Steelers 2010-11

Hard to predict this coming season because:

• Ben Roethlisberer is an X-factor
• Tomlin is not Cowher; I haven’t figured out Tomlin yet, well not like Cowher
• Too many things for the Steelers to patch
• Not sure who the 2010 Steelers are yet, hardly got 2009 down too

Opponents 2010:

Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Oakland Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I think this is a fair schedule, with a couple challenging games.  Last season the Steelers gave up easy wins and won some hard ones.  Steelers left 2009 being unstable, which is un-Steeler of them.  With the weak areas beign special teams, offensive line, secondary, and running game, the Steelers will keep that instability sticker on them until they prove otherwise.

Hypothetically, if the Steelers fix half their problems, they will make a run at the playoffs and if they get a running game going, they will be a contender in the playoffs.  If they have a running game, they will be 11-5, if not, they will barely be 10-6.  Steelers will be a hot potato, with their heat being passed back and forth this coming season, where other teams will take the spotlight when the Steelers lose “that game”.

Super Bowl?  Super Bowl?  Hmmm…

Steelers need solid running game and they will be a playoff contender.  If they have a power running game going, then they have a shot at the Super Bowl this year.  No matter how good they are in other areas, especially their suped up passing game, forget it if they can’t use the run as a defensive tool in controlling the clock.  Like I’ve said, the Steelers are one season away from going into the dark ages for a couple years and this could be either their last Super Bowl in a long while or they will enter the dark ages.  So I say Steelers have little chance for 7 this year, unless they get that run powered up.

Update 8.3.10: After seeing day 1 of training camp, I doubt the Steelers will have a power running game this year, though that could develop.  Looks like Bruce is investing heavily on the passing game, which helps when you have a clutch player like Randel-El back in the line-up.  Defense looks restored, though hard to tell at this point how well things will come together.  Special teams is much improved, again with R-El back, Sepulveda looking solid, and Jeff still solid.  … Call me crazy, yet I see this as a hybrid team that won’t get much respect, yet will make the playoffs and has a shot for 7.  I am nervously picking this as the Stairway to Seven year, which fits, since it will be a climb!

Penguins 2009-10 and beyond

So Pens still have the cup and are on another run for the playoffs.  Pens haven’t been solid like they were at the start of the season, yet that’s fine.  The Pens can take on any team in the NHL in a 7 game series, even the Caps and the Devils, who have dominated them in the regular season.  Crosby is extra clutch this year, especially in that Gold Medal game.

I doubt the Flyers will play the Caps in the first round, yet I’m hoping for that match up before the Pens have to face the Caps.  Yes, the Pens will face the Caps.  Likely the Flyers will face either the Devils, Pens, or Sabers in the first round.  I’m hoping for the Pens to play a Canadian team or Boston in the first round, which looks like what will happen.

Pens will battle hard again in the Eastern Conference and will likely go up against San Jose or Chicago.  No matter who it is, it won’t be a guarantee, though maybe the series will be short.  The NHL isn’t going to label the Pens as the top contender, yet the blood that will be shed on the ice in the east tells me that these teams that have been putting it into overdrive all season will burn out in the playoffs, primarily the Caps and Devils.  Anyone in the West can take the cup, regardless if they take on the Pens.  When all the ice settles, the Cup remains in Pittsburgh for another year and we’ll break in the Console Energy Center with Lord Stanley!

As for the 2010-11 season, the Pens will be contenders again, yet I am predicting a major shuffling of the roster, which will ultimately result in the Pens losing in the first or second round of the playoffs.  Now let’s say I am wrong about the 2010 Cup playoffs and the Pens come up short… there will be that shuffling, yet the Pens will bounce back stronger and will grab the Cup back.  Pretty much it is a now or next year kind of thing with the Cup.  I am not putting any hopes for a three-peat, yet don’t be shocked about them grabbing three Cups in 5 years, which is along the lines of what I’ve been thinking will happen with this lineup.

Pirates

A year ago the Pirates got a good start.  Then the season fell apart.  And the season ended breaking the losing season record.  That was then, this is now.

I am not a fan of baseball.  It bores me.  Even so, the Pirates are my baseball team.  And I think the Pirates need to be sold to new owners, ones that can make money while contending for a championship.  Rooney’s do that and they have one of the best sports franchises in all sports.  Not to hard to feed off of that, especially since the Pirates created the Steelers back in the day.  Pipe dream, I know.

Pirate might break 500 this year.  Of course I’m not that optimistic.  That’s all I have to say about the Pirates.  I’m looking forward to the day I am excited about them and I can jump on the playoff bandwagon.  Let’s go Bucs!

Cycling

Well, I’m no Lance fan and his better days are over.  Landis is toast, since the Rock Racing thing got ejected into the Hudson.  I don’t like Alberto Contador.  I’ll be keeping tabs on former CSC team, now Cervelo Test Team.  I just wish there were more American contenders not in the Lance camp that can compete in the big races in Europe.  (Team HTC-Columbia has that potential.)  I’m still ticked off that Europe isn’t giving much ground for tours elsewhere in the world, such as USA.  The Tour of California got pushed up to May, which is good for exposure.  Still waiting on a Tour of America, where we do have the geography that can make Europe look tame.  I just think this will be a disappointing season, since there is nothing to look forward to, even if Lance takes a charge in France again.

Ironman

Well this is an individual sport, so the best of the best can win on day, yet the next just be good.  Btw, good isn’t good enough to be the best of the best.  Of course I’d settle for being “alright” in my triathlon attempts this year, with a long way to go.  Maybe Germany will take the spotlight again with freshblood in Kona, since the Auzzies have dominated.  I’d like to see Wellington get her 4th in Kona.

Soccer

I am not a fan of soccer, nor of Philly sports.  Philly just got a MLS team, called the “Philadelphia Union”.  I love their logo, which is the “Don’t Tread on Me” snake.  It is enough to spark interest in going to a soccer game, just to see what’s what.  But as far as adopting them as my team in MLS, no thanks.  (I’d be a New York Red Bulls fan anyways.)

Let’s go Pens!  Your 2009 Stanley Cup Champions!