1 dominant OLB will change this defense dramatically

I'm pretty sure he was cut a couple weeks back.

 

Exactly and guess who else comes off the field ? Everyone except your starting CB'S and SS and FS . If healthy they play every snap . I can't see how anyone would want to approach a season without true talent at those positions.

 

1 more dominant defensive lineman would have an even bigger impact. Maybe we already have him and he just needs to develop. All I know is that nothing improves a defense like a dominant DL getting an inside push and commanding a double team.

 

Well then why draft Archer and Landry? They see it even less than THAT! LOL!

 

A-FREAKING-MEN!!!

 

No . lol. Exactly why draft them when you need so much more at other spots ?

 

Are you saying you think Casey is an all time great or just that we're not gonna invest that much in NT? I could see it both ways honestly. Casey is one of my all time favorite Steelers because he's one of those "unsung heroes" type of guys. If you're talking to a person that just keeps up with the NFL in general about Steeler football they are always gonna mention linebackers but if you mention a guy like Casey or Aaron Smith they would probably look at you like you have 2 heads or something ya know? That's why I love those guys. I'm sure you feel the same way.

 

McCullers and mcLendon aren't even close to adequate and a good NT doesn't need to come off the field. In his prime, Hampton stayed on the field.

 

I'm with this train of thought. But only if the right guy is there at 22. Don't reach for a guy. A good NT who can crush the pocket and tie up blockers will make life much better for the OLBs which makes life better for the DBs.

 

thig, just because we pick them high doesn't mean they warrant that pick. there are none worthy of that high of a pick. why waste it? same as corner. just nobody worth the #22 pick. OLB there is, so make that our # 1 and get a safety or corner where they should be picked. this is not the time to make a panic pick and have to do it again next year. we better make it count.

 

You are sorely mistaken on both points. I csnt believe you don't remember Hampton waddling off the field on passing downs. Go back and look at the game logs. Back then big snack would play 30-35 snaps a game (about 50%). These days offenses are throwing the ball more so we're in more nickel or dime coverage which puts a NT on the field 20-30% of the time. For better or worse the game is changing. We can do things the way we used to and fall further behind or adapt.

 

The speculation draft sites just don't know how to rank the CB spot There are 5 guys with 1-3 pre draft grades I am positive at least 4 will go in round #1 though . They have Alex Carter as the 5th. ranked CB as of now and that is a mistake his stock will rise and if there at #22 would be a good pick as well as Trae or Ronald Darby .

 

Whoever they draft at 22 has to have an immediate impact. I don't believe a NT will be drafted 1st, maybe later. McClendon is the starter for better or for worse. If it's an OLB he should win the starting nod after camp.. As far as CB, he should be used as the nickel right away then take over a starting position later in the season. This is what should happen. Under the LeBeau regime this is the exception not the rule. Need to get young talent on the field sooner. Tuitt seemed to catch on pretty quick when he was getting playing time. Nothing against Keisel. Oh and Cam .... Thomas was (choke) starting in front of Tuitt.


A big concern is Cortez Allen. If he craps out this upcoming season it's a major setback. I'm sure the front office, coaching staff has to be thinking that. Stuck with the contract and a big bonus he is owed without proving much. Not good. Not good...

 

darby was the guy with jamis filming the rape. no thanks. waynes isn't that good.

 

Rape may be a bit strong a word . I am not sure exactly what happened , but if he can play we have to consider him. We will have plenty of time to Vet him before the draft.

I think Trae is very good just not finished filling out . He may be the next great lock down CB with a few pounds and some power . I think he has the speed , his 40 time is my only concern , if he is a legit 4.4 guy he could turn into a monster at CB . They had him listed at 182 it looks more like 170 to me , he needs 25 lbs. or so.

 

You know what else would help the secondary? If we put up 50 points per game ourselves. Wheaton and Bryant are pretty good, but we could do better if we landed a top-tier receiver in the 1st round. That'd make us better. Seriously though, why go through so many dominoes when the dominoes you're trying to affect (OLB, CB, S) stink in the first place?

In terms of helping OLBs, a DL can't stop them from being blocked. They can only help keep them from being double-teamed. If your OLBs can't win 1-on-1 vs. an OT, it doesn't matter if your interior is Keisel, Hampton, and Smith. We need high quality edge rushers, or we won't get pressure from the edges, which is very important.

If Worilds leaves and Harrison retires or deteriorates (all three pretty likely possibilities), then we are left with Jarvis Jones, who I like but whose weakness is his pass rush, and... that's pretty much it. We could re-sign Moats, but do you really think he's the answer? Even if Jarvis shifts over to the left side and becomes the new Jason Worilds, which to me is pretty much the best case scenario, we'll need someone for the right side.

As people already mentioned, our CBs are a bunch of #2s and #3s, including the guy we just gave tens of millions of dollars to. I have faith in Shamarko so I'm not too worried about SS, but I only give Mike Mitchell one more year before I consider him a lost cause and cut him, so a young FS would be a good idea.

The only way you could say McLendon "isn't even close to adequate" is if you mean because he's better than that. He's a good NT. McCullers has outperformed almost everyone's expectations. He made some noise as a 6th round rookie on DL's defense - not easy to do - and his potential is clear. He seems to me like a long-term answer as a backup, and possible successor.

 

Those two were wasted luxury picks, a team that's rebuilding shouldn't have made.

 

Could have packaged those and moved up and got a CB .

 

always if they know how to scout them .. last cbs we took i don't even know where they are now

 

Unfortunaty we could not have done so. Archer was a comp pick which can't be traded.

 

McClendon and McCullers were getting pushed ass backwards by the Ravens. That in my book is less than adequate.

 

I saw McClendon getting some pretty good penetration. Not sure about McCullers.

 

What game were you watching? The Ravens had one good drive on the ground and that was by cut blocking the backside. The Steelers shut it down after that. 8 yards was allowed after the first 35...

The pressure on passing downs needs looking at. You think McCullers with his motor should be getting pressure on a passing down? I do. Is it scheme or technique?

 

Ironically, we actually had more rushing yards than the rats. What was really a killer was that we gave them over 100 free yards in dumb penalties. Also our 3rd down defense was abysmal which allowed them to move it through the air. There was at LEAST once where McCullers literally moved him guy back like a feather in the wind. If he can learn to get off those blocks and go for the ball carrier he could really be something special. It's like he's not content to just block his guy but wants to just push him back 50yds for fun. LOL.