Alright: the all-seeing, all-knowing Roach-ac, wait no…

How about The Great and Powerful Roach? (hmmm, sounds like a drug thing.)

Roachismo?

Nah, sounds like machismo.

The Mysterious Roachamino? (Weird. Oh hell, let’s just stick with “The Prognosticator”.)

After much continued consulting with the mystical arts, and after drinking 4 Neuro Sonic’s in one afternoon, I’m ready to make my predictions for the defensive side of the Steelers 2016 season!

The Prognosticator

Let’s get to it Nation!

Stephon Tuitt – 10+ Sacks

Tuitt is going to have a breakout year.

I believe this.

He had 6.5 sacks last year, and frankly, both he and Cam were over worked… considerably. They had almost nothing left in the tank by the end of the year.

That’s not going to be the case this year: Ricardo Mathews is not Cam Thomas (thank God!) L.T. Walton has shown improvement, and Javon Hargrave looks like he can step out and spell Cam and Tuitt on the end as well. They will get the rest they need, and that rest is going to make a difference in their production.

Tuitt is scary: he’s freaky fast, quick, and so explosive off the line. He may go down as being one of the greatest second round picks we’ve ever had.

I think keeping both Cam and Tuitt fresh means better production from both, but I think Tuitt has more explosion than Cam does (sorry Cam!) and will end up with maybe 12 or 13 sacks (I think Cam improves and has 10, but Tuitt takes the crown.)

Ryan Shazier – Pro Bowler

As I said, I’m a glass half full guy – a “don’t live in my fears” guy. So I’m saying Shazier plays a full season, and in so doing steps forward and makes the Pro Bowl this year.

I think he could have 100+ tackles, maybe 2 or 3 INT’s and he will force some fumbles. He’s going to be disruptive, and will improve on his 3.5 sacks from last year, maybe even doubling that number.

His speed is a difference maker, and it does remind you of one long haired demon who used to wear 43 (NO! NO! NO! He should NOT MOVE TO SAFETY!)

This is a year that I think he puts it all together, and at the end of the year is passing on the trip to the Pro Bowl (you know, because he’s going to be playing in a different game!)

Steelers Defense – Top 10 Defense

I am not on crack! I am not! Stop it!

The Steelers were ranked 21^st overall on defense last year, and I think they are going to improve dramatically this year. They were the number 5 rushing defense last year, giving up only 91.2 yards per game, and I think they improve on that number this year, with Hargrave and Mathews as improvements to Cam Thomas (I know, I know, a big huge pillow would be an improvement on Cam Thomas.)

They were also 11^th overall in points allowed and points per game.

The issues, as every single member of the Nation knows, were on pass defense, but there are signs that are positive.

Ross Cockrell will have a year under his belt, and Sean Davis should start to push Robert Golden at safety, and may also be an improvement in the slot. Artie Davis could contribute at some point this season. Justin Gilbert is a wild card here – who knows what we get out of this guy, but if Carnell Lake can take these young guys and get them to contribute at some point in the season, I think we see an uptick on our INT numbers (17 Last year, tied for 6^th)

And none of that even takes into consideration that Senquez Golson might come back and play!

Things might actually be looking up!

All of that will help, and so will what I spoke about with Tuitt – the D-line is going to be nasty, and is going to get to the QB more than they did last year.

Forget the outside linebackers for a minute (although I am hoping that they are more productive than last year,) our sack numbers are going to improve simply because our line play is going to improve from better depth and rotation. We were 3^rd in sacks last year with 48, and I think this year we come closer to 55, which would have lead the league last year.

The defense will be better, and will be a top ten defense. (Again, I am not on crack!)

Conclusion

Admittedly, I am not going out on quite as big of a cliff here with the defensive predictions, as I did with the offense. Still, I’m sure much of the Nation still thinks that somebody put something in my drink (now that Ramones song will be in my head all day!)

I’m telling you, the all seeing Eye of Roachamoto tells me these things will come to pass! (I think I need a cape?  Wouldn’t I look more authoritative and mystical if I had a cape?)

Sorry, I got off topic there… There is more I could predict here, but things like James Harrison getting 3 sacks to set the all-time Steelers record seem so obvious that I decided to ignore it.

It will be fun to look back at seasons end to see exactly how much I got right, and wrong.

Until next time Nation!