This team has had it's moments and fair share of injuries this year. Some that hindered the growth of defensive rookies, and some that caused us to have to go to Landry Jones for a game.
The Steelers have placed 13 people on IR this season. Fortunately, only Cameron Heyward was a starter, and Marcus Wheaton, who was a contributor last year, was not able to make an impact this season. I personally thought Heyward's injury would be a season killer. We had a young, playmaking defense that relied on a strong D-line to free up our linebackers. Heyward was the catalyst on that line and one of the leaders of our new, young defense. When he went down in the Dallas game, I thought, well that's it. It was a fun year, but no chance to win it now. Sitting at 4-5, and now without their best defensive player, it was a daunting task for the steelers to compete, let alone get back into the playoffs. Because at this point, it looked like the Steelers had to win out to get there.
Then something odd happened. The Steelers started getting healthy, with some thanks to a late bye week. Ben returned to form after his knee surgery, Pouncey didn't let hand surgery stop him from missing a game. Dupree and Green came back from IR and the PUP. The rookies on D were all now starting, and playing well. Then we had a bunch of young WRs called up and they performed well too! The O-line solidified. The defense solidified and the rotations diminished. One good aspect from all of the early injuries, is it gave a lot of players time and experience to become better football players.
The Steelers started stacking wins. 6 to be exact, and that clinched the division for them. The 7th win was a bonus, or a gift depending on how you view the Browns ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Then #8 last week in a dominating performance against the fins.
This is not your first half of the season Steelers. This is a healthy, cohesive, confident group, who now, can play with anyone in the league. It is known that the best team in the league does not always win the Super bowl. Usually it's the team playing the best at the end of the season that wins it. This year, it looks like the Steelers may be the latter.
The Steelers have placed 13 people on IR this season. Fortunately, only Cameron Heyward was a starter, and Marcus Wheaton, who was a contributor last year, was not able to make an impact this season. I personally thought Heyward's injury would be a season killer. We had a young, playmaking defense that relied on a strong D-line to free up our linebackers. Heyward was the catalyst on that line and one of the leaders of our new, young defense. When he went down in the Dallas game, I thought, well that's it. It was a fun year, but no chance to win it now. Sitting at 4-5, and now without their best defensive player, it was a daunting task for the steelers to compete, let alone get back into the playoffs. Because at this point, it looked like the Steelers had to win out to get there.
Then something odd happened. The Steelers started getting healthy, with some thanks to a late bye week. Ben returned to form after his knee surgery, Pouncey didn't let hand surgery stop him from missing a game. Dupree and Green came back from IR and the PUP. The rookies on D were all now starting, and playing well. Then we had a bunch of young WRs called up and they performed well too! The O-line solidified. The defense solidified and the rotations diminished. One good aspect from all of the early injuries, is it gave a lot of players time and experience to become better football players.
The Steelers started stacking wins. 6 to be exact, and that clinched the division for them. The 7th win was a bonus, or a gift depending on how you view the Browns ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. Then #8 last week in a dominating performance against the fins.
This is not your first half of the season Steelers. This is a healthy, cohesive, confident group, who now, can play with anyone in the league. It is known that the best team in the league does not always win the Super bowl. Usually it's the team playing the best at the end of the season that wins it. This year, it looks like the Steelers may be the latter.
