Jul 25, 2013 3 min read

The Steelers arrive at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe today, complete with music playing and smiles on their faces as they roll up in their assorted SUVs and sports cars.

Once they step out of those vehicles, it will be all business.

An 8-8 season might be acceptable – heck, even celebrated in some NFL cities.

In Pittsburgh, it’s a cause for alarm.

NFL teams began reporting to training camps this week, and all of them will talk about going to the playoffs and Super Bowl.

But realistically, there are 10 to 15 teams that have a legitimate shot of making it to the Super Bowl. Despite their failures last season, the Steelers are still among those teams.

Much like the other teams that have a shot at getting to the Super Bowl, the Steelers need some things to go right.

Most important, they need to stay healthier than they did last season.

Pittsburgh didn’t have any devastating injuries – i.e. losing a key player for the season – but did have some nagging issues that sidelined a number of players for three or four games.

Ben Roethlisberger, Ike Taylor, Antonio Brown, Troy Polamalu and others each missed chunks of time, severely testing depth.

For the Steelers to be successful, they need to keep their stars on the field.

Another thing the Steelers need is for some younger players, who will be stepping into the starting lineup, to prove the organization’s faith in them is not unfounded.

This season, that would include Emmanuel Sanders at wide receiver, Cortez Allen at cornerback, Jason Worilds at outside linebacker, Steve McLendon at nose tackle and Mike Adams and Marcus Gilbert at offensive tackle.

Each of those players has shown flashes of being able to contribute in short stints in the past. Now, they will be counted upon to become full-time replacements for Mike Wallace, Keenan Lewis, James Harrison, Casey Hampton and Max Starks, a group of veterans who are playing elsewhere.

It’s heady stuff to be sure, but at some point, the Steelers needed to begin turning over its roster with a little more expediency. After years of fielding one of the oldest rosters in the league, the Steelers now have an influx of youth.

Finally, the Steelers need to get something out of a rookie class that was drafted with 2013 in mind.

What does that mean?

The Steelers spent a number of premium picks the past few years restocking their line of scrimmage on offense and defense. Because of that, the Steelers hadn’t drafted many difference makers or game changers.

That was not the case this year, with the selections of linebacker Jarvis Jones, running back Le’Veon Bell, wide receiver Markus Wheaton and safety Sharmarko Thomas.

Of that group, Bell has the best opportunity to start. But even if the others aren’t immediate starters, they can make a difference as special teams players and in sub-package roles.

There are a lot of what ifs. But it’s not out of reach.

The 2012 Steelers lost five games by three or fewer points. Finding a way to win two of those games would have put them at 10 wins and would have left them tied with Baltimore for the AFC North lead.

The next few weeks at camp will be crucial to that process.

F. Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com.