Steelers Playoff Hopes ride on 2015 draft
By Justin McGonigle (SF81)
With the first round of the NFL draft set to kick off in only hours, Steeler Nation sits around awaiting the Steelers to make their first splash of the offseason. The Steelers failed to address their glaring needs on the defensive side of the ball during free agency and now sit with major holes in the secondary and at the pass rush positions. Legend Troy Polamalu has called it a career, and long time cornerback Ike Taylor followed a week later. More than anything it will be the leadership of the two that needs replaced the most as their skill sets have declined rapidly in recent seasons, but the failure to prepare for their retirements have left the Steelers with problems on defense. Big plays thru the air killed the Steelers defense which fell to 27th against the pass, which easily was the worst in Dick LeBeau's tenure with the Steelers.
The Steelers choose to let Brice McCain walk after he exceeded all expectations during the 2014 season. McCain was coming off a very disappointing tenure in Houston and was expected to be nothing more than a special teams contributor. The quickly changed when Cortez Allen was benched after early struggles. Allen would eventually be placed on injured reserve and McCain was named the starter opposite of William Gay. With McCain in Miami, and Taylor retired that leaves the Steelers with Gay, Antwon Blake, Allen, and special teamer B.W. Webb. Expectations might be high for Blake who filled in nicely late in the season but the regression of Allen has left a whole lot of concerns on the table.
Safety Mike Mitchell was signed to replace Ryan Clark last season but he was often burnt and out of position. His success in Carolina didn't transfer over. His unsportsmanlike conduct penalties also proved costly on several occasions. After the season it came out that Mitchell was playing with a partially torn groin all season. Tomlin tip toed around this subject in his post season press conference leaving many to believe it wasn't true. Shamarko Thomas was given every opportunity to get accustomed to the NFL but for the second season in a row he couldn't stay healthy and the jury is still out on whether he can be a starter in this league. Thomas will be handed the position this season it seems with Will Allen hovering in the background in case he's needed. Serviceable at best seems to be the only way to describe the top end of the secondary.
Help may be on the horizon tonight when the Steelers step to the podium in Chicago to make their selection in the first round. Several cornerbacks have earned a first round grade from the draft pundits but its all a game of chance. The Steelers need to make sure they hit tonight when they make a selection or the entire season could be lost. The offense is primed for another special season but if the defense can't stop anyone it won't matter. The Steelers may look to Wake Forest corner Kevin Johnson in the first round. Johnson comes with size at 6'0 and has the ability to stop the run, something the Steelers usually require in their cornerbacks. He is a fluid runner and has a quick burst but sometimes takes unnecessary chances and loses on double moves.
Byron Jones (6'1 200) is another name that has been linked with the Steelers. Jones comes from Connecticut and is a converted safety. Jones again fits the big body tough corner that the Steelers often covet. Injuries slowed down Jones 2014 season as he missed the final 5 games of the season after shoulder surgery. Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin have preached character the last few seasons and Jones fits the bill as a captain and leader and is said to be a high character individual off the field .
Cornerback is where the Steelers have the least amount of warm bodies but at the outside linebacker postion the Steelers find themselves with lots of potential but nothing to show for it. 2013 first round pick Jarvis Jones missed most of the 2014 season after a disappointing rookie campaign. James Harrison was reborn last season but how long can he keep that production up? Arthur Moats was resigned but his ceiling seems to have been reached as a spot starter and a role player. Jason Worilds who started every game last season decided to retire to pursue his religious beliefs. Behind Moats, Jones, and Harrison is nothing but question marks. Jones certainly could be thrown into that category as well. Shawn Lemon was signed from the CFL after posting 13 sacks last season. Lemon went undrafted in 2011 out of MAC school Akron. The wild card is Howard Jones. He was everyones camp phenom last season but was left off the final roster. He showed flashes of brilliance during the preseason and for what its worth fits the look test of a Steelers outside linebacker. He had a year to learn the system on the practice squad and work with Joey Porter. If the secondary is going to be average then the pass rush has to compensate for that issue. If Colbert and Tomlin don't feel like there is an immediate starter at the cornerback position then they have to take an edge rusher.
Last year everyone's mouth dropped when the Steelers passed on selecting a cornerback and took Ryan Shazier but the Steelers may go back to the linebacker well again this year. Ideally I don't think Colbert and company wanted things to play out this way but Jarvis Jones' unimpressive start as a professional has to be concerning. Their answer to a pass rush may come from Kentucky with Bud Dupree. Dupree is another former captain, and high character prospect. Dupree can stop the run and he can get after the quarterback from the edge. Dupree's stock has risen quite a bit in the last few weeks though after issues have surfaced with Randy Gregory and Shane Ray. Both were considered top 15 picks and ranked higher than Dupree until recently. Realistically Dupree could be off the board by the time the Steelers hit the clock.
Throw out the toughest schedule in the NFL. Throw out the Ravens, Bengals, and Browns. The Steelers season will be won or lost in the next three days. The offense is battle tested and ready but if Colbert and Tomlin can't find a playmaker on the defensive side tonight and again somewhere else later in the draft then the 2015 season may be lost.
By Justin McGonigle (SF81)
With the first round of the NFL draft set to kick off in only hours, Steeler Nation sits around awaiting the Steelers to make their first splash of the offseason. The Steelers failed to address their glaring needs on the defensive side of the ball during free agency and now sit with major holes in the secondary and at the pass rush positions. Legend Troy Polamalu has called it a career, and long time cornerback Ike Taylor followed a week later. More than anything it will be the leadership of the two that needs replaced the most as their skill sets have declined rapidly in recent seasons, but the failure to prepare for their retirements have left the Steelers with problems on defense. Big plays thru the air killed the Steelers defense which fell to 27th against the pass, which easily was the worst in Dick LeBeau's tenure with the Steelers.
The Steelers choose to let Brice McCain walk after he exceeded all expectations during the 2014 season. McCain was coming off a very disappointing tenure in Houston and was expected to be nothing more than a special teams contributor. The quickly changed when Cortez Allen was benched after early struggles. Allen would eventually be placed on injured reserve and McCain was named the starter opposite of William Gay. With McCain in Miami, and Taylor retired that leaves the Steelers with Gay, Antwon Blake, Allen, and special teamer B.W. Webb. Expectations might be high for Blake who filled in nicely late in the season but the regression of Allen has left a whole lot of concerns on the table.
Safety Mike Mitchell was signed to replace Ryan Clark last season but he was often burnt and out of position. His success in Carolina didn't transfer over. His unsportsmanlike conduct penalties also proved costly on several occasions. After the season it came out that Mitchell was playing with a partially torn groin all season. Tomlin tip toed around this subject in his post season press conference leaving many to believe it wasn't true. Shamarko Thomas was given every opportunity to get accustomed to the NFL but for the second season in a row he couldn't stay healthy and the jury is still out on whether he can be a starter in this league. Thomas will be handed the position this season it seems with Will Allen hovering in the background in case he's needed. Serviceable at best seems to be the only way to describe the top end of the secondary.
Help may be on the horizon tonight when the Steelers step to the podium in Chicago to make their selection in the first round. Several cornerbacks have earned a first round grade from the draft pundits but its all a game of chance. The Steelers need to make sure they hit tonight when they make a selection or the entire season could be lost. The offense is primed for another special season but if the defense can't stop anyone it won't matter. The Steelers may look to Wake Forest corner Kevin Johnson in the first round. Johnson comes with size at 6'0 and has the ability to stop the run, something the Steelers usually require in their cornerbacks. He is a fluid runner and has a quick burst but sometimes takes unnecessary chances and loses on double moves.
Byron Jones (6'1 200) is another name that has been linked with the Steelers. Jones comes from Connecticut and is a converted safety. Jones again fits the big body tough corner that the Steelers often covet. Injuries slowed down Jones 2014 season as he missed the final 5 games of the season after shoulder surgery. Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin have preached character the last few seasons and Jones fits the bill as a captain and leader and is said to be a high character individual off the field .
Cornerback is where the Steelers have the least amount of warm bodies but at the outside linebacker postion the Steelers find themselves with lots of potential but nothing to show for it. 2013 first round pick Jarvis Jones missed most of the 2014 season after a disappointing rookie campaign. James Harrison was reborn last season but how long can he keep that production up? Arthur Moats was resigned but his ceiling seems to have been reached as a spot starter and a role player. Jason Worilds who started every game last season decided to retire to pursue his religious beliefs. Behind Moats, Jones, and Harrison is nothing but question marks. Jones certainly could be thrown into that category as well. Shawn Lemon was signed from the CFL after posting 13 sacks last season. Lemon went undrafted in 2011 out of MAC school Akron. The wild card is Howard Jones. He was everyones camp phenom last season but was left off the final roster. He showed flashes of brilliance during the preseason and for what its worth fits the look test of a Steelers outside linebacker. He had a year to learn the system on the practice squad and work with Joey Porter. If the secondary is going to be average then the pass rush has to compensate for that issue. If Colbert and Tomlin don't feel like there is an immediate starter at the cornerback position then they have to take an edge rusher.
Last year everyone's mouth dropped when the Steelers passed on selecting a cornerback and took Ryan Shazier but the Steelers may go back to the linebacker well again this year. Ideally I don't think Colbert and company wanted things to play out this way but Jarvis Jones' unimpressive start as a professional has to be concerning. Their answer to a pass rush may come from Kentucky with Bud Dupree. Dupree is another former captain, and high character prospect. Dupree can stop the run and he can get after the quarterback from the edge. Dupree's stock has risen quite a bit in the last few weeks though after issues have surfaced with Randy Gregory and Shane Ray. Both were considered top 15 picks and ranked higher than Dupree until recently. Realistically Dupree could be off the board by the time the Steelers hit the clock.
Throw out the toughest schedule in the NFL. Throw out the Ravens, Bengals, and Browns. The Steelers season will be won or lost in the next three days. The offense is battle tested and ready but if Colbert and Tomlin can't find a playmaker on the defensive side tonight and again somewhere else later in the draft then the 2015 season may be lost.
