Big
Picture and Looking to the 08 Season
By Still Kold
Considering where the Steelers finished last year and having
not just a new head coach but a rookie head coach they had a good but not great
season. In many ways, it was a
transitional year. They improved in
some areas and took a step back in a few others. I’ll try to give my opinions on where they are and where they
need to improve to get better.
QB: Ben has had a remarkable year and proven
that his first two years were not a fluke and that he was capable of putting
last year’s horrible season behind him.
He showed mobility, guts and improvisation when needed. I don’t know how, if at all, his calling of
the protection at the LOS had any affect on the protection but even if it did
the OL failed to cover for him. He
still needs to improve by knowing when to throw the ball away to avoid some of
the sacks or when no one is open. Batch
stepped in and up to the plate when needed.
He was prepared and provided quality play when called upon. He allows Mike Tomlin to breath easier
(somewhat) when Ben takes off running.
No need to address in the Draft or FA.
RB/FB: Parker had another Pro bowl season and
showed that his past success was not a fluke.
He showed more patience and maturity as a third year starting RB. Remember that he was hardly used at UNC
sparingly (four year totals something like:
285 carries, 1172 and 8 TDs).
That’s about what he’s averaged over the last three years (after being
signed as a FA and playing little his first year). He had a lull in mid-season but was running stronger before
getting injured. He needs to continue
to improve and his injury is not career threatening and he should be good to go
next season. I would like to see more
balls on first down thrown to him. FWP
out in the open flat with the ball is a potent weapon. Davenport played 3rd down back,
special teams and spelled Parker. He
was a good change to Parkers’ running style when they ran him enough. Showed flashes of great play but
inconsistent. Hard to evaluate with playing
so many different positions and roles and none full time. The rest of the RBs (and FBs) were not asked
to do much and so there wasn’t much to evaluate. They needs further evaluation and especially development by the
coaching staff to determine if what they have fits their scheme and needs (exa.
Kreider may not return). May need to
address this in the later rounds of the draft or FA. Low priority.
WRs: Ward continued to be tough (blocking, going
across the middle and taking punishment) and dependable (will do whatever it
takes) but increasing number of injuries is showing his years and number of
hits. Ward is a great compliment to
Holmes but can’t carry the team. Holmes
has continued to improve and has had great games but needs to raise his game to
a more consistent high level. The team
has not been able to take advantage of his speed and ability to get behind the
DBs due to the inability of the OL to protect Ben long enough to set up the
long, time consuming, deep throw plays.
Washington and Wilson showed moments of good performance but still too
inconsistent and never put any fear into the Def. Reid might be better being on the practice squad then on the field
returning KOs or PRs. Depth is a
concern especially when both Ward and Holmes were out. The Steelers need to find a young WR with a
lot of potential (speed, hands and toughness) that could in a few years step
into Ward’s shoes but also play consistently in multiple WR formations and/or
on third down. Two years of playing
with and getting mentored by Ward would also benefit him. This is not urgent but needs to be addressed
within two years.
TEs: Miller had a good year but not great since
they didn’t throw more to him. If the
OL can’t sustain blocks for long passes then the TE is a great weapon. Some of this goes on Ben’s shoulders but the
focus of the Off. scheme comes from the coaches. Tuman is nothing more then a third OT for the Steelers. The problem is he’s too old and has had too
many injuries to try to add 40 lbs to him and convert him to OT. Spaeth has shown a couple flashes of sparks
but hasn’t played a lot due to usually being the 3rd TE. Maybe Spaeth should be turned into an OT
since we need the help there so much.
Don’t address this in the Draft or FA.
OL: One of the most disappointing groups on the
team and the one needing the most addressing in the off-season. No one played consistently to the level
expected or required. Smith played fair
but injuries and potential long term back problems is a concern. Faneca played fair but not to his usual
consistent level. He got the Pro bowl
vote off of reputation, not play. May
have peaked and is on the downside of his career. I fully support the team’s refusal to pay the money he’s asking
and looking for. It would end up being
several years of dead cap money that can be used on a younger and up and coming
Off lineman. Alan was one of the best
in the long line of good/great OL players for the Steelers. I never saw Mahan play at TB but if he was
the best of the potential OCs available
(Mahan, Simmons, Okobi & Philip) then we’re in a world of hurt for the
future. This is the weakest link on the
OL (depth a close second). Simmons is
only fair since I can’t say much good or bad about him. Colon started his first season but played
fair like the rest. This is like a
Stephen King novel where you don’t know what next is going to happen but you’re
sure it will be very bad (especially for Ben).
This unit is the basis and foundation of the running and passing game
and affects what Ben, FWP and everyone else does. I also think losing Grimm affected this group. He seemed to get more out of the group. Having lost Okobi and Philip leaves the team
with few alternates for a new center.
Top priority in the Draft, FA and even a trade. OC first and then OT and finally OG.
DL: The Steelers’ Def scheme requires the DL and
LBs to work together to stop the run and put pressure on the opposing QB. In the second half of the season neither
group was doing their job effectively.
The loss of A. Smith just highlights how important he is to stopping the
run. Hampton seemed to have a sub par
year. This is not from stats since
there usually are few for a NT but from viewing too many single OL personnel
stopping or blocking him. This frees up
an OG to either double team other DL or go after ILB or someone else. Keisel was to be the next Mike Vrabel. He may have moved around a lot but didn’t
get the pressure on the QB or consistent stoppage against the run to come close
to being compared to Vrabel. Not sure
if this DL play is the result of personnel, scheme or combination of both. Depth is a concern here. This will also depend on if the
Steelers/Tomlin decide whether to keep the 3-4 or change to the 4-3. The DL needs to be addressed but is not a
top two priority if they stay in a 3-4.
If they look to go to a 4-3 then it is the second highest priority
behind the OL.
LB: As mentioned before, this group’s
performance is tied heavily into the play of the DL. Neither the DL or LBs (especially the OLBs) got enough sacks or
pressure on the QB consistently. I see
this as mostly a LB issue. They are
productive but not outstanding and also aging.
Harrison had a very good first year (also making Pro Bowl and Steelers
MVP). The Steelers did the right thing
in letting Porter go for the money he was asking for. I just don’t think Harrison is the Steelers MVP and frankly, a
good chunk of his “splash plays” came in the MNF game with Baltimore. Haggans had a fair year but more big plays
(sacks, INTs, TOs, etc.) are required of the Steelers OLB then what he
produced. Farrior had his typical good
year but both he and Foote seemed slower to cover and fill gaps. This was most evident whenever Polomalu was
out of the lineup. I’ll talk about him
later. This group was inconsistent in
covering the middle of the field, plugging running lanes and getting to the
sideline on outside plays. Woodley and
Timmons showed moments of potential but due to injuries and lack of playing
time not a lot can be said about them except they’re fast and have
potential. I think Timmons needs to be
moved to ILB and replace Foote or Farrior and have Woodley split time with
Haggans. You can’t teach speed and this
is one of the things this starting group is missing. This off-season, the decision concerning 3-4 or 4-3 needs to be
made and put to rest. If they’re going
to make the change then this is probably a good time to do it. This area is a low priority but the possible
change in Def scheme could affect this if they deem some of the older LBs don’t
meet the needs.
DBs: I don’t think this group is as bad as some
people claim. Performance on the field
is dependant upon the personnel you have and the scheme you use them in. They need to be supportive of each
other. The Steelers ask their CBs to
play a lot of different schemes and with their backs to the ball. This requires flexibility and a short memory
when the DL and LBs don’t get to the QB in a consistent manner as in this year. Polomalu did not have a great year due
mostly to injuries. His tackling has
never been textbook but it wasn’t up to his usual level this year. Often when he did play, he didn’t have the
typical closing speed he has to be almost anywhere and still make a play. When healthy, he gives the Def more
flexibility, covers the middle of the field and make up for the slowness of the
ILBs. Under the current scheme, we’ve
become “hooked on Troy” to cover some of our weaknesses in the Def. I used to wonder why they didn’t play A.
Smith rather then the older and not as hard hitting Clark. I soon realized why the coaching staff
hadn’t started A. Smith (other then his tendency to let his mouth overload his
brain). He was too aggressive, needs
more coaching and a full understanding of what a FS does within the Steelers
scheme. I think Taylor had a good
season but he needs a catchers mitt, stick’em or something. I’ve lost count on the number of balls that
went through BOTH of his hands. He’s a
very good player and could be great if he got half of the INTs he should
have. Townsend plays better then his
age would make you think but it will catch up to him and the team within a year
or two. McFadden has potential but
needs work. The injury to his ankle
slowed his development this year. Gay
and Rossum are backups or dime players.
Depth and a young up and coming CB is needed here. Not the highest Draft and FA priority but
one that does need addressing. If the
pass rush and pressure doesn’t improve then this will become critical.
K/P: Reed did well more away from Heinz Field but
then no one kicks well there. Reed
needs to find a way to get KOs to the goal line or into the end zone. This is his biggest problem. Sepulveda had a good year but was at times
inconsistent. He did well getting the
ball inside the 20 but he was supposed to have a great leg (distance and
hangtime) that wasn’t always there when he had the opportunity. Consistency is what he needs to get to go to
the next level. He’s a rookie and
should play better with a year of NFL experience. Don’t address in the Draft but bring in a FA K & P for
training camp to give them a push.
ST: Not sure where to start here. I could make an argument that with two
Special Teams coaches, extra time in training camp and an emphasis by Tomlin
that we shouldn’t just throw it all out and start from scratch. I said before that the OL play was like a
Stephen King novel. This is the only
group that could challenge them for that title. STs can have a big impact on the game but thank god there aren’t
as many ST plays in a game as Off plays.
Hospitals around the world would have been flooded with Steeler fans
having massive heart attacks every game.
Please, please, please do something to make this better. The health care system has enough problems
and don’t need this added to it.
Coaching: I think we all tended to forget that Mike
Tomlin is a rookie Head Coach that took over an 8-8 team a year removed from
winning the Super Bowl. Some of his
calls were questionable and caused me to scratch my head but I tend to believe
he did a very good job and will get even better. He says and does the right things with the players, media and
fans. He’s consistent and has a plan. He got better as the year went along. He’s the second youngest coach in the NFL
who took his team to a better record then most people predicted. Bruce Arians was too inconsistent in his
play calling at times. I think the poor
OL play and some key injuries to players restricted and affected his play
calling options. He needs to incorporate
the TE more and mix up the run/pass play calling more. Dick Lebeau is a master of the Def but the
second half of the season, even with the injuries to A. Smith, Polomalu and
others can only be seen as a disappointment.
The Steeler Def prides itself on stopping the run and be more physical
then the other team. Several times
they’ve failed in both of these areas.
Not getting sacks or pressure on the QB, having slow ILBs and poor
tackling were the main causes. This
also plays into the number of turnovers you have and we were horrible in this
department. I think some serious soul
searching and decisions need to be made in the off-season about the Def. Do we stay with the 3-4, go to the 4-3, play
more Tampa Two if the players aren’t there, etc. It was not a typical strong Def even if they did finish with the
#1 ranked Def. Hard top believe that
one.
Heinz
Field: I couldn’t go
without talking about Heinz Field playing field. I’m not an Astroturf fan and there are a lot of different turfs
out there. I understand the Steelers
financial sense of having Pitt (not Pittsburgh) play there and also support the
community by having the HS playoff games played there. I think the perfect storm/field hit with the
Miami game but I think it has to change.
I think the NFL will tell them quietly to make a change. What that means is to be determined but it
has to change.
Well, I tried to give some feedback on the Steelers. There are many people who know more about
the game and the Steelers than I do. I
invite them give their thoughts and input.
The Steelers are still one of the better teams but not an elite
team. They need to make upgrades if
they want to be an elite team.