Quarterbacks- C-

Ben isn’t a system quarterback, he carried this team.  I think if this season has proven anything, it’s that Ben has been the difference the past two seasons, and when he is playing poorly, we are not the same football team.  All things considered, he has shown flashes of the old Ben, but only to end up costing the team with bad turnovers.  The first pick against Denver, the interception in the end zone versus Cincinnati, and the fumbled snap against Atlanta have been examples of what Ben never did his first two seasons.  Batch was solid as a rock during his playing time, but even he almost turned the tide against us with a costly fumble on the goal line versus Miami that could have lost us that game.  A lot of good from this group, but turnovers from the quarterback are unacceptable.

Running Backs/Fullbacks- C

Parker is what he is: a good back with a lot of speed and strength with limited vision.  Willie has had his moments running the ball inside and out, and in the passing game.  Overall Parker has run hard this season and has proved to be a durable back.  Verron was solid in his duty but wasn’t necessarily in position to make as many plays as last year, and had a bad game against Jacksonville.  Davenport has also had his moments, but has seen limited overall action and has made mistakes late in the Oakland game.  Krieder has battled hard with an ankle the past three games and has generally done his usually job, although I don’t think he is the hammer he was in 2004.  Duce Staley may be the biggest disappointment of the season besides the special teams, whether or not it’s his fault or not.  Overall, this unit has played solid and flashed moments of being excellent, but the Staley situation casts a dark shadow on this unit.  Crucial fumbles by Parker against Atlanta and Haynes against Cincinnati keep this unit at an average C.

Offensive Line- C-

Aside from the efforts against Kansas City and Cincinnati, this group has been a major disappointment and has done little to help out the backfield on a regular basis.  Smith has been okay, but was thrown to the ground like a rag doll by Ekuban against Denver, and other top competition he faces.  Faneca is still a damn good guard but at times is had in pass blocking and like any offensive lineman sometimes looks only as good as his teammates.  Hartings was dominated by Williams versus San Diego and has been even spottier than last season.  Simmons is the worst starter the Steelers have on either side of the football and Max Starks has not improved on his pass blocking from the past two seasons and can be a major liability.  Kemoatou looked better than Simmons but will need to continue to get reps (although he had a great game versus Kansas City.)  Okobi looked good versus Denver overall in pass protection but wasn’t really tested.  I think this group can come together, but overall it has been a rollercoaster ride with these guys in pass protection and run blocking.  Even Miller isn’t blocking as well as he did last year.

Receivers- C

Once Hines got healthy he is back to being the best player we have.  He is a powerful blocker, a sideline to sideline hustler, and the guy never quits.  This is Hines Ward’s team if there is a player who can say that, and our resurgence will be up to his leadership this season and next.  Wilson has been a disappointment, I expected him to get better and I think he has regressed.  Holmes is okay, but where is the explosive, stretch the field guy I thought we were getting?  He looks like a #2/#3 possession guy to me.  N. Washington has had his moments but has also been a disappointment as times.  He blocks okay but has been soft.  Unfortunately we haven’t seen any Willie Reid, but I see that changing if/when he gets healthy.  Miller has dropped catch able balls, but is still a beast to tackle.  The only reason I give this unit a C grade is because Hines has been courageous late in games.

Defensive Line- A

With everything that has happened this season, the last people that need criticized are the defensive lineman.  This unit has been outstanding and has done everything that has been asked of them.  Ronnie Brown held to 30 yards, Fred Taylor under 100 and being on the field all game, Rudi Johnson under 50, Tomlinson under 60, Larry Johnson under 30, Atlanta and Denver held in check besides a few big runs that weren’t on the d-line, and Oakland wasn’t able to control the game on the ground.  I am proud of this line.  Keisel has stepped in and played great for Kimo.  Hampton may not be as disruptive this season, but he seems to be even better at staying home and pushing the pile versus the run.  Aaron Smith is playing the best football of his career.  This unit is supposed to play the run all the way on running downs, and they have done that.  Some people are calling for more of a pass rush, but that is not these guys job, and I have been impressed with Kirshke and Bailey pushing the pocket on passing downs.  Overall, a gusty effort from the men up front.

Linebackers- A-

I may draw some criticism for this grade, but this unit has been outstanding for the most part this season, especially against the run.  Larry Foote is playing by far the best ball of his career, and may be turning into the better middle linebackers in the NFL.  Although the big plays aren’t there, James Farrior is playing the run and tackling in space as well as he was in 2004.  Haggans has also been much better than last year against the run where he used to get engulfed easier.  I believe Porter is playing better than he did last season versus the run.  He holds the point well and teams don’t pass to his side on the underneath routes anymore.  Foote and Farrior have done an excellent job rushing the passer on their crossing stunts up the middle.  Haggans has been as good as last year rushing the passer.  Arnold Harrison played well in his brief time subbing for Porter, James Harrison was good until his injury, and even Goo Wallace has an interception returned for a TD.  If there is one complaint I have from the linebackers, it’s the lack of impact plays and pass rush from Porter.  These guys should be one of the last things that Steelers fans should be worried about, at least for this season.  I firmly believe this unit is much better than they were last season.  Like Cowher said last week, pass rush is irrelevant when the opposition is throwing jump balls.

Defensive Backs- C

I will open up by saying this group isn’t as bad as many say, but they have been put in circumstances that they aren’t built for.  These guys have been victimized on jump balls and fade patterns.  Ike Taylor is a good corner, and although he has had bad moments he has had more good than bad.  Whatever going on with McFadden needs to stop though, because just like Townsend got his job at the expense of D. Washington, it looks like the same thing should happen here, it is time to let McFadden take over at right corner.  Townsend is being attacked by big receiver versus everyone we play.  I like Deshea and I think he’s been a warrior for the Steelers; but he can contribute as a nickel corner.  Colclough was a colossal failure in the brief time he was playing.  But on the positive side, Troy is healthy and has been his disruptive self a lot this year.  I will say that Ryan Clark has been outstanding.  The deep balls that have victimized have been on the corners, not Clark.  He has been an explosive tackler, and he has made some impact plays.  Overall he has been a steal and is better than Chris Hope.  Overall I think bad field position has made this team look a lot worse then they are.  This secondary is designed to be a bend but don’t break unit, they aren’t designed to shut down teams from the 15.  They have done a lot of good things this year, but have been exposed in the red zone.

Special Teams- F-

The special teams are an utter and complete joke, period.  During the off season I warned people of thinking guys like Chidi Iwoma, Andre Fraser, Quincy Morgan were replaceable cogs.  They haven’t been.  A combination of poor front office decisions, Bill Cowher grudges/stubborn moves and injuries have left this the worst part of this team and the worst special teams we have had since 2001.  Cowher got rid of A. Fraser for a sideline shouting match.  Andre was a great coverage guy for us last year.  A. Harrison has been poor on special teams as his replacement.  Keisel has been pulled off kickoff and punt team and it shows.  J. Harrison has been hurt, so has Logan, and even Colclough was our gunner last year and now he is on IR.  Verron is on IR.  And most of all, we got rid of Chidi, who was the most disruptive special teamer I have ever seen wear black and gold, for A Madison?  Willie Reid injury has been bad, and this team did not take the necessary steps to replace Randle El as a punt returner.  Colclough was horrible, Holmes was even worse, and now we have C. Wilson back there to fair catch punts.  What a disaster.  Jeff Reed has missed kicks, and now that Gardocki isn’t punting from the 50, his lame leg has been exposed.  Overall, what I believed put us over the top in the Super Bowl was gutted and thrown in the trash, and now is an embarrassing unit.