Give me a shut down corner, a healthy Troy and Aaron, and...

[vrabinec]

Sign Casey and Clark for next year, and we're right back as one of the best 3 or 4 teams in the NFL, and in the fight for a Super Bowl.

Assume Troy will be back at 100% next year, and the same with Smith. You have to assume that, because there are too many other positions that need to be adressed right now for us to give high priority to their "replacements". If you assume that, then add a re-signed Hampton and Clark, you're looking at a line of what will probably end up being Smith, Hampton and Hood, linebackers being Woodley, Farrior, Timmons, and Harrison, Troy and Clark at safety and Ike to take the #2 receiver, if you're lucky enough to land a good cover corner in the draft (might mean giving up a 3rd to move up 5-7 spots in the draft to get him, assuming Big C is right about Haden).

On the offensive side, you re-sign Colon, and either sign a free agent like Logan Mankins or draft a guard in the second to compete with Essex, Stapleton, Urbik, Foster for the RG spot. If you sign a free agent guard, then you use the second round pick on a center, or vice versa and you get a short yardage back either in free agency or in the draft, and IMO you have enough offense to win.

That leaves you weak/vulnerable at center, ILB, backup safety, backup TE, backup OLB, and I think you can win with that. Having Troy back would help out Farrior in certain situations where he's asked to cover the RB out of the backfield, and having Smith back would help stop the run to that side. Hood is clearly gonna be a better pass rusher than Keisel was, so you improve the pass rush, and a good corner gives that pass rush more time to get to the QB. A good corner also makes us deeper at corner, particularly if Burnette or Lewis pans out, so you become better against the three and four wides.

An upgrade at RG, and another year for Mendenhall and Wallace to learn the offense, and someone to at least push and hopefully win the job at center (I actually think the center spot is worse than the RG spot, but I'm not seeing any good options at center right now in the draft or free agency) and I think the offense improves to where they put up around 400 points next year.

Sound about right?

[BigCurt]

Assume Troy will be back at 100% next year,

I don't think this franchise can ever go forward with that assumption. In fact they should go forward and build this secondary assuming Troy will never be 100% again. The lack of depth and talent at safety is in part due to the assumption Troy will be healthy and pick them up. If they do that again, and when the inevitability occurs that Troy gets hurt, the Steelers will be in no better shape. As great a player as Troy is during those times when he is on the field and 100%, this team cannot take it as a given at this point.

[vrabinec]

Assume Troy will be back at 100% next year,

I don't think this franchise can ever go forward with that assumption. In fact they should go forward and build this secondary assuming Troy will never be 100% again. The lack of depth and talent at safety is in part due to the assumption Troy will be healthy and pick them up. If they do that again, and when the inevitability occurs that Troy gets hurt, the Steelers will be in no better shape. As great a player as Troy is during those times when he is on the field and 100%, this team cannot take it as a given at this point.

Yeah, 100% is probably hoping for too much. All the more reason to upgrade the secondary around him. But you can't start using high draft picks and prime free agent signings at this point to try to replace him, so you go into the year assuming he is your starter, and draft a day 3 guy to compete with the clowns you have to be his backup.

[BigCurt]

Yeah, 100% is probably hoping for too much. All the more reason to upgrade the secondary around him. But you can't start using high draft picks and prime free agent signings at this point to try to replace him, so you go into the year assuming he is your starter, and draft a day 3 guy to compete with the clowns you have to be his backup.

Perhaps not, but a high pick or a prime free agent signing for the player who will play beside him is a must, IMO. If you can't count on him being on the field for 16 games(and at this point even the biggest Troy fan can't defend that) you have to be able to count on the guys who will be.

This team has counted on Troy's talent masking the deficiencies of players around him, but when he's on the bench that doesn't do any good.

[Master Blaster]

I don't see the Steelers re-signing Casey. He will want too much money and at his age it wouldn't be prudent. Dale Lolley said that it's a high probability that they would place the franchise tag on him and have him mentor his eventual replacement.

[BigCurt]

yeah, there's little chance Hampton comes back, and there really isn't a financially responsible FA to replace him. Probably have to draft his replacement.

I don't love the NT prospects in this draft past the top two, and I hate to think about using a first on one, with the needs in the secondary. Two names for later in the draft...

Torell Troup, UCF 6-3 315
Kade Weston Georgia 6-4 325

[SteelerCarl]

Whatever we do, I think we should 'Draft-Steel'.

[gut]

They can franchise Hampton. Cost prohibitive, maybe, but it does look to be an uncapped year.

If they could get a #1 corner, that would slide Ike to #2 and Gay to nickle and this defense instantly becomes much better, especially with Troy back. I think that would be a defense that could cover-up Troy. I think Ike and Clark had down years and will bounce back.

Thing is, even if they draft a corner in R1, does that guy having any chance of starting on LeBeau's defense? They didn't give the rookies a real shot this year, as it was, which is telling giving how bad our coverage was. Considering other teams have plugged in scrubs with at least some success, I think the lack of opportunity for those rookies says more about LeBeau than their talent. On most other teams for other coaches, those guys would have been given a shot with the others so obviously failing to cut it.

I'm afraid this team is going to roll the dice on trotting out the same defense hoping Troy can plug the leaks just enough.

[Master Blaster]

It's obvious that the defense and the special teams are the two areas of the team that need the most attention. Age has caught up with them and that is due in large by the fact that they've been rolling the dice the past few years by not focusing on drafting new D lineman early in the draft. Last year was the first time in many years that they selected a D Lineman higher than the fourth round when they got Ziggy Hood. They never attempted to draft Casey's replacement which I find a bit disconcerting, especially knowing how poorly in shape he is when he shows up to camp. They did make a concerted effort in addressing the linebacking position when they drafted Timmons and Woodley, but they still need to do more in that area. This year the CB's were under achieving, big time and they became a liability. Outside of Troy the safety position is bad and those in waiting don't elicit confidence. Lord knows that Tomlin and LeBeau have their work cut out for them and an infusion of new blood could be what the doctor ordered.

As for the S.T.'s, Yeesh! Start over from scratch. I see the Bobby April is available.

[DSH_97]

My god, the Steelers secondary looks like a pimple riddled ass right now. The more you look at that secondary, the more you hope the 1st 2 picks are for corner and FS. This is going to be a long off season.

Casey..... He did mention he wanted to stay after being here for so long. So for now, I'm assuming he'll get restructured and brought back for a few more years. This is where you must blame Colbert for not being more proactive with this roster however. There's no excuses for this, at all. If he didn't want to resign Hampton, why didn't he go after a NT a couple of seasons ago?

Here's the kicker in this situation, Brett Keisel was making more than Hampton this year. Hampton made more last season than he did this season. At 3.03 mil, you have to figure that's a f#@&ing bargain for a NT. Dan Synder would be happy to have a couple of those Hampton guys on his unit, compared to what he has in Haynesworth right now. I really don't see a legit reasoning to get rid of him. He's never been the subject of bad behavior off the field. He's not selfish at all, and as a coach and team mate, that's what you want along side of you during the course of a season....

As for his conditioning, Where do they want him at? A svelte 299 or his usual robust 340? I don't see him putting down the BBQ back home with the family, just to come trotting into camp looking slim. That's not Hampton, never has been. They keep pushing this 320 mark with Hampton, as if, he can become that rookie again. I don't see it happening at this point. He wasn't even close to 320 when they won the last couple of Super Bowls. Why keep pushing for this mythical rookie weight for a guy who's job is to clog up the middle and potentially roll around on top of the QB after a sack?

Hey BigCurt, you have anything on Dan Williams and where he might project?

[BigCurt]

Hey BigCurt, you have anything on Dan Williams and where he might project?

Williams is a big riser from what I understand. I'm not as high on him as most but I think unless some bigtime underclass DT's declare he's almost certainly a first round pick. Some pundits say he'll go ahead of Cody.

[vrabinec]

Hey BigCurt, you have anything on Dan Williams and where he might project?

Williams is a big riser from what I understand. I'm not as high on him as most but I think unless some bigtime underclass DT's declare he's almost certainly a first round pick. Some pundits say he'll go ahead of Cody.

Bet the kid from UCLA declaring pushes him to a later spot. I saw a couple UCLA games this year, and he was a beast.

[salsbst]

Defensively: sign a corner who can catch in free agency, hope Troy gets healthy, tag Ryan Clark and go with Chris Hoke for a season. Continue to draft for the D-Line and get Z. Hood involved. We have no shortage of linebackers.

Offensively: release FWP and work the draft for the OLine's longterm health. That does not mean blowing all of our picks on possible players, but drafting so that we can build the line, even it if comes through trades.

Our Special Teams are special and thus deserve no critical review.

We'll need to be coached up to make the playoffs next year, but we still have enough talent if the coaching is just so. We should reload and at least attempt to make it interesting in 2010 while not going for the triple lindy.

Where is Rodney Dangerfield when you need him?

[primantibro1]

If McClain declares and goes early, what is the feeling about Hughes from TCU? Granted, there are some corners I like at the 18 spot (if still around) but with Pahtsy Farrior slowing down, is there a chance in constantinople that we might consider moving Siverback inside (where he could likely dominate as well) and go with some explosive youth like Hughes to wreak havoc in the backfield?

I know its a bit of a highjacking but ... 'tis the season.

[DarthSpartans20]

This team needs to draft a corner in round 1 or 2. You just dont find too many good cornerbacks after those rounds, and you certainly wont find a "shutdown" corner after round 2. This team needs a corner who can put up a 5 int. +, 15+ passes defensed season and limit the throws the opposing teams best receiver sees each game.

[Jball]

This team needs to draft a corner in round 1 or 2. You just dont find too many good cornerbacks after those rounds, and you certainly wont find a "shutdown" corner after round 2. This team needs a corner who can put up a 5 int. +, 15+ passes defensed season and limit the throws the opposing teams best receiver sees each game.

I totally hear you but with drafting two CB's last year and Gay still being young, I doubt they're gonna look to fill that position early.

One thing I haven't seen posted is Center. I can't take another season of Hartwig getting thrown around like a rag doll.

FS is obviously a need. DL as well. Not much depth at ILB either. Oh oh if McClain would be there at 18. Yeah, I know, dream on.

It should be mostly defense but Center has to be looked at.

[DSH_97]

I remember back when Andy Reid first took over the Eagles, he stock piled corners constantly til that secondary was fixed. Now, the Steelers may have picked up Burnett and Lewis, but they need a talented corner, preferably a RD1 or RD 2 guy, that can match up with Taylor on the outside. It's a must for them. Personally, I think Lewis will be the guy to step up his game, but there's no guarantees here. And most certainly, they need a playmaker at FS, not some guy that's sitting the bench and hardly ever sees the field. Something Colbert is notorious for doing.

Townsend needs to go ahead and retire. He's not the same player anymore. He just doesn't have anything left. Carter needs to go, along with the mutant ninja turtle jokes Just in those two, they'll still need help in that secondary after replacing them. Honestly, I don't see how they could afford to ignore the secondary any longer. They barely have any kind of help as it is. Looking at the rds each of those DBs were picked, only Polamalu was selected in the 1st day. That alone speaks volumes about a secondary that's riddled with question marks, IMO.

Trading Harrison to the Niners for their 2nd 1st rd pick would serve a good purpose for both franchises. Hate to see James leave, but what do you do by keeping him? They have that extra 1st rd pick and the Steelers really should look at acquiring it from them. Of course, this could backfire on them. With the Jets rumored to be looking at moving Thomas from their roster, they could swoop in and take that 1st rd pick. And then there's the "Known, Unknown" such as, what if the player that was supposed to replace Harrison, turns out to be a fraud? You don't go Joey Porter- James Harrison - Zo Jackson in a matter of seasons. They already dropped a dud in Bruce Davis, A player that should have never seen the light of day in the Burgh. So any player they find as a replacement, have better be a damn good one.