Colbert rolls through the 2008 issues: “(Left tackle) Marvel Smith got hurt, Chris Kemoeatu was in his first year as a starter, Justin Hartwig was in his first year with us at center — a critical communication spot — Kendall Simmons was hurt most of the year. Willie Colon was the lone returning starter. We had four out of five linemen not used to working together. Couple all that with Willie and Rashad being hurt and it didn’t lend to real productivity. As the season went on they got better and the protection got better.”

And the results got better. To close 2008, Pittsburgh won eight of its final nine including the playoffs.

“And we had a meaningful game every week from about the end of October,” said backup quarterback and locker room sage Charlie Batch. “It was always a five-star matchup — Giants, Chargers, Colts, Redskins, New England, Dallas, Baltimore, Tennessee. We needed to PLAY. We couldn’t look forward last year any week and that’s going to help us this year. We need to really remember that to take it week-to-week because when you’re at the top you will be the hunted.”

Like Colbert, Batch feels 2006 was a season of flatness.

“We had the talent in 2006, no question, but we didn’t do it,” said Batch. “A lot of people felt we’d show up at the stadium and win. You can’t have that mentality. Now that we’ve been there before, we know people use us as a barometer for where they are. They will use us to try to get into the ‘elite’ based on how they perform against us.”

Slideshow   Previewing the 2009 season Ten teams who will rebound from 2008, our All-Pros, players ready to star and more.

It will be fascinating to watch Tomlin in 2009. His sharp-edged wit and visible intensity quickly established him as one of the league’s most compelling coaches. But he’s just 37. How will he attack one of sport’s toughest challenges — defending a Super Bowl title?

Colbert points out that, Tomlin has been through this as well.

“He was an assistant in Tampa Bay when they won in 2002 and then tried to defend in 2003 (the Bucs went 7-9),” said Colbert. “He understands it.”

Which helps explain why, on the first day of camp, the Steelers did their double-session practices in pads then came back on Sunday and worked in a driving rainstorm.

“That’s the mentality that we need to have as we approach this,” said Tomlin. “We’re not gonna stick our toe in the water, we’re just going to jump in.”

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