On the Steelers/Analysis: Time to add up month's wins, losses

[stillers4me]

Where do the Steelers stand after much of the smoke has cleared in the first dozen days of free agency? Still standing, if a little wobbly.

The loss of Jerricho Cotchery and Emmanuel Sanders left their group of wide receivers short and weaker, even though they added 5-foot-9 veteran Lance Moore. They have no running backs to speak of after Le'Veon Bell. And their defensive line looks as shallow as it has this century, even in March...........


Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/s...#ixzz2wnEgkIkR

[Count Steeler]

Still very much a work in progress. 8-8 would be a miracle with the current cast.

Hoping we get some more help in FA and that we have an amazing draft. However, history is not on Colbert's side.

[fansince'76]

8-8 would be a miracle with the current cast.

I disagree. I see a team that finally started to find its legs after the 0-4/2-6 start last season. We keep Roethlisberger healthy, and we have a chance every week. I'm also excited that we finally have someone who actually knows how to coach an offensive line as opposed to, say, someone who can't even use their Email without embarrassing themselves and the team. Munchak alone was a HUGE upgrade. Under his guidance, I think we see DeCastro finally become the perennial Pro Bowler he was expected to be and guys like Adams begin to reach their potential.

[Godfather]

I disagree. I see a team that finally started to find its legs after the 0-4/2-6 start last season. We keep Roethlisberger healthy, and we have a chance every week. I'm also excited that we finally have someone who actually knows how to coach an offensive line as opposed to, say, someone who can't even use their Email without embarrassing themselves and the team. Munchak alone was a HUGE upgrade. Under his guidance, I think we see DeCastro finally become the perennial Pro Bowler he was expected to be and guys like Adams begin to reach their potential.

I hope you're right!!

[Count Steeler]

I disagree. I see a team that finally started to find its legs after the 0-4/2-6 start last season. We keep Roethlisberger healthy, and we have a chance every week. I'm also excited that we finally have someone who actually knows how to coach an offensive line as opposed to, say, someone who can't even use their Email without embarrassing themselves and the team. Munchak alone was a HUGE upgrade. Under his guidance, I think we see DeCastro finally become the perennial Pro Bowler he was expected to be and guys like Adams begin to reach their potential.

I will share your optimism if we are actually able to field an offense. AND have depth for those dreaded injuries that seem to be inevitable.

As of now we have Ben, Antonio, Le'veon and Heath. If the Oline stays healthy and none of these guys go down, our O will be adequate. However, the D is currently in a world of hurt.

[Mojouw]

People sure want it both ways around here. Let's take a look at the players that went out the door and most importantly the general opinion of their abilities/performance:

1. Woodley - fairly universally condemned as a waste of money, an overrated player, etc. "Woodsloth" says it all.
2. Hood - just a tick below Woodley in drawing fire around these parts. Viewed as a 1st round bust that was keeping better players on the bench due to the coaching staff's frustrating preference to keep trotting Hood out as the starter.
3. Woods - a player viewed as having very high potential.
4. Clark - the old man of the DB grouping. Plays an outdated game and is a serious liability in coverage.
5. Cotchery - an invaluable weapon in the passing game and a vital safety valve for Roethlisberger.
6. Dwyer - a soft RB with weight problems but who was much better than the other crap the team had at back-up RB.

Again, I am not saying that I or even everyone here agrees with these evaluations of these 6 players. But looking over the board the last several months, this is the going wisdom. So what is everyone freaking out about? They cut a high $ LB'er that was viewed as underperforming and breaking down. I personally disagree with this decision, but I am in a vanishing minority (perhaps a minority of 1) on that issue.

Hood and Woods were allowed to leave for over $20 million dollars (albeit I am sure some of that is funny NFL contract money). Does anyone see that much production from those two players? Additionally, both went to teams that are going to ask them to rush the passer. Hood, in particular, has always stated he felt miscast as a 3-4 DE and preferred to play a penetrating 4-3 tackle.

Clark was viewed as done as a coverage safety and he is. Last season's tape demonstrates that. He was days late in helping over the top multiple times and is possibly a contributing factor in the declining play of the CB's.

Cotchery is a loss. He was a valuable and productive veteran slot receiver. Oh. Wait. We signed one of those to replace him. So a push?

That leaves us with Dwyer. The definition of a replaceable player. He was given numerous opportunities to put a hold on either the #1 or #2 job and was never able to do it. I, for one, am excited about moving on to anyone else. If for no other reason than to have a chance of different results.

Oh, wait. I forgot about Sanders. Really? Does anyone care that he is leaving?

So looking at a team that is coming of a string of mediocre seasons are folks really disappointed that the roster is going to churn? Did we really want to ride with the same cast again?

[Count Steeler]

People sure want it both ways around here. Let's take a look at the players that went out the door and most importantly the general opinion of their abilities/performance:

1. Woodley - fairly universally condemned as a waste of money, an overrated player, etc. "Woodsloth" says it all.
2. Hood - just a tick below Woodley in drawing fire around these parts. Viewed as a 1st round bust that was keeping better players on the bench due to the coaching staff's frustrating preference to keep trotting Hood out as the starter.
3. Woods - a player viewed as having very high potential.
4. Clark - the old man of the DB grouping. Plays an outdated game and is a serious liability in coverage.
5. Cotchery - an invaluable weapon in the passing game and a vital safety valve for Roethlisberger.
6. Dwyer - a soft RB with weight problems but who was much better than the other crap the team had at back-up RB.

Again, I am not saying that I or even everyone here agrees with these evaluations of these 6 players. But looking over the board the last several months, this is the going wisdom. So what is everyone freaking out about? They cut a high $ LB'er that was viewed as underperforming and breaking down. I personally disagree with this decision, but I am in a vanishing minority (perhaps a minority of 1) on that issue.

Hood and Woods were allowed to leave for over $20 million dollars (albeit I am sure some of that is funny NFL contract money). Does anyone see that much production from those two players? Additionally, both went to teams that are going to ask them to rush the passer. Hood, in particular, has always stated he felt miscast as a 3-4 DE and preferred to play a penetrating 4-3 tackle.

Clark was viewed as done as a coverage safety and he is. Last season's tape demonstrates that. He was days late in helping over the top multiple times and is possibly a contributing factor in the declining play of the CB's.

Cotchery is a loss. He was a valuable and productive veteran slot receiver. Oh. Wait. We signed one of those to replace him. So a push?

That leaves us with Dwyer. The definition of a replaceable player. He was given numerous opportunities to put a hold on either the #1 or #2 job and was never able to do it. I, for one, am excited about moving on to anyone else. If for no other reason than to have a chance of different results.

Oh, wait. I forgot about Sanders. Really? Does anyone care that he is leaving?

So looking at a team that is coming of a string of mediocre seasons are folks really disappointed that the roster is going to churn? Did we really want to ride with the same cast again?

Yes the cast has churned. What is concerning is what the replacement cast will look like. If we sign a decent LB (Moats would be nice) and we have the best draft of Colbert's tenure, we willl be OK. Time will tell.

[Mojouw]

Yes the cast has churned. What is concerning is what the replacement cast will look like. If we sign a decent LB (Moats would be nice) and we have the best draft of Colbert's tenure, we willl be OK. Time will tell.

But that is my point. Look at who is being replaced and how. Right now on paper Mitchell is better than Clark. Worilds is an upgrade over Woodley. Moore is a push with Cotchery, if not a slight upgrade. Thomas and Hood is a push. Wheaton has the potential to be better than Sanders. Or he could drop 3 passes a game and fumble twice. So not too big a deal there.

So that means with the rest of FA they need to hit on a back-up RB who will likely get 100 touches over the whole season. And they need to replace a back-up defensive lineman in Woods. The rest of the roster holes were not from FA departures but known weakness with the team. ILB was a need since the day Spence shredded his knee. WR has been a known need since last off-season when Wallace left and Sanders was signed to an offer sheet. DL has been a need since they moved on from Hampton.

Do I think this is a "loaded" roster? Of course not. But I still fail to see how the players that left in FA were a surprise to anyone? It is not like significant talent was bled off. All the players that left were part-time starters or players that had already been ticketed for replacement.

I agree that things would look better with Carrington, Moats, and Blount signed but I don't think the sky is falling either.

[Count Steeler]

But that is my point. Look at who is being replaced and how. Right now on paper Mitchell is better than Clark. Worilds is an upgrade over Woodley. Moore is a opush with Cotchery, if not a slight upgrade. Thomas and Hood is a push. Wheaton has the potential to be better than Sanders. Or he could drop 3 passes a game and fumble twice. So not too big a deal there.

So that means with the rest of FA they need to hit on a back-up RB who will likely get 100 touches over the whole season. And they need to replace a back-up defensive lineman in Woods. The rest of the roster holes were not from FA departures but known weakness with the team. ILB was a need since the day Spence shredded his knee. WR has been a known need since last off-season when Wallace left and Sanders was signed to an offer sheet. DL has been a need since they moved on from Hampton.

Do I think this is a "loaded" roster? Of course not. But I still fail to see how the players that left in FA were a surprise to anyone? It is not like significant talent was bled off. All the players that left were part-time starters or players that had already been ticketed for replacement.

I agree that things would look better with Carrington, Moats, and Blount signed but I don't think the sky is falling either.

Staus quo won't get us very far, even if we make the playoffs.
We have to start seeing upgrades. Mitchell is a wait and see. Yes, he should perform better than Clark did last year. The DL and LB are still question marks. CB should be better just by Allen being healthy.

Again, the draft is going to predicate our success or failure next season. History is not on Colbert's side. So as it stands now, I don't see much better than 8-8.

[LLT]

I disagree. I see a team that finally started to find its legs after the 0-4/2-6 start last season. We keep Roethlisberger healthy, and we have a chance every week. I'm also excited that we finally have someone who actually knows how to coach an offensive line as opposed to, say, someone who can't even use their Email without embarrassing themselves and the team. Munchak alone was a HUGE upgrade. Under his guidance, I think we see DeCastro finally become the perennial Pro Bowler he was expected to be and guys like Adams begin to reach their potential.

if we could pick up DE Carrington and RB Blount....The team is "overall" better than it was at the beginning of last season.

[oneforthetoe]

I disagree. I see a team that finally started to find its legs after the 0-4/2-6 start last season. We keep Roethlisberger healthy, and we have a chance every week. I'm also excited that we finally have someone who actually knows how to coach an offensive line as opposed to, say, someone who can't even use their Email without embarrassing themselves and the team. Munchak alone was a HUGE upgrade. Under his guidance, I think we see DeCastro finally become the perennial Pro Bowler he was expected to be and guys like Adams begin to reach their potential.

Gary, did you not get the memo reminding fans about being too positive this time of year (or any time of year)? After all theses years I would have thought you would know better.

[slashsteel]

I think Cam will prove to be a upgrade over Hood. As it shouldn't take much he graded out as our worst Dline man.

Clark was a step late, so Mitchell will be another upgrade.

As was mentioned a push for Cotch and Moore if not a slight decrease.

But I think this strong draft with solid depth will bring two WRs to the Steelers.

Moats is a solid run defender plus special teams, with the often injured Woodley I will say a slight plus as Woodley lived in the hot tube. A decrease when Wood was healthy but we know that was few and far between.

I think the Steelers will sign a upgrade over Dwyer...

New O-line coach should bring dividends.

With a strong draft there is no reason this team shouldn't push its way back into the playoffs.

I also see another Dlineman coming in. Perhaps after Woodley's money is freed up in June.

[GBMelBlount]

if we could pick up DE Carrington and RB Blount....The team is "overall" better than it was at the beginning of last season.

Any idea how much cap space we have today and what Carrington and Blount might cost?

[GBMelBlount]

Steelers likely to have deal with experienced running back by the end of the week

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com...ack-by-the-end