With Ike Taylor agreeing to a four-year deal to stay with the Steelers, they can now move on to other pressing business.
Next up for the team are tackles Willie Colon, Jonathan Scott, and placekicker Shaun Suisham.
If Colon re-signs, it could be as a guard. The Steelers will speak to Flozell Adams about returning for another season, but would like him to do so for less than the $5 million he is scheduled to earn this season.
Adams, who held down the starting right tackle position in 2010 after Colon suffered an Achilles' tendon tear, will likely only return if he can remain a starter. Adams wants to make one last run at a Super Bowl and returning to the Steelers would give him a solid opportunity to do so.
20 comments:
Hey Dale, two questions:
Now that we've locked up Ike (thank God), it looks like our secondary won't be worse than it was last year. But is there any chance the team goes looking for another CB in FA to play opposite Ike, to actually improve our pass defense from a year ago? I don't think we can count on Brown and Allen to do that this year.
We fans have been clamoring to try Colon at RG for years, but the team seemed very certain about keeping him at RT, even when we had other RTs available and no RG to speak of. Adams held down the fort last year, but had to come out constantly, I assume because his body simply couldn't take it. He's like half a player. Good when he's in, but only in half the time. He's another year older now. Can he hold up? I find it interesting that the team will consider moving Colon to guard now that we need a solid tackle. So if we keep Adams around, what's the scenario for when he comes out for an IV twice a game? Does Gilbert/Scott step in at RT? Does Colon kick out to RT and Gilbert/Whoever hops in at RG?
Dale - Steelers still need to sign another corner. They should look hard at Josh Wilson if not him maybe Chris Carr
Poor corner play is the main reason we lost the SB.
Tim and Anonymous... do you guys even watch the Steelers, or know anything about how they operate? They will not and do not need to go sign another corner in Free Agency. First of all, we were already $10 million over the cap before signing Taylor, 2nd, they will keep 6 corners at most, and if they resign Gay they would have to cut a recent draft pick to make room. 3rd, when do the Steelers EVER sign a high profile FA? Maybe 3 times in the last 20 years or so? Not gonna happen.
Also, Anonymous, poor corner play is not why we lost the superbowl, 3 untimely turnovers were. You can't blame corners for allowing a few long plays against one of the best QBs in the league. Even if u had Revis AND Asomugha starting, Rodgers would still complete passes from a 4 and 5 receiver set.
Just don't see Colon being re-signed. He's been on 1 year tenders for the past 2 years. It's not the Steelers' MO for players they really want to keep. Colon would have been re-signed by now otherwise.
Thought Adams did a nice job last year. Don't forget the schedule makers had them down south in hot weather the first 4-5 weeks of the season. All the OL were in and out during those games.
The Steeler secondary was not healthy for the last half of the season. McFadden played with a ribcage muscle injury and Troy had a bad achilles. LeBeau had to cover that up for weeks and all of the playoffs. The young DBs are a year older now and that will help more than anything.
dale,
i believe you have repeatedly stated the steelers will not bring in tiki barber.
however, i heard it again on the radio this morning and it is driving me nuts. i don't see why they would bring him in. if they're gonna bring in an old guy for a year or two i'd rather it be moss or burress.
is their any truth to this ugly rumor?
Dale,
Why is it that the Steelers didn't give Forbath or Jasper a look at kicker? Does this mean they're set with Suisham?
Thanks Dale.
Dale,
I think any improvement in the secondary this year will have to come down to Bryant McFadden and Crezdon Butler. McFadden had arguably his worst year as a Steeler and Butler has to step up this year to either challenge McFadden for that starting spot or nail down the nickel role that William Gay held last year.
I am high on Butler, than for no other reason that I have at least seen him try and make a play on the ball. Something that our 3 top CBs from last year seldom did. I would love to see K. Colbert land a Chris Carr of the Ravens or a Corey Graham from the Bears to compete with BMac and Butler for that starting spot opposite of Ike. I just do not think Keenan Lewis has shown anything that says he can be an NFL corner. Brown and C. Allen are way behind the curve now and might not be able to catch up this year, although I think C. Brown will end up being an excellent slot corner for this team.
As far as Colon, I am baffled as to what the front office feels about him. I think it would be a mistake to depend on Flozell making it through another NFL season at 36 years old. Sign Colon and see what you have with Gilbert, C. Scott, T. Hills and some of the other young OL. Not a big Johnathon Scott myself.
I meant to say not a big fan of Johnathon Scott. I still have visions in my head of him being thrown around this past year and being beat like a drum by T. Suggs.
i would also very much like to see another CB brought in to battle for the spot opposite of taylor.
I too would like for the steelers to get some CB worthy on the market, but make no mistake, McFadden is starting. Some may not like him, and he's far from an all pro, but he fits our system perfectly, and with the lockout we need someone who won't be trying to learn everything in a month
Dan - you are an idiot
William Gay sucks he should not even make the team
They do need another starting corner and the 2 I suggested are not "high-profile". If you even followed the Steelers you will know that they tried to sign Chris Carr 2 years ago.
I don't see them going after any free agent corners. Crezdon Butler needs to step up. I think he will.
The thing with Colon before was that you had a solid RT. I think the thinking was why take him and move him to guard, where he might be average to above average and weaken yourself at a position where you need to be strong - RT.
They like Scott and will try to resign him. Gilbert will get a shot at guard right away as well. But I expect Colon, once he's resigned, to kick inside for a year to strengthen that position.
dale,
obviously you haven't been able to see anyone practicing yet, but is there any player you feel might be a positive surprise when the season starts?
I saw an article on espn that predicted Emmanuel sanders would take a big step this year. I agree that could happen as ward will probably slow down a lot this year.
Steelers came to terms with Suisham and Aaron Bates, a UDFA punter from Mich St. Looks like Sepulveda won't be back and we'll have to endure a lifetime of Bouchette's gloating.
The second-year guys are the ones who usually take the biggest step forward. That said, they didn't get their offseason workouts this year.
But Sanders and Brown both got a lot of playing time at the end of last season, which should help them.
Crezdon Butler will also get a big opportunity.
You guys are funny relying on a 5th rd draft pick who did nothing last year to solve our CB problem
i hear colon is being looked at hard by the Bears. Any thoughts what Coach Kugler has in mind if colon comes back, what everyone thought of the pled visit. Dale do you think the steelers will look at any Outside FA
Dan,
I seriously lol'd at your reason #2. There's no space for a FA corner to fix our pass defense problems because we have to keep William Gay! Priceless. And I love the notion that none of our other DBs are expendable as well. You're a funny guy.
By the way, I never said they'll get a high profile FA. I asked if there was a chance if they might get a free agent. Like, any free agent that's already been in the league. Maybe you and I have different opinions about what it takes to outperform Bryant McFadden or William Gay. I don't think Nnamdi is the only guy capable of doing that.
And in Anonymous' defense, if our corners had played better we'd have won the Super Bowl. Yes, the turnovers are probably reason #1 that we lost. But what are we going to do about that? Cut Ben and Mendenhall? Our corners played like crap. They are our achilles' heel, so I wouldn't criticize someone for suggesting we do something about it.
great post Tim
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