You gotta beat the champs to be the champs.

Pittsburgh has had a checkered offseason since hauling in the organization's fifth Super Bowl Trophy last February in Detroit. In a sense, it was as if as soon as they slid on that ring for the thumb they got mugged. By a 62-year-old lady.

We all know about Roethlisberger by now so I won't rehash it. But what I took away from that occurrence was that the air of invincibility that generally lingers around the defending Super Bowl champions was already gone from Pittsburgh. Of course, that may all change next Thursday when they host the upstart Miami Dolphins in the season opener. However, they are 0-3 thus far in the preseason.

The Steelers didn't lose that many players from their 2005 title team. But each loss was critical in its own way. Jerome Bettis was the heart of that team, and a potent short-yardage weapon. Antwaan Randle El was an electric kick returner and big-play threat. Chris Hope and Willie Williams were key contributors in turning a secondary that was once a weakness into a strength.

But with all of those subtractions the Steelers are still capable of a repeat performance. With 19 starters and most of their depth returning they will be alive in January, and that's the first step. The potential landmine is that, without Bettis to anchor the ground game, Roethlisberger may have talked head coach Bill Cowher into letting him "air it out" this season. The last time Pittsburgh strayed from its punishing, rumbling ground game was in 2003 went 6-10 behind Tommy Maddox.

Coach, stick with what works.

Here's Doc's 2006 Pittsburgh Steelers Preview:
2005 Record: 15-5 (6-3 home, 9-2 road)
2005 Rankings: 16th (24th pass, 5th rush); 4th defense (16th pass, 3rd rush)
2005 Against the Spread: 13-7 (3-5 home, 10-2 road); 10-9-1 vs. total (7-0-1 h, 3-9 r)
2006 Odds: 15/1 to win SB, 5/1 to win AFC, -110 to win AFC North, 10.5 wins O/U
2006 Strength of Schedule: 5th (.531 opp. win %)
Key stat: Last 11 Super Bowl winners posted an average record of 12.5-13.5 in their championship years. They went 138-38, and the typical regular season puts the title owners at either 12-4 or 13-3. The last 10 Super Bowl winners came back the next year and posted an average record of 10-6 (103-57).

Returning starters: 19 (10 offense, 9 defense)
Key acquisitions: Ryan Clark, S (from Washington); Santonio Holmes, WR (draft); Anthony Smith, S (draft).
Key departures: Jerome Bettis, RB; Antwaan Randle El, WR; Chris Hope, S; Kimo von Oelhoffen, DT; Tommy Maddox, QB; Willie Williams, CB.

Offense: Don't do it Cowher. Don't give in to Big Ben's calls to air it out this season. Pittsburgh won a title with the 24th-rated pass offense in the NFL. What does that tell you? The loss of Randle El will be felt early, but all indications out of Pennsylvania are that Holmes is the real deal. He'll start in the slot as Cedrick Wilson works as the No. 2 wideout. But look for them to flip-flop by Week 5. Hines is now the epitome of the Steelers offense - unselfish, productive, do-anything - but he'll need to be an 80-catch, 1,100-yard guy this year. Also, look for a breakout season from Heath Miller. Also, the outstanding offensive line returns all five starters.
Defense: The in-vogue move recently in the NFL is go switch to a 3-4 defense, but the trouble is you need linebackers. Pittsburgh, they have linebackers. Do they ever. Foote, Farrior, Porter, Haggans and Harrison give Biltzburgh the finest set of LBs in the league. And as long as they are all healthy the Steelers will have one of the league's best defenses. Casey Hampton is the linchpin along the line and Troy Polamalu has become one of the NFL's premier defenders.
X-factor: Willie Parker. What do you got for me Fast Willie? He was solid last season, but never developed as the between-the-tackles runner that Pittsburgh craves. He is outstanding in space, but can he become a grinder?
Outlook: Only three of the past 10 defending champions won less than 10 games the following season, and only two had losing records the next year. But also, only one of those other 10 winners had 11 wins in their Super Bowl year. That was the first New England title team, and they came back to go just 9-7 the following season. But I think Pittsburgh is in good shape for another deep run. Just like when the Patriots went back-to-back the key was in their offensive line (intact), linebacking corps (intact), coaching staff (intact) and franchise quarterback (intact, barely). The Steelers are by no means infallible, and each game will be a dogfight as they take their opponent's best shot. But that's the way the Steel Crew likes it: bloody.

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