22-year old RB Rashard Mendenhall won’t have to look over his shoulder to Willie Parker anymore as he’s off to the Redskins for 2010.  Mendenhall played in 16 games (12 starts) for the Steelers last season in which he carried the ball 242 times for 1,108 yards (4.6 ypc) with 7 TD carries.  He also caught 25 passes for 261 yards (10.4 avg) with 1 TD grab last season.  He has now played in 20 games (13 starts) in his two years with the Steelers carrying the ball 261 times for 1,166 yards (4.5 ypc) with 7 TD runs.  Mendenhall has also caught 27 passes for 278 yards (10.3 avg) with 1 TD grab in his career with the Steelers.  The Steelers are confident that Mendenhall can handle carrying the ball 20+ times per game in 2010.

27-year old Mewelde Moore will enter training camp as the Steelers’ #2 RB.  He played in all 16 games (0 starts) for the Steelers last season in which he carried the ball 35 times for 118 yards (3.4 ypc).  Moore also caught 21 passes for 153 yards (7.3 avg) with 2 TD grabs last season.  Moore has now played six years in the NFL appearing in 86 games (15 starts) in which he has carried the ball 439 times for 1,991 yards (4.5 ypc) with 6 TD runs.  He has also caught 177 passes for 1,566 yards (8.8 avg) with 6 TD receptions in his career.  With his new role on offense Moore will probably play a lot less on special teams in 2010.  Moore has returned 83 punts for 792 yards (9.5 avg) with 2 TD returns and he has also returned 40 kickoffs for 732 yards (18.3 avg) in his career.

Rookie RB Jonathan Dwyer somehow slid to the 6th round.  But he was a excellent inside runner at Georgia Tech and he can handle a heavy workload if pressed into duty for the Steelers.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STEELERS RBs in 2010:  B

28-year old QB Ben Roethlisberger is a dingbat as he keeps getting himself into trouble off the field which until now had not hurt his NFL career.  But with a lot of the fans turning on him in Pittsburgh due to how he treats people he could be in for a rude awakening in 2010.  It will start with at least a four game suspension and even when he does return who knows if he’ll be the same player he was before.  You see what has happened to Tiger Woods since he has been a good boy……he has lost his edge.  Roethlisberger played in 15 games for the Steelers last season and he completed 337 of 506 passes (66.6%) for 4,328 yards with 26 TD passes and 12 INTs (100.5 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 40 times for 82 yards (2.1 ypc) with 2 TD runs last season.  In his career with the Steelers, Roethlisberger has played in 87 games in which he has completed 1,526 of 2,411 passes (63.3%) for 19,302 yards with 127 TD passes and 81 INTs (91.7 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 228 times for 698 yards (3.1 ypc) with 12 TD runs in his career.  The Steelers are 60-26 (69.8%) in games started by Roethlisberger as he is the best player on the team and they will be lucky to start the season with a .500 record until he returns……if he does.

The Steelers traded a 7th round pick to the Buccaneers for 30-year old Byron Leftwich shortly before the suspension came down.  Leftwich will likely be the starter in the Steelers first few games of 2010 as long as he stays healthy until September.  Leftwich played in 3 games for the Bucs last year and he completed 58 of 107 passes (54.2%) for 594 yards with 4 TD passes and 3 INTs (71.2 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 6 times for 6 yards (1.0 ypc) last year.  Leftwich has now played in 57 games in his NFL career in which he has completed 900 of 1,545 passes (58.3%) for 10,218 yards with 58 TD passes and 41 INTs (79.6 QB Rating).  Leftwich has also carried the ball 136 times for 384 yards (2.8 ypc) with 9 TD runs in his career.  Leftwich is nothing more than a stopgap until Roethlisberger is ready.  He has a 24-25 (49%) record as a starting QB in this NFL career.

25-year old Dennis Dixon got his first chance to really play in a game last season and he proved that he wasn’t quite ready for prime time which is the reason the Steelers went out and traded for Leftwich.  Dixon played in 1 game for the Steelers last season and he completed 12 of 26 passes (46.2%) for 148 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 INT (60.6 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 3 times for 27 yards (9.0 ypc) with 1 TD run last year.  He has now played in 2 games in his NFL career and he has completed 13 of 27 passes (48.1%) for 148 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 INT (62.0 QB Rating).  Dixon has also carried the ball 5 times for 24 yards (4.8 ypc) with 1 TD run in his career.  Dixon does have some talent, especially running the ball but he’s going to have to improve his passing to stay in the league for a while.  Dixon is 0-1 as a starting QB for the Steelers.

35-year old Charlie Batch is back for one more year.  He played in 1 game for the Steelers last season and he completed 1 of 2 passes (50%) for 17 yards.  Batch has now played in 72 games in his NFL career in which he has completed 819 of 1,461 passes (56.1%) for 10,050 yards with 57 TD passes and 44 INTs (77.9 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 162 times for 609 yards (3.8 ypc) with 6 TD runs in his career.  He is 22-28 (44%) as a starting QB in the NFL.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR  THE STEELERS QBs in 2010:  C+

Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes and Mike Wallace have been outstanding this season for the Steelers.  Hines Ward is having the best season of his NFL career by far this season as he has caught 41 passes for 599 yards (14.6 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  It appears that Ben Roethlisberger has finally warmed up to the idea of getting the ball to Hines Ward down the field which was a job reserved for only Santonio Holmes coming into this year.  Santonio Holmes has caught 28 passes for 438 yards (15.6 avg) with 1 TD grab this season.  He has been very solid again this season but he has not turned into a dominant receiver yet in the NFL.  Still, he is very good.  Rookie Mike Wallace jumped right past Limas Sweed on the depth chart but that’s not saying much.  Wallace has caught 18 passes for 296 yards (16.4 avg) with 1 TD grab this season.  He has the potential to move into the starting lineup down the road when it comes time for Hines Ward to hang up the cleats.  Until then though the Steelers are more than happy to have him as the #3 WR for the near future.

Ben Roethlisberger has already won 2 Super Bowls for the Pittsburgh Steelers and there’s no reason to think he can’t do it again provided that the pass blocking improves.  It was a weakness last season for the Steelers as Roethlisberger got jacked up quite a few times.  He holds the ball too long sometimes and that’s part of the reason he gets hit so many times, but, it’s also the reason that he makes a ton of big throws.  Roethlisberger is not the kind of player that will ever likely throw for 4,000+ yards but he’s a winner in the mold of ex-Steeler great Terry Bradshaw.  With Byron Leftwich off to Tampa, the Steelers have retained Charlie Batch to back up Roethlisberger.  Batch has been great whenever called into action for the Steelers.  He doesn’t have a great arm but he makes whatever throw the Steelers need him to.  2nd year man Dennis Dixon will battle undrafted rookie Mike Reilly for the #3 QB job on the Steelers.  The likely scenario is that Dixon winds up being the #3 QB and Reilly makes the practice squad.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON:  A

29-year old kicker Jeff Reed had a career year last season for the Steelers as he only missed 2 kicks all season long.  It was an incredible feat as Reed has had big time issues kicking at Heinz Field in the past.  That makes me think that last season was a fluke for him.  Reed played in all 16 games for the Steelers last season and he made 23 of 25 field goals (92%).  Reed also nailed all 44 of his extra points last season.  Still, Reed has never been close to as good as he was last season and I have a hard time believing that he has found the light.  Reed has now played in 86 NFL games and he has made 135 of 165 field goals (81.8%).  Reed has also made 211 of 213 extra points (99.1%) in his career.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C+

The Steelers have two solid TEs and they should start using them more in the offense.  25-year old Heath Miller has excellent hands and the speed to get down the seam and make big plays.  But, the Steelers don’t use him enough.  With the line troubles the Steelers will likely have this season it would be smart to target Miller on the short stuff.  Miller played in 16 games for the Steelers last season and he caught 47 passes for 566 yards (12.0 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  Look for Miller to have about the same numbers this season for the Steelers.  Miller has now played in 48 games in his NFL career and he has caught 120 passes for 1,418 yards (11.8 avg) with 18 TD grabs.

6’7″, 270 pound Matt Spaeth is a good blocker and the Steelers look for him when they get near the goal line because of his size.  Spaeth played in 14 games as a rookie last season and he caught 5 passes for 34 yards (6.8 avg) with an amazing 3 TD grabs.  Look for him to at least double his catches this season.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A-

There might be a changing of the guard at WR for the Steelers’ as Santonio Holmes might be the go to guy instead of Hines Ward.  The 24-year old Holmes has blazing speed which is something the Steelers’ don’t have a lot of in the WR corps.  Holmes played in 13 games for the Steelers last season and he caught 52 passes for 942 yards (18.1 avg) with 8 TD grabs.  He also carried the football 5 times for 17 yards (3.4 ypc) last season.  Look for Holmes to have a great season if he can just stay healthy.  Holmes has now played in 29 games in his NFL career and he has caught 101 passes for 1,766 yards (17.5 avg) with 10 TD grabs.  He has also carried the football 6 times for 30 yards (5.0 ypc) in his career.

32-year old Hines Ward appears to be slowing down with age and he’s having a hard time staying healthy.  Still, he’s one of the toughest players in the NFL almost crossing the line into dirty play.  But, he makes big plays whenever the Steelers’ need them.  Ward played in 13 games for the Steelers last season and he caught 71 passes for 732 yards (10.3 avg) with 7 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 11 yards (3.7 ypc) last season.  Look for the Steelers’ to lessen Ward’s workload in 2008 with the idea of keeping him healthy.  Ward has now played in 154 games in his NFL career and he has caught 719 passes for 8,737 yards (12.2 avg) with 65 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 55 times for 426 yards (7.7 ypc) with 1 TD run.

24-year old Nate Washington will likely be the #3 WR on the Steelers when the season starts but it’s up to him to keep the job.  He played in 16 games for the Steelers last season and he caught 29 passes for 450 yards (15.5 avg) with 5 TD grabs.  Look for him to have numbers like he did last season if he can hold off rookie Limas Sweed for the #3 job on the Steelers.  Washington has now played in 33 games in his NFL career and he has caught 64 passes for 1,074 yards (16.8 avg) with 9 TD grabs.

The Steelers were very happy to see 6’4″, 212 pound Limas Sweed slide to them in the NFL Draft.  He was injured last season and that caused his draft stock to fall but no one questions his ability.  Sweed played in only 6 games (all starts) at Texas last season and he caught 19 passes for 306 yards (16.1 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Look for Sweed to give the Steelers the big target they have been missing since Plaxico Burress signed with the Giants.  Sweed finished up at Texas having played in 43 games (39 starts) and he caught 124 passes for 1,915 yards (15.4 avg) with 20 TD grabs.

5’10″, 186 pound Willie Ried has never turned into the player the Steelers hoped he would and he will likely have a hard time making the team.  He played in 6 games for the Steelers last season and he caught 4 passes for 54 yards (13.5 avg).  He will have to make the team with special teams play or his time could be up in Pittsburgh.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR 2008 SEASON:  A

Carey Davis has an important job for the Steelers as the starting fullback.  His main job is blocking despite being a little small for the job at 5’10″, 225 pounds.  Davis played in all 16 games for the Steelers last season (7 starts) and he carried the ball 17 times for 68 yards (4.0 ypc).  He also caught 12 passes for 49 yards (4.1 avg) last year.  Davis is essentially a halfback playing fullback but that gives the Steelers an even more explosive offense.

If anything happens to Davis the Steelers would turn to rookie fullback Billy Latsko out of Florida.  Latsko also is a tad small for the job at 5’10″, 230 pounds.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  C+

The Pittsburgh Steelers had a solid running game last season but they weren’t satisfied so they signed Mewelde Moore and drafted Rashard Mendenhall in the first round of the NFL Draft.  But, Willie Parker will likely still be the main running back for the Steelers this season.  He didn’t play near as well in 2007 as he had in the past so that led to the drafting of Mendenhall.  Parker’s game is outside the tackle box as he is very, very fast.  His weakness sometimes is running between the tackles and he’s not as good of a receiver as he should be.  Parker played in 15 games (all starts) last season for the Steelers and he carried the ball 321 times for 1,316 yards (4.1 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He also caught 23 passes for 164 yards (7.1 avg).  Look for a lighter workload keeping Parker fresh and healthy this season.  Parker has now played in 54 games (46 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 945 times for 4,198 yards (4.4 ypc) with 19 TD runs.  He has also caught 75 passes for 620 yards (8.3 avg) with 4 TD grabs.

The Steelers were doing cartwheels when RB Rashard Mendenhall fell into their laps in the first round.  He perfectly fits into the Steelers’ power running game.  He’s big, fast and he can catch the football.   In essence, he can do it all.  Look for him to eventually replace Parker in the near future as the feature back……maybe even during his rookie season.  If nothing less, Mendenhall will get the ball near the goal line which was a problem last season for the Steelers.  Mendenhall started 13 games for Illinois last season and he carried the ball 262 times for 1,681 yards (6.4 ypc) with 17 TD runs.  He also caught 34 passes for 318 yards (9.4 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Mendenhall has a huge upside.

Mewelde Moore is the perfect #3 type running back as he is fast and he’s a good receiver.  Moore might be the third down back for the Steelers this season.  He played in 12 games (0 starts) for the Vikings last season and he carried the ball 20 times for 113 yards (5.6 ypc).  He also caught 6 passes for 48 yards (8.0 avg).  Look for Moore to get more playing time on offense this season than he did last year in Minnesota.  Moore has now played in 54 games (11 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 264 times for 1,285 yards (4.9 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He also has caught 116 passes for 1,093 yards (9.4 avg) with 3 TD grabs.

Najeh Davenport is still around to provide some muscle off the bench.  He also caught some long passes from Ben Roethlisberger last season as he just would go deep when Ben was scrambling.  Davenport played in 15 games (1 start) last season for the Steelers and he carried the ball 107 times for 499 yards (4.7 ypc) with 5 TD runs.  He also caught 18 passes for 184 yards (10.2 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  Davenport won’t get as much playing time as he did last season but he still will produce when called upon.  Davenport has now played in 67 games (3 starts) in his NFL career and he has carried the ball 384 times for 1,788 yards (4.7 ypc) with 13 TD runs.  He also has caught 50 passes for 484 yards (9.7 avg) with 3 TD grabs.

Gary Russell is still around but he will be fighting an uphill battle to make the Steelers’ roster based on the 4 guys ahead of him on the depth chart.  Russell played in 3 games (0 starts) for the Steelers last season as a rookie and he carried the ball 7 times for 21 yards (3.0 ypc).  He did not catch a pass last season.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A

The only thing that could stop Ben Roethlisberger from having another great season is his offensive line.  The Steelers chose not to do anything about the biggest weakness on the team which could lead to Roethlisberger taking a lot of hits this season.  But, Roethlisberger is a tough guy that can handle the beating.  He looks down the barrel of the gun and gets rid of the football.  He has a good arm and he can take off an run if need be.  Roethlisberger played in 15 games (all starts) for the Steelers last season and he completed 264 of 404 passes (65.3%) for 3,154 yards with 32 TD passes and only 11 interceptions (104.1 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 35 times for 204 yards (5.8 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  The Steelers did add a couple of weapons in the draft for Roethlisberger in RB Rashard Mendenhall and WR Limas Sweed.  Sweed will give the Steelers the big target that they have been missing since Plaxico Burress bolted town a couple of years ago.  Look for Roethlisberger to build on his impressive career numbers with another solid season in 2008.  He has now played in 56 games (55 starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 908 of 1,436 passes (63.2%) for 11,673 yards with 84 TD passes and 54 interceptions (92.5 QB Rating).  He also has carried the ball 154 times for 515 yards (3.3 ypc) with 8 TD runs.

Charlie Batch finally started to look his age last season.  But, that doesn’t mean he can’t handle the offense for a couple of games if Roethlisberger needs time off.   He played in 7 games (1 start) for the Steelers last season and he completed 17 of 36 passes (47.2%) for 232 yards with 2 TD passes and 3 interceptions (52.1 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 12 times for -7 yards (-0.6 ypc) as he got to kneel down quite a bit at the end of games.  Batch has just enough arm and mobility to still be effective running the Steelers’ offense.  He has now played in 70 games (50 starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 818 of 1,459 passes (56.1%) for 10,033 yards with 57 TD passes and 44 interceptions (77.9 QB Rating).  He also has carried the ball 162 times for 609 yards (3.8 ypc) with 6 TD runs.

A couple of youngsters will battle it out for the #3 job in Pittsburgh.  Rookie Dennis Dixon is coming off a severe knee injury but he’s a very talented guy.  His best asset is his play action which should fit well in the Steelers’ offense.  Jared Zabransky is the QB who will battle Dixon for the right to hold a clipboard.  He’s the QB that led Boise State to the huge upset in a Bowl Game over the Oklahoma Sooners a couple of years ago.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  A