I am so excited Steeler Nation! Kick off to the 2009 season is only 8 hours away. I know we have a meaningless exhibition game against the AZ Cards tonight but I am looking for several things.  

1) No injuries. Let the first team play a series or two and come out unscathed. In a perfect world, Ben will lead the Steelers down the field to an opening possession TD and then grab a clipboard.  

2) Rashard Mendenhall and Limas Sweed should show us why they were drafted 1 and 2 last year. 2008 was not kind to either one. Mendenhall seemed to be a fumbler who couldn't take on Ray Ray without injury. Sweed was lost and when open, couldn't catch the damn ball. They both need to show some promise tonight as both will be needed in 09.  

3) Ziggy, Wallace, Lewis and Urbik make their debut and I am excited to see them play. The Nation, while not expecting All Pro season's from these guys know they all must contribute this year if the Steelers are to repeat. Ziggy will play an important role in regards to depth and line play in 2010. We hope Wallace to be a savior on the kick return game and a blur running deep routes. Urbik may have become the most important rookie we have with Stapleton going under the knife and Lewis will provide depth in the secondary with the loss of B Mac. Lewis also provides the Steelers with a big athletic corner that hopefully will develop into the next Ike Taylor.  

4) Dennis Dixon. Is this the year that he steps up and supplants the ageless Charlie Batch as the Steelers #2 on the QB depth chart? Would love to see that. As much as we all love CB we know that he is getting older and doesn't have much left in the tank. Would love CB to be the #3 emergency QB in 09. That would mean Dix is the real deal at QB.    

HERE WE GO!!!