Five Questions Steeler Fans Should Be Asking

1. How much longer will Big Ben play?
Big Ben turned 30 in March. It seems like it was just yesterday that he was selected as the 11th overall pick. Seriously, does it really seem that long ago? Yeah, well try 8 years.


In my opinion, Big Ben is the best quarterback in Steelers history. In 8 seasons as a starter, he's thrown 165 touchdown passes, has a quarterback rating of 92.1, one-time Team MVP, two-time pro-bowler, with three AFC Championship rings, and two super bowl rings. Quite an impressive resume in just 8 years.

Since coming into the league in 2004, no quarterback has been sacked more times than Ben Roethlisberger, (or won more Conference Championships, and Super Bowls). 314 times Ben has hit the dirt, including 122 in just the past three seasons. At 6-5, 241 pounds to go along with his natural toughness, Ben is more than capable of taking a few hits. But 50+ times a season? (Not counting the times he is knocked down intentionally five seconds after he throws the ball, of course) Ben is often compared to Hall Of Fame quarterback, John Elway. Elway took a beating as well. He was sacked 516 times during his 16-year career. That's an average of 32.3 times a season, while Ben averages slightly higher at 39.3.

However, Elway's listed weight was just 215 pounds. While this may sound like a ridiculous observation, it can potentially give us a decent perspective of what us fans can expect from Ben in the future. Of course you can add Ben's health issues into the mix, (Motorcycle accident, appendix removal, concussions, knee injuries, etc.), which could certainly take a few years off of his career.

My prediction: Big Ben will play for another 5-6 years. It's worth keeping an eye on a few of these current underclassmen QB's in the NCAA throughout the next couple of years.


2. Do we really "need" Mike Wallace?
Whether you love him, or hate him, Mike Wallace has proven himself as a pivotal playmaker. He is possibly the most dangerous deep threat in the National Football League. Sure, he may come off as a tad greedy at times, and lacks exceptional vocabulary and syntax at times, but the guy can run. Oh, but the problem is, he's not too sure about only playing for $2.7 mil a year. (#ProAthleteProblems)

While he came up about 800-yards shy of his "2,000-yard season prediction" last year, he managed to produce his second consecutive 1,000 yard season. But if you look at his game log from 2011, you'll notice that his numbers slowly diminished as the year passed by, particularly when Antonio Brown marched into the lineup.

Speaking of Antonio Brown, what does Wallace have that he doesn't?

Speed? Brown has that?

Hands? Brown has better hands than Wallace.

Route Running? Brown is a WAY better route runner than Wallace.

Height? Wallace, 6-0. Brown, 5-10. Maybe a little.

Oh but how could I forget Emmanuel Sanders?

Sanders was actually ahead of Antonio Brown during his rookie season. Last season, various injuries and problems in his personal life including the death of his mother prevented him from putting up the numbers he was capable of. But I wouldn't be surprised if we saw a break out year from Sanders, assuming all of his 2011 problems are behind him.

Sure Wallace is an additional threat. But could we win without him? Absolutely.


3. Can Isaac Redman be our "every-down back?"
Let's say theoretically Rashard Mendenhall will not be healthy enough to return to the Steelers next season. Can Redman take control of his duties? Yes. He can. Isaac Redman is a beef truck. 6-0, 230 pounds is almost the prototype for an every-down back in the NFL. While he lacks versatile speed and even ball carrier instinct, he runs straight up the field, and always falls forward. 

 Not to mention the fact that he'll only need to carry the ball 10-15 times a game. This isn't 1995. The Steelers are no longer the smash mouth, running football team they once were. Elite quarterback, solid receivers, good offensive line, good defense. Those are the four most important implements a team needs in the NFL today.

4. What is the most important game on our schedule in 2012?
A lot of people would say the opener against the Broncos at Mile High on Sunday night is our biggest game of the year. After all, the Broncos do have big bad Peyton Manning now, and they're traveling to Mile High for the billionth time in a row. You know, come to think of it, when was the last time the Broncos came to Heinz field and played? Whatever makes Czar Goodell happy, I suppose. Anyway, I'll have to disagree with this one. It's the first game of the season. Rarely does week one tell us anything about the playoff picture. 

 The most important game of the Steelers 2012 season will be Week 13 @Baltimore. It seems as if the second game against the Ravens is always the most telling in regards to the outcome of our season.


2007: 13-16 loss to an awful Ravens team. Ben was out. Charlie Batch attempted to play quarterback. Showed that our team was just too unhealthy to advance.

Season Outcome: Wildcard loss to Jaguars

2008: 13-9 victory after a 91-yard drive on the Ravens "number one defense." Instant classic in this fierce rivalry. Showed the poise of the Steelers team.

Season Outcome - Super Bowl 43 Champs


2010: 13-10 victory. Once again, Ben takes us down the field. Winning touchdown is a pass to Isaac Redman. Showed that we still had the Ravens number. Went on to defeat them once again in the Divisional round of the playoffs.

Season Outcome - Loss to the Packers in Super Bowl 45. (Should have won; thanks Mendenhall)

2011: 20-23 Loss. Despite Big Ben and the offense's performance, Flacco passed all over our defense in the final drive and gave the Ravens the last second win. Showed that we were no longer the clutch defense we had been in the past.

Season Outcome - Wildcard loss to Tim Tebow and the Broncos


5. Can the Steelers win the Super Bowl in 2012?
That's the goal, right? To win the gold, (or should I say, silver?), every season.

With the team we have right now, can we win the Super Bowl?

Certainly. All 32 teams have an equal shot to win the Super Bowl at the beginning of the season.

But, will we?

The Steelers have won two Super Bowls in the last seven seasons, (two out of four during the time of their last victory). But really only a handful of players from the 2008 team even remain on the roster, and hardly any from the 2005 team are even still in the league! How do we know whether or not we still have a Super Bowl caliber team?

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.


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