Pittsburgh Steelers offseason

• Non

  

  Woodley will go to the Pro Bowl.
  
  Cushing won't play because of injury.
• Non

  

  Top five first-round options
  
  1. Joe Haden, CB, Florida
  ...The Steelers weakest position is cornerback and Haden is the most polished in this year's draft. He likely won't be on the board at #18.
  
  2. Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee
  ...Even if the Steelers give Hampton the franchise tag, they should think about getting their next nose tackle. Williams is very strong and surprisingly quick at 325-335 pounds. He had his best season as a senior and I think the Steelers would like giving him a year to learn the system and play in the rotation.
  
  3. Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama
  ...There is no doubt Cody will help as a run stuffer but he could be limited because of his size, sometimes pushing 400 pounds. Of the two, I'm sure the Steelers would rather have Williams, who wouldn't come with as much of a weight issue.
  
  4. Donovan Warren, CB, Michigan
  ...I've seen him listed anywhere from mid-first round to third round. The workouts will tell a lot but I think he could be worth the slight reach at #18. He was a five-star player coming out of high school, started for three years at Michigan and continued to improve. Good size at 6'0 and seems to have the speed and fluid style to be a shutdown type corner.
  
  5. Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri
  ...There are three linebacker options for a possible replacement for James Farrior and they are Rolando McClain, Brandon Spikes and Sean Weatherspoon. McClain figures to be gone. Spikes has the all-around talent but comes with some extra baggage. This is something the Steelers would have to evaluate leading up to the draft. Weatherspoon is a safe pick. Good character and an all-around athlete at linebacker.
• DaBrowns41

  If you guys get Dan Williams, I'll crap myself. The kid is a player. He can excel in either a 1-gap or 2-gap system, and is a monster. I think he goes in the late teens in this draft, if not early 20's. He's extremely strong, and he's a guy that can take up space while also penetrating the offensive line to get in the backfield.
• Non

  

  I think at this current date and time, that's the most likely Steelers pick.
  
  Both in terms of what they need and where he's projected to go, right around that area.
• 77Legend

  

  We need two more CB's and a Free Safety. Good one's too! Add 1 Guard and 1 Tackle that can actually block. Mendenhall needs to touch the ball more.
• Non

  

  Here is my updated draft strategy after the Senior Bowl
  
  In the first round, No. 18...
  
  ...the Steelers should select Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee.
  
  If he's still there when they pick, it should be a no brainer pick. Nose tackle of the future and a guy that can help out for a year if Hampton is still around in 2010.
  
  In the second round, No. 52...
  
  ...the Steelers could go a few different directions, probably CB, LB or OL
  
  Patrick Robinson would be a nice pick if he were to slip to 52, but I doubt it. There are some other CB prospects that would make sense such as Boise State's Kyle Wilson or Michigan's Donovan Warren.
  
  Second-round linebacker options would include Florida's Brandon Spikes or TCU's Daryl Washington. They would be looking for a 3-4 inside linebacker to replace James Farrior.
  
  I think that's a solid framework for two rounds.
  
  
  Now let's say Williams is gone before No. 18.
  
  Then the Steelers have some different options in the first round.
  
  Terrence Cody, NT
  Patrick Robinson, CB...I think No. 18 is too early but No. 52 will be too late, so they may want to consider trading down to the 22-30 range and getting an additional pick.
  Sean Weatherspoon, LB...Maybe a defensive captain for the next decade. I think the Steelers need this more than some may realize with Farrior in decline.
  
  If they don't pick Cody and go with another position, they can pick Cam Thomas, DT, North Carolina in the second round and get their nose tackle.
• killer_ewok

  

  Nice projection, Non.
• rock_knutne

  My question is how long will LeBeau be around? When he decides to retire, one would have to think that Tomlin may go to a 4-3 look on defense, which could alter the way the Steelers draft players by looking at the future.
• End of Line

  

  rock_knutne wrote: My question is how long will LeBeau be around? When he decides to retire, one would have to think that Tomlin may go to a 4-3 look on defense, which could alter the way the Steelers draft players by looking at the future.

  Hmmmmm, never thought of that.
• bulldog8

  ^^I brought this up several times on the first couple pages of this thread and no one wanted to hear anything about Pittsburgh potentially moving to a 4-3 in the future. I think it's a very possible move after Lebeau retires.
• Non

  

  They might go that route when LeBeau retires.
  
  Here is their current front seven
  
  DE-Aaron Smith
  NT-Casey Hampton
  DE-Brett Keisel
  OLB-James Harrison
  ILB-Lawrence Timmons
  ILB-James Farrior
  OLB-LaMarr Woodley
  
  If they went to a 4-3....
  
  DE-Brett Keisel
  DT-Aaron Smith
  DT-Ziggy Hood
  DE-LaMarr Woodley
  OLB-Lawrence Timmons
  MLB-???
  OLB-???
  
  They would let Hampton go. Smith could play DT in a 4-3 for a couple years. Hood is a good DT for a 4-3. Woodley would be fine moving to a DE.
  
  Not sure what you would do with Harrison. He could probably play defensive end but might be a little too small. I think he could play OLB in a 4-3 which requires more coverage than pass rushing, but he might not like that change. They would need to find a true middle linebacker.
  
  It wouldn't be that hard to change, only a matter of drafting a few players but I don't see that being part of the plan yet.
• End of Line

  

  bulldog8 wrote: ^^I brought this up several times on the first couple pages of this thread and no one wanted to hear anything about Pittsburgh potentially moving to a 4-3 in the future. I think it's a very possible move after Lebeau retires.

  I'd be for it when Lebeau retires.
• Non

  

  I've thought about it more since the season has ended.
  
  There may have been some feelings that maybe it was time for LeBeau to leave and for Tomlin to really take things in his hands. Maybe even get rid of Kevin Colbert and rebuild.
  
  But I don't think so now. Ben is still in his prime and will be for another 3-5 years. The offense has talent in Mendenhall, Santonio, Ward, Wallace, Miller, etc. The defense still has some great veteran players in Polamalu, Harrison, Woodley, Aaron Smith, maybe Hampton for another year.
  
  They should try to fill a few holes, particularly defensively, and go after it again next year and for probably 2-3 years.
• thavoice

  This will be LeBeau's last season i believe. The LB coach I think it was turned down a DCOORD job in Miami and ya dont do that unless you pretty much believe you get a shot VERY soon for that position with the team ur with.
  
  LeBeau feels this team isnt that far away from being a SB contender again and if they stay healthy there is no reason nxt year they cant make it.
  
  I dont think ya demolish it an rebuild at this point.......they are one yr removed from a SB and were 8-8 with only a few breaks from being a legit contender.
• thavoice

  League came out with figures on what the price tag would be on guys they tag.
  
  Would cost JUST over 7 million to franchise Big Snack.
  
  Id rather do that because of the inevitable no cap than to get him a longer deal. Proly piss him off, thats fine. He is a guy who plays better with a chip on his shoulder.
  
  Remember the rules are changing if there is no cap...it will affect approx 200 potential FA's this year..who woulda bee UFA if the old deal was in place.
  
  There are some odd things that could happen going fwd if no deal is come up with..something like the final 4 teams left get less picks or something odd like that if it continues or something to that effect.....
• Non

  

  Well, the NFL season is officially over and in the books.
  
  Steelers didn't repeat.
  
  Almost.
• Al Capone

  We'll get em next season Non.
• Non

  

  The Saints winning lessens the sting.
  
  They never won before so who cares.
  
  Everybody else is in the same boat.
• Non

  

  Their season did end with a win in Miami.
• Al Capone

  Non, If you had the choice of the best olineman or the best corner which one would you pick in this years draft?
• Non

  

  Well, just looking at their o-line I'm not sure where they need the most help.
  
  Probably right guard because they had Essex, more of a 6th man, playing there this year. They could also use a center for the future. I'd lean more towards somebody that is an interior prospect. The best in this draft are Mike Iupati from Idaho and Jon Asamoah from Illinois. Iupati got mixed reviews at the senior bowl but I guess that would be the guy they should target leading up to the draft, see how he does at the combine.
  
  Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida might be a good option but probably not at No. 18. He's looking like in the late first round or early second. He could be a guard or center.
  
  CBs I'd rank
  
  1. Joe Haden
  2. Patrick Robinson
  3. Donovan Warren
  
  I like all three.
• Non

  

  I want this to be a defensive-heavy draft.
  
  The offensive line is not the best but they can still have a lot of offensive success with what they have.
  
  The defense is getting old and I think they need to bring in some studs.
  
  Then if some of the old guys bounce back, they'll be deep as hell next year.
• LJ

  

  Back to the subject of Tomlin going to want to move to the 4-3 when Lebeau retires...
  
  Does anyone else have the same mentality on that such as mine? The Steelers will begin to draft some late round guys that can play in both the 3-4 and 4-3 as to have some depth when the time comes to switch? Like if they have a solid set of back ups when they move to the 4-3 would smooth the transition over even faster.
• Non

  

  Early speculation that the Steelers could open up at New Orleans on Thursday night.
  
  Saints host Falcons, Bucs, Panthers, Seahawks, Rams, Browns, Vikings and Steelers.
  
  They'll likely either open with the Steelers or a rematch of the NFC Championship against the Vikings.
• killer_ewok

  

  Non wrote: Early speculation that the Steelers could open up at New Orleans on Thursday night.
  
  Saints host Falcons, Bucs, Panthers, Seahawks, Rams, Browns, Vikings and Steelers.
  
  They'll likely either open with the Steelers or a rematch of the NFC Championship against the Vikings.

  That would be fucking bananas.