Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey's 2013 season lasted eight plays. He was the victim of friendly fire when right guard David DeCastro accidentally collapsed his knee while trying to cut block a Titans defender. For the next 54 minutes, Pittsburgh's offense played some of the most uninspired football you'll ever see, and the post-game talking points were that without Pouncey the Steelers' season was already dead in the water.We've already explained why this isn't necessarily the case, primarily because the team has overcome bad line play, specifically during their 2008 run to a sixth Lombardi Trophy. But that group had offensive coordinator Bruce Arians calling plays. The Steelers forced him out after the 2011 season and hired Todd Haley, who's known more for his combative sideline demeanor (though we've yet to see that in Pittsburgh) than his ability to orchestrate high-scoring offenses.Except that perception doesn't match reality. At least not through the first nine games of Haley's tenure. A year ago, the Steelers were 6-3, Ben Roethlisberger sported a 100 passer rating, completed 66 percent of his throws, and had 17 touchdowns versus four interceptions. He also took fewer hits than at any time in the Arians' era. Even if Big Ben not-so-secretly hated the new offense, it was hard to argue with the results.Then Roethlisberger was injured against the Chiefs, missed three games, and wasn't the same once he returned in Week 14. Pittsburgh finished 8-8.If you include the team's 2-5 finish in '13, their 0-4 preseason, and the demoralizing loss to the Titans on Sunday, the Steelers have dropped 10 of their past 12 games. In an organization where "the standard is the standard," blame has to fall somewhere. Haley's an easy target.But here's the thing that Arians' apologist conveniently overlook: His offense yields big plays but they come at the expense of getting the quarterback destroyed. It happened with the Steelers, it happened last season with the Colts and Andrew Luck, and it happened in Week 1 with the Cardinals and Carson Palmer. That's the tradeoff that comes with seven-step drops and a downfield passing attack.Is it worth it? The results -- two Super Bowls appearances in three seasons, including a Lombardi Trophy -- suggest as much, but the cost is prohibitive, especially in a quarterback-driven league.Roethlisberger's a 31-year-old trapped in a body that's suffered 50 years of hurries, knockdowns and sacks.Which brings us back to Haley. After a rocky start to the QB-coach relationship, the two men spent the offseason rejiggering the playbook."We focus on what he does best and let's scrap the stuff he doesn't like or that doesn't play to his strengths." Haley told CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora during training camp. "So I think we've made a lot of progress on offense. ... It's just a totally different feel."You wouldn't have known it watching the Steelers' offense repeatedly throw up on itself against the Titans. Here's how Pittsburgh Magazine's Sean Conboy describes the Haley-Roethlisberger dynamic:"These two are like the sad-sack couple passive-aggressively sniping at one another in the food court of your local IKEA. It's been over since the day Haley walked into the Steelers' practice facility with zero Super Bowl rings on his hand and zero desire to compromise."In all seriousness, maybe this has little to do with Haley's football knowledge and everything to do with his interpersonal skills. But this isn't an accounting firm, either; what might be considered assault and battery in any other walk of life is just another day in the NFL. Put another way: Ben doesn't have to love his boss.Ramses Barden Elite JerseyAlso worth mentioning: During the 2011 offseason, wide receiver Antonio Brown said that Arians "always blew up ... he was argumentative and did things his way." Huh.Obviously, the Steelers will only go as far as Big Ben takes them. And while Sunday's effort could kindly be described as a travesty, Roethlisberger was his usual efficient self. According to ProFootballFocus.com, he rated seventh among all quarterbacks in Week 1 behind Peyton Manning, Matthew Stafford, Carson Palmer, Jay Cutler, Andrew Luck and Matt Schaub. Of course, Steelers fans would complain that Palmer and Luck -- current and former Arians' pupils --David Wilson Black Jersey, ranked higher.Wherever your allegiances lie, this much is certain: Big Ben's ability to extend plays is the difference between winning and losing in Pittsburgh. As we saw last season, he's gunslingin' ways are even possible in a regimented system Eli Manning Black Jersey. The question -- and this is always the question -- is whether there's enough duct tape and chicken wire to hold this offensive line together. Otherwise, we could be looking at a four-win team.Christian Ponder QB -- VikingsFirst, the good news: Third-year quarterback and former first-round pick Christian Ponder completed 64 percent of his passes against the Lions in the season opener. If you include the three interceptions, it jumps to 75 percent Henry Hynoski Black Jersey. Now, for everything else: Many of the problems that have plagued Ponder throughout his NFL career remain, including indecisiveness in the pocket, inaccuracy, and lack of arm strength.The first two issues were on display Sunday on Ponder's first interception. Early in the second quarter and facing an eight-man front, Ponder misfired on a slant to Jerome Simpson. The ball was batted in the air and picked off by linebacker DeAndre Levy.Welcome advice, articles reprinted from the welcome comments, articles reprinted from:http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/23579640/coach-killers-week-1-steelers-look-like-a-fourwin-team