The Steelers added a new name to their roster today when they claimed third-year defensive end Kevin Huntley off waivers from the Washington Redskins.
Huntley (6-7, 290) originally signed with the Oakland Raiders as a rookie free agent from Kansas State in 2006. He played in the final five games of his rookie season with Oakland and registered 10 tackles, 2.5 sacks and a recovered fumble. He spent the 2007 season with the Atlanta Falcons and recorded three tackles while playing in five games.
The Steelers made room for Huntley on their roster by releasing rookie free agent defensive end Kyle Clement.
22 comments:
Good to see..the Steelers HAVE to find some NFL quality depth at DE before the season starts. Hoke is really the only guy right now I trust off the bench (assuming he is backing up DE as well as NT?) and even with him..who knows? Guys on the bench can rot away and you don't realize it till they are called on.
Anyway, its good to know they are looking for help. This is a pretty good team if if stays healthy I think. But you have to be prepared for injuries and our schedule is a virtual murderer's row of tough opponents. Going to be a war of attrition.
Hoke has really only worked at nose in camp because Casey is out, but he could do it in a pinch.
What do you mean, Dale? Chris Hoke has always been the back-up NT. He even filled in for Casey for almost an entire season when they went 15-1.
Last season he got some work at end, because despite his physical limitations, he's still one of their better run-stuffers.
This is bad, alot of people were excited about him maybe helping the team. We need another talented guy at DE very badly.
Keisel, Hampton and Aaron Smith are all on the decline. We had a hard time pressuring QB's last season and I think its going to get worse. The weakness is in the DLine not the linebackers.
Ben,
Dale isn't saying the only reason Hoke played NT in camp was because we couldn't try him at DE as he was the backup NT and Casey was out on PUP.
He's saying the reason he played only NT, and not NT as well as some DE was because we Casey was out.
corrections from me earlier post:
isn't = is
"Hoke played JUST NT"
Ahh, I see. Thanks for clearing that up. And my apologies, Dale.
dale...
I believe we are now witnessing the backlash of drafting 2 offensive gems in the first 2 rounds. What the fans need to understand is that our primary focus next season is going to beo-line,d-line and probably cornerback in free agency & the drsft. We have to deal with what we have, right???
Thanks.
-Sasquatch
Sorry to hear Clement was injured. he would have been a great asset to the team.
While I was expecting at least two DEs to come out of the draft for the Steelers, there just wasn't value there for those positions when we were picking. While I know we need better depth & developing youth along the DL, I can't see passing up much better players in order to reach for a position.
Dale,
Have you talked to any of your league sources to see if DE Kevin Huntley can play or not? The only thing I know is that an issue of Lindy's Pro Football said two years ago that, after his rookie season, the Raiders coaches loved his size and the fact that he could rush the passer.
If doesn't have to do much to beat out Eason or McBean. Here's hoping that DL Reffett will continue to flash and show some consistency. Ed Bouchette said during his chat yesterday that he's been hearing a lot of good things from the coaching staff about Reffett but no so many good things from them concerning McBean.
Thoughts?
Clement could always end up on the practice squad later on. I'm sure an injured UDFA is on nobody's radar.
Aaron smith is not on the decline. (see last season). Without him, this defense is adequate at best.
Defensive linemen can be very good into their thirties. I wouldn't look for a huge drop-off just yet.
I don't know how bad Booger McFarland's workout was but he sure seems like a good option at the moment. Some old pros look like crap in terms of measurables but just get the job done when the lights come on. I hope somebody falls to us when the other teams cut down their rosters. I think we all want someone decent behind, say, Aaron or Brett if they go down for any length of time.
Hoke is the backup NT. They've got enough DEs in camp that they didn't need to work him out there. Once the season starts, I'm sure he'll get some work there. But he's a vet, it's not like he would need a lot of work.
Booger has no knees left.
Huntley could knock Eason off the roster. He can't be any worse and he has great size.
Clements won't be back if they cut him now. He doesn't appear to have the speed to play at this level.
Reffett did some good things Friday night. He's a big kid with a good motor.
Dale, most of the player pages around the net list Huntley at 6'7 270, but you have him listed at 290. Has he recently gained some weight or is this a typo? I can't see him playing DE in our system at 270, but I also don't want a guy who just put on 20 pounds.
Dale,
Any chance that Reffert and Huntley could beat out Kirschke and Eason? I'd rather get rid of Kirschke a year early than a year too late and we know that Eason isn't worth of bag or rocks right now.
Also, has Micah Rucker done anything to show that he could nail that 5th WR spot? Who do you think is the leading candidate to get that spot right now?
Dale, are you saying that "no knees" is a negative? wink...
Oh man, is the Steeler defense awful. Last week they were shredded by McNabb and now the very average Trent Edwards. The DL is horrible, no pressure and now they can't stop the run. The secondary looks like they couldn't make a high school varsity team. The LB are the bright spot and that's more like a 40 watt bulb. And, these are the starters!
In the immortal words of Michel Therrien: "dey soff".
The Steelers have this guy listed at 290. I'm just going by what they're saying.
Rucker is a PS candidate in my opinion.
Kirschke will make this team. Eason has played better, but he's still getting pushed around in the running game.
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