Aaron Smith wasn’t a big name, but he was the gold standard of 3-4 defensive ends over the last decade in Pittsburgh.
Next to Troy Polamalu and Ben Roethlisberger, you could argue he was the most irreplaceable player on the Steelers. On Monday, he underwent surgery for a torn triceps.
So what now?
It was hard not to notice the similarities in headlines in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette today. “Time for [Ziggy] Hood to step up,” one read. The other: “Roethlisberger must carry heavier load.”
Hood is a second-year player that was learning behind Smith. We heard plenty of positive things about the 2009 first-round pick over the summer, but it was interesting that Hood didn’t start Sunday when Brett Keisel missed the Dolphins game. Nick Eason got the call. The Steelers defense could also be without linebacker LaMarr Woodley this Sunday night against New Orleans.
Pittsburgh’s defense has been great this year, but Colt McCoy and especially Chad Henne have looked good against them in back-to-back weeks. They need to tighten up their pass defense. Smith will be missed, especially against the run.
“Aaron is the guy who makes it all happen,” linebacker James Farrior told Ron Cook of the Gazette.
The Steelers looked like the best team in football without Roethlisberger, so they can survive this. But they may need their passing game to light up the scoreboard on occasion like in 2009.
Through two games, Roethlisberger looks the same as ever. He’s averaging over 10 yards-per-attempt, which would lead the league if he qualified. He’s thrown five touchdowns to one interception. There’s been a few head-scratching plays, but that’s par for the course.
Losing Smith is devastating for the defense, but the Steelers -- unlike the Cowboys, for instance -- are set up to survive the loss of one player.
