Steelers Today – A Pittsburgh Steelers blog

This is part 4 in a series evaluating the Steelers’ off-season needs.  So far, we’ve looked at the cornerbacks,  safeties, and linebackers.  The next position that we’re going to look at is the defensive line.

The Steelers’ defensive line is a veteran  unit.  They’ve been together for a long time.  This is both a strength and a weakness.  It’s a strength because the starters play well as a unit, and they are all very familiar with coach Dick LeBeau’s defense.  However, it is a weakness because all three of the starters are on the wrong side of 30.  Aaron Smith will be 34 during the 2010 season, while Casey Hampton will be 33, and Brett Keisel will be 32.

Aaron Smith missed 11 games in 2009 due to a shoulder injury.  The injury is supposed to be completely healed, however Smith has missed 16 regular season games over the past 3 years.  His health is probably a greater concern than his age (although the two are probably related).

When healthy, Smith is one of the best 3-4 defensive ends in the NFL.  He consistently collapses the pocket, and is extremely stout against the run.  He may have quietly assembled the most impressive career for a defensive end in Steelers history.  But all good things must come to an end, and Smith’s time with the team is counting down.

Manning the middle of the Steelers defensive line is nose tackle Casey Hampton.  As mentioned earlier, Hampton will be 33 years old during the 2010 season.  His backup, Chris Hoke, will be 34.

I was surprised when the Steelers signed Hampton to a new deal.  I expected them to put the franchise tag on him and get one more season out of him.  Instead, they signed him to a 3-year contract.

Hampton started all 16 regular season games in 2009.  That was the first time he’s been able to do that since 2003.  Not only did Hampton stay healthy, but he also had a career year statistically.  Of course, statistics don’t tell the full story for a nose tackle, but it is still worth noting that Hampton established new career highs in tackles and sacks in 2009.

Steelers NT Casey Hampton

Despite Hampton having a great season in 2009 and signing a new contract, I still have significant concerns about the nose tackle position.  Hampton is on the wrong side of 30, and his backup is too.  Moreover, the Steelers don’t have a viable nose tackle on the roster who is in his 20′s (I said “viable nose tackle”.  Scott Paxson has never shown any signs of eventually becoming a starter).  The team must get younger at the position.

The third member of the Steelers front 3 is Brett Keisel.   Keisel is the baby of the group, but he is no spring chicken.

2009 was Keisel’s best season since 2006, his first year as a starter.  Keisel played great this year, and I have no complaints about his play.  However, Ziggy Hood is the only young defensive lineman who has earned meaningful playing time.  The Steelers have to become more proactive in developing their defensive line of the future.

Nick Eason and Travis Kirschke are both capable veteran backups.  I feel very comfortable whenever either of them is in the lineup.  But Kirschke will be 36 years old next season.  I think that’s the same age as L.C. Greenwood.  Nick Eason will be 30 next season, so his career is winding down as well.

Sunny Harris has shown very little thus far.  His biggest accomplishment is being cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Carolina Panthers in the same year.  I doubt he will make any meaningful contribution this season.

What should the Steelers do?

Signing Casey Hampton answered a huge question for the Steelers.  Prior to re-signing Hampton, I believed that drafting a nose tackle should be the Steelers’ highest priority.  After all, the nose tackle position is really the cornerstone of a 3-4 defense.

With Hampton under contract, I doubt the Steelers will take a nose tackle in the early rounds.  However, if they do decide to go in that direction, there are 3 that are worth noting.

Dan Williams (Tennessee) – Dan Williams is the best nose tackle in this year’s draft.  He has the size and mobility to command a double team, which is the primary responsibility of a nose tackle.  He has a good bull rush, and has a decent swim move.  He is exceptional against the run.  He is short, similar to Casey Hampton, and his low center of gravity makes him almost unmoveable.

Tennessee NT Dan Williams

Terrence Cody (Alabama) – “Mt. Cody” as he is called, is a huge physical specimen.  He is 6’4″, 370 lbs.  That’s big, even by NFL standards.  Unfortunately, Cody seems to have a questionable commitment to conditioning.  His weight fluctuates (usually upward), and he sometimes seems unmotivated.  Alabama substituted frequently at the position to give Cody rest, so scouts are not quite sure how he would fare as a full-time player.  He has almost no burst, and cannot apply pressure to the quarterback.  Most believe that he is more of a specialist, and would be limited to being a 2-down player.

Cam Thomas (North Carolina) – Thomas is a player who will likely drop to the 3rd or possibly even the 4th round.  If he does, I would not be surprised to see the Steelers take him.  He would be an excellent value in those rounds.  He was not a statistically dominant player in college, but he consistently collapsed the offensive line and drove his blocker backwards.  This is exactly what you look for in a nose tackle.  Having Casey hampton on the roster would give Thomas a year or two to learn the position before he was actually needed to play a starting role.

Defensive end is another thing entirely.  There are quite a few impressive defensive ends that would look good in black and gold.

Most of the top defensive ends in the draft will not even be on the Steelers’ radar.  Instead, the Steelers tend to look at defensive tackles who would make an easy adjustment to playing 3-4 defensive end (e.g. Ziggy Hood).

The D-line prizes in this year’s draft are Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy.  They’re the top 2 defensive tackles in this year’s draft.  They would both excel as 3-4 defensive ends.  Strategically, it would be foolish for a team to waste that type of talent in a 3-4.  Moreover, they’ll both be gone long before the Steelers selection comes around.

Rather than focus on guys like that, let’s take a look at a few guys who might be available in the 3rd round or later who might make attractive selections.  The first guy who comes to mind is…

Arthur Jones (Syracuse) – Arthur Jones was my top rated 3-4 defensive end prospect last year.  I had him ranked above Ziggy Hood, who the Steelers selected in the 1st round. Unfortunately, Jones decided to stay in school, and that decision cost him.   Jones would have been my top ranked 3-4 defensive end this year, except he injured  his knee and missed a portion of the season.

Syracuse DT Arthur Jones

Jones’ injury should cause him to drop to the 4th or even 5th round (although some think he may go as early as the 3rd round).  In my opinion, Jones would be a steal in any of those rounds.  Because he played his college ball in the Big East, I’m sure he is probably on the Steelers’ radar.

Jared Odrick (Penn State) – Penn State fans are familiar with Jared Odrick.  Odrick has great height and strength, and could play DT in the NFL.  However, I believe that he would excel as a 3-4 DE.    He is good at taking on a double team, but is a bit quicker than Aaron Smith.  He is more reminiscent of Brett Keisel.

He had a few brushes with the law while at Penn State.  This may frighten the Steelers off due to the recent rash of off-field incidents among their players.  But Odrick would look very good wearing black and gold.

Alex Carrington (Arkansas State) – I watched Carrington destroy lesser competition in college.  He won’t be able to do that at the next level.  However, his mix of size and strength would translate well to the 3-4 DE position.  His boldy could easily carry an additional 10-15 lbs., which would make him even more effective at the 3-4 DE spot.

He has relied heavily on his natural talents to this point.  He must dedicate himself to the weight room, and pay attention to his coaches if he wants to meet his full potential at the next level.

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This is part 3 in a series evaluating the Steelers’ off-season needs.  So far, we’ve looked at the cornerbacks and safeties.  The next position that we’re going to look at is the linebackers.

Linebacker has traditionally been a strength for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Their legacy of great linebackers extends all the way back to guys like Jack Ham and Jack Lambert.  The legacy was continued by such notable Steelers linebackers as Greg Lloyd, Mike Merriweather, Levon Kirkland, Jason Gildon, and Joey Porter.  Current Steelers linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley continue that tradition of linebacker excellence.

Despite playing alongside former NFL Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison, it was LaMarr Woodley who emerged as the Steelers’ most dominant linebacker in 2009.  Woodley recorded career highs in tackles, sacks, and even passes defensed, while starting every game.  Woodley’s dominance makes it very difficult for teams to double team James Harrison.

James Harrison didn’t seem to be his usual dominant self in 2009.  Moreover, his statistics bore that out.  He had his worst statistical season since he became a starter in 2007.  He had 22 fewer tackles and 6 fewer sacks than he had in 2008, despite playing in one more regular season game  in 2009 than he did in 2008.

Harrison will be 32 years old when the 2010 season begins.  I hope he can continue to play at a high level until he is 40.  However, the Steelers probably need to make sure they have an eventual replacement for Harrison when they come out of this year’s draft.

Even more pressing is the inside linebacker position.

Statistically, James Farrior had a decent season in 2009.  His tackles were down versus 2008, but they were up relative to 2007.  But what bothered me about Farrior was that he looked visibly slower.  He seemed to have a difficult time keeping up with running backs coming out of the backfield.  We all remember that brutal game against Baltimore where Ray Rice made Farrior look like he was playing in quicksand.  Arrrrgggghhhh!!!!!

Steelers LB James Farrior

Farrior is 35 years old.  He’s the oldest of the Steelers’ starting linebackers.  Farrior has been extremely consistent during his tenure with the Steelers.  Unfortunately, Farrior’s time with the Steelers is quickly coming to a close.  I can’t remember many 36 or 37 year old linebackers playing for the Steelers.  Can you?

Playing opposite Farrior is Lawrence Timmons.  Timmons is only 23 years old, but I still have concerns about him as well.  Timmons has yet to complete a full season without a significant injury.  He seems to have chronic high ankle sprains.  Moreover, while Timmons is extremely fast, he doesn’t seem to be as stout against the run as I’d like him to be.  2009 was Timmons’ first season as a starter, so I’m sure that he is going to get better.  I just wish he didn’t get hurt so often.

It is probably this uncertainty at both inside linebacker positions that prompted the Steelers to bring back Larry Foote.

Foote and Keyaron Fox make up a very reliable tandem of back-up linebackers.  Frankly, I sometimes feel more confident when Keyaron Fox is in the lineup than I do when Timmons is in there.  Fox and Foote will be 28 and 30 years old, respectively, when the 2010 season begins.

What should the Steelers do?

Bringing in Larry Foote really makes the Steelers fairly secure at the inside linebacker position.  They could use a young ILB that they can develop for the future, but that is not a  pressing need.  What is a pressing need is the outside linebacker position.

As was mentioned earlier, James Harrison is getting older, and there is no young lion waiting in the wings to take his place.  Lawrence Timmons can play on the outside if needed, but you can never have enough linebackers in a 3-4 defense.  And frankly, the Steelers don’t have enough young linebackers in the developmental stages right now.  The failure of Bruce Davis really set them back a bit.  Does anyone really want to have to rely on Andre Frazier or Patrick Bailey to play significant minutes at linebacker?  I didn’t think so.

The Steelers could use a young linebacker at both the inside and outside linebacker positions.  There are some talented linebackers in this year’s draft that would look very good in black and gold.  Here are a few of them.

Inside Linebackers

Rolando McClain (Alabama) – McClain is the best of the inside linebackers in this year’s draft.  He’s big, strong, and hits like a Mack truck.  Moreover, McClain played in a 3-4 defense at Alabama.  Thus, his learning curve will probably be less than some other players who have only played in a 4-3 defense.

Brandon Spikes (Florida) – Spikes is another solid inside linebacker who will probably be drafted in the first round.  Spikes has great coverage skills for a linebacker.  This is something that will be valued by the Steelers, since linebackers often drop into coverage in Dick LeBeau’s system.

Sean Lee (Penn State) – Penn State fans know that Sean Lee is another great product from Linebacker U.  He is a great leader with a high football IQ.  He is not a great athlete, but he is rarely out of position.

As mentioned earlier, the Steelers’ greatest need may be at outside linebacker where they will probably consider the following players.

Outside Linebackers

Sergio Kindle (Texas) – Kindle is a very fast linebacker who can get to the quarterback.  He was used in a variety of ways, and is used to playing both linebacker and defensive end in college.  He will make an easy adjustment to playing in a 3-4 scheme.

Sean Weatherspoon (Missouri) – Weatherspoon is used to playing behind last year’s 1st round pick Ziggy Hood, since he played with him in college.  Weatherspoon is a very good athlete, but some teams will pass on him due to his less than desirable height (6’0″).  Of course, the Steelers’ own James Harrison excels at that height.

Ricky Sapp (Clemson) – Sapp played defensive end in college, but I think he will make an excellent rush linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.  He’s a classic “tweener”, and is often compared to the Cowboys’ Demarcus Ware.  That’s not a bad player to be compared to.

Regardless of which linebacker(s) the Steelers select this year, they will not see any playing time unless it is on special teams.  But it is important for the Steelers to start accumulating their linebackers of the future right now, while the need is not pressing.

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Yesterday, I announced that Steelers Today was participating in a mock draft among bloggers.  The San Francisco 49ers were on the clock, and my pick was after theirs.  Well, the San Francisco 49ers surprised me and picked Taylor Mays.

Here is a recap of the picks so far.

No Logo Needed’s 2010 Mock Draft Among Blogs:

12. Miami Dolphins: Playoff Bound Sports

Earl Thomas, S, Texas

13. San Francisco 49ers: Niners Nation
C.J. Spiller, RB, Clemson

14. Seattle Sehawks (from Denver Broncos): Dave Krieg’s Strike Beard
Charles Brown, OT, USC

15. New York Giants: Ultimate NYG
Sergio Kindle, LB, Texas

16. Tennessee Titans: Music City Miracles
Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech

17. San Francisco 49ers (from Carolina Panthers): Niners Nation
Taylor Mays, S, USC

I came into this draft hoping to take an offensive tackle.  But with 5 offensive tackles off the board, and the guard that I was also interested in gone as well, I just can’t see spending a 1st round pick on the 6th best offensive tackle.  I really like center Maurkice Pouncey out of Florida, but I can’t justify taking a center with the 18th pick.  So offensive line will have to wait.

To my great surprise, the top cornerback in the draft is still on the board.  Joe Haden is a very enticing pick, regardless of his 40 time at the Combine.  The Steelers’ secondary looked pathetic last season, and the cornerbacks looked more pathetic than the safeties.  Everyone knows that the Steelers’ cornerbacks didn’t record an interception until the final game of the season.  That’s almost unheard of in the NFL.

Most readers who offered suggestions on who I should select were united in their opinion that Joe Haden was the logical pick.  I understand that logic.  I really do.

CB Joe Haden

But the Steelers selected two cornerbacks (Joe Burnett and Keenan Lewis) in the draft last year.  Moreover, there are a lot of talented cornerbacks in this draft, and I am certain that one of them will be available when our second pick comes around.  Kyle Wilson, Perrish Cox, Patrick Robinson, Dominique Franks, Syd’quan Thompson, and even Donovan Warren would all be upgrades over William Gay (Actually, my grandmother would be an upgrade over William Gay).

But there is another player who dropped into the Steelers’ lap who I believe will prove to be even more valuable.  The single hardest position to find in the draft is nose tackle.  With more teams converting to the 3-4 defense, nose tackles are going to be even more difficult to draft in the future.  But fate has allowed the best nose tackle in the draft to fall to pick 18.   He can sit and learn behind Casey Hampton without being pressured to have to start right away.  Then he can gradually displace Hampton and become our nose tackle for the next decade.

That was my logic.  Sooooooo………….

With the 18th pick of the 2010 Mock Draft Among Blogs, the Pittsburgh Steelers select:

****Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee****

The Atlanta Falcons and its representative, The Falcoholic, are on the clock.

I know that many of you hate this pick and wanted to see me take Haden.  So let me know what you think.  If you think this was an idiotic pick, tell me why.  But for those of you who have never left a comment here on Steelers Today, we don’t allow name-calling.  Only intelligent comments allowed around here.  So pick my logic apart.    But explain WHY you think I should have taken someone else.  Support your argument with sound reasoning.  I’m all ears.

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Each year I am asked to participate in several blogger mock drafts.  My selection is approaching in one of those drafts, so I thought it would be wise to get my readers’ input on who you think I should be considering in this year’s draft. 

With that in mind, I am posting the picks that have already been made.  My selection is coming up soon.  I will post each selection leading up to mine, so you know exactly who is still on the board when pick #18 comes around. 

Here is the most recent selection, along with a recap of all of the previous picks.  This pick is being made by Jimmy Morris of the Tennessee Titans blog Music City Miracles.

With the 16th pick in the 2010 NFL Mock Draft Among Bloggers, the Tennessee Titans select…..

***Derrick Morgan, DE, Georgia Tech***

The Titans would be thrilled to see Derrick Morgan here.  Jeff Fisher has made no secret that this off-season is all about upgrading the defense.  Morgan is a big guy that can get after the passer, and that is where it all starts.  Morgan is arguably the best player on the board here, and he fills the biggest need for the Titans.

The San Francisco 49ers are now on the clock.

No Logo Needed’s 2010 Mock Draft Among Blogs selection recap:

2. Detroit Lions: The Wayne Fontes Experience
Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bucs Central
Russell Okung, OT, Oklahoma State

4. Washington Redskins: The Curly R
Trent Williams, OT, Oklahoma

5. Kansas City Chiefs: Chiefs Report
Bryan Bulaga, OT, Iowa

6. Seattle Seahawks: Dave Krieg’s Strike Beard
Sam Bradford, QB, Oklahoma

7. Cleveland Browns: No Logo Needed
Eric Berry, DB, Tennessee

8. Oakland Raiders: Just Blog Baby
Bruce Campbell, OT, Maryland

9. Buffalo Bills: Buffalo Sports Now
Jimmy Clausen, QB, Notre Dame

10. Jacksonville Jaguars: Black and Teal  

Rolando McClain, LB, Alabama

11. Denver Broncos (from Chicago Bears): Bronco Talk

Mike Iupati, G, Iowa

It’s like deja vu all over again.  First the Steelers re-signed former Steelers wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, and now they’ve re-signed former Steelers linebacker Larry Foote.  I guess next they’ll sign Jerome Bettis…….or Lynn Swann. 

Lynn Swann

Despite my jokes, this is actually a good move for the Steelers.  Foote is a seasoned veteran who is already familiar with the Steelers’ defense.  He will add depth at the inside linebacker position (where James Farrior is slowing noticeably).

Foote spent last season with the Detroit Lions after asking the Steelers to release him following the 2008 season.

There was some question as to whether Foote would sign with the Steelers.  He had stated publicly that he wanted to sign with the Arizona Cardinals.  But sign he did.  Foote agreed to a 3-year, $9.3 million contract.

Welcome back, Larry. 

Hey, is that Rocky Bleier going into Kevin Colbert’s office?

The NCAA field of 65 was announced yesterday, and the Steelers were not invited to the big dance.

The Pitt Panthers and Robert Morris will both be representing the Steel City in the tournament, but the Steelers were noticeably absent from the teams that were invited.

Sure, the Steelers aren’t a college basketball team, but that shouldn’t really matter.  A champion is going to be decided, and whenever you’re naming a champion, the Steelers have to be in the conversation.  Duh!

Who would win if the Steelers played the New Orleans Saints?  Steelers!

Who would win if the Steelers played the Pittsburgh Pirates in baseball?  That’s easy.  Steelers!

Who would win if the Steelers faced Manny Pacquiao in boxing?  Steelers by a knockout!

Who would win if the Steelers faced the WPIAL girls soccer champs?  Steelers (although it would probably be wise to keep Big Ben away from high school girls).

See what I mean?  The Steelers can dominate any sport.  They’re not the 6-time Super Bowl champs for nothing.

Unfortunately, the selection committee didn’t see fit to invite the Steelers.  And they can’t win it if they’re not in it.

But if you think about the potential match-ups, I think we can all see that the results would have been inevitable.

The Kansas Jayhawks are the overall #1 seed in the tournament.  Kansas is led by senior point guard Sherron Collins.  Collins is 5’11″ and weighs 205 lbs.  Ben Roethlisberger played point guard in high school.  Ben is 6’5″ and weighs 240 lbs.  Mismatch!!  Big Ben would post him up all day long.  Down go the Jayhawks!

Syracuse is the #1 seed in the West Region.  They play in the tough, physical Big East conference.  But after being on the receiving end of a few hard picks by Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu, Syracuse would wave the white flag of surrender.

Duke is the #1 seed in the South Region.  Their front line averages about 230 lbs.  Do you think they’d stand a chance banging down low against Max Starks, Chris Kemoeatu, and Casey Hampton?  Me neither.  Down go the Blue Devils!

Kentucky is the #1 seed in the East Region.  Kentucky is coached by John Calipari.  Calipari usually has some of the most talented players in the tournament.  He always sends lots of players to the NBA.  Yet, “Coach Cal’s” teams always choke in the tournament.  So Kentucky doesn’t have a chance, regardless of who they play.

So as you can see, if the Steelers had been invited to play in the tournament, they would have won easily.  Mike Tomlin would have been cutting down the nets, and Santonio Holmes would have been lighting up the blunts.

But the Steelers didn’t get the chance to show what they can do.  Personally, I think that all Steelers fans should boycott the NCAA tournament until this injustice is rectified.  But that may take a while.  In the meantime, I guess all that I’ve got to say about the matter is “Go Pitt!!!!!”

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I have tried very hard not to comment on the Ben Roethlisberger situation.  I really didn’t want to talk about the topic at all.  After all, it is more of a tabloid story, and has little to do with football.  But after thinking about it, I realized that I have to talk about it.

For those of you who have been living in a cave, Big Ben has been accused of sexual assault (again).  A woman in Milledgeville, GA (where the heck is Milledgeville?) has accused Big Ben of sexually assaulting her in the restroom of a college bar.

Like the rest of you, i don’t know if Big Ben did it or not.  But regardless of whether he did it or not, this new incident has raised several concerns about Ben.

Ben Roethlisberger & "friends"

Here are a few of my concerns.

Lack of good judgment

Ben seems to like hooking up with the ladies.  He’s a young, handsome, rich, celebrity athlete, so I can completely understand that.  However, Ben has been down this path before.  He should know better.

What was he doing in a college bar?  Ben is 28 years old.  The average college student is 18-22 years old.  Ben is too old to be hanging out on campus.   Besides, Millegeville is almost 100 miles from Atlanta and 40 miles from Macon.  It’s in the middle of nowhere.  So why was Ben there on his birthday?  He could have been in any of the hottest night clubs in Atlanta, but instead he was in a remote college bar.  Why?  Was he fishing for a tenderoni?

Initially it was reported that Ben admitted to having sex with the young lady, but that it was consensual.  Now he claims that they never had intercourse.  This is starting to sound like Bill Clinton-style semantic games.

Regardless of whether it was intercourse or not, why is he having ANY TYPE of sex with a young girl in a college bar?

Ben is a target

Does Ben understand that his wealth and fame make him a target?  He can’t continue to put himself in situations where he is hooking up with total strangers.  He doesn’t know their character or their motivations.  When some women look at Big Ben, all they see is dollar signs.

Perhaps Ben should go back to dating celebrities like Natalie Gulbis or Jamie-Lynn Sigler.  At least then he’ll know that they aren’t after him for his money.

Jamie-Lynn Sigler

Ben is embarrassing people who love him or look up to him

Does Ben realize that he plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers, one of the proudest franchises in all of sports?  Does he realize that the the Rooney family strives very hard to run a classy organization, and that character is very important in their eyes?  Does he realize that Pittsburgh is a blue collar town that likes their players to be wholesome, family-oriented, and hard working?  Think Aaron Smith, Hines Ward, or Troy Polamalu.  The Tony Stark-like millionaire playboy routine really isn’t a good fit in Pittsburgh.  Nor is the repeat offender routine.

Steelers fans have grown tired of Jeff Reed’s off-court antics.  But these accusations against Big Ben make Reed look like a Boy Scout in comparison.

C’mon Big Ben, you’re better than that.  I know you are.

Big Ben doesn’t seem to understand his importance to the team

Possibly the most concerning aspect in all of this is that Big Ben doesn’t seem to realize that he has a team and a town that all depend on him.

Sure, Dennis Dixon did okay in his one start last season.  But he is not a franchise quarterback.  The success or failure of the Steelers does not depend on him.  But it does depend on Big Ben.

Without Ben Roethlisberger, the Pittsburgh Steelers have no hope of returning to the Super Bowl.  None.  He’s that important.

I am old enough to remember the Cliff Stoudt era.  And the Mark Malone era.  And the Bubby Brister era.  And the Mike Tomczak era.  And the Neil O’Donnell era.  And the Kordell Stewart era.  And frankly, I don’t want to go back to those days.

Big Ben is the first franchise quarterback that the Steelers have had since Terry Bradshaw.  And in today’s NFL, it is almost impossible to win a championship without a franchise quarterback.  Just ask the Oakland Raiders.

Ben has to understand that the hopes of a city rest squarely on his shoulders.  He has to be mature enough to bear that burden.  And right now, I’m not sure that he is.

We all hope that Ben is innocent.  But the truth is that none of us really knows.  But one thing that we do all know is that we’re getting tired of hearing Ben Roethlisberger’s name mentioned in the same sentence as the words “sexual assault”.  I just wish that Big Ben understood that the same way that we all do.

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The Steelers were unusually active early in free agency on Monday.  Ordinarily, the Steelers sit out the first several weeks of free agency, and then after the dust settles, they come in and scoop up a few of the leftovers.

But that was not the Steelers’ approach yesterday.  Instead, the team made some early moves that probably surprised most fans.

The most important of those moves was re-signing safety Ryan Clark.  This was a move that I have been calling for, so I was very happy to see it happen.

The team gave Clark a new 4-year, $14 million dollar contract.  Clark had visited with the Miami Dolphins, but after a few days of free agency, I guess his agent determined that the offer that the Steelers had on the table was a fair one.

Steelers safety Ryan Clark

Even more surprising than the Clark signing was the announcement that the team has reached an agreement with former Steelers receiver and return man Antwaan Randle El.  I certainly didn’t see that one coming.

Randle El was the Redskins’ second leading receiver last year, but he never lived up to the contract they gave him.  He was one of the best return men in recent Steelers history.  However, with the season that Stefan Logan had, combined with the fact that Joe Burnett and Mike Wallace were both very good return men in college, i never expected to see the team bring him back.

But bring him back they did.  Randle El is scheduled to be in Pittsburgh today to sign what is reported to be a 3-year deal.

In addition to players who have previously worn the black and gold, the Steelers also signed two newcomers.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Will Allen and San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Arnaz Battle were also signed to 3-year contracts on Monday.  Both players will strengthen special teams, as well as add depth at their respective positions.

Apparently, the Steelers still aren’t done.  Former Buffalo Bills offensive tackle Jonathan Scott is scheduled to be in Pittsburgh today, and it is believed that he is also prepared to join the Steelers.  If he signs with the Steelers, he will be re-united with Sean Kugler, his position coach from the Buffalo Bills.

As if all of that activity weren’t enough, the Steelers have also contacted former Steelers linebacker Larry Foote about rejoining the team.  Foote voluntarily left the team after the 2008 season because he wanted an opportunity to be a starter.  But after playing one year in Detroit, he may be willing to reconsider that stance.

Monday was definitely the single busiest day of free agent signings that I can remember in Steelers history.  And they many not be done yet.  I guess missing the playoffs was the wake up call that the Steelers needed.

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This is part 2 of a series on the Pittsburgh Steelers off-season challenges.  In part 1, we discussed the Steelers’ safeties.    In this installment, we are going to take a look at the Steelers’ cornerbacks.

The cornerback position was definitely a weak link in the defense.  Quarterbacks feasted on the Steelers cornerbacks all season.  Moreover, much ado was made about the fact that the Steelers cornerbacks had not accumulated a single interception for most of the season.  In fact, their first interception didn’t occur until the very last game of the season.  That is an almost unheard of statistic in the NFL.

The Steelers’ interception total was 25th in the NFL last season.  The prior season, they had 20 interceptions and were 6th in the NFL.

The Steelers’ defense went from being #1 against the pass in 2008 to #16 in 2009.  That’s a big drop.  They went from giving up 23 passes of 20+ yards in 2008 (best in the NFL) to giving up 46 of them in 2009 (15th in the NFL).

As I mentioned in part 1 of this series, a defensive backfield is an interdependent unit.  Each piece relies on the others.  If one component is out of place, the others have to compensate, which takes them out of place as well.

It is obvious that Troy Polamalu’s injuries had a significant impact on the secondary.  I already showed that Ryan Clark actually had a very good season in Troy’s absence.  But the cornerbacks weren’t so lucky.

Ike Taylor had his worst season since becoming a starter.  He had fewer total tackles than he’s ever had.  He had his lowest number of passes defensed, and he tied for his lowest interception total.  All in all, it wasn’t a good season for Ike.

But Ike has been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL for some time now.  He has regularly matched up against the best receivers in the NFL and held his own.  I am not prepared to write off Ike Taylor just yet.

William Gay, on the other hand, is a different story.  Gay seemed to be targeted on a weekly basis by opposing quarterbacks.  He got burned so often, I started thinking that he was microwave popcorn.  He was the first starting cornerback for the Steelers to record no interceptions in a very long time.

Gay’s number of passes defensed was much lower than what Deshea Townsend averaged back when he was the starter.  Moreover, his number of tackles was much higher.  This was indicative of the fact that receivers were catching far more passes against Gay, so he was getting more opportunities to make tackles.

CB William Gay

Going into 2010, Gay is going to have to improve his performance, or he will have to be removed from the starting line-up.

What should the Steelers do?

The Steelers aren’t likely to make any major changes through free agency.  It’s not their style.  Besides, Dunta Robinson has already been signed by the Atlanta Falcons.  Lito Sheppard is still out there, but the Steelers won’t sign him.  The Patriots’ Leigh Bodden would also be an upgrade, but the Steelers won’t sign him either.  None of the other free agents are particularly interesting.

The Steelers spent two draft picks last season on cornerbacks, so it is hard to imagine them taking one in the first round this year.  However, if there is one thing that I’ve learned about the Steelers, it’s that it is impossible to guess what they will do in the draft.

Should the Steelers decide to select a cornerback, there are a few that might be attractive in the draft.  A handful of them might even be able to step in and contribute right away.

Joe Haden (Florida) – Haden is widely considered to be the best cornerback in the draft.  He ran a slower than expected time at the NFL Scouting Combine, and has dropped on some draft boards.  This might actually make it possible for Haden to still be available when the Steelers make their selection at pick #18.  If he is available, the Steelers should definitely consider taking him.

Kyle Wilson (Boise State) – Wilson is not good enough to be taken at pick #18, but if he is still available in the second round, he would be a nice pick for the Steelers.  Wilson’s ball skills are not stellar, but he is a very good athlete who is very capable in run support (which is important in the Steelers’ system).

Patrick Robinson (Florida State) – Like Wilson, Robinson is not good enough to be selected at pick #18, but he would be a nice second round selection.  Robinson is a gifted athlete who has relied on his athleticism, and has not put enough time into developing proper technique.  That worked at the college level, but may not work in the NFL.  Robinson is athletic enough to shadow most NFL receivers.  He is probably the most “boom or bust” cornerback in the draft.

Perrish Cox (Oklahoma State) – Cox is a talented athlete with nice size and speed.  Like the previous 2 cornerbacks mentioned, he would be a second round consideration, but not a first rounder.  Cox led the NCAA with 19 passes defensed, but character issues may scare the Steelers away (Cox was suspended from the Cotton Bowl for missing curfew).

Personally, I believe that the biggest impact in the Steelers’ defensive backfield is going to be due to improvement by last year’s draft picks.  Joe Burnett and Keenan Lewis both have a lot of potential.  They will each have a full year in Dick LeBeau’s system under their belts, and should be much more capable of contributing than they were last year.

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Well, the NFL Combine has started, and free agency officially began at midnight on Thursday.  So draft season has officially begun.  It’s time to take a look at exactly what the Steelers need, and who is out there to help them meet those needs.

We are going to start out with the Steelers’ defensive backs, and work our way through all of the positions on the team.

First up, the safeties.

This past season was one that the Steelers would like to forget.  And the defensive backs would probably like to forget it more than any other group of players.  Oh wait, I forgot about the special teams guys.  Scratch that last comment.

Okay, so BESIDES the special teams players, the defensive backs probably want to forget this past season more than any other group.  I’ll talk about the cornerbacks in the next installment in this series, but today, I want to focus on the Safeties.

I hear many fans saying that without Troy Polamalu, the rest of the Steelers defensive backs got exposed as the sub-par players that they really are.  I don’t agree with that assessment.

More than any other unit except perhaps the offensive line, the defensive backs live and die as a unit.  When one part is out of whack, the rest of the unit suffers.  This is what happened when Troy Polamalu went down with his injury.

Troy is one of the best safeties in the NFL.  Losing him is not easy to recover from.  Tyrone Carter tries his best, and he is a competent backup, but he is not Troy Polamalu.

All indications are that Troy is recovering nicely from his injury, and will be ready to go next season.  I hope that’s true, but the reality is that Troy has missed 30% of the Steelers’ games over the past 4 seasons.  2008 was the only season out of the past 4 that Troy was able to play all 16 regular season games.

So while many fans are saying that the Steelers need to draft a safety to replace Ryan Clark, who may leave in free agency, I think they need to draft a safety to backup (and potentially replace) Troy Polamalu.

Don’t get me wrong.  If Troy is healthy, then I definitely want him in the Steelers lineup.  But I’m just not sure that it’s a safe bet to assume that he will be healthy.  Recent history shows that he won’t be healthy 30% of the time.  In 2009 he was unhealthy 70% of the time.

I’ve had numerous conversations this past year with Steelers fans who disagree with me.  They think that Ryan Clark played terribly this past season, and that the Steelers need to let him walk in free agency.  What they don’t understand is that they are wrong.  The Steelers need to be concerned about every safety on their roster EXCEPT for Ryan Clark.

Ryan Clark quietly had the best season of his career in 2009.  He had career highs in tackles and passes defensed.  He also tied his career high in interceptions (but had his highest total as a Steeler).  He was tied for the team lead in interceptions, and was second on the team in total tackles.

So why do so many Steelers fans think that Clark had a terrible season?  Moreover, why are they anxious to see him leave?

Meanwhile, Tyrone Carter will be 34 years old next season.  Carter has been a capable backup, but surely the team could find a younger player to fill the same role.

Ryan Mundy is a young safety, but he has never started a game.  In his two years with the Steelers, he has accumulated 25 tackles and 1 pass defensed.  That’s not enough to make me feel confident that he is the safety of the future.

So the only Steelers safety that I feel completely confident in is the one who may be leaving in free agency.

Looking at the available free agents, Ryan Clark is the 2nd best safety available.  Only Darren Sharper is more talented than Clark.  So Clark very likely will receive offers from other teams.

What should the Steelers do?

The Steelers have too much uncertainty at the safety position.  They need to do everything in their power to sign Ryan Clark.  In fact, they should have done so before the free agency period began.

The Steelers never participate in the initial free agency period.  Moreover, they never sign high profile free agents.  So there is little chance that they will pursue Darren Sharper or Antrelle Rolle.  They are the only two free agent safeties who are in Clark’s class.  Any other free agent safety will be a step down.

So if the Steelers lose Ryan Clark, they will be left with Troy Polamalu and little else at safety.

This year’s draft has quite a few talented safeties that the Steelers could be interested in.

Eric Berry is the best safety in this year’s draft.  But he will be gone long before the Steelers’ selection comes around.  So there is no need discuss him.

Earl Thomas out of Texas is a very real possibility for the Steelers.  He is a natural free safety, and he has the versatility to play some  cornerback in a pinch.  Thomas would look great in black and gold, and he should be available  at the 18th pick.

Taylor Mays is another name that is often mentioned by Steelers fans as someone that they’d like to see the Steelers select.  I don’t agree with that opinion.  Taylor Mays is a freakish athlete.  But he’s not a very good safety.  He reminds me a bit of the late Sean Taylor.  Like Sean Taylor, Mays is huge for a safety, and looks more like a small linebacker.  But also like Sean Taylor, Taylor Mays is lacking in his coverage skills.  Moreover, Taylor Mays is a natural strong safety.  That’s Troy Polamalu’s position.  The Steelers greatest need is for a free safety to fill the void that may be left by Ryan Clark.

In Taylor Mays, the Steelers would get a player who hits like James Harrison, covers like William Gay, and catches the ball like Ike Taylor.  Only one of those three things is good.

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