The new LBs will have to show prowess on ST.

I think Farrior is safe....for one last season. he looked slow last year. He would miss his pursuit lanes and under run the RB.
but he is still very important. I look for nxt year to really be a transition to his heir apparent.

I think in the past....under old CBA rules...Farrior very well could be in trouble for nxt year....but under this no cap I think the steelers allow him to stick.

and dont forget...they can and most likely will put some of the new LB on the practice squad.

Fox might have a competition on his hands but the new guys will have to be terrors on special teams.

I thought Fox held his own as a backup inside linebacker, too. Obviously the big interception against the Vikings.

When running backs coach Kirby Wilson addressed the media about Jonathan Dwyer he also mentioned that the Steelers like Isaac Redman's potential for this upcoming season.

Redman was a training camp sensation from Bowie State. Wilson said they did not have the facilities for him to be fully ready as an NFL running back. He lacked the conditioning and stamina, so he spent last season in development and now Wilson says he's where he needs to be.

I think it will be Dwyer vs. Redman for that No. 2/big back role.

what is up with Jaws hating on the Pouncey pick?

I thought it was a great pick for the Steelers. Overall I like the draft for you guys.

2002-Kendall Simmons, G (offensive line)
2003-Troy Polamalu, S (secondary)
2004-Ben Roethlisberger, QB (quarterback)
2005-Heath Miller, TE (tight end)
2006-Santonio Holmes, WR (receivers)
2007-Lawrence Timmons, LB (linebackers)
2008-Rashard Mendenhall, RB (running backs)
2009-Ziggy Hood, DE (defensive line)
2010-Maurkice Pouncey, C/G, Florida (offensive line)

This is the first time the Steelers have addressed offensive line in the first round since 2002. It's a boring area but you have to sometimes.

Also, they've gone through basically every level of the team in making first-round picks. Beginning in 2003, they went secondary, quarterback, tight end, wide receiver, linebacker, running back, defensive line and offensive line.

Cornerback is the one position they haven't addressed in awhile -- Chad Scott in 1997. It was in the running this year along with OL.

They were one pick away from maybe getting Revis in 2007.

He was certainly on their radar.

Jets picked him at No. 14 and the Steelers went with Timmons at No. 15.

Timmons is an athletic player and a solid linebacker, but if they had landed Revis, wow, they may have become another dynasty.

They still are missing that dominant cornerback like they had with Rod Woodson but those guys are few and far between.

Deion went No. 5
Rod Woodson went No. 10
Charles Woodson No. 4
Champ Bailey No. 7
Darelle Revis No. 14
Ty Law No. 23

Law was a steal in terms of being a great cornerback and still went No. 23 overall. Unless you're drafting high, it's tough to get that true elite, No. 1 type of cornerback. There have only been a few going back 20 years or so. Then there is a large group of good cornerbacks that go anywhere from the late first to the fourth round.

Well....Rod woodson spoiled us all. My all time fav steeler...........Hard to ever duplicate his cover and return skills and his run support. One of the best all round corners ever.

I was sad when he left...but the steelers gave him a fair offer after his injury and i bet if he was honest he no way woulda expected to play as long as he did and with taht success after he left.

They probably won't find another player like Woodson but that's still what they are missing.

That type of player.

Good size. Athletic. Can intercept passes and make big plays, blitz, play the run.

A lot of teams are missing that and if you look back over the years there might only be two or three in a decade. It's not like receiver where 30-40 guys are freaks.

They would have to be terrible to get into the Top 10 and hope there is one in that particular draft. A lot has to go right. Or the best you can do is just a bunch of solid cornerbacks.

Carnell Lake ended up being a great all-around defensive back when he showed his versatility moving to CB when Woodson went down.

They had two impact defensive backs at the same time in Woodson and Lake. And if you remember in 1994 the defense was at its best in terms of blitzing and creating havoc and probably no coincidence they had those two playing at a high level.

Woodson was hurt in 1995.

They've had great defenses since then but 1994 was the best unit where they could move people around and blitz from all over.

Lake did one hell of a job, and was a true team player. Typically ya dont see something like that happening when an established starter weill move positions but to his credit he did.....
he went into Rods spot......and that was when they used to like to blitz from the CB position from the backside of the formation.

I thought in 2008 they had probably their best depth at cornerback and that was with Ike Taylor, Bryant McFadden, William Gay and Deshea Townsend. Not exactly world beaters but they all played at a solid level and could be used interchangeably.

They only gave up like two passes over 40 yards the entire season and one was the play against Indy when the ball was batted up in the air and Wayne grabbed it and scored, kind of a fluke play. Fitzgerald burned em in the Super Bowl but it was a good season for the secondary and a big reason why they were so well rounded in the rankings. Nearly No. 1 in every category.

Last year, McFadden left, Townsend finally reached the point of decline and Gay took a major step back as a starter. So really only 1 of 4 from the previous year provided the same if you're willing to give Taylor that credit.

Let's say for the sake of discussion, Taylor plays decent next year. McFadden returns and plays like he did before for the Steelers. Gay goes back to No. 3 and is more comfortable in that role. That's 3 of 4. And they'll need to find somebody else like Burnett, Lewis or Crezdon Butler who they just drafted.

Is it me, or does anyone else think it's kind of odd that we signed THAT many ex-Steelers this offseason

Leftwitch
Foote
McFadden
Randel El

I forget if there is anyone else or not, but it just kind of caught my attention. Maybe I don't realize other teams doing it becasue I don't pay attention to them or if this is something kind of unique. Are they trying to bring us back to the last 4-5 years when we were winning Super Bowls and the North Division. Did last year really scare them or something? I don't know, it just caught my eye. Byron Leftwitch is a stretch, but you get my point.

wide receivers

Mike Wallace (6'0, 180)
Hines Ward (6'0, 205)
Antwaan Randle El (5'10, 190)
Arnaz Battle (6'1, 208)
Limas Sweed (6'4, 220)
Emmanuel Sanders (5'11, 186)
Antonio Brown (5'11, 175)
Tyler Grisham (5'11, 185)

This will be a competition to watch.

Sweed may get one last chance being 6'4, they could use some height.

I felt like Dorin Dickerson would've made some sense. Even if he was a man without a position, he might've found a niche as just a 6'2 athlete.

At tight end they have Heath Miller, two h-backs in David Johnson and Sean McHugh and Matt Spaeth (weak blocker, decent receiver). Dickerson could've challenged Spaeth for relatively the same role.

bigkahuna wrote: Is it me, or does anyone else think it's kind of odd that we signed THAT many ex-Steelers this offseason

Leftwitch
Foote
McFadden
Randel El

I forget if there is anyone else or not, but it just kind of caught my attention. Maybe I don't realize other teams doing it becasue I don't pay attention to them or if this is something kind of unique. Are they trying to bring us back to the last 4-5 years when we were winning Super Bowls and the North Division. Did last year really scare them or something? I don't know, it just caught my eye. Byron Leftwitch is a stretch, but you get my point.

It is interesting because they have been reluctant to bring guys back in the past.

And they weren't interested in Joey Porter and don't figure to be interested in Alan Faneca. I think that has a lot to do with ego. You bring in those guys that had huge reputations and it might be difficult for them to understand they're not those players anymore.

The others they brought back they probably feel are more grounded and understand how they're going to fit in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-3oUIQ09IU

here are some highlights of Stevenson Sylvester

obviously everyone looks good in a video of their best plays but just looking at his ability to pursue, he could be pretty tough

highly anticipated jersey numbers

Maurkice Pouncey n/a
Jason Worilds #97
Emmanuel Sanders #18
Thaddeus Gibson #90
Chris Scott #71
Crezdon Butler #40
Stevenson Sylvester #47
Jonathan Dwyer #41
Antonio Brown #14
Doug Worthington #95

Limas Sweed switched from #14 to #80

Bryant McFadden n/a (used to be #20 but that belongs to Keenan Lewis. Will the second-year corner give it back to the veteran?)

LOL at Limas Sweed switching numbers. He either thinks that switch will be the beggining of something new or he's hoping no one notices him.

steelers signed two players

Lindsey Witten a LB from UCONN 6-4 251..

and B. Veirling a center from vandy

Never heard of either guy

Ha...from what ive read....ya dont "give" back the number......there is money that changes hands!

I look for sweed to be alot better with the number change.......i have a whole new vision of his career going fwd and people will forget all about his drop against the Ratbirds in the AFC CHampionship game at the end of the half and fake injury that make us lose a TO and hten the drop that lost the game vs the Bengals and ultimately screwed the steelers season.

Did Larry Foote get #50 back?

yeah, Foote is #50

Pouncey doesn't have many options in the 50s

50-Foote
51-Farrior
53-Johnny Williams
54-Andre Frazier
55-Patrick Bailey
56-Woodley
57-Keyaron Fox

52, 58 and 59 they don't give out

I thought centers were supposed to be in the 50s but that's not true anymore since Hartwig is 62 and Legursky 64

Pouncey may have to take a double number until they cut down. Don't rush out and buy his jersey because it could change.

Likewise, if Stevenson Sylvester makes the team he won't keep #47 for the regular season.

Gblock wrote: steelers signed two players

Lindsey Witten a LB from UCONN 6-4 251..

and B. Veirling a center from vandy

Never heard of either guy

I think he is a Glenville boy

Non wrote: yeah, Foote is #50

Pouncey doesn't have many options in the 50s

50-Foote
51-Farrior
53-Johnny Williams
54-Andre Frazier
55-Patrick Bailey
56-Woodley
57-Keyaron Fox

52, 58 and 59 they don't give out

I thought centers were supposed to be in the 50s but that's not true anymore since Hartwig is 62 and Legursky 64

Pouncey may have to take a double number until they cut down. Don't rush out and buy his jersey because it could change.

Likewise, if Stevenson Sylvester makes the team he won't keep #47 for the regular season.

Ha...getting a Pouncey Jersey.....breaks two rules...I never buy a rookie or an offensive player jersey.

and now there is a third...never buy hte jersey of a dude who kisses another dude...on the mouth.....

As for the UFA guys they bring in. They are very tough to make teams. We see a few that do...like FWP and such..but for the most part they get jerked around and are there as a warm body.

Friend of mine's brother was an UFA and the stuff ya go through...the uncertainty....the double speak and such....got to the point his dad was like "Ill believe it when i see it" ini whatever the teams told him.

but yea...it is a great opp, not many get a chance, but I see too many people make too much out of the signing of UFA's.