Pennsylvania Polars

By Michael Bennett

One team is the talk of the offseason. The other has stuck to the shadows. But when the season begins, it's a good bet the Steelers will remain the team to beat in Pennsylvania.

Meet the Eagles: A team desperate to win its first Super Bowl in franchise history. Going into free agency, the green and white boasted an overweight coach, versatile quarterback and a well-deep payroll. It’s no surprise Philadelphia went out of its way to assemble a “dream team” roster this year. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Nmadi Asomugha, Jason Babin, Cullen Jenkins and Ronnie Brown have upgraded the team’s roster, giving the Philly faithful ample reason to believe their team is headed to a championship.

You think Ben Roethlisberger is worried?

Andy Reid was hesitant to tout the team as a dream team. Despite physical similarities to Rex Ryan, his mouth is not nearly as loud and his strategy isn’t as boastful. Rather, he’s doing everything he can to avoid a Super Bowl-or-bust principle, even though his players have already embraced the championship expectations and used it as motivation. Will the expectations be too much for a team that lacks a core group of veterans? Is this the 2011 version of the Jets?

Meet the Steelers: A franchise coming off its third Super Bowl in five years. Going into free agency, the team faced heavy contracts with LaMarr Woodley, Willie Colon and Ike Taylor, a payroll significantly over the salary cap and a number of questionable holes in the secondary and offensive line. Sounds like the perfect recipe for a Super Bowl hangover. But if we can take anything from last year’s Pittsburgh team, it’s that the Steelers thrive on low expectations.

You think Hines Ward has lost his fervor?

If you’re wondering why there hasn’t been much outrage from Steeler fans about the team’s silence during free agency, it’s because they’re used to it. Steeler fans watch free agency from afar, while putting the draft under a magnifying glass. They've had that approach beaten into their minds by General Manager Kevin Colbert: smart drafting and player development tramples big free agent signings by a long stretch. For Pittsburgh, free agency is used to sign proven players that can fill holes: Flozell Adams, Antwaan Randle El and Bryant McFadden were last year’s additions. This year, it’s Jerrico Cotchery, a veteran receiver who will run solid routes on the field and be a teacher off it.

You think James Harrison isn’t hungry?

Pittsburgh has already moved on from free agency. Instead, the team is focusing on next year’s contract extensions and draft strategies and the priorities of signing Lawrence Timmons and Troy Polamalu. The Steelers are focused on maintaining the chemistry that has brought them consistent success in the past 10 years, while Philadelphia is focused on developing chemistry for a scattered roster of players who aren’t used to playing together.

There’s no reason to say that these strategies aren’t appropriate for both teams. Philadelphia didn’t have enough depth to expect its players to take on starting roles. Pittsburgh didn’t have room to add free agents. Both teams could very well find success with their respective strategies, but Philadelphia will surely face more pressure to succeed amid the most buzz since the Patriots picked up Randy Moss, Adalius Thomas and Wes Welker. The Eagles might do well to take some lessons on expectations from that New England team.

The Steelers are well aware that motivation can be fueled through high or low expectations, but the team isn’t facing any more pressure than it’s seen in past years. No one is holding their breath to see if Pittsburgh will make another trip to the Super Bowl. If anything, it’s those around them that have hit free agency hard in hopes of keeping pace. It’s hard to compete with a roster full of veterans on both sides of the field, none of which are facing new pressure, and all of which expect nothing less than a(nother) championship.

You think Mike Tomlin is ready?

Photo via digitaljournal.com