Free
agency, week 2:
The Steeler FO got off the snide this week signing Duce Staley, widely regarded as one of the premier RB available in FA.� Although I�m no proponent of C$3 deals, especially for RB, DB and the like, the Staley deal does have some merit, mainly as this removes RB from the Steelers� day one draft consideration.� Given a dearth of quality draft prospects at the position, that�s okay since:
- If you�re looking for a sure fire franchise RB, one who will run inside and catch the ball too, the draft suspects are limited to Steve Jackson, Chris Perry, Julius Jones and Adim Echemandu.� There are problems with each:� Jackson had 641 carries in the past two seasons which, even in the Pac 10 is some substantial punishment; it�s not for sure that Perry has the power to run inside (plus, he�s had 582 carries from 2002-03 in the considerably more rugged Big 11); Jones is more outside than in, (and has some character issues too) and Echemandu has been hurt several times, including now, when he�s sitting out the WO season with a broken fibula.�
- Greg Jones and Michael Turner run fast and run hard but they�re both straight-line guys who have not shown ability to catch the ball.� On the other end of the spectrum, Mwelde Moore catches it great but packs it poorly.
- At this position, the real speed resides with Kevin Jones, but he is suspect between the tackles and was not called on to catch it at V-Tech, and Tatum Bell, who is about as fast as KJ and did look good receiving in Senior Bowl drills, but does not run inside at all.�
- There is no chance that the PS will consider either Cedric Cobb or Maurice Clarett.
Most of those prospects didn�t figure anyway; it�s absolutely clear that Coach Cowher is going smashmouth this season, and it�s equally apparent that he wasn�t likely to rely on some 2nd or 3rd round pick to effect that resurrection.� For the FO, it had to come down to draft Jackson, trade down for Perry, or do the deal with Duce Staley.� Considering the Steelers� many other needs: QB, OT, DE, LOLB, CB and FS, getting Duce was not their worst possible move.
That�ll come later, if but only if, the PS retains Staley past his capacity to contribute.� While he did get a 5-year deal, we all understand that this is really a 2-year fix as, after two seasons, the signing bonus portion remaining about matches 2006 salary owed.�� Bettis is not an every down back but Staley is, for now.� Downstream, well, those juniors who didn�t come out this spring (Cedric Benson, Cedric Houston and Cadillac Williams among others) will be available in 2005.� Just now, that RB crop looks considerably more promising than this so, maybe, that franchise Ace will be splitting time with Duce in 2005 and then carrying the load forward.
Staley should be the guy next year with Haynes taking some 3rd down duty and Bettis acting (occasionally) as a battering ram; that�s not the best set in the league but it does trump any unit featuring Zereoue.� Really, that�s what we�re talking about; Amoz was installed as the starter last season because it was fairly apparent that the Bus couldn�t take the weight.� AZ flopped; now, the plan must be 2003 redeux, except Duce, not Amoz, will get the rock.� Zereoue�s deal was up after 2005 and, chances are, Duce will be effectively closed out then too.� So, a 2-year fix but unless and until the Steelers renovate that O-line, any RB will be running uphill, just like last season.� Unfortunately, the FO has done nothing to date in that regard; tabulating movement elsewhere, both at OT and that long-time weakness, CB:
FA action to date, CB and OT:
|
|
Remaining with 2003 team |
Off the market, new team for 2004 |
Who is left |
Remarks |
|
CB |
Chris McAlister William Peterson Ahmad Plummer Fred Thomas Charles Woodson Sam Madison* |
Champ Bailey David Barrett Fernando Bryant Reggie Howard Shawn Springs Damion Sydney Jason Webster Antoine Winfield Artrell Hawkins David Macklin |
William Bartee Aaron Beasley, CC Ray Buchanon, CC Jeff Burris, CC Terry Cousins, CC Mario Edwards Bobby Taylor Troy Vincent |
Sam Madison re-structured
his deal with the Dolphins.� |
|
OT |
Chad Clifton Walter Jones Orlando Pace Ryan Diem* Kareem McKenzie* Zeus Brown |
Derrick Deese Matt Stinchcomb Todd Wade John Tait Damion McIntosh Adam Meadows Chris Bober |
Solomon Page Vaughn Parker Greg Randall Ephraim Salaam Todd Steussie, CC Ryan Young, CC |
*� Both Diem and McKenzie got mid-tenders, which means the PS
would have to give their 1st round pick to sign either.� Reportedly, the Bears will sign Salaam
shortly, giving them two new bookends (Salaam and Tait) for 2004. |
Tick, tick for OT and CB too; tackles Tait, McIntosh, Meadows, Bober and Brown went off the market this week while Steussie and Young came on.� We can expect Salaam to be snapped up shortly which will leave oldsters Steussie and Parker or younger knock-arounds Page, Randall and Young.� A year ago Young replaced Page in Dallas; now, the Tuna is looking elsewhere.� Randall started the New Orleans Super Bowl for the Pats but they�re two RT along now and, as the Texans moved on Todd Wade, Randall player will be looking for his Team 3.� Is that trio better than Ross?� Probably, but not by much so, considering that the Staley deal means the PS are 1) looking to run the ball and 2) looking to contend right now, we can be fairly confident that their move of choice in next spring�s draft will be: trade down and select Vernon Carey.�
Or not; they could hold and draft DeAngelo Hall and then (maybe) Carey or Kelly Butler or (least likely) Nat Dorsey in R2.� Doubtful though, IMO, Carey remains the frontrunner and, as for QB, well, you might want to get past Phil Rivers and, instead, consider deep-round sleepers like Cody Pickett.� Or no QB at all; look, if the PS aren�t going to move up for Manning; if they weren�t willing to part with a 2005 3rd for Henson; chances are, they won�t be drafting Rivers, or Big Ben Roethlisberger, even if one (or both) are available at 1.11.� QB aside (as will be true in April), I�d prophesized Carey earlier and nothing has changed since; at this point (pending my own Big Board v2.0), I�m guessing Carey R1 and Ben Watson, TE R2.�
So much for foresight, now some old business; Jerry DiPaola had a piece last week suggesting that the PS would clear space in swapping out Miller for Gardocki.� That is absurd; the PS will be paying two punters next season and that can be no savings at all.� Here you go:�
Punters, their 2003 numbers and 2004 deals:
|
|
# |
Gross Average |
Inside 20 |
Touchbacks |
Net Average |
New deal/Remarks |
|
Josh Miller |
84 |
41.9 |
27 |
� 8 |
36.0 |
None yet, Miami and NE said
to be interested. |
|
Chris Gardocki |
72 |
41.9 |
18 |
10 |
34.8 |
5 years for 6.5M with a
1M Signing Bonus |
|
Tom Tupa |
83 |
43.3 |
26 |
� 6 |
35.9 |
4 years for 3.7M with a
675K signing bonus.� Has been a Pro
Bowler. |
|
Darren Bennett |
82 |
41.9 |
28 |
� 3 |
36.2 |
None yet; has been a Pro
Bowler |
|
Josh Bidwell |
69 |
41.7 |
16 |
� 7 |
35.1 |
3 yrs for 1.87M with a 150K
signing bonus. |
The table above suggests that Miller was respectable in all categories while Gardocki was up the track in several, though the clear leader in contract and signing bonus.� You�ve got to factor in weather; last season, Tupa punted in Tampa and Bennett in San Diego; maybe, those numbers would translate north, maybe not.� In that light, Bidwell, who punted in Green Bay last year, might get a foul weather dispensation and it�s worth noting that, though not be the league�s finest punter, Bidwell will be plying his trade in Tampa next season for just 535K.� That�s less than the 550K the PS will be carrying cap-wise on Miller, who will be punting elsewhere, if at all.�
Criticizing the mainstream mavens for their arithmetic acuity is about like shooting whitetail on the lawn; it�s easy but it�s not much sport.�� Along the same line, lost in all the Haggans for Washington and Kirschke for Bailey reportage, this:�
|
|
Age, at start of season |
Career Sacks/games |
The deal |
Remarks |
|
Marcellus Wiley |
29 |
41/108 |
4 years for 16M with a 4.5
SB |
6-4, 280# DE capable of
playing both 3-4 and 4-3. |
|
Clark Haggans |
27 |
7.5/50 |
4 years for 10.2M with a
3.0 SB. |
6-4, 252# lacks speed to
play LB and bulk to play DE. |
|
Travis Kirschke |
30 |
4.0/77 |
4 years for 6.4M with a 1.1
SB |
6-3, 292# career scrub
pressed into starting duty last year in SF, a notably soft defense. |
Week 2, Marcellus Wiley signed with Dallas, for the terms noted above.� That�s a bargain (relatively) as a couple years ago, Wiley did about a 40M deal with the Bolts.� At that time, he was coming out of Buffalo where he�d had 10.5 sacks as Bruce Smith�s heir in the Bills� 3-4.� The next season, Wiley had 13 sacks in year one as a 4-3 DE; he�s been slowed by injury since but he�s still a player.� In the nickel as co-base world that is today�s air-NFL, he�s worth every Haggans and every Kirschke available.�
Do the math: the $ deal for Wiley is the same as for Haggans and Kirschke combined but, unlike those two, Wiley would answer a real need, that for a pass rushing DE.� If the deal down at Steeler HQ is: win now, then an FA haul of Staley and Wiley, C$3 or no, looks good.� That�s two top of class FA acquisitions at two positions of need; sure, not CB and not OT either but you know, get what you can.� However, presuming the PS had any interest in acquiring a pressure DE, that opportunity went south with the panic surrounding the Marcus Washington debacle, which compelled the Haggans deal, not too mention the scramble to secure Kirschke, after the Pats picked off Bailey.� Too bad, but there it is.�
Last week, Dallas got Wiley and Drew Henson; the Steelers got Staley and Travis Kirschke.� The PS had their chance to meet 3 acute needs; DE, QB and RB but they passed.� There were no real cap issues with acquiring both Staley and Wiley; the payout for Henson was low, and deferred.� Evidently, the FO sees little lacking with their personnel set and, until that changes, what we�ll see is what we�ve seen. ��