Ike Taylor

Bingo. I've read so many people not wanting to "waste a roster spot on Harrison by taking one a way from a young guy that could start someday." Like that's Carter? He wouldn't be taking Jones' or Worilds' spot. He wouldn't even be taking Carter's spot. He'd be bumping the bottom guy off the roster. And whoever that is, if he can't beat out Carter, he's never going to start for us. Quality backups are important. The odds of us getting use out of the #3 guy are very high. The odds that some guy like Alan Baxter or Adrian Robinson (guys that couldn't make our roster, or any other roster) are going to be the next James Harrison are not just low, they're almost nothing.

 

nd would lose....JW sooooo much better than JH.....No ?!!!!

 

i think moats will be fine. carter and so'oto may have it out for the last spot. I could see worilds, JJ, moats, so'oto. then Timmons, shazier, zumwalt, Williams. I have so'oto because of his size. he's the only real big guy that could be the left side backup we have. that 260+ guy for that side. moats could bounce around at near every position. his best being OLB though. (8)

CB's ike, allen, gay, Richardson, McCain, blake. (6)

Safties troy, allen, Mitchell, shark. (4)

NT's Thomas, mclendon, McCullers (3)

DE's heyward, tuitt, arnfelt, Williams (4)

I would love to have Harrison back, but I don't really see room. unless someone gets cut from NT, or we only keep 5 corners. I was reading we just don't cut colberts FA pickups, so moats, McCain, blake, Thomas, willA, so'oto are it on defense. moore, blount, DHB, palmer, whimper, Wallace, willJ, spaeth, grad on offense.

 

I am solidly in the camp that would LIKE J.H. back, as a backup/rotational player, at vet minimum.
In no way do I think we NEED him, but he would be a nice luxury to have.
Esp., off the field, with him and Porter teaching the kids what it takes!!!
Holmes, on the other hand...
Ehhh, not so much. He did a lot of great things for us, but I don`t think his attitude is worth it, given what we currently have. MAYBE he would bring a good "veteran presence", and experience.
POSSIBLY, he could make some plays on the field, that ur younger recievers wouldn`t, but, I don`t think he`s worth the gamble.
His production just hasn`t been what it was when he was here, since he left here.
Let the Clowns have him...They need all the receiver help they can get... LOL... And they signed 2 other free-agents while he was available...
GO STEELERS!

 

I would bring JH back in a second. If the back is healthy he would likely beat out JJ in camp. Then JJ could learn behind someone who can actually play ROLB (Worilds couldn't cut it going against Left Tackles), rotate in often, and learn how to study and train. If JH doesn't beat JJ out in camp, he's still better depth than Chris Carter. Seems like a win-win to me.

As for "Wake & Bake", I'd have considered bringing him in as a punt returner at vet minimum before we drafted Dri Archer, but not now. Maybe if Wheaton broke all his fingers again, but probably not even then.

 

I'm glad you're not the Steelers GM a 36 yr old Harrison isn't better than Worilds right now, stop living in the past. If Harrison is still good and can play how come no team has signed him? Worilds got 8 sacks not starting the whole season.

 

not from the right side.

 

Yeah sadly we haven't had anyone come in and be able to do what JH was able to on that side. Hopefully that all changes this season.

 

I'm pretty sure it will. it sure would be sweet to have a well rested JH coming in with JJ taking a breather too.

 

Oh no doubt. I would have no problem with that at vet minimum. But like you said, do we have the room? And do we really want to sacrifice youth for a season to bring him back? Personally, as long as he's healthy, I think it would be nice to have him for a season helping to mentor guys like JJ.

 

who knows maybe he lasts 2 seasons in that role. a lot depends on what the other backups do? they are just that too, backups. I'd rather james for a game or two if there is an injury that moats or carter or zumwalt. at least this year. if we only knew. LOL

 

I don't write home, but Worilds' production is worth a closer look. 8 sacks in a season isn't mind-blowing, but he started the season on the bench, and then was on the right side. Once he settled into his starting LOLB position, he played so well that he essentially beat out a returning-from-injury LaMarr Woodley, who had been playing well before getting injured. They put LaMarr on the right side, which he'd never done before. Worilds didn't just rack up sacks in a short time period, he was hassling QBs all game long and holding up against the run. He'll definitely either dominate this year, or draw more attention and help out the rest of our pass rushers.

It wasn't a huge sample size, but Worilds played really good ball once he settled into that LOLB spot.

That said, "If Harrison is still good and can still play how come no team has signed him" is just a stupid sentence.

 

I don't care what anyone says, JH is the man. Bring him back and he will stuff the run and get to the QB. I bet he has two very productive years left, unless his back is more messed up than we know.

 

Spot on! We have no proven talent at that spot. JJ? The rest=trash. Huge JH guy so probably a little biased but at the same time I'm positive "he's better than what we got"

 

Their production isn't equal because Worilds only started less than half of a season and got 8 sacks, I think Harrison started pretty much the whole season and only had 6 sacks. You can't get through to me because you're wrong.

 

The truth is, what's behind JJ? Answer is not much. So if Harrison can be had for vet minimum, what do you lose? If he can still play at a percentage of what he was in a spell role, that's an upgrade over what we got. P-E-R-I-O-D!

 

I agree completely.

 

I don't think the statement is dumb. he didn't get many offers last year either. I think the statement is premature. lots of teams hold out to get the cheapest price on some of these players that are close to retirement. keisel for example.

these guys can still play. maybe not like in their prime but as good as a lot of guys around the league still. they know what we do here and what offenses are trying to do like it's the back of their hands. I think the new DL is going to make life easier for our OLB once again, and not just taking up blockers , but getting their own pressure. let's not forget we have some guys that can get there from the middle too now in shazier and Timmons. NT included.

the only other reason we may not take JH back though is this new sub package DL is flirting with. speed will make it work. maybe they want more coverage ability from those spots? I even question troy's role in it. how will they play him this year? lets face it his coverage has slowed a bit. maybe back to more of a traditional role? it should be interesting to see how they do this all.

 

Hey Smart-Smart, what position was James playing over in Cincy?