Win Two Free Tickets to Pittsburgh vs. Rutgers

Pittsburgh Blitz is proud to announce our partnership with Pittsburgh Budget Cars and with that comes a contest where one of our readers will win two free tickets and a parking pass for the Mar. 6, 2010 home basketball game, Pitt vs. Rutgers.

“Our friends at Pittsburgh Budget Cars , a great place to find a used car under $10,000 in Pittsburgh, have a great prize to share with you.  Pittsburgh Budget Cars has a extensive online inventory of certified used vehicles.”

The way to win is by submitting a Pittsburgh Steelers related news/fan article to us at Pittsburgh Blitz . The article must be original, and cannot have been posted on any other website or news outlet. Be as creative as you can when submitting the articles as we will select our favorite as the winner.

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Pre Game Gab: Tennessee Titans at Pittsburgh Steelers, Week One

With only three days to the NFL season officially kicks off with the Tennessee Titans visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers to open the season on Thursday night, Pittsburgh Blitz takes a look at the matchup and breaks it down with a prediction of who will be the victor.

In last season’s late matchup, the Steelers traveled to Nashville to face the mighty Titans and fell flat on their faces as several key turnovers would pace the Titans to a 31-14 victory and allow for the Titans stomping of the “Terrible Towel” after the game.

Titans linebacker and defensive captain Keith Bulluck got hold of one, as did Tennessee running back LenDale White, and they stomped on them. Showing the ultimate disrespect to the eventual six-time Super Bowl Champions.

That was then and this is now.

Both teams open the 2009 season with one thing on their minds and that is to get out of the gates fast with a victory. The Steelers have a little added reason for revenge though as they look to avenge the towel’s honor that we as Steelers fans have come to adore.

The Titans “LenWhale” White has added fuel to the fire that already burns in the Burgh by opening mouth and inserting foot with his comments last week. Giving the Steelers even more bulletin board material. As if they need it.

Now not only do the Steelers have pride to play for, they have a whale to set their sights on and harpoon.

Two of the top teams from last year will kickoff the 2009 season. The Titans looking to prove their loss to the Ratbirds in the playoffs was a fluke and the Steelers looking to bring down moby dick and his merry stomping buddies.

This game could truly be a classic in the mix and should not disappoint the Steelers, Titans, or any average NFL fan that will be on hand.

 

The Steelers Five Keys to Victory

1. Protect Big Ben—In last season’s loss, the Steelers could not seem to stop the Titans pass rush and Big Ben was forced to run for his life most of the game and the result was a pair of INTs and several fumbles by the two-time Super Bowl Champ, Roethlisberger.

As all Steelers fans know, this line is not what it once was. But the Steelers offensive line must find away to give their QB time to find open receivers. The line needs to perform well in both pass and run blocking. If Ben can stay on his feet during the game and has any time at all, he should be able to put up enough points via the passing game to help his team win.

 

2. Establish the run—The duo of Willy Parker and Rashard Mendenhall need the offensive line to open holes in the run game and take advantage of the gaps created.

The Steelers passing game is predicated off the run and to be successful in one aspect, both need to be clicking on all cylinders. Neither needs to gain 100+ yards, but both need to be effective with the rock in their hands.

Short yardage, red zone and blitz pickup will be important aspects in this game and both running backs need to handle their business.

 

3. Get after Kerry Collins—James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley will need to pick up where they left off last season, as will the defense as a whole. Their personal competition with one another must start week one and continue through the final game of the season.

The Titans are a run-first team, but if the Steelers can control Collins and that air attack, it will slow down the Titans two-headed monster on the ground. I look for two sacks out of Woodley and Harrison to add one of his own.

 

4. Contain the run—The Titans have two solid running backs in last year’s rookie sensation Chris Johnson and the big mouth whale of a man, LenDale White.

A major key to this game will be to contain them both and in the process smack LenWhale around for his disrespect of the “Terrible Towel” after last season’s loss.

If the Steelers can keep the Titans runners to minimal gains on early downs, it will open things up for the pass rush and force the Titans to become one dimensional.

 

5. Win the field position battles—Last season, the Steelers were poor on special teams in many aspects. Their punter missed the entire season with an injury and they were forced to use short yardage type running backs as their returners.

Skip ahead to this year and if the preseason is any indication, they have only gotten better. With the addition of Stefan Logan as their return specialist and the return of punter Daniel Sepulveda from injury, the Steelers have turned what was once a weakness into what could be something special.

I look for Logan to have a big day both in the punt and kick return aspects and if he does, the Steelers will have fulfilled this key to a victory.

Nothing is a given in the NFL. On any given Sunday a team can win or lose a game in the blink of an eye.

This game is no different.

Both teams have solid defense’s and decent offensive units. On paper, the Steelers have the better offense, but paper does not transfer to the field, only the actions of the players listed on such said paper does.

With that said, look for the Steelers to be fired up and out for revenge. Not only was their towel molested after last season’s loss, but the pride of the men who make up the Pittsburgh Steelers was bruised. This game won’t be pretty but in the end I predict a Steelers win. Not only do I predict a Steelers win, but a BIG win.

Steelers over the Titans 28-10

 

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The Steelers 2009 Draft vs. the Rest of the AFC North Division

The AFC North had an incredible draft. Lot’s of talent was added. The draft’s been graded and picked over and we will not be going over the “draft value” of the “draftees.” We will instead be looking at players that were added and how they might benefit their respective teams.

The Potential Ratings are as follows:

5 – Star
4 – Starter/Major Contributor
3 – Contributor
2 – Roster Spot
1 – Practice Squad
0 – Washout

ST – Short Term
LT – Long Term

Let’s dive right in:

The Draft (AFC North Teams in draft order from last to first)

Round One:

Bengals

No. 6 Andre Smith, OT, Alabama. So he did and said some stupid things at the combine and he doesn’t look good with his shirt off. But he can play the position and may be the most Pro-ready lineman in the draft.

At No. 6, I would have gone for one of the other OT’s that showed up to compete at the combine. But if he is not lazy and looking to win the lottery, he could be a force for years to come. 3.5 ST, 4.5 LT.

Browns

No. 21 Alex Mack, C, California. A player a lot of mock drafts had for the Steelers. The best of a really good center crop, should be the anchor and play caller for the Brown’s O-line. 3.5 ST, 4.5 LT.

Ravens

No. 23 Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi. A book, a movie, and now a Raven? Well two out three’s not bad. Has character and talent, (should be a Steeler… oops.) he is an elite lineman for the hated Ravens. 3.5 ST, 4.5 LT.

Steelers

No. 32 Ziggy (Don’t call me Evander) Hood, DE, Missouri. Not the typical flagon of ale-and-meat-off-the-bone Steeler-type D-lineman. Has strength and motor, but also is a technique guy and more than a little cagey.

Good lateral movement off the initial bump. Maybe a switch up for Lebeau’s front three? Will get some time this year and could develop into something special. 3.5 ST, 4.5 LT.

Round Two:

Browns

No. 36 Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State University. The most Pro-ready wide receiver in the draft. Excellent hands, intimidating route running and incredible adjustment to errant throws. Look for Robiskie to share time with Cribbs, who will probably play a lot of slot. 3.75 ST, 4.7 LT.

Bengals

No. 38 Rey Maualuga, ILB, USC. Yeesh, pain in the ass alert. An incredible pick by the Bungals for once. An interior linebacker who can get to edge that quick? Won just about every award there was to win. 4.58/40? Why couldn’t this guy have gone to some NFC team? The Rams, maybe? 3.5 ST, 4.5 LT.

Browns

No. 50 Mohamed Massaquoi, WR, Georgia. I guess the fear of losing Braylon Edwards can do strange things to you. A guy that couldn’t catch Matthew Stafford’s passes? Good luck in the NFL, pal. With Deon Butler, Derrick Williams, Mike Wallace and others available… why? Why? 2.0 ST, 2.75 LT.

Browns (Yes, the stinking Browns again)

No. 52 David Veikune, OLB, Hawaii. Mocker’s hated this pick. Screw those guys. If you think a guy can be an instant contributor in a position, you pick him. Veikune was relentless in college and will give the Browns a situational edge-rusher this season and a probable starter in the near future and beyond. 3.0 ST, 4.0 LT.

Ravens

No. 57 Paul Kruger, DE, Utah. A situational pass rusher in a team of pass rushers. Will be bringing it from the edge when his number is called. 2.0 ST, 3.0 LT.

Steelers

Zip, zero, nada, traded away. But we came roaring back in Round Three and the later rounds.

Round Three:

Bengals

No. 70 Michael Johnson, DE, Georgia Tech. The Bengals think they got something special here in a 6-7 guy with 4.6/40 speed. I don’t think so. He is sack happy, not fundamentally sound, gets blown away on run plays and double-teams and watches the game for long stretches of time. 1.75 ST, 2.5 LT.

Steelers

No. 79 Kraig Urbik OT, Wisconsin. This is the Steelers “Oh crap! All the offensive linemen are almost gone!” pick. I think the Steelers thought there would be a lot of high quality OT’s left in this deep draft. They snagged the last one, not counting Jamon Meredith.

They flashed on angry Steeler Country Villagers with pitchforks and torches outside Heinz Field. As it is, Urbik is a great fit. A tough guy. He blows people off the line in run blocking and has potential to develop as a good pass blocker.

A lot of people have him projected as RG which he played out of necessity in college, but the Steelers website has him as OT. I expect him to find a spot at right tackle with Willie Colon kicking inside to his true RG position. There, Kraig will be getting help in space from Willie and the most underrated TE in the league, Heath Miller!. 3.5 ST, 4.5 LT.

Steelers

No. 84 Mike Wallace WR/KR, Mississippi. A great pick. The Steelers snag a guy that nobody saw coming. Sub 4.3/40, developing good hands and route running. Now attending Holmes/Ward U. Will get coached up and become an immediate contributor as slot receiver and kick returner. Not the next Hines Ward, but maybe the first Mike Wallace. 3.6 ST, 4.7 LT.

Ravens

No. 88 Ladarius Webb CB/KR, Nicholls State. Kicked out of Southern Miss for rules violation. Not a good sign. Good athlete, a bit small and skinny, but chippy. Quick and fast, ran 4.3/40 at the combine and runs coverage at times like he’s the WR. Could contribute as KR and nickel ‘n dime back this year. Hard to judge guys playing against small college talent. Big boom or bust guy. 3.0 ST. 3.75 LT.

Steelers

No. 96 Keenan Lewis CB, Oregon State. Ike Taylor’s brother from another mother if his college game translates to the NFL. By far the best blanket coverage CB coming out of the draft this year. Has softer hands than his brother Ike.

I’ve heard he has tackling problems, but his pursuit is relentless and he is now in the Tackling Pantheon of the NFL, I think he’ll get help on any shortcomings. If he can crack the starting lineup, things could be interesting this year with two blanket corners and Troy, Ryan, Deshea, William Gay or Joe Burnett ball-hawking in double coverage. 3.5 ST, 4.6 LT.

Bengals

No. 98 Chase Coffman TE, Missouri. Big with good hands and no hesitation getting off the line. Questionable blocking skills, but Carson Palmer will enjoy the target: a 6-6 guy across the middle. Could be a future starter if he can handle the NFL pass rush, especially the Ravens and the Steelers. 2.75 ST, 3.75 LT.

Round Four:

Browns

No. 104 Kaluka Maiava ILB/ST USC. Yeesh, part deux. Another USC linebacker, undersized yes, but with a huge chip on his shoulder because he couldn’t start most of his college career in the face of the Cushing, Matthews and Malaluga confederacy. Look for him to stick and become a major pain at first on special teams and then get sub time on the defense. 3.0 ST, 3.75 LT.

Bengals

No. 106 Jonathon Luigs C, Arkansas. The Bengals gave up on last year’s center, Eric Ghiaciuc, dubbed GeeYaSuck by the Bengals faithfuls. Luigs has a chance to be a first-year starter. Yes, he has short arms. But Joe Montana didn’t have an NFL arm either. Certain guys are football players and I think Luigs is one of those guys. 3.75 ST, 4.0 LT.

No Steelers or Ravens this Round.

Round Five:

Ravens

No. 137 Jason Phillips ILB, TCU. Undersized and a little stiff, but tough. The Ravens don’t draft defensive guys that are not tough. Will probably not be a starter, but will contribute, first on special teams. 2.5 ST, 3.25 LT.

Bengals

No. 142 Kevin Huber P, Cincinnati. A punter. A damned good one. 4.0 ST, 4.25 LT.

Ravens

No. 149 Davon Drew TE, East Carolina, Former QB. Good athlete with good hands. Knows route running from QB background. 4.6/40. Maybe, not so good as a blocker. Not Todd Heap’s ultimate replacement but will contribute. 2.0 ST, 3.25 LT.

Steelers

No. 168 Joe Burnett CB/KR, Central Florida. Short but strong with great leaping ability. A ball hawk. Gives receivers a pad and comes back to burn them. Will be a nickel and dime guy to begin with. Not as fast as a kick returner, but a burst runner that knows how to follow and direct blocks. Will get a chance to line up opposite Mike Wallace on kickoffs and go solo on punt returns. I had him at this round in my mock. He’s got a great Myron Cope name too. “Ohh! What a play by Joe Burnett, of the Pittsburgh Steelers!” 3.0 ST, 4.0 LT.

Steelers

No. 169 Frank “The Tank” Summers RB, UNLV. Had him as a Sixth Round pick in my mock. Began as what used to be called a fullback (when fullbacks could actually be given the ball so they could RUN!). Who decided we would relegate one of the biggest production and possession positions in the history of the NFL to a minimal support role? It’s Stoopit! With a capitol, S-T-O-O-P-I-T!

The Tank has a low center, a great burst though the line, good feet and lateral movement behind the blockers and he likes to hit and drag people with him at the end of the play. He can also catch out of the backfield. If our linemen can give him some love, look for him to kick it. He likes to block, too. 3.0 ST, 4.25 LT.

No Browns Pick this Round.

Round Six:

Browns

No. 177 Don Carey CB, Norfolk State. A practice squad player in his first year. May make the team in the second. 1.0 ST. 2.0 LT.

Bengals

No. 179 Morgan Trent CB, Michigan. Practice squad to potential roster maker. 1.5 ST, 2.5 LT.

Ravens

No. 185 Cedric Peerman RB/KR, Virginia. Great pick to end a strong Raven’s draft. Quick and strong runner at 5-10, 215. Has the potential to contribute immediately as a KR and situational spark RB. 2.9 ST, 3.4 LT.

Browns

No. 191 Coye Francies CB, San Jose State. Gun charges that were later dropped. Kicked off Oregon State’s team. Future Bengal, Raider or Jailbird. Could Roger Goodell please clean all the thugs out of the NFL? They have no place there. And yes, all NFL players are roll models. 1.0 ST, 0.0 LT.

Browns

No. 195 James Davis RB, Clemson. Good Player that suffered like the rest of the Clemson team because Cullen Harper sucked. Good speed and overlooked. Will contribute. The Browns end strong in a good draft. 2.0 ST, 3.0 LT.

Steelers

No. 205 Ra’Shon Harris DT, Oregon. I hate to question the Steelers here, but do we really need a practice squad DL here? What about another WR for Ben, or an offensive lineman? Aaron Kelly, Kevin Ogletree, Sammy Sloughter, Tiquan Underwood were WR’s still available.

Trevor Canfield got a bad rep for hitting a guy with a beer bottle, but he looked almost as good as Kraig U. at guard. Nobody on his team or his coaches thought he had character problems and now he is a member of the Hated Whisenhunt Steelers West.

Young people do stupid things and that’s OK as long as they don’t do them with guns. OT’s Gerald Cadogan and the fast and intriguing Lydon Murtha were also available. 1.0 ST, 2.5 LT.

Bengals

No. 209 Bernard Scott RB, Abilene Christian. Has talent, but is a career criminal with five run-ins with the law. Prototypical Bengals player. Why is this guy even allowed to enter the NFL? 1.75 ST, 0.0 LT.

Bengals

No. 215 Fui Vakapuna RB, BYU. Another fullback. Say it loud and say it proud, FULLBACK! No quickness or lateral movement, but a brawler. An immediate contributor in blocking and on short yardage with a great attitude. 3.0 ST, 3.0 LT.

Round Seven:

Steelers

No. 226 A.Q. Shipley C, Penn State. He’s too short. His arms are not long enough. He will not be able to handle NFL defensive tackles. Willie Parker should never have been an NFL RB. And yaddah, yaddah, yah.

Fast (for a center) at 5.2/40. Strong at 33/225 lb. bench press. Mean and tough and lives football. The Steelers think he can be the next Mike Webster. Like Luigs for the Bengals, I think Shipley is a future starter and maybe more. 2.0 ST, 4.0 LT.

Steelers

No. 241 David Johnson TE, Arkansas State. Good blocking skills and 16 yards per reception. He’s a talented guy that will compete with Sean McHugh. I am not a real big fan of the H-Back/Tight End position, but maybe that’s because it has seemed pretty ineffective during the Arians tenure.

I would have preferred another OL or WR, but not much to complain about because of his receiving and blocking skills. The Steelers end their great draft with an intriguing pick that could pay off. 1.75 ST, 2.75 LT.

Bengals

No. 249 Clinton McDonald DE, Memphis. 4.8/40 and 36/225 lb. bench press. Very good athlete. Undersized at 6-2, 289. Projects as a special teams contributor and situational pass rusher. 1.75 ST, 3.0 LT.

Bengals

No. 252 Freddie Brown WR, Utah. Big at 6-3 with good leaping ability. Put up good numbers at Utah. Questionable hands. Will get a chance to stick due to Who’sYourMamma’s defection and Chad 85’s make-believe boxing career. 1.5 ST, 2.25 LT.

The Draft Postscript

Okay, so that’s the AFC North Draft. You can total it up if you want to, but that’s not really the point. All of these teams are starting from a different position of need. They are all looking for pieces to solve their particular puzzle. I think there was success all around.

So, congratulations to all.

The Steeler Way

One of the things I haven’t emphasized much is that all of the Steeler draft selections have high marks in one or more of the following categories: intelligence, toughness, football I.Q., character, work ethic and respect from the team, coaches, family and community.

These are the intangibles that some of the other AFC North teams don’t seem to value in all their picks or values they think they can coach. I think these things are more important than measurable and there are stories every other week to back this up. The Steelers routinely avoid or ship the low character guys.

Now back to our draft. We have added a number of potential starters, major contributors or maybe, just maybe, stars. If nothing else we’ve added some Steelers. That’s good enough for now.

I will report again on the new talent in August after attending the Steelers first Exhibition Game against the Arid Zone’s Cardinals and the two Biggest Chip Shoulder Coaches Ken and Russ. Sorry that you guys didn’t get picked, but you’re enemies now. Football enemies, not real enemies, like Al-Qaeda or something… not quite that bad…yet.

Go Stillers!

Original Source

Pittsburgh Steelers Position Breakdown: Defensive Line

With our breakdowns of the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive line, cornerbacks, & linebackers now in the books, it is now time to move on to the Steelers defensive line.

One of the reasons Pittsburgh’s defense has been so good over the years is the unheralded play of this group of me. They may not get the stats but it all starts with them up front.

The Steelers run a 3-4 defense, and the linebackers are built to make the plays within that scheme. While the defensive line is built to take on blocks and open lanes for those said LB’s. Though they may not get the glory, this group deserves it.

With guys like Aaron Smith, Casey “Big Snack” Hampton, and Brett Keisel up front, the Steelers’ defense is always one of the best in the league.

The one flaw with the DL though might be their age. As all three of the starters are in their 30s and are not getting any younger. The plus is the experience they bring to the field and the fact none of them have shown signs of slowing down yet.

‘Big Snack’ may be getting fatter but his size & strength is what makes him so damn good and allows him to take on two blockers every play. Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach John Mitchell believes that the age of the defensive line is still not a concern going into the 2009 season and recently said:

“They may be old, but when you look at these guys, Brett was here four years before he played. Aaron Smith was here two years before he played. Those guys, chronologically, are old, but football-wise, they are not…”I think they can be around for the next three, four or five years.”

With that said lets move on to the breakdown of the Steelers defensive line position.

 

The Starters

Steelers Position Breakdown of the Defensive Line

Aaron Smith – He may not get much recognition from the national media but he is quite possibly the best 3-4 Defensive End in the NFL. After missing several games due to injury in 2007,  Smith started all 16 games for the sixth time in his ten year career in 2008.

At age 32, Smith showed no signs of slowing down last year and added 5.5 sacks to his career total of 42.

Smith is a big motor guy who is one of the best in the league against the run and his play dictates how the Steelers defense attacks. His stats may not make him a fantasy hero but his play makes the Steelers defense go round. He is the main cog in the run game and it shows when he is off the field.

Smith should have at least two good seasons left in the tank and if he can stay healthy the Steelers defense has a chance to be just as good as the one that helped win Super Bowl XLIII.

 

Casey ‘Big Snack’ Hampton – His eating disorder got him into hot water with coach Mike Tomlin at the start of last seasons training camp, but Big Snack was able to get back into shape and back on the field after a few weeks in the dog house.

He is a big, strong NT and the anchor of the Steelers defense. Hampton often takes on two blocks and controls the middle of the field. When he is on his A game not many teams are able to find running room in his direction.

Hampton will be playing in 2009 to earn another contract in 2010 with either Pittsburgh or another NFL franchise but says he’s not concerned that he’s had no talks with the team about an extension despite entering a contract year.

With Hampton in the mix though the Steelers fell 54 rushing yards allowed short in 2008 of becoming the first team since Rich Kotite’s 1991 Eagles to finish a regular season ranked first in rush, pass, and total defense.

All indications during OTA’s are that Hampton is in shape and ready to play in 2009. So look for ‘Big Snack’ to try not to eat his way out of Pittsburgh and play his way into a new contract.

Here at Pittsburgh Blitz we would love to see Hampton get that new contract with the Steelers, but the cap situation and his willingness to give a hometown discount will play a key role in where he ends up in 2010.

 

Brett Keisel –Over the last few seasons Keisel has been consistent but not spectacular and like Hampton he will be playing in 2009 to earn another contract in 2010. At 6’5″, 285 pounds, Keisel’s athleticism thrives when given those chances—chances that LeBeau has also given, in a more conventional fashion, to Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu.

But Keisel is deceptively quick and athletic for someone his size.

In the Steelers scheme Keisel has been given the freedom to get up and move around and try and confuse the offense. Though listed at RDE, Keisel has been known to line up at LB as well in certain situations.

His stats might not show his worth but Keisel is always around the ball and though he might not get as many sacks as some fans would like he is consistently putting pressure on opposing QB’s every game.

Though Brett fits the Steelers system well, this could be his last season either as a starter, Steeler or both. With the recent addition of Evander Hood via the first round of the 2009 draft, Keisels days in Pittsburgh could be numbered.

Both he and the Steelers would like to get a deal done soon but like Casey Hampton, the salary cap and his willingness to take a pay cut will determine if he gets a new contract or not from the Steelers.

 

Key Role Players

Travis Kirschke –The Pittsburgh Steelers signed defensive end Travis Kirschke to a two-year contract extension a few months ago and he should again be the primary backup RDE for the team.

Though with the addition of Hood to the roster, his playing time could be cut as he may not be the primary when the Steelers rotate in fresh legs throughout games. Kirschke has been with the Steelers since 2005 and before that played for Detroit and the 49ers.

 

Nick Eason –The former Denver Bronco and Cleveland Clown, Eason has been with the Steelers since 2007 and has played little since signing with the team. His playing time will be even less this season and if Evander Hood gets on track soon enough, Eason could be looking for a new team by the end of training camp.

 

Evander “Ziggy” Hood – is a solid defender who plays with a high motor. He has great size and quickness, and plays with leverage. He’s fast off the line, blades through the gap and quickly locates the ball carrier. He’s physical at the point of attack and holds his own against a bigger opposition and double teams.

He’s a durable, reliable defender who demonstrates great toughness in the trenches.

OK great we know what the scouts said about him, but can the kid play? The Steelers coaches think so and so do we here at Pittsburgh Blitz. Hood has all the tools to be a great DE but will need time to learn the Steelers scheme and get used to the change from college to the NFL. Once Hood does though, he is destined to be a starter.

Hood should primarily be used as the first or second option in the Steelers defensive line rotation but could also see playing time at DT in nickel and dime packages. He could also be the reason Brett Keisel gets a new deal or not.

 

Chris Hoke – The backup to Casey Hampton and has consistently stepped in admirably when injuries have occurred. Hoke is an important piece of the puzzle as the primary backup NT because Big Snack is not getting any younger or slimmer and when he gets playing time the Steelers defense does not miss a beat.

Having a competent backup who can demand double teams from offensive lineman is very important in the 3-4 defense and Hoke is that type of player.

 

The Rest of the Pack

The other players on the roster, that matter, for the Steelers defensive line include Scott Paxson (NT), Orpheus Roye (DE), and the rookie Ra’Shon Harris (DE). Of the three only Harris has a real future with the team.

Paxson is a career practice dummy and Roye is so old, when he reads the bible he is remembering the good old days. Paxson and Ra’Shon Harris should both be on the practice squad this season but Roye may get sent packing sooner then later.

Overall we don’t foresee much change with the 2009 defensive line as compared to the 2008 group. The addition of Ziggy Hood will likely force out either Travis Kirschke, Nick Eason or Orpheus Roye but the rest of the core group will stay the same. 

We expect Ra’Shon Harris and Scott Paxson to either be on the 53 man roster but inactive for game days or be stashed on the practice squad. 

Perhaps one or two of these undrafted free agents from the 2009 class will come to camp, surprise everyone and grab a roster spot, however unlikely.  Regardless of what happens to training camp if the Steelers can remain healthy on the defensive line they will again be suiting up one of the better defensive front lines in all of football.

 

Well that’s the lowdown on the defensive line, thanks for reading and your comments are always welcome. Let us know what you think.

*Check back soon for the 9th and final edition of this series. Next up we will be the breakdown of the Special Teams.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ Positional Breakdown: The Linebackers

Before we start this breakdown of the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ linebackers, we would like to apologize to our readers for the delay in the release of this post. It has been a hectic few weeks with work and life and we had to take some time away from writing new stuff.

With that said, lets get the ball rolling.

With our breakdowns of the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends, offensive line & corner backsnow in the books, it is now time to move on to the greatest group in the NFL, the Steelers linebackers.

This group of men includes the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley, James Farrior and Lawrence Timmons, who replaces the departed Larry Foote, in the starting line up.

A ton of press has been given to ‘Silverback’ recently, not for his play on the field or as the DPOTY but for his recent refusal to join his team at the White House to meet the President for his annual ass kissing to the voters among NFL fans.

The tradition has been around a long time where the incumbent President invites the winner of the Super Bowl in for a visit and a player of that team almost never turns down the invitation. James Harrison on the other hand has now turned down both Obama and George W. and has recently taken a ton of heat for his actions.

Here at Pittsburgh Blitz, we commend Harrison for being his own man though. We have nothing but respect for him and in no way see his actions as anything more than a man being true to his beliefs. With that said, let’s move on to the breakdown of the Steelers linebacker position.

 

The Starters

Steelers Position Breakdown of the Linebackers

James Harrison – What more can you ask of the reigning defensive player of the year? Harrison was an undrafted free agent who earned his spot on the team with hard work and dedication.

He has racked up 28.5 sacks, 3 interceptions, 14 forced fumbles and was the hero of Super Bowl XLIII with his record setting 100 yard interception return for a touchdown. All this and ‘Silverback’ has only been a starter for two seasons.

Harrison recently turned 31 but he has relatively fresh legs for an NFL player his age, only being a starter for two seasons will help with that.  In his career though, Harrison has went from an undrafted practice dummy to a legit NFL star and possibly the best linebacker in the league.

His play earned him a new contract a few months ago but he should continue to play at the same level regardless since he is used to earning what he gets, he should not lose sight of the light at the end of the tunnel now that he is a rich man.

 

LaMarr Woodley – From Michigan to Pittsburgh, Woodley was Mike Tomlin’s second pick ever as the Steelers coach and in just two short years he went from Clark Haggans back up to a star in the league. He is strong and has a bull rush that beats most tackles in the league and his motor is always running at 120 mph.

Woodley broke onto the scene his rookie year with four sacks but two of them came in the playoffs verse the Jaguars.

Those sacks started a streak that only he has ever had as he is the only NFL play to collect a pair of sacks in four consecutive playoff games, including two in Super Bowl XLIII verse Kurt Warner and the Cardinals, the second which caused a fumble that helped the Steelers seal the win.

Just 28 games into his career Woodley has 15.5 sacks an interception and several forced and recovered fumbles on his resume and at only age 24 he has plenty of time to add to it as well. Former Steelers’ great, Kevin Greene, once said Woodley is the best linebacker he has ever scene.

Here at Pittsburgh Blitz we have to agree that at least he is one of the best we have come across, with the potential to be the best ever.

 

James Farrior – I am sure many fans will have an argument with what I am about to say but Farrior is the best free agent pick up the Steelers have ever signed. The NY Jets’ loss in 2003 was the Steelers’ find for the ages.

Since joining the team he has been the leader of the linebackers and the QB of the defense. He is smart and knows how to play the position with the best of them.

In our opinion, James Farrior is on the brink of being considered one of the best MLB’s to ever play for the Steelers, and that’s saying a lot with the history the team has had with the position. At age 34 though, Farrior has shown no signs of slowing down yet and is still the leader of the leagues best defense.

 

Lawrence Timmons –The former 15th pick of the 2007 NFL draft has had to bide his time as a back up to Larry Foote his first two seasons with the team. The recent release of Foote has changed everything for him though. Timmons is finally penciled in as a starter in the middle of the defense and his time to prove his worth is now.

Timmons has showed the potential to be great and if he can live up to the hype he will add a whole new dimension to the Steelers defense.

With his speed and pass rush abilities Timmons could create havoc on inside blitz’s. Thus forcing offense’s to pick their poison and block Harrison, Woodley or Timmons. Not many teams will have what it takes to block all three.

Timmons also can play OLB which will allow the team to move him around and sub him into several different packages. He is a star in the making and how high he sores is all in how well he performs.

 

Key Role Players

Keyaron Fox – A former third-round choice of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2004 and spent four seasons there. He started four games in 2006 for the Chiefs, but his career has mostly been as a backup and special teams player.

The 27-year-old linebacker came to the Steelers in 2008 and helped out as one of the key players on special teams, appearing in 13 games and finishing second on the team with a career-high 21 tackles in kick coverage.

With the departure of Larry Foote to free agency, Fox is now the primary back up to Farrior and Timmons and must step up his game and show he deserves the role.

 

Bruce Davis – Outside linebacker Bruce Davis didn’t make a single play as a rookie—no tackles, sacks or interceptions—which is why he couldn’t wait to get into the weight room and bulk up so he never goes through a season like that again.

A third-round pick in 2008, Davis shouldn’t be labeled a bust because he wasn’t on the field long enough to show he could play. But he knows the pressure is on him to produce this year. Davis must step up this season and show he belongs and the team.

If Davis does, he should be used in situational packages and as a relief hitter for Harrison and Woodley.

 

The Rest of the Pack

Here at Pittsburgh Blitz we are not sold on any of the following players being more then special teamers and depth fillers so we won’t go into depth on each individually. Of them all, Donovan Woods has shown the most promise.

Woods is listed at OLB but has the size to move inside if needed. His play on special teams is what stands out most about him but injuries derailed most of his season in 2008 and we did not get to see enough of Woods to give a real opinion.

Other linebackers listed on the roster are Andre Fraizer, Arnold Harrison, Patrick Bailey and a pair undrafted free agents who are long shots to make the team in Tom Korte and Andy Shantz. Of the two Korte has the best shot at making the squad after impressing the coaching staff during OTA’s with a nice interception off Charlie Batch.

 

Well that’s the lowdown on the linebackers, thanks for reading and your comments are always welcome. Let us know what you think.

*Check back soon for the eighth edition of this nine-part series. Next up we will be the breakdown of the Defensive line.

Pittsburgh Blitz

Pittsburgh Steelers Position Breakdown: Offensive Line

So far we have covered the quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends, now it is time to turn our attention to the most criticized position, the Offensive Line. 

It’s hard to believe a defending Super Bowl champion with so many starters returning could have any weaknesses, but the Pittsburgh Steelers do. Without a question, the Steelers had the worst offensive line of any Super Bowl champion in history. Don’t believe us? Check out the stats.

Marvel Smith and Kendall Simmons were let go, and not one lineman was signed in free agency. The draft produced just two picks, Wisconsin guard, Kraig Urbik, was tabbed in the third round and Penn State center A.Q. Shipley was a seventh round selection. Only Urbik has a shot to earn a starting position as Shipley will need time to develop.

The line has size, center Justin Hartwig (6-4, 312), LG Chris Kemoeatu (6-3, 344), RG Darnell Stapleton (6-5, 305), LT Max Starks (6-8, 345), and RT Willie Colon (6-3, 315) all are 300-plus pounders who, at times, can be dominant run blockers. The problem they had was athleticism and pass protection.

Steelers Position Breakdown of the Offensive Line

The Starters:

LT – Max Starks – Starks is among the tallest NFL players, standing at 6’8″ and 340 pounds. He is probably never going to be a tackle in the image of Tunch Illkin or Leon Searcy, but he is a solid, versatile starter.

Starks has bounced in and out of the starting line up the last few seasons but played well enough in 2008 to earn the franchise tag a second year in a row.

At the very least, Starks will give their line some stability and franchising him buys Pittsburgh time to draft and develop other offensive lineman or to work out a long term contract with him. Starks is penciled in as the starting LT but will need to play well in camp to fend of Tony Hills and keep the job.

LG – Chris Kemoeatu – Chris Kemoeatu joined the Steelers in 2005 as a sixth round pick out of Utah. Listed at 6’3” and 344 pounds. Since being drafted he has captivated the imaginations of Steelers fans who are devotees of the team’s Smash Mouth identity. Though has yet to live up to the hype.

It’s unfair to single out Kemoeatu for blame, but the Steelers had a lot of difficulty punching at the goal line in the latter half of the year, and much of that difficulty was due to the run blocking from the interior lineman. While the Steelers definitely could do worse than Kemoeatu at guard, he is certainly not a player you break the bank for.

Center – Justin Hartwig – Signed to sure up the center position at the start of the 2008 season, Hartwig easily earned the starting job and allowed the Steelers to trade the undersized Sean Mahan to free up needed cap space. His play at the position was an upgrade but still not up to Steelers standards.

Hartwig enters the final season of his contract in 2009 and with Darnell Stapleton and the rookie A.Q. Shipley on the roster will need to improve to get re-signed by Pittsburgh.

At 6’4 and 312 lbs., Hartwig has the size to play the position and hold up against the Sean Rogers of the NFL, but will need to improve his run blocking to earn his keep in 2009 or beyond.

RG – Darnell Stapleton –Originally was signed as an un-drafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers prior to the 2007 season. After the trade of Sean Mahan, Darnell became the backup center for the 2008 season.

Due to necessity, after starting guard Kendall Simmons was placed on Injured Reserve after a Monday Night game against the Baltimore Ravens, he became the starter for the rest of the 2008 season.

As a starter for the 2008 AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, Darnell joins teammates Willie Parker and James Harrison on the list of impact non-drafted players in the Kevin Colbert era.

Our personally opinion here at Pittsburgh Blitz is that Darnell was an upgrade to Simmons and his play, though not perfect, helped to shore up the OL down the stretch and into the playoffs and Super Bowl. We are eager to see how he improves his second year as a starter. That is if he can hold off Kraig Urbik for the job this summer.

RT – Willie Colon –  Was originally selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round (131st overall) in the 2006 NFL Draft. He started the first two games of his career in Weeks 16 and 17 of the 2006 season, replacing an injured Max Starks, and in early 2007 team activities has replaced Starks as the 1st-team right tackle for the team.

There has been rumors the past few years that Willie Colon should move to guard as another tackle, such as Max Starks or Trai Essex could play right tackle.

The rumors were founded mainly because of Colon’s unspectacular pass protection, as well as his size—6’3″ is an ideal guard size, not a tackle size. However, Mike Tomlin and other members of the Steelers organization have often dispelled such rumors.

Technically the teams only offensive linemen listed on the roster at RT, Colon could get challenged for the job by Tony Hills this summer. We look for this to be one of the more interesting camp battles, as here at Pittsburgh Blitz we are not big Willie Colon fans, at least not with him at RT. A move to RG or LG would suit him better in our opinion.

Key Role Players:

LT – Jason Capizzi –At 6-9, 315 pounds, Jason Capizzi looks big, even by NFL standards, as he walks around the locker room of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has the size and pedigree to play a key back up role for the Steelers in 2009. Capizzi signed with the Steelers as an un-drafted free agent from IUP.

The Gibsonia native, who started his college career at Pitt, has spent time last season on practice squad and was elevated to the 53 man roster when Marvel Smith was put on IR.

Here at Pittsburgh Blitz we like Capizzi’s potential and feel he could be a surprise for the team this year once camp opens. He already has the eye of the coaches but lacks the experience needed to crack the starting lineup. That won’t stop him from making the final cut and getting a job as a key back up for the Steelers though.

LT – Tony Hills – Fundamentally sound left tackle who is at his best as a pass-protector. Blocks with good pad level, sets with a wide base, and makes outstanding use of body positioning as well as blocking angles.

Slides out off the edge, stays square, and nicely works his hands throughout the play. Shows the ability to adjust and jolts defenders with good hand-punch. Fights hard until the whistle blows.

Hills has one negative though, his history of staying healthy is not the best. Suffering numerous injuries in both high school and college. Once considered a potential first rounder, Hills slipped to the fourth round and the Pittsburgh Steelers due to those set backs.

His slide in the draft could be a blessing in disguise though as he has the potential to grow into a quality starter at LT or RT for the team and could be a dark horse in the camp battles this season.

RG – Kraig Urbik – Selected in the third round of the 2009 NFL draft, Urbik will get a chance to compete for Darnell Stapleton’s starting job at right guard. If he does not start, Urbik should become the top backup guard and dress for games along with Trai Essex as the two backup linemen on Sundays.

RG – Trai Essex – During the off-season Essex visited the Tennessee Titans but came back home to sign a two-year deal worth $2 million. The fifth-year veteran out of Northwestern was given a signing bonus of $500,000 by the team.

He can play four different positions and will likely start camp as the No. 2 left tackle behind Max Starks but could be involved in a camp battle with Kraig Urbik for that role on the team.

Practice Dummies:

A.Q. Shipley – A Penn State center who grew up in Moon Township, was one of their two seventh-round picks selected by the Steelers in the 2009 NFL draft. Shipley is a solid center, but has short arms, which may limit him from playing guard in the NFL.

The Steelers staff seem very high on Shipley and he has the perfect attitude for the team. Look for Shipley to land on the practice squad for a year then crack the 53 man roster in 2010.

Jeremy Parquet – At 6-6, 321 lbs., Parquet has the tangibles to play in the NFL. Thus far in his career Jeremy has been nothing more then A practice squad member of the Chiefs, Rams and now the Steelers. We do not anticipate that changing this season and look for Parquet to continue to be a practice dummy in 2010.

Hope you got a day job list:

Doug Legursky – Signed as a rookie free agent by the Steelers on April 28, 2007 and made the practice squad that season. He has remained at that status since but could be cut this time around with the addition of A.Q. Shipley to the team. We so no need for two centers to be on the practice squad this season and neither will the Steelers.

Ramon Foster – Signed by the Steelers as an un-drafted free agent on April 27, 2008. Foster was a three-year starter who earned Freshman All-SEC honors in 2005 after stepping in at left guard and right tackle due to injuries.

Primarily started at right tackle the past three seasons for Tennessee and was named to the ESPN Mark May’s 2007 “MayDay Team” after playing with a broken thumb throughout most of his junior season. Foster played in a career total of 44 games and was four-year letterman in college.

Foster has plenty of potential, but may be out in the cold due to the numbers game and lack of NFL experience. He could be a surprise and make the practice dummies, and here at Pittsburgh blitz we are rooting for him to due just that. Not sure it will happen though.

Training Camp Battles:

Starting Right Guard: Darnell Stapleton vs Kraig Urbik

Darnell Stapleton was the starter this previous season, but with issues consistently surrounding the Steelers offensive line he shouldn’t feel too comfortable. Urbik is a highly touted rookie who could very well end up winning this job.

Urbik was a tackle at Wisconsin, but he struggles in space so will get bumped inside. His size and the ability to be a mauler in the running game fits the mentality of the Steelers organization perfectly.

Many fans are already on Urbik’s side in this battle and as long as he continues to show the work ethic and intelligence that he had while he was a Badger, he should get the edge entering the season.

Look for a heated battle for this position but in the end, Stapleton will prove to be a NFL worthy guard and win the starter role for the Steelers.

Well that’s the lowdown on the offensive line, thanks for reading and your comments are always welcome. Let us know what you think.

*Check back soon for the sixth edition of this nine part series. Next up we will begin the defensive breakdown and the Cornerbacks.

Pittsburgh Steelers’ Positional Breakdown: The Wide Receivers

It is well known that Bruce Arians and the Pittsburgh Steelers like to utilize three and four-wide-receiver sets to create mismatches with the defense.  To be successful doing so, the WR units will need to be deep with talent.

The starters are Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes behind them though; the three through five spots are unsettled as of now. Leading one to speculate concern, being the reason they have so many currently on the roster?  Typically, you would expect five WR’s to make the 53-man roster, but this year six may not be of the question.

The Steelers regime is also fond of the two and sometimes three TE sets as well. Normally a team would retain three on the roster but with so many multiple TE sets, it is possible they hold four this season.

 

Steelers Position Breakdown of the Receivers

The Starters

Santonio Holmes – After a great playoff performance last season, Holmes gave the team an encore in the Super Bowl with his heroics on the final drive that earned him MVP honors, after scoring the game winning touchdown for the Steelers in their victory over the Arizona Cardinals.

While statistically he didn’t have the breakout season many expected in his third year, he came on strong down the stretch making big plays in every playoff contest that included a punt return for a touchdown and his game clinching catch in the Super Bowl. 

This being Holmes’ fourth year, more will be expected of him as he should become the go-to guy and playmaker for the offense.

He has the tools and talent to do it, just as long as he doesn’t ‘toke’ his way to a league suspension and into the Steelers dog house again. To his credit, despite some off-field problems, he has been nothing but a pro once the cleats are tied and we do not see that changing anytime soon.

 

Hines Ward– What more needs to be said about Hines that hasn’t already been said.  He is the heart and soul of the offense and plays the position the way it should be, with a ton of passion and a touch of a mean streak. The best way to describe Ward would be to call him the linebacker of the WR corps.

Ward holds most of the all time Steelers records for a WR yet some insiders have whispered that he has lost a step. Don’t let the rumors fool you though, as his numbers may not be the best of his career, he is still the leader of this group and Big Bens safety blanket.

His off field contributions are just as important as the ones on the field and he is a great mentor to the young guys and a leader, who does so by example.

With a new contract in toe and the knowledge he will be able to retire as in Pittsburgh, Ward should return to form and have another solid year for the Steelers.

Even with the newly dubbed “Hines Ward’ rule in effect, look for Ward to continue catching everything that comes his way and welcoming rookies to the league with broken jaws, while blocking for his teammates.

 

Key Role Players

Limas Sweed– Plaxico Sweed, Limas Burress, the comparisons tell the tale of his rookie season. Both where big targets with tons of promise but struggled to make much of an impact for the team. To his credit, the average young wide receiver usually takes 2-3 years to develop but much more will be expected of him in his second season.

With Nate Washington now a turn-coat and defecting to the powder puff, towel stomping, Tennessee Tits via free agency, Sweed may not have the luxury of another down year as he will be leaned on to fill the third wideout spot for the team.

With all that talent and promise coming out of college and his rookie jitters behind him, only Sweed can hold himself back.

Look for Limas to put up solid, if not impressive numbers and give the Steelers another option spreading the field and a big red-zone target for Ben to play pitch and catch with. Sweed should only get better as the season goes on though and could be one to watch down the stretch.

If he can remain as focused as he was during mini-camps, we should see some good things from Sweed this season.

 

Shaun McDonald – As a member of the Detroit Lions 0-16 team in 2008, McDonald had some decent numbers and showed allot of promise. He signed with Pittsburgh right before mini-camp and could be the veteran insurance policy they were looking for via free agency.

McDonald has also played for the St. Louis Rams and could be a wild card for the Steelers this season. Though he is not very big he reminds many fans of Cedric Wilson or Courtney Hawkins. If Sweed stumbles, McDonald could be the answer to the No. 3 wide out position for the team.

McDonald could also be a viable starting option as well if the injury-bug where to bite Ward or Holmes in the ass. He should also get some looks at the punt returner position but is not well known for that aspect of his game. A nice depth chart addition but we see his role as the No. 4 and insurance WR on the team, nothing more.

 

Mike Wallace – We like Mike, just this Mike was not the one many Steelers fans expected to be drafted by the team. Expectations are not always for the better though as this kid has mad skills and should bring some excitement to the team via his return and run after catch abilities.

Wallace was clocked in the 4.3 range at the NFL combine and was the second fastest WR to run in the time honored hazing of potential NFL draftees. With his blazing speed, he could be called on to fill Washington’s role as a deep threat, during his rookie year.

As of now Wallace is the favorite to earn the kick return job and he could be their first true home run threat at the position since Randle El was deported to Washington a few years back.

Wallace is full of promise but we don’t anticipate him making a huge splash in the passing game as a rookie. His progression will be interesting to watch over the summer and as the season progress’ though.

 

Practice Dummies

Dallas Baker – A former seventh round pick who has made his living as a Steelers practice dummy. Baker has all the physical tools to be a solid NFL wide out, but has yet to show it on game day. He is said to have had a solid mini-camp though and the coaching staff seems very high on him.

Thus far, Baker’s NFL career has only reinforced the stereotype that Florida WRs don’t translate to the NFL very well. He has the tools, but he is not a KR/PR type, which will work against his odds of making the team this year.  Thus this will likely be the make-or-break year for him.

With the addition of Shaun McDonald and Mike Wallace to the group, Barker will not have an easy road to finding a niche on the team and could be a casualty once the team is forced to cut down to the 53-man roster.

Look for him to be waived altogether this time though as a third season as a practice dummy won’t be in his tarot card reading this time around.

 

Martin Nance – Another practice dummy with a catch as he has a connection to Big Ben from his Miami (OH) days.  He has size an advantage over the rookies in that he is familiar with Ben, but the key to him making the team will be his play on the special teams unit. 

Like Baker, he is not a return guy, so he will have to impress on coverage teams as well as his route running and catching.

Nance has all the tangibles to be a solid NFL wide out but he is probably to low on the totem pole to find his way to the active roster. Look for him to spend another season on the Steelers practice squad then fade into obscurity in a year or two.

 

Hope you got a day job list

Jayson Foster – The practice dummy theme continues with Foster, as he has an on and off love affair with the Steelers practice squad, being resigned to a second stint this year, in time for mini-camp.  He is a versatile player who can do a few different slash-like things, and can return punts / kicks.

Foster is kind of a smurf though and will have to find his niche on the team as a returner. Which won’t be as easy as it sounds with Mike Wallace and Joe Burnett recently drafted with those skills as well. Look for Foster to be let loose too ride off into the sunset, during the early rounds of roster cut downs.

 

Brandon Williams– He was signed in off-season to compete for KR/PR job, and would likely need to win one of those to make the roster.  Williams is a former third-round pick of the 49ers but doesn’t have an NFL catch and didn’t make a team last year. He is the odds on favorite to be the first cut from the team on this list though.

 

Cedric Goodman– A track star from Georgia who didn’t make a lot of catches in his collegiate career.  It will be interesting to see if the team gives him a try at returner or just strictly as a WR. More than likely Goodman is nothing more than training camp fodder but he might be a nice ‘project player’ on the practice squad.

 

Steven Black– A big target who started at Memphis.  Didn’t put up impressive numbers but he does have good size for an NFL wide receiver. Black will have to earn his way on STs to make the squad but the odds and numbers are stacked against him. Don’t bother adding Black to your MySpace friends list though as he won’t be in a Steelers uniform very long.

 

Tyler Grisham– Isn’t very big, not a return guy, and does not have the best hands but is an interesting prospect because he is known for his downfield blocking. Great he will get flagged 10 times for violating the new ‘Hines Ward’ rule, just what the Steelers need. Can you say “Mr. Grisham please step into coaches office, he has something pink to give ya”.

 

Training Camp Battles

Limas Sweed verse Shaun McDonald– The only significant training camp battles for the wide receivers we anticipate will be for the 3rd down wide out duties. Due to Sweed being a high draft pick, he should already be penciled into this spot on the roster card. McDonald was signed as insurance though and will get a chance to impress the coaching staff.

Look for it to be a close battle but in the end, Sweed’s size, speed, potential and red zone abilities should win out. McDonald won’t collect a ton of fairy bench dust though as he has too much talent for the team not to utilize his abilities. He should see plenty of action, spelling the top three and in the Steelers’ four-and-five-receiver sets.

 

Well that’s the lowdown on the wide receivers, thanks for reading and your comments are always welcome. Let us know what you think.

*Check back soon for the 4th edition of this 9 part series. Next up will be the Tight Ends.

Pittsburgh Steelers Signed James Harrison, Now What?

Now that the Steelers and outside linebacker James Harrison agreed on a long-term contract, the team’s work is hardly finished. The Steelers have a number of key players going into the final year of their contract, and the team has a longstanding policy of not engaging in contract negotiations once the season starts.

With that in mind here is a list of projected starters going into the final year of their contracts and a take on how things will shake out for each.

 

Ryan Clark, FS

Clark has been a surprise for the Steelers thus far. When signed, the expectation was for him to start for a year or two then head way to Anthony Smith as the stater. Well “Mr. Guarantee” is now a Packer and we all know how he worked out.

The problem is that Clark has become a very important part to the Steelers defense and compliments Troys style well also the Steelers have very little depth behind him to groom for the future at this time.

I look for the Steelers to get a deal done with Clark that locks him up four or five years. He has earned that much from the team and the difference of him in the line up and out of it is night and day as we saw when he was lost for the 2007 season to a spleen injury.

Getting Clark resigned is a very important key to keeping the Steelers defense on top of the league.

 

Willie Colon, RT

Colon getting resigned is about 50/50. The biggest factor will have to do with how the draft shakes out this year. If the Steelers can find a solid tackle that can start by season two, I don’t see them resigning Colon, unless he signs for a reasonable amount and is willing to play a back up role.

 

Larry Foote, ILB

Bye, Bye Larry. It was apparent by seasons end that Foote was no longer going to be able to hold off L. Timmons from taking over his position.

Once training camp opens up we should see the shift to Timmons as the starter and Foote playing the relief pitcher role so to say. With that in mind and the fact Foote still is a solid ILB and could start on several other teams, I can’t see him wanting to resign to be a back up.

I see Foote leaving via free agency to get a chance at another starting gig and this being his last season wearing the Black and Gold.

 

Casey Hampton, NT

Big Snack is a my wild card of this group. I can both see the Steelers resigning him and let him go at the same time. He is not getting any younger and his level of play is not what it once was. Hampton getting resigned will 100 percent depend on the draft and if the Steelers find a solid DT to groom to take his spot in a year or two.

Having Hoke on the roster to file to the gap between Hampton and a rookie transition will make it easier to allow Big Snack to eat his way out of Pittsburgh.

 

Justin Hartwig, C

Though Hartwig has filled in nicely for the Steelers at center, he is not the long term answer at the position. His resigning also will depend on the draft, but not the way many think.

The logical thinking is if the Steelers draft a center then its see ya later alligator. Remember though, D. Stapleton is a true center playing guard and the Steelers brass seem very high on him.

So if the Steelers can find a solid guard prospect in the draft I can see them looking to Darnell to move back to his natural center position and allowing Hartwig to leave via free agency.

 

Brett Keisel, DE

Keisel has also played very well for the Steelers, but unlike when A. Smith his out of the lineup, the Steelers defense did not miss a beat when he was out four or five games last season, thus making him expendable. I realize the staff loves his versatility but he could easily price himself right out of Pittsburgh.

He is another player that his job hinges on the draft. With his age and the fact the Steelers are looking to get younger on the DL, my gut tells me the team will find his replacement in this years draft and he is in his last season as a Steeler.

 

Heath Miller, TE

The best TE in the league period. Get r done. This is a MUST signing for the Steelers and I have full faith that the Steelers and Miller have a vast future ahead. No way the team lets Miller leave, expect him to be one of the next players on the clock to get his contract signed.

 

Willie Parker, RB

Before I say anything let it be known I am a very big Parker fan. I saw his potential from day one and have been rooting for his success since. With that said “Fast” Willy might be in his final days as a Steeler. The brass did not draft Mendenhall for nothing.

Also with Moore emerging last season as a solid No. 2 and third down back I can see this being Parker’s final season as a Steeler. The draft will be the tell tail of the tape. If we grab a HB that is more then just a short yardage type, I think that will write Parker’s ticket out of Pittsburgh.

 

Jeff Reed, K

What would the team do without their resident troll doll? This is a no brain-er, Reed is the only kicker that can boot the ball inside “Hines” Field, I see a deal getting done to make Reed our kicker for many years to come.

 

Max Starks, OT

Max is an enigma! He seems to play like shit until he gets benched then steps up his game once someone gets hurt and he is forced to play again. Strange but true. His service to the team is very important though as he is able to play both the RT and LT spot.

The problem with getting Starks signed though is what motivation does he have? Would you give up almost $9 million bucks as the franchise guy, I don’t think so and will be very surprised if he does too.

A long-term deal might be in max’s future I just don’t see it anytime soon.

 

Hines Ward, WR

This deal has to get done at all cost. Hines is the heart and soul of the Steelers and embodies everything they stand for. I realize he is getting long in the tooth, but he must retire a Steeler. He has earned that right.

I think the Steelers’ front office have learned from their mistake with Rod Woodson and feel a deal will get done. I just hope Ward is willing to give back something to stay as I can’t see the team paying him top WR money and his willingness to take a paycut with be crucial to the deal getting done.

I would love to see the Steelers keep all of these guys but the the nature of the game won’t allow it. With that said, I have full faith the team will do what is right for all involved and no matter who they resign or allow to leave via free agency they will be ready to compete each and every year.

 

Read more interesting Steelers stuff at Pittsburgh Blitz

Pittsburgh Steelers’ Positional Breakdown: The Quarterbacks

Day One of the Pittsburgh Steelers positional breakdown analysis – The Quarterbacks

The Pittsburgh Steelers currently have five quarterbacks on the roster and by tradition that’s two more then normally makes the final 53 man roster in the ‘Burgh.  Unlike many teams in the NFL, the Steelers have an incumbent in Ben Roethlisbereger who is the king of his thrown.

There is next to no chance the 100 million dollar QB is not the starter on day one.

The backup role is one for debate though, as the wily vetern, Charlie Batch, is coming off a season ending injury and the ultra-talented Dennis Dixon enters his second season as a Steeler.

This role is a critical position for Pittsburgh as the oft maligned offensive-line allows Big Ben to hit the turf more then we would like to see. Batch is the likely back-up but Dixon could make it an interesting camp battle, one we will watch very closely here at Pittsburgh Blitz.

 

Benjamin Todd Roethlisberger

Better known to the avid fan as Big Ben, was selected 11th overall in 2004 by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Drafted out of Miami University of Ohio, Roethlisberger was 13-0 as a rookie and lead the Steelers to a 15-1 record. Earning him the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.

He became the youngest Super Bowl–winning quarterback in NFL history, helping lead the Steelers, in his second professional season, to a 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XL at the age of 23. He was named to his first Pro Bowl in 2007.

Roethlisberger led the Steelers to a second Super Bowl title in four seasons as they defeated the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, 27-23, after he made a game-winning touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes in the final 35 seconds.

Roethlisberger currently ranks seventh all-time in NFL passer rating (89.4) and yards per attempt (7.86) among quarterbacks with a minimum of 1500 career attempts.

Known for playing outside the quarterback pocket in what he calls “backyard football,” Roethlisberger is often compared to his childhood idol, former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway, due to the similar styles and fourth-quarter comebacks.

Roethlisberger, who also grew up idolizing Joe Montana, wears No. 7 in Elway’s honor. With two Super Bowl rings already on his fingers, Big Ben will only get better as his career progress’s and he is the unquestioned starting QB for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

 

Charles D’Donte Batch

Though he was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft. The Pittsburgh Steelers signed him to a one-year contract for 2002 as a backup, but he did not play.

The move to initially sign Batch wasn’t a surprise, given that Batch was from Pittsburgh and the Steelers’ current Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert initially drafted Batch in Detroit.

Despite not playing in 2002 (being third string behind Kordell Stewart and Tommy Maddox, who split the year as the starters), Batch became popular with Steeler fans, likely due to having grown up in nearby Homestead.

His contract was renewed by the Steelers, and Batch saw some action in 2003. In 2004, Batch spent the season on injured reserve after offseason knee surgery.

In 2005, he became the second-string quarterback for the Steelers, playing behind Ben Roethlisberger. During 2005, an injury to Roethlisberger gave Batch two starting opportunities, yielding two victories.

In the process, Batch became the first Pittsburgh-area native to start for the team at quarterback since Terry Hanratty, a native of Butler, Pennsylvania, who tarted for a few games during his rookie season in 1969 before becoming a backup the following season to Terry Bradshaw.

Batch has been a vital part to the Steelers organization since he joined the team and we do not see that changing anytime soon. His age may limit his playing time but his knowledge is invaluable to the team and Big Ben’s growth as a NFL quarterback. We see Batch as more of an extra coach now then a back-up QB for the Steelers.

He will be in the mix to be the No. 2 QB, but we won’t be surprised if Dixon beats him out at camp for this spot on the team. Which won’t be a bad thing for Batch as the team values his services too much not to keep him around as the No. 3 clip board holder.

 

Dennis Lee Dixon, Jr – Dixon was a consensus four-star recruit, and was ranked among the top passing and rushing quarterbacks in the nation before attending the University of Oregon.

During his college career Dixon made quite a name for himself and was a front runner for the Heisman Trophy during his senior season while pushing Oregon to a No. 2 ranking in the BCS poll, before suffering a torn ACL.

With the devastating injury, Dixon’s team and draft stock would plummet from a possible 1st rounder to an after thought.

In the 2008 NFL Draft, Dixon was taken in the fifth round (156th overall) by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was deactivated for most of his rookie season and acted as the third-string quarterback behind Ben Roethlisberger and Byron Leftwich.

He does hold one memorable stat as a Steeler as on Dec. 28, 2008, Dixon completed his first official NFL pass to Hines Ward—the reception was Ward’s 800th.

Look for Dixon to possibly be named the No. 2 quarterback this year as the Steelers would need to do so, to be able to bring him in and out of games in certain formations, such as the Wildcat. We feel Batch would get the starting nod as a long term replacement for Big Ben, due to injury, if the situation was to arise.

A little known fact about Dennis Dixon – Following his junior year at Oregon, Dixon was picked by the Atlanta Braves in the fifth round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft. Dixon only hit .176 in 74 at-bats with two Atlanta Braves rookie league teams, and returned to Oregon for his senior football season in 2007.

 

Kevin McCabe – Signed as a rookie free agent by the Steelers on April 27, 2009. McCabe began his college career with the University of Virginia then transferred to California University of Pennsylvania for his final season of eligibility.

In 2008 (California University of Pennsylvania): Started all 14 games for the Vulcan while completing 253-of-386 passes for 3,214 yards with 32 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. McCabe also set four school records – passing yards, total yards, touchdowns and completions.

Though he had some decent numbers as a collegiate don’t get to familiar with McCabe as his signing was mostly as camp fodder and to fill out the roster. We look for McCabe to be cut early and move on to other professional opportunities. His chances to remain a Steeler are next to none.

 

Mike Reilly – Began his college career as a walk-on at Washington State but transferred after red-shirting. Went on to become a four-year-starter and set virtually every passing record in Wildcat history.

He was runner-up for the Harlon Hill Trophy as a senior, which is given to the nation’s top Division II football player. Reilly also holds the NCAA all-divisions record with at least one touchdown pass in all 46 career games. Bottom line, Reilly was a productive small-school prospect with top intangibles but marginal physical tools.

ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski had this to say about Reilly, “His wasn’t the easiest tape in the world to get,” Jaworski told USA Today. “I just saw an NFL quarterback. This is a guy who has (Tom) Brady-like attributes.” Some high praise from Jaws. More then likely Reilly makes the team as a practice squad member only. He could possibly become the third string quarterback in a year or two when Charlie Batch decides to hang up the cleats. It will be interesting to see how Reilly progress’s though. He could be a training camp wild-card and we will be keeping a close on eye him here at Pittsburgh Blitz.

 

Training Camp Battles

The competition at quarterback won’t revolve around the starting position but Batch and Dixon both could be given the chance to earn the No. 2 job. There is no official word out of Pittsburgh that there even is a battle for this slot, but Mike Tomlin has been known to allow silent competition and select the options he feels are best for the team as far as positional and depth charts are concerned.

We look for Batch to remain the true No. 2 QB on the charts but Dixon to be named to that role as to be used on game day in certain situations without violating any NFL rules.

Thanks for reading and your comments are welcome. Let us know what you think.

*Check back May 10 for the second edition of this nine-part series. Next up will be the running backs.

Pittsburgh Blitz

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