Steel City Jim

Well, fans, football is in the air. It still may be stifling hot and terribly humid, but the boys, both college and pro, are in camp and preparing (and sweating) for the upcoming season. I visited Steeler camp last week and was treated to a variety of things, including the two-minute drill. It's the fifth year in which five friends and I make the trek to Latrobe and thoroughly enjoy ourselves.

With the start of the Steeler season just weeks away, here is ...

WHAT WE KNOW:
1. The Steelers fired the old special teams coach and hired a new one. This was no surprise after disastrous special teams play in 2009 in which, among other embarrassments, they led the league by allowing four touchdowns on kick returns.

2. With an obvious demise of the running game and the failure to protect the passer in 2009, they fired the old offensive line coach and hired a new one, a guy named Kugler. Kugler is a more smash-mouth in his approach. One of the goals is to run and protect better, but also to ...

3. ... improve the short-yardage running game both near the goal line and in the open field. The Steelers failed to punch the ball into the end zone too many times last year and had to settle for field goals. Beyond that, and very importantly, they failed on numerous occasions to attain a first down and keep a drive alive when, with less than five minutes left in the game and leading on the scoreboard, they couldn't pick up a yard or two on the ground. This led to turning the ball over and allowing the opposition to score winning points.

4. They brought back two former stalwarts on defense, Larry Foote and Bryant McFadden. These guys know the system and are expected to contribute immediately. They also have Polamalu and Smith back from injuries. The loss of these two really hurt the defense last year.

5. Roethlisberger will have a maximum suspension of six games. This could be reduced to four games if he turns his attitude around.

6. Santonio Holmes is gone. He was a tremendous contributor to this team on the field (off the field was another story). The Steelers brought in former 49ers receiver Arnaz Battle, got back Randle El, and drafted two speedsters, Sanders and Brown. They hope that at least one of the above can begin to fill Holmes' shoes. But that it is stretch considering how effective Homes had been over the past four or five years. Ward, the real go-to guy, is in his 13th year in the league and is obviously getting a little long in the tooth.

7. We know that the Ravenzzz have put together a veritable all-star team. They think this is their year. Many of the pundits around the country fully agree with them. Many are ceding the division to them. Another scary team is the Bengals who won every AFC North game last year. So, these are two teams that seem to be superior to the Steelers. Even the Browns have new life, and while they may not quite challenge for the division in 2010, given the competition, they are awakening from their long slumber and will be heard from, even in 2010.

WHAT WE DON'T KNOW
1. We don't know how effective the new special teams and offensive line coaches will be in achieving their assignments. Improvements in these two areas will represent a sea change over last year.

2. We don't know if Byron Leftwich or Dennis Dixon can fill in effectively during Ben's suspension. If they cannot, their season may well be over after the first four games, assuming that is the extent of the suspension.

3. We really don't know how long Ben's suspension will be. Roger Goodell stated that with "good behavior", Ben's absence could be limited to four games. But Ben, to everyone's surprise, seems to have made a 180-degree turn. He has turned into "Mr. Congeniality", smiling at the cameras and visiting hospitals, etc. When Goodell was at Steeler camp last week, he intimated that he was very impressed with Ben's new attitude. This sparked speculation that maybe Goodell would even reduce the suspension to maybe two games. But that is strictly speculation and we won't know anything for certain until about Labor Day.

4. Another unknown factor is the Tomlin effect. Many consider Tomlin to be a top notch coach. This season is arguably the most challenging of his young career. Much of the success or failure in 2010 will be laid at his doorstep.

-- JIM REICH
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