Steelers in depth: Time to cash in on Ben Roethlisberger's prime
The NFL lockout has dampened the usual offseason analysis of each team's comings and goings. But, lockout or not, the league will still be moving on at some point -- hopefully in time for the 2011 regular season to start on time on Sept. 8. And during the labor impasse, USA TODAY will focus back on the field by breaking down the five biggest questions facing each team for the 2011 season.
Up today: The Pittsburgh Steelers (previously: New Orleans Saints)
1. Are the Steelers better equipped than most teams to handle the lockout and get up to speed whenever it ends?
This lockout experience is new to all, but the Steelers are no strangers to a major disruption of their offseason. Just last year, they dealt with months of uncertainties surrounding quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's legal issues. 
They started the season with him suspended for four games. They took major injury hits. And they still made it to the Super Bowl. In the current situation, they have their usual stable coaching staff headed by Mike Tomlin, a proven quarterback in Roethlisberger and a roster loaded with veterans. Predicting post-lockout performance is risky at best, but the Steelers have demonstrated they can handle the unusual.
2. Can Pittsburgh's aging line continue to anchor the team's 3-4 defense?
The Steelers are getting older up front., But in typical fashion for the franchise they have addressed that in their last two drafts. In September, nose tackle Casey Hampton will be 34 and end Brett Keisel will be 33. The other end who opened last season as a starter, Aaron Smith, is 35. He played in six games last season before being sidelined by an arm injury. In 2009, a shoulder injury limited him to five games. But Ziggy Hood, a first-round pick in 2009, stepped in for Smith last season and played solidly. The Steelers' first-round pick this year was defensive end Cameron Heyward from Ohio State. It all starts up front in the 3-4. How well the older players hold up physically will be something to monitor. But the youngsters are in the mix.
3. What's the biggest question mark on defense?
The status of unsigned cornerback Ike Taylor. He's been a starter the past six seasons. He fits a defensive scheme that requires cornerbacks to cover, tackle and rush the quarterback. If the Steelers lose Taylor via free agency, he will leave a hole. Pittsburgh drafted two cornerbacks this year in Curtis Brown of Texas (third round) and Cortez Allen of the Citadel (fourth round). But they figure to be works in progress in seasons ahead. Much will hinge on whether they can keep Taylor.
4. What about Roethlisberger's supporting cast?
The running backs are solid, the line is in flux as usual and the receivers will need continued development from some younger players.
In addition to Roethlisberger being suspended at the start of last season, the Steelers traded away deep-threat wide receiver Santonio Holmes. In his second season, Mike Wallace stepped up with 1,257 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Last year, rookie receivers Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown showed promise. The Steelers still have veteran Hines Ward at receiver and Heath Miller at tight end. But Pittsburgh will need the young receivers to step up again.
Up front, the Steelers lost one starting tackle, Willie Colon, to injury before the 2010 season started. They lost their other tackle, Max Starks, to injury after seven games. Colon is unsigned. Starks is expected to return. Flozell Adams, a veteran signed as an emergency replacement at tackle before last season, could also be in the mix. And the Steelers used their second-round draft pick on tackle Marcus Gilbert of Florida. In the middle, center Maurkice Pouncey from Florida is the anchor after making the Pro Bowl as a rookie.
At running back, Rashard Mendenhall is coming off a 1,257-yard, 13-touchdown season. Second-year pro Isaac Redman made some key plays last season. Third-down back Mewelde Moore in unsigned. In the seventh round this year, the Steelers drafted Texas Tech running back Baron Batch, who fits the mold of a third-down back.
5. With Roethlisberger in his prime, do the Steelers say committed to running the ball?
This will be interesting to watch. In 2009, with Roethlisberger (now 29) throwing for a career-high 4,328 yards, the Steelers slipped to 19th in the league in rushing (112.1 yards per game). Last season, without Roethlisberger out the first four games, they climbed to 11th in rushing ( 120.2 yards per game). This is a franchise that historically has been committed to running the ball well. This also is a new football era. The Green Bay Packers beat Pittsburgh in the Super Bowl last season with a running game that ranked 24th in the regular season. If the young receivers continue to improve, this could be another big year for the passing game. The Steelers still will want to be able to use the running game to protect a fourth-quarter lead and put an opponent away. But they could well tilt more toward the pass to build those leads. That the nature of NFL offense in 2011 -- provided there is a 2011 season.
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