Steelers News

After several months of waiting, the NFL is finally back for the 2015 season. Kicking off on Thursday the 10^th of September, where the Pittsburgh Steelers took on the defending champions, in the New England Patriots in what was a tense and explosive match. As players will know, this time the Patriots arose victorious from this epic kick off match which finished with a final score of Patriots 28-21 Steelers. Obviously this was not the ideal result for the Steelers. But this doesn’t need to paint their performance for the entire season. Therefore, we would like to investigate; what are the Steelers’ odds for the rest of the season?

First of all, let’s look at what the experts think. When looking at predictions for favourites to win this season of the Super Bowl, the Steelers do not appear once. Instead, bookmakers predict a win for the Seattle Seahawks, the Indianapolis Colts, the Green Bay Packers and the New England Patriots. However, the Steelers odds are not abysmal, with their win total line sitting at 8.5. Considering that this is the same as their win total line last year, which they surpassed at 11-5, then there is a good chance that they can do well. The main problem facing the Steelers is that, compared to last season, they have far weaker ratings in their linebacker and their defensive line as well as in the secondary.

In addition, some of their best players will be out of the competition for several games – Pouncey, playing center, looks likely to miss around 10 weeks, whilst RB Bell will not be available for the first two games and WR Bryant has been suspended for four games. These misfortunes have meant that despite the Steelers’ talent, they are arguably playing one of their toughest seasons – and certainly, of all the teams playing in this NFL, they probably have the most challenges to overcome. Therefore, whilst fans might sleep better knowing that any losses are not actually a reflection on the Steelers’ talents as a team, sports betting fans might not want to blow all of their cash on predicting them for a win.

Another good indicator to check out is the performance of the team during previous games. As we know, the Steelers lost their first game to the Patriots, but what about the preseason games taking place in previous months. It’s probably important to note that the Steelers lost 4 out of 5 of their last games. This included a devastating 6-23 loss to the Carolina Panthers on September the 3rd. Of course, this loss was something of an anomaly for the Steelers, whose average score overall ranks at 21, so hopefully they will have sorted out some of the issues which took place during that game. It is, however, still something to bear in mind during your bet. What’s more, in the last 5 games the total has gone under in 4 of them, so this will also affect the match and the league outcome.

Certainly the Steelers are facing a lot of adversity. However, it’s not all bad news for fans. Of the eight super bowls which the team has participated in, the Steelers have won six. The most recent of these was in 2009, where they beat the Arizona Cardinals by 27 points to 23. These are some very good results and indicates that the Steelers could well have the talent and determination to pull through.

Overall, it is very difficult to tell at this point who will win the current football season, and this article can only really be a rough guide. If you fancy making a bet on this season, so can do so at a bookmakers or on an online sports betting site. These sites often offer other kinds of gambling as well – for example, you can find new casinos online out there. Most of all, make sure you enjoy the new season and have plenty of fun.

The 2015 NFL Season is only three months away and the Pittsburgh Steelers will mark their 83^rd season as a franchise as they attempt to win their first Super Bowl since 2009.

 The Steelers will open their campaign away to the New England Patriots at the Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts on Thursday 10^th September, 2015 and will be hoping to start with a big win that could set the tone for their season. The 2014 Season ended in disappointment for the Steelers as they suffered a 30-17 defeat to the Baltimore Ravens in the Wild Card Playoffs after topping the AFC North table.

Mike Tomlin will enter into his ninth season as the head coach of the Steelers with Kevin Colbert acting as the general manager for the sixteenth consecutive season. Both men will be desperate to improve on last season and recapture the magic that came when they beat Arizona Cardinals 27-23 in Super Bowl XLIII.

 A lot of responsibility for galvanizing the roster into competing for the Super Bowl will rest on the shoulders of star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. “Big Ben” had already enjoyed two Super Bowl wins with the Steelers and has also won three Pro Bowl titles during his tenure with the franchise. He was also chosen as the Steelers MVP during their 2009 Super Bowl victory to show that if the Steelers are to reach their full potential then Roethlisberger will need to be at his best.

 Roethlisberger is not the only offensive threat from the Steelers. Pundits and commentators have been tipping the Steelers to possess the most lethal set of triplets in the NFL for this coming season. The trio of Roethlisberger and both running back Le Veon Bell and wide receiver Antonio Brown give the Steelers a potency in the offense that has rarely been seen by an NFL franchise in recent years. In fact, Steelers fans are even suggesting it is the best triplets line up the franchise has had since Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris, and Lynn Swann. Only the Green Bay Packers triplets of Aaron Rodgers, Eddie Lacy, and Jordy Nelson and the Seattle Seahawks triplets of Russell Wilson, Marshawn Lynch, and Jimmy Graham are generating anywhere near the same buzz as the Steelers triplets.

However, it is often stated that Super Bowl titles are won by the defense. The 2014 Steelers defense failed to match expectations set before the season started. It conceded 5,654 yards, only averaged 353.5 yards per game, and gave up an average of 23 points per game. If the Steelers are to make progress on last season then those stats will have to show to be improved upon. Worryingly, last season was co-ordinated by the experienced Dick LeBeau with defensive end Brett Keisel, franchise icon and safety Troy Polamalu, and outside linebacker Jason Worilds all forming the defensive set up. All four of those big names have been dropped from the 2015 roster. Keith Butler has been assigned the job of defensive co-ordinator. Polamalu officially retired on 9^th April, 2015 meaning he will play no part in a Steelers season for the first time since 2002. He will be replaced by Shamarko Thomas and even though Thomas has big boots to fill, Steelers fans will be hoping he can create his own legendary status within the franchise. Arthur Moats is being lined up to fill in for the retired Worilds and Stephen Tuitt will be given the duty of replacing Keisel. There is concern that losing so many big names from the Steelers defense will be too big a blow but, on the contrary, it is being seen as a chance for the Steelers to get rid of the aging deadwood and give youthful blood a chance to create their own chapter in history.

The Steelers are currently listed at odds of 28/1 with most bookmakers to win Super Bowl 50. Since 2009, the Super Bowl betting has grown and grown (see here for Nevada figures alone) and many fans are now enjoying the online options in the US.Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and Baltimore Ravens are all favoured more but for a franchise that is completely restructuring its defensive line, it offers hope for Steelers fans that they are being considered as dark horses to win the Super Bowl. The fact they are ranked as the 9/4 second favourites behind Baltimore Ravens at 7/4 to win AFC North shows that expectations are not as high as last season but that could work in favour of the Steelers.

Ultimately, if the Steelers are to push on and win this season’s Super Bowl then they will need the starring triplets of Roethlisberger, Bell, and Brown to deliver the goods on the offense but they will also need their newly formed defensive line to greatly improve on last season’s poor stats. It could turn out that with all eyes on Roethlisberger to guide the Steelers to the Super Bowl, a less likely hero could rise from defense and a new era of Steelers success may well be on the horizon. The Steelers have their doubters but it would not be the first time they’ve proved everyone wrong.

While the Pittsburgh Steelers are still in a state of mourning following Troy Polamalu’s retirement, there is a silver-lining to the departure of the 12-year veteran. The Steelers may have lost one of the best safety’s in Steelers history, but the franchise have saved a significant amount of money that will now be used to strengthen their roster before the start of the new season.

Polamalu’s decision to hang up his boots has saved Pittsburgh millions in both cap space and base salary, although it remains to be seen just when the franchise will see the benefits. If the Steelers and Polamalu submit his retirement papers before June 1, the franchise would save a useful $3.75 million in cap space this year. Doing it after June 1 would save more room in their salary cap this season but see Pittsburgh sustain a hefty $2.5 million charge for dead cap space over the next two years.

by  AndyMcLemore 

If the Steelers go with the first option, they will drop to just under $10.5 million, while the second option would put the franchise just over $12.5 million under the cap. The safety was expected to be the joint third biggest earner at Pittsburgh this season alongside Antonio Brown, with Polamalu also in line to earn the third-highest signing bonus with the eight-time Pro Bowler set to pick up $2.25 million before taking the decision to end his 12-year NFL career.

Polamalu’s announcement has shocked the Steelers, not least due to the fact the two-time Super Bowl winner signed a new three-year contract last year. The strong safety has been a key part of Pittsburgh’s success over the past decade, racking up 770 tackles, 32 interceptions and three touchdowns during his 12-year stay with the Steelers, and Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin will have their work cut out to find a replacement. The loss of Polamalu has certainly had an impact on the betting – and it won’t be a huge surprise if the Steelers don’t start the season as one of the bookies’s favourites to clinch the Super Bowl – unless they have a sensational offseason in terms of player recruitment.

The Steelers have signed free agent running back Jawan Jamison.

Jamison played college football at Rutgers and was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the seventh round (228th overall) in the 2013 NFL Draft.  Jamison spent last season on the Redskins practice squad.

To make room on the roster, the Steelers waived running back Alvester Alexander.  He has been on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list due to a groin injury.

Jawan Jamison Highlights

According to GMs and reported by NFL.com, Justin Gilbert is a “pile inspector” meaning that he doesn’t like to tackle.  That’s a problem for most teams and especially the Steelers because they expect their cornerbacks to tackle.  That is part of the job description and being a “pile inspector” doesn’t fit the bill.

Currently ranked at #13 overall (per NFL.com), Oklahoma State’s, playmaking cornerback is arguably the drafts #1 rated cornerback.  He is a playmaker with exceptional speed and athleticism but it’s debatable on whether he is the draft’s #1 corner.

Who is the best CB in the 2014 NFL Draft?

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