Pittsburgh Steelers Look to Repeat in 2009
The Steelers are Looking for Their Own Dynasty
There are only two changes to the Steelers’ starting 22 from last year. Both replacements are on the defensive side of the ball, where the Steelers can most afford to take some hits. However, they aren’t really hits at all.
Cornerback Bryant McFadden is gone to Tennessee as a free agent and Larry Foote was released, before signing with his hometown Detroit.
McFadden is a gigantic loss. He was fast developing into a premier cornerback in the NFL and he provided Pittsburgh with one of the best 1-2 punches at corner while being paired with Ike Taylor. Foote is as solid a middle linebacker as there is in the NFL. He allowed James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley and James Farrior the opportunity to get to the quarterback while he manned “no-man’s” land in the middle of the field just behind the front three. He provided all the hustle, “no-recognition” plays that were essential in the Steelers two previous Super Bowl runs.
William Gay, Deshea Townsend and 2009 draft pick from UCF Joe Burnett form a more than adequate system of reprieve for McFadden. Townsend was a starter before age caught up with him, Gay has been in the system for three years and Burnett has showed solid skills in training camp and preseason.
Foote’s replacement, Lawrence Timmons, is a beast on the field. He was the Steelers’ first draft pick in 2007 and Mike Tomlin’s first pick ever. Pundits questioned his character coming out of Florida State, but Tomlin decided his athletic ability far outweighed his personal issues. Steelers’ defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said his range on the field is almost limitless and Farrior said his athletic ability rivals safety Troy Polamalu’s – notoriously one of the most athletic players in the NFL. Tomlin plays a lot of Cover 4, which requires linebackers to cover large chunks of ground during passing plays. Looks like Tomlin knew what he was doing after all.
After their 2005 Super Bowl win the Steelers were not prepared for the storm that was headed their way in 2006. They had spent over two decades looking for the “One for the Thumb” and Bill Cowher knew his legacy was tied to his inability to win the big games. After they won it was as though someone popped the Steelers bubble and all the air triumphantly seeped out and they felt as though they had no more to accomplish.
Then, 2007 happened. Tomlin stepped in and revamped the team. Veterans such as Hines Ward, Farrior, Aaron Smith and Polamalu anchored the team’s psyche and led them back to the Playoffs.
Now, after the 2008 Championship, the team shows no signs of another let down. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger – even with a pending civil suit against him for rape – shows he is ready to handle the burden of a target on his back. In his speech and actions, Roethlisberger has showed maturity and confidence – two items an NFL quarterback must possess in order to succeed.
The Steelers are focused and more importantly they are still hungry. The core of the team is getting older and their window is closing. They know that if they can muster up one last push they could join the New England Patriots and their fellow Steeler-comrades from the 1970s in rarified air – a dynasty.
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