With the 2013 Steelers, "Different" Might Equal Success

The Steelers Might Look Different This Year,
But Winning Is All That Matters

In less than 2 weeks the Steelers roll into training camp.  Latrobe, PA will once again be swarmed with SteelerNation all itching to get a sneak peak of their favorite football team, players, and try to snag some autographs in the meantime.  It is nice to know that the Steelers are one of the few teams that have kept tradition alive and the fan experience paramount by continuing to travel to St. Vincent College, rather than pull a "Baltimore Ravens" and hold training camp at their team headquarters instead of at a college (McDaniel College) as they used to (what do you expect from the Ravens, right?).  Allowing the fans access to their practices not only keeps fans engaged, but it gives us (the casual fan) the chance to get a glimpse of what the current crop of Steelers might be once the season starts.  When the majority of "experts" are saying the Steelers will be the 3rd best team in a 4 team division, although I bleed black and gold, I strongly disagree.

The general public, and even some members of SteelerNation, still think that the Steelers are the team of the 70s that has the power running game and throws when necessary.  That in itself is a false statement.  The championship teams of '78 and '79 did have a quality running game, but they took full advantage of the "Mel Blount Rule" and Terry Bradshaw threw deep early and often to Swann and Stallworth.  Then came the Jerome Bettis years when the Bus had to stand behind some horrible Quarterbacks.  Mike Tomczak, Tommy Maddox and company couldn't be trusted to throw a pass, so it was just hand the ball to #36....plain and simple.  Even when Bill Cowher took the Steelers to Superbowl 40 it was the arm of Ben Roethlisberger that got them to the big game that postseason (I realize that he had the worst passer rating of any QB to ever win a Superbowl.)  In 2008-2009 when the Steelers won the Superbowl their running game ranked amongst the league's worst.  Everyone has their personal theories of "Steelers Football" and what that entails.  I've written numerous articles, Mike Tomlin has said it, and you should all agree that Steelers football isn't running the ball a ton...its winning.  If anything has been the standard all these years that would equal "Steelers Football" its a nasty defense...not anything on the offensive side of the football field. 

With all of that being said, this 2013 Pittsburgh Steelers team should have a new look to it.  Think of it as a classic car that is being overhauled.  You keep some of the old parts, but some of the parts need replaced to make the car run smooth.  The Steelers have seen some key players depart for multiple reasons, and it seems that the coaching staff has finally realized that the "next up" philosophy still holds strong but in a different light.  Coaches are adapting and the Steelers will be successful because of it.  Take a look at last year when Troy Polamalu was hurt for the majority of the season and Ryan Mundy / Will Allen filled in at the Safety position and the Steelers still held the #1 defense (statistically) in the NFL.  It is that kind of adapting and changing that will only make this team better.

With players like James Harrison and Mike Wallace gone, the Steelers will have a different look and even a different feel to it this season, but in this case, different could equal success.  For the first time in a long time the Steelers might be asking some of their rookies to contribute in some way, shape, or form.  With James Harrison gone, the "book end" OLBs won't be a strong as they were when Harrison was in a Steelers uniform, so you might see some more exotic blitzes from other areas besides just the ILB twist and the pressure from the OLB position.  A lot of the new wrinkles in the defense rely on Troy Polamalu's health and the ability to cover the back end well.  On offense, Todd Haley is finally starting to get his players in the system that he likes to run.  Last year was an awkward Bruce Arians / Todd Haley system.  At the beginning of last season the Steelers offense was utilizing Haley's offense to a 'T'.  Ben Roethlisberger was consistent, efficient, and UPRIGHT.  For whatever reason about halfway through the season the Steelers turned into Bruce Arians run, run, chuck it deep team again, and it was during that time that Roethlisberger got injured and the offense wasn't the same since.  The Steelers offense should be even more versed in Haley's system this year and even more effective.

The Steelers might be a pass happy team this season, and their defense might give up more 100yd rushing games than normal.  However, the Steelers offense might become more high powered and high scoring.  The Steelers defense might cause more turnovers than they have in the last 2 years combined.  What I'm trying to say is that the Steelers are going to be different from personnel on the field all the way to the plays called in from the coaching staff.  For me, I'm okay with change as long as it leads to success...after all...WINNING is Steelers Football.