7 Wishes For a 7th Super Bowl Win

7.  Take advantage of an easy schedule.  It doesn’t necessarily start that way, but the second half of the season features one winning team from last year (Kansas City).  I’ve never liked how the Steelers seem to "play down" to their opponent, never running the score up on any opponent other than Cleveland.  I’d like to see a lot more lopsided games and consequently a lot more fourth quarter rest for the oldest defense in the NFL. 

6. James Harrison has been playing possum throughout the preseason, and is ready to add a second defensive MVP trophy to his accolades.  Considering the quiet preseason the man his teammates call “Deebo” (after the character from Friday) has had, he’s either hurting, following his two March back surgeries, or he’s sand-bagging his way into giving new meaning to “Wacko for Flacco” in week one.  If he is indeed a step behind, why not get Lawrence Timmons some time at OLB?

5. The secondary doesn’t get carved up by the big names.  The common knock on the Steelers by many moronic talking heads for the past decade has been their defensive backfield. Never mind that the unit ranked 12th last year and has finished in the top three twice in the last five years in passing yards allowed.  But because the Steelers are so adept at stopping the run, the weak link is often said to be the pass defense.  I say it’s all about the pass rush, and if I trust anyone in the NFL with not only fixing what needs fixed but knowing what needs fixing, it’s one Richard LeBeau.  That said, the unit performs far worse when facing a pro-bowl quarterback like Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Aaron Rodgers.  It’s a good thing they face the Colts early in week 3!

4. Rashard Mendenhall finds company on the roster.  He can’t do the job himself, so let’s hope 3rd year Isaac Redman and 2nd year Jonathan Dwyer can help the Steelers enter the top 10 in rushing for the first time since 2007.  Dwyer lost 15-20lbs after coming to camp at 250. 

3. Big plays for what could be the best receiving corps in the league.  Just three months ago, many wondered what Pittsburgh was going to do at the wide receiver position with a (still) aging Hines Ward, and seemingly only (though hardly shabby at all!) young Mike Wallace to complement.  Now, after the camp that Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown have had, and the addition of veteran Jet Jericho Cotchery, the Steelers may sport the best receiving talent in the AFC, if not the NFL. 

2. The offensive line must be even less offensive than it was last year, when Big Ben was sacked “only” 32 times, compared to 2009’s (and Roethlisberger’s career high of) 50.  Much is being made of this improvement last year, but how quickly we forget that Big Ben only played 75% of the season after serving his four game suspension.  Still, he was sacked an average of 2.7 times per game, which IS an improvement over the 3.2 per game from 2009.  Finding a total that is reminiscent of his first two seasons (30 and 23) would mean less lost yardage, a healthier quarterback and a lot more of wish list item number three!

1. Beat Baltimore.  A split with the Ravens would add an 8th wish of “luck” to this list.  A Baltimore sweep means most of this list didn’t come to fruition.  A Steelers sweep by winning the turnover battle with Baltimore, keying in on Ray Rice in space, and confusing Joe Flacco all but guarantees a 21st division title.