Pittsburgh Steelers: 5 Starters Whose Health Should Cause Concern
Five Starters Whose Health Should Cause Concern
Yesterday was the start of training camp for the Pittsburgh Steelers in Latrobe, PA, and immediately the physically-unable-to-perform (PUP) list was revealed. The four players currently on the PUP list come as no surprise. The placement of tight ends Heath Miller (knee) and David Johnson (knee), linebacker Sean Spence (knee), and nose tackle Alameda Ta’amu (hamstring) on this list shows that the Steelers have some concern for their health. However, the organization should be more worried about the health of other key players.
Last season, Pittsburgh was plagued with injuries all over the roster, and as a result the club finished the year with a disappointing 8-8 record, and found themselves on the outside looking in while witnessing the AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XLVII.
Hopefully, the players on the PUP list will be the only ones the Steelers will have to worry about going into this season. However, we all know that the nature of the NFL says otherwise. Injuries are susceptible to happen at any point in time. If the blight of the injury bug spreads to key figures, the 2013 season could be a carbon copy of last year.
Pittsburgh can’t afford to lose anyone on either side of the ball. On offense, the ball will go as far as their leader will throw it, and the production of both the ground attack and the aerial assault will be dictated by the offensive front. Defensively, sacks and turnovers were lacking last season. The key players in the linebacking corps and the secondary will be needed to improve on those numbers.
Here are the five players whose health should give Steeler Nation something to worry about this upcoming season.
Clyde A. Speller is an NFL writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClydeASpeller, or add him to your network on Google+
5. David DeCastro
On the offensive front, the health of right guard David DeCastro will be vital. DeCastro damaged his ACL and MCL in the preseason of 2012. DeCastro did come back late in the regular season to play, but it will be wise to keep a close eye on the team’s first-round draft pick from last year.
4. Marcus Gilbert
Left tackle Marcus Gilbert suffered an ankle injury during Week 6 and was eventually placed on injured reserve. Not only will the presence Gilbert increase the chances of protecting the face of the franchise, but it will also increase the chances of revitalizing a running game that was ranked 26th in the league last season.
3. LaMarr Woodley
Last season, linebacker LaMarr Woodley missed a total of nine games over the past two seasons due to injury. The seven-year veteran’s four sacks in 2012 was the fewest since his rookie season. Woodley’s production and health will be important to the contribution of either Jason Worilds or Jarvis Jones on the other side of the defense.
2. Troy Polamalu
The injury to safety Troy Polamalu’s right calf last year sidelined the 2010 Defensive Player of the Year for nine games in 2012. Polamalu is the main ingredient to Pittsburgh’s ability to getting interceptions in the secondary. Even though the Steelers’ defense finished first in the league in pass defense, their inability to cause turnovers resulted in crucial losses. Hopefully, Polamalu’s age (32) won’t fully catch up with him this season.
1. Ben Roethlisberger
Top of the list should be quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. During the offseason, Roethlisberger had surgery on his knee, and he came out of a season where his ribs were injured. Since entering the league in 2004, Big Ben has been sacked the most out of all quarterbacks. The suspicion of Pittsburgh’s offensive line and Roethlisberger’s physical style of play should only heighten the concern of the coaching staff.
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