Reason to Worry?

[NorthCoast]

Local rag has been publishing stories on T. Richardson with shots from OTAs. I will admit not having seen much of him in college but this guy is a physical beast. He makes Ray Rice look like a JV'r. If the Browns can put together even an average passing attack, could we be in a tougher division with Cinci and Baltimore nipping at us?

[SteelCrazy]

If their Offense can get moving, we'll be in the toughest division in football. Clevelands D is pretty good and their O could be on its way. Maybe Cincy will regress once again....

[Shoe]

There's no doubting that the sky is the limit with this guy. But I wouldn't say I'm worried, as if we can't stop the guy. Even if the best RB in the league (McCoy, MJD, Peterson) came to CLE, I don't think I'd be worried.

The worry comes from our side of the ball; not what the other team has. I do worry about the run defense this year, recalling Houston (and a couple other teams I think) run roughshod through us last year.

That all being said, I don't think CLE is that far off as most fans on this board would have you believe. As said, if Weeden can come in and play "game manager", they'd be a tough out for anybody... they've quietly assembled a lot of quality talent (not just athletically talented guys like some teams do... but high-character guys who won't be on a LOSER forever).

[NorthCoast]

There's no doubting that the sky is the limit with this guy. But I wouldn't say I'm worried, as if we can't stop the guy. Even if the best RB in the league (McCoy, MJD, Peterson) came to CLE, I don't think I'd be worried.

The worry comes from our side of the ball; not what the other team has. I do worry about the run defense this year, recalling Houston (and a couple other teams I think) run roughshod through us last year.

That all being said, I don't think CLE is that far off as most fans on this board would have you believe. As said, if Weeden can come in and play "game manager", they'd be a tough out for anybody... they've quietly assembled a lot of quality talent (not just athletically talented guys like some teams do... but high-character guys who won't be on a LOSER forever).

Statistically, last year was the worst rush defense the Steelers have had since 2003. I didn't realize the Steelers rush defense was No. 3 or better in 8 out of the last 10 seasons. ... a marvel of consistency. (interestingly, 2003 had what i think was the Steelers weakest secondary in many years, with Chard Scott, Burnt Alexander, and Dewayne Washington playing. The last half of that season the Steelers were a doormat for opponent run games. So I wonder if the LBers were playing back to help the secondary...??)

[Shoe]

Statistically, last year was the worst rush defense the Steelers have had since 2003. I didn't realize the Steelers rush defense was No. 3 or better in 8 out of the last 10 seasons. ... a marvel of consistency. (interestingly, 2003 had what i think was the Steelers weakest secondary in many years, with Chard Scott, Burnt Alexander, and Dewayne Washington playing. The last half of that season the Steelers were a doormat for opponent run games. So I wonder if the LBers were playing back to help the secondary...??)

That's an interesting point. While I can't really remember much of that season (that trio you mention though, is enough), my suspicion is that last year's slippage wasn't due to the same sort of overcompensation. I think the "age" thing that was harped upon early last season was relevant. A lot of people want to brush it under the rug because we ended up being ranked so high, but people who watched every game know that this was far from a "top-ranked" defense, or any Steeler defense of note from the past.

[RuthlessBurgher]

but high-character guys who won't be on a LOSER forever).

Except at WR...they keep spending 2nd round picks on wideouts who missed their last full year of college football due to suspension. But as for the original point of the topic...yeah, Richardson is going to be a beast. And they have a pretty solid line in front of him too, highlighted by perhaps the best LT in football in Joe Thomas plus a top notch center in Alex Mack...I thought they overdrafted Mitchell Schwartz in round 2 this year, though...I heard that he may have some lingering injury issues...they could have had Cordy Glenn, Jonathan Martin, or Mike Adams there instead (or they could have drafted Riley Reiff with pick 1b, then taken Weeden in the early second (which is where they wanted to take him if they were able to get Kendall Wright at 1b if Tennessee didn't swipe him first).

[Oviedo]

What do you expect a "local rag" to say? They are desperate for any good news. Do they have a QB yet? Sorry, a 28 year old rookie doesn't have me worried.

[flippy]

I'm sure the Ravens will have a bounty on him.

[phillyesq]

I think that Richardson will be good, and as Ruthless pointed out, the Browns have a very solid line.

The Browns also have a solid defense. They don't get much attention because the offense is so bad and they do not really have a star outside of maybe Haden, but the Browns D is good.

I wouldn't take the Browns lightly, but Weeden and their WRs don't scare me at all.

[grotonsteel]

All teams in AFC North has good defense. T-Rich i think is a great talent and Browns do have a great O-line but their biggest problem is QB and WR position.

When Browns are spending Rd-2 draft pick in Supplementary draft for a WR who has played one college season well they are desperate.

[Sugar]

All teams in AFC North has good defense. T-Rich i think is a great talent and Browns do have a great O-line but their biggest problem is QB and WR position.

When Browns are spending Rd-2 draft pick in Supplementary draft for a WR who has played one college season well they are desperate.

They will be tougher than they were. They are (re)building with good D and a running game. The good news is that instead of giving more Colt weapons, they just went and got a new QB.

[NorthCoast]

You guys are ragging about the QB, but please remember the Steelers have a way of making rookie/inexperienced QBs look all-world. Plus, this scenario is similar to what we have been talking about for the Steelers O (and what the Ravens have already done), establish the threat of a run game and start making throws. It is working for Flacco, it can work for Weeden & Co. maybe I am just a worrywart, but few games last year were a gimmee.

[Slapstick]

You guys are ragging about the QB, but please remember the Steelers have a way of making rookie/inexperienced QBs look all-world.

Not really...

It happens a handful of times to any team...

This is why guys like Scott Mitchell, Matt Cassell and, most egregiously, Matt Flynn made tons of money...

[Shoe]

You guys are ragging about the QB, but please remember the Steelers have a way of making rookie/inexperienced QBs look all-world. Plus, this scenario is similar to what we have been talking about for the Steelers O (and what the Ravens have already done), establish the threat of a run game and start making throws. It is working for Flacco, it can work for Weeden & Co. maybe I am just a worrywart, but few games last year were a gimmee.

Best I can recall, I think I recall hearing some ridiculous stat, like LeBeau has never been beaten by a rookie QB.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Best I can recall, I think I recall hearing some ridiculous stat, like LeBeau has never been beaten by a rookie QB.

LeBeau was beaten by a rookie QB once (Troy Smith) but I think it was a game in which we had already clinched our playoff berth and could not improve our seeding, so Ben sat out that in favor of Charlie Batch (or something like that).