Frenchy Fuqua
Footballguy
Here we go again, lots to discuss. Ben should be in-line for a club record-setting contract extension. Free agents like Faneca and Haggans are expected to seek greener pastures. With the demise of the O-line this season I think most of us would agree that OL will be the top priority in the 2008 draft and perhaps free agency too.
Let’s start with the D…clearly the D was low on playmakers at the end of the season.
Steelers fans quickly found out the importance of Aaron Smith this year. After not missing any time in his career he had two injuries this season. Let’s hope this is not a sign of things to come. Hampton by all accounts had a good season although I’ve read elsewhere that he could stand to lose some weight. Keisel seemed to be solid all year although I envisioned him being moved around and making some plays in this D. Hard to do as an end in the 3-4 I suppose.
The Steelers pass rush has been suspect for most of the past two seasons. I hope the changing of the guard at OLB from Haggans to Lamarr Woodley fixes a lot of that. I expect the combo of Harrison and Woodley will be very good. Where does that leave 2007 1st rounder Lawrence Timmons? Looks to me like they may eventually to decide to groom him as James Farrior’s replacement on the inside after 2008. Farrior and Foote are solid but not exactly playmakers although Farrior still has that ability.
How about the secondary? They say a pass rush can make any secondary look good and I suppose the opposite is true. Polamalu is still a playmaker although injuries were clearly a factor in his play for much of the year. I worry with his style of play that will be a common theme. I still like Ike and McFadden long-term at CB although neither is a playmaker. Townsend finds a way to stay on the field but I wonder how much he has in the tank. Free safety Anthony Smith seems to have regressed a bit after the Pats debacle…we’ll see how he rebounds in the offseason. Certainly he has potential.
On O I think the Steelers core of skill players: Ben, Parker, Ward, Holmes, Miller are as good as any in the NFL outside of NE and Indy. Clearly their focus is on OL and protecting their investment at QB. Obviously the entire OL can’t be replaced. It seems like Mahan was a bust at center. Some have speculated that Kendall Simmons will move to center and Willie Colon will slide over to right guard. That would leave right tackle to Starks (if he’s re-signed), Essex or a draft choice. I guess Kemoeatu is the most likely replacement for Faneca at LG. Other than OL the rest of the O looks pretty good but it would be nice to add some depth at WR, Nate Washington has some upside but drops a lot of balls too. Guys like Wilson and Willie Reid don’t look like keepers to me.
On coaching, I am not at all sold on Bruce Arians playcalling but that is for another time. Other coaches like OL Zeirlein and Special Teams Ligashesky may be on borrowed time also. I wonder if the timing of Tomlin’s hiring last year made acquiring quality assistant coaches difficult. In my opinion OL and Special Teams are two areas where coaching makes the biggest impact. I thought Tomlin did okay his first year, no real signature wins but he did finish 5-1 in the North and won the division so that is a good sign.
Let’s start with the D…clearly the D was low on playmakers at the end of the season.
Steelers fans quickly found out the importance of Aaron Smith this year. After not missing any time in his career he had two injuries this season. Let’s hope this is not a sign of things to come. Hampton by all accounts had a good season although I’ve read elsewhere that he could stand to lose some weight. Keisel seemed to be solid all year although I envisioned him being moved around and making some plays in this D. Hard to do as an end in the 3-4 I suppose.
The Steelers pass rush has been suspect for most of the past two seasons. I hope the changing of the guard at OLB from Haggans to Lamarr Woodley fixes a lot of that. I expect the combo of Harrison and Woodley will be very good. Where does that leave 2007 1st rounder Lawrence Timmons? Looks to me like they may eventually to decide to groom him as James Farrior’s replacement on the inside after 2008. Farrior and Foote are solid but not exactly playmakers although Farrior still has that ability.
How about the secondary? They say a pass rush can make any secondary look good and I suppose the opposite is true. Polamalu is still a playmaker although injuries were clearly a factor in his play for much of the year. I worry with his style of play that will be a common theme. I still like Ike and McFadden long-term at CB although neither is a playmaker. Townsend finds a way to stay on the field but I wonder how much he has in the tank. Free safety Anthony Smith seems to have regressed a bit after the Pats debacle…we’ll see how he rebounds in the offseason. Certainly he has potential.
On O I think the Steelers core of skill players: Ben, Parker, Ward, Holmes, Miller are as good as any in the NFL outside of NE and Indy. Clearly their focus is on OL and protecting their investment at QB. Obviously the entire OL can’t be replaced. It seems like Mahan was a bust at center. Some have speculated that Kendall Simmons will move to center and Willie Colon will slide over to right guard. That would leave right tackle to Starks (if he’s re-signed), Essex or a draft choice. I guess Kemoeatu is the most likely replacement for Faneca at LG. Other than OL the rest of the O looks pretty good but it would be nice to add some depth at WR, Nate Washington has some upside but drops a lot of balls too. Guys like Wilson and Willie Reid don’t look like keepers to me.
On coaching, I am not at all sold on Bruce Arians playcalling but that is for another time. Other coaches like OL Zeirlein and Special Teams Ligashesky may be on borrowed time also. I wonder if the timing of Tomlin’s hiring last year made acquiring quality assistant coaches difficult. In my opinion OL and Special Teams are two areas where coaching makes the biggest impact. I thought Tomlin did okay his first year, no real signature wins but he did finish 5-1 in the North and won the division so that is a good sign.
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I love Hines Ward, but the dude has very thin skin.
Good signing, the guy has a legit chance to make the team.
Good signing, the guy has a legit chance to make the team.
I love Hines Ward, but the dude has very thin skin.
I love Hines Ward, but the dude has very thin skin.
