did we do enough to get us over the hump

You can't blame the Steelers for trying our secondary was lack luster. Spent the first two picks on secondary help. I think you will see these guys on the field sooner than later. I think they will do a better job than 30th in the league in pass defense which is where the finished last season.

 

I'm more worried about the O at this point. Can Webb and Coates make up for loss of Miller and Bryant? Our front 7 should be good on D... and there's nowhere to go but up for the secondary.

Edit: Green and Coates... not Webb and Coates.

Apologies to Ladarius Green...

 

The Steelers will have a better chance last year based on the Broncos starting Sanchez presumsbly and Brady missing 4 games.

Being the 1st or 2nd seed would be tremendous.

The Steelers really didn't lose much from last year other than Miller and will have Golson two rookies in the secondary for depth.

If the Steelers are healthy they are one of the favorites in the AFC.

 

Not evenclose

 

Concerned about that "rookie wall" if Steelers get a chance to go deep into the Playoffs.

 

IMO, I don't know of anything we have done in the offseason has made us better/worse. If we stay healthy we can compete with anyone, but that's a big I F. Still don't have much of a pass rush, at least on paper, and the secondary will be expected to improve behind 2-3 guys who will see some snaps that have never taken a step on an NFL field. We lost Bryant, and he helped make the O what it was last year. For those that think the WR (Ayer)in the 7th round is gonna even make this team much less a difference you may be asking a little too much.

 

There are still a lot of good receiving options and Martavis is a bit overrated by us fans I think. Sammie Coates and DHB are both big and fast targets as well plus Ladarius Green and Jesse James are in the mix as well as a healthy Bell.

Ben will have a better year.

 

Right now every one looks like paper champions lets wait until actual football is being played before making any judgements. Of course there are some who are pretty much saying that the Raiders are the dominate team in the league right now so everyone else should just quit while they are ahead. Me personally I think once the games start some tunes will change.

 

No way Bryant is overrated. Guy opens the field for the rest of the guys. His production may be picked up by Coates, but that is yet to be seen. Green could be the biggest addition in years. He plays the same as a WR with size and speed. The O I'm not concerned with, it's that D that has me still concerned.

 

Mike Wallace was twice the deep threat that Bryant is and all I ever hear is how bad a player Mike Wallace is.

Yes. Bryant is overrated.

 

I don't think Bryant skill set is overrated and in that sense he is a much better player than Wallace was and is. I think what is being overrated is his production for the team and whether that can be matched or exceeded by the other WRs on the team. I think it mirrors the Cotchery debate of a few years ago.

 

Cotchery was a possession receiver and red zone threat very different

 

But everyone was freaked about the loss of his 10 TDs and how could they ever hope to get that production from anyone else. Cotchery was good at what he did and Ben had a lot of confidence in him but it was hardly the stuff of legend

 

I think the offense will be better this year than last year. Ben turned it over more than he has been it was an off year.

 

Yes! That's my point, Bryant has never had a 1000 yard year, but he's scored 11tds in a season and a half? Can Coates and Green pick up the slack? Absolutely, and they should, but Bryant is much more than Wallace ever was

 

No doubt Bryant is better then Wallace. But I'm looking at our linebacker corps. We drafted a couple of guys but I'm monitoring the waiver wire. Just saying....

 

2 games Bryant missed Ben also missed.

Plus one of the games Bryant missed was vs St Louis where Ben went down in the 3rd.

Steelers scored 20.5 ppg without Ben and 28.5 ppg with Ben and Bryant's absence happened to overlap with Ben's.

Bryant has great ability but AB, Coates, and DHB are all real deep threats. Hell Wheaton is no slouch either.

Defenses have to respect the deep ball with or without Bryant.

That somersault catch was truly amazing though.

 

The key point about Bryant is that you can see his development. Over last season he showed clear adaptation from a receiver who could run a post and a fade, to one with better footwork in the open field, and more tenacity in blocking.

I like what I see from Coates though. I'm not at all unhappy with where we are at receiver.

 

Lol

 

I think we did. This was a weak draft. Teams were already picking from the bottom of the barrel in the 5th....and don't forget the injury bug hasn't reared his nasty head yet

 

The Steelers would have been over the hump last season save for injuries to key players. Hopefully, this season will be more healthy because the talent is there.

 

There is a pretty big difference from a wild card win at home to back to back wins over Denver and NE on the road and then a tough Carolina team in the Superbowl.

 

I am glad I am not the only one noticing this as well. Edge rusher will once again be a big topic heading into next years draft UNLESS Chickillo and Dupree (who I believe is a dark-horse DPOY contender) experience the "Sophomore Surge."

 

Personally, I believe the pressure is on that "touted" linebacking corps. Shazier has played 21 out of 32 games (65% availability rate), Dupree has all the athletic tools to rival even the likes of Khalil Mack and the "Transcendent" Jadeveon Clowney but simply needs to put it all together. Lawerence Timmons is steady as they come but is forgoing a 10th NFL season in a position that is already grueling enough and Jarvis Jones has yet to showcase anything. Chickillo and Feeney being the backups are not bad but are largely untested.



I really hope these players can find a way to help Pittsburgh regain its footing as one of the NFL's premier defenses. If not, much of these players should be questioned and yet another investment on the EDGE rusher will have to be in play come round 1 of 2017; quite lucky considering prospects like Myles Garrett lead the class.