Bye bye k. Lewis

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

The Steelers were very high on DVD, Allen, & Brown in the 2011 draft. They have all three on their roster. Taylor, Allen, Gay, Brown, DVD, & maybe King/Victorian. Still solid with potential to be very good. Believe in the Lake effect.

[Siggy00]

Yes the same William Gay that everyone hates now, Lewis couldn't beat him out THREE STRAIGHT YEARS!

Was he given the chance?

[steelz09]

William Gay is a good Nickel DB...say whatever else you want to about him, but he is a good Nickel DB...

I don't know that the Steelers have really lost that much with Taylor/Lewis/Allen as opposed to Taylor/Allen/Gay...now, if something happens to one of the starters and Gay is pushed into a starting role, I won't be enthused...

As far as young players go, they still have Brown, Van Dyke and Victorian on the roster...it took Keenan Lewis four years to become a competent starter...those players are still developing...

He's a decent nickle CB. I'll give you that. He's not even close to having the ability to lineup on the outside against #2 like Lewis did last year. We've seen him get absolutely abused on the outside and opposing teams recognized how much of a weak link he is against a #2.. If the Steelers thought signing Gay and letting Lewis go was the best for the FUTURE of this franchise then they're stupid.

Some of you are knocking Lewis for his lack of INTs. What about Ike? He's not exactly an INT machine. Ike will be close to 33.5 by the start of the season and is due almost 9 MILLION. Are some of you saying that you wouldn't pay Lewis the contract he got but you want an old Ike Taylor that has proven his entire career that he CAN'T create INTs and pay him almost 9 MILLION? I don't see the logic in that at all. There is no way I would pay an aging Ike Taylor 9 million. I've always been a fan of Ike but I just don't understand how you pay Ike 9/mil at his age when he doesn't create INTs.

Signing Lewis to that deal and giving him the #2 spot and Allen the #1 spot (or vice-versa) makes more sense than keeping Ike around for 1 more year at 9/mil.

Some of you are knocking how long it took for him to become a solid player. How long did it take Timmons to be a solid all-around player (especially in the run game)? How long did it take James Harrison to become a solid all around player?

For the record, I'm ok with Ike and Allen starting this year with Gay, Victorian, etc has our depth. However, I think it was an incredibly stupid decision for the future of the defense past this year. It was very a very short sighted decision...

[Siggy00]

The lack of picks isn't a DB's fault in this system. They are taught to "tackle the catch".

[Shawn]

Has anyone thought...hey maybe Lebeau will play a young player if they are ready to play?

[deljzc]

I think we are weaker on paper at every major position grouping as compared to March 2012.

Maybe we'll improve via the "chemistry" angle (i.e. we got rid of some bad apples). Maybe we improve with better health and less starter games lost.

But talent-wise, I don't think there's any doubt we are much weaker than 365 days ago. The draft will help, but not in 2013 based on recent history. If we get 500 snaps total out of the draft (not injury replacement) then that's pretty good. If rookies are playing because of injuries, then you aren't improving via the health angle.

I think we're a borderline playoff team right now with very little chance to make a good run in the playoffs. The ceiling for this team is just too low for my liking.

[steelz09]

Ike Taylor's Salary Cap Numbers Year	Base	S. Bonus	Misc.	Cap Hit	Dead
2011	1,250,000	1,812,500	750,000	3,812,500	-
2012	825,000	1,812,500	1,641,666	4,279,166	-
2013	6,000,000	1,812,500	1,641,666	9,454,166	6,908,334
2014	7,000,000	1,812,500	1,641,666	10,454,166

According to the Salary Cap Numbers listed above, the dead money in 2014 if cut would be:

$3,454,166

[Steelhere10]

Was he given the chance?

Probably not under Grandpa, but he was this year and didn't exactly set the league on fire. Like I said he was decent but nowhere near ready to make Probowls. IMO I think Ike and Cortez are better

[steelz09]

By the way, here is how I derived the # that I got:

I used the same math for 2014 that was used when calculating the dead cap dollars for 2013.

2013 Formula = (2013 Signing Bonus + 2014 Signing Bonus) + (2013 Misc + 2014 Misc)

2014 Formula = (2014 Signing Bonus) + (2014 Misc)

Basically, The base salary isn't guaranteed but you take a hit on the Signing Bonus' and Misc for the lifetime of the contract (however many years are left).

[Siggy00]

Probably not under Grandpa, but he was this year and didn't exactly set the league on fire. Like I said he was decent but nowhere near ready to make Probowls. IMO I think Ike and Cortez are better

He was among the league leaders in passes defensed. Not sure what else you want from him.

[phillyesq]

He was among the league leaders in passes defensed. Not sure what else you want from him.

I wanted him to return, but what more could you ask from Lewis? How about he holds on to the pass that hit him in the chest against the Titans. That play alone could have added another win.

[NorthCoast]

Don't re-write history here, Crash. Lewis was immature and not very good early on, which is why he didn't play. Don't you remember his temper tantrum against the Broncos?

Cortez Allen played early because he showed he was ready. It took Lewis longer to get on the field because he developed more slowly. That is on him, not on DL or anybody else.

I agree. Nothing I saw from Lewis early on made me want to see him on the field more. It wasn't until Lake joined the staff that he started to show promise. I say, Lake is the key for the future CBs. He can make an average one into an above average, and above average into elite.

[Siggy00]

I agree. Nothing I saw from Lewis early on made me want to see him on the field more. It wasn't until Lake joined the staff that he started to show promise. I say, Lake is the key for the future CBs. He can make an average one into an above average, and above average into elite.

But wasn't Dick LeBeau a former DB coach also? Why does Carnell Lake get all the credit?

Maybe it's because Lake actually does some COACHING, where all LeBeau does now is COASTING.

Dom Capers when he ran our defense had no problems playing young players early.

LeBeau? Hardly ever.

It's not the scheme, it's the mindset of the coaches running it.

[Chadman]

And we still, constantly, overlook the ability of the guy playing in front of the rookies.

Is the reason Cam Heyward doesn't play because:

1. Cam Heyward is a terrible player

or

2. Brett Keisel is a damn good player

[ikestops85]

Was he given the chance?

The answer to that is YES. Then he imploded in the Bronco pre-season game and got in Tomlins doghouse.