Steelers update
Now that the lockout is over and teams are getting back to work, fans are probably asking, “Where do the Steelers stand?”
There are a couple of major issues that the Steelers face, and a small bit of activity that has already occurred that fans need to be aware of.
Firstly, the new collective bargaining agreement reduced the salary cap for the teams from $128 million to $120 million. The Steelers are already $10 million over the new salary cap. However, the team will not need to cut anyone to get under the new salary cap. Instead, it is likely that the team will restructure the contracts of several veterans in order to get under the $120 million cap.
There are now more free agents available than there have ever been in the history of the game. The Steelers have already signed 19 undrafted free agents. Surprisingly, only one of them was a cornerback. The Steelers appear to have signed Ike Taylor to a new contract, but cornerback still seems to be a glaring need for the team. Remember, William Gay and Bryant McFadden are the most likely candidates for the starting position opposite Ike Taylor. Yikes!
Despite only signing one undrafted free agent cornerback, the Steelers signed 4 undrafted free agent wide receivers. This was a surprise since WR seems to be one of the greatest strengths of the team. Mike Wallace had a breakout season last year. Hines Ward is back for another season. Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown both showed great promise as rookies, and Limas Sweed is healthy again and should challenge for playing time.
Despite the many rumors that have been circulating, don’t expect to see Plaxico Burress or Tiki Barber in a Steelers uniform this season.
It’s going to be an interesting week. The Steelers are unlikely to make many moves, despite the many high profile free agents who are available. As they always do, the Steelers will probably wait until the dust settles, and then pick up a backup cornerback at a cheap price.
One of the most interesting things to watch this summer is going to be what the Steelers do at offensive tackle. Both Max Starks and Willie Colon are back. I just can’t see a scenario where the Steelers keep both Willie Colon and Flozell Adams. Either of them would tie up too much money as a backup.
It’s going to be an exciting summer. But having just appeared in the Super Bowl, the Steelers come out of the gate far ahead of most teams in the NFL. This should be a good season for the Black and Gold.
He’s ALIVE!!!!
Well, I guess posting during a lockout is a bit pointless. But, now training camp starts in just a few days!
Surely you will be rolling out a series of articles showcasing the depth chart and the position battles for every position! Before it begins…in just 2 days!
Umm Don….Don….DON! Hmm, I guess he fainted?
P.S. Seriously though, This whole process should help the Steelers and the other veteran teams. There are no new coaches (except secondary) or schemes and all of the key starters are veterans (now that Ike is resigned).
1Yes, I’m alive. And welcome back to you too, John.
As you guessed, I didn’t think it was a good use of time to write articles about the Steelers during the lockout. After all, there really wasn’t anything to say.
Now that they’re back, things are going to go at lightning speed. Training camp will be starting, and for the 1st time in 4 years, I won’t be there.
I typically take off the entire month of August to attend training camp. But with the uncertainty due to the lockout, I didn’t know if there was going to be a training camp this year. So I didn’t schedule the vacation this year. I’m sure that I’ll take time to get over there a few times, but I won’t be there every day like I usually am.
I don’t think it’s going to be that interesting this year anyway. I just don’t believe the rookies are going to have a chance to shine like they normally would.
Ordinarily, rookies would have already memorized most of their playbook, and they would have gone through OTA’s. So they’d be coming into training camp ready to compete. But with the lockout, they are just getting their playbooks now. There is no way that they will be able to learn them before training camp. So I doubt that any of the rookies will make much of an impact this year.
Instead, 2nd and 3rd year guys (like Crezdon Butler and Keenan Lewis) are going to have to step up and show that they’re ready to contribute. But for the most part, I expect the veteran incumbents to hold onto their positions. The only exception is at cornerback, where I’m hoping someone will beat out Bryant McFadden.
2I mostly concur on the rookies. They should still have the playbook memorized – all it takes is one call to a teammate. If they don’t have enough initiative to do that, I think it tells you a lot right there. They haven’t, however, been able to talk to coaches or run through the plays like they would in OTAs. Its also unlikely that they could have trained with teammates because they have no money to travel (unless some teammates loaned them some).
Of course, second year players may be hurt just as much. This would be their first full offseason with the team and they would be just starting to “get it.” As a rookie, they were likely just trying to understand what was going on. As a second year player, they should be able to start outting it all together and make plays. I think teams counting on 1st-2nd year players are going to be in bad shape.
That’s the big reason why teams with little coach/player turnover are going to be much better off at the beginning of the season.
3Randle El (predictable) and Max Starks CUT!!!!
With our lack of depth at tackle this is a little puzzling. Max was only an average LT but he was consistent. The only answer I can think of is that there is a real concerns about Max’s health or long term durability. So, they cut Max – resign Colon, and move Flozell to LT for the next year or two unitl Gilbert is available?
4Spaeth gone—finally! Great opportunity for someone to step up. Undrafted rookie Saunders??? I cannot believe that we did not brink in some kickers to compete with Suisham. Hopefully, we will in the near future. Even Petr Czech sounds good!
5Welcome back!
Starks got cut because he weighed in at 400 lbs this offseason, and the Steelers want none of that. Colon is signed for 5 years now.
6Wow am I glad we are talking Steeler’s football again. The whole off season has been a bore. I am glad they resigned Taylor and Colon. I do wonder if the secondary will look any different under Carnell Lake. What do you think?
7The Steelers did what they had to do; stayed true to form and signed their own. In the end, where are we better? We have the same O-Line that I believed was ‘not great’ last year. Unless Gilbert steps up and surpasses everyone’s expectations (ala Pouncey) we still only have one blue chipper on our O-Line. Will one more year with Kugler make a big difference with guys who appear to be solid back ups? (Legursky, Foster, Kemo, False Start Willie, Scott 1 & 2??)
8I hope we bring in another O-Lineman & another corner (Carr, Rodgers?) Like our young corners but the thought of McFadden getting picked on all year doesn’t give me much confidence.
Lastly, how can we be satisfied with Suisham. Not even any competition in camp? Our kicking game is very suspect.
…and yes being a lifelong Steeler fan, I do aim for perfection! They have made me that way!
Glad we are talking football….and Bucs baseball! What a year!
Salute to Chris Hoke – a consumate professional. Adieu to a great player and Steeler. Glad he got his rings – good guys deserve to be winners!
9@john#21 we re-signed chis hoke
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