The Lions' Pride

I'd like to see 12-4 as well... My hopes aren't as high however... I'm going to go with 11-5 or 10-6... wild card spot... I think they've lost too much veteran leadership but with the additions on the offensive line, Ben will stay healthy this year and carry the team... playoff team though! Here we go!

There's no greater fan base in the NFL.

You realize they make up a decent portion of PSU's fan base?

No offense, but about 10-12 teams can,and do make that claim

Hard to say with the new OC. OL should be upgraded -- possibly dramatically. And this is the typically year (year 3) that the new front seven guys (i.e. Heyward, Hood) turn the corner. So, I could see them anywhere from a "playoff team with a shot" to "as good as anyone in football" -- depending on how a few things pan out.

I do think they may have had their best draft since the best draft of all time.

Need a year where we have a healthy team. I like the direction the offense is going. The line is dramatically improved. Hopefully the players will get the playcalling down and be comfortable with the new coordinators offense. I expect big things but not sure I would go 12-4. We'll be better but a tough schedule, new offense, etc may put us closer to 11-5 or 10-6. With free agency around the league, any team can rise up from the ashes so not sure how other teams will be in the end.

As for the fans, check out any away game with the Steelers in it...no better fans around the country. Without a doubt. Agree on the Cowboys...and that's it!!!

Dallas? They have a large fanbase, but a good bit of them are glory hunters. Steelers have a lot of national fans from the their success in the 70s. The local western Pa fans are good though, but you can say that about a lot of places. A lot of teams say their fans are the "best". GB, NYJ, NYG, Philly, Denver, CHI, BUF, Skins, etc.

Not a Steelers fan though I follow them living in PA. It seems they had a really good draft. I think Cincy and Cleveland will be better though. Baltimore may take a step back. That division is getting more interesting.

All fanbases are delusional. Known tons of old school skins fans over the years and they're as passionate as anybody. Up until like 2 years ago they had the longest consectutive sell out streak in the league, despite being mostly crap since the early 90s.

Hard to see Tomlin's boys not making the playoffs again. The offensive line would almost have to be better, and the WR corps is steadily improving. Defense will be OK as long as LeBeau is there, which will probably be until 2075.

It's a team that could easily win the Super Bowl if it gets on a roll and just as easily get bounced in the first round. I don't know how you guys deal with some of the decisions Roethlisberger makes, but I suppose I can understand given that I root for a team directed by Mike Vick and Andy Reid.

On a far more important note, is Mendenhall worth drafting as a late-round fantasy pick, or do you think Redman is good enough to hold the starting job all season?

For the Steelers it comes down to two things. Can they stay healthy, unlike last season, and can the oline improve. Personally, I think DeCastro and Colon will be a huge upgrade on the inside, Gilbert is turning into a good RT, and I think Adams can at least hold his own, and can always be given help. Not to mention, it won't take much for our oline to be improved. If those two things can happen, they'll be in contention for #7.

As for a record, again assuming no crazy injuries, I'd say 11-5 is very doable, and frankly I predict at least 12-4.

Good question. Judging based on the quantity of presence for practically every road trip, I have a hard time believing that so many Stiller fans are concentrated in that many places. From my experience, Stiller and Packer fans are the two most active road fan bases, and I would assume that many travel. They're not like Cowboy cock-a-roaches.

Used to be a huge Steelers fan (from and currently live in WPA). Over the past few years, my fandom of the Steelers, actually the entire NFL in general, has been drastically overshadowed by college football and PSU. I found that my passion for PSU does not leave much room for the Steelers anymore. I still turn them on, but am usually on this board or another PSU board during the games.