The First Time I Met Charlie Sheen, Part III -- How the Steelers' 2013 Draft Might Just Shake Out

Gorilla at Erie Zoo

Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls would be inclined to jump on the opportunity to grab a good offensive lineman with the Steelers’ first-round pick (No. 17 overall) in the first round, and especially a fierce left tackle like Oklahoma’s Lane Johnson.

Many prognosticators point to linebacker as a possibility, but we'd be a bit surprised if the Steelers draft a linebacker in the first round this year. They certainly need one or two new impact linebackers, and it's entirely possible they will really need somebody to step in for James Harrison, who may be released as a salary cap casualty, although the Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette claims the coaching staff wants him back.  

Although Jason Worilds made some progress last season, we’re not convinced he's the real deal.  As a second-round draft pick entering his fourth season, this will be his make-or-break year.  Chris Carter hasn't shown much, and Stephenson Sylvester remains a question mark. We have slightly higher hopes for him than Carter, who looks like he's never adjusted to playing linebacker in the 3-4 defense (instead of the passing-rushing defensive end role he played in college).

Keep in mind, though, the Steelers gave Harrison and predecessors like Jason Gildon a few years, more or less, on the sidelines and special teams before they stepped in. The Steelers apparently intend to have Worilds move in as the starter to succeed Harrrison.

Can We Count on Lamarr Woodley to Play 10 Games?

Many people say it might make sense for the Steelers to flip-flop Lamarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons, and it might make sense, but knowing the Steelers, Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls don't think that's going to happen.

Frankly, it’s a fair question to wonder whether we can count on Woodley to play 8-10 games a year, ever. He seems to have chronic hamstring problems. Still, Woodley just looks like an inside linebacker, and Timmons looks like he should be covering the big, fast tight ends coming off the line these days. Maybe that's the role the Steelers see for Sylvester. Still, they need somebody to rush the passer, and that's an enormous need, so Woodley stays on the outside.

Also of concern: Larry Foote isn't getting any younger. He's always been a bedrock in the linebacker corps, steady, but never great. He’s never been a devastating thumper; never particularly disruptive; and his play slipped noticeably in the second half of last season. The Steelers apparently envision Sean Spence taking over for Foote after 2013, but Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls can’t help but wonder if Spence is too small -– and nobody has seen him in a regular-season game.

Free Agency or a Later Draft Pick?

It would be interesting if the Steelers were to sign Baltimore's Dannell Ellerbe out of free agency, but that's going to happen. Joe Flacco's contract situation really complicates things for the Ravens, but we expect Baltimore will let pass-rushing linebacker Paul Kruger walk and try to keep Ellerbe to maintain continuity at inside linebacker in the wake of Ray Lewis's departure. At this point, Baltimore can't afford to sign Kruger (13.5 sacks), and neither can Pittsburgh.  

In the draft, we believe the Steelers will add to the linebacking corps after the first round by drafting, say, Jon Major of Colorado. For some reason this guy hasn't been mentioned as anything but a mid-round selection, but his productivity was off the charts for a bad Buffaloes team, and his instincts appear to be superb. Jon Major to the Steelers in the second round? Too high? Maybe; maybe not. We haven't seen him much, but he reminds us a bit of Sean Lee.

By our calculations, the Steelers will not pick a linebacker a LB in the first round. We’ve already discussed in previous editions of this series why we don't see the Steelers drafting an offensive lineman (too much money tied up in the four high draft choices on the line already) and running back (not enough value for a first-rounder).  

Where does that leave us? Wide receiver? Not gonna happen. The Steelers believe they can get one in later rounds, like they did with Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown. If, however, Oregon State receiver Markus Wheaton lasts until the Steelers' pick in the second round, grab him.  

Wheaton sounds every bit as good, if not better, than the more highly touted wide receivers like Keenan Allen (Cal) and the handful of others mentioned in the top tier of receivers. He looks like he is slotted to go in the second round, but probably before the Steelers' pick at No. 17 in Round 2.

Big Daddy Lipscomb, 1961

Defensive Line or Secondary?

By our calculations, then, that leaves two broad positional areas where the Steelers are most likely to invest their first-round selection: DL and the secondary. On the DL, they already have two first rounders in defensive ends Ziggy Hood and Cameron Heyward.  

To digress for a second, the Post-Gazette’s Ed Bouchette makes an interesting suggestion, which is to switch defensive end Ziggy Hood and nose tackle Steve McClendon, and that sounds like a good idea. We also don't think it's going to happen.  

With two of the last four No. 1 draft picks having gone to the defensive line, it‘s a long shot for the Steelers to draft for the DL in the first round this year. Again, too much payroll tied up in one positional category, and it’s too soon to let go of either Hood or Heyward.

Hall of Famer Jack Butler

Safety or Corner?

That brings us to the secondary: Safety or cornerback? The Steelers will be counting on Troy Polamalu to return to form, and Ryan Clark was probably their defensive MVP last year.  Safety is a near-future need. Texas's Sonny Vaccaro is a guy who some people project to the Steelers at No. 17. Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls don't buy it.  

That brings us back to cornerback, where the Steelers have a gaping hole with the departure of Keenan Lewis. Ike Taylor (just like Brett Keisel and Larry Foote) isn't getting any younger, and Curtis Brown has been a big disappointment, although he probably will get one more season to prove he belongs (much like Lewis got last year).

We believe the Steelers would rather keep Cortez Allen at the slot-corner, but it's entirely possible they intend for him to start in place of Lewis. That still leaves them extremely thin at corner. If either Taylor or Allen go down with an injury, then we're left with the likes of Josh Victorian and Curtis Brown starting, and everybody saw how that worked out for the Steelers vs. San Diego and Dallas.

Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau

So, all of that brings us squarely back to one of the first three players who caught our attention when we first started looking closely at possible draft picks after the season: CB Xavier Rhodes, Florida State. 

There might be one other corner worthy of No. 17 on the board at that point, but that's the guy we’d think the Steelers might give a very, very close look at the Combine.

You can never have too many corners, and good ones are always at a premium. With passing games the way they are these days, the best corners will go off the board early on April 24.

It’s early, but it’s later than you think.

The First Time I Met Charlie Sheen, Part II -- Mel Kiper's Projection for the Steelers Feels Off-Target

It's early -- we haven't even gotten to the Combine yet --- but the NFL Draft is approaching fast. Mel Kiper has two interesting names on either side of the Steelers No. 1 pick at No. 17 overall. 

We’ll get to Kiper’s current projection for the Steelers, but he has two players, OT Lane Johnson (Okla) going at No. 16 to St. Louis, and G Chance Warmack (Alabama) going No. 18 to Dallas, bracketed around the Steelers' pick at No. 17.

We suspect both players will be gone before the Steelers’ choice, but it's encouraging to think that Kiper, at least, projects those two guys may be right in the neighborhood of the Steelers' choice. Either Johnson or Warmack would look good in Black 'n Gold.

As for the Steelers, Kiper has Pittsburgh taking the unbelievably athletic but raw pass-rushing DE/OLB Ezekial Ansah (BYU), who has been compared to Jason Pierre-Paul of the Giants.

Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls don't see the Steelers taking Ansah, so Kiper's projection here feels off-target. The excellent blog Steeler Depot has an interesting take on Ansah going to the Steelers, which you can read here.

Kiper also has Notre Dame linebacker Mante Te'o going in the tip 10, but we don't see that happening either. What if Te'o drops to No. 17? We’d would pass on him thank you.  Too much drama. It would be interesting, however, if he drops to No. 32. Baltimore's going to need somebody to step in for Ray Lewis, and wouldn't that be an interesting scenario? Talk pressure on a kid who's already proven to be, uh, shall we say, a bit of a "head case"?

It’s Time to Draft a QB, and Here's the Guy

Mel Kiper was asked which QB might be flying under the radar -- this year's Russell Wilson. It's an interesting question.

Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls immediately thought of Geno Smith (WVU), but Smith isn't exactly flying under the radar, as he is projected to go in the first round.  Wilson, of course, is far more accomplished and polished, but Smith’s game superficially resembles Wilson’s.  

Kiper answered the question, however, by naming Duke QB Sean Renfree (6'3', 225). The way Kiper talked about him, he sounds like a solid backup at the very least (kind of like Kirk Cousins) with starter potential and lots of upside. In Renfree's case, lots of upside. 

No expertise here, but Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls remember seeing Renfree play a little this past season, and he caught our attention. We made a mental note then, along the lines of, why haven't we heard about this guy?  

Well, for one thing, he played at Duke, where football has long been an inglorious afterthought. Still, Renfree looks like a quarterback. Honestly, it was the same kind of gut feeling we had 14-15 years ago when we saw Tom Brady playing at Michigan. Same damn thing, seriously, not that we’re comparing Renfree to Brady, no way.  

One thing, though, Renfree can actually run, maybe not quite like Colin Kaepernick, but he can run (a 4.5 40, same as Kaepernick). The main thing, to our untrained eyes: Renfree has the poise you want in a quarterback. Oh, and he completed 67 percent of his passes last year. 

Athletic? Look at Renfree's Rivals profile when he came out of high school.  Even then, Renfree was athletic (36-inch vertical leap, 4.5 40, 400-lb vertical squat as a senior in high school). Smart? He's seems intelligent (3.9 GPA in high school and whatever exposure to education he may have gotten at Duke).  

Football-smart is what we're more interested in, and Renfree had four years under one coach at Duke, and that coach was David Cutcliffe, the New York Giants' former QB coach who made a name for himself working with Eli Manning.

What's the Catch?
The BIG hang-up about Renfree at this point is that he suffered a torn right pectoral muscle while attempting the last pass of his final game, the Belk Bowl vs. Cincinnati, where he completed 37 of 49 passes for 358 yards. Renfee is expected to make a full recovery, but he will be unable to participate in the Combine and might not even be ready to work out until May.  

In a weak quarterback class, Kiper projects Renfree going in the fourth-fifth-sixth round. If that's the case, Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls would love for the Steelers to take him in the third round (same round as Joe Montana). 

Seriously. Take Renfree higher than he's projected to go. Look how the 49ers traded up to get Kaepernick near the top of the second round in 2011. Most projections had him going in the late third round, where Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls vainly hoped he might be available for the Steelers in the third round.

This year, leave nothing to chance. Take Renfree in the third round and be done with it.

Maybe Not Such a Long Shot
It's about time the Steeler draft a quarterback they can legitimately develop as a viable backup to Ben Roethlisberger.  Quit fooling around.  Renfree’s not going to play for the Steelers this year anyway, unless both Roethlisberger and Charlie Batch (?) go down with injuries. If that’s the case, how much more useless could Renfree (or anybody else) be than Byron Leftwich has been the past couple years?  And who knows?  … you just might catch lightning in a bottle.

According to the Charlotte Observer, here is what Renfree's college coach, David Cutcliffe, had to say about him:

When Cutcliffe met with the media, he said Renfree’s work ethic matched that of his most famous protégés, Peyton and Eli Manning. 

“Everyone is aware of Peyton and Eli’s work ethic and how hard and well they prepare. Same guy,” Cutcliffe said of Renfree. “He has the same skills, knowledge, mental aspects of the game, same preparation. Every player on our team saw how hard he worked in the weight room, how hard he worked in the meeting rooms. He may be one of the most unsung football players in the ACC. He’s not a lot of flash. Just look at the yards he threw for, look at what he’s done in his career as a quarterback at Duke, moving this program forward. 

“Anybody in the National Football League or collegiately that does not want Sean Renfree in their locker room would be out of their mind.”

YinzBurgh BBQ for Everyone!

Congrats to our favorite take-out barbeque joint, YinzBurgh BBQ, on its one-year anniversary!  Read more here about the best joint in town.

The First Time I Met Charlie Sheen: Steelers' OL Candidates Chace Warmack & Lane Johnson

American Gothic, by Grant Wood

Despite what we wrote in our prior post, the Steelers still need to fortify the offensive line, always, seemingly, a question mark in flux.  After finishing each of the past three seasons on injured reserve, veteran guard Willie Colon’s time in Pittsburgh in almost certainly done, and it’s about time.  Max Starks is a free agent (again), but the Steelers may bring him back (again).

The Post-Gazette’s Ed Bouchette projects the Steelers opening the 2013 season with the following starters on the offensive line: Marcus Gilbert (LT), Kelvin Beachum (LG), Maurkice Pouncey (center), David DeCastro (RG), Mike Adams (RT).

Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls may be wrong here, but we have little faith in tackle Marcus Gilbert. He has a lot to prove (durability, toughness, technique). He may or may not have earned a starting job, but it would be prudent, one would think, for the Steelers to have another legitimate option for the crucial left tackle position, and we would have no problem having Max Starks back.

OL Candidates for the First Round

In the first round of April’s NFL Draft, the following players may be available and would be worth strong consideration:

Oklahoma tackle Lane Johnson will almost certainly go in the first round, touted at this point in the 15-20 range, right where the Steelers pick at No. 17. He'd be ideal at LT for new OL coach Jack Bicknell Jr's. zone-blocking scheme. Johnson would step right in at left tackle and start from Day 1 -- he's known for good feet, mobility, and ability to stonewall speed both power- and speed-pass rushers.

Alabama's Chance Warmack (6’2”, 322) will probably be the first guard taken, but he may still be around at No. 17.  In draft-speak, Warmack is a classic road-grader, and he absolutely demolished Notre Dame linebacker Mante Te’o in January’s collegiate BCC championship game.

YinzBurgh BBQ for Everyone!
Congrats to our favorite take-out barbeque joint, YinzBurgh BBQ, on its one-year anniversary!  Read more here about the best joint in town.

Why the Steelers Won’t Draft an Offensive Lineman in the First Round This Year

The Steelers have invested heavily in the offensive line over the past few years. Having so much money tied up in one positional area presents salary-cap implications for what can be done with the rest of the roster.

With two Number One draft picks (Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro) and two Number Two draft picks (Marcus Gilbert and Mike Adams), the Steelers will probably pass on an offensive lineman in the first round this year.

Revisiting the 2012 Draft: David DeCastro vs. Kevin Zeitler and Mike Adams vs. Kelechi Osemele

Looking back, the eminently reasonable consensus at the time of the 2012 NFL Draft was the Steelers had no choice but to select guard David DeCastro (Stanford) when he fell to them at pick No. 24 of the first round. He was an ideal choice at a position of dire need. DeCastro was widely considered the best guard in the draft, a no-brainer at No. 24, and possibly the next Alan Faneca. 

A perfect choice.

Or was he?  Because of his pre-season knee injury, we never got to see the real David DeCastro last year. We never got to see the player everybody expected would be the next Alan Faneca.

The Cincinnati Bengals -- the Bungles, for crying out loud -- were criticized loudly for trading down in the first round and thereby passing on their chance to select DeCastro.  Typical Bengals, people said. 

Instead of jumping on DeCastro, the Bengals selected Wisconsin guard Kevin Zeitler, whom they claimed at the time was the player they'd targeted all along and was the guard they preferred over DeCastro.

Along with everybody else, we still have high hopes for DeCastro. He showed enough at Stanford -- plenty enough -- to merit being picked at No. 24.

People would have howled if the Steelers had selected Zeitler over DeCastro.

Still, however, it’s fair to point out that two nagging, related, little, niggling question marks hovered at the time of the draft (at least for Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls).  Those questions were: (1) the level of in-the-trenches-play in the Big 12 (DeCastro) vs. the Big 10 (Zeitler); and (2) the historical pedigree of offensive linemen coming out of Stanford (so-so) vs. those coming out of Wisconsin (strong).   

It remains to be seen how the respective careers of DeCastro and Zeitler will play out.  DeCastro almost certainly returned to the field too soon last year. He looked pretty good at times. He also looked very shaky at times. No doubt he got pushed around in late season games vs. San Diego and Cincinnati, among others.

One thing is sure. Zeitler had the better rookie season.  Not only did he start all 16 games for the Bengals, he showed polish, power and technique early in the season and got better as the season progressed. 

Here's a Pro Football Reference write-up from early November 2012:

While many criticized the Bengals for passing on a chance to draft David DeCastro in the first round, instead trading back, gaining an extra pick and taking Zeitler, whom they had coveted the whole time. Zeitler is a mauler in the typical Wisconsin mold, but his pass blocking prowess has been a pleasant surprise.

Against the Steelers (Week 7, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2012), Casey Hampton sometimes shaded to Zeitler’s inside eye. Zeitler was able to blow Hampton off the ball with little or no help from Faine, including a block that was almost singlehandedly responsible for a 4th-and-2 conversion.

It would not be unreasonable to expect Zeitler to become a perennial Pro Bowler with his weekly development as a blocker. He is extremely polished for his experience level and packs a monster punch upon engagement. His footwork is outstanding. Many young linemen rely on their brute strength, being used to playing inferior college competition. But Zeitler anchors well and keeps his weight centered.

Outside of A.J. Green, Zeitler is becoming one of Cincinnati’s best draft picks in recent memory.

source:http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/news.cgi?id=ZeitKe00

Revisiting the 2012 Second Round Choice

Let's be clear: Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls really don't have a problem with the Steelers selecting DeCastro over Zeitler.  

Unlike almost everybody else, however, Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls weren't crazy about the Steelers selecting tackle Mike Adams (Ohio State) over tackle Kelechi Osemele (Iowa State, 2nd round to Baltimore).

Mike Adams

Adams may turn out to be a great player -– we’re not writing him off –- but Osemele had caught our attention before the 2012 draft, and we wanted the Steelers to nab, somewhere.  Osemele went maybe a little higher than he was projected by most observers.  That didn't deter Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome from selecting Osemele at No. 60 overall, four picks after Mike Adams.

Adams shows promise, and he was named the Steelers' rookie of the year. He started six  games, appeared in 10, and his run blocking was particularly strong.  His pass-blocking remains a question mark, though, and he clearly struggled with speed-rushers in pass protection for the team’s $102 million quarterback.

There is no question, however, who had the better rookie season, and that was Osemele.

  

Kelechi Osemele

Osemele started all 16 regular-season games at tackle for the Ravens.  Because of a late-season injury to starting guard Jah Reid, the Ravens moved Osemele to guard and inserted Bryant McKinney at left tackle for the wild-card playoff  game vs. Indianapolis. This move, with the corresponding move of Michael Oher to right tackle, solidified the offensive line for Baltimore during their playoff run and, of course, the Super Bowl.  At the very least, Osemele proved he has positional flexibility and is a solid NFL starter with plenty of upside.

Arguably, the difference between the relative productivity DeCastro/Adams vs. Zeitler/Osemele is that the latter two stayed healthy all year.  DeCastro/Adams combined for nine starts, and Zeitler/Osemele combined for 32 starts in the regular season, plus four playoff starts and, for Osemele, a start in the Super Bowl.  Both played at a high level and improved as the season progressed.

We can hope for similar results from DeCastro and Adams in 2013.  

At the very least, however, it appears the Steelers picked the wrong Samoan (Alameda Ta'amu instead of Kelechi Osemele).

Why Not a Tight End in the First Round?

Stanford TE Zach Ertz, going high.

Watching the success of the Baltimore Ravens' tandem of Dennis Pitta and Ed Hickson at tight end makes Joey Porters Pit Bulls wonder if it wouldn't make sense for the Steelers -- even with all their other needs -- to consider drafting Stanford tight end Zach Ertz (6'6", 252) with the team's No. 1 choice at No. 17 overall, especially considering the multiple serious knee injuries veteran tight end Heath Miller suffered at the end of the season.

Miller is one of the best tight ends in the NFL and teammates him as the Steelers' team MVP in 2012.

Like NFL tight ends Jimmy Graham of New Orleans and Antonio Gates of San Diego, both of whom are top-notch,Ertz played basketball in college. Unlike those two, however, Ertz actually played NCAA Division I football, and at such a high level of performance that he is considered one of the top two tight ends in this year's draft Not just a pass-catching receiver, Ertz is also reputed to be a strong blocker, a complete tight end, much like Pittsburgh's Heath Miller.

Nobody knows what Miller's recovery time will be, or if he will be the same player (a great one) when he returns. We'll learn more about Ertz and other draft prospects at the NFL Combine later this month.

This is not to write off Miler.  It's just to suggest that the it would nice, prudent and sensible for the Steelers to have a legitimate duo-threat at tight, like the Ravens (Pitta and Hickson), the 49ers (Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker) and the Patriots (Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez).

A Running Back or Two for the Steelers?

The Steelers need to find a running back -- a good running back -- this off-season.

Former Steeler running back Dick Hoak

Most observers believe the Steelers are unlikely to invest their first-round draft pick in a running back this year. There have been too many examples of first-round running backs out-performed by later-round picks or undrafted free agents like Arian Foster and Willie Parker.

Take last year's draft, for example, when the Redskins drafted.Alfred Morris in the sixth round; former Bronco Terrell Davis (2,000 yards) was a sixth-rounder; and, in the 1990 draft, the Steelers drafted Barry Foster, was also a sixth-rounder.

That 1990 draft will be remembered for other reasons (cue ominous music in background here). That year, the Steelers owned the 17th overall pick, which is what they have this year. 

Steeler fans might remember the 1990 draft because of how the Steelers handled that 17th overall pick.

Pittsburgh traded down in that first round -- the 17th overall pick, same as this year -- the Steelers traded that 17th overall pick in 1990 to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for rights to two later draft choices.  Pittsburgh turned those draft choices into tight end Eric Green (1st round, 21st overall) and defensive tackle Craig Veasey (3rd round, 81st overall).  

What did Dallas do with the pick they received from the Steelers?  The Cowboys turned that pick -- No 17 overall, same as this year for the Steelers -- Dallas turned that pick into running back Emmitt Smith, the NFL's all-time rushing leader, a Hall of Famer, and the only running back to ever win a Super Bowl championship, the NFL Most Valuable Player award, the NFL rushing crown, and the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player award all in the same season (1993).

Is Eddie Lacy the next Emmitt Smith?

Maybe; maybe not. Well, almost certainly not.

Instead of drafting a running back in the first round, maybe the Steelers would do better to spend a later-round draft choice on a running back like Le'Veon Bell (6'2", 244, Michigan State), Jawan Jamison (5'8", 200, Rutgers), Ray Graham (5'9", 192, Pitt) or D.J. Harper (5'9", 205, Boise State).

Who knows? They might discover the next Barry Foster or, for that matter, the next Arian Foster. On the other hand, by passing on a running back at No. 17, they may miss out on the next Emmitt Smith.  It's a crap shoot, but in today's NFL, some people would contend that running backs are fungible commodities.

Whomever they bring in, the Steelers need to find somebody who will be able to fit the new zone-blocking scheme being implemented by new offensive line coach Jack Bicknell, Jr. That scheme usually suits one-cut, between-the-tackles runners with good vision and the ability to make quick decisions, bust through tackles and get into the secondary fast -- which, come to think of it, sounds a lot like Eddie Lacy.

Ka-ching!

Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco is about to cash in big-time, in the wake of being named Super Bowl MVP and on the verge of a new contract. In any case, Flacco will get paid a lot of money this year and well into the future -- in the neighborhood of $20 million a year, which is a very nice neighborhood, indeed.

The silver lining here for Steeler fans is that Flacco's new contract will seriously complicate Baltimore's salary cap framework for paying other players.

Jacoby Jones could just as well have been named Super Bowl MVP as Flacco.  Jones's 109-yard kickoff return for a TD to start the second half was the nail in the coffin, and his 56-yard catch, jump-to-his-feet, spin-pirouette, dipsey-doodle scramble into the end zone just before the first half ended made San Francisco's mouthy backup cornerback Chris Culliver look stupid and foolish, which only confirmed the impression Culliver created for himself earlier in the week.

Baltimore cornerback Jimmy Smith was holding, clutching, grabbing Michael Crabtree well beyond the five-yard zone for which such hands-on contact is allowed, but Joey Porter's Pit Bulls have no problem with the no-flag non-call.

We do have a problem with the 49ers' play-calling on that final four-down sequence at the end of the game. It was flawed, to say the least. The formations and plays called from the sideline didn't give Colin Kaepernick the best chance to use his legs and make the sorts of dynamic runs or throws he is capable of making.

Kaepernick is, duh, exciting.

Stanford TE Zach Ertz

The Ravens' tandem of Dennis Pitta and Ed Hickson at tight end makes us wonder if it wouldn't make sense for the Steelers -- even with all their other needs -- to consider drafting Stanford tight end Zach Ertz (6'6", 252) with the team's No. 1 choice at No. 17 overall, especially considering the multiple serious knee injuries Heath Miller suffered at the end of the season.  Nobody knows what Miller's recovery time will be, or if he will be the same player (a great one) when he returns. We'll learn more about Ertz and other draft prospects at the NFL Combine later this month.

This is not to write off Miler.  It's just to suggest that the it would nice (prudent and sensible) for the Steelers to have a legitimate duo-threat at tight, like the Ravens (Pitta and Hickson), the 49ers (Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker) and the Patriots (Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez).

Randy Moss was a no-show. He's done.

The NFL Combine begins Feb. 23.  Stay tuned. It's time to start giving serious thought to the NFL Draft in April, as well as roster cuts and possible free agent signings.  It's early, but it's later than you think.

Take Heart, Steeler Nation

For what it's worth (nothing), Joey Porter's Pit Bulls wouldn't be surprised if the Baltimore Ravens open today's Super Bowl game in the no-huddle.

Quarterback Joe Flacco, like Ben Roethlisberger, loves the no-huddle, and offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell has given him latitude to run it more freely than previous coordinator Cam Cameron, whom the Ravens fired in Week 11.

Going to the no-huddle right off the bat seems a no-brainer. It allows Flacco to set an early fast pace to keep the 49ers pass rush at bay and put the defense on its heels. The Ravens can then switch up with off-tackle runs by Ray Rice and toss-pitches to the blazing-fast Bernard Pierce.

Complicating all this for the 49ers is the fact that their defense has been unsteady, to say the least, for the past five games, allowing 28.8 points and 391.4 yards per game, while tallying just 1.6 sacks per game.

Moreover, the no-huddle does not necessarily prevent Flacco from doing what he does best: throw long. Joe Flacco throws probably the best deep pass in the NFL. Receiver Torrey Smith has developed into a legitimate, reliable deep threat (kind of like Mike Wallace, only more so), and Anquan Boldin is a beast, but the wild-card surprise in the long passing game may be Jacoby Jones, the quick, diminutive speedster who tends to get overlooked in discussions about Baltimore's passing game. The Ravens are also not shy about going deep over the middle to tight ends Dennis Pitta and Ed Hickson. That offense has a lot of talent.

On the other side of the ball, however, while the Ravens have played tighter defense lately than they did throughout much of the regular season, they haven't faced anybody like San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Effectively a rookie, Kaeprnick brings so much dimension to the game -- explosive, opportunistic running; a legitimate home run threat on the run -- and a dynamite arm delivering passing accuracy both long and short.  The Ravens' pass rush typically fares reasonably well against conventional stand-in-the-pocket passers (even great ones like Tom Brady and Peyton Manning), but Kaepernick? ... he makes quarterbacks like Ben Roethlisberger look old-fashioned.-- yikes did we really just say that?  Well, nobody's writing off Roethlisberger just yet, although we're more than a little concerned about him.

Kaepernick may leave Terrell Suggs and company flailing at air, but the other thing -- the main vulnerability in the Ravens' defense -- is its vulnerability to the standard running game. The late resurgence of the loathsome, deer-antler-sprayed Ray Lewis has helped fortify Baltimore's run defense in recent weeks, but the Ravens have been spotty against the run all season, and they haven't faced many teams as committed to the run as the 49ers.

Few teams are as committed to running the ball as San Francisco, and with the sturdy Frank Gore, they have the kind of bruising, attacking back who can run between the tackles and bust into the secondary. The change-of-pace back, LaMichael James, is lightning quick and can get to the end zone in a heartbeat. Both will want to steer clear of the Raven's lethal safety Bernard Pollard ... who may be preoccupied to a large extent with versatile tight end Vernon Davis, in any case.

Oh, and just as Jacoby Jones tends to get overlooked as a deep threat in Baltimore's offensive passing game, the 49ers have a guy whose name has kind of gotten lost in all the hoopla over Kaepernick, Gore, Davis, et al, but who is a legitimate vertical threat in his own right: Randy Moss.

For all that, it could come down to a late field goal. Here, the Ravens have the edge, and it's a big one. Rookie Justin Tucker, an undrafted free agent from the University of Texas, has been nothing short of terrific. He's put 30 of 33 field goal attempts through the uprights, and (unlike Pittsburgh's Shaun Suisham), he is a legitimate threat to kick accurately from more than 50 yards.

It should be a good game.  Enjoy.

Oh, and take heart Steeler Nation: At least we're not Cleveland fans, who this week had to endure not only the humiliation of the late Judas-owner Art Modell's consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame but also must watch the ignominy of watching their former franchise -- the Baltimore Ravens, who were the Cleveland Browns until 1997 -- in the Super Bowl, led by former Browns' all-time great tight end Ozzie Newsome, who, as Balimore's general manager, is the architect of this Ravens (formerly Browns) team. It could have, should have, been the Browns. Fans in Cleveland, we feel for you (not).

What's Next

Get ready for two weeks of intense media frenzy over the Harbaugh Bros. and RAY LEWIS, RAY LEWIS, RlAY LEWIS, Joe Flacco, Colin Kaepernick, Ray Rice, Harbaugh Bros., Harbaugh Bros., and RAY LEWIS, RAY LEWIS, RAY LEWIS.

Tune out the noise of the next two weeks, and tune in for the game.

Wethinks San Francisco presents matchup problems on offense for Baltimore.  The Ravens have been susceptible to the run all season, and the 49ers can run the ball, have the talent to run the ball and aren't afraid to commit to running the ball , primarily with Frank Gore, but also with designed runs for the exceptional Colin Kaepernick.  The Ravens will have a tough time preparing for Kaepernick (duh).  And the Niners' offensive line, with Joe Staley and Mike Iupati leading the way, is the kind of mauling, mobile physical force the Steelers should have built.

On the other side, Joe Flacco throws probably the best deep ball n the game, and the Ravens do have the threat of Ray Rice.  On defense, however, even though the Ravens played well yesterday, they aren't a dominant squad.  Again, their run defense can be had, and to be fair to Tom Brady, New England's receivers on Sunday had at least six drops, including three by Wes Welker.

Here we go, Steelers ... 
As for the Steelers, it's time to get serious about the Senior Bowl, free agency, the salary cap and the NFL Draft in April.  It's a bit too early to project moves, but the Steelers have so many holes, they should just take the best player available in the draft, which is usually a good approach in any case.

The Steelers will have to shed salaries to consider moves in free agency, but they may be able to lure a restricted free agent such as New Orleans Saints running back Chris Ivory, who entered the league four years ago as an undrafted free agent -- which means he wouldn't cost a draft choice.  The Saints would be able to match any offer Ivory would receive, though, so there are no guarantees.

The Steelers will let Rashard Mendenhall depart via unrestricted free agency, and we wouldn't match any offer that Jonathan Dwyer might receive in restricted free agency. We'd try to keep Isaac Redman, also a restricted free agent, but he may get an offer the Steelers won't choose to match.

Joey Porter's Pit Bulls believe in building a team from the inside out, which brings us to the NFL Draft.

If available, Alabama guard Chance Warmack (6'2", 322) would merit consideration at Pick No. 17.  He ate up Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o in the BCS Championship game, and the Steelers could plug him in at left guard to solidify the middle of the offensive line with center Maurkice Pouncey and right guard David DeCastro.  Re-sign Max Starks to play left tackle, and let Mike Adams and Marcus Gilbert battle it out at right tackle.  Kelvin Beachum would be available for position versatility at guard and tackle. Re-sign Doug Legursky as a backup at center and guard.

With the pending departure of cornerback Keenan Lewis, the Steelers might also consider Florida State cornerback Xavier Rhodes (6'1", 217) in the first round.

If they are looking to beef up the defensive line, the Steelers might consider Alabama DL Jesse Lewis (6'3", 320) who appears to fit the mold of a Steeler d-lineman.  The Steelers need playmakers, however, and the team has so many holes ...

It's early, but it's later than you might think.

Changes coming to the Steelers roster? Yes, please.

Steelers personnel punjab Kevin Colbert told mainstream media reporters on Wednesday that big changes will be coming to the Steelers' roster this off-season. Good. We should hope so.

Of particular interest to Joey Porter's Pit Bulls was Colbert's comments about the running backs. Ed Bouchette's article in the Post-Gazette noted that Colbert said:

• "Where we were in the running game last year was indicative of the talent at the position ... That group of players didn't produce the way we anticipated they would."

To that, we say, Amen!  The Steelers absolutely must add two or three viable running backs this off-season.  Let's take a look at the 2012 stable of running backs:

John Henry Johnson they ain't.

• Jonathan Dwyer?  He can be replaced. Dwyer is too inconsistent, too soft, too unreliable, misses holes and taps out after three plays to go to the sideline and "take a blow."  He totally blew a golden opportunity to become entrenched as a starter.  Isaac Redman?  He runs tough and is probably a keeper in a limited role, but he hasn't proven he can stay healthy.  Baron Batch?  The late-round draft choice enters his third year still unproven and apparently unable to stay healthy.  Rashard Mendenhall?  Gone and won't be missed.  Chris Rainey? Good riddance.

The entire group must be upgraded.

Regarding the rest of the roster, as noted in our 2012 season recap, the 2012 team had too many players who either under-achieved (Jonathan Dwyer, Mike Wallace, Lamarr Woodley, Maurkice Pouncey, Ziggy Hood, etc.); are past or near their expiration date (Casey Hampton, Larry Foote, Brett Keisel, Charlie Batch, Troy Polamalu, Max Starks, etc., although it should be noted that som of these guys played well last year); are question marks because they haven't really proven anything (Cameron Heyward, Marcus Gilbert, Mike Adams, Jason Worilds, Curtis Brown, Stevenson Sylvester, Sean Spence, etc.), or simply don't have much talent and won't be missed (Ryan Mundy, Robert Golden, Josh Victorian, etc.).  

Not to mention the quarterback situation.  We're a bit mystified and more than a little worried about Ben Roethlisberger. And the Steelers are long overdue for addressing the backup QB position.

There's so much more that can be said about the roster.  It's a long, cold off-season.

Pittsburgh Steelers 2012 Post-Mortem: An Anticlimactic End to an Inglorious Season for an Ineffective, Irrelevant, Inconsequential and Inauspicious Squad

The 2012 Pittsburgh Steelers -- our Pittsburgh Steelers -- were a shadow of the Black 'n Gold squads who made Steeler Nation proud so often for the past 40 years.  Far too often, this squad lacked intensity, cohesion and focus; for the most part, it was soft and ineffectual. The 2012 Steelers evoked memories of the middling mid-1980s squads.

Granted, injuries took their toll this year -- as they do every year for every NFL team -- but players who were asked to be the "next man up" failed to meet The Standard.  It's safe to say this team underachieved. It may be conceivable, however, that this squad actually over-achieved in some respects: In other words, this edition of the Steelers just wasn't very talented.

The biggest disappointment? There were so many.  For Joey Porter's Pit Bulls, however, one telling aspect about this team -- the one that stood out like a tarantula on a slice of angel food cake (credit: Raymond Chandler) -- for us, the one telling thing, the major disappointment was this:

Too many of the younger players displayed a sense of entitlement. They "displayed" instead of played. Too many of them -- some of whom have enjoyed occasional flashes of success -- played as if they'd arrived -- when in actuality, they haven't accomplished anything of substance or duration. The perception here is that too many of the 2012 Steelers failed to understand what it takes to succeed consistently in the NFL, let alone what it means to be a Steeler.  They seem to have no clue. 

The play of some of these guys suggested that their expectation was that just because they had some modicum of success at major NCAA programs like Georgia Tech (Jonathan Dwyer), Missouri (Ziggy Hood), Florida (Chris Rainey), Texas (Curtis Brown), etcetera, that they would be given a free pass in the NFL. It doesn't work like that, and certainly not in Pittsburgh.

Just ask retirees Aaron Smith, Hines Ward, James Farrior, Chris Hoke, DeShea Townsend, Jerome Bettis, Alan Faneca, etcetera, and the list goes on and on. This is not to say there was no leadership on the 2012 Steelers: Some of the veteran players like Ryan Clark, Larry Foote, Heath Miller, Max Starks and others, no doubt, did what they could. Others probably could have done more.

Most certainly, however, too many of the young guys just didn't step up their game, and they didn't seem to appreciate what it means to be a Steeler.  Mike Wallace and Rashard Mendenhall come to mind.  Mendenhall quit on the team.  Wallace too often appeared sullen and disinterested. Those two are gone.

Jonathan Dwyer was given a golden opportunity -- he was handed the starting job at running back -- and fumbled it away, figuratively and literally.  Chris Rainey found there is a big difference between the SEC and the NFL.

Others probably just aren't very talented and may be hard-pressed to make the team next year: Ryan Mundy is a relatively young guy who had every opportunity to establish himself and just couldn't do it. Baron Batch couldn't stay healthy and flubbed the few opportunities he had.  We root for these guys and want them to succeed, so it's frustrating to see them struggle, but even they must be wondering whether they will be in the team's plans for 2013.

Two key veterans who'd previously achieved real success also failed to play up to their own standards and expectations -- and probably injuries had something to do with that -- but still, Lamarr Woodley and Maurkice Pouncey were big disappointments.

On defense, age and injuries may or may not have caught up with James Harrison and Troy Polamaulu. Nose tackle Casey Hampton has been done for three years. Larry Foote might be at just about his past-due date, although he played valiantly, and the same could be said about Brett Keisel, Ike Taylor, Ryan Clark and Will Allen  -- those guys aren't getting any younger. On offense, ditto Max Starks, who was probably the most reliable and steady of the offensive linemen.  Heath Miller may never be the same.

On the bright side, Keenan Lewis played extremely well for the most part, as did Ramon Foster, Kelvin Beachum and Antonio Brown before he got hurt.

Byron Leftwich should be gone. Marcus Gilbert and Mike Adams still have to establish themselves, if they can stay healthy.

Ziggy Hood and Cameron Heyward haven't shown anything to speak of, but Hood had more than ample opportunity and did next to nothing to indicate he may ever become a disruptive force on the front line. He was largely ineffective. He was drafted in 2009.

Players drafted after Hood that year include: DE Connor Barwin (2/46, to Texans); RB LeSean McCoy (2/53, to Eagles); and OT Sebastien Vollmer (2/58, to Patriots).  In hindsight, Barwin certainly would  have been a better selection at Hood's position. Yet knowing that Pitt's LeSean McCoy could have been in a Steelers uniform these past three years? Ouch.

Because he didn't get much playing time and he was only in his second year, Cameron Heyward gets a pass, more or less, but you have to wonder about the 2011 first-rounder (31st overall).  In light of Hood's lackluster performance, why didn't Heyward get more playing time?  Maybe the Steelers simply took a flyer on that draft pick and reached for a player that was rated only the tenth-best at his position that year. Yes, you'll recall he was the 10th defensive end taken in his 2011 draft class -- the tenth! -- and, well, you just have to wonder.

The Steelers' depth chart has Heyward behind Brett Keisel, but one would think he would have gotten some of Hood's playing time in any case. He's been slow to develop, and players drafted after him have certainly been more productive.

In retrospect, the Steelers would have done better to draft defensive end Jabal Sheard out of Pitt (now a starter with the Browns, and playing well) or -- all together now, seriously -- quarterback Colin Kaepernick or even Andy Dalton.  All were available when the Steelers selected Heyward, as were the following players: OLB Brooks Reed (2/42, to Texans); OLB Justin Houston (3/70, to Chiefs); G Clint Boling (4/101, to Bengals); CB Richard Sherman (5/154, to Seahawks).

In 2012, Jonathan Dwyer proved only that he can't carry the load. Ike Redman can't seem to stay healthy.

And Ben Roethlisberger seemed to lose his fourth-quarter magic, and he hasn't shown much of that since losing in the Super Bowl to Green Bay. Instead, this year, he found ways to throw late interceptions and lose games (Denver, Dallas, Cincinnati). Too often, he simply didn't do enough. Yes, he got hurt. Again. Yes, he rushed back from injury too soon. Again.  He hurt the team by doing so, and the coaches allowed it.

And, once again, Roethlisberger's teammates named another player as Team MVP. This season, it was Heath Miller; in 2011, it was Antonio Brown. Doesn't that say something?

To a large degree, the coaching staff failed to find solutions when needed. The NFL's 26-ranked running game failed badly. The defense tackled poorly, didn't instill fear in anybody, and it certainly didn't confuse veteran quarterbacks Peyton Manning in Denver, Carson Palmer in Oakland, Matt Hasselbeck in Tennessee, Phillip Rivers of San Diego, or Tony Romo in Dallas.  All year, the pass rush rush was lacking, and the defense had a stunning but frustrating inability to take the ball away.

Talented, well-coached teams -- good teams -- do not lose to teams such as Oakland, Tennessee, Cleveland, Dallas and San Diego (in Pittsburgh in December, no less).

And the special teams were awful, all things considered -- too many penalties, missed tackles, a blocked punt, sporadic kick coverage, mental gaffes, etc.

Decisions must be made. The Steelers hold the 17th pick in April's NFL Draft.  A talent infusion is needed, and an attitude adjustment, as well. Much needs to be done to reverse the descent and avert a free fall.  This team can either go up or down. Let's see what they do.

Merry Christmas!

 

That's It, Fort Pitt

R.I.P. 2012 Steelers season. It was a flaccid, disappointing season from the very first game, a loss in Denver, all the way through embarrassing losses to Oakland, Tennessee, Cleveland and San Diego, narrow wins over bad teams, and then the final kockout blow delivered by Cincinnati on Sunday at Heinz Field. It was a lousy season by what turned out to be a bad team with too many players who played casually and soft too often.

We have some thoughts on this team and will share them over the next few days. Clearly this team missed the leadership provided by departed veterans like Aaron Smith, James Farrior, Hines Ward, Chris Hoke and others. Injuries took their toll, of course, as they do with most teams over the course of the brutal NFL season. For us, though, the most disappointing mark of this team was the apparent inability of some of the younger players who failed to seize opportunity and seemed to have no concept of what it means to be a Steeler.

Some of those younger players seemed content to think they'd arrived -- when, really, they haven't done squat. It seems some of them just don't get what it takes to achieve and sustain success in the NFL, let alone what it means to be a Steeler.

A real Steelers team would never have allowed a loss to the Bengals, at home, on the 40th anniversary of the  Immaculate Reception.  Plenty of blame to go around on this team. From the coaching staff, to Ben Roethlisberger and too many other players to name here. There's plenty of time for finger-pointing. Very disappointing.

Merry Christmas.