SI.com takes an off-season look at the Steelers and does not like what it sees. `` . . .  this is a team that appears to have its short-term window closing, and the draft likely won't bring enough help to get the Steelers back in the 10-win range. We're going to be looking at the Steelers and wondering if they can do more with less to get back into the playoffs.’’



By Tom Mantzouranis, SI.com

2012 Record: 8-8

Key Pending Free Agents: Larry Foote, LB; Casey Hampton, DT; Keenan Lewis, CB; Rashard Mendenhall, RB; Max Starks, T; Mike Wallace, WR; Jonathan Dwyer, RB (RFA); Steve McClendon, DT (RFA); Isaac Redman, RB (RFA); Emmanuel Sanders, WR (RFA)
List of Draft Picks (pending compensatory picks): 1 (17), 2 (48), 3 (80), 4 (113), 5 (144), 6 (176), 7 (207)

Available Cap Space: About $14 million over the projected limit

2012 Season Recap

You could tell last summer that success in 2012 just wasn't in the cards for the Steelers.

Despite coming off of a 12-4, playoff-qualifying season in 2011, bad omens hovered over Pittsburgh. Three longtime stars and fan favorites -- Hines Ward, James Farrior and Aaron Smith -- bid adieu. Mike Wallace decided to try to leverage his breakout season into a new deal with a contract holdout. The running backs, including presumed started Rashard Mendenhall, dealt with injuries. The sordid and sloppy move from Ben Roethlisberger-favored Bruce Arians to Todd Haley at OC unsurprisingly led to drama between the quarterback and his new coach. And then the rookie first- and third-rounders OL David DeCastro and LB Sean Spence, both of whom were being counted on to infuse youth and talent into units thirsty for it, went down in the preseason with serious injuries. DeCastro would wind up missing 12 games, Spence the season.

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