Alan Faneca

Ben Roethlisberger

Willie Parker

Troy Polamalu

James Harrison

There are three parts to Pro Bowl voting; the fans players and coaches all account for one third of the election process. I’m not sure how Polamalu made the Pro Bowl, he’s missed several games to injury this year. Roethlisberger is clearly the third best QB in the AFC, possibly in the NFL, and in time could rise to the Brady-Favre-Manning level, especially if the Rooney’s shell out some cash for a few linemen who can block, and another wide receiver who can catch. Harrison is making good on the teams decision to let Joey Porter walk. He’s been somewhat quiet lately, but then again so has the defense as a whole.

I’m somewhat amazed Faneca made the team, as the O-line has been porous at best this season. It’s clear many players make the team based on reputation, but to give Faneca the benefit of the doubt, I’ll conclude he’s probably had to cover for Mahan a lot this season. While it’s hard to tell on TV who is missing their assignments, generally a lineman is told to take the inside-most rusher on passing plays, so if Mahan is beat to Faneca’s side, Faneca is supposed to take the guy to his right who just blew threw Mahan. The Steelers generally run to the left side, behind Faneca and Willie Parker does lead the league in rushing.

Obviously, a good line has to work well together, profound football insight I know, but just as stark, is the realization that this Steeler’s line is not greater than the sum of its parts and should be dismantled and reassembled this off-season.

I’m not sure about the intricacies of the Steelers run blocking schemes, but I do know Mahan is terrible, and should be cut after this season. The blame I place on the coaches goes back to the off-season, when Mahan, a guy who played for Tomlin in Tampa Bay, was signed instead of either a good center, or a wide receiver. I know Tomlin’s not the GM, but he obviously thought Mahan was the guy to replace Hartings and he clearly is not. One could argue Faneca has been the beneficiary of playing next to all-pro centers for his entire career.