A team in transition

[Shoe]

That doesn't mean they can't be competitive, but here's what is happening to anyone that is paying attention:

Last year, we saw stalwarts like Hines, Aaron Smith, and James Farrior depart. This year, Deebo and likely others (e.g. Hampton). These are/were key cogs from a glorious time for the Steelers. This upcoming season is bound to be the last (in a Steeler jersey) for Keisel and Clark. Polamalu's obviously aging (i.e. constant injuries), Taylor is a shell of himself (and it's DANGEROUS that people still look to him as our "#1 corner"), and this year could also be THEIR last... Heath now, Ben...

Point being: Who are the people filling this void? I think AB is one. I think DeCastro will be another. Who else? Woodley? (too fat--figuratively & literally). Guys like Redman/Dwyer (who ask out of games anytime they get winded.) Mike Adams/Gilbert? Look at some of the middle round talent lately (Rainey, Ta'amu)... void of leadership. We're watching the Titanic headed for the iceberg.

This season is bound to be the one that we hit the iceberg, or we somehow manage to steer clear. The writing on the wall (i.e. mortgaging the future for the present and putting us in constant salary cap jail, reminiscent of the 49ers and Cowboys of the late 90's--look how hard it's been for those franchises to right their ships). We need more Heath Miller types. Casey Hamptons (back in his prime). Guys who love to play, and can be counted on.

[lloydroid]

Well, we keep hearing about how great Pgh is at drafting, so where are the new, young, talented guys that Pgh has draft the last 5 years to fill the void? If they are so awesome at drafting (and they are, just ask them and they will tell you, in a smug fashion, how great they are at drafting) there should be some young talent in the wings to come in and keep the team contending. So, since they are so awesome at drafting, let's examine who the draft picks are who will keep this team good.

RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 24 David DeCastro G Stanford - unknown
2 56 Mike Adams T Ohio State - unknown
3 86 Sean Spence LB Miami (Fla.) - knee injury
4 109 Alameda Ta'amu DT Washington - drunken fool
5 159 Chris Rainey RB Florida - idiot, gone
7 231 Toney Clemons WR Colorado - gone
7 240 David Paulson TE Oregon - maybe a back up
7 246 Terrence Frederick CB Texas A&M - gone
7 248 Kelvin Beachum T Southern Methodist - potentially promising

1 31 Cameron Heyward DE Ohio State - disappointing
2 63 Marcus Gilbert T Florida - still unknown, could be bust
3 95 Curtis Brown DB Texas - sucks
4 128 Cortez Allen DB The Citadel - OK
5 162 Chris Carter LB Fresno State - sucks
6 196 Keith Williams G Nebraska - sucks
7 232 Baron Batch RB Texas Tech - sucks

1 18 Maurkice Pouncey C Florida - injury prone, but decent
2 52 Jason Worilds LB Virginia Tech - we will see this year if he is decent
3 82 Emmanuel Sanders WR Southern Methodist - ok, crappy attitude last season
4 116 Thaddeus Gibson LB Ohio State - bum
5 151 Chris Scott T Tennessee - horrible
5 164 Crezdon Butler DB Clemson - sucks
5 166 Stevenson Sylvester LB Utah - sucks
6 188 Jonathan Dwyer RB Georgia Tech - lazy
6 195 Antonio Brown WR Central Michigan - good pick
7 242 Doug Worthington DE Ohio State - garbage

1 32 Ziggy Hood DT Missouri - disappointing
3 79 Kraig Urbik T Wisconsin - didn't make the team
3 84 Mike Wallace WR Mississippi - good, but attitude turned into sh-t
3 96 Keenan Lewis DB Oregon State - solid
5 168 Joe Burnett DB Central Florida - bum
5 169 Frank Summers RB Nevada-Las Vegas - bum
6 205 Ra'Shon Harris DT Oregon - worthless
7 226 A.Q. Shipley C Penn State - didn't make team
7 241 David Johnson TE Arkansas State - so so

1 23 Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois - overrated, never lived up to physical skills.
2 53 Limas Sweed WR Texas - complete waste of time, energy, effort. Worthless, crap draft pick
3 88 Bruce Davis LB UCLA - sucked horribly. Garbage draft pick
4 130 Tony Hills T Texas - weak and soft. Horrid pick
5 156 Dennis Dixon QB Oregon - worthless punk
6 188 Mike Humpal OLB Iowa - crap
6 194 Ryan Mundy FS West Virginia - sucks

Sorry, proof is in the pudding. Pgh acts all arrogant about how great they are in the draft but in the last 5 years, all they have proven is that they are clueless. And now we are paying for it. I challenge anyone to refute that their last 5 years of drafting have been any good at all. Out of all those draft picks only a handful of players have panned out. How does anyone consider that to be wise drafting? They should get a D- at best. Their drafting is no better than Cleveland.

[thor75]

I definitely think Kevin Colbert is feeling the pressure with this upcoming draft. And I thought we had a good draft last year. Injuries really killed that class overall. There are bound to be an off year or two. They really could use an Anquan Bolden veteran leadership type to come in and get the players focused on one goal..winning , no matter who the FO brings in. We have all seen teams with no names become winners. We don't need all pros at every position to be world champs again. I don't think the current roster has a unified voice.

[lloydroid]

I definitely think Kevin Colbert is feeling the pressure with this upcoming draft. And I thought we had a good draft last year. Injuries really killed that class overall. There are bound to be an off year or two. They really could use an Anquan Bolden veteran leadership type to come in and get the players focused on one goal..winning , no matter who the FO brings in. We have all seen teams with no names become winners. We don't need all pros at every position to be world champs again. I don't think the current roster has a unified voice.

I agree with your over all point, but not that last year's draft was all that good. It could be, if DD, Adams and T'amu turn out. We already know Rainey was a waste - i.e. not on the team anymore.

1 24 David DeCastro G Stanford - unknown
2 56 Mike Adams T Ohio State - unknown
3 86 Sean Spence LB Miami (Fla.) - knee injury
4 109 Alameda Ta'amu DT Washington - drunken fool
5 159 Chris Rainey RB Florida - idiot, gone
7 231 Toney Clemons WR Colorado - gone
7 240 David Paulson TE Oregon - maybe a back up
7 246 Terrence Frederick CB Texas A&M - gone
7 248 Kelvin Beachum T Southern Methodist - potentially promising

[steelz09]

Well, we keep hearing about how great Pgh is at drafting, so where are the new, young, talented guys that Pgh has draft the last 5 years to fill the void? If they are so awesome at drafting (and they are, just ask them and they will tell you, in a smug fashion, how great they are at drafting) there should be some young talent in the wings to come in and keep the team contending. So, since they are so awesome at drafting, let's examine who the draft picks are who will keep this team good.

RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 24 David DeCastro G Stanford - unknown
2 56 Mike Adams T Ohio State - unknown
3 86 Sean Spence LB Miami (Fla.) - knee injury
4 109 Alameda Ta'amu DT Washington - drunken fool
5 159 Chris Rainey RB Florida - idiot, gone
7 231 Toney Clemons WR Colorado - gone
7 240 David Paulson TE Oregon - maybe a back up
7 246 Terrence Frederick CB Texas A&M - gone
7 248 Kelvin Beachum T Southern Methodist - potentially promising

1 31 Cameron Heyward DE Ohio State - disappointing
2 63 Marcus Gilbert T Florida - still unknown, could be bust
3 95 Curtis Brown DB Texas - sucks
4 128 Cortez Allen DB The Citadel - OK
5 162 Chris Carter LB Fresno State - sucks
6 196 Keith Williams G Nebraska - sucks
7 232 Baron Batch RB Texas Tech - sucks

1 18 Maurkice Pouncey C Florida - injury prone, but decent
2 52 Jason Worilds LB Virginia Tech - we will see this year if he is decent
3 82 Emmanuel Sanders WR Southern Methodist - ok, crappy attitude last season
4 116 Thaddeus Gibson LB Ohio State - bum
5 151 Chris Scott T Tennessee - horrible
5 164 Crezdon Butler DB Clemson - sucks
5 166 Stevenson Sylvester LB Utah - sucks
6 188 Jonathan Dwyer RB Georgia Tech - lazy
6 195 Antonio Brown WR Central Michigan - good pick
7 242 Doug Worthington DE Ohio State - garbage

1 32 Ziggy Hood DT Missouri - disappointing
3 79 Kraig Urbik T Wisconsin - didn't make the team
3 84 Mike Wallace WR Mississippi - good, but attitude turned into sh-t
3 96 Keenan Lewis DB Oregon State - solid
5 168 Joe Burnett DB Central Florida - bum
5 169 Frank Summers RB Nevada-Las Vegas - bum
6 205 Ra'Shon Harris DT Oregon - worthless
7 226 A.Q. Shipley C Penn State - didn't make team
7 241 David Johnson TE Arkansas State - so so

1 23 Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois - overrated, never lived up to physical skills.
2 53 Limas Sweed WR Texas - complete waste of time, energy, effort. Worthless, crap draft pick
3 88 Bruce Davis LB UCLA - sucked horribly. Garbage draft pick
4 130 Tony Hills T Texas - weak and soft. Horrid pick
5 156 Dennis Dixon QB Oregon - worthless punk
6 188 Mike Humpal OLB Iowa - crap
6 194 Ryan Mundy FS West Virginia - sucks

Sorry, proof is in the pudding. Pgh acts all arrogant about how great they are in the draft but in the last 5 years, all they have proven is that they are clueless. And now we are paying for it. I challenge anyone to refute that their last 5 years of drafting have been any good at all. Out of all those draft picks only a handful of players have panned out. How does anyone consider that to be wise drafting? They should get a D- at best. Their drafting is no better than Cleveland.

With the exception being Antonio Brown, we have not drafted a starter in all of the above drafts in rounds 4 thru 7. 4 rounds in all those years and only 1 starter?!?!

[SteelerOfDeVille]

With the exception being Antonio Brown, we have not drafted a starter in all of the above drafts in rounds 4 thru 7. 4 rounds in all those years and only 1 starter?!?!

when you go to 2 super bowls during that stretch, you don't replace a whole lot of starters if you can help it... now that the team is starting to see some turnover, you'll see more starters from mid-to-late rounders...many have started games (Dwyer, D.Johnson, Beachum... i'm thinking T.Hills did and Mundy has and Dixon did

[steelerkeylargo]

Show me a playoff team that has lots of starters they drafted (don't include FA pickups) in rounds 4-7. Let me save you the time. They don't exist.

[lloydroid]

when you go to 2 super bowls during that stretch, you don't replace a whole lot of starters if you can help it... now that the team is starting to see some turnover, you'll see more starters from mid-to-late rounders...many have started games (Dwyer, D.Johnson, Beachum... i'm thinking T.Hills did and Mundy has and Dixon did

Yea, but all the players you mentioned as having started all suck. Hills, Mundy and Dixon? All worthless.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Show me a playoff team that has lots of starters they drafted (don't include FA pickups) in rounds 4-7. Let me save you the time. They don't exist.

sometimes i wonder about our youth....

[7 UP]

Well, we keep hearing about how great Pgh is at drafting, so where are the new, young, talented guys that Pgh has draft the last 5 years to fill the void? If they are so awesome at drafting (and they are, just ask them and they will tell you, in a smug fashion, how great they are at drafting) there should be some young talent in the wings to come in and keep the team contending. So, since they are so awesome at drafting, let's examine who the draft picks are who will keep this team good.

RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 24 David DeCastro G Stanford - unknown
2 56 Mike Adams T Ohio State - unknown
3 86 Sean Spence LB Miami (Fla.) - knee injury
4 109 Alameda Ta'amu DT Washington - drunken fool
5 159 Chris Rainey RB Florida - idiot, gone
7 231 Toney Clemons WR Colorado - gone
7 240 David Paulson TE Oregon - maybe a back up
7 246 Terrence Frederick CB Texas A&M - gone
7 248 Kelvin Beachum T Southern Methodist - potentially promising

1 31 Cameron Heyward DE Ohio State - disappointing
2 63 Marcus Gilbert T Florida - still unknown, could be bust
3 95 Curtis Brown DB Texas - sucks
4 128 Cortez Allen DB The Citadel - OK
5 162 Chris Carter LB Fresno State - sucks
6 196 Keith Williams G Nebraska - sucks
7 232 Baron Batch RB Texas Tech - sucks

1 18 Maurkice Pouncey C Florida - injury prone, but decent
2 52 Jason Worilds LB Virginia Tech - we will see this year if he is decent
3 82 Emmanuel Sanders WR Southern Methodist - ok, crappy attitude last season
4 116 Thaddeus Gibson LB Ohio State - bum
5 151 Chris Scott T Tennessee - horrible
5 164 Crezdon Butler DB Clemson - sucks
5 166 Stevenson Sylvester LB Utah - sucks
6 188 Jonathan Dwyer RB Georgia Tech - lazy
6 195 Antonio Brown WR Central Michigan - good pick
7 242 Doug Worthington DE Ohio State - garbage

1 32 Ziggy Hood DT Missouri - disappointing
3 79 Kraig Urbik T Wisconsin - didn't make the team
3 84 Mike Wallace WR Mississippi - good, but attitude turned into sh-t
3 96 Keenan Lewis DB Oregon State - solid
5 168 Joe Burnett DB Central Florida - bum
5 169 Frank Summers RB Nevada-Las Vegas - bum
6 205 Ra'Shon Harris DT Oregon - worthless
7 226 A.Q. Shipley C Penn State - didn't make team
7 241 David Johnson TE Arkansas State - so so

1 23 Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois - overrated, never lived up to physical skills.
2 53 Limas Sweed WR Texas - complete waste of time, energy, effort. Worthless, crap draft pick
3 88 Bruce Davis LB UCLA - sucked horribly. Garbage draft pick
4 130 Tony Hills T Texas - weak and soft. Horrid pick
5 156 Dennis Dixon QB Oregon - worthless punk
6 188 Mike Humpal OLB Iowa - crap
6 194 Ryan Mundy FS West Virginia - sucks

Sorry, proof is in the pudding. Pgh acts all arrogant about how great they are in the draft but in the last 5 years, all they have proven is that they are clueless. And now we are paying for it. I challenge anyone to refute that their last 5 years of drafting have been any good at all. Out of all those draft picks only a handful of players have panned out. How does anyone consider that to be wise drafting? They should get a D- at best. Their drafting is no better than Cleveland.

LD, you might be shocked to read this. But I totally agree with your assessment of recent drafts. You hit the nail on the head.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

side note, didn't Urbrik make the team and get cut in his 2nd year? and he's now a multi-year starter for the Bills..

[steelerkeylargo]

Just so you can put this in perspective. Would anyone like to venture how many 4-7 round drafted players are Starters for the Patriots in the same time period???

ANSWER-1 AARON HERNADEZ


How bout the Ravens??

Answer-1 DENNIS PITTA

New York Giants?

Answer-1 Andre Brown (very shaky answer at that)

San Fran???

Answer-1 Bruce Miller ( a freaking FB)


THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST UNINFORMED THREADS EVER. I guess Ozzie Newsome, Scott Pioli/Thomas Dimitroff/Belichek can join Colbert as draft dunces. Seriously this thread is a joke.

[lloydroid]

side note, didn't Urbrik make the team and get cut in his 2nd year? and he's now a multi-year starter for the Bills..

He is listed on the 2009 roster, so you might be right. But, in my view, a 2nd round pick who makes the roster for one year, never plays and is then cut the following year, it's really no better than a guy cut year 1. He never contributed. And the fact that he went on to play for another team is still just as FAIL. When you draft a guy and never get anything out of him, then it's still FAIL even if another team picks him up. Bills have a pretty bad O line; maybe that's why he made it there. IDK.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

when you go to 2 super bowls during that stretch, you don't replace a whole lot of starters if you can help it... now that the team is starting to see some turnover, you'll see more starters from mid-to-late rounders...many have started games (Dwyer, D.Johnson, Beachum... i'm thinking T.Hills did and Mundy has and Dixon did

This is the line of thinking a lot of Steelers fans have and it is complete BS. What, we couldn't groom draftees and have guys waiting to take over at FS, SS, RB, ILB, OLB? We have to wait till we are screwed? We couldn't draft a solid backup QB? Come on man.

[lloydroid]

Just so you can put this in perspective. Would anyone like to venture how many 4-7 round drafted players are Starters for the Patriots in the same time period???

ANSWER-1 AARON HERNADEZ


How bout the Ravens??

Answer-1 DENNIS PITTA

New York Giants?

Answer-1 Andre Brown (very shaky answer at that)


THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST UNINFORMED THREADS EVER. I guess Ozzie Newsome, Scott Pioli/Thomas Dimitroff/Belichek can join Colbert as draft dunces. Seriously this thread is a joke.

RD SEL # PLAYER POSITION SCHOOL
1 24 David DeCastro G Stanford - unknown
2 56 Mike Adams T Ohio State - unknown
3 86 Sean Spence LB Miami (Fla.) - knee injury
4 109 Alameda Ta'amu DT Washington - drunken fool
5 159 Chris Rainey RB Florida - idiot, gone
7 231 Toney Clemons WR Colorado - gone
7 240 David Paulson TE Oregon - maybe a back up
7 246 Terrence Frederick CB Texas A&M - gone
7 248 Kelvin Beachum T Southern Methodist - potentially promising

1 31 Cameron Heyward DE Ohio State - disappointing
2 63 Marcus Gilbert T Florida - still unknown, could be bust
3 95 Curtis Brown DB Texas - sucks
4 128 Cortez Allen DB The Citadel - OK
5 162 Chris Carter LB Fresno State - sucks
6 196 Keith Williams G Nebraska - sucks
7 232 Baron Batch RB Texas Tech - sucks

1 18 Maurkice Pouncey C Florida - injury prone, but decent
2 52 Jason Worilds LB Virginia Tech - we will see this year if he is decent
3 82 Emmanuel Sanders WR Southern Methodist - ok, crappy attitude last season
4 116 Thaddeus Gibson LB Ohio State - bum
5 151 Chris Scott T Tennessee - horrible
5 164 Crezdon Butler DB Clemson - sucks
5 166 Stevenson Sylvester LB Utah - sucks
6 188 Jonathan Dwyer RB Georgia Tech - lazy
6 195 Antonio Brown WR Central Michigan - good pick
7 242 Doug Worthington DE Ohio State - garbage

1 32 Ziggy Hood DT Missouri - disappointing
3 79 Kraig Urbik T Wisconsin - didn't make the team
3 84 Mike Wallace WR Mississippi - good, but attitude turned into sh-t
3 96 Keenan Lewis DB Oregon State - solid
5 168 Joe Burnett DB Central Florida - bum
5 169 Frank Summers RB Nevada-Las Vegas - bum
6 205 Ra'Shon Harris DT Oregon - worthless
7 226 A.Q. Shipley C Penn State - didn't make team
7 241 David Johnson TE Arkansas State - so so

1 23 Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois - overrated, never lived up to physical skills.
2 53 Limas Sweed WR Texas - complete waste of time, energy, effort. Worthless, crap draft pick
3 88 Bruce Davis LB UCLA - sucked horribly. Garbage draft pick
4 130 Tony Hills T Texas - weak and soft. Horrid pick
5 156 Dennis Dixon QB Oregon - worthless punk
6 188 Mike Humpal OLB Iowa - crap
6 194 Ryan Mundy FS West Virginia - sucks

Sorry, proof is in the pudding. Pgh acts all arrogant about how great they are in the draft but in the last 5 years, all they have proven is that they are clueless. And now we are paying for it. I challenge anyone to refute that their last 5 years of drafting have been any good at all. Out of all those draft picks only a handful of players have panned out. How does anyone consider that to be wise drafting? They should get a D- at best. Their drafting is no better than Cleveland.