Can the Steelers Win Without Mike Wallace?

Give Wallace an Inch = TD

Ahh, there lies the rub (as Billy Shakespeare would say).  Can the Steelers have a potent offense without their Number 1 receiver?  Well that is the first of many questions that will be answered.  The opening preseason game didn't really lend itself to answering that question, but I think you saw an offense that could be good without Mike Wallace, but could be great with Mike Wallace.  The dink and dunk not only opens up things down field for a speedy receiver like Wallace, but also gives a player with his speed the chance to get some YAC (yards after catch) and we have all seen what Wallace can do if he sees that seem in the defense...it usually leads to 6 points for the Steelers.  The question is though, can the Steelers offense been potent without Wallace?  I don't think it would be nearly as explosive and "quick striking".  Emmanuel Sanders is a great WR, along with Antonio Brown and Jerricho Cotchery the Steelers would deploy a great WR core, but none of those receivers lend themselves to being the "Number 1". 

The next question is what is the title of this post - Can the Steelers WIN without Mike Wallace?  That is an easier question because one player doesn't make the team win or lose.  Plus, you have to look at the Steelers defense.  I must say that the Steelers defense, although it is lacking in the experience category, looks a great deal faster than last year's defense.  Speed gets you to plays quicker and makes you an overall better unit.  The defense alone will keep the Steelers in football games this season, but can the offense move the ball efficiently enough to be deadly?  Look at some of the other "dink and dunk" teams in the NFL.  The Patriots have perfected it and use a great deal of time getting the ball down the field.  The Saints have the same ability but take their chances down field at the same time.  The Packers are a mixture of dink and dunk and slinging the ball all around the field.  Regardless of which team you talk about of those three (Patriots, Saints, Packers) they all do one thing extremely well...score TOUCHDOWNS in the redzone.  Mike Wallace helped the Steelers get the ball not only in the redzone, but also getting the ball into the endzone.  That is something that they will miss if he chooses to hold out into the regular season.

Can the Steelers win without Mike Wallace?  Sure they can...they are a good team without him!  However, the Steelers with Mike Wallace are a team to be reckoned with.  Combine an explosive offense with a stellar defense and you have yourself a SuperBowl contender.  The biggest question to answer is when will Wallace return?  Wallace has been working out in Florida, and his trainer has said that he doesn't see how the holdout will last much longer.  Nonetheless, there is no "insider" information here, just a gut instinct.  I think Wallace sits out the remainder of this week (the end of training camp in Latrobe, PA) and part of the following week.  I look for Wallace to sign his tender and rejoin his teammates at the South Side facility sometime between Week 3-4 of the preseason.  I know, very original prediction, but thats what I think.  I might even go out on a limb and say that when he DOES sign his tender, the Steelers will work out terms of a contract before the regular season.  Call it wishful thinking, but thats what I think!