Pittsburgh Steelers offseason

• The Equalizer

  

  Draft the kid from Oregon. Nice power and a hell of a straight overhand right.
  
  
  
  OL coach fired...step one of my offseason renewal is complete.
• bulldog8

  Steelers should let Willie go and pick up a RB in the draft. I agree with Rock though, the Steelers should only do this if there is a solid option in the latter rounds. Gerhart would be a nice power back for the Steelers, but I have a feeling that he will go higher than the 3rd round. Blount might actually be a solid choice, despite his issues at the beginning of this college football season. Due to his actions, he will probably fall in the draft, but has a ton of talent and drops the hammer when he carries the football. Aside from the RB position; LB, OL, and CB are definite needs for improvement. If Hampton isn't brought back, DL becomes another need. I think the most damage can be controlled by signing Hampton back, and focusing on the LB and CB positions. Hopefully with a new O-line coach, this unit will improve. I actually wish Arians would have been let go. Yes, the Steelers produced huge numbers this year, but Arians at times showed his ra-tardness. The Dolphins game was a prime example. Townsend intercepted a pass on Miami's 45 with 4 minutes remaining in the half. Pittsburgh could have slowly drove for the endzone with some runs to chew up the clock and enter the half with a 2-TD lead. Instead, Arians pulls a double-pass with Holmes throwing deep into double coverage. 1) The play should have never been called because it gave Miami the ball back with 4 minutes on the clock and 2) at least let Ward throw the pass because he has quarterback experience. This is just one example of some of Arians' boneheaded play calls. However, it is what it is. He will be under the microscope next season, that's for sure.
• Non

  

  Yeah, I say load up on defense in this draft except maybe one offensive lineman and a running back in the late rounds.
  
  That should leave 4-5 defensive picks.
• capninsano

  Ligashesky is out.
• rock_knutne

  capninsano wrote: Ligashesky is out.

  No surprise there.
• DaBrowns41

  Non wrote: I wonder how high Gerhart will go in the draft.
  
  I don't know how good he'll be in the NFL but if he's there in the second round maybe you consider it.

  I think it's more like, if he's there in the 4th, you consider it.
  
  Gerhart is a straight N/S runner. He offers no help out of the backfield as a receiver, and is limited in pass blocking. When it comes to turning the corner, he's not the greatest.
  
  That being said, I'm not ripping the guy, because he's very powerful, and he even had a great game against Oklahoma's stout run defense, but I don't think he's going to be a 2nd rounder. He could slip into the 3rd, but you gotta think that he'll run around a 4.65 40, if not worse.
  
  Not to mention, this is one of the deepest draft classes in a little while. Guys that would usually be 1st rounders are going to be 2nd rounders in this draft, etc.
  
  Also, I don't think the Steelers would look at him too much when they can improve their OL, and get some depth while improving that secondary. Mendenhall is your power, and Moore is your 3rd down back. Mendy just needs to hold onto the football and learn how to remember the plays and execute them.
• Heretic

  

  Yeah, if we have Mendenhall and Moore, I think it would be a waste of an upper-round draft pick to use one on a running back, especially when the team does have a few other holes that really need filled.
• Non

  

  Bettis wasn't fast but he had quick feet and the ability to shed tacklers and fall forward. I think that's important in a short yardage back maybe moreso than a straight 40 time. Having said that, I think Gerhart might be overwhelmed by the speed and talent of NFL defenses and get buried pretty easily. Still if he falls considerably it might be worth it. Heck maybe even Tim Tebow as a fullback/third string quarterback.
• Non

  

  I'm going to watch Rolando McClain more closely tonight.
  
  I think he might make a lot of sense for the Steelers right now because they need an inside linebacker and somebody that is a leader.
  
  And he's only 20 years old. When it's close I'd rather go with the guy slightly younger.
• DaBrowns41

  Non wrote: I'm going to watch Rolando McClain more closely tonight.
  
  I think he might make a lot of sense for the Steelers right now because they need an inside linebacker and somebody that is a leader.

  You'll have to trade up into the top 10 to get him, probably around pick #8 or so. That's if he gets passed the Browns at 7.
  
  McClain is one of the elite talents in the draft. Please, watch him tonight and watch how good he is. He can cover, he can blitz, he can tackle.
  
  He's a defensive field general, think Ray Lewis/Patrick Willis. He's exceptional at recognizing pass/run, and making a play in the backfield.
  
  This is what I wrote about him in my blog a few months ago:
  
  Rolando McClain- McClain is a linebacker who makes his presence felt when you are on the opposing sideline. He's a big hitting linebacker at 6'4 254 pounds who is one of the most fundamentally sound tacklers in the nation. He wraps up and puts players on the ground, rarely missing tackles, especially in the open field. His instincts are fantastic when it comes to play recognition, and he's a very difficult linebacker to block. He's very good at shedding blocks and is an all around linebacker. He's a leader on the field, and an academic player as well as an Honor Roll student. Last season he was a finalist for the Butkus Award, and it'll be hard for him not to win that this season being the leader of the nations 2nd best defense.
  NFL Comparison- Patrick Willis
• thavoice

  Possibly Bobby April return? He is now outta work. ANyone remember why he took lateral move years go to NO?
  
  Better red zone offense...scoring TD's. BA offense has always been good b/n the 20's. Not a BA fan but the offense was pretty dynamic this year. Saw more of the offense coming out of the normal set compared to last year where it seemed the best part of the offense was when BR scrambled. Def need to make a better commitment to the running attack. Mendenhall is a very good back. Gone are the days the team runs it more than they throw it but they do need to run it more. TOP was better this year, but I think the lack of running game hurt the team in the second half, notably in the 4th qtr. Used to be able to shorten that 4th qtr and not give opponants the ball as often.
  Against the Phins got the ball inside the 5, and drove the ball, took alot of time off the clock for the FG. Think the drive was more run than pass. That was the 4th qtr type of offense we saw in the past.
  
  It pains me to see the team to line up in the gun, 4 wide on third and short.
  
  OL coach fired....as expected. BR sacks arent all on th OL. He holds onto the ball alot, we would love to see him throw it away more but ya gotta take the good with the bad. Perfect world would have been scramble, keep plays alive to the very last second and throw it away before the sack but.......maybe he will get a little better at that. There were too many times though that the OL was just not on the right page.
  
  This team isnt too far away from being extremely good, but is also only a couple of players away from being bad.
  
  So the story of the NFL.
• Non

  

  I like that Tomlin acknowledged in his press conference the need to be more dominant.
  
  He went on for a few minutes actually about how they weren't dominant in 2008 but managed to find ways to win and this year they had a lot of close games and could've been 12-4 or 7-9.
  
  He stressed that they need to be a lot better to get out of harms way, if you will. Or as Bill Cowher says, the fine line between winning and losing.
• Non

  

  DaBrowns41 wrote:

  Non wrote: I'm going to watch Rolando McClain more closely tonight.
  
  I think he might make a lot of sense for the Steelers right now because they need an inside linebacker and somebody that is a leader.

  You'll have to trade up into the top 10 to get him, probably around pick #8 or so. That's if he gets passed the Browns at 7.
  
  McClain is one of the elite talents in the draft. Please, watch him tonight and watch how good he is. He can cover, he can blitz, he can tackle.
  
  He's a defensive field general, think Ray Lewis/Patrick Willis. He's exceptional at recognizing pass/run, and making a play in the backfield.
  
  This is what I wrote about him in my blog a few months ago:
  
  Rolando McClain- McClain is a linebacker who makes his presence felt when you are on the opposing sideline. He's a big hitting linebacker at 6'4 254 pounds who is one of the most fundamentally sound tacklers in the nation. He wraps up and puts players on the ground, rarely missing tackles, especially in the open field. His instincts are fantastic when it comes to play recognition, and he's a very difficult linebacker to block. He's very good at shedding blocks and is an all around linebacker. He's a leader on the field, and an academic player as well as an Honor Roll student. Last season he was a finalist for the Butkus Award, and it'll be hard for him not to win that this season being the leader of the nations 2nd best defense.
  NFL Comparison- Patrick Willis

  Yeah every projection so far has him in that 7-12 range.
  
  I can't see him falling especially getting a chance to play on the big stage tonight.
• Non

  

  Even if they sign Hampton or give him the franchise tag, I think they need a nose tackle in the first three rounds.
  
  Dan Williams and Terrence Cody would be the first round options.
  
  Maybe this guy Jay Ross from East Carolina.
  
  This draft is loaded with defensive linemen but finding NTs is never easy.
• thavoice

  Non wrote: I like that Tomlin acknowledged in his press conference the need to be more dominant.
  
  He went on for a few minutes actually about how they weren't dominant in 2008 but managed to find ways to win and this year they had a lot of close games and could've been 12-4 or 7-9.
  
  He stressed that they need to be a lot better to get out of harms way, if you will. Or as Bill Cowher says, the fine line between winning and losing.

  I use that line from Cowher all the time...and in the NFL it is so true.
  
  I could see franchising Big Snack next year. Or, if there is no cap maybe sign a 2 year deal, big salary in 2010, low one in 2011 and if he goes south then cutting him wont be bad cap-wise.
  
  NT in teh 3-4 seem to decline quickly so I dont wanna to see him get a 3-4 year deal with a big signing bonus and then be hell on the cap in a couple of years after cutting him.
  
  As far as whom to draft...I dont follow it much believe it or not. I couldnt give you 10 names that are even draft eligible this year...ust dont follow college much.
  
  Gay was a disappointment. Always like McFadden and wanted him to stay. Didnt see Az enough to see how he did...stats dont tell me much for a DB.
  
  Taylor...tough to judge. Wasnt his best year but he is always on the best WR. He is very close to being a very good CB but I am unsure he can get better to become that elite status. Just seems to be a little bit too hit or miss with him.
  
  I wonder if we'll see more of a 3 WR set s the norm next season. If ya add in a TE that is 4 guys to go in route and the DE has to respect that and maybe use the nickel package more...which would open up the running game. Seems like the telegraph the run too much. Go maybe 2 wide and duh......whats coming?
  Maybe more 2 WR, 1 TE and a FB to lead blcok. Still can throw out of it...with two good WR and Miller at TE gives the defense something to think about. Run can be called...BR can audible to pass if they stack the line. If they play the pass outta that then go to a run.
  
  I think they can become a little less predictable when trying to go with a run play.
  
  Just my half cent........
• Al Capone

  capninsano wrote: Ligashesky is out.

  Just heard this on the radio. Go get April now! I think one of the reasons he left years ago was that he didnt get along with Cowher.
• Non

  

  I thought Gay would play better but I liked McFadden a lot more than it seems the Steelers did.
  
  I go back to that playoff game in Indianapolis when McFadden was a rookie and he knocked away a big pass for Wayne on the final drive. They ended up missing the FG after that. McFadden wasn't flashy but he always seemed to be reliable and in good position. Gay was all over the place this year, falling down, getting out of position to try and make the tackle, just real sloppy.
  
  I'm not ready to give up on Joe Burnett and Keenan Lewis yet. They showed some good things in the preseason but then didn't play that much as rookies. Burnett dropped the interception against Oakland but I'm not going to write him off for that one play.
  
  Problem is, if they lose Ryan Clark then they're going to need a free safety. All they would have is Ryan Mundy.
• thavoice

  McFaddy always seemed to be around the ball when he played. I dont recall the salary he got but the front office, who has built more SB teams than you and I combined, just couldnt fit it in.
  
  It is quite possible that the run of good teams and not as high in the draft has hurt the depth on this team. Last couple of times we drafted high we got BR and TP. Two pretty good dynamic players.
  
  Steelers have always drafted well in the middle rounds. Seemed to find guys who werent as popular out of college..but after a few years of drafting a bit lower that can hurt your depth, especially for a team that doesnt do much in the FA market.
• Non

  

  I think they got full of themselves a little bit after the Super Bowl and thought they had more depth to work with than they actually did.
  
  You can't keep everybody but guys like McFadden and Foote were very accountable/consistent.
  
  Timmons and Gay, on the flip side, may have some talent but if you're not sound and you miss a play here and there, those plays can be the difference between winning and losing.
• Non

  

  Let's say they pick up a linebacker, maybe Brandon Spikes.
  
  The front seven should be back to normal next year with Aaron Smith back.
  
  Plus you have Ziggy Hood.
  
  If the front seven is more stable it could help the secondary out a lot.
  
  DE-Brett Keisel
  NT-Casey Hampton
  DE-Aaron Smith
  OLB-James Harrison
  ILB-Lawrence Timmons
  ILB-James Farrior or Brandon Spikes
  OLB-LaMarr Woodley
  
  That still would be pretty stout.
• thavoice

  Foote wanted out. He wanted to be an every down player and he wasnt going to be.
• Non

  

  secondary not so much
  
  CB-Ike Taylor
  CB-???
  SS-Troy Polamalu
  FS-???
  
  They might have to do something in free agency because they can't draft a linebacker, CB and safety all in the first round.
  
  CB-Ike Taylor
  CB-William Gay/Joe Burnett/Keenan Lewis/2nd or 3rd round pick
  SS-Troy Polamalu
  FS-Ryan Clark/Ryan Mundy
• DaBrowns41

  thavoice wrote:
  NT in teh 3-4 seem to decline quickly so I dont wanna to see him get a 3-4 year deal with a big signing bonus and then be hell on the cap in a couple of years after cutting him.

  I disagree with them declining quickly.
  
  Wilfork, Williams, and Hampton have all been consistently great NT's for awhile now.
  
  Shaun Rogers is in his 30's and he still plays at a very high level also.
• thavoice

  I did notice Farrior being a bit slower this year...or is seemed. Looked like more RBs/WR's got around and by him more often. He would take the angle and in the past make the tackle but this year just missed them. Could be a sign of age and slowing down. He has been the lynchpin of that LB corp for a long time....the QB of the front 7.
• thavoice

  DaBrowns41 wrote:

  thavoice wrote:
  NT in teh 3-4 seem to decline quickly so I dont wanna to see him get a 3-4 year deal with a big signing bonus and then be hell on the cap in a couple of years after cutting him.

  I disagree with them declining quickly.
  
  Wilfork, Williams, and Hampton have all been consistently great NT's for awhile now.
  
  Shaun Rogers is in his 30's and he still plays at a very high level also.

  What I mean is this.........they dont seem to steadily decline. Seems like they are very good one year, then are finished and ya dont see a slower decline like ya do at other positions. They seem to hit the wall. Some positions when their skills decline they make up for it in other aspects of their game but when a big, brute NT declines he gets manhandeled and no longer productive at all.