repeat it’s performance from 2014 with Bell, Pouncey and Bryant out to begin the season?
It’s hard to find an offense that was more productive last season than the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ben Roethlisberger had a career year, tying Drew Brees for most yards passing in NFL and just missing the 5,000-yard plateau. His 32 TD’s tied a career high, as was his 67.1 completion percentage.
Le’Veon Bell and Antonio Brown also had career years while earning All-Pro honors and rookie wide receiver Martavis Bryant dazzled as a big play receiver; catching eight TD’s after spending the first half of the season on the inactive list.
All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey anchored a much improved offensive line that flourished under the guidance of offensive line coach Mike Munchak while staying relatively healthy all season.
That was last year, and with Bell, Pouncey, and Bryant all out to start the season along with a Steeler defense with tons of question marks, the offense is going to be hard pressed to repeat it’s 2014 performance.
The question is can they?
Roethlisberger will have to lean heavily on Brown and Markus Wheaton in the passing game, and veteran running back DeAngelo Williams will have to prove that he’s got something left in the tank at 32. With Pouncey out until at least Week 9, the offensive line will be tested with Cody Wallace expected to fill the considerable void left in Pouncey’s absence.
If the Steeler offense can somehow carry the load without Bell and Bryant’s playmaking ability early, it could bode well for the team as they face a difficult road without three key players to start the season.
Can new defensive coordinator Keith Butler stabilize a defense with a multitude of question marks?
When legendary Hall of Fame defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau stepped aside this off-season, it was no secret long time linebackers coach Keith Butler would be chosen to fill the considerable void left with LeBeau’s departure.
Butler did not exactly step into an optimal situation; the Steelers defense had one of it’s worst seasons in two decades and continues to struggle to adjust with a lot of new players trying to make contributions.
If Butler’s defense is going to be better in 2015, it will need a huge year from a linebacking corps that boasts four first round picks. Three of them — Lawrence Timmons, Ryan Shazier and Jarvis Jones — are all slated to start and in the case of Shazier and Jones, a considerable uptick in production will be essential to Steeler defense being successful.
There’s been plenty of discussion related to changes to the Steelers defensive schemes and Butler putting his own personal touches on them. How these changes will impact putting pressure on opponents QB’s and creating turnovers will go far in determining how much success Butler’s defensive unit will have this season.
What’s certain is Butler’s handling the Steelers secondary might be define his first year as DC. The preseason was not kind to the Steelers secondary, and if they do not get better quickly, it’s going to be very long year for Butler and the Steeler defense.
Facing an absolutely brutal schedule, can the Steelers reach double digit wins and repeat as AFC North champions?
Oh that schedule — It’s hard not to look at it and not be concerned.
If the Steelers are going to repeat as AFC North champions, they will have to overcome a schedule that is statistically considered the most difficult in the NFL. The Steelers face nine 2014 playoff teams and will have to face two of the top teams in the AFC — New England and Baltimore, on Thursday night within the first four weeks of the season.
Additionally, the schedule after Thanksgiving is treacherous; Four road games over the final six weeks that include trips to Seattle, Cincinnati and Baltimore along with home contests against Denver and Indianapolis.
Can you say murderer’s row?
This will make getting off to a fast start all the more imperative, not to mention the Steelers breaking the habit of struggling against lesser teams during the regular season under Mike Tomlin. Losses to the likes of Oakland, San Francisco and Cleveland would be crippling considering how tough the schedule is in 2015.
