Each week during the season we’ll talk with the FanSided editor who covers the Colts’ upcoming opponent and try to get a better understanding of the enemy before us. This time around, we pull our Trojan Horse up outside the Steel Curtain and talk to Craig Gottschalk of “Nice Pick Cowher.”
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The Steelers got creamed by the Ravens and then plastered the weak Seahawks. Which Steelers team do you think we’ll see against the Colts?
"We’ll see a Steelers team still looking to redeem itself from two weeks ago. The Seahawks weren’t a strong enough team to ease many minds in Pittsburgh. Tomlin won’t make the same mistake of not having his team prepared. The Colts may be Manning’less but that doesn’t mean they aren’t a good football team."
Which Steelers players have surprised you the most (good or bad) so far this season?
"Good: Emanuael Sanders and Antonio Brown – both stepped up at the end of last season, and both continue to flourish this season and are putting up good numbers. They add more options for Roethlisberger which should eventually help Mike Wallace and Hines Ward. Bad: Rashard Mendenhall. Though disclaimer – he’s not totally to blame. The offensive line has not helped much in the way of his production. However, there just seems to be something missing from this season in comparison to his high productive numbers last season."
Are there any lingering position battles to keep an eye on?
"One interesting ‘battle’ that has arisen during week one is James Farrior and Larry Foote. Tomlin claims that Foote has ‘earned’ the playing time during camp and in practice. What’s strange is that Farrior is the captain of this defense. It does not make much sense to most in the media and here on NPC why Tomlin is taking Farrior out of game situations when Foote is clearly the weaker linebacker. Farrior certainly does not seem to be doing the wrong things on the field to warrant the hook. We’ll see what Tomlin plans on doing this Sunday with the two players."
We’re suffering here in Indy without Peyton Manning. How good do you think the Steelers would be without Big Ben Roethlisberger?
"I think they’ve proven that they can be a winning football team without Ben. The team went 3-1 (very close to 4-0) during Roethlisberger’s four game suspension. They scored 86 points in that span – not great but not terrible either. They certainly depend on his way to extend the play and make things happen downfield. I certainly don’t think they are a Super Bowl contender without him. Maybe a 8-8 or 9-7 team without him?"
This is the question that I dread the most … predictions for the game?
"I think we see an as intense football team as we saw last week against the Seahawks. If Kerry Collins would actually be able to get in sync with the offense, it could be a very close game. Although, the Colts are in deed reeling from injuries other than Manning. I think the Steelers will come out on top, but not without some push back from the Colts. Steelers 31-17."