Top reasons I am excited about this season.

[Shawn]

I've been reading about the demise of the Steelers for many years every offseason. Believe it or not, I believe the Steelers are actually stronger this season for the following reasons.

1) The biggest reason I'm excited is it's the second year in Haley's system and Ben is no longer sulking. I don't care what any fan says, Haley has proven he is a successful OC, and that will continue in the Burgh. Ben having more say in the O will also produce quality dividends.

2) Le'Veon Bell-I haven't been this excited about a pick in many years. He is an instant upgrade to a stale running game. I believe he is starter by game 1 or 2, and has himself a 1300+ yard season.

3) WRs-While losing Wallace was a big deal, I suspect we won't be missing much when Wheaton gets his PT. In the long run, I believe Wheaton will have fans saying Wallace who?

4) OL-This OL is stacked with young, premium draft pick talent. At minimum if this OL stays healthy it should be a road grader for the running game. Having DD back is huge. I am concerned about Adams or Gibson being able to protect Ben's blindside.

5) Ben being healthy and on board coming off a disappointing season where he is being disrepected by nearly everyone with a keyboard or a pen. If Ben stays healthy I expect a record season.

6) Having a healthy Troy would be great but I doubt he stays healthy based on history. But, Golden excites me...not to mention Thomas. I'm eager to see they young guys get some PT.

7) Harrison was a beast in his prime, but due to health issues has some real rough patches. Jones and Worilds should be able to fill in nicely, and I suspect we see Woodley show up this season.

Heyward and McClendon could be serious upgrades on the DL. I'm really hoping Heyward shows capable of handling starter duties this season.

9) The Steelers always play better when disrespected and minimized. They eat that stuff up for breakfast, feeding off the negativity.

I have the Steelers going 11-5, with another Super Bowl run in the future this season.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I agree Shawn, I am very excited about this season. One huge reason is a combination of your #1 and #3. Haley came in last season trying to install a new offense with his #1 receiver not coming to camp, and then playing the season like he never arrived. Other than a couple of nice highlights, he was not effective during most plays that he was in the game for.

This year Haley is not thinking about whether or not he has to include a player who isn't there in his system. He has a harder worker as his new #1, and that rubs off on the rest, especially a rook. If Sanders can stay healthy, I can see some much more exciting things out of this offense.

I will say this over and over all year...If we get solid play from our two question mark tackles then this offense will be great.

[Ghost]

Because it's not baseball...

[Shawn]

I agree Shawn, I am very excited about this season. One huge reason is a combination of your #1 and #3. Haley came in last season trying to install a new offense with his #1 receiver not coming to camp, and then playing the season like he never arrived. Other than a couple of nice highlights, he was not effective during most plays that he was in the game for.

This year Haley is not thinking about whether or not he has to include a player who isn't there in his system. He has a harder worker as his new #1, and that rubs off on the rest, especially a rook. If Sanders can stay healthy, I can see some much more exciting things out of this offense.

I will say this over and over all year...If we get solid play from our two question mark tackles then this offense will be great.

You nailed it. Our two young tackles are the biggest question marks. If they prove to be above average this O will be special.

[Captain QB]

1) The biggest reason I'm excited is it's the second year in Haley's system and Ben is no longer sulking. I don't care what any fan says, Haley has proven he is a successful OC, and that will continue in the Burgh. Ben having more say in the O will also produce quality dividends.

Exactly how has he proven it? Lets take a look at the teams the Steelers beat last season:

Jets
Eagles
Bengals
Redskins
Giants
Chiefs
Ravens
Browns

The Jets, Eagles, Chiefs, and Browns sucked and the Giants were mediocre. The win against the Ravens was a fluke. The two playoff teams they did beat, the Bengals and Redskins, were both at low-points in their seasons when facing the Steelers as they both had losing records at the time of those games.

So please explain why you think Haley's offense should be labeled a success?

Oh, and have a bit of humility after an 8-8 season. To assume they are going to go on a Super Bowl run after how lousy last season was is very arrogant.

[Jooser]

Exactly how has he proven it? Lets take a look at the teams the Steelers beat last season:

Jets
Eagles
Bengals
Redskins
Giants
Chiefs
Ravens
Browns

The Jets, Eagles, Chiefs, and Browns sucked and the Giants were mediocre. The win against the Ravens was a fluke. The two playoff teams they did beat, the Bengals and Redskins, were both at low-points in their seasons when facing the Steelers as they both had losing records at the time of those games.

So please explain why you think Haley's offense should be labeled a success?

Oh, and have a bit of humility after an 8-8 season. To assume they are going to go on a Super Bowl run after how lousy last season was is very arrogant.

Do you have anything negative to add?

[RuthlessBurgher]

Exactly how has he proven it? Lets take a look at the teams the Steelers beat last season:

Jets
Eagles
Bengals
Redskins
Giants
Chiefs
Ravens
Browns

The Jets, Eagles, Chiefs, and Browns sucked and the Giants were mediocre. The win against the Ravens was a fluke. The two playoff teams they did beat, the Bengals and Redskins, were both at low-points in their seasons when facing the Steelers as they both had losing records at the time of those games.

So please explain why you think Haley's offense should be labeled a success?

Oh, and have a bit of humility after an 8-8 season. To assume they are going to go on a Super Bowl run after how lousy last season was is very arrogant.

Shawn said, "Haley has proven he is a successful OC, and that will continue in the Burgh."

That's obviously referencing his prior successful stint as an O.C. in Arizona, where the Cardinals rode their offensive success to the Super Bowl (where they absolutely shredded our historically great 2008 defense in the 2nd half, taking a late lead that required a remarkable comeback drive by Ben and Tone in order to earn that ring).

[Shawn]

Yes Ruthless that is exactly what I meant. He has a proven track record with a couple other teams. I see no reason he can't bring out the best in Ben and the rest of the O.

[Captain QB]

Shawn said, "Haley has proven he is a successful OC, and that will continue in the Burgh."

That's obviously referencing his prior successful stint as an O.C. in Arizona, where the Cardinals rode their offensive success to the Super Bowl (where they absolutely shredded our historically great 2008 defense in the 2nd half, taking a late lead that required a remarkable comeback drive by Ben and Tone in order to earn that ring).

Okay, that's one good season in Arizona with Warner, Fitzgerald, and Boldin. What else has he done to be so highly praised by Pittsburgh other than the fact Art Rooney II hired him?

Do you have anything negative to add?

It was a fair question. After an 8-8 season don't get pissed off when people bring things like that up.

[Shawn]

Captain QB, you do realize Haley took the pathetic 2-14 Chiefs and turned them around in just two seasons right? AFC West title...not too bad when you have Matt Cassell as your QB.

[Captain QB]

Captain QB, you do realize Haley took the pathetic 2-14 Chiefs and turned them around in just two seasons right? AFC West title...not too bad when you have Matt Cassell as your QB.

Yes, and I also realize at the time the AFC West itself was pathetic and they got their asses kicked right out of the playoffs by the Ravens. Besides, he got fired from KC the next season. Some job he did.

[Shawn]

Still, to take a team with that little of talent, coming off a 2-14 season and make them a playoff contendor says something in my book. He got fired the next season because of two reasons...one the cheifs got very unlucky injuries including to their starting QB...second personality conflicts with the front office. Haley has proven he can coach with talent, and without talent.

[Captain QB]

Still, to take a team with that little of talent, coming off a 2-14 season and make them a playoff contendor says something in my book. He got fired the next season because of two reasons...one the cheifs got very unlucky injuries including to their starting QB...second personality conflicts with the front office. Haley has proven he can coach with talent, and without talent.

Firstly, they came off a 4-12 season, not 2-14. Second, he didn't just have conflicts with the Chiefs' front office, he had conflicts with the players and the assistant coaches. Third, how has he proven it? From winning one of the worst divisions in football once?

I know Stiller fans are scared to death to criticize a move made by Art Rooney II, but I swear you won't get struck by lightning. You might get struck by a car, but that's got nothing to do with criticizing Art. That's probably just because some yinzers had too much to drink.

[Shawn]

Firstly, they came off a 4-12 season, not 2-14. Second, he didn't just have conflicts with the Chiefs' front office, he had conflicts with the players and the assistant coaches. Third, how has he proven it? From winning one of the worst divisions in football once?

I know Stiller fans are scared to death to criticize a move made by Art Rooney II, but I swear you won't get struck by lightning. You might get struck by a car, but that's got nothing to do with criticizing Art. That's probably just because some yinzers had too much to drink.

So, he takes one team to the Super Bowl, another to their first playoffs since like 2003 and you just brush that off. That is fine, I won't beat my head against this wall...believe what you will.

[Captain QB]

So, he takes one team to the Super Bowl, another to their first playoffs since like 2003 and you just brush that off. That is fine, I won't beat my head against this wall...believe what you will.

I'd give Whiz more credit for what the Cardinals did in 2008 than Haley. Wouldn't you say he had something to do with it since you know, he was the head coach and also an offensive mind.

As for what he did with the Chiefs, it was one year in a god awful division. Oh, and guess what NFC division the AFC West played that year...... the NFC West. You know, the same year it sent the 7-9 Seahawks to the playoffs.

Believe what you will.