Art II: Improving Steelers' pass rush is priority

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

The Rats' free agency situation is pretty rough...

Pernell McPhee, Torrey Smith, Owen Daniels and Justin Forsett to name just four...

Add to that the idea that there are no good places to cut. They could cut Jimmy Smith (save $6.898M), but that creates a big hole. Canty ($2.66M), punter Sam Koch ($2.5M) are possible but Canty is too good for that savings, and $2M+ doesn't give you nearly enough to make a big difference. Their cap situation is tough.

[Oviedo]

Re-signing Worilds does not improve the pass rush. Re-signing Worilds gives you more of the same mediocre pass rush. If you REALLY want to improve your pass rush, then go all in and offer a huge deal to unrestricted free agent Justin Houston. We never go after top-dollar free agents, but rarely if ever does a premium player become available which fits our biggest weakness and would fit in so perfectly in our defense. Hopefully Lawrence Timmons gave his Pro Bowl teammate Houston a nice sales pitch last week.

Resigning Worilds may not lead to a significant increase in sacks, but resigning him may prevent a significant decrease in sacks. He is still the best pass rushing LB on the team and we need someone doing something.

I'd be all in on signing Houston, but IMO that is a fantasy.

[Shawn]

Resigning Worilds may not lead to a significant increase in sacks, but resigning him may prevent a significant decrease in sacks. He is still the best pass rushing LB on the team and we need someone doing something.

I'd be all in on signing Houston, but IMO that is a fantasy.

Solid strategy for a mediocre team who wants to remain mediocre.

[Oviedo]

Solid strategy for a mediocre team who wants to remain mediocre.

No, the recipe for mediocrity is just "waiting and hoping" for Jarvis Jones to finally do something. Worilds has at least proven he can be good if not great.

[Slapstick]

No, the recipe for mediocrity is just "waiting and hoping" for Jarvis Jones to finally do something. Worilds has at least proven he can be good if not great.

And it took Worilds 4 years to do that...give Jones the same consideration...

[feltdizz]

And it took Worilds 4 years to do that...give Jones the same consideration...

lol... exactly.

[NJ-STEELER]

The Rats' free agency situation is pretty rough...

Pernell McPhee, Torrey Smith, Owen Daniels and Justin Forsett to name just four...

forsett the one who contributed the most for them and IMO he's just another guy. they plugged in some others and did OK too. I dont think they'll give him big money

I think mcphee will go to the highest bidder

[Slapstick]

Torrey Smith is an interesting case for the Ravens...he's not a guy like AB who catches everything, but he did draw 12 PI penalties totaling 250+ yards...

How much is that deep speed worth?

[Shoe]

Re-signing Worilds does not improve the pass rush. Re-signing Worilds gives you more of the same mediocre pass rush. If you REALLY want to improve your pass rush, then go all in and offer a huge deal to unrestricted free agent Justin Houston. We never go after top-dollar free agents, but rarely if ever does a premium player become available which fits our biggest weakness and would fit in so perfectly in our defense. Hopefully Lawrence Timmons gave his Pro Bowl teammate Houston a nice sales pitch last week.

You don't win championships, paying top-of-the-market prices on free agents.
Our QB by himself, is going to eat up so much of our cap space (paying going rate), that we have to make even less mistakes paying the rest of the team. Signing Houston will never happen, nor should it.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I think Houston, given the Steelers history in free agency, is unrealistic.

While that would be sweet, I'm afraid it's a pipe dream. They could always prove me wrong, though...

After giving it a lot of thought, I would be pleased if they signed Pernell McPhee away from the Ratbirds...having a guy who can rush the passer and who could play at least 6 positions out of the front 7 would also be a way to free up some rushers...

I have mentioned in another thread somewhere that I preferred Pernell McPhee to Jabaal Sheard, who others were touting as a possibility.

[Oviedo]

I have mentioned in another thread somewhere that I preferred Pernell McPhee to Jabaal Sheard, who others were touting as a possibility.

I agree. Sheard's performance has been less every year in the league