PITTSBURGH -- With the defense losing a combined 60 years of experience and the offense losing an explosive playmaker for three games, the Pittsburgh Steelers created a new-era theme for this offseason.

Ike Taylor, Troy Polamalu, Brett Keisel, Dick LeBeau ... all gone.

Le'Veon Bell ... gone, at least until Week 4, leading the way for backup DeAngelo Williams.

Though the change narrative is a convenient one, not much feels different at Steelers' organized team activities. Key offensive and defensive players don't sound eager to change much of anything. The offense returns its entire lineup intact. The offensive line has been together for years.

Ben Roethlisberger acknowledges "there aren't a lot of old guys around anymore," but he attributes that to natural business turnover more than systematic overhauls.

In fact, Roethlisberger wants 2014 to be the blueprint. When asked about his preference for offensive balance between deep passes and Todd Haley's signature short-route passes, Roethlisberger said, "exactly what we did last year."

"I haven't changed my game at all," Roethlisberger said. "I think when you call plays that are shorter routed plays -- Bruce Arians was known to go down the field and take shots. So you are going to have to hold onto the ball. We call a lot of plays that get the ball out quick to receivers. Todd Haley's offense is a lot about catching the ball, running, and putting up yards after the catch. So I think that's what it is more than me changing or anyone changing. [Quarterbacks coach] Randy [Fichtner] does a great job of coaching. I get the ball out and guys make plays."

Surely the backfield passing game will change without Bell, right? He's coming off an 85-catch season.

Offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert doesn't think so.

"[Williams] did a lot of the same stuff in Carolina," Gilbert said. "He was one of the best backs in the NFL."

Williams' highest reception total in a season with Carolina was 33. He's capable, but he's not Bell in this area.

Intrigue persists over whether new defensive coordinator Keith Butler will tweak the Steelers' trusted 3-4 defense. Two days of OTAs aren't enough to reveal changes. Not that cornerback William Gay expects any movement there.

"We've been running the same defense since I got here," said Gay, who's played seven of his eight NFL seasons with Pittsburgh. "We don't need to change nothing."

Gilbert can identify one change -- the offensive line is becoming a team strength. The rushing offense jumped from 27th to 16th last season, and starters have expressed goals to crack the top 10.

Gilbert takes that further.

"We should be the best offensive line in the NFL," Gilbert said.

Now that would be a change.