The Steelers are losing the NFL Arms Race

[oneforthetoe]

There's not going to be much choice for Rookies playing right off the bat.

This could be one of the most inexperienced Steeler's teams ever to hit the field this year. That "could" turn out to be a good thing down the road once they get their feet wet and learn/apply what they are to do.

I still don't see any rookies starting on D. We are probably going to resign Kiesel now. I would be surprised if Ike didn't start the season at corner even if we draft one in the first round. Granted we could have rookies starting due to injuries and even making a more significant contribution in spot situations, but where do people see all these rookies starting?

[Dwinsgames]

I still don't see any rookies starting on D. We are probably going to resign Kiesel now. I would be surprised if Ike didn't start the season at corner even if we draft one in the first round. Granted we could have rookies starting due to injuries and even making a more significant contribution in spot situations, but where do people see all these rookies starting?

dependent upon how we draft

Potentially ILB

Potentially CB

Potentially DE

Potentially NT

Potentially WR

Potentially TE ( if we start some games in 2 TE sets )

its hard to tell right now , but we still do not have a starter quality DE on one side .. nor do we have what I consider a starting quality ILB opposite Timmons , CB opposite Allen ...Wheaton has almost nothing on a rookie WR esp if it is one drafted in first 2 rounds ... lots of potential places Rookies would upgrade this team as starters but probably not a lot of them will start but potentially 3 with relative ease ...

example ...

if we draft CB at 15 it will be Gilbert or Dennard both start over Ike IMO
if we trade down for value in round 2 and pick up a 3rd round pick for moving down 6-8 spots and take Moncrief he would probably earn the start over Wheaton
using the 3rd we got for trading down and take CJ Fedorowitz he gets 2 TE set starts with Miller easily over Spaeth or say we go LB Skov here starts over Vince Williams
a 3rd round comp gets us Josh Mauro DE he is an instant starter ....

while all this is highly unlikely it is quite possible and 4 guys could easily start from the rookie class

[oneforthetoe]

I don't disagree with your assessment of talent but I know papa Lebeau's utter distaste for starting rookies. I would be surprised if Ike didn't start the year regardless of whom we draft. Also I doubt we start any rookies at LBacker unless it is due to injury. D'line is a better possibility. I'd say the most likely would be a at nose tackle.

[Dwinsgames]

I don't disagree with your assessment of talent but I know papa Lebeau's utter distaste for starting rookies. I would be surprised if Ike didn't start the year regardless of whom we draft. Also I doubt we start any rookies at LBacker unless it is due to injury. D'line is a better possibility. I'd say the most likely would be a at nose tackle.

who exactly do we have at ILB that makes you so certain we would not start a rookie there ?

I am not picking on you honest I am not ... my point is Vince Williams on his best day is a 2 down linebacker and a severe liability in coverage and is solely responsible for Troy playing 80% of his snaps in the box last year weakening our pass defense because of the commitment to cover up Williams flaws ( and I am not picking on Vince Williams either he is what he is )

do you think for a moment ( even as reluctant Lebeau is to starting rookies ) he is so dumb to not realize masking 1 weakness to expose yet another is far worse than playing the superior player even if he is a rookie who will grow as time goes on and help eliminate those weaknesses ....

I know Lebeau is stubborn , but I also know he is not a stupid man ...

that is my point ... again was not picking on you , you just sort of made yourself available in context of conversation

[oneforthetoe]

Well, it is obviously too early to tell since free agency is not finished, the draft isn't here and we don't know yet how the younger players on our roster might improve, but I still think your argument sounds more like "who should start" as opposed to who likely will. I would be truly stunned if 4 rookies ever start for Lebeau defense, unless the necessity is injury driven.

[Dwinsgames]

Well, it is obviously too early to tell since free agency is not finished, the draft isn't here and we don't know yet how the younger players on our roster might improve, but I still think your argument sounds more like "who should start" as opposed to who likely will. I would be truly stunned if 4 rookies ever start for Lebeau defense, unless the necessity is injury driven.

well actually with the example above it was 2 potentially 3 on D ... 1 potentially 2 on O but 4 total

[oneforthetoe]

well actually with the example above it was 2 potentially 3 on D ... 1 potentially 2 on O but 4 total

Well that makes it a little difference, Still think it will be less though. but we will see. A lot will depend on the resigning of Kiesel and how our young linebackers from last year improve.

[Dwinsgames]

Well that makes it a little difference, Still think it will be less though. but we will see. A lot will depend on the resigning of Kiesel and how our young linebackers from last year improve.

doubt Vince Williams got any faster , and that is a large part of the problem in coverage