Looking ahead to 2014

After watching the last few weeks I'm not as concerned about how far this team will fall, and I actually think we can be right back on top next year. The Oline is not as big a concern as most thought, and although bad early we've turned the corner, and aside from one more addition I'm ok with it going forward. The D will be the offseason talk, and we should see many moves in early March. One thing is for sure, we MUST find 2 DBs, and several draft sites have us taking one in the 1st. The LB situation in the middle is a huge concern along with Woodley and TPs contracts, but I see both here next year. The offense is in need of TE, and another WR. Sanders is outta here, and even with Wheaton we need a stud WR. The O is in a great spot, and I see it as a top 5 next year. Gonna be an interesting offseason....

 

I totally agree. Offensive line shows some promise going forward and we need a tall receiver or TE. We need a safety or two, I actually think our CB situation is okay.

I think with the defense we need a pass rush and it will make our DB's look much better. I'm not sure how to improve that, and will drafting a guy be an answer for that?

 

I agree if we can stop the bleeding stay healthy and get some good draft picks we can and will be back. Was it me or did Ben have more time in the pocket tonight than anytime in his career. I saw most of the game and I was speechless on how much time he had. If we have that kind of line next year hello superbowl!!!!

 

We got some tough decision to make next year. The oline did look good last night and should be in good shape if everyone comes back healthy. Velesco, Pouncey, Beachum, Foster, DeCastro, Gilbert, Adams, Wallace, Whimper all showed they can play and got valuable experience this season.

We definitely need to draft a corner or two and even a safety. WR or TE and ILB. Depending on who falls, offensive line doesn't seem like a priority but I would still look for another Tackle.

I don't see Worilds, Sanders, or Clark back next year. Woodley, Ike and Troy are the elephant in the room right now. We have to do something with their contracts or might have to part ways.

 

I think it is getting easier and easier to identify our needs:

(In no particular order)

1. Big WR
2. Tight End
3. ILB, could be left off if Spence is a player
4. OLB, if and only if Woodley isn't back
5. 2 CBs
6. Safety
7. Punter

 

Oh where oh where is Moye? There is your big receiver.

Let's hope the brass shows Marshmallow Woodley out the door. Another injury. Take the hit and move on. That goes for 10 yards off the ball, slow Ike Taylor. D needs a youth injection in the secondary. Allen played well yesterday showing promise. Thomas will be back next year. And Heyward is showing he is the force we have been looking for. Keep Al Woods! Played beastly yesterday.

Heath is far from being done. But, I would like to see another stretch the field TE.

Corner is the top priority. I hope after the releasing smoke clears that they look at the free agent market as well as drafting two.

Spence has not seen the field and still may not. Foote is a stop gap. ILB should be looked at in the draft.

Troy has earned another season. A safety is priority as well in the draft. Allen is a stop gap.

Keisel will be gone and possibly Hood. Hood has come on of late but may not be resigned. Draft a DE. Although Woods in the middle with Heyward and McClendon on the outside sounds inviting.

 

foster is still too slow and doesn't match up well with the speed of our other linemen. on the move, he's not very good. he's way too fat.

gilbert still allows too much pressure. I'm not giving up on a good lineman this draft.

I still want yankey if he's there. he's versatile and can play near any spot we need. I would be pretty excited about the two Stanford guards leading a run game. the guy was also an all- American at LT last year. he is a complete stud on the move from the LG position though. maybe better than big red.

 

I just hope that the Steelers will make the necessary moves required to put
us in shape to compete with the other playoff caliber teams.I believe we have a lot of work ahead of us
this 2nd straight off season
without being
in the playoffs. I hope the talent evaluators
and scouts are working overtime to close
this gap. I see CB/Safety/ ILB/ OT/ OLB/TE
on my wish lists. Not necessarily in this order.

 

The situation definitely seems less dire than it did at the beginning of the year. Offensively this is the most excited I've been about the Steelers in a long time. We have Ben, a legit #1 receiver, and a young every down RB that has shown the potential to be awesome. Our OLine is still very young and has steadily improved all year. I don't think Sanders' production will be incredibly hard to replace (we still have Wheaton) and we have two bigger WR's who didn't see the field this year but impressed in pre-season and limited regular season reps (Moye, J. Brown). I think it is important to re-sign Cotchery. We might snag an OLineman in the draft (possibly a G/T), but really the only other position I see us going after on offense is a second TE.

Defensively is where I'm a little more worried. Kiesel and Clark should not be offered new contracts, time to move on. We are incredibly deep on the DL (especially if we are able to work a deal out with Ziggy to be a back up/rotation lineman). OLB will be addressed in the draft (especially if we don't re-sign Worilds, or if we find a way to dump Woodley), as will ILB due to lack of depth at the position (although Williams and Garvin have both shown promise). CB will most definitely be addressed in the draft, as we need another starter. Ike might be around one more year if he takes a pay cut, but it is just as likely that he is cut too. Safety should be addressed in the draft... we need a starter here too. Shark will likely take over for Clark, but Troy's days are numbered as well, so we need to groom a replacement for him too. Not much depth at the safety position either. Golden is OK, but I'd like someone who has the capability to be a starter eventually and idt Golden does.

Pick up some defensive starters in the draft, maybe an OLineman and a TE, and we should be set. Keep everyone relatively healthy and we should be back in position to make another playoff run next year! Go Burgh!