Quarterly Report

The NFL Season, almost more than any other sport, has the penchant for being assessed quarterly. With the 16-game schedule spread out over 4 months, this makes for some very easy timeframes to look at. As the saying goes, no one ever won a Super Bowl in September. We're trying to keep that in mind here so we're not all gloom-and-doom moving forward.

Record: 2-2

Home: 2-0

Road: 0-2

Offense

Stats (League Rank)

Total: 1535 yards (6th)

Scoring: 85 points (15th)

Passing: 1115 yards (3rd), 6 TD (9th), 4 INT (17th)

Rushing: 420 yds (15th), 4 TD (8th), 4 fumbles (23rd)

Grade Book

Quarterbacks: A

Ben Roethlisberger has been sharp, efficient, and would be in the MVP discussion right now if the Steelers were 4-0 like the Colts. But instead, we're sitting at 2-2. Ben is putting up great numbers and showing great leadership ability on the field. Yes, he takes some sacks, but he also keeps plays alive and makes things happen. You have to take the bad with the good from him and roll with it.

Running Backs: B-

After the poor start against what looked like a good Titans run defense, the running backs responded. Mendenhall had a few splash plays against Chicago and went on to have a monster AFC Offensive Player of the Week game against San Diego. Parker had a solid game against Cincinnati, and the running game looks to be getting back on track. Games against Detroit and Cleveland won't hurt either.

Wide Receivers: B

Hines and Holmes have led the group, but the big story here is standout rookie Mike Wallace. Wallace has looked stellar as a #3 receiver, making most people forget Nate Washington's departure was even an issue this offseason. Limas Sweed has been disappointing to say the least. Hines is proving that he can still put up big numbers, even though he's at the tail end of his career.

Tight Ends: A

Can anyone complain about the job Heath Miller has done thus far? I didn't think so. He's had a quarter that, if he continues to play this way, might land him in the Pro Bowl. Spaeth has done a good job as well and it's good to see him getting a few more looks in the offense.

Offensive Line: C

We knew coming in this was going to be the weakest part of the offense. However, Ben has only been sacked 10 times through 4 games, which might sound like a lot, but when considering he has been sacked 46, 47, and 46 times the last 3 seasons, the line is on pace to have their best pass-blocking season since 2005. They have looked better the last two games against Cincy and San Diego and have the chance to get into a great rhythm the next few games.

Defense

Stats (League Rank)

Total: 1119 yards (7th)

Scoring: 78 points (13th)

Passing: 873 yards (17th), 7 TDs (24th), 1 INT (30th)

Rushing: 246 yards (4th), 1 TD (3rd), 2 fumbles (21st)

Grade Book:

Defensive Line: A

The Steelers have 8 sacks on the year and the D-line has racked up 3 of those, with Big Snack and Aaron Smith getting on the board. The Diesel has been in the backfield causing havoc as well. The guys responsible for run-defense have done that along with providing pressure in pass defense (something the linebackers haven't done with great regularity).

Linebackers: C

This might be being a tad generous for a group that has been mostly disappointing this year. Woodley can't buy a sack. Harrison can't get off double-teams. Farrior missed the play at the end of the Bengals game on 4th down. They have been very sound in run defense, but downright mediocre in pass defense. This is the unit with the most room for improvement in the next quarter.

Cornerbacks: B+

Ike Taylor, Ike Taylor, Ike Taylor. All he does is shut people down. He has 8 pass deflections this year. Chad Ochostinko and Vincent Jackson weren't even factors in the two games. The Steelers have been getting burned by teams tight ends and #3 receivers (particularly Johnny Knox and Andre Caldwell) which means that Willie Gay and Ike have been doing very well against the top receivers. Think about it. You didn't hear Chris Chambers or Laverneous Coles names called at all. Deshea can't be wholly blamed, as he has been used as a safety in the nickel package, not his normal nickel corner spot.

Safeties: B-

Any time you lose a player like Troy Polamalu, it hurts. Tyrone Carter delivered a big hit against Chicago, and really hasn't been heard from since. Ryan Clark has been playing at a superhuman level to try to make up for Troy, but he has also limped off the field twice in the last two games. The coaches have done an adequate job at rotating people through the position to fill the void, but you just can't replace Troy.

Specialists

Stats

Kicking: 5/8 (62.5%)

Punting: 45.1 average, long of 58

Return: 6.8 yds per punt return, 23.1 yds per kick return

Grade Book:

Kicking: B

Jeff Reed missed twice against Chicago, but has rebounded to make good kicks against Cincinnati and San Diego. Think about this: if not for Reed, we might be 0-4 right now.

Punting: A+++

Is this even a grade? Is Sepulveda even human? He's averaging 45.1 yards per punt with a long of 58. He has put 7 of his 14 punts inside the 20. More astoundingly, he has 6 punts (43%) over 50 yards.

Returning: A-

Stefan Logan brought a flash to the return game that we haven't seen since Antwaan Randle El. This kid is good, but he has made a few errors thus far. However, the return game does look night and day different from last year.

Coverage/Block Units: A

The Steelers have a blocked field goal, 2 other misses, and a missed extra point. Additionally, they have slowed down some dangerous return men (Hester and Sproles).

In conclusion, the Steelers really haven't been all that bad through their first 4 games. They just haven't been great. They played 3 great quarters against Cincinnati and San Diego. They have been struggling to shut teams down in the 4th quarter. This is something that needs to be addressed. Maintaining the intensity they show in the first 45 minutes for the last 15 will be the most important factor for the Steelers in the next quadrant of the season. Luckily, they have two easy games (Detroit and Cleveland) to get things rolling. Then comes the hard part: 4-0 Minnesota and 4-0 Denver. The Minnesota game is at home and the Steelers should be able to contain Peterson. Denver, on the other had, is on the road on Monday night. The Steelers have struggled in the Mile High City in the past, and that could be a definition game as we head to the mid-season mark.

The Steelers could very well go 4-0 during their next stretch and be sitting with a 6-2 record at the break. As we saw this week, any team is vulnerable any week (see: Cincinnati almost losing to Cleveland) so don't count us out of the race just yet. Taking a waaay too early look at the playoff picture, we're currently sitting in 7th place, just outside the wild card spot. If we beat the teams we should beat and win our division games, there's no reason this Steelers team won't be competing for the division title in December.