The Steelers are going to their third Super Bowl in six seasons. This year's team, however, is hardly the same as the team that went to Super Bowl XL or even XLIII. The Steelers management has been able to rebuild the team on the fly, keeping a core of veteran stars while adding and replacing the parts around them. As a result, the Steelers have a host of players with Super Bowl experience but several younger, hungrier players as well. Let's take a look at how it was done. Here is the starting defense for Super Bowls XL, XLIII, and XLV:
|
SB XL |
SB XLIII |
SB XLV |
LE |
Aaron Smith |
Aaron Smith |
Ziggy Hood |
NT |
Casey Hampton |
Casey Hampton |
Casey Hampton |
RE |
Kimo von Oelhoffen |
Brett Keisel |
Brett Keisel |
LOLB |
Clark Haggans |
LaMarr Woodley |
LaMarr Woodley |
LILB |
James Farrior |
James Farrior |
James Farrior |
RILB |
Larry Foote |
Larry Foote |
Lawrence Timmons |
ROLB |
Joey Porter |
James Harrison |
James Harrison |
LCB |
Ike Taylor |
Ike Taylor |
Ike Taylor |
RCB |
Deshea Townsend |
Bryant McFadden |
Bryant McFadden |
SS |
Troy Polamalu |
Troy Polamalu |
Troy Polamalu |
FS |
Chris Hope |
Ryan Clark |
Ryan Clark |
Three-time starters in Bold, two-time starters in Italics. XLV starters projected based on Jets game.
This is a veteran, experienced defense. 9 of 11 starters also started in XLIII, and Timmons played in XLIII but did not start. Only Ziggy Hood lacks Super Bowl experience. Note that the unit has changed considerably from 2005, however, with Kiesel replacing Kimo, Woodley replacing Haggans, Harrison replacing Porter, McFadden replacing Townsend, and Clark replacing Hope. In the first four cases, the players were aging and losing effectiveness; management replaced them with younger and generally better players. (Porter was a Pro Bowler but never DPOY; Kimo and Haggans never went to the Pro Bowl; and Townsend merely serviceable). Hope played four seasons for the Steelers but left after getting a large contract from the Titans; Clark has been a solid replacement without breaking the bank, er, salary cap. The only starters in all three Super Bowls have been Hampton, Farrior, Ike, and of course Troy Polamalu. (Aaron Smith could join this list if he can somehow start in two weeks.)
|
SB XL |
SB XLIII |
SB XLV |
QB |
Ben Roethlisberger |
Ben Roethlisberger |
Ben Roethlisberger |
RB |
Willie Parker |
Willie Parker |
Rashard Mendenhall |
FB |
Dan Kreider |
TE Matt Spaeth |
David Johnson |
WR |
Hines Ward |
Hines Ward |
Hines Ward |
WR |
Antwaan Randle El |
Santonio Holmes |
Mike Wallace |
TE |
Heath Miller |
Heath Miller |
Heath Miller |
LT |
Marvell Smith |
Max Starks |
Jonathan Scott |
LG |
Alan Faneca |
Chris Kemoeatu |
Chris Kemoeatu |
C |
Jeff Hartings |
Justin Hartwig |
Pouncey/Legursky |
RG |
Kendall Simmons |
Darnell Stapleton |
Ramon Foster |
RT |
Max Starks |
Willie Colon |
Flozell Adams |
Three-time starters in Bold, two-time starters in Italics. XLV starters projected based on Jets game.
The offense has been in much greater flux, but the key players through all three games remain Big Ben, Hines, and Heath Miller. The only other offensive player to start in a previous Super Bowl is Kemo. The offensive line has almost completely turned over from the disappointing group that played in XLIII, although Starks and Colon would still be starting if not for injury. Typing in the names from XLV, however, reminded me of what a strong O-line that team had. Still, Mendenhall appears to be a slower but stronger replacement for Fast Willie Parker, and Wallace is already better than Randle El ever was and is catching up to Santonio. But with Hines slowing down and the weakness and injuries along the offensive line, this year's offense doesn't match up with the 2005 team's.Overall, I would say the defensive personnel have improved from 2005, whereas the offense has fallen off a bit, mainly along the line. In any case, getting to three Super Bowls in six years (and winning at least two of them) is an impressive accomplishment in the salary cap era. The Steelers management has shown the ability to rebuild portions of the team quickly and effectively, without going through a long "rebuilding" phase that other franchises seem to go through. We can all be thankful for that.