The Pittsburgh Steelers are preparing to take the San Francisco 49ers and it is a brave new world for the Steelers. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is on IR and the team must push forward sitting at 0-2. Here are our three big worries for this week and none of them involve new starting quarterback Mason Rudolph.
The offensive line isn’t ready to step up
The most veteran and honestly most talented unit on this team is the offensive line. This is a group talked about among the elite in the entire league but they haven’t played like it this season. With a new quarterback under center this group must step up, especially in the run game where they have really struggled. Meanwhile the 49ers have the No. 8 run defense in the NFL right now.
Traveling west doesn’t work
The Steelers struggles with playing on the west coast under head coach Mike Tomlin are well documented. Tomlin is 1-5 as a head coach when the Steelers play on the west coast with the one win coming with Michael Vick at quarterback. This is a concern Tomlin is quick to dismiss but is completely legitimate.
Do they have the will to win?
The Steelers have been dealt a blow. Not just this week with the Roethlisberger news but starting the season 0-2. I want to believe Pittsburgh will come in fired up, looking to turn the season around but historically this isn’t a team that rallies around the cause.
