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PITTSBURGH -- After a one-year hiatus, cornerback Bryant McFadden is happy to be back in a Steelers uniform.

McFadden will try to bring stability back to Pittsburgh's secondary, which struggled holding leads last year. The Steelers face a stiff test right away against quarterback Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

The AFC North blog caught up with McFadden to get his thoughts on the Falcons and other topics.

Bryant, are you aware that your last meaningful game in a Steelers uniform was Super Bowl XLIII?

BM: Yeah, I thought about it a little bit. I can remember how happy we were, being able to reach that pinnacle with the type of season we went through and the adversity. We finally were able to get to that mark that a lot of people never get the chance to experience in their career. We were able to do that. Now being back, we're just trying to bring that back to the forefront again. But none of that matters. The only thing that matters right now is the Atlanta Falcons game.

How much responsibility rests on your defense with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger suspended four games?

BM: We know as a group, when you play Pittsburgh Steelers defense there is always a level of expectation that you're expected to reach. With the tradition of the Steel Curtain and the numerous great defenses we've had the last few years, it's always a thought process to be able to carry that tradition. We know there might be games where it may be 6-9, or 10-9, things of that nature. We will have to step up and play the type of football we're accustomed to doing. It's nothing new to us.

What's your take on the Atlanta Falcons' offense from what you've seen on film?

BM: They're a good group of guys. They do a lot of different things as far as motioning and changing up formations. They make you switch your defense and they work together very, very well. Matt Ryan, with how he's throwing the ball, [receiver] Roddy White, it's going to be a big challenge. We're playing against one of the premiere tight ends [Tony Gonzalez] to ever suit up. Every week in the NFL is going to be a high competition level anyway. So with that being said, we just got to go out and execute and play our kind of football.

You were once a young player trying to learn Pittsburgh's defense. What's your advice for second-year cornerback Keenan Lewis, who's struggled and was frustrated this preseason?

BM: Just stay focused. Those guys you're covering, they get paid also. This is a league right now that is set for offenses to catch passes, so we're already behind the eight ball covering them with the rules and how things work. So just stay focused. Cornerbacks are in tough situations. You have to be mentally tough and definitely have to have a short memory.

PITTSBURGH -- A look around the Steelers' locker room during their veteran minicamp last weekend brought back a nostalgic feel.

Dynamic safety Troy Polamalu, who was sidelined for 11 games in 2009, was in one corner after returning to practice.

Not too far from Polamalu was cornerback Bryant McFadden, who was laughing and catching up with teammates after spending a year with the Arizona Cardinals.

Defensive end Aaron Smith -- showing no ill effects from a season-ending shoulder injury -- was at the opposite end of the locker room tutoring second-year player Ziggy Hood. And veteran linebacker Larry Foote gave interviews at his locker saying how happy he was to return to Pittsburgh after spending last season with the Detroit Lions.

These were all welcome sights for the Steelers' defense that you didn't see last season.

Injuries, defections and blown fourth-quarter leads took the shine off Pittsburgh's proud and talented unit in 2009. Despite a No. 5 overall ranking, the Steelers' defense just didn't look the same last year as Pittsburgh missed the playoffs for the first time in coach Mike Tomlin's tenure.

And with franchise quarterback Ben Roethlisberger serving a conditional six-game suspension this season, the latest version of the "Steel Curtain" will need to be super again.

Before dropping several notches last year, Pittsburgh's defense led the NFL in total yards and points allowed in 2008 on its way to the team's sixth Super Bowl title.

"There's no question that we have the ingredients and the talent to do that," Polamalu said of Pittsburgh's defense getting back on top. "It is whether or not we can maintain the focus that can last throughout the year and stay healthy."

Health hit Pittsburgh's defense in key areas last season.

Polamalu suffered a left-knee injury in the opening game against the Tennessee Titans and never quite recovered. He played in four more games but re-injured the knee. The Steelers' defense missed the big-play element that Polamalu brings, particularly in the fourth quarter to close out games.

Smith, who has been Pittsburgh's most consistent defensive end for the past decade, missed 11 games after shoulder surgery. Defensive starters Lawrence Timmons (ankle) and Brett Keisel (neck stinger) also missed three combined games for the Steelers.

Because Polamalu is the team's best defender, his injury is most often cited as the reason for Pittsburgh's struggles. But players believe it was a collection of occurrences.

"We just had a lot of injuries," Pro Bowl linebacker LaMarr Woodley said. "With everyone on the field, everybody is part of the defense. So we can't just look at [Polamalu] and say without one man out there our defense breaks down."

Everyone in Pittsburgh is healthy again and hoping for better luck in that department.

In addition to getting healthy, the Steelers added depth by bringing back veterans McFadden and Foote. Both were starters for the Steelers during their last title run two years ago.

"It's the same old Dick LeBeau defense, and I feel comfortable," Foote said. "It's like I never left."

While Foote's role is a work in progress, it appears McFadden has the inside track to start at cornerback opposite Ike Taylor. McFadden practiced with the first-team defense during veteran minicamp.

The Steelers believed William Gay was ready to step up last year as the starting cornerback, so the team let McFadden go and he got a more lucrative offer from Arizona. After Gay struggled for one season, the Steelers reacquired McFadden in a draft-day trade and gave him a contract extension that runs through 2012.

"Things worked out that I got an opportunity to come back here," said a happy McFadden. "It's good knowing that you have the opportunity to be in a successful defense and making plays. It feels very good to be a part of that and also to have the surrounding guys here."

Even before Roethlisberger's suspension, the team wanted to get back to the dominant, smashmouth style that made the Steelers successful. So expect a lot of running and trying to win with field position early in the season.

Luckily for the Steelers, they won't face any opponents during Roethlisberger's suspension that were ranked in the top 10 offensively last year. The Titans, who will meet Pittsburgh in Week 2, had the highest-rated offense of the first six opponents at No. 12.

Pittsburgh's quarterback situation remains undecided. Byron Leftwich received the first-team reps with the Steelers in minicamp. But Tomlin said earlier this week that backups Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch also will get opportunities to show what they can do this offseason.

Regardless, none of those quarterbacks is capable of throwing for 350 yards every week. So if the Steelers are going to stay afloat and win games early, it will be because their defense rounded back into championship form.

"Being a part of the Pittsburgh Steelers' defense, you always feel accountable to be successful week in and week out," McFadden said. "We know we’re going to be called upon to play good football like we’re accustomed to doing. Everything else will work itself out."