thavoice wrote:

DaBrowns41 wrote:

thavoice wrote:
NT in teh 3-4 seem to decline quickly so I dont wanna to see him get a 3-4 year deal with a big signing bonus and then be hell on the cap in a couple of years after cutting him.

I disagree with them declining quickly.

Wilfork, Williams, and Hampton have all been consistently great NT's for awhile now.

Shaun Rogers is in his 30's and he still plays at a very high level also.

What I mean is this.........they dont seem to steadily decline. Seems like they are very good one year, then are finished and ya dont see a slower decline like ya do at other positions. They seem to hit the wall. Some positions when their skills decline they make up for it in other aspects of their game but when a big, brute NT declines he gets manhandeled and no longer productive at all.

Ah, I see what you were saying now. My fault.

I think the Steelers were uncertain how Hampton would play this season.

They offered some younger guys contract extensions in training camp but given Hampton's age they decided to wait until after the season, which was the smart move.

Hampton, of course, felt disrespected and that created some friction towards the organization but he still went out played close to the same level.

Now I think the Steelers have to want him back for at least one year, maybe two but certainly not four. So that's where they're at.

That's why I m wary of giving him a deal that is longer than 2 years, and doubt he would accept one that is only that length. Have a feeling if he gets a good 3+ year deal then the team will be paying for it with a cap hit as I dont know if he has many more years.

but i could be wrong.

Wouldnt mind franchise tag even though I dont like that practice and hope they dont make it a routine habit. May motivate him to play next year for a big contract elsewhere. Almost like using him for just one more season to give the time to find a replacement. Dont like to do that but hey......

thavoice wrote: I did notice Farrior being a bit slower this year...or is seemed. Looked like more RBs/WR's got around and by him more often. He would take the angle and in the past make the tackle but this year just missed them. Could be a sign of age and slowing down. He has been the lynchpin of that LB corp for a long time....the QB of the front 7.

Here's my theory but I'm not sure exactly without watching the films.

When Hampton and Smith are in there it ties up many of the offensive linemen and tight ends. Sometimes three or four guys. That's why against the run normally the Steelers are able to swarm to the ball and just blow it up in the backfield before the back can even get going. The linebackers and safeties are coming forward more and just flying around.

The Steelers weren't terrible against the run this season but they were more inclined to give up 4-5 yards than in the past. There wasn't the wall at the line of scrimmage. The running back would be able to gather some speed and run downhill and get into the next level. That's when guys like Tyrone Carter and Farrior and Timmons had to make more one-on-one tackles and they missed.

That's just a theory. That being said, Farrior also looked slowed in coverage so I think he is slipping anyway. But there was probably more stress on the linebackers this year than usual.

thavoice wrote: That's why I m wary of giving him a deal that is longer than 2 years, and doubt he would accept one that is only that length. Have a feeling if he gets a good 3+ year deal then the team will be paying for it with a cap hit as I dont know if he has many more years.

but i could be wrong.

Wouldnt mind franchise tag even though I dont like that practice and hope they dont make it a routine habit. May motivate him to play next year for a big contract elsewhere. Almost like using him for just one more season to give the time to find a replacement. Dont like to do that but hey......

The only thing is another team probably would give him an outrageous four-year contract. Just because they're desperate and have more money to throw around it doesn't matter if he's aging. He's Casey Hampton, big name and perennial Pro Bowler.

The market probably will be there from his perspective.

The Steelers still have Isaac Redman

He was one of nine players signed to their offseason roster

no surprise that Scott Paxson is back

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10007/1026515-66.stm

Non wrote:

thavoice wrote: That's why I m wary of giving him a deal that is longer than 2 years, and doubt he would accept one that is only that length. Have a feeling if he gets a good 3+ year deal then the team will be paying for it with a cap hit as I dont know if he has many more years.

but i could be wrong.

Wouldnt mind franchise tag even though I dont like that practice and hope they dont make it a routine habit. May motivate him to play next year for a big contract elsewhere. Almost like using him for just one more season to give the time to find a replacement. Dont like to do that but hey......

The only thing is another team probably would give him an outrageous four-year contract. Just because they're desperate and have more money to throw around it doesn't matter if he's aging. He's Casey Hampton, big name and perennial Pro Bowler.

The market probably will be there from his perspective.

Prolly right...but they could keep him via the franchise tag next year.

I see that the Redskins are going after Bobby April. Would be hard to outbid them.

Tomlin interviewed Bobby April on Sunday. No word yet.

I don't think they should've got rid of Donovan Woods

They cut him after one game. I think the kick coverage was bad but still. I think he had some upside at inside linebacker.

Looks like Bobby April has joined the Eagles.

Non wrote: I don't think they should've got rid of Donovan Woods

They cut him after one game. I think the kick coverage was bad but still. I think he had some upside at inside linebacker.

Did he resign anywhere?

Steelers did sign an OL coach today..name escapes me but he was with buffalo last year.

OL coach is Paul Kugler. Never heard of him until today.

They're going to have a newlook coaching staff that's for sure.

Also might lose Omar Khan to the Seahawks.

I don't think Omar gets the Seahawks GM job. Their VP is already their contracts/salary cap guy so I can't imagine they need another. He's not a "football guy" either so he can't help in the scouting part of things where a GM is usually in charge. But, if Carrol is in charge of that I guess it's not an issue.

Here's all of the 09 staff and their current status.

HC - Tomlin is back
OC - Arians is back
DC - LeBeau is back
DB - Horton interviewing with Univ. of Houston for the DC position
LB - Butler interviewing with the Dolphins for the DC position
DL - Mitchell is back
DQC - Spanos just accepted the LB job with the Redskins
OQC - Goodwin is back
WR - Fichtner is back
QB - Anderson is retiring
OL - Zierlein is fired, replaced by former Bills OL coach Kugler.
TE - Daniel is back
RB - Wilson is back (interviewed for UNLV job though, didn't get it)
ST - Ligashesky is fired
ST - Jones is back

And as mentioned Khan (contracts/cap guy) is interviewing with the Seahawks.

Omar actually sounds like a good fit for Seattle.

Carroll is going to be the football guy and call the shots, while Omar would crunch the numbers. Not a traditional GM role but that could be how Carroll wants it.

I hope he gets it. Another team I will have a connection with lol

Good article in the PPG about Rooney wanting the team to run it more.

I dont know..it is something we all kinda know..that they need to run it more effectively but I prefer the normal approach where the owner doesnt really interfere/comment on fotoball matters like u see in Dallas, Wash and such.

Not that Mr Rooney is interfering at all. he didnt say the team needs to be run first...just more effective...and i agree. steelers could lose a good young exec to the Seahawks GM spot soon

I'm not sure about the whole running approach.

The fans and everybody seem to be ganging up on Arians.

You don't just bang your head against the wall so to speak.

The Steelers have good weapons at receiver and tight end and Ben is their best offensive player so you put the ball in his hands a lot more. This was one of the best offenses they've had it's just because the defense let them down they didn't make the playoffs.

They need to run a little more, particularly in short yardage situations but overall it's a passing league and the Steelers strength is their QB, receivers and tight end.

Linebackers coach Keith Butler is returning.

He turned down the defensive coordinator job in Miami.

You would have to think Butler will be the Steelers DC when LeBeau retires or he would not turn down this step up position.

^^Was just gonna come on and post this.

I imagine he knows, or believes, that Lebeau will retire within a year or two. I believe he ll be back next year at least. The team isnt that far away from being a contender for the SB again.

As I said awhile ago, if there is a new CBA the Steelers should pursue G David Baas from San Francisco.

He's a road grader and a guy just coming into his own at 28.

The more I'm studying up on this draft, I'm starting to come around to Donovan Warren, CB, Michigan.

He has decent size at 6-0, 190-195. Runs in the 4.4 range. Fluid hips. Does a nice job breaking on the ball.

He started three years and continued to improve but is only going to turn 21 in late January.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10017/1028890-66.stm

a lot of interesting and I would say accurate comments made by Art Rooney II this week

here he is talking about the draft and the Steelers need to be better at getting their draft picks on the field quicker

^^Read that stuff today in PPG.

Not that I disagree with anything he said. Matter of fact...i can take it a bit further and state Im worried about the status of our recent draft picks. They dont seem to make a quick impact. Granted.....with the team success there has been less spots open and the picks have been lower but still.

I have one issue with Mr Rooney and these interviews..........I have always been a fan of the owner pretty much staying out of the limelight. The Jerry Jones and the Snyders' of the world.....dont like thos owners who are so publicly involved. I liekd how the ownership over the years has been solid yet quiet. Internally they are getting the job done but dont speak out on team issues in the media. While I agree what he has said Im not so sure I like the direction it is going. I dont want the Rooney's to become one of those helicopter owners.