Evilgrin 72
Distributor of Pain
Might as well chuck this up now. Cockrell extended, a couple of futures contracts doled out. Let's get ready for the draft and the 2016 season. Currently 10-1 to win SB 51. F Vontaze Burfict.
A great year for free agent secondary players.Could be a very exciting year if they shore up the secondary.
That and the little matter of Antonio Brown and DeAngelo Williams being out of commission for the Denver game.
You want the title in '16?
Earn a week off and play at home in the playoffs throughout.
Not much separated the Steelers, Patriots and Broncos. But HFA sure did.
UFAIs Gradkowski the backup QB next year? I have no idea what his status is.
I've heard rumors that they like Doran Grant at safety. If that conversion pans out, it might be even more likely that they go after a guy like Cravens to be the box safety. That pairing is at least a year away from being startable, though, so they'll still need 2 guys with some experience. The window is open now.Please, please bring in two new safeties. I can't watch Mike Mitchell play another down.
I know I've stated this before, and it probably isn't very popular, but I'm really not sure Pouncey's anywhere near as good as he's made out to be. He's constantly injured....yet the Steelers never seem to miss him overmuch when he's shelved. Yeah, he rocked as a rookie. How many actual games has he played since then though?I'd love to keep the line intact as I thought they did a fine job this year by and large, and they only should be better next year with a healthy Pouncey to anchor the middle (I hope.)
I agree. Coming off the injury I don't think he is tradeable but I wouldn't mind it if they did.I know I've stated this before, and it probably isn't very popular, but I'm really not sure Pouncey's anywhere near as good as he's made out to be. He's constantly injured....yet the Steelers never seem to miss him overmuch when he's shelved. Yeah, he rocked as a rookie. How many actual games has he played since then though?I'd love to keep the line intact as I thought they did a fine job this year by and large, and they only should be better next year with a healthy Pouncey to anchor the middle (I hope.)
I don't think he sucks or anything, and I suppose I'd rather have him than not, but at some point the dude needs to play or that's a bunch of cash being flushed down the toilet.
The center position has a lot more to it than run blocking (which is what Wallace is good at). He controls the entire line, and if we go into the year without Foster and with AV at left tackle, then Pouncey will be invaluable. Wallace played pretty well, but Pouncey is by far the better player. If we had a worse QB than Big Ben then there would have been many more sacks this year, many due to interior pressure. Wallace was beat handedly by opposing DTs and DEs but Ben was able to avoid the pressure or get rid of the ball.I agree. Coming off the injury I don't think he is tradeable but I wouldn't mind it if they did.I know I've stated this before, and it probably isn't very popular, but I'm really not sure Pouncey's anywhere near as good as he's made out to be. He's constantly injured....yet the Steelers never seem to miss him overmuch when he's shelved. Yeah, he rocked as a rookie. How many actual games has he played since then though?I'd love to keep the line intact as I thought they did a fine job this year by and large, and they only should be better next year with a healthy Pouncey to anchor the middle (I hope.)
I don't think he sucks or anything, and I suppose I'd rather have him than not, but at some point the dude needs to play or that's a bunch of cash being flushed down the toilet.
Judging solely on how a player is missed when he's gone, he's not all that important.I know I've stated this before, and it probably isn't very popular, but I'm really not sure Pouncey's anywhere near as good as he's made out to be. He's constantly injured....yet the Steelers never seem to miss him overmuch when he's shelved. Yeah, he rocked as a rookie. How many actual games has he played since then though?I'd love to keep the line intact as I thought they did a fine job this year by and large, and they only should be better next year with a healthy Pouncey to anchor the middle (I hope.)
I don't think he sucks or anything, and I suppose I'd rather have him than not, but at some point the dude needs to play or that's a bunch of cash being flushed down the toilet.
No, those same people don't think that at all. At least not 100% of them.The same people who think Wallace is good enough and we don't miss Pouncey, think that Williams was good enough and we didn't miss Bell.
This is precisely the point I was trying to make. Pouncey has missed a ton of time during his career and the Steelers have pretty much been winners anyway. That doesn't mean he sucks, it just means he isn't as irreplaceable as he is sometimes advertised. I mean, they've proven they can win without him because they've continued to win without him. And it's not like the offense/run game fell apart.Judging solely on how a player is missed when he's gone, he's not all that important.
I don't remember the plays, but Big Ben got beat up pretty badly this year. Do you think the presence of Pouncey improves the whole line on pass plays to keep Ben safer than he was this year?No, those same people don't think that at all. At least not 100% of them.The same people who think Wallace is good enough and we don't miss Pouncey, think that Williams was good enough and we didn't miss Bell.
This is precisely the point I was trying to make. Pouncey has missed a ton of time during his career and the Steelers have pretty much been winners anyway. That doesn't mean he sucks, it just means he isn't as irreplaceable as he is sometimes advertised. I mean, they've proven they can win without him because they've continued to win without him. And it's not like the offense/run game fell apart.Judging solely on how a player is missed when he's gone, he's not all that important.
Whether it'd be different with a different QB is irrelevant. They have the QB they have.
Disagree with this. Wallace is not very good and he takes big dumb penalties. I feel like with Pouncey, the offense is a well oiled machine but with Wallace (and DeAngelo) it's more pedestrian. Not sure what Pouncey is worth but he is a big upgrade over Wallace.I know I've stated this before, and it probably isn't very popular, but I'm really not sure Pouncey's anywhere near as good as he's made out to be. He's constantly injured....yet the Steelers never seem to miss him overmuch when he's shelved. Yeah, he rocked as a rookie. How many actual games has he played since then though?I'd love to keep the line intact as I thought they did a fine job this year by and large, and they only should be better next year with a healthy Pouncey to anchor the middle (I hope.)
I don't think he sucks or anything, and I suppose I'd rather have him than not, but at some point the dude needs to play or that's a bunch of cash being flushed down the toilet.
Foster and Gay would be the biggest priorities from that group I would think. I know they like Blake so I think he is probably coming back. McClendon and Beachum if they come cheap. I liked what I saw with Todman and would be happy to have him back.That seems like an unusually long list of free agents. Is it always like that? With that said, not too many guys there that I am dying to keep: Foster, Beachem and the two corners. On the fence about McClendon myself. Btw, Tuitt has become such a beast on that line.
Not much when he is on the sideline. I don't think anyone is questioning whether Pouncey is an upgrade over Wallace but the best ability is availability and he rarely is. A $10.5 million cap hit for a player that doesn't play really hurts.Disagree with this. Wallace is not very good and he takes big dumb penalties. I feel like with Pouncey, the offense is a well oiled machine but with Wallace (and DeAngelo) it's more pedestrian. Not sure what Pouncey is worth but he is a big upgrade over Wallace.I know I've stated this before, and it probably isn't very popular, but I'm really not sure Pouncey's anywhere near as good as he's made out to be. He's constantly injured....yet the Steelers never seem to miss him overmuch when he's shelved. Yeah, he rocked as a rookie. How many actual games has he played since then though?I'd love to keep the line intact as I thought they did a fine job this year by and large, and they only should be better next year with a healthy Pouncey to anchor the middle (I hope.)
I don't think he sucks or anything, and I suppose I'd rather have him than not, but at some point the dude needs to play or that's a bunch of cash being flushed down the toilet.
Wanted him when he was a free agent last time.What do people think about the Steelers targeting Sean Smith from the Chiefs?
I'd be 100% ok with that too! And agreed, so many looked interesting. Even Weddle who might be well over the peak of his career.Wanted him when he was a free agent last time.What do people think about the Steelers targeting Sean Smith from the Chiefs?
But honestly there are about 15 guys I wouldn't mind in a Steeler uniform on that defensivebacks FA list.
Love Gipsons nose for the ball. per roto- ESPN Cleveland doesn’t expect contract-year FS Tashaun Gipson to re-sign with the Browns.
If we get Berry, then we are sacrificing somewhere else. It has never been the Steelers model to go after those top free agents. Zero chance.I'd be 100% ok with that too! And agreed, so many looked interesting. Even Weddle who might be well over the peak of his career. What if we got Eric Berry?Wanted him when he was a free agent last time.What do people think about the Steelers targeting Sean Smith from the Chiefs?
But honestly there are about 15 guys I wouldn't mind in a Steeler uniform on that defensivebacks FA list.
Love Gipsons nose for the ball. per roto- ESPN Cleveland doesnt expect contract-year FS Tashaun Gipson to re-sign with the Browns.
Won't happen, but we're allowed to dream until they all sign with other teams. And we'll end up signing someone "awesome" like Antwon Blake...
I think they could target one of Weddle, Gipson, or Sean Smith. They're either older and possibly cheaper but would want to go to a contender, or a talented player whose team won't pay to keep them but are in the $4-5 million per year range instead of the $6-7 million range. Similar to the Mitchell pickup.fred_1_15301 said:If we get Berry, then we are sacrificing somewhere else. It has never been the Steelers model to go after those top free agents. Zero chance.steelers1080 said:I'd be 100% ok with that too! And agreed, so many looked interesting. Even Weddle who might be well over the peak of his career. What if we got Eric Berry?BigSteelThrill said:Wanted him when he was a free agent last time.steelers1080 said:What do people think about the Steelers targeting Sean Smith from the Chiefs?
But honestly there are about 15 guys I wouldn't mind in a Steeler uniform on that defensivebacks FA list.
Love Gipsons nose for the ball. per roto- ESPN Cleveland doesnt expect contract-year FS Tashaun Gipson to re-sign with the Browns.
Won't happen, but we're allowed to dream until they all sign with other teams. And we'll end up signing someone "awesome" like Antwon Blake...
Wallace is a huge downgrade from Pouncey. Hard to fault Pouncey's missed games via the freak injuries he's sustained from friendly fire. He's played the majority of the 4 seasons when he wasn't out for the year and was All Pro in each. Saying he's missed a lot of time or is rarely available is just not accurate. He's played injured and come back quickly from other injuries. Here's an older article detailing his injury history. http://www.steelersdepot.com/2014/06/look-back-injury-history-steelers-c-maurkice-pouncey/I know I've stated this before, and it probably isn't very popular, but I'm really not sure Pouncey's anywhere near as good as he's made out to be. He's constantly injured....yet the Steelers never seem to miss him overmuch when he's shelved. Yeah, he rocked as a rookie. How many actual games has he played since then though?I'd love to keep the line intact as I thought they did a fine job this year by and large, and they only should be better next year with a healthy Pouncey to anchor the middle (I hope.)
I don't think he sucks or anything, and I suppose I'd rather have him than not, but at some point the dude needs to play or that's a bunch of cash being flushed down the toilet.
Records with him and without him? (sans Ben being injured)So, saying Pouncey has missed a lot of time, when he's played 17 of a possible 48 regular season games the past three years and missed 33 of the last 55 total including playoffs, is just not accurate? Okay.
Nobody is saying Cody Wallace is better than Pouncey. But he has absolutely missed a ton of time. That's pretty much indisputable. He's missed playoff time early in his career too, even in the years where he made it through the whole season unless my memory is complete Swiss cheese. Pretty sure he was hurt for the playoffs his rookie year, IIRC. Missed the SB vs. Green Bay. Missed the WC round the following year too.
Should they not try to keep Le'veon Bell under the same precedent? Being partly serious here. Guy has been injured every season with two decent MCL injuries. No one is going after him in the same manner they have gone after Pouncey. My personal opinion is injuries happen in the NFL. The number of guys out this year was sky high. You try to keep the best talent that you draft. Pouncey is that. Now they need to do the same with Bell and Decastro.So, saying Pouncey has missed a lot of time, when he's played 17 of a possible 48 regular season games the past three years and missed 33 of the last 55 total including playoffs, is just not accurate? Okay.
Nobody is saying Cody Wallace is better than Pouncey. But he has absolutely missed a ton of time. That's pretty much indisputable. He's missed playoff time early in his career too, even in the years where he made it through the whole season unless my memory is complete Swiss cheese. Pretty sure he was hurt for the playoffs his rookie year, IIRC. Missed the SB vs. Green Bay. Missed the WC round the following year too.
Excluding the season ending injuries. Which were freak friendly fire injuries. Tough to fault a guy for having people falling on his legs and breaking ####.So, saying Pouncey has missed a lot of time, when he's played 17 of a possible 48 regular season games the past three years and missed 33 of the last 55 total including playoffs, is just not accurate? Okay.
Nobody is saying Cody Wallace is better than Pouncey. But he has absolutely missed a ton of time. That's pretty much indisputable. He's missed playoff time early in his career too, even in the years where he made it through the whole season unless my memory is complete Swiss cheese. Pretty sure he was hurt for the playoffs his rookie year, IIRC. Missed the SB vs. Green Bay. Missed the WC round the following year too.
My opinion on that is they won in spite of Wallace, not because of him. Wallace was the most penalized interior lineman in the NFL. And he was constantly getting beat by the opposing defender and Ben took hits because of it. Sure, lets expose the 100M dollar qb to more hits because we want to save a few nickels on the guy in front of him.Records with him and without him? (sans Ben being injured)So, saying Pouncey has missed a lot of time, when he's played 17 of a possible 48 regular season games the past three years and missed 33 of the last 55 total including playoffs, is just not accurate? Okay.
Nobody is saying Cody Wallace is better than Pouncey. But he has absolutely missed a ton of time. That's pretty much indisputable. He's missed playoff time early in his career too, even in the years where he made it through the whole season unless my memory is complete Swiss cheese. Pretty sure he was hurt for the playoffs his rookie year, IIRC. Missed the SB vs. Green Bay. Missed the WC round the following year too.