The Steelers opened their OTAs today with very good attendance.
Per Steelers rules, I can't report on who lined up where or how many times, but I can tell you some other things:
* Troy Polamalu said he's been working with a physical therapist on his calf and he feels like his 2012 season was "avoidable."
In fact, Polamalu feels so good about his rehab, he says the calf injury - which has bothered him since 2010 - is now behind him.
* Saw Heath Miller at the facility walking around. He didn't have a brace on his knee and wasn't limping.
Now that's a long way from being ready to get back on the football field, but it's a good sign.
* I tried to talk to LaMarr Woodley today, but he blew me off. Woodley did look to be in good shape.
* Had a nice talk with rookie receiver Justin Brown today. Seemed like a good kid and said his decision to transfer from Penn State to Oklahoma was one of the toughest decisions he made in his life.
* Ike Taylor said Cortez Allen is going to make life "hell" on a lot of opposing receivers this year.
* Emmanuel Sanders wouldn't talk about his flirtations with the Patriots, simply saying, "I'm a Pittsburgh Steeler."
Sanders said he wants to stay here and is open to a long-term contract.
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Roethlisberger underrated? Absolutely
Frequent visitors to this blog should be well aware of how I feel about offseason rankings of this and that. They are dreamed up by TV and web site execs to keep people watching and visiting their sites.
But the NFL Network's top 100 players - which is also run on NFL.com - is voted on by the players. And Ben Roethlisberger ranked 61st.
That's right, 61st.
Does anyone in their right mind actually believe that Roethlisberger is the 61st best player in the NFL right now. Does anybody think if all the teams were dissolved and there was a redraft of players by a new league that Roethlisberger would be the 61st player selected?
Maybe in fantasy football. But in the real world, Roethlisberger is one of the 20 best players and most valuable players in the league.
Yet on this list, there are 11 quarterbacks ranked ahead of him. Seriously.
Yes, Roethlisberger is now 31 and missed three games in 2012 with a rib/clavicle injury. Yet he still threw for over 3,200 yards with 26 touchdown passes and just eight interceptions - all without any threat of a running game.
That got him ranked two spots ahead of Stephen Tulloch. Who's Stephen Tulloch, you might ask? He's a linebacker for the Detroit Lions. Yes, those same Lions who make the playoffs as often as your Pittsburgh Pirates.
Knowing Roethlisberger, this slight will fuel him. He was having an outstanding season in 2013 before suffering the injury and wasn't the same player after coming back.
But Roethlisberger is as competitive as anyone I've ever covered. He won't say it publicly, but he'll use this slight to come back with an even better year.
But the NFL Network's top 100 players - which is also run on NFL.com - is voted on by the players. And Ben Roethlisberger ranked 61st.
That's right, 61st.
Does anyone in their right mind actually believe that Roethlisberger is the 61st best player in the NFL right now. Does anybody think if all the teams were dissolved and there was a redraft of players by a new league that Roethlisberger would be the 61st player selected?
Maybe in fantasy football. But in the real world, Roethlisberger is one of the 20 best players and most valuable players in the league.
Yet on this list, there are 11 quarterbacks ranked ahead of him. Seriously.
Yes, Roethlisberger is now 31 and missed three games in 2012 with a rib/clavicle injury. Yet he still threw for over 3,200 yards with 26 touchdown passes and just eight interceptions - all without any threat of a running game.
That got him ranked two spots ahead of Stephen Tulloch. Who's Stephen Tulloch, you might ask? He's a linebacker for the Detroit Lions. Yes, those same Lions who make the playoffs as often as your Pittsburgh Pirates.
Knowing Roethlisberger, this slight will fuel him. He was having an outstanding season in 2013 before suffering the injury and wasn't the same player after coming back.
But Roethlisberger is as competitive as anyone I've ever covered. He won't say it publicly, but he'll use this slight to come back with an even better year.
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Players I expect to make a leap forward for Steelers
A lot has been made of the Steelers' losses this offseason, and certainly there have been more than a few.
But the Steelers also have a number of young players poised to make big steps forward in 2013 who could help this team return to the playoffs.
Here are some guys I expect big things from in 2013 who didn't necessarily star in 2012:
1. David DeCastro/Mike Adams - I have combined these two because injuries derailed their rookie season, though both played enough for the Steelers to feel comfortable handing them starting jobs heading into 2013. DeCastro will line up at right guard and should be a fixture there for years to come. Adams will compete with Marcus Gilbert for the left tackle position, with the loser of that battle slated for right tackle. Adams is the more physical run blocker of the two, but he's also better suited to play left tackle.
2. Steve McLendon - McLendon has been on fans' radar for the past two seasons but averaged just over 10 snaps per game in 2012 playing behind Casey Hampton. That will change in 2013 as McLendon is slated to take over the nose tackle position. He's a different style of nose tackle than Hampton, playing more like Chris Hoke. That could add up to more pass pressure from the nose position, but will the run defense suffer? We'll see.
3. Curtis Brown - With fellow 2011 draft classmate Cortez Allen headed to the starting lineup, some are labeling Brown, who was actually selected ahead of Allen in the draft, a bust. No so fast. This is a make-or-break year for Brown and he knows it. He could win the slot job in a battle with William Gay and Josh Victorian, though Gay certainly has the experience factor in his favor. Brown, however, might have the best hands of the Steelers' defensive backs not named Troy Polamalu.
4. Adrian Robinson - All you need to know about Robinson is that when the team's offensive tackles needed somebody to work with on stopping outside rushers, they grabbed Robinson to work with. He's not going to be a starter and he needs to figure out what to do on special teams, but the young man has shown flashes of pass rushing skills. If he can put it all together, he could be a valuable backup.
5. Robert Golden - The Steelers liked what they saw from Golden enough that they felt comfortable passing on a number of highly rated safeties in the draft. He can play corner as well in a pinch. A smart kid who oozes with confidence, Golden could be the heir apparent to Ryan Clark.
But the Steelers also have a number of young players poised to make big steps forward in 2013 who could help this team return to the playoffs.
Here are some guys I expect big things from in 2013 who didn't necessarily star in 2012:
1. David DeCastro/Mike Adams - I have combined these two because injuries derailed their rookie season, though both played enough for the Steelers to feel comfortable handing them starting jobs heading into 2013. DeCastro will line up at right guard and should be a fixture there for years to come. Adams will compete with Marcus Gilbert for the left tackle position, with the loser of that battle slated for right tackle. Adams is the more physical run blocker of the two, but he's also better suited to play left tackle.
2. Steve McLendon - McLendon has been on fans' radar for the past two seasons but averaged just over 10 snaps per game in 2012 playing behind Casey Hampton. That will change in 2013 as McLendon is slated to take over the nose tackle position. He's a different style of nose tackle than Hampton, playing more like Chris Hoke. That could add up to more pass pressure from the nose position, but will the run defense suffer? We'll see.
3. Curtis Brown - With fellow 2011 draft classmate Cortez Allen headed to the starting lineup, some are labeling Brown, who was actually selected ahead of Allen in the draft, a bust. No so fast. This is a make-or-break year for Brown and he knows it. He could win the slot job in a battle with William Gay and Josh Victorian, though Gay certainly has the experience factor in his favor. Brown, however, might have the best hands of the Steelers' defensive backs not named Troy Polamalu.
4. Adrian Robinson - All you need to know about Robinson is that when the team's offensive tackles needed somebody to work with on stopping outside rushers, they grabbed Robinson to work with. He's not going to be a starter and he needs to figure out what to do on special teams, but the young man has shown flashes of pass rushing skills. If he can put it all together, he could be a valuable backup.
5. Robert Golden - The Steelers liked what they saw from Golden enough that they felt comfortable passing on a number of highly rated safeties in the draft. He can play corner as well in a pinch. A smart kid who oozes with confidence, Golden could be the heir apparent to Ryan Clark.
Wednesday, May 08, 2013
It's that silly time of year
With little going on right now in the NFL, it's time for the pundits to go to work handing out draft grades, team rankings and other meaningless things.
It's all designed to keep NFL fans interested in the sport in the offseason.
And it usually works.
Something jumped out at me today on the NFL.com web site.
Bucky Brooks rated the teams that had the best draft and listed the Steelers among the few teams he gave an A.
And another article on the site debated which rookie running back would have the biggest impact in 2013, with Steelers second-round pick Le'Veon Bell getting a lot of attention.
But then, on the site's power rankings, the Steelers actually moved down two spots to No. 19, behind such stalwarts as Chicago (Seriously?), Miami (Come on) and St. Louis (Please).
Power rankings are silly. I used to do them on this site in an effort to fill space. But I grew weary of trying to figure out which team was better than another even though they had played and that one did this, well, you get the idea. It's an exercise in futility.
But saying that the Steelers had one of the best drafts and then moving them down two spots in the rankings makes no sense. Then again, that's exactly my point with power rankings.
It's all designed to keep NFL fans interested in the sport in the offseason.
And it usually works.
Something jumped out at me today on the NFL.com web site.
Bucky Brooks rated the teams that had the best draft and listed the Steelers among the few teams he gave an A.
And another article on the site debated which rookie running back would have the biggest impact in 2013, with Steelers second-round pick Le'Veon Bell getting a lot of attention.
But then, on the site's power rankings, the Steelers actually moved down two spots to No. 19, behind such stalwarts as Chicago (Seriously?), Miami (Come on) and St. Louis (Please).
Power rankings are silly. I used to do them on this site in an effort to fill space. But I grew weary of trying to figure out which team was better than another even though they had played and that one did this, well, you get the idea. It's an exercise in futility.
But saying that the Steelers had one of the best drafts and then moving them down two spots in the rankings makes no sense. Then again, that's exactly my point with power rankings.
Monday, May 06, 2013
Starks goes out with a Whimper
The Steelers on Monday signed veteran offensive tackle Guy Whimper, who spent the past three seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, likely spelling the end of Max Starks' tenure in Pittsburgh.
There had been some conjecture that the Steelers might want to wait and re-sign Starks, their starting left, at some point before training camp to serve as a backup/fallback plan to either Mike Adams or Marcus Gilbert at the left tackle position.
But with Whimper now under contract, that seems unlikely.
Either Adams or Gilbert will start at left tackle, with the other playing right tackle. Kelvin Beachum will be fallback option No. 1, with Whimper, who has made 22 career starts in seven seasons, being the second option.
The Steelers also signed rookie linebacker Terence Garvin, who spent the weekend with them at their rookie camp as a tryout.
Garvin played in 47 games at West Virginia, making 235 tackles with 10.5 sacks and three interceptions.
To make room on the roster for those moves, the Steelers released rookie center Ivory Wade and rookie defensive tackle Anthony Rashad White.
There had been some conjecture that the Steelers might want to wait and re-sign Starks, their starting left, at some point before training camp to serve as a backup/fallback plan to either Mike Adams or Marcus Gilbert at the left tackle position.
But with Whimper now under contract, that seems unlikely.
Either Adams or Gilbert will start at left tackle, with the other playing right tackle. Kelvin Beachum will be fallback option No. 1, with Whimper, who has made 22 career starts in seven seasons, being the second option.
The Steelers also signed rookie linebacker Terence Garvin, who spent the weekend with them at their rookie camp as a tryout.
Garvin played in 47 games at West Virginia, making 235 tackles with 10.5 sacks and three interceptions.
To make room on the roster for those moves, the Steelers released rookie center Ivory Wade and rookie defensive tackle Anthony Rashad White.
Rookie camp completed
The Steelers and their 41 rookies and first-year players completed their first weekend of working with the team.
By all accounts, the team came away happy with what it saw.
First-round pick Jarvis Jones came off like James Farrior in interviews - thoughtful and humble - and looked the part on the field.
Second-round pick Le'Veon Bell showed why the Steelers thought so highly of him, displaying some wiggle in the open field to go along with his combination of size and speed.
Forget the idea of Bell "sharing" the workload for the Steelers. He's the favorite to start and get 300 carries.
Third-rounder Markus Wheaton is extremely quick and was sharp running his routes.
Fourth-rounder Shamarko Thomas appears as if he'll be a special teams star, while also stepping into the safety rotation - on the strong side - once he gets the nuances of Dick LeBeau's defense down.
Landry Jones had a tough weekend, but that's not all that out of the ordinary for a quarterback learning a new vernacular with new receivers.
Priority free agent wideout Reggie Dunn has a legitimate shot at making this team despite his lack of size. The 5-8 speedster is as fast as his 4.25 40-time would suggest and is elusive and quick enough to play gunner on coverage units. I should also mention that he returned five kickoffs 100 or more yards in college.
Offensive lineman Nik Embernate is another priority free agent with an excellent chance of making this team. The powerful guard is nasty to the bone. Can't wait to see him hitting people for real once training camp begins.
By all accounts, the team came away happy with what it saw.
First-round pick Jarvis Jones came off like James Farrior in interviews - thoughtful and humble - and looked the part on the field.
Second-round pick Le'Veon Bell showed why the Steelers thought so highly of him, displaying some wiggle in the open field to go along with his combination of size and speed.
Forget the idea of Bell "sharing" the workload for the Steelers. He's the favorite to start and get 300 carries.
Third-rounder Markus Wheaton is extremely quick and was sharp running his routes.
Fourth-rounder Shamarko Thomas appears as if he'll be a special teams star, while also stepping into the safety rotation - on the strong side - once he gets the nuances of Dick LeBeau's defense down.
Landry Jones had a tough weekend, but that's not all that out of the ordinary for a quarterback learning a new vernacular with new receivers.
Priority free agent wideout Reggie Dunn has a legitimate shot at making this team despite his lack of size. The 5-8 speedster is as fast as his 4.25 40-time would suggest and is elusive and quick enough to play gunner on coverage units. I should also mention that he returned five kickoffs 100 or more yards in college.
Offensive lineman Nik Embernate is another priority free agent with an excellent chance of making this team. The powerful guard is nasty to the bone. Can't wait to see him hitting people for real once training camp begins.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
More info on fifth through seventh round picks
Some posters asked for more information on the Steelers' picks after Round 5. Here ya go.
Round 5
Terry Hawthorne, CB, Illinois - Good size at 6-0, 190 pounds. Fits the Steelers profile for cornerbacks. A willing tackler. Played for a horrible college team in 2012 but appeared in 44 career games, making 26
starts and posting 163 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, 1.0 sack, six interceptions, including two pick-sixes,
and 28 passes defended. Also returned kicks. Has above-average speed, running a 4.31 40 at the combine. MVP of his team's bowl win over UCLA in 2011 when he returned an interception for a score.
Round 6A
Justin Brown, WR, Oklahoma - Transferred from Penn State. Excellent size at 6-3, 209. Started
39 of 49 games played in his career, registering 146 receptions for 1,926 yards (13.2 avg.) with
eight receiving touchdowns. Recorded 637 yards on 71 career punt returns (9.0 avg.) with one
touchdown. Not a burner, but ran 4.6 at his pro day. Was fourth-round pick Landry Jones' top target in 2012.
Round 6B
Vince Williams, LB, Florida State - Played in 50 games during his career, starting 26 games during his final two seasons. Though listed at 6-1, 250, he was 6-0 1/2, 233 at his pro day. Reasonably productive with 140 tackles (86 solo), three sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, seven passes defensed and one interception in his career. Sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. Played on an outstanding college defense with plenty of other pro talent around him and finished fourth with 59 tackles. Was one of four team captains his senior year and was given the defense's leadership award at the conclusion of the season. Missed all of 2009 with a back injury.
Round 7
Nicholas Williams, DE, 6-4, 309 - Didn't take up football until his senior year in high school, focusing on basketball before that. Wound up at Samford. Ran a freakish 4.84 40 at the combine, where he was a surprise invite. Not only led defensive tackles in the 40-time at the combine, but had the best vertical leap - 33 inches - as well. Think a poor man's Ziggy Ansah with more size.
Round 5
Terry Hawthorne, CB, Illinois - Good size at 6-0, 190 pounds. Fits the Steelers profile for cornerbacks. A willing tackler. Played for a horrible college team in 2012 but appeared in 44 career games, making 26
starts and posting 163 tackles, 12.5 TFLs, 1.0 sack, six interceptions, including two pick-sixes,
and 28 passes defended. Also returned kicks. Has above-average speed, running a 4.31 40 at the combine. MVP of his team's bowl win over UCLA in 2011 when he returned an interception for a score.
Round 6A
Justin Brown, WR, Oklahoma - Transferred from Penn State. Excellent size at 6-3, 209. Started
39 of 49 games played in his career, registering 146 receptions for 1,926 yards (13.2 avg.) with
eight receiving touchdowns. Recorded 637 yards on 71 career punt returns (9.0 avg.) with one
touchdown. Not a burner, but ran 4.6 at his pro day. Was fourth-round pick Landry Jones' top target in 2012.
Round 6B
Vince Williams, LB, Florida State - Played in 50 games during his career, starting 26 games during his final two seasons. Though listed at 6-1, 250, he was 6-0 1/2, 233 at his pro day. Reasonably productive with 140 tackles (86 solo), three sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, seven passes defensed and one interception in his career. Sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. Played on an outstanding college defense with plenty of other pro talent around him and finished fourth with 59 tackles. Was one of four team captains his senior year and was given the defense's leadership award at the conclusion of the season. Missed all of 2009 with a back injury.
Round 7
Nicholas Williams, DE, 6-4, 309 - Didn't take up football until his senior year in high school, focusing on basketball before that. Wound up at Samford. Ran a freakish 4.84 40 at the combine, where he was a surprise invite. Not only led defensive tackles in the 40-time at the combine, but had the best vertical leap - 33 inches - as well. Think a poor man's Ziggy Ansah with more size.
Steelers add playmakers
Part of the problem the Steelers had in 2012 was a lack of playmakers at the skill positions.
By playmakers, I mean guys who either score touchdowns or turn the ball over to get the ball back for the offense.
The Steelers feel they took a step in the right direction with their new draft class.
First-round pick Jarvis Jones not recorded 14.5 sacks in 2012 and 28 in the past two seasons, he also forced nine fumbles. The strip-sack was something that has been missing in the Steelers defense the past two years.
Running back Le'Veon Bell, the team's second pick, is obviously someone who can score touchdowns, having reached the end zone 33 times at Michigan State.
The Steelers made Bell the second running back taken in this draft, taking him over Eddie Lacy, who didn't pass the team's medical exam due to a toe issue, and Montee Ball, who the team felt had taken too much abuse in college.
The Steelers also liked Bell's pass catching ability more than those two players.
In the third round, Pittsburgh took explosive receiver Markus Wheaton.
Wheaton scored just 16 touchdowns in 49 career games at Oregon State, but that was more of a product of the quarterbacks he played with than it was a knock on his ability.
Despite being 5-11, 182 pounds, Wheaton is strong with the ball in his hands. He's so polished as a runner, the Beavers used him an average of twice per game as a runner. He also averaged seven catches per game in his senior season when he scored 12 receiving touchdowns.
All told, it was a nice haul, particularly in the first three rounds where you have to get potential starters.
By playmakers, I mean guys who either score touchdowns or turn the ball over to get the ball back for the offense.
The Steelers feel they took a step in the right direction with their new draft class.
First-round pick Jarvis Jones not recorded 14.5 sacks in 2012 and 28 in the past two seasons, he also forced nine fumbles. The strip-sack was something that has been missing in the Steelers defense the past two years.
Running back Le'Veon Bell, the team's second pick, is obviously someone who can score touchdowns, having reached the end zone 33 times at Michigan State.
The Steelers made Bell the second running back taken in this draft, taking him over Eddie Lacy, who didn't pass the team's medical exam due to a toe issue, and Montee Ball, who the team felt had taken too much abuse in college.
The Steelers also liked Bell's pass catching ability more than those two players.
In the third round, Pittsburgh took explosive receiver Markus Wheaton.
Wheaton scored just 16 touchdowns in 49 career games at Oregon State, but that was more of a product of the quarterbacks he played with than it was a knock on his ability.
Despite being 5-11, 182 pounds, Wheaton is strong with the ball in his hands. He's so polished as a runner, the Beavers used him an average of twice per game as a runner. He also averaged seven catches per game in his senior season when he scored 12 receiving touchdowns.
All told, it was a nice haul, particularly in the first three rounds where you have to get potential starters.
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Steelers add 15 UFAs
The Steelers have a pretty good idea of who their five starting offensive linemen will be. They also know who their top two backups are: John Malecki and Kelvin Beachum.
Beyond that, however, they have a lot of question marks on the offensive line.
That's why after picking up nine new players in the draft, the Steelers added five offensive linemen as undrafted rookie free agents, the best being guard Nik Embernate of San Diego State. Also signed at that position were offensive tackles Mike Farrell of Penn State and Mike Golic, Jr. of Notre Dame, guard Chris Hubbard of UAB and center Ivory Wade of Baylor.
Golic, of course, is the son of former NFL player and radio show host Mike Golic, Sr.
Also signed by the Steelers were defensive ends Brian Arnfelt of Northwestern and Cordian Hagans of Louisiana-Lafayette, linebacker Alex Baxter of Northern Illinois, wide receivers Reggie Dunn of Utah and J.D. Woods of West Virginia, defensive tackle Athony Rashad White of Michigan State, defensive tackle Omar Hunter of Florida, running back Curtis McNeal of USC and long snapper Luke Ingram of Hawaii.
Interestingly enough, the Steelers did not sign a punter to at least give them another leg at that position behind Drew Butler.
Butler was a bit up and down last season as a rookie and the Steelers do not have another punter on the roster.
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