Free Agency Frustrating For Steeler Fans

The thing is that we did swing for the fences like everybody wanted when we kept the team together after we won the SB in 08. Then nobody wanted to afford them the time to rebuild as those players started to retire, leave, get cut, ect.
People say they want to swing for the fences and go all in to win a championship, but when it comes time to rebuid they forgot they said they'd be okay with it. Then all they do is whine and complain about it.

 

Screw that. He's keeps playing with fire...

 

Not that I'm aware of.

 

You make a fair point.

 

Just read the whole thread and I have to say TTF as much as I don't agree with Stummerfan like 85% of the time, asking if LD is daft isn't a personal attack at least not to me. It is a legit question when someone has stated their belief and the other person says the same thing in response to over and over. Now LD likes spirited debate which we all know I am in favor of, but he also turtles a lot during the exchange and quotes the personal attacks rule. Being new I can see why he does that but most of us understand that through a heated discussion things can escalate and most of us know when to dial it back. In hockey parlance if you are going to drop the gloves and challange someone don't immediately cover your head and call for the ref LOL.

On topic using the Pats a justification for spending big money on free agency is a slippery slope. Yes they went big and got some big name help but lets look beyond the end result, winning the SB. THey play in quite probably the weakest division in the AFC. THe Jets were in the middle of a lame duck season, the Fins were in the middle of finding out just what mess you get into when you overpay for guys that don't fit what you are trying to do, and the Bills while improving in leaps and bounds had question marks all over the field especially at QB. That is six games right there that are almost always wins for NE. Sprinkle in some games against weak teams like the Jags, and solid wins in games against Denver and you are looking an almost lock for a playoff spot. The FA signings didn't win the games for them in the playoffs, not even sure they helped beyond just playing the real reason they won was some straight out head scratchers by the other teams. Lets face it they would be a bad example if Pete Carrol does what he is supposed to and give the ball to beastmode and win the game.

Now with respects to the Steelers free agency targets the only two I think that really fit what the Steelers do is Sheard and Skrine and both were over paid as compared to what the Steelers could offer. The only tweener I saw was Mcphee and he still took more than I think the Steelers would have offered so saying they need to change based on current trends is a stretch. They are proceeding with caution to avoid a cap hell situation.

 

Again, at the risk of repeating myself, I am not suggesting we turn into one of the top FA-signing teams in the NFL; that leads to FAIL. I am fully aware of that. What I _AM_ suggesting is that we make a few moves to help fill some holes and add depth; we are less than paper thin at OLB, CB and S. I am NOT advocating that we sign a bunch of the biggest names out there. Why signing a 32-year old back is OK, the back up RB position could have been filled with a mid-round rookie, one less likely to get injured than a 32 yea old. So, why they made that signing, nothing has been done to even coming close to improving our OLB, CB and S spots. Someone asked who was out there that could help this team? Well, the point is so many of the players who could have helped us have been signed by teams not sitting on their hands. But I will give one example of someone out there that could help us: CB Tramon Williams (27 ints since 2008). Except, while Pgh makes no effort to speak with him, GB, NO, Browns and Eagles are working to bring him in, we are doing nothing.

 

Even with signing free agents, the Pats don't win it without Brady. That's why the other teams signing top free agents (red faces, Dolphins), don't win. We have a superstar QB and we have a shot every year because of it. As an organization the Steelers and fans are in flux, because we went from a defense first Super Bowl winning team to having to be an offense first winning team. But I think that is the NFL. The best defense in the league last year got beat by a franchise QB in the Super Bowl.

 

Very nice logical post!

 

I wanted the Team to start going strong on DB'S . When we did take 2 in a draft we probably took the wrong 2. This year Teams signed a bunch from that 2011 NFL draft ,we got stuck with Curtis Brown and Cortez Allen . I wished someone had that CB thread from the old site, was some great talk about who the Steelers should get and the CB'S they will probably get .

 

You say they need to sign a few FA's to fill some holes, then the sign one to fill a hole at RB and you say they should have done it through the draft? So I guess that logic doesn't apply to outside linebacker Huh?
And in case you didn't read the thread yet they are bringing a free-agent CB in for a visit. It's probably not the one you want so you'll probably just complain about that too?

 

They drafted some promising cornerbacks, problem is they just didn't work out. It's not like they didn't try. Or are ignoring the position as some say.

 

Resign Harrison and draft only OLBs and DBs in the upcoming draft. Do that and we are fine going into the season. Our offense will need to carry us like last season, and Bell, Bryant, Wheaton and the O-Line should be even better. If we stay healthy and improve even more on offense, then our defense doesn't have to be that great. Injecting youth into the DB and OLB positions but spending all 8 picks in these two positions, we SHOULD find a few gems.

We don't need any silly TE/RB/QB/OL/WR/K/P/IDIOTPICKS in the draft. Take the best available at OLB and DB and begin to rebuild those areas on the team.

 

This is absolutely not the way you want to approach the draft. Trust me the Steelers never will do it that way.

 

I agree, but one can still hope! I don't think taking the "best available player", especially in the 1-3 rounds regardless of position is wise. What if it was a QB or WR or RB? I could mayybe see it being a very solid O-lineman because those are always needed, but none of those positions will help us win next year like filling literal holes (like not having enough on the roster currently) at OLB and DB.

If you hit a homerun with your OLB/DB strategy in the draft, then you wouldn't have to worry about these key positions for many years to come and then you can look at improving other areas on the team in future drafts, like replacing Foster, finding a good young backup RB, a QB to train to take over for Ben, a replacement for Miller, a new nose tackle, etc..

If you don't hit a homerun, then it is like any other typical Steelers draft.

 

BPA means taking the best player based on your needs. Of course they're not taking a QB, but a TE is definitely a good possibility

 

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I liked Jimmy Smith ,I liked Culliver, Wright,House and Chekwa. I stated then the Steelers needed 2 or 3 of these guys from that draft.

We came out with Heyward,Gilbert, Curtis Brown,Cortez ,Carter,Williams and Batch .

Would the Team be better if we had 2 of those CB'S above ? I think so.

 

what is the situation with greg hardy .. ?

 

I think because it will free us to be taking a few corner backs in this draft. I could see us doubling up on CB and OLB.

 

Broncos brought in TJ Ward, Aqib Talib, Manny Sanders and DeMarcus Ware. They were one and done in the playoffs like the Steelers. Pretty sure Peyton is a franchise QB. Now this year they can't sign Julius Thomas and Terrance Knighton. Two big components to both sides of the ball. Spend big one year, watch from the sidelines the next. Every team has their methods.

 

Mark Kaboly @MarkKaboly_Trib · 2 h2 ore fa

If Steelers offseason consist of signing DeAngelo and Robinson + locking up Ben and Heyward, would consider that success. Halfway there now.