Steelers’ New Identity
By Justin Roem
There has been an infusion of youth on the Steelers roster over the last few years. A team that was often called “old” or “washed up” let veterans walk in favor of young free agents and draft picks. The problem was that they weren’t winning.
Back to back 8-8 seasons were inexcusable for the Steelers, and led to a rare truth: many of the players on the roster had never played in a playoff game, even more had never won one. After a first round exit this year, they still haven’t.
The 2014 season should have given those players a taste. They were division champions and lost to a divisional foe during wild card weekend. They should be hungry.
Players on the roster that haven’t won a playoff game? Cameron Heyward, David DeCastro, Kelvin Beachum, Marcus Gilbert, Mike Adams, Shamarko Thomas, Markus Wheaton, Sean Spence, Vince Williams, Jarvis Jones, Le’Veon Bell, Stephon Tuitt, Martavis Bryant, Ryan Shazier.
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There are more, but that’s a decent number of contributing players that haven’t won a playoff game. They got a taste this year. It needs to linger for several months.
The above players are the names that will define the future of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Along with veterans like Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown, they will defend the AFC North Title.
Dick Lebeau is gone. Polamalu could be gone. And Ike Taylor. And Kiesel. Maybe Harrison. This team is forging a new identity. The fact that these young players got a taste of single elimination football in January should light a fire in them.
James Harrison, Ike Taylor, and Brett Kiesel weren’t always household names–even for Steelers fans. It’s time for some of these young Steelers to make their names household names. It starts now.