Pittsburgh Steelers will look to bounce back this year and get into the playoffs after a 8-8 season. Pittsburgh seemed to put things together in Nov and Dec last year winning 6 or it's last 8.
Offense :..The Steelers really had issues running the ball as they finished 28th in the league only rushing for 86.5 YPG. This has been the Steelers bread and butter for years. Smash mouth offense and defense and they really lacked in both departments last year. The running game this year will have some added threats with addition to Le'veon Bell, the Steelers bring in LeGarrette Blount and high flying Dri Archer from Kent State via this years draft from the 3rd round. I believe Pittsburgh will figure out a way to get all these guys touches and use the ability they have to break into the top 15 in rushing this year. Ben Rothlisberger will have a stable of talented receivers this year to spread the ball too. With returning veterans TE Heath Miller and WR Antonio Brown it gives Big Ben a platform he is comfortable with. Miller coming off injury had prob 2 of his better years and i expect the same from him again this year. The big additions to this Steeler WR attack will also include Lance Moore picked up from being cut by New Orleans. To even add more depth to the offense additions Darius Heyward-Bey, Justin Brown and 2nd year speedster Markus Wheaton from Oregon State who has potential, but has yet to blossom...Pittsburgh really has a under the radar squad on offense as far as weapons but they will make noise this year after last year. The big thing Pittsburgh has this year is the stability of the O-Line...with Pouncey at the center and being healthy will be the key to this O-Line. They have talent and i think this team on offense can be a well oiled machine within a few games.
Defense:...This is the tricky part for the Steelers. DE Ziggy Hood departs for the Jaguars, S Ryan Clark to Wash, and Lamarr Woodley to Oakland. Will this be a setback for Pittsburgh?.. I honestly think this hurts them. I healthy Troy Polamalu will be great for the team and Jason Worilds will play a huge part of what this team does on defense..They need to be the anchors this year. Pittsburgh has added more than 3 new additions to this defense in Rookie ILB Ryan Shazier, DT Cam Thomas, and Mike Mitchell from Carolina just to name a few who will potentially earn the starting nod for the Steelers defense. Ranked 21st in rushing defense you would expect the Steelers to improve this year in that dept. Steelers Passing defense with a healthy Polomalu and FS Mike Mitchell addition should make the passing defense a little better as i fully expect them to stay in the top 10 in passing defense. Steelers team speed on defense is a huge plus and will create issues for most teams they face.
Projected line is 8.5 (-150) Over
http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/schedule/_/name/pit/pittsburgh-steelers
Schedule: The Steelers have a rather odd schedule..All of the road games are back to back..That will def hurt them this year..or will it? They open the year at home Vs the pesky Cleveland Browns with new life with the addition of QB Johnny Manziel. I do expect a win by Pittsburgh at home to open the year. They want to make a statement they are back... 2 games to follow @ Balt & @ Carolina...Then a home game Vs. TB...The next 2 road games are rather easy as far as teams are concered. They Play @ Jags & @ Clev...The big part of the beginning of the year is the 3 game home stretch.. 3 quality teams coming into Steeler country will set the table for the remainder of the year. Houston,Indy,& Balt all at home in a row..Then they depart for 2 more road games @NYJ & @Tenn...They don't get the bye week till week 12. Issue here is they get N.O. at home coming out of the bye. So no walk in the park there...Last 2 road games are a big test and very may well dicatate if they make they playoffs facing @ Cincy then @ Atl...The Steelers close out the season with 2 home games with maybe 2 teams looking at playoff pushes themselves. K.C Chiefs and close it out with division rival Cinn Bengals.. If Pitt is to make the playoffs, they need to have a great 1st half as the last 5 games after the bye will most likely be the most brutal part of the schedule.. Cold weather snow games wont play much of a factor this year as they may only see 2 snow and cold games to close out the year with 2 cold weather teams.
Pick Analysis: This team will clearly have a chip on the shoulder coming into 2014. Key additions on offense and defense will help round out this team this year. If Big Ben can get along with O-Coordinator and the defense stays healthy and they get things rolling early. I see no reason that Pittsburgh cant win 10 games this year. The number at 8.5 i think is some of the better value in the AFC. I will be high on Cinn but low on Balt, and Clev.. I believe they will once again contend for the AFC North title with Cincy but they will get over the 8.5 wins rather easy. I think this ticket will look good before the BYE week and we may only need 1 win to lock it up with 5 games remaining.
Play Pittsburgh Steelers Over 8.5 (-150) TT