Fixing the Steelers Offense: Top 4 Offseason Priorities

[teegre]

Agreed. BUT...the 2021 cap structure is totally unprecedented. The cap has remained flat, but never shrank before. Ever. So paying Haden top CB money really isn't that good of an idea either...I like Joe Haden. I still think Haden can play in the NFL...but he isn't a $15 million+ a year CB anymore. His Average Annual Value makes him the #15 most expensive CB per year in the league. That puts him in the top tier of the entire league - and he may not even be the best CB on his own team.

It would be a cold and merciless decision and could have unintended ripple effects in 2021 and beyond, but there is a clinical and logical case to be made that Haden is too expensive for what he is at this point in his career. If his name wasn't "Joe Haden top end draft pick" would anyone want to pay him top tier CB money?

Their "out" would be that it was a strange year... blame COVID!!!

That said, I just don't see them cutting Haden. I could see them restructuring and adding one more year... bringing his cap number down to $10 million.

[Born2Steel]

Sportrac does some analysis of Cam Robinson's estimated market value. Cam Robinson Contract Breakdowns, Salary Cap Figures, Salaries, Bonuses | Spotrac $11.3 million a season.

No thanks. I'm not even going to discuss Cam Robinson any further.

That IS too big of a number for me too.

[hawaiiansteeler]

Steelers GM Kevin Colbert: Pittsburgh's run game wasn't 'good enough' in 2020

Published: Feb 18, 2021
Kevin Patra
Around the NFL Writer

The focus of Pittsburgh Steelers GM Kevin Colbert's message to the media Wednesday was rightfully on his tepid comments regarding signal-caller Ben Roethlisberger. Quarterback wasn't the only position with question marks Colbert touched on, however.

The Steelers general manager noted that regardless of who the quarterback is in 2021, Pittsburgh must get more out of its running game.

"I will look at it from the personnel standpoint," Colbert said of the run game, per the team's official transcript. "And the group of guys we had last year -- the offensive line, the running backs, the wide receivers, the quarterbacks -- it did not produce a good running game. I think schematically, that's up for the coaches and up to coach (Mike) Tomlin to figure that. And my input would be if we need to do certain things schematically, these are the types of players that may be available to help us achieve that."

The Steelers' top four running backs combined for 1,230 rushing yards for the 2020 season. Their lead back, James Conner, compiled 721 yards in 13 games, averaging 4.3 yards per carry, with six TDs. Conner averaged just 2.87 yards after contact for the season, per Pro Football Focus, and lacked lateral explosiveness. With the 25-year-old set to hit free agency, the Steelers' running back room is likely in for a massive overhaul.

Colbert noted that getting more out of the running game needs to be a group improvement, not just about adding different RBs to the equation.

"Again, it is a collective effort," he said. "You can't say the runners weren't good enough, or the quarterbacks weren't good enough, or the line wasn't good enough. To put out the kind of running game we did, no one was good enough. And again, that is a collective effort. We need to be better, quite honestly, just in reference to what Mike (Tomlin) was talking about; we need to finish. And I think having a strong running game helps teams finish in that time of year."

to read rest of article:

https://www.nfl.com/news/steelers-gm...h-james-conner

[Rotorhead]

I’m all into building the O-line and RB (TE too if possible) positions through the draft (OT, C, RB, TE) and restructuring salary/retirement on offense (pouncey) to keep the defense as intact as possible for the upcoming season. Go with Ben and Rudolph in 21, give them as much support with the running game, rebuilt o-line and the stout defense and better playcalling. If we make noise in the playoffs or better great, then go with Rudolph as the successor to Ben in 22; we either stay competitive or we upgrade the QB position though the draft or FA in 2023.

I am all for this plan

[Born2Steel]

I’m all into building the O-line and RB (TE too if possible) positions through the draft (OT, C, RB, TE) and restructuring salary/retirement on offense (pouncey) to keep the defense as intact as possible for the upcoming season. Go with Ben and Rudolph in 21, give them as much support with the running game, rebuilt o-line and the stout defense and better playcalling. If we make noise in the playoffs or better great, then go with Rudolph as the successor to Ben in 22; we either stay competitive or we upgrade the QB position though the draft or FA in 2023.

If you can dominate the line of scrimmage offensively and defensively you will win games despite how many superstar skills players you have. Build the OL, DL, and LB corps this season. then build the weapons and secondary next season. QB is a freaking coin toss.

[Shoes]

Sounds like an early OT may not be so early. Colbert & Missi interview.

“The tackles are unusually deep this year. I think we can add players through the draft, and hopefully we’ll be able to do some type of business in free agency, and we’re always gonna look at our own players first”.

[pczach]

Sounds like an early OT may not be so early. Colbert & Missi interview.

“The tackles are unusually deep this year. I think we can add players through the draft, and hopefully we’ll be able to do some type of business in free agency, and we’re always gonna look at our own players first”.

I like the idea of Jalen Mayfield or Tevin Jenkins to the Steelers. Not considered the top-tier, but two guys that I think have a chance to be really, really good players that also bring good run blocking skills to the table. Jenkins also has that nasty disposition where he finishes every play to just after the whistle and doesn't take plays off while trying to bully his opponent.

I think either player would be a good addition here without having to move up to get a higher evaluated player. Maybe a higher rated player drops to them in the first, but there's a good chance one or both of these players will be there in the 1st, and might even be available slightly later if they trade back and can still be available.

I think we know they will be looking at OL in the draft, we just don't know what their big board looks like and how they have players rated. For all we know, the Steelers could be targeting a center like Landon Dickerson or Josh Myers that is projected to go somewhere in the 3rd round by most I've seen. If that's the case, they will be looking for impact players at a positions of need early, and then do whatever they have to do to get specific players they covet later in the draft based on the player ratings.

I know this is all just a guess based on a small quote that may not really mean anything, but it's still fun to think about.

[Born2Steel]

Only 25 more days until the new league year and we can start hearing what the plan actually may be.

[hawaiiansteeler]

Salary cap room to sign a LT?

I'm not sure how the Steelers are gonna be able to do it, but I have a feeling we might still re-sign AV.

I don't think Banner or Chuks are ready to start at LT, and neither would a rookie draft pick.

[86WARD]

I'm not sure how the Steelers are gonna be able to do it, but I have a feeling we might still re-sign AV.

I don't think Banner or Chuks are ready to start at LT, and neither would a rookie draft pick.

I hope they don’t sign him...he wasn’t good last year.

[pczach]

I hope they don’t sign him...he wasn’t good last year.

He wasn't good at all. If they are interested in bringing him back, that tells me he was playing hurt last year. Because if last year's performance was what he has left, he shouldn't be signed for anywhere near the numbers that we've been hearing mentioned about his worth on the open market.