Here we go steelers! So finally after having to wait months to get any real information one week of training camp has surpassed and it's amazing the amount of info accessible this year. Great talent evaluation, play by play synopsis of training camps, player interviews and camp videos and so many people covering the subjects. These are my thoughts on the various positions of the team and ideas for reconstruction or improvement of the roster.

QB:

Ben is still highly underrated and extremely overlooked throughout the entire football audience. One word defines great quarterbacks and it is clutch. He's a mobile, creative, two time superbowl winning,highly efficient, dedicated, emotional leader to the team. He will improve this year and so will the diversity of our offense. Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch enter preseason in battle for the backup quarterback position. I think that Dixon has developed significantly and is a rare athlete that has to be implemented into the offense. So far in training camp he has been completing his passes and making the correct reads, even running for touchdowns. He was so good in college and is learning the playbook well. Charlie Batch is solidified as a mentor.

RB:

Willie Parker, Rashard Mendenhall, and Mewelde Moore will all contribute majorly to the running game/ pass protection. Willie is one of the fastest running backs I've ever seen in black and gold and if he gets outside he'll torch you for 20 in no time at all. All running backs deal with injuries this isn't anything new, he's still young and dangerous. Rashard Mendenhall is still unproven to me because he hasn't shown anything at the professional level. Reports from training camp site his poor vision, inability to hit the correct hole, akward cutbacks, and all I remember was Heinz paying people $500 to knock the ball out of his hands last preseason because of fumbling. One year in college doesn't prove anything to me in a spread offense like that and I am hoping he develops soon. Mewelde moore is such a big contributor I don't want to see him lose carries this year. He's an excellent pass blocker and has great hands. Frank the Tank is expectantly practice squad talent until he further develops but will make the team because of his ability to blow up special teams plays, he will single handedly make them fun to watch. All the hype behind him makes me realize how much we need that goal line back.  Stefan Logan looks fast as hell and like he'll be an awesome addition to our depth. Arians, ugh, is implementing the h back role into the playbook more this year and not using as much of the fullback position, so you will probably see McHugh or the 7th round pick to fill the spot.

WR:

I could leave this to one sentence, we have two superbowl mvp wide receivers. Heinz is the best possession receiver in football and excellent run blocker and route runner. He is also reliable in the endzone repeatedly and is a player coach. Santonio won so many big games for us this season, wow. What an athlete and contributor, really provided some legendary plays this year. He has a little too much swagger, acts too much like a receiver sometimes but when you're winning like we win it doesn't matter. Shaun McDonald was one of the only free agent moves we made and is an accomplished proven receiver that they obviously were very interested in. 80+ catches in a season, I like it. Mike Wallace - ole miss - you can't coach s p e e d! Ike Taylor, Wallace, Polamolu, and FWP all run 40's in under 4.3! As the 3d receiver and kick returner he'll get his number on sportscenter and put up an impressive rookie season if healthy. Limas Sweed is the biggest topic of the training camp news so far. His hands are good, he's explosive, he's 6 ft. 4 225, his routes are crisp and i heard he's getting real comfortable in a zone coverage. I think Dallas baker could step up if there are injuries throughout the course of the season.

TE:

Heath is resigned for 6 years! I have met the guy personally he is huge and was a real good guy. Great blocking tight end which we need for our line and that is an overlooked part of the offensive line. He's huge in the redzone, think about our targets now in the redzone, rb or wr, it looks good. Spaeth is supposedly blocking better and his hands have improved, these two guys are very big on that goaline.

OL:

I think we talk about this so much because we're perfectionists and look for the weakness in the structure. These guys aren't great but they're better then average and superbowl titans. Max Starks is huge and unfortunatley the left tackle instead of the right tackle. I like him on the line alot and he'll grow to command it if he can perform continuously. Keomatu is a punishing blocker devastating in the run block. He is the biggest guy on the team and is mean as hell on the field. His stamina could be better, he needs to finish games which is where his penalties come into play. The center position is very interesting to me because I feel that we notoriously elect elite centers and hartwig, stapleton when he comes back, shipley and legursky are all capable centers. That is where our depth is though on the line and that worries me. Stapleton going out hurts our depth but he is a backup center in my eyes. Trai Essex is groomed in the steeler system and is apparently strong as hell and disciplined, your time to shine. Hartwig is reliable. Legursky I don't know alot about but I have been doing my research lately and he is very quick for a guy his size, 6'1 325. He is an accomplished player through his collegiate career that is versatile inside the line. I had very high hopes/ expectations for Urbik and I am not hearing anything good about him so far but maybe that 's because everyone else is looking for a savior at right guard especially at 6'5 330. He is not going to be an immediate starter by any means in my opinion and has been described as soft by some. That doesn't fly. His tape at the combine wasn't good either but I think by his performance and succesfullness at wisconsin in a couple years he'll be a starter. Tony Hills report card has smelled worse then sewage plants on the ohio river blvd in august. I had a feeling he was just a member of a successful organization coming from Texas and there are reports that he will be cut because of his weight, laziness, attitude, and abilities. I hate the thought of losing that fourth round pick on a lineman that couldn't ****n block. Oh yeah, and Willie Colon. I always liked the thought of having him at rg because he's big and mean, and would be better suited at an inside guard position. No one seems to think that he can play that position solid. I don't like him at right tackle because he is sparratic but we'll see how he advances into next season. A.Q. Shipley was a steal in the 7th round, possibly completed the draft. I watched the entire Penn St. Ohio St. game last year and he is the truth. Blocks with great leverage, nasty, remington trophy winner that benched the third most reps in the whole entire draft and squats 700 lbs. The offensive line is my biggest concern because it is the most dynamic postition in the sport. They are the smartest - sometimes - guys on the field that line up and fist fight for four quarters everygame. There is no offense without them. I am concerned at the depth we carry along the line and will be atimately watching through the preseason like everyone else. I also would like to say that sacks happen because of missed blocking assignments, busted hot routes, quarterback indecisiveness, and other variables - not just the front five.

First time writing something on this site I feel like I can light fire to this keyboard. This site is a ridiculously amazing source of information, player reviews, player development and general discussion. Here we go steelers. It is a good feeling to be the undisputed champions again until at least next february, 2 times in 4 seasons. The caliber of every game we get to view next year is going to be memorable, just like the defense. I like the defense so much I can't stop talking about them but near perfection there is very little to discuss about this unit, sit back and enjoy... But, I have been very intrigued by the shift of the offense and special teams this offseason, along with a generally young roster. Preseason is one of my favorite parts of the season because of what the third and fourth quarters offer - insight on young pittsburgh future phenomenons. The offseason is so short even after a championship especially with a championship city - steeler fans didn't wait one month before wanting to see the next game. One of the reasons the offseason is short too is lack on movement in free agency for pittsburgh - you have to wait to training camp to feast.

I feel very confident entering this season, we didn't lose anyone to free agency, two superbowl mvp receivers along with depth throughout the offense, #1 defense that's scary physical to force turnovers, we play in the afc north, we completely boosted the other third of a football game which is special teams, great franchise/ownership, dick lebeau, white house visits, superbowl lockerroom veterans, excellent drafting, high character players  and if you can win a game in december from behind in the fourth quarter when it's 9 degrees out where can't you play?

I am wondering who people think will be the best fantasy contributor for pittsburgh this year/ who will be the biggest playmaker for the offense.... I took willie p fantasy because I think that he will excell as a compliment back which he has always been best at -not a 300+ carry 3 down back, let's be serious. I think Limas if he can stay healthy will put up some niiiiice numbers as that 3d wr.

Oh yeah, and I'm rooting for all the pittsburgh guys playing on the steelers! Jason Capizzi - the guys 6'9 330, ryan mundy who's the number 1 backup safety, A.Q. shipley the remington trophy winner who adds major depth to the line, kevin mccabe just got cut because of talent at the position - awesome to see these local guys get a piece.