Be Like Tike

Jump to Comments

To this point, we have been pretty lax in our coverage of the Steelers (and football in general, for that matter).  That should change soon as the Steelers, at 4-1, are obviously one of the best teams in football.  This belief was clearly affirmed on Sunday, proving that if any person in Pittsburgh (or the country, for that matter) isn’t drinking the Kool-Aid yet, it’s because they’ve knocked down about five too many Iron Citys.  Consider these facts which show just how good this team has been to this point in the season:

• They have not let up a first half touchdown through five games, meaning that the defense is giving Ben Roethlisberger and Willie Parker to do everything they need to do to get those vital first few points for the Steelers.
• They won Sunday with three wide receivers dressed.
• Willie Parker has had four 100+ yard games this season, showing that the typically explosive back is at last beginning to develop some consistency.
• That whole having the ball for 24:30 of the second half against a legitimately good Seahawks team thing.
• The backups on this club are able to step into the starting lineup seamlessly, taking over for the injured stars and working well within the system.  This was a trademark of the Cowher era and may just be carrying over at this point, but it seems as if it is effective so far.
• The offensive line has been dominant.

Perhaps the most important fact about this early season success is that it really isn’t surprising anyone.  Bill Simmons, for instance, had the Steelers ranked number eight in his preseason power poll.  People who know football expect the Steelers to be a very good football team year in and year out, so when they have a year like last year, people believe that the team will bounce back effectively and have a very good season.

The only difference between this perception and the truth of the matter is that the Steelers have been one of the three or four best teams in football, dominating every game except for that crazy one in Arizona on their way to the current 4-1 record.

Obviously, they must begin to be worried about Willie Parker’s excess of carries at some point, but that time has not come yet and, with a very good backup in Najeh Davenport, they should be able to stave off exhaustion for Parker (meaning saving him for December 10th in Foxboro).

This could be a very special season in Steeler-Land (as if you all didn’t understand that yet).

Related Posts

• Why the Steelers should rest their starters
• Steelers working the free agent market
• The Steelers are approaching this all wrong