The First Of Many Steeler Posts...

This is one Monday when I'm glad to be here rather than in Pittsburgh. A gloom settles like a fog over The 'Burgh after a Steeler loss, especially a bad one, like the 17-10 loss in Houston yesterday certainly was.

I had bucked the trend and predicted a win--the Steelers have a way, in recent years, of rising up for games against good teams. Not this time. The offensive line is dilapidated (it's a word I always warn reporters not to use unless a building is ready to fall down; I think it applies nicely in this case, however), and the defense has become strangely susceptible to the run after coming close to an NFL record last year for fewest rushing yards allowed per game. Some people were predicting 13-3; they already have two losses. In fact, we're now tied at 2-2 with the two surprising teams from Ohio--and I'm not sure the Steelers aren't really at the bottom of that particular list.

What to do? Well, the offensive line issues aren't going to be resolved this year...the best we can hope for is that the ragtag unit will find some continuity. I think it's time to essentially dump the long and mid-range passes from the playbook--the QB (Ben, or whoever it might be if he has a broken foot after yesterday) won't have time to throw them. It's time to dust off an old-fashioned screen pass to the HB from time to time. More formations with three tight ends. Hold in at least one TE, maybe two, to help with pass blocking.

Defensively, I'm not sure what to think. It's the same team, but it seems in disarray. Too many missed tackles (defensive player of the year Troy Polamalu has been surprisingly prone to whiffing), too many times being dominated by blockers. The pass defense has been okay, but that's largely because teams have been able to run so effectively. Did the team really just get too old in one year? I can't shake the feeling that it's about execution, not strategy. And these guys are too good to let that continue for long.

This next game, hosting the Titans, is going to be a significant one. If the Steelers dig deep and turn it around (against a surprising 3-1 team), we can chalk a lot of this to the up-and-downs of the regular season, and maybe the impact of the shortened training camp, plus numerous key injuries. If they don't? It might be time to start thinking fondly of the solid run the team has had in recent years, and start using that ugly "R" word: rebuilding. Because, Steeler fans, you are here.