Wary Steelers fans won’t get fooled again

Steelers’ fans absolutely love the team’s defensive theme song, ‘Renegade’ by Styx. When the ‘Coming down from the gallows’ dirge gets going, all of Heinz Field is rocking. But these days, perhaps it’s The Who’s ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ that should blare from those Heinz Field loudspeakers. It would be the perfect anthem for highly skeptical Steelers’ fans as they seemingly wait for this 2021 version of their favorite football team to unravel. It has to be just a matter of time, right? The quarterback is age 39, moves like a snail and has a surgically repaired right arm that seemingly gets weaker by the week. The offensive line is a collection of no-names that still can’t get it done for their about-to-be a superstar rookie running back, Najee Harris. And the Steelers’ stellar defense apparently believes it only need play the first half of football games. No wonder Steelers’ fans are wary. The 11-0 Steelers were a mirage last season. It took a while, but they and Ben Roethlisberger’s weak-armed short-passing game were badly exposed. This time around, they’re being doubted every step of the way. The questions about Big Ben and his team on both sides of the ball are legitimate. If this 2021 version ultimately unravels, no one will be surprised. But that leaves room, albeit slim, for things to come together. For Ben to keep beating defenses that underestimate him. For this makeshift O-line to keep improving. For the defense to actually show up and finish the job in the second half – instead of mailing it in after establishing dominance in the first half. Then, these Pittsburgh Steelers would be right in the thick of things in this year’s wide-open AFC. That could just be the most surprising -- and sweetest – development of them all.What has to go right for these Steelers, you ask? We take a deep-dive into the team’s concerns and possible remedies in this ‘so-your-saying-there’s-a-chance’ edition of the Steelers Update Podcast. And be sure to check out my print column first thing Thursday on PennLive. It will be packed with plenty of memes bringing this week’s Steelers saga to life. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices