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Jan 3, 2008

Win or Lose from Here on Out, Injuries Define 2007 Steelers

For better or worse, this season will be defined by injuries. If the Steelers lose in the playoffs, the talk will be about how the team went on a slide after starting 9-3 and how much the major injuries played a role. If they win it all this year then the story will be about how they overcame the significant injuries on a memorable run through the playoffs.

Steelers Injuries

The injury bug has hit the Steelers hard this season

This has certainly been a particularly bad year for the health of Steelers players. Currently, the Steelers have seven players on injured reserve. Losing any player for the season is usually a big deal, but each of these players had an important role with the team.

    • Clint Kriewaldt is one of the team’s better special teams players and Jerame Tuman brought experience to the number two tight end position.
    • Dan Kreider went down just at the time when many called for the end of the Carey Davis experiment and Kreider’s return to full time starter to lead the way for Willie Parker.
    • Ryan Clark was a dependable veteran who now seems like he would be the better choice at free safety since the Anthony Smith hype has died down.
    • Max Starks was just going from offensive line scapegoat to hero while filling in for Marvel Smith but then torn his knee in a mostly meaningless game last week.
    • Aaron Smith’s contribution to the team is on display now that usually impenetrable Steelers’ run defense has been porous in his absence.
    • Willie Parker struggled at times, but he was leading the NFL in rushing when he got hurt. He was voted to this year’s Pro Bowl, his second in a row.
    • Marvel Smith should be added in here as well because for all intents and purposes he is done for the year. He was not having a good season overall, but it is worth noting because with both him and Max Starks out, the largely unproven Trai Essex finds himself starting at left tackle.
    • The Steelers also had a host of injuries to stars like Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward, Troy Polamalu, and Carey Hampton- who all missed significant time over the course of the season.

    Overcoming injuries is something almost every championship team has to do and the Steelers have done a good job of it in the past. But are there just too many to get past? It is hard to say. The injuries to an already poor performing offensive line are pretty scary in particular. Essex won’t likely prove to be the savior of the line for the rest of the season and it really is a shame that Starks got hurt just as he seemed like he might be on the way to re-establishing himself.

    Also, the Steelers’ run defense has been out of character lately and if they can’t find a way to compensate for not having Aaron Smith in there, this weekend’s playoff game against Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew will be a disaster. The Steelers have a lot of pride in stopping the run and need to make sure that they don’t get burned again.

    But as I said earlier, the story of the season could also be how the team overcame injuries. Isn’t that the spirit of the playoffs? The team that pushes all their troubles aside, plays their hearts out, and fights tooth and nail to get to the Super Bowl. That’s what it is all about, right?

    We’re going find out this coming Saturday just what the true character of this team is. Is it a team that can overcome injuries and leave everything they’ve got on the field, or are they a team that couldn’t step up when it needed to most?

    • Nov 7, 2007

    Aaron Smith May Play Sunday, Roethlisberger has Bruised Hip

    Looks like the Steelers got dinged up a little Monday night, but fortunately nothing too serious. Coach Mike Tomlin gave some updates on the injury status of some Steelers players yesterday at his press conference. Defensive end Aaron Smith’s knee is feeling better and there is a chance he can play Sunday against the Browns. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger came away with just a bruised hip, which is good news after he looked like he was hurt pretty badly.

    Some other injuries: Dan Kreider had a concussion. Willie Parker had some swelling in his knee. Clint Kriewaldt has a bruised calf, and Jerame Tuman continues to struggle with disc problem in his back. Aside from Tuman, all these players are expected to be OK and ready to go Sunday.

    Oct 23, 2007

    Injury Report: Aaron Smith likely out against Bengals

    Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in his press conference today that defensive end Aaron Smith has a sprained MCL in his left knee and will likely miss Sunday’s game against the Bengals.

    Another notable injury was that to safety Ryan Clark. Clark apparently had an inflamed spleen and did not fly back with the team from Denver. Tomlin said it was brought upon by the altitude and dehydration.

    I’m not sure I’ve heard of an injury like that before. Hopefully Clark will be okay. As for Aaron Smith, it will be interesting to see how the line performs without him. Of course the smart ass in me wants to point out that the Steelers’ defense did just fine without Casey Hampton and Troy Polamalu, but as soon as Smith went down they fell apart. Of course it is just coincidence, but Smith is a very talented player and will be missed on the line.

    Other players still dinged up include: Jerame Tuman (back), cornerback Bryant McFadden (ankle), and Clint Kriewaldt (shoulder)- all of whom have a chance at playing on Sunday.

    Sep 4, 2007

    Steelers Name their 2007 Team Captains

    Hines Ward, James Farrior, Clint Kriewaldt and James Harrison were selected by their teammates yesterday as captains for this year’s team. Ward was named offensive captain, Farrior was named defensive captain, and Kriewaldt and Harrison were named special teams co-captains.

    Last year, Ward and Alan Faneca were offensive co-captains, but Faneca stated that this year if he were voted as a captain he would have to decline in light of his situation with the team. With his public unhappiness over not getting a contract extension and this seemingly his last year, Faneca did not think it would be right to be named a captain.

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