2015 Steelers 53 man roster, moves and analysis

[steelerkeylargo]

QB's (3)-Roethlisberger, Gradkowski, Jones  (it's possible they spend a late round pick on a QB to compete with Jones but there are more pressing needs)

RB's (4)-Bell, Roy Helu (no luxury of an early round RB pick and draft is not RB deep, Helu would be a nice back up at a good price), Archer, Josh Harris

FB (1)-Johnson

WR (5)-Brown, Bryant,Wheaton,Moore,Goodwin (from PS)- No need to change anything here

TE (3)-Miller, Heurman (rookie), Spaeth

OL-(6)Beachum, Foster, Pouncey, DeCastro, Gilbert, Adams, Wallace, Hubbard

DL-(6)-Heyward, Jordan Phillips(rookie NT from OU see mock below, kid is a true 3-4 Nose),Tuitt. McCullers, McClendon, Keisel (1 more year)

OLB-(5)- Jarvis Jones, Jabaal Sheard (can probably pay him half of what we did Worilds and get the same production, maybe even a lil more) ,James Harrison (one more year on the cheap and let him rotate in), Geneo Grissom (raw talent but has tools to develop into a solid backer, think Gildon), Arthur Moats

ILB (4)- Timmons, Spence, Shazier, Williams

CB(6)-Gay, Alex Carter (rookie Stanford size speed and can tackle), Shareece Wright (FA from SD),Cortez Allen, Brice McCain, Kevin White (rookie TCU, smallish but makes plays)

S-(5)-Mitchell, Thomas, Allen, Golden, Julian Wilson (rookie Oklahoma)

Specials-(3)-Roth (rookie punter, Suisham, Warren)

Gone are Heyward Bey, Cam Thomas, Worilds, Troy, Ike

FA's acquired- Helu, Sheard (starter), Wright(competes to start)

Rookies in mix for serious playing time Carter, Phillips, Heurman

Offense largely goes untouched Helu &Heurman bring quality to the RB and TE positions

on D the questions are can we get at the QB......hoping Jones wakes up and Sheard and Harrison can supply some spark, Grissom will need a year

Carter and Wright will bring talent and youth to the Secondary I would let Thomas play FS and move Mitchell to Troys spot (a more natural fit)

[Oviedo]

What about Jordan Zumwalt?

[steelerkeylargo]

What about Jordan Zumwalt?

If he can beat out V. Williams he can stay....if not PS

[pittpete]

Please, no to Kiesel and Harrison.
Our reliance on older vets needs to end.
Id rather give Howard Jones a shot at OLB.
I think Worilds was somewhat of a disappointment vs the run but if we can get him for a fair contract we need to keep him.
Heath is due around 5.6 mil this year and don't know if we need to bring him back.

[SteelerMaine83]

SKL, I've been seeing your posts for a few years and it is almost scary how you often target the same FA's that I do. Helu would be a perfect backup to Bell--he runs and catches the ball well, and he can pick up the blitz, too. Not nearly as skilled as Bell, but a good backup that could get 10-20 snaps per game and not hurt you, I see Archer perhaps having a larger role next year as a change of pace and perhaps even split out as a WR on occasion. Getting him 8-12 snaps somewhere in the game (if he can show a splash play or two showing his speed) could also give opposing D's something to think about. I too thought about Sheard as a nice pickup (and reasonably priced) if Worilds is gone. I do agree with PittPete that Howard Jones may enter the discussion as well. The Steelers have had a lot of late round or UDFAs become big contributors after a year or two, and he shows a nose for the ball (even if it was against the scrubs). Zumwalt could/should become a PS guy.

[phillyesq]

Helu is the guy who jumped out to me most when I started looking at the available free agents. Washington uses him primarily as a third down back but he is also pretty decent running the ball. It would be nice to give Bell a breather, and Helu is also the kind of guy who could fill in without requiring the Steelers to completely change what they do on offense.

[papillon]

Helu is the guy who jumped out to me most when I started looking at the available free agents. Washington uses him primarily as a third down back but he is also pretty decent running the ball. It would be nice to give Bell a breather, and Helu is also the kind of guy who could fill in without requiring the Steelers to completely change what they do on offense.

I'm curious how many touches per game (rushing and receiving) do you think will work for Bell and allow him to produce the type of yardage he produced this year?

I'm sure you know where I'm going with this, Bell averaged 18 rushes and 5 receptions per game, that's 23 touches per game plus you have to add blitz pickup for some wear and tear, but I don't really think that 23 touches per game is an inordinate number of touches and then to produce over 2,000 yards of offense with those touches. If I were the coach, I'd have a difficult time limiting his touches to less than the workload he had this year.

Pappy

[SteelerMaine83]

I guess if the Steelers were to average 65 offensive snaps per game, I would have Bell on the field for 45 of those,with around 20 carries, 8 targets. Unless my 5th receiver has some really good ST value, I would have Bell, Helu or Archer on the field in my 5 receiver sets. All are likely far superior to a 5th WR. I might not even have 5 WR active on gameday.

[hawaiiansteel]

10 underrated free agents that should be on the Steelers' radar

By rcountryman99 on Feb 12, 2015



As we move forward into the the full-fledged process that is the NFL offseason, we all know that the Steelers are not known for signing the cream of the crop unrestricted free agents on the market. So without further ado, here are 10 players that could present under-the-radar value to the Steelers roster in 2015.

Rahim Moore - FS - Denver Broncos

Rahim Moore is the "other member" of the Broncos secondary, the only one not to make the Pro Bowl in 2014. The first thing you notice about this kid is his fight and drive. He almost lost his leg due to a condition called Lateral Compartment Syndrome, which is a fancy way of saying internal bleeding, but he bounced back to play a full season. Beyond that, he flourished playing in the deep safety spot, allowing T.J. Ward to freelance at strong safety. Signing Moore could allow Tomlin to switch Mike Mitchell to SS, which is where he flourished in Carolina. Perhaps Mitchell's true skill set could be unleashed as a downhill, thumping safety.

With Moore in the deep third playing ballhawk, and Shamarko Thomas playing a Tyrann Mathieu-type position on sub packages, the Steelers' secondary could transform quickly. You could even picture our secondary going more towards a Seattle Seahawks-style defense that shows Press-Zone, playing more towards the players' strengths as a group. The other key ingredient for how Rahim Moore fits in Pittsburgh would be defensive backs coach Carnell Lake. In case you didn't know, Lake was the secondary coach at UCLA when Moore intercepted 10 passes. Yes, 10! The only downfall of Moore is explosive tackling. He is a reliable tackler, but does not present himself as a real thumper.

Roy Helu Jr. - RB - Washington Redskins

Helu was one of my favorite running backs coming out of the 2011 Draft. He is a no-nonsense runner who also happens to be a tremendous pass catcher and pass protector, which is a real key point in our offense. Finding a RB who can be depended on to give Le'Veon a breather here or there is imperative, especially now that he's expected to be suspended for two games. He thrives in a one-cut, zone-blocking system where he can read his blocks, plant a foot, and explode through the opening. In terms of his pass protection, he has been ranked twice as a top 5 pass-protecting running back by Pro Football Focus.

Buster Skrine - CB - Cleveland Browns

Although he really improved this year, Skrine was heavily penalized both this year and in previous seasons - a result of his aggressive style of play. At the same time, he simply outplayed Justin Gilbert, a prospect of interest for the Steelers in last year's draft, to actually become a decent #2 corner opposite Joe Haden. The important attributes to remember about Skrine are his Speed (a 4.48 40 yard dash but was also timed in the 4.2 area), his versatility in being able to play the slot or outside, his excellent recovery speed, quick feet, and a great ability to see the ball coming and get pass deflections or interceptions (as evidenced by his 4 INTs and 18 PDs in 2014). Skrine is a very aggressive tackler who doesn't shy away from contact. The Steelers brought him in for a pre-draft visit in 2011, which is another reason to think they may give him a look.

Akeem Ayers - LB - New England Patriots

What a fall from grace. Ayers was a rising star after his rookie year in 2011 and a breakout performance in 2012, both happening under his then-head coach Mike Munchak. Then, he fell out of favor with Ken Whisenhunt while also dealing with injuries to his knees. He was finally healthy last year, working hard until his prayers were answered by a trade to the Patriots. New England unleashed Ayers in situations where he could show off his versatile skill set, stepping in while edge rusher Chandler Jones was out. He possesses a tremendous amount of pass rushing ability. Able to rush from a stand-up OLB positon, as an ILB, or with his hand on the ground as a DE, let him loose and he can pressure the QB. He isn't just a one trick pony, either. Instead, he is a very adept LB in coverage, where he also can show off his hands for interceptions or pass deflections. He'll wrap-up tackle, but is also able to lay a big hit to let you know who he is. He could thrive as a Steelers OLB, but can ultimately fit into a 3-4 or 4-3 alignment.

Jabaal Sheard - DE/OLB - Cleveland Browns

Like Ayers, Sheard is another versatile player who knows how to rush a quarterback. He has played both as a 4-3 end and a 3-4 OLB, the one constant being his violent hand usage and non-stop motor - he simply never gives up on a play. Sheard is also adept at setting the edge in run defense, and was ranked as the 3rd best run-defending edge rusher in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. He also has some history with Pittsburgh, playing his college ball with the Pittsburgh Panthers and getting a 2011 pre-draft visit.

Ahtyba Rubin - DE/NT - Cleveland Browns

Rubin is a versatile, big-boned defensive lineman. An immovable object in the run game who hustles to the ball, he also was able to produce some results in the pass rush during his time in Cleveland. He was not as productive last year, suffering from an ankle injury that sapped some of the strength out of his base. His motor is evidenced by his two seasons of recording 80+ tackles. If this big of a guy gets that many tackles, he has to possess a prowess of not only holding the point, but also being able to disengage and make a play on the ball carrier. Being able to play both DE and NT, Rubin could add to the already solid Steelers defensive line.

Karl Klug - DT - Tennessee Titans

Another draft pick from current Steelers offensive line coach Munchak, Klug is an undersized, but all-out max-effort type of player. His motor is always revving, and he shows a great amount of explosion and quickness in pass rush situations, being able to produce both sacks and quarterback pressures - as evidenced by his 7.5 sacks during his rookie season. Klug would only be a sub-package player for the Steelers, but could work well against the pass on third downs, which is where Pittsburgh has been lacking.

Davon House - CB - Green Bay Packers

House could be a tough sign, considering that Green Bay may want him back to replace Tramon Williams. He is a big (6'1") press-zone corner, who loves to be physical in both coverage and tackling. House possesses large hands and can come up with the occasional interception. He is an ascending talent who had to overcome some injury problems with his shoulder, but was finally able to progress the last 2 years with 10 passes defensed each season.

Byron Stingily - G/T - Tennessee Titans

Stingily may also be a tough sign, considering he replaced Michael Oher once he was injured. Now that Oher is released, the Titans may want to resign him. Stingily was another pick by Munchak, who obviously liked what Stingily had to offer as a developmental prospect. He possesses good fluidity for a big man (6'5"), which was evidenced by his 4.86 40 yard dash time. But he isn't lacking power either, as he had 28 reps of 225lb at the combine, and he almost assuredly has grown stronger since. Stingily could represent a upgrade over Mike Adams.

Nate Washington - WR - Tennessee Titans

One of Ben's favorite targets before he left, Washington could return to provide a leadership presence alongside Antonio Brown. He still can be a productive player, taking advantage his height (6'1"), route-running ability, decent speed, and an uncanny ability to high-point balls and make contested catches. If everything works out, Washington could become reminiscent of Jerricho Cotchery in his veteran presence and ability to step on the field in a pinch. During his first stint with the Steelers, he was a favorite player of Mike Tomlin, who praised his work ethic and effort.

There aren't the Byron Maxwells or Ndamukong Suh's on the 2015 free agent market. But if the Steelers can come away with one of more of these underrated free agents, they can come out as winners in this year's free agency window.

[URL]http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2015/2/6/7994107/10-underrated-free-agent-targets-for-steelers[/URL]

[RuthlessBurgher]

QB's (3)-Roethlisberger, Gradkowski, Jones  (it's possible they spend a late round pick on a QB to compete with Jones but there are more pressing needs)

Time running out for Steelers' third-string quarterback Jones?

By Mark Kaboly
Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015, 10:15 p.m.
Updated 8 hours ago

The Steelers used a fourth-round pick on quarterback Landry Jones not so he could be groomed to be Ben Roethlisberger's eventual replacement, but more to infuse some much-needed youth into an aging position.

At the time, it made sense.

Charlie Batch was 38, and Byron Leftwich was 32 and coming off shoulder and rib injuries.

Two years later, it's making a lot less sense.

Jones has been inactive for every game since being drafted in 2013 and hasn't advanced enough to beat out veteran Bruce Gradkowski as Roethlisberger's backup.

General manager Kevin Colbert isn't sure Jones ever will.

“Has he progressed to the point where he beat out Bruce as the No. 2? No,” Colbert said. “Maybe he will, maybe he won't. I think when you have young guys, at least they have that chance to grow.”

The Steelers have used mid-round picks before in hopes of finding a young and capable backup to Roethlisberger.

They drafted two other quarterbacks since Roethlisberger became their starter, both in the fifth round. Omar Jacobs was picked in 2006 and Dennis Dixon in 2008.

Neither worked out, and the Steelers moved on.

“If they grow, great. If they don't, then you look for others,” Colbert said.

That's not what you want to hear from a general manager who used a valuable pick on a backup quarterback when the team had gaping holes at a number of other positions.

But the Steelers aren't about to give up on Jones yet.

Gradkowski is in the final year of a three-year deal signed in 2013, and the Steelers would like Jones to be ready to take over the backup job by the end of Gradkowski's contract.

Roethlisberger has been healthy the past two years, starting every game and missing only 10 snaps, but those were the only years of his career that he played in every game.

“We wanted to get a young quarterback in the mix,” Colbert said. “It never hurts to have young depth at every position.

“After those two, Byron and Charlie, were out we put someone in between Ben and Landry. Bruce was young depth. He was 30 years old, I think, when we signed him. He was experienced, but he was young. Landry wasn't ready.”

Jones struggled with his accuracy during his rookie year. He was better during training camp and preseason this past season, but not good enough to supplant Gradkowski.

Switching systems from Oklahoma's shotgun, quick-throw offense to the Steelers' pro style has been a process.

Jones, who threw for 16,646 yards and 123 touchdowns in four years as the Sooners' quarterback, was used to throwing from the shotgun or pistol formation in college.

“It's just a lot,” Jones told Trib Total Media in the spring. “It's totally different. Speed is different. Defenses are different. It is just a lot thrown at you.”

Still, Colbert saw signs of Jones getting better last year. His preseason completion percentage went from 45 to 61 percent, but he threw for only 224 yards in three preseason games and not once led a drive that resulted in a touchdown.

“I think he got better definitely from year one to year two,” Colbert said. “He had more extended play this preseason. I thought there were signs where he did some things better than he did the year before.”

[URL]http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/7764670-74/jones-steelers-colbert#axzz3RWppZkd4[/URL]

[phillyesq]

I'm curious how many touches per game (rushing and receiving) do you think will work for Bell and allow him to produce the type of yardage he produced this year?

I'm sure you know where I'm going with this, Bell averaged 18 rushes and 5 receptions per game, that's 23 touches per game plus you have to add blitz pickup for some wear and tear, but I don't really think that 23 touches per game is an inordinate number of touches and then to produce over 2,000 yards of offense with those touches. If I were the coach, I'd have a difficult time limiting his touches to less than the workload he had this year.

Pappy

That comes out to 368 touches per year. As great of a player as Bell is, that is a lot of touches. I wouldn't want to take away a ton of work from him, but even taking away a few touches here and there with a capable backup would be helpful.

More than that is the insurance for an injury and, this year, a suspension. With the Steelers schedule, they can't really give up on 2 games - they need somebody other than Harris and Archer. And in the NFL, it is rare to see a feature back make it through an entire season unscathed. A versatile and capable backup like Helu would be great depth and a solid investment.

[RuthlessBurgher]

That comes out to 368 touches per year. As great of a player as Bell is, that is a lot of touches.

With a 2 game vacation this coming season, that would be 322 touches instead.

[papillon]

That comes out to 368 touches per year. As great of a player as Bell is, that is a lot of touches. I wouldn't want to take away a ton of work from him, but even taking away a few touches here and there with a capable backup would be helpful.

More than that is the insurance for an injury and, this year, a suspension. With the Steelers schedule, they can't really give up on 2 games - they need somebody other than Harris and Archer. And in the NFL, it is rare to see a feature back make it through an entire season unscathed. A versatile and capable backup like Helu would be great depth and a solid investment.

Well, this got me thinking, because 23 touches per game didn't seem high to me. So, I checked rushes and receptions per game for some of the top backs in history and found that while none of them reached 23 per game they were very close. So, Bell is slightly higher at this point, but its almost negligible, anyhow, here's how it stacks up for the following great RBs rushes/receptions/total per game over their careers.

Emmitt Smith - 19/2.3/21.3
Walter Payton - 20/2.6/22.6
Eric Dickerson - 20.5/2/22.5
Barry Sanders - 20/2.3/22.3
Franco Harris - 17/1.8/18.8
Jim Brown - 20/2.2/22.2
Jerome Bettis - 18/1/19
Le'Veon Bell - 18/5/23 (the highest)

I am surprised at Jerome's and Franco's average rushes per game, they accounted for a lot of offense on less touches than I thought. It seems Jerome and Franco were getting the ball all game long, anyhow, enjoy.

Pappy

[Rara]

10 underrated free agents that should be on the Steelers' radar

By rcountryman99 on Feb 12, 2015



As we move forward into the the full-fledged process that is the NFL offseason, we all know that the Steelers are not known for signing the cream of the crop unrestricted free agents on the market. So without further ado, here are 10 players that could present under-the-radar value to the Steelers roster in 2015.

Rahim Moore - FS - Denver Broncos

Rahim Moore is the "other member" of the Broncos secondary, the only one not to make the Pro Bowl in 2014. The first thing you notice about this kid is his fight and drive. He almost lost his leg due to a condition called Lateral Compartment Syndrome, which is a fancy way of saying internal bleeding, but he bounced back to play a full season. Beyond that, he flourished playing in the deep safety spot, allowing T.J. Ward to freelance at strong safety. Signing Moore could allow Tomlin to switch Mike Mitchell to SS, which is where he flourished in Carolina. Perhaps Mitchell's true skill set could be unleashed as a downhill, thumping safety.

With Moore in the deep third playing ballhawk, and Shamarko Thomas playing a Tyrann Mathieu-type position on sub packages, the Steelers' secondary could transform quickly. You could even picture our secondary going more towards a Seattle Seahawks-style defense that shows Press-Zone, playing more towards the players' strengths as a group. The other key ingredient for how Rahim Moore fits in Pittsburgh would be defensive backs coach Carnell Lake. In case you didn't know, Lake was the secondary coach at UCLA when Moore intercepted 10 passes. Yes, 10! The only downfall of Moore is explosive tackling. He is a reliable tackler, but does not present himself as a real thumper.

Roy Helu Jr. - RB - Washington Redskins

Helu was one of my favorite running backs coming out of the 2011 Draft. He is a no-nonsense runner who also happens to be a tremendous pass catcher and pass protector, which is a real key point in our offense. Finding a RB who can be depended on to give Le'Veon a breather here or there is imperative, especially now that he's expected to be suspended for two games. He thrives in a one-cut, zone-blocking system where he can read his blocks, plant a foot, and explode through the opening. In terms of his pass protection, he has been ranked twice as a top 5 pass-protecting running back by Pro Football Focus.

Buster Skrine - CB - Cleveland Browns

Although he really improved this year, Skrine was heavily penalized both this year and in previous seasons - a result of his aggressive style of play. At the same time, he simply outplayed Justin Gilbert, a prospect of interest for the Steelers in last year's draft, to actually become a decent #2 corner opposite Joe Haden. The important attributes to remember about Skrine are his Speed (a 4.48 40 yard dash but was also timed in the 4.2 area), his versatility in being able to play the slot or outside, his excellent recovery speed, quick feet, and a great ability to see the ball coming and get pass deflections or interceptions (as evidenced by his 4 INTs and 18 PDs in 2014). Skrine is a very aggressive tackler who doesn't shy away from contact. The Steelers brought him in for a pre-draft visit in 2011, which is another reason to think they may give him a look.

Akeem Ayers - LB - New England Patriots

What a fall from grace. Ayers was a rising star after his rookie year in 2011 and a breakout performance in 2012, both happening under his then-head coach Mike Munchak. Then, he fell out of favor with Ken Whisenhunt while also dealing with injuries to his knees. He was finally healthy last year, working hard until his prayers were answered by a trade to the Patriots. New England unleashed Ayers in situations where he could show off his versatile skill set, stepping in while edge rusher Chandler Jones was out. He possesses a tremendous amount of pass rushing ability. Able to rush from a stand-up OLB positon, as an ILB, or with his hand on the ground as a DE, let him loose and he can pressure the QB. He isn't just a one trick pony, either. Instead, he is a very adept LB in coverage, where he also can show off his hands for interceptions or pass deflections. He'll wrap-up tackle, but is also able to lay a big hit to let you know who he is. He could thrive as a Steelers OLB, but can ultimately fit into a 3-4 or 4-3 alignment.

Jabaal Sheard - DE/OLB - Cleveland Browns

Like Ayers, Sheard is another versatile player who knows how to rush a quarterback. He has played both as a 4-3 end and a 3-4 OLB, the one constant being his violent hand usage and non-stop motor - he simply never gives up on a play. Sheard is also adept at setting the edge in run defense, and was ranked as the 3rd best run-defending edge rusher in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. He also has some history with Pittsburgh, playing his college ball with the Pittsburgh Panthers and getting a 2011 pre-draft visit.

Ahtyba Rubin - DE/NT - Cleveland Browns

Rubin is a versatile, big-boned defensive lineman. An immovable object in the run game who hustles to the ball, he also was able to produce some results in the pass rush during his time in Cleveland. He was not as productive last year, suffering from an ankle injury that sapped some of the strength out of his base. His motor is evidenced by his two seasons of recording 80+ tackles. If this big of a guy gets that many tackles, he has to possess a prowess of not only holding the point, but also being able to disengage and make a play on the ball carrier. Being able to play both DE and NT, Rubin could add to the already solid Steelers defensive line.

Karl Klug - DT - Tennessee Titans

Another draft pick from current Steelers offensive line coach Munchak, Klug is an undersized, but all-out max-effort type of player. His motor is always revving, and he shows a great amount of explosion and quickness in pass rush situations, being able to produce both sacks and quarterback pressures - as evidenced by his 7.5 sacks during his rookie season. Klug would only be a sub-package player for the Steelers, but could work well against the pass on third downs, which is where Pittsburgh has been lacking.

Davon House - CB - Green Bay Packers

House could be a tough sign, considering that Green Bay may want him back to replace Tramon Williams. He is a big (6'1") press-zone corner, who loves to be physical in both coverage and tackling. House possesses large hands and can come up with the occasional interception. He is an ascending talent who had to overcome some injury problems with his shoulder, but was finally able to progress the last 2 years with 10 passes defensed each season.

Byron Stingily - G/T - Tennessee Titans

Stingily may also be a tough sign, considering he replaced Michael Oher once he was injured. Now that Oher is released, the Titans may want to resign him. Stingily was another pick by Munchak, who obviously liked what Stingily had to offer as a developmental prospect. He possesses good fluidity for a big man (6'5"), which was evidenced by his 4.86 40 yard dash time. But he isn't lacking power either, as he had 28 reps of 225lb at the combine, and he almost assuredly has grown stronger since. Stingily could represent a upgrade over Mike Adams.

Nate Washington - WR - Tennessee Titans

One of Ben's favorite targets before he left, Washington could return to provide a leadership presence alongside Antonio Brown. He still can be a productive player, taking advantage his height (6'1"), route-running ability, decent speed, and an uncanny ability to high-point balls and make contested catches. If everything works out, Washington could become reminiscent of Jerricho Cotchery in his veteran presence and ability to step on the field in a pinch. During his first stint with the Steelers, he was a favorite player of Mike Tomlin, who praised his work ethic and effort.

There aren't the Byron Maxwells or Ndamukong Suh's on the 2015 free agent market. But if the Steelers can come away with one of more of these underrated free agents, they can come out as winners in this year's free agency window.

[URL]http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2015/2/6/7994107/10-underrated-free-agent-targets-for-steelers[/URL]

I do like a few of these potential free agent (Already liked Sheard, House)...but Skrine and Moore are really interesting and could be had for cheap.