Steelers sign Heyward Bey

[Steelerette]

1. Brown
2. Wheaton/Moore
3. Moore/Wheaton
4. ????? -Moncrief
5. ????? -Bey
6. ????? -Jasper Collins or Derek Moye or Justin Brown

This is what I'm hoping for, unless Bey stinks up Camp and is beat out by Moye, Justin, or a late rounder. The fact is that the Bey signing doesn't answer any questions nor does it create any... it simply gives us camp bodies for now at a position where we kind of need them.

[steel striker]

I'm not crazy about this move but, time will tell. like many have mentioned in the above posts hands of stone says it all.

[GBMelBlount]

I think this move has little to do with Wheaton. It has more to do with Moye, Brown, and whatever flotsam and jetsam is swirling around the bottom of the roster and the practice squad.

Completely agree.

Everyone transitions to the NFL differently.

If Wheaton does not get some traction this year THEN I will start to worry.

[MrPgh]

My hope is they don't take a WR in the early rounds of the draft. We've let important parts of our defense go for way too long. We got a temporary solution to some of that in FA, but we still need to do something for the long term.

When is the last time a rookie came into a LeBeau defense and dominated right away? Those early round picks need to be able to come in and play right away for the Steelers, and WR is a need. When the Steelers defense was at it most dominate from 2004-2010, a lot of those guys were players the Steelers found in the later rounds of the draft. Same with the current Seahawks defense. You don't build a defense solely on first and second round picks.

[Steelerette]

It's true that defensive players tend not to start right away for the Steelers but if you go by that logic forever then you'll never draft defense high and you'll never have good defense. This is the perfect year to draft defense, we have a lot of stopgaps in place to let these guys develop so we don't have to deal with this for another 8-9 years.

[steelreserve]

When is the last time a rookie came into a LeBeau defense and dominated right away? Those early round picks need to be able to come in and play right away for the Steelers, and WR is a need. When the Steelers defense was at it most dominate from 2004-2010, a lot of those guys were players the Steelers found in the later rounds of the draft. Same with the current Seahawks defense. You don't build a defense solely on first and second round picks.

You also don't build a solid defense by always putting it off until next year, and hoping your fifth-round picks all pan out. Seattle was very, very lucky to have everything come together at once the way it did. Hell, while we're on that subject, when's the last time an undersized "running" QB drafted in the third round came in and won a Super Bowl right away?

On offense, we are for the most part set, and we spend high draft picks copiously there. Other than Foster and Brown, every starter on offense was a first- or second-round selection. Brown doesn't need replacing, and I doubt we want to spend the 15th overall pick on a #2 wide receiver. On the other hand, we haven't seriously tried to get a nose tackle in about 15 years, and the last time we gave the CB position more than a what-the-hell look was in 2004.

As mentioned above, this is a great year to draft defensive players, because we have the temporary solutions. But unless you want to go into 2016 with Ike Taylor starting at CB, no successor to Troy, and still trying to fake a nose-tackle-by-committee with a bunch of below-average walk-ons, then I'd suggest we address those things now. Unless you're somehow under the impression that we're going to win the Super Bowl this season, and the only missing piece is a rookie #2 receiver. Then yes, by all means, let's go wild.

[MrPgh]

You also don't build a solid defense by always putting it off until next year, and hoping your fifth-round picks all pan out. Seattle was very, very lucky to have everything come together at once the way it did. Hell, while we're on that subject, when's the last time an undersized "running" QB drafted in the third round came in and won a Super Bowl right away?

Who said anything about "putting it off until next year?" I'm merely stating a fact: you can't build a defense entirely on first and second round draft picks.

On offense, we are for the most part set, and we spend high draft picks copiously there. Other than Foster and Brown, every starter on offense was a first- or second-round selection. Brown doesn't need replacing, and I doubt we want to spend the 15th overall pick on a #2 wide receiver. On the other hand, we haven't seriously tried to get a nose tackle in about 15 years, and the last time we gave the CB position more than a what-the-hell look was in 2004.

Then assuming there's a WR worthy of the #15 pick, draft a #1 WR and make Brown the #2 WR. That would make Brown an even better player. Just because the offense is ahead of the defense doesn't mean the offense is a complete unit yet.

As mentioned above, this is a great year to draft defensive players, because we have the temporary solutions. But unless you want to go into 2016 with Ike Taylor starting at CB, no successor to Troy, and still trying to fake a nose-tackle-by-committee with a bunch of below-average walk-ons, then I'd suggest we address those things now. Unless you're somehow under the impression that we're going to win the Super Bowl this season, and the only missing piece is a rookie #2 receiver. Then yes, by all means, let's go wild.

Now your just making knee-jerk reactions. If the Steelers really want to build their defense up to what is was back in the middle of the last decade, they're gonna have to hit in the middle rounds in some areas. And really, they were never going to "fix" the defense in one draft regardless of who they take in which rounds. Too many holes and it takes rookies a long time to learn a LeBeau defense.

[Dwinsgames]

TY Hilton ‏@TYHiltonWR13 56m S/O to my bra @theDHB85 signing with the steelers. They are getting a hard worker and a team player. Look out for my boy @AntonioBrown84

- - - Updated - - -

You also don't build a solid defense by always putting it off until next year

.

[Texasteel]

Fastest WR in the 2009 draft that included Mike Wallace , hard to fathom Wallace had the better hands and feel like I lost 10 points off my IQ for saying it ...... but its true

Funny, but the first thing I thought was...... Very fast, runs well after the catch, will drop a ball to often. Looks like we finally found a replacement for Wallace.

[tube517]

Funny, but the first thing I thought was...... Very fast, runs well after the catch, will drop a ball to often. Looks like we finally found a replacement for Wallace.

And we don't have to pay him to jump for the ball...

[Texasteel]

And we don't have to pay him to jump for the ball...

Or fight for a catch. I'd say we did better than Miami.

[Mojouw]

When is the last time a rookie came into a LeBeau defense and dominated right away? Those early round picks need to be able to come in and play right away for the Steelers, and WR is a need. When the Steelers defense was at it most dominate from 2004-2010, a lot of those guys were players the Steelers found in the later rounds of the draft. Same with the current Seahawks defense. You don't build a defense solely on first and second round picks.

When those mid-round players were picked and "hit" - there was an undervaluation of 3-4 NT's, DE's, and OLB's in the draft. The number of teams playing the 3-4 or multiple fronts has risen considerably since the late 90's and early 2000's. Edge players (DE's and OLDB's) are now costing a premium price in the draft. Heck, Timmons and Woodley were 1st and 2nd rounders. Gone are the days of getting a Gildon or Porter or Aaron Smith on the 3rd day.

Seattles' defense has a great # of high round draft picks on it. Such As:

Avril - 3rd round
Mebane - 3rd round
Wagner- 2nd round
Irvin - 1st round (15th overall)
Thomas - 1st round (14th overall)


So other than Bennett (UDFA), Sherman (5th round), and Chancellor (5th round) the other major parts of Seattle's defense was built with picks in rounds 1-3. Not exactly cobbling it together with low draft picks. I get that it the Seahawks are helped immensely by Sherman being a human eraser out of the 5th round. But the Steelers of 2004-10 were a similar mix of unexpected gems and high rounders.

For all the pub those low round LB's and DE finds get, Troy, Timmons, Woodley, Hampton, and Farrior were all round 1 or 2 picks.

No one is saying that only 1st and 2nd round picks can be the basis for the entire defense, but certainly almost any given roster with an elite defense demonstrates they are the core.

The idea that only picks from round 3-7 are needed to put together the back-bone of a SB defense is laughable.

[MrPgh]

When those mid-round players were picked and "hit" - there was an undervaluation of 3-4 NT's, DE's, and OLB's in the draft. The number of teams playing the 3-4 or multiple fronts has risen considerably since the late 90's and early 2000's. Edge players (DE's and OLDB's) are now costing a premium price in the draft. Heck, Timmons and Woodley were 1st and 2nd rounders. Gone are the days of getting a Gildon or Porter or Aaron Smith on the 3rd day.

Seattles' defense has a great # of high round draft picks on it. Such As:

Avril - 3rd round
Mebane - 3rd round
Wagner- 2nd round
Irvin - 1st round (15th overall)
Thomas - 1st round (14th overall)


So other than Bennett (UDFA), Sherman (5th round), and Chancellor (5th round) the other major parts of Seattle's defense was built with picks in rounds 1-3. Not exactly cobbling it together with low draft picks. I get that it the Seahawks are helped immensely by Sherman being a human eraser out of the 5th round. But the Steelers of 2004-10 were a similar mix of unexpected gems and high rounders.

For all the pub those low round LB's and DE finds get, Troy, Timmons, Woodley, Hampton, and Farrior were all round 1 or 2 picks.

No one is saying that only 1st and 2nd round picks can be the basis for the entire defense, but certainly almost any given roster with an elite defense demonstrates they are the core.

The idea that only picks from round 3-7 are needed to put together the back-bone of a SB defense is laughable.

Which isn't at all what I said. I said you can't build a defense ENTIRELY of 1st and 2nd round picks. I fully expect and endorse that at least one of the Steelers first two picks will be defense. What I'm addressing is the fact that there are posters that are absolutely incensed at the idea that the Steelers could take a WR in one of the first two rounds. This defense will take at least two drafts to fix. Taking a WR in one of the first two rounds this year isn't going the set them back.

[Mojouw]

Which isn't at all what I said. I said you can't build a defense ENTIRELY of 1st and 2nd round picks. I fully expect and endorse that at least one of the Steelers first two picks will be defense. What I'm addressing is the fact that there are posters that are absolutely incensed at the idea that the Steelers could take a WR in one of the first two rounds. This defense will take at least two drafts to fix. Taking a WR in one of the first two rounds this year isn't going the set them back.

Wasn't clear from the original post. I do not disagree with the idea of WR in the first couple of rounds. I think that this draft has to be about the best player(s) available at each pick. Other than QB, I can not think of position group where talent could not be fit in alongside existing players.

That being said, after this year there will likely be only 3 high draft picks on the defense (Jones, Timmons, and Worilds). They all play in one position group. Really could use some talent on that side of the ball. Troy Polamalu can no longer cover up for the lack of talent in the back-end.

[MrPgh]

Wasn't clear from the original post. I do not disagree with the idea of WR in the first couple of rounds. I think that this draft has to be about the best player(s) available at each pick. Other than QB, I can not think of position group where talent could not be fit in alongside existing players.

That being said, after this year there will likely be only 3 high draft picks on the defense (Jones, Timmons, and Worilds). They all play in one position group. Really could use some talent on that side of the ball. Troy Polamalu can no longer cover up for the lack of talent in the back-end.

I see your point and agree with it for the most part. I just think there are some very unrealistic expectations being thrown around in regards to the Steelers defense. It's in rebuild mode and will take at least a couple of drafts to fix, not to mention it takes young players a couple of years to learn the LeBeau defense. I certainly don't expect the Steelers to hit on every mid to late round pick they take or hit as often as they did in the mid-2000's , but they will have to hit on some of them over the next few drafts.

[LLT]

Not super-impressed with the signing...but will reserve judgement until I see what he does... when someone like Ben is throwing balls to him.

[Dwinsgames]

Not super-impressed with the signing...but will reserve judgement until I see what he does... when someone like Ben is throwing balls to him.

Ben can throw guys open who normally cant get open but that is not DHB issue , his problem is making the catch , not much Ben can do for him there he has to do that himself

[Texasteel]

Not super-impressed with the signing...but will reserve judgement until I see what he does... when someone like Ben is throwing balls to him.

Kinda on the fence with this signing. The Steelers must see something there they can use. I don't think they signing him a camp fodder, or as TC competition. They must have something in mind for him.

[Craic]

He's six foot two with speed. It may not be Ben's "tall receiver" but he's basically Mike Wallace + height. Sure, his hands are about five percent worse than Wallace's (targets vs. passes caught over the last three years), but he has a little better speed and again, a little more height.

[Steelerette]

I would have to think that part of the rationale is that they also really need CB and DL, could probably use a linebacker, etc...

So if Evans is there in the first or if somehow Benjamin or Beckham slips to us in the second you go ahead and pull the trigger, but now, if there's better value to be had at DE or CB, well they can go ahead and do that instead of feeling pressured to still grab a WR. Or, if there's an opportunity to trade down but there are a few guys they want on the board, now they can go ahead and trade down a few picks and still get one of those guys.

[LLT]

Ben can throw guys open who normally cant get open but that is not DHB issue , his problem is making the catch , not much Ben can do for him there he has to do that himself

"Some" of that can be placement and velocity...but yea...youre correct on principle.

[SteelerFanInStl]

I'm not too excited about this signing but he was cheap. Not sure that anyone can teach him how to catch the ball though.

[Dwinsgames]

Mary Kay Cabot @MaryKCabot
#Steelers sign Wide Receiver Darius Heywerd Bey to a deal, Browns report they aren't worried because he had more DUIs then TDs last year

[Butch]

Like others here I am not impressed unless they are going to use him as something other than a WR.

[JayC]

meh. but good to have depth in case of injury

[silver & black]

Well.............. he's fast. Good luck.

[steelreserve]

Like others here I am not impressed unless they are going to use him as something other than a WR.

Well, we could always try him at CB if all else fails. He could carry on the tradition of not being able to catch the ball.

[Butch]

Well, we could always try him at CB if all else fails. He could carry on the tradition of not being able to catch the ball.

Exactly what I was thinking. Hey if he can cover and tackle I would be ok with that.

[Shoes]

What questions does it raise about Wheaton? Other than the obvious, he has almost zero NFL game experience. How does DHB signing for what appears to bet the vet minimum (meaning he can be readily cut at almost any point prior to the start of the season) change anything about the below:

1. Brown
2. Wheaton/Moore
3. Moore/Wheaton
4. ?????
5. ?????
6. ?????

That was the depth chart this morning and it still is now. Seriously not trying to be a jerk, but I don't see how DHB and Wheaton are related?

lol, RAISES questions? you mean you didnt have questions about Wheaton before this signing? Wheaton is worthless to this team until he proves otherwise. even though it isnt all his fault

Perhaps I should have made a separate post. I zeroed in on *Wheaton* in Steelreserve's post and not so much on DHB. My questions are on Wheaton's ability and future. I don't believe I've ever heard Ben toot any WR's horn as he did Wheaton's last year. Yet there wasn't much to show for it. As I said above I really hope this kid turns it around this year.

- - - Updated - - -

He's six foot two with speed. It may not be Ben's "tall receiver" but he's basically Mike Wallace + height. Sure, his hands are about five percent worse than Wallace's (targets vs. passes caught over the last three years), but he has a little better speed and again, a little more height.

Maybe a velcro football and gloves will help.

Lets hope he has a season like this….

[86WARD]

There's not that many questions about Wheaton yet...The guys was a rookie...a rookie drafted in mid rounds...he's not gonna be Randy Moss coming out of college...he needs time.