As Steeler Nation braces for yet another Baltimore-New England AFC title match, Kevin Colbert and company must try to find a way to improve a Steelers team that finished 8-8 this season.

But if the Steelers are to improve, just don’t expect the same old, same old.

Then when asked about the possibility of changes during the offseason, Colbert added, “If we don’t change 8-8, if we don’t change the roster that produced 8-8, we’d be silly to expect a better result if we have the same group of guys … We’re not married to any of these guys.”

Yeah, but I’m sure there are probably some big name guys and free agents who are safe, right?

The Steelers have the ability to use the franchise tag on one of their free agents, but Colbert’s view of that possibility was “very doubtful.”

“Again, in my mind when you’re 8-8,” said Colbert, “I don’t think we have too many franchise players.”

Welp. We are a year removed from the vicious offseason in which notable Steelers and team leaders in the likes of Hines Ward and James Farrior were cut. If Kevin Colbert is looking to make changes, methinks we may have seen the last of the likes of Mike Wallace, Rashard Mendenhall, James Harrison, and Casey Hampton.

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Pittsburgh Steelers 17 Carolina Panthers 16

The knee gods giveth, and the knee gods taketh away. Again.

Last week we saw the return of Max Starks, who came back from injuring his ACL in January’s playoff game. The warm tingly feeling of Starks rejoining the Steelers once again had barley worn off before top draft pick David DeCastro went down with a severe knee injury of his own.

This week, Casey Hampton made his first start since that fateful game in January in which he too injured his ACL. This time third round draft pick Sean Spence went down with what Head Coach Mike Tomlin calls a “significant” knee injury. You hate to see so many young players go down with injuries right before the start of the season.

As for the rest of the game, it wasn’t a pretty affair, but the Steelers held on for the win. Fifth round draft pick Chris Rainey had punt return touchdowns of 78 and 90 yards called back due to penalties. He didn’t have much in the way of official yards on the night, but this should catch some attention on special teams.

The Steelers wrap up the preseason by going 3-1. They very well could have been 4-0 or 2-2, but who’s counting? Heading into the regular season they have a few issues with injuries and depth. Losing two top rookies to knee injuries doesn’t help. But the standard is the standard and the Steelers must move on and focus on the regular season and the Denver Broncos.

With stripes and those numbers, I just can't even with these new jerseys.

In part of their 80th anniversary, the Pittsburgh Steelers have unveiled their new throwback uniforms. These new throwbacks are a take on the 1934 uniforms worn by the then Pittsburgh Pirates.

Isaac Redman was on hand to model the new uniforms, which feature the black and yellow stripes, black numbers on white panels, and grey-ish pants. The helmets look to be the same as their regular helmets.

Personally I think these uniforms will look smashing on Casey Hampton. And by smashing, I mean, “poor Casey Hampton.”

What do you think of these new uniforms? Vote in this handy dandy poll:

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All salary cap all the time.

Casey Hampton has become the latest Steeler to restructure his contract. Hampton has joined the likes of Ben Roethlisberger, Ike Taylor, LaMarr Woodley, Willie Colon, and Lawrence Timmons, who have all restructured their contracts in an effort to clear up some space under the salary cap.

Hampton was scheduled to count $8.057 million against the cap.

By restructuring Hampton’s contract, the Steelers show that they plan on keeping him around for the 2012 season. Hampton is currently recovering from surgery on a torn ACL in his left knee. It certainly appears the Steelers are confident in his ability to come back to form this coming season.

The Steelers, who were $10.5 million under the cap before Hampton restructured, now have a little more room to sign free agents, draft picks, and undrafted free agents. This will certainly come in handy if there happens to be outside interest in Mike Wallace.

• While most of Steeler Nation rejoices in Bruce Arians‘ departure, not everyone is pleased. Ben Roethlisberger, who is in Hawaii for the Pro Bowl, plans on speaking with owner Art Rooney II about the matter.

“When I get back, I’m going to go up to Mr. Rooney’s office and ask him what he wants from me, what he wants from this offense, because I think that’s a viable question for him,” Roethlisberger told the Tribune-Review on Thursday following an AFC practice at Hickam Air Force Base. “He’s our owner and our boss, so I really would like to know kind of what he wants and where he sees our offense going because I’d like to tell him where I see us going.”

I can’t speak for Mr. Rooney, but I’d like to see an offense that doesn’t have to rely on our duct tape and gum band offensive line attempt to keep Ben from getting sacked 50 times a game. And maybe one that has less fumbleceptions.

» Continue reading “Steelers News Blitz: The “Now With Even More Arians Drama” Edition”

For a little while there, it seemed like everyone on the Steelers needed surgery this offseason.

Now it’s just everybody except Casey Hampton.

Hampton, who left the Wild Card game due to an ACL injury, will not require surgery this offseason. Hampton, the 11-year veteran, will treat his injury with rest and treatment.

Maurkice Pouncey, who missed the Wild Card game because of an injured ankle, had surgery on Thursday. Here’s hoping he gets that bionic ankle! Pouncey’s replacement at center Doug Legursky is scheduled to have shoulder surgery on Friday.

Forget planking.

Tebowing? How quaint.

No, the latest and greatest new fad is sweeping through the Steelers organization: ACL injuries. Rashard Mendenhall, the apparent trendsetter, tore his ACL in Week 17′s contest in Cleveland and missed the Steelers’ lone playoff game.

In the Wild Card game in Denver, both Max Starks and Casey Hampton left early due to ACL injuries. Starks and Hampton will be evaluated as to whether or not they will need surgery.

In non-ACL injury news, Yukon Cornelius Brett Keisel left the game due to a severe groin injury. He will also be evaluated for surgery.

Perhaps it was a good thing the Steelers were eliminated early. They don’t have anyone healthy enough to play. Fortunately, the Steelers have plenty of time to rest up, heal, and get ready for next season.

Mike Tomlin gave his injury report on Tuesday, and things are looking a little bit better for the Steelers, relatively speaking.

As of right now, only Aaron Smith and James Harrison are ruled out for Sunday’s game against Jacksonville. DE Aaron Smith with miss another week with a sprained right foot. LB James Harrison is still recovering from a broken orbital bone.

The Steelers have several players listed as questionable for Sunday’s game:

• Marcus Gilbert (shoulder)
• Casey Hampton (shoulder)
• Jason Worilds (thigh)
• Mewelde Moore (ankle)

There sure is a lot going on in Steeler Nation.

• Earlier in the week the Steelers signed Max Starks in an attempt to do something to the offensive line. Starks is expected to start on Sunday against the Titans.
• Hines Ward says that it’s time for the offense to step up and carry this team. I appreciate the sentiment and agree to an extent, but I’d like the Steelers to step it up on BOTH sides of the ball. That can be done, right?
• The NFL fined Maurkice Pouncey for sheer stupidity a late hit in last Sunday’s game in Houston. While Maurkice may be out $7,500, his late hit nullified a 14-yard run and took away the momentum the offense was building at the end of the half.
• And on the injury front, the Steelers will be without Casey Hampton (shoulder), Aaron Smith (foot), Chris Kemoeatu (knee), Mewelde Moore (ankle), and Jason Worilds (quad).