subject: Pittsburgh Steelers Flying Under the Radar [print this page] It's amazing that the Pittsburgh Steelers are flying under the radar being 3-0, but they are. Not only are they undefeated, but they have started three different quarterbacks which has to beafirst in NFL history. The entire Steelers organization and Coach Mike Tomlin won't admit it , but I'm sure theywould have beenhappy with 2-2 record without Roethlisberger. Now they have a chance to be 4-0 with a game against Baltimore coming up, which will be a typical physical and tough game. Either way they will have surpassed their fans expectations for the start of the season. Most people,including me, have a tendency toforget that they wereSuper Bowl champs two year ago, and have wontwoSuperBowls infive years, whichis considered adynasty in today's NFL.
The key is the philosophy of theorganization. They build the team the old fashion way.TheSteelers alwaysrun the ball well and they playdefense, defense and more defense. Last year theSteelersdefense imploded, in a major part because they did not have Troy Polamalu for the most of the year. He is the quarterback ondefense and without a doubt the most valuable player on the team. He does everything. He plays the run and plays the pass. He is terrific at both. He oftenseems tobe in more than one place at time at time, like he's cloned himself. One of himappears to be lurkingin the oppositions huddle because he knows what's coming. Polamalu's leapover the Tennesee's center and tackling theTennessee'sVince Youngonquarterbacksneek was truly remarkable. I've never seen anyone do that before. I'm thinking it's got to be the hair. No wonder he has it insuredfor one million dollars.
The Steelers also have aNostradamus approach when it comes to its personnel.They know whena playeris going to leave and they always have aless expensive and often betterplayer as a replacement. When Joey Porter left, they had James Harrision, when Willie Parker started to slow down, they had Rarshard Mendenhall, when they felt Santonio Holmeswas going to leave, they traded him andhave Mike Wallace on their roster. On and on it goes.
The only thing the Steelers have to worry about iswhen Roethlisberger comes back, which soundstrange on the surface, but thereis anatural human inclination to relax because their star quarterback is back. I'm sure coach Tomlin isaware of this, and will continue to push the throttle to prevent this from happening.The Steelershave set themselves upfor a good season with they're goal to be Super Bowl champs. I wouldn't putit past them.
