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SteelCrazy
08-25-2010, 09:41 PM
Sporting News

The Pittsburgh Steelers now have had four months to absorb the news that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will miss the first four or six games of the '10 season because of a league suspension. With time comes some perspective.

Steelers star safety Troy Polamalu, for one, says the battle-tested team can survive with Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon at quarterback the first month-plus of the season.

"It's adversity that we're going to face, but it's nothing we haven't faced before," Polamalu told Sporting News' Clifton Brown. "We've played games without Ben. Honestly, I think we've done well in the past with our backup quarterbacks."

Since Roethlisberger became the starting quarterback during the second game of his rookie season, he has missed eight starts. The team went 4-4 in those games, but three of the losses were to divisional-rival Baltimore.

Commissioner Roger Goodell reportedly is leaning toward reducing Roethlisberger's suspension to four games. To survive against the first-month schedule — vs. Atlanta, at Tennessee, at Tampa Bay, vs. Baltimore — Polamalu says more responsibility for the won-lost record will fall to the defense, not Leftwich or Dixon.

"We understand as a defense that we have to step up and play a bigger role," he said. "He won't be there to help us win games."

The Steelers ranked fifth in the NFL in total defense last year, but there is good reason to believe the unit will be better in '10. First and foremost is Polamalu. The five-time Pro Bowler missed 11 games last year. Not only did the defense miss his havoc-wreaking and big plays, his absence forced teammates out of position. Case in point: In trying to compensate for Polamalu’s loss, free safety Ryan Clark often was burned for big pass plays.

The team yielded nine pass plays of 40-plus yards last year, but only two the year before when Polamalu played all 16 games.

The defensive line also will be fortified by the return of run-stuffing end Aaron Smith, who missed 11 games last year with a torn rotator cuff. The run defense got progressively worse without him, allowing an average of 124.3 yards over the last six games. And second-year end Ziggy Hood, a ‘09 first-round pick who played sparingly as a rookie, has been a star during training camp.

With pass-rush demons James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley still in place and with an improved run defense up front and an improved back end, there is reason to believe the unit could again return to its '08 form — when it led the NFL in total defense and pass defense and ranked second in run defense.

The '08 unit also led the league in sacks and interceptions en route to winning Super Bowl 43.

So the Steelers' players are looking at Roethlisberger's suspension as just another hurdle to clear.

"With us, there have been years when I thought we'd be good and we didn't do well," Polamalu said. "There have also been years when I didn't think we'd have a chance, and they turned out very good. But one thing has held true in Pittsburgh: We play the underdog role really well.

"I think the stage is set for us this year."

http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/feed/20 ... ut-for-big (http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/feed/2010-08/sharp-debut-for-big)

SteelCrazy
08-25-2010, 09:51 PM
Hey Crash, I think Troy is joining in on the conspiracy with Hines to ruin Ben..... :stirpot

:Boobs

Crash
08-25-2010, 09:56 PM
4-4 is mediocre Mr. Polamalu.

Sugar
08-25-2010, 10:04 PM
4-4 is mediocre Mr. Polamalu.

If that translates to 2-2 while Ben is out, I'll take it and consider it fortunate!

phillyesq
08-25-2010, 10:22 PM
4-4 is mediocre Mr. Polamalu.

If that translates to 2-2 while Ben is out, I'll take it and consider it fortunate!

Exactly.

Also, it wasn't Troy that pointed out the record - it was the writer.

This is a total non-story. It has nothing to do with supporting Ben or not. He said the only thing that he could say. It isn't like he could say "without Ben, we're screwed."

grotonsteel
08-25-2010, 10:45 PM
Steelers are going 3-1 without Big Ben if Defense plays like 2008. Again that is a big IF.

If defense is upto the mark then the only defeat i see is against Ratbirds.

3-1 without Big Ben
8-4 with Big Ben

11-5 this season and SB champs.

Big Ben can then shove Lombardi in commish back. Mark this thread.

Discipline of Steel
08-25-2010, 11:32 PM
Steelers are going 3-1 without Big Ben if Defense plays like 2008. Again that is a big IF.

If defense is upto the mark then the only defeat i see is against Ratbirds.

3-1 without Big Ben
8-4 with Big Ben

11-5 this season and SB champs.

Big Ben can then shove Lombardi in commish back. Mark this thread.

Its marked. I entered it for you in the Nostradamus thread.

Crash
08-25-2010, 11:39 PM
Ben shouldn't even touch the 7th Lombardi. Celebrate with his teammates. Go to the locker room, get dressed, and go to the team party.

No media, nothing. When he's named SB MVP don't go to the press conference that Monday either.

SteelCrazy
08-25-2010, 11:41 PM
Ben shouldn't even touch the 7th Lombardi. Celebrate with his teammates. Go to the locker room, get dressed, and go to the team party.

No media, nothing. When he's named SB MVP don't go to the press conference that Monday either.

Were you in the drama club in high school? :Boobs

Scarletfire1970
08-26-2010, 08:03 AM
No way Goodell is letting us win the SB this year.

Oviedo
08-26-2010, 08:16 AM
Steelers are going 3-1 without Big Ben if Defense plays like 2008. Again that is a big IF.

If defense is upto the mark then the only defeat i see is against Ratbirds.

3-1 without Big Ben
8-4 with Big Ben

11-5 this season and SB champs.

Big Ben can then shove Lombardi in commish back. Mark this thread.

:Agree If they can go 3-1 with Ben out then 11-5 is very achieveable but there isn't much room for error. I agree that the Key is the defense cannot repeat the problems of 2009 or we are going to be an 8-8 team.

Here is how it has to happen:

Beat the teams we should beat: Bucs, Brownsx2, Raiders, Bills and Panthers. That equals 6 wins

Split with Ravens and Bumgals. That is 2 more wins.

In remainining games with Falcons, Titans, Dolphins, Saints, Patriots and Jets just get a split. That is 3 more wins.

Season comes out 11-5 and we win the AFC North.

Djfan
08-26-2010, 09:37 AM
Here is how it has to happen:

Beat the teams we should beat: Bucs, Brownsx2, Raiders, Bills and Panthers. That equals 6 wins

Split with Ravens and Bumgals. That is 2 more wins.

In remainining games with Falcons, Titans, Dolphins, Saints, Patriots and Jets just get a split. That is 3 more wins.

Season comes out 11-5 and we win the AFC North.


Nice Ovi! This looks legit. The team seems focused and talented. There is a different feeling coming out this preseason IMO.

Looking to be a good year.

BRING IT ON ALREADY!!!!