What to Watch For - Preseason Game 2 vs Indianapolis Colts

Old School Photo of the '95 AFC Champ Game

The Steelers enter Week 2 of the NFL Presesason tonight in grand fashion.  NBC cameras will be there to nationally televise the game as Number 1 overall draft pick, Andrew Luck, will be entering Heinz Field to face the Steelers (for at least a half of football).  As I've said  before on podcasts and in posts on the blog, there are many people who find that the NFL Preseason is worthless, and I couldn't disagree more.  There is alot of worth in seeing the depth you have at certain positions and the players that might just make enough plays to make the team.  The Preseason is one of the few (if not the only) times that you see some players playing like their lives depend on it.  I'm not saying that NFL Starters "dog it" on the field, but they have an amount of job security that some of these undrafted free agents don't.  Below I have some things to watch tonight as the Steelers face off against Bruce Arians and the Colts:

- Steelers Defense Getting to Luck - The Steelers didn't show much pressure or many blitzes against Michael Vick and the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1.  I wouldn't blitz him that much either, but in the preseason you should start to see Dick Lebeau unwrap more of his defense.  The fact of the matter is that the Steelers haven't played a game in well over 10 days and there should be more defensive schemes in place to put into the game.  Getting to Luck and hopefully causing turnovers is something I'm going to be watching.

- Steelers Running Attack - ESPN, NFL Network, and any other syndicated sports show has stated how the Steelers running backs are banged up.  I am anxious to see how some of these young RBs (Chris Rainey and Baron Batch in particular) handle a big workload.  Mike Tomlin said it best "One mans misery is another mans opportunity".  Time for these young backs to show their worth with the Steelers #1s against the Colts #1 defense.

- Offensive Line Improvement - The OLine still isn't going to be the line we will see Week 1 in Denver, but I'm looking to see some improvement, especially in protection.  Colts have quick pass rushers coming off the edge and it will be interesting to see how the Steelers counter that.  The OL gave up too many sacks for my liking last game, and I hope to see Rookie David DeCastro get more and more comfortable on the field.

- Haley's Offense Showing Up - The "dink and dunk" might be a thing of the past as soon as 8:00pm Eastern tonight.  I feel Todd Haley (just as Dick Lebeau) will start to show more and more of his offense.  Unlike Lebeau who has had his system in place for years, Haley will be forced to show his hand more than Lebeau in putting in some wrinkles here and there.  Look for the Steelers to try and take some shots, but still get the ball out quickly.

- Healthy Defensive Line - Unlike the Eagles game where Brett Keisel missed for the birth of his 3rd child, as well as Cam Heward due to injury, this will be the first preseason game where everyone will be able to play (except Casey Hampton who is still returning from the PUP list).  Cam Heyward is the one I want to watch.  He is pushing for more playing time and has had that NASTY edge about him in training camp this season.  The tackles will need to pick up the slack until "Big Snack" returns.

- STAY HEALTHY - This team has some players who are banged up, and the last thing they can afford to happen is to have more injuries plague their lineup.  Stay Healthy, get your starters a few series, and get them off the field!