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Before the Steelers’ 2014 regular season began, we decided to take a look at some of the bigger unknowns going into the past year.
What’s the point of making predictions if you can’t look back and see how you fared?
Best case/worst case finish scenarios?
We said… Best case is a divisional round playoff exit, worse case is another 8-8 season.
Chris: I’m going to guess the Steelers will just barely get into the playoffs and lose first round, probably having to travel to Indianapolis. Them making the playoffs has more to do with their schedule, than the talent of this team.
Marc: I say worst case is more likely. The defense gave up a league-worst 603 yards rushing in four preseason games and the return of Brett Keisel is nice but won’t help that much. If teams can run the ball that well, then it means they’ll be able to throw it well too.
Recap: I’ll toot my own horn a bit. I was pretty close, although I didn’t guess that we’d win the division. Marc guessed we would miss the playoffs, but was correct in worrying about the defense.
Todd Haley runs a top 10 Offense (20th the previous year)?
Chris: True. I think Ben has a full grasp of the offense and the no huddle, plus a revamped run game will be big. I still think redzone struggles keep them from being truly elite though.
Marc: False. This offensive line is one injury away from being a complete disaster. I can see both Bell and Blount running well at times but I don’t think the consistency will be there.
Recap: The Todd Haley run offense finished 2nd overall, just 0.3 yards behind the Saints. While the no huddle was thrown out pretty early I do think that Ben is really a master of Haley’s system now, and that the run game helped a ton. Marc is probably right that a big injury to the offensive line could have derailed things a lot, but they were fortunate to avoid anything catastrophic. Not going to lie, I’m pretty proud I called this one, because I don’t think many saw it coming. Commenter Bob Graff even wrote “Haley running a top ten offense is a pure dream.”
Dick Leabeu runs a top 10 Defense (13th the previous year)?
Chris: False. I’m optimistic about the future of the defense, but we’re going to see lots of mistakes from young squad right now.
Marc: False. I’m with Chris here. I’m excited about the future of the defense, but I’m concerned big-time for this unit.
Recap: Both of us right here, but I’m not sure that was really going out on a limb. I know it sounds a bit pessimistic but I think we were both excited about the future when we made our predictions, but I feel worse about this unit than I did at the start of 2014. Many of the unknowns this time last year (Jarvis Jones, Shamarko Thomas for example) are just as big of questions marks today.
Le’Veon Bell: Over/Under 1,500 yards total offense?
Chris: Over. The team struggled in pre-season, but the first team OL and run game looked solid. Bell will have a breakout year.
Marc: Under. I think he’ll be close but I think 1,200 – 1,300 is more realistic.
Recap: Wow. I thought Bell would breakout, but I didn’t think he’d become the best back in football in 2014. Bell finished with 2,215 yards of total offense on the year… Blowing away my over/under number.
Who finishes 2nd in catches on the team?
Chris: Markus Wheaton
Marc: Lance Moore
Recap: Way off again. Le’Veon Bell took it here with 83 receptions. Wheaton had 53 and Moore had 14.
Biggest surprise/breakout player this season?
Chris: Le’Veon Bell. I predict that Bell finishes top 10 in rushing yards, and top 5 in receiving yards for running backs.
Marc: David DeCastro. I think he settles in and finds his way to the Pro Bowl for the first time.
Recap: I think we were both right here. Both guys had fantastic seasons. DeCastro didn’t make the pro bowl, but he might have had a good enough season to go at a position that’s tough to break through at.
What needs to happen/who really needs to step up… to makes the playoffs? to go deep into the playoffs? to get to the superbowl?
Chris: In short, young defenders stepping up. Offense will be there… Success will depend on Jarvis Jones, Cam Heyward, Cortez Allen.
Marc: No doubt it’s Markus Wheaton and Jarvis Jones.
Recap: Really the team succeeded (depending on your definition there) without any of those guys stepping up besides Cam. In our defense though this was written before James Harrison re-joined the team.
Overall, there’s a mixed bag here, but I don’t think we did too terribly! Stayed tuned for the 2015 preview article in September!
2 comments
I predicted a 10-6 season. I thought we had a team with talent a weak schedule and a lack of depth. I think i was pretty close but i will admit that they they exceeded my expectations. Looking forward a once thought of brutal schedule has simmered some. The NFC west is in the the midst of a shake-up and isn’t quite as formidable as it first looked. I see my prediction for next year as 10-6 again with many of the same questions as year mainly where/when are we going to get a consistent pass rush.
Holy crap was I awful with my predictions for 2014….