The Steelers were presented with an unwanted and unique experience this summer, having to prepare one quarterback to open the regular season and another to replace him as the starter on Oct. 17.
Coach Mike Tomlin did a good job of preparing Ben Roethlisberger for the fifth game of the season, when he can return from his four-game suspension, but had to do so at the expense of his starter for the first four games, Byron Leftwich.
Roethlisberger took many snaps with the first team in training camp and then started the final three preseason games after not playing in the opener. He looks to be in mid-season form, and the Steelers can only hope he stays that way until he returns.
Leftwich is the presumed starter Tomlin has not officially named one but the Steelers also will use some doses of Dennis Dixon at quarterback. How those two play in the first four games could determine whether the Steelers can contend again.
"If I'm the guy, Week 1, I'll be ready," Leftwich said. "Regardless how it goes. I just have to be prepared for anything. The way things have been going we've been getting a lot of reps, everybody."
Another big goal for 2010 was to beef up the ground game, which not only ranked 19th in yards last season but failed to produce when the Steelers needed it, such as in the fourth quarter when they wanted to run out the clock (they lost five fourth-quarter leads in losses) and short yardage. They did little in adding personnel and will count on their new commitment and Rashard Mendenhall, who rushed for 1,108 yards and a 4.6-yard average last season.
The Steelers also had to prepare Mike Wallace to replace the traded Santonio Holmes at split end after Wallace led the NFL with a 19.4-yard average on 39 receptions as a rookie. They believe he will do well in his new role.
"I'm challenging him to be a complete player, and he's embracing that challenge," Tomlin said in late August. "There's no question he can get behind people. He's been doing that all his life. I'm looking for steps in other areas for him in terms of a well-rounded game."
The disappointment last season was the defense, which slipped from No. 1 in 2008 to No. 5, but fell even further in its ability to close out games, allowing fourth-quarter leads to slip away in five losses. They had to play without two of their best defenders, end Aaron Smith and safety Troy Polamalu, for 11 games each.
"I think when we're healthy, we're the No. 1 defense in the NFL," safety Ryan Clark said. "It wasn't like we couldn't stop people, that was the most frustrating part. We stopped people all game and then when it counted most, when it mattered, we couldn't do it."
The big question about that defense is whether it can stay healthy considering its age, with six starters over 30, including all three of the linemen.
COACHING: Mike Tomlin, 4th year, 4th with Steelers (31-17).
REMEMBERING: 2009 record: 9-7 (3rd in AFC North).
PREDICTING: 2010 regular season record: 10-6 (2nd in AFC North); lose in wildcard playoff.
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