Year Prediciton

I like to make a few predictions at the beginning of every Steelers season. Some are bold, while others are easier to swallow. I'm not going to predict whether the Steelers can repeat this year and climb the Stairway to Seven. That all depends on their attitude and level of focus.

But here we go with a few fun predictions (I will add a few words on some predictions to explain where I'm coming from):

1) Stefan Logan, our new hero on special teams, will have at least three returns for a touchdown this year.

2) Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes will each have a 1,000+ yards season. Ward is 33 years old, but he has always relied on toughness and precise route running, so even as he gets older he doesn't have to rely on speed to get yards. The speedy Holmes is entering his fourth year in the NFL and has yet to break a thousand. He'll do it this year because year four is usually the coming-out year for wide receivers.

3) Big Ben will get sacked less than 30 times. This is more wishful thinking than a prediction, but I have to say that the offensive line looked much more in control at the end of last season and in the playoffs than they were starting off. For the line, it's about communication, and I think the unit improved by adding a bigger, more experienced Trai Essex to replace Darnell Stapleton.

4) Willie Parker will have a solid 1,400-yards rushing season, but he will drop several passes in the open field as he refuses to work on his stone hands. Parker is finally healthy and is on his last year of his contract. He'll want to prove he deserves to stay. This, of course, will depend mostly on how much work Mendenhall will receive carrying the ball. Mendenhall still needs to be more aggressive while running down hill. He'll hit that in stride half-way through the season.

5) LaMarr Woodley will have more sacks than James Harrison this year. But at least the Zebras will finally call holding on opposing tackles trying to strangle Harrison on every play. The reason for this prediction is simple... more attention will be paid to the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and Woodley will come into his own as he enters his 3rd year in the NFL.

6) The Steelers will boast the No. 1 defense once again.

7) Big Ben will continue to be undefeated in Ohio.

8) Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark will be the most dominant duo at Safety in the NFL.

9) Ike Taylor will continue to drop incredibly easy interceptions while Polamalu shows him how it's really done.

10) Anthony Smith will make some kind of ridiculous prediction before the Steelers face the Packers and again Smith will be beat deep for a touchdown as he continues to bite on play-action fakes.