Offseason Thoughts

Now that the season is over save for deciding who wins the Super Bowl, I've been poking around like many in the draft and upcoming Free Agency.

Quite a few experts that I've listened to have us looking at a Pass Rusher with the 20th pick and followed up by Jeremiah Trotter the LB.
I would agree the LB is most definitely in need of an upgrade or two. Trotter fits what we do, and I don't mind too much taking him 2nd - too much. I would hope a couple FA moves would makes this easier to accept.

But DB is an area of pain and could be argued to address early. Still, I feel like OL is a huge problem and more specifically Dan Moore and Mason Cole.

I feel like Kendall Fuller would be a nice addition in Free Agency that could help us a lot.

TE is also something that I would highlight with Pat playing for a contract. His numbers are easily upgraded, and you can probably get a TE in 3rd to do so. While I feel like Matt Canada was a problem, it is also true that Pat has been a bit of a Part-Time player.

I might go OT at 20, maybe the LB Trotter in the 2nd and C in the 3rd unless I could move up. Free Agency can change my plan really easy. I am not hard sold on anything at moment other that Cole and Moore are terrible.

 

Center has to be a high priority. The first-round pick is probably too high unless they trade down, but if Frazier is there in the second round, he should be the pick. The Steelers have passed on solutions to their center problem far too many times the last few years. It's time to fix that.

Free agency would also be a viable route to take. Even a middling veteran like Tyler Biadasz would work. Passing on him to take Anthony McFarland in the 2020 draft was a huge mistake. Of course, the Cowboys will probably try to retain him. He's not a star, but he is solid. He would certainly be an upgrade over Cole.

 

I am a bit conflicted.
I always felt like you can get a great Center in the 3rd.. but as you point out, this needs to be solved. Cole is a disaster.

 

In the first three rounds, I would hope we would get three from T, C, CB, or DT. If a linebacker falls, I could see that. Hoping we can patch some holes in FA, once we get rid of some bloated contracts.

 

I am for taking a stud OT or a blue chip defender at pick 20. The best OL in this draft are Tackles. Also, a Safety like Kinchens makes sense since the dropoff is biggest with those positions.

A Center is a must get but can be had at 51 or in the 3rd. We need to add to the DL as well.

As much as I would love another CB, I feel it’s a luxury pick right now. Holcomb will be back at ILB. I’m not looking at these positions as much on day1/day2.

 

The holes we have are not going to be fixed on one draft, this could actually be a good pick up. I'm torn because I miss having that guy in the middle thats so dominant, but barring getting another 2nd round pick, this would not be a bad signing.

 

I like the C from oregon. JPJ in the first unless one of the top CBs are higher on the board. But i agree hasc to be addressed early

HACK

 

I feel like between the Oregon center, the Georgia center, and the WVU center we should be able to wait until the second round and still have a shot at one of the top centers.

That frees up the first round for a mauler at RT (like Alabama or Georgia kid) so they can move Broderick Jones back to LT. Or best defensive player available I guess.

 

Wasn’t James Daniels a highly-touted center in college? I wonder if they’ve given any thought to trying him at center and Herbig at RG?

 

Daniels was mostly a C in college, moved to G when he was drafted, shifted back to C some in the NFL....

No idea how good of a C he was or could be though.

 

I guess we will also be adding a fullback this offseason. Arthur Smith uses pro sets (12 personnel as they say nowadays) A LOT.

I don’t think they would expect Heyward to fill all the traditional fullback roles.

Free agent? Draft? Have TJ give Derek Watt a call? Will be interesting to see how it shakes out.

 

Thanks. Thought maybe I misremembered him being a good center prospect for a second

 

I fully expect Heyward to take on the FB responsibilities if we do actually use one this season. Why bring in a full time FB?

 

I’m not sure Heyward is built to be a full time lead blocker digging out middle LBs, but I could be wrong.

He can defiantly handle all the H-back stuff though.

 

Based on the talent in the draft, our draft position, team needs, the value of certain positions in free agency and our cap situation .... I see the following playing out or at least hope it does.

We have high needs at the following positions:
1. OT
2. C
3. CB Outside
4. CB Slot
5. DT

To a lesser degree:
6. ILB - Coverage
7. S
8. WR Slot but more blocking and Mac WR in new offense
9. QB to compete with KP

We aren’t going to fill all of those positions in this draft and FA market.

This draft appears top heavy at T and C and CB.

My feeling is those are our three most pressing needs outside of QB. We aren’t going to upgrade the QB position ... KP will get a year under Arthur Smith to prove himself or compete with a middle of the road FA who we bring in or retain Rudolph.

To free up cap space we have to get rid of some bad FA signings -

Cut -

Peterson, Cole, Robinson, Okororafor, Kazee and Trubiscky

That should free up space to bring in

KC’s CB and the ILB from KC who used to play out west. I forget the guys name.


Draft one of the young stud Centers and one of the RT’s in the first two rounds. You may have to move up in the second to get one of the quality Centers or RT’s because they won’t make it to our second rd pick.

Draft a slot Cb and S depth and a developmental QB.

In the third go get the DT Fiske from FL St I believe. He is 6’5” 300 lbs and quick and relentless.

In a perfect world I would love to get the ILB Payton Wilson from NC St. who is a reincarnation of Chad Brown. Just uber athletic and fast. Would be a perfect coverage LB who can play all three downs. But I don’t think we have the draft capital to get him, Fiske and the two OL in the first four rounds.

Last pick get a punter.

 

I’m just thinking those dozen times we use a FB during the season.

I don’t really understand the Smith uses a FB thing. When did he use one at either of his previous gigs.

 

i was just reading and stated in another thread that the steelers are in love with zach frazier and taliese fuaga. michael hall at DT as well. i would hope a CB like tj tampa or terrion arnold. maybe they go back to the free agent market for a corner though. i wonder if holcomb will be ready for the season? how about alexander? will he be back and would they re-sign him?

 

I was reading the announcement of the Art Smith hiring on the Steelers website and got the info there. I’m paraphrasing bUt the article said that the Steelers ran 2 back personnel the least in the NFL and the falcons ran 2 back the most in the NFL last year. That’s all I was basing it on. I have watched no falcons games at all so I don’t know for sure.

I also may have misread or just plain misunderstood what I read too. If you’ve watched them play I would trust your eyes more than what I took from the article.

I was excited for a second to see a lead blocking fullback again.

 

https://steelersdepot.com/2024/02/g...ullback-two-shifts-for-arthur-smiths-offense/

Probably this article from SteelersDepot written by Alex Kazora.


https://www.steelers.com/news/what-does-arthur-smith-bring-to-the-steelers-offense

Then there's this article from Steelers.com written by Dale Lolley

Both of these articles talk about the Falcons using a lot of 12 personnel with either an H-back or a FullBack. I have not watched many Falcons games either, so not sure what that looked like for them. I did watch most Titans games because I get them every week. I honestly don't remember any 12 personnel plays. He either ran with Derrick Henry, or Dante Foreman. I did go back and look at those rosters and they have Firkser listed as FB. I only remember him catching passes though.

Side note....the Falcons roster for 20-23 lists Keith Smith as FB. Smith had a total of 14 carries in all of 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.

The articles and stats seem to contradict a bit.

 

We should get that other Watt brother back. Derek?

 

The guy who had 22 yards in 3 years and was unemployed last year

And who do you want to sit to play him

We do have Connor Heyward

 

D Watt will revolutionize the FB position in Pittsburgh behind Arthur J Smith. Think Mike Alstott

 

I already been scolded that you don't draft Punters so when we lose 10 games because we gave them short fields to work with I will be vindicated

 

I always felt that Derek Watt's main reason for being was as a nod to TJ. He probably had less play time than the punter!

Sorry to any of the Watt family if you read that....

 

Derek might be the best Watt brother if he got a fair chance.