Steelers Sunday Spotlight: The D-Line

[Count Steeler]

In a span of three years, the Steelers used two No. 1 draft choices to bolster what they thought was an aging defensive line.

In 2009, after beating the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, they drafted defensive end Ziggy Hood with the 32nd overall pick. And, in 2011, after losing to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV, they drafted another defensive end, Cameron Heyward, with the 31st overall pick.

The intent was two-fold: To inject some youth into a line that had three starters, not to mention its top backup, over the age of 30. And to rebuild the front line of the defense with eventual replacements for Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel.

Four years later, the Steelers are still waiting for those top picks to have a significant impact on their defense. And the time for them to do so likely is here.

The Steelers likely will lose the anchor of their defensive line -- five-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Casey Hampton, who is not expected to be re-signed despite starting all 16 games in 2012. He will be the second piece of what defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau has called "the best defensive line I've ever coached" to depart in as many years, joining Smith.

The lone holdover is Keisel, who will be 35 in September but is coming off one of his best seasons. He had 41/2 sacks -- all in the final eight games -- and led the team with a whopping 40 quarterback pressures, more than double any other Steelers player. But Keisel likely will be the only player on the defensive line who is over 30.

While other units of the defense are showing signs of age, that won't be the case on the defensive line.


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/...#ixzz2JB8FApN2

[SteelerFanInStl]

That's why using No. 1 picks -- and having to invest No. 1 money -- on two defensive ends doesn't make a lot of sense. Not if the Steelers are going to strip away the very physical tools that attracted them to Hood and Heyward in the first place and mold them into players whose primary job is to hold up at the point of attack.

The Steelers can find those players in later rounds, as they did so superbly with Smith (fourth round) and Keisel (seventh).

I've been saying this for the past few years.

[zulater]

By Gerry Dulac / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
In a span of three years, the Steelers used two No. 1 draft choices to bolster what they thought was an aging defensive line.
In 2009, after beating the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII, they drafted defensive end Ziggy Hood with the 32nd overall pick. And, in 2011, after losing to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV, they drafted another defensive end, Cameron Heyward, with the 31st overall pick.
The intent was two-fold: To inject some youth into a line that had three starters, not to mention its top backup, over the age of 30. And to rebuild the front line of the defense with eventual replacements for Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel.
Four years later, the Steelers are still waiting for those top picks to have a significant impact on their defense. And the time for them to do so likely is here.


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/...#ixzz2JFFAQGYX

Click the link, read the entire column. Discuss. It's worth the time and effort.

[pepsyman1]

I think things will look much different once McClendon is starting. He was driving opposing centers back into their own QBs the whole preseason. He left disruption in his wake and created gaps for the inside linebackers. I think 2013 will be a good defensive year.

[zulater]

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I've been saying this for the past few years.

I think that was the best point made in the article. Using a first round pick ( let alone two!) for a gap control, plug 'em in type player, just doesn't makes sense. Look at the Steelers best DE's over the past decade, Aaron Smith 4th round, Brett Keisel 6th round, Kimo Von Oehlhoffen mid level free agent. Colbert or whoever pulled the trigger on Hood and Heyward set this team back talent wise quite a bit.

[Mojouw]

But the lower round players you mentioned were drafted when few teams in the NFL played a 3-4 defense. With all the teams in the league currently playing the 3-4 and the high number of teams projected to make the switch, 3-4 players are more valuable than ever. This has been the case for several years now. Heck, Tyson Jackson went super high in the first round. The Steelers main problem is Hood. Heyward seems to not be the starter because he is intended to play on the other side or is a year younger or some such non-sense. Heyward is the second best DE on the roster. Why doesn't he start?

[Psycho Ward 86]

But the lower round players you mentioned were drafted when few teams in the NFL played a 3-4 defense. With all the teams in the league currently playing the 3-4 and the high number of teams projected to make the switch, 3-4 players are more valuable than ever. This has been the case for several years now. Heck, Tyson Jackson went super high in the first round.

This. And also, Ok sure we got great value out of aaron smith and brett keisel for where they were drafted but 2 does not make a pattern. Kimo von was drafted by the bengals and just started to become underrated, but good in his twilight years with them. that wasnt our work, that was just good drafting by the bengals, and a good pick up by the steelers. And like Mojouw said, for everyone aaron smith/keisel out there, theres also a tyson jackson and jj watt. We probably dont necessarily need to drafted anymore D-line, but if we do, its far from a sure thing that we'll hit on late round picks at the defensive end position

[steelreserve]

That's why using No. 1 picks -- and having to invest No. 1 money -- on two defensive ends doesn't make a lot of sense.

Look on the bright side ... we won't have to invest first-round money if they keep playing THIS way!

but seriously, if any of them turn out to be any good, we'll end up having to pay them at least $5M or $6M a year regardless, just like Smith and Keisel. Good 3-4 DEs don't seem to make any more or less than that, and nose tackles get a couple million more because really huge fat guys are harder to find. I still don't know why they don't use sumo wrestlers for both NT and the offensive line.