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    Scouts’ views

    [url="http://www.sportingnews.com"]http://www.sportingnews.com[/url] NFL WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2009 12
    Scouts’ views
    After their Super Bowl victory in February,
    the Steelers made it known their intention
    was to “keep the band together,” so to
    speak. Their way of doing business has
    always involved drafting well, signing their
    own free agents rather than chasing someone
    else’s and rarely overpaying for veterans.
    The trend continued this year.
    Best free-agent move
    True to their word, the Steelers re-signed
    nine free agents. At the same time, they lost
    only three players to free agency. Of that
    group, only CB Bryant McFadden was a
    starter. It’s important to note, however, that
    he has just 18 career regular-season starts
    in four seasons and has played a full 16-game
    slate only once. The Steelers are not going to
    pay big money to keep that type of player in
    Pittsburgh. They will continue to develop
    younger players behind the vets and plug
    them in when the time comes.
    The Steelers have always understood
    that consistency wins in the NFL, and by
    re-signing the bulk of free agents from
    their championship team, they have put
    themselves among the favorites to play for
    a title again in 2009.
    Worst free-agent move
    Among the re-signings were four offensive
    linemen: G Chris Kemoeatu, who
    nearly signed with the Jets, and OTs Willie
    Colon, Trai Essex and Max Starks. Some
    have asked why, and it’s a reasonable question.
    This group might be among the worst
    offensive-line units the Steelers have ever
    put on the field.
    The Steelers allowed 51 sacks (yes, Ben
    Roethlisberger holds the ball too long at
    times) and ranked 23rd in the NFL in rushing,
    averaging just 3.7 yards per carry. You
    can blame injuries to the running backs,
    but Detroit’s Kevin Smith averaged 4.1
    yards per carry behind an awful O-line.
    Steelers’ offseason: Offensive line still needs attention
    long and hard at some physical linemen who
    have the versatility to play several spots.
    Age is an issue along the defensive line, so
    Pittsburgh will look to get younger there. If
    the Steelers continue to move toward a more
    pass-oriented attack, they will need to find
    another receiver. At the very least, they will
    look to replace the deep threat they lost
    when Nate Washington signed with Tennessee.
    Don’t forget that Hines Ward is 33
    and in the twilight of his career.
    Draft priorities
    Offensive tackle: The Steelers seem excited
    about the prospect of keeping their O-line
    together. But this was clearly the weak link
    last year, and though they will talk about
    drafting for depth, they should look to add a
    bona fide left tackle if the opportunity arises
    early in the draft. That would allow Colon to
    move inside to guard, his natural position,
    and would allow Starks to move to the right
    side, where his problems against top pass
    rushers wouldn’t be exposed as much.
    Defensive end: Aaron Smith is 32, Brett Keisel
    is 30 and backup Travis Kirschke is 34.
    This defense needs to get younger, and it has
    to start up front. The Steelers want big, strong
    and physical ends for their 3-4 scheme.
    Cornerback: The loss of McFadden leaves
    Ike Taylor and DeShea Townsend, who has
    played 11 seasons and is 33, as the starters.
    Fernando Bryant was re-signed as well, but
    the Steelers need a young starting corner
    with some speed and ball skills.
    Wide receiver: Santonio Holmes and Ward
    are the only experienced starters on the roster,
    and though Limas Sweed will step into
    the No. 3 role, the team needs to replace
    Washington and the deep threat he posed.
    — RealScouts, a team of pro football scouts, analyzes NFL players,
    coaches and teams exclusively for Sporting News.
    The Steelers and their fans will tell you
    that the unit played much better in the postseason,
    and it did. But it’s difficult to understand
    the decision to put the franchise tag
    on Starks.
    Better as a right tackle, Starks moved to
    the left side when Marvel Smith went down
    with an injury and struggled mightily. As a
    player with a transition tag after the 2007
    season, he didn’t generate any major interest
    from teams, so the team’s decision to put
    the franchise tag on him and pay him $8.45
    million is questionable.
    The to-do list
    The team’s starting offensive line is short
    on talent, and so is the depth. With eight
    draft selections, expect the Steelers to look
    Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger was on the run regularly last season behind an offensive line that allowed 51 sacks, and the team did not address the problem in free agency.
    TOM MIHALEK / AP

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    Re: Scouts’ views

    I, and I think the team, disagree regarding the O Line. I think the San Diego game in the playoffs was more indicative of what we can look for going forward... nobody ran on Baltimore except the Giants last year, and Arizona sold out to stop the run with 8 man fronts for much of the SB. Max will get better at LT with playing time there, and the unit will improve it's cohesiveness with time on the field together, of which this group had relatively little last year, given the Simmons and Marvel injury situations. Not saying we don't need a couple depth picks, but Essex + Hills + 2 picks + a minimum priced vet to push the young guys + Capizzi, Legursky, et al should produce a serviceable unit.

    I believe Nose tackle has to be looked at. Hampton is in the last year of his deal, and is too expensive to keep as an increasingly irrelevant 2 down player in a pass happy league... I wouldn't give him what he's likely to ask if he was still playing like a Pro Bowler. As it is, his play the last several years has been ordinary - He doesn't attract double teams anymore, and is living off his reputation a la Crybaby Alan in '07. Somebody's going to overpay him in a big way next offseason - I'm betting in a capless year, Jerry Jones throws a J Peezy like signing bonus his way. Hokie will be fine in his spot short term, but he's on the wrong side of 30, too. Need a young guy in there in the mid rounds somewhere... but not too high - otherwise we end up overpaying at the position again

    Also would like to see us develop some safety depth - Clark's aging and coming into a contract year, and we've got little proven depth behind him. The last guy we drafted at the spot is gone and we need another one.

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