Bottom line: Are we better or worse?

[jitter77]

Should be better on D, but you never know. If they replace too many parts at once especially in the backfield it may take awhile for them to gel.
The offense should be good, but losing Bryant is troublesome. I am not sold on wheaton. Coates has good potential but unproven.

 

[Stryker]

Kirk Cousins to DeSean Jackson could be telling week 1 as well. Over 4,000 yards and 70% completion rate throwing to one of the biggest deep threats in the NFL. The will definitely be trying to go long ball on our ***.

Deshaun is the perfect short receiver for our DBs to defend. He shrinks on contact and disappears in big games. Try again.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Deshaun is the perfect short receiver for our DBs to defend. He shrinks on contact and disappears in big games. Try again.

I was kind of thinking the same. DJ is defendable and I DEFINATELY would not write off our "D" . OH and Kirk


Salute the nation

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Better if everyone stays healthy.
If Bell and Pouncey go on IR again, then no.
If Uncle Jarvis goes on IR, then yes.

 

[scstillerfan]

I think the biggest question will be pass rush. If you look at recent SB winners, they had a dominant pass rush that took most of the pressure off the secondary. The Steelers have not had that in a long time.

Overall I see the team as slightly better based on health and expected defensive improvements.

 

[deljzc]

The schedule is very favorable (just like last season). The AFC seems to be a tick weaker on paper this year as well, but that could change in a hurry once the season starts and we see who rises up.

There's no reason we shouldn't win 10-12 games this year.

I personally think a 10-win season and wildcard would be slightly underperforming this year. A 12-win season and a #1 or #2 seed would be over performing.

11 wins could get us into a tie-breaker over the division so that's a tossup with a potential 1st round bye and a home playoff game vs. 3 road games in a row.

To me missing the playoffs is a disaster and grounds for serious changes in the front office.

 

[MTC]

I think the Steelers take the AFCN easily this season. The games against Cincy may be a blood bath this season. That playoff game got ugly

 

[POP]

Deshaun is the perfect short receiver for our DBs to defend. He shrinks on contact and disappears in big games. Try again.

DJ is NO ONE's perfect WR to defend. He can get behind any defense; he was hurt almost all last year. We are one of the worst teams to defend deep balls and he one of the best at going yard. Our safeties stink at deep help and speedsters can fry our CBs.

See for yourself. He had more 50+ yard grabs than anyone when he was healthy.

 

[Punxsutawney]

The defense should be better if Dupree makes the next step and Shazier can bring it every week. I feel good with Heyward and Tuitt on the defensive line and if Golson can add something in the defensive backfield (plus the absence of Antwon Blake), you are moving in the right direction.

Even with Bell and Green, the offense is worse off without Bryant. He can score a touchdown on any given play, which is something few NFL players can do. Without that special big-play threat, the offense will take some step back. What sucks is it is purely self inflicted. This team should have had Bryant to go along with a hopefully improved Coates, a healthy Bell and the threat of Green along with the rest of the returning starters. That would have been something special to watch.

Good analysis.

However, I do not sweat the loss of Bryant, given what Coats showed against a strong Broncos' secondary in the playoffs. Coats is not as big or fast as Bryant, but he showed that he can separate from good defensive backs, and seems to be better than Bryant after the catch.

Assuming Bell is fully healthy, the Steelers will go as far as the secondary permits. Let's see what the young DBs, like Golson, Cockrell, Burns and Davis have to offer.

 

[Coach]

Just being healthy makes us better as a team.

True, but when a young player is his 2nd season ending injury, you can't use the word durable.

Shazier might need to play a bit safer and more in control to avoid the 1-3 games in sweatpants. He's not as easily replaced as Bell and Pouncey were.

If the Steelers lose, Ben, AB, Gay, or either starting offensive tackle, I think we are f'd

 

[POP]

I think the Steelers take the AFCN easily this season. The games against Cincy may be a blood bath this season. That playoff game got ugly

I don't know about "easily." Ravens may even contend. They got lots of players back from injury, made some good FA moves and had a nice draft. Cinci lost two good WRs but they still have a pretty talented club.

 

[Litos]

I don't know about "easily." Ravens may even contend. They got lots of players back from injury, made some good FA moves and had a nice draft. Cinci lost two good WRs but they still have a pretty talented club.

yeap, there's no easily in the AFC North

 

[POP]

yeap, there's no easily in the AFC North

I don't think so, not this season. The only given is the Browns will be rot gut. Rivalry or not, ff those two games aren't gimmee games we have problems.

 

[21STEELERS21]

Bryant had 50 catches and 6 TD's in the regular season last year. Coates and a healthy Bell can easily exceed that productivity.
So I see the offense as easily better unless key injuries occur.

On defense, I see upside from the younger guys like Shazier, Dupree and Tuitt, the key will be the new players at NT, SS & CB.
First half of 2016 we might have a similar defense as 2015, with the experience the younger guys get in the first half, we could see a much
improved defense in second half of year with increased contributions from Golson, Burns, Davis and Hargrove.

 

[Steelerfan]

Assuming Bell is fully healthy,

Coffee spitter!!! LOL

 

[Troglodyte]

All depends on the progress of the younger players: Shazier, Tuitt, Wheaton, James, Dupree, Golson etc. they are best bet for potential improvement.