Pittsburgh Steelers 2007 NFL training camp preview

Filed in archive on June 21, 2007

Courtesy SI.com

Analysing the pittsburgh steelers

The most obvious and biggest change for the Pittsburgh Steelers, heading into the 2007 season, will be seen on the sidelines, where Mike Tomlin replaces legendary Bill Cowher as head coach.

Tomlin is just 34, but he impressed the Steelers with his perspective of the game and his defensive mindedness -- long a staple of Pittsburgh teams. Tomlin was Minnesota's defensive coordinator in 2006, and the Vikings ranked number one against the run, a key statistic for winning games.

To say Tomlin has huge shoes to fill is understating. Cowher had the longest tenure as a head coach in the NFL by far and was just two seasons removed from leading Pittsburgh to a Super Bowl victory.

So, a new era begins in Steel Town, but it looks like it will be more of the same from Pittsburgh on the football field. This means a very steady offense, pounding out yardage on the ground with tailback Willie Parker and a stifling defense led by do-everything safety Troy Polamalu.

Parker was one of the NFL's most reliable backs in 2006, and he'll get plenty of veteran help with the additions of Najeh Davenport, re-signed after coming to Pittsburgh early last season, and newcomer Kevan Barlow -- a seven-year veteran. Verron Haynes was re-signed, too, giving Tomlin one of the deepest backfields in the NFL.

Pittsburgh will need a rebound season from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who completed under 60 percent of his passes and threw 23 interceptions, coming off of a serious off-season injury. Roethlisberger says he's fully recovered and ready for another big season.

He'll have All-Pro wideout Hines Ward back to help, along with second-year standout Santonio Holmes, who caught 49 balls for over 800 yards as a rookie in 2006. If Holmes avoids a sophomore slump, the Steelers should have one of the best one-two punches at receiver in the NFL.

The Steelers upgraded an already-solid defense, selecting Florida State linebacker Lawrence Timmons in the first round and Michigan defensive end Lamarr Woodley in the second. Timmons and Woodley are potential impact players who should start immediately for Pittsburgh.

If Tomlin can overcome the gigantic shadow cast by Bill Cowher, and if he doesn't try to fix what isn't broken (Pittsburgh was 8-8 in 2006), the Steelers should flourish in 2007.

With a healthy quarterback and another great year from Willie Parker, this is team that could easily make another Super Bowl run.