2009 NFL season in review: Pittsburgh Steelers

We don’t bag on teams with winning record. However at 9-7 we really got to say that the 2009 NFL season of the Pittsburgh Steelers was something of a disappointment. Let us not forget they did lose to the lowly Cleveland Browns, a team even the Detroit Lions were able to defeat. However it was a brutal mid season five game losing streak, while this tem suffered key injuries that really sunk the ’09 campaign. While they had a winning season, it feels like they severely underachieved.

The 2009 Steelers offense put up 368 points, or 23 points/game. That was good enough for 12th best in the NFL. QB Ben Rothlisberger did complete 66% of his passes; he did throw for 4,328 yards and 26 touchdowns. He only threw 12 interceptions, all those are pretty good numbers, but Big Ben was sacked 46 times, and far too often this team allows opposing defenses to beat up their star QB. Another concussion could force Ben from the game. On the ground thing were a bit better as Rashard Mendenhall rushed for over 1,100 yards, and the team gained over 1,700 yards rushing.

The Steelers defense gave up 324 point or 20.2 points/game. That is far to high, the Steelers found themselves in far too many close games, and close games in the NFL can go either way, hence the slightly better than .500 record. Sure this is not the same defense without Troy Polamalu, but in the end he is one of eleven defensive players. He goes down other guys must step up.

To get better, and get back in the playoffs this team must find some help for its defensive secondary, and some big bruisers for their offensive line. They must protect Big Ben better or his career will be cut short, and they must stop the opponents from scoring and getting into tight game situations.

Related Links:

•Pittsburgh Steelers news and notes
•2010 NFL Free Agents
•2010 NFL Draft news, notes, and rumors
•NFL Complete.com