Postcards from the pre-season . . .

August 25: The Steeler Face boasts Big Ben and the Steeler D as his fantasy football keepers and takes a chance adding Mike Wallace and Isaac Redman via the draft.  At this point Wallace is still a hold out and Redman isn't necessarily Pittsburgh's starting HB.  As insurance, the Steeler Face picked up Jonathan Dwyer post-draft via the waiver wire.  Based on the last couple of pre-season games, Dwyer may be the real sleeper pick in the Steelers backfield this year. (No, I'm not expecting anything from Mendenhall).

Later on August 25: The Steelers destroyed the "Bluffalo"Bills 38-7.  Big Ben was in classic form, especially on the last drive of the first half when he took his team the length of the field in a drive that culminated in a touchdown pass to Antonio Brown, and 14-7 lead.  Roethlisberger was 17 of  24 for 169 yards and the TD in one half of action.  Nice pre-season finale for him.  Brown impressed Steeler Nation throughout the pre-season, and boasted 7 catches, 108 yards receiving, and 2 TDs against the Bills.  Brown's other TD grab followed a Troy Polamalu pick and came by way of a long strike from Byron Leftwich, who also looked strong going 5 of 8 for 105 yards and 2 TDs on the night).

August 28: Mike wallace returns to Pittsburgh, and the Steeler Face's fantasy squad breathes a collective sigh of relief.  Everyone in Steeler Nation is glad to see Wallace back, as he compliments an already strong corp of receivers.  Antonio brown has already claimed the number 1 spot, with the big contract, the strong pre-season . . . and . . . uh . . . being named team MVP for 2011.  Emmanuel Sanders and Jericho Cotchery have made nice contributions as well.  While Wallace will likely emerge as Big Ben's number 2 target this year, in the long term, the Steeler Face doubts Wallace has a future in Pittsburgh beyond 2012.  This is too bad because the Brown/Wallace tandem is one of the best in the league.

August 30: The Steelers' bubble players are slightly better than the Carolina Panthers' bubble players, 17-16, making Pittsburgh 3-1 on the preseason.  Charlie Batch won the number 3 QB spot on the Steelers' roster going 11 of 14 for 100+ yards and a 37-yard TD strike to Emmanuel Sanders.  Indeed, the Steelers QB rotation is solid with Roethlisberger, Leftwhich and Batch.  Chris Rainey caught notice with two punt returns for touchdowns in the first quarter (although both were called back by penalty).

September 1: The jury is still out on the Todd Haley offense.  The verdict is likely to be rendered on September 9th when the Steelers open the 2012 regular season in Denver, (the scene of one of the worst crimes in Steelers post-season history).