There’s no “I” in team. But as we saw in 2019, there are definitely certain players that, if they struggle or succumb to injury, it could affect the entire landscape of the team.
Here are the seven players most critical to the success of the Steelers 2020 season — in no particular order (okay, maybe Ben Roethlisberger is first).
Ben Roethlisberger
There’s really no need to explain how utterly important Roethlisberger is to the success of the Steelers this season. But since that’s my job, I’ll get on with it.
From the moment Ben rushed to the sideline writhing in pain in Week 2 versus the Seahawks, the offense fell apart. There was a trickle-down that affected all aspects of the team, excluding the defense. If anything, the defense played harder, knowing they were going to be relied on to help the Steelers stay competitive.
Every phase of the offense, from the passing and ground game to the offensive line, struggled without Big Ben.
So far, two weeks into training camp, all signs point toward a healthy and rejuvenated Roethlisberger returning to lead his team in September. The Steelers nearly made the playoffs last season without him. One would imagine that even if Ben plays at 80 percent, this team is in store for a successful 2020 — postseason included.