FA ramblings and thoughts

[papillon]

The Steelers should hang their hat at TE on their quarterback, Ben is good enough to make an adequate TE into a threat now and then. With the current players on offense losing Heath's 2015 production shouldn't have that significant of a downturn for the offense. Heath was a security blanket and an extra lineman, I just don't see using a prime pick for a TE when the defense is the unit that needs to improve for the Steelers to really contend for the Super Bowl for the next few years. Had they beat the Broncos, I just don't have any faith that the defense has figured out a way to stop Tom Brady and that's really what they need to do to get to the Super Bowl. Everything else is in place as far as I can tell.

Pappy

[steeler_george]

The Steelers should hang their hat at TE on their quarterback, Ben is good enough to make an adequate TE into a threat now and then. With the current players on offense losing Heath's 2015 production shouldn't have that significant of a downturn for the offense. Heath was a security blanket and an extra lineman, I just don't see using a prime pick for a TE when the defense is the unit that needs to improve for the Steelers to really contend for the Super Bowl for the next few years. Had they beat the Broncos, I just don't have any faith that the defense has figured out a way to stop Tom Brady and that's really what they need to do to get to the Super Bowl. Everything else is in place as far as I can tell.

Pappy

Hey Pap, great post about Ben and our O!


I think your right , we will be fine with JJ and maybe a draft pick in hooper or verneett.


After combine, I am imppressed with :

OT Spriggs from Ind
OG Garnett and Whitehair

ILB Lee... could he be the dark horse, Timmons replacement ( his he a cap casualty this year?)... Shazier and Lee how does that speed sound?
OLB spence
DT Nkemdiche

[RuthlessBurgher]

Hey Pap, great post about Ben and our O!


I think your right , we will be fine with JJ and maybe a draft pick in hooper or verneett.


After combine, I am imppressed with :

OT Spriggs from Ind
OG Garnett and Whitehair

ILB Lee... could he be the dark horse, Timmons replacement ( his he a cap casualty this year?)... Shazier and Lee how does that speed sound?
OLB spence
DT Nkemdiche

I think Hooper and Vannett are similar players to James. If we draft one of them, then it would be a TE1a and TE1b situation. I think Henry is appreciably better. If we drafted him, he'd be with James in a TE1a and TE1b situation as a rookie, but after that, Henry would take the Heath role and James would take the Spaeth role moving forward.

I see Spriggs coming off the board very early in the 2nd round like fellow Hoosier o-lineman Rodger Saffold a few years ago. There are a lot of teams at the top of the draft with a need at tackle (TEN, SD, BAL, etc.) but they won't all take one in the first...if one takes Tunsil and another takes Stanley, there won't be a reach for Conklin or Decker into the top 10...a top 10 team will just wait for their next pick in early round 2 and get Spriggs.

I really like both Whitehair and Garnett. Either would be an excellent day two pick for us.

I think after Lee blew up the combine and Jaylon Smith's medical is scaring teams off, Lee will rise up to a similar level to where we took fellow Buckeye LB Shazier and won't be available down at #25 anyway. I think we sign Timmons to a 3 year extension that greatly reduced the bloated cap number he has now as a result of multiple restructurings.

Two players I really DON'T want that you mentioned are Spence and Nkemdiche. If you get busted for pot once, I can deal with that...these are college kids after all. But if you have such a problem with Ecstacy that you get thrown off your original college team...or if you crash out of a hotel window and blame it solely on alcohol instead of paranoia inducing synthetic marijuana that was found in that hotel room...I'm taking a hard pass. Reports are that neither player impressed during Combine interviews, and that doesn't surprise me whatsoever.

[steeler_george]

I think Hooper and Vannett are similar players to James. If we draft one of them, then it would be a TE1a and TE1b situation. I think Henry is appreciably better. If we drafted him, he'd be with James in a TE1a and TE1b situation as a rookie, but after that, Henry would take the Heath role and James would take the Spaeth role moving forward.

I see Spriggs coming off the board very early in the 2nd round like fellow Hoosier o-lineman Rodger Saffold a few years ago. There are a lot of teams at the top of the draft with a need at tackle (TEN, SD, BAL, etc.) but they won't all take one in the first...if one takes Tunsil and another takes Stanley, there won't be a reach for Conklin or Decker into the top 10...a top 10 team will just wait for their next pick in early round 2 and get Spriggs.

I really like both Whitehair and Garnett. Either would be an excellent day two pick for us.

I think after Lee blew up the combine and Jaylon Smith's medical is scaring teams off, Lee will rise up to a similar level to where we took fellow Buckeye LB Shazier and won't be available down at #25 anyway. I think we sign Timmons to a 3 year extension that greatly reduced the bloated cap number he has now as a result of multiple restructurings.

Two players I really DON'T want that you mentioned are Spence and Nkemdiche. If you get busted for pot once, I can deal with that...these are college kids after all. But if you have such a problem with Ecstacy that you get thrown off your original college team...or if you crash out of a hotel window and blame it solely on alcohol instead of paranoia inducing synthetic marijuana that was found in that hotel room...I'm taking a hard pass. Reports are that neither player impressed during Combine interviews, and that doesn't surprise me whatsoever.

It is a real shame, someone who has the talent and wastes it .... I don't want anything to do with either, but their tape and combine looks great!

[Slapstick]

It looks like Kraig Urbik is available...

[SS Laser]

[QUOTE=papillon;667364]The Steelers should hang their hat at TE on their quarterback, Ben is good enough to make an adequate TE into a threat now and then. With the current players on offense losing Heath's 2015 production shouldn't have that significant of a downturn for the offense. Heath was a security blanket and an extra lineman, I just don't see using a prime pick for a TE when the defense is the unit that needs to improve for the Steelers to really contend for the Super Bowl for the next few years. Had they beat the Broncos, I just don't have any faith that the defense has figured out a way to stop Tom Brady and that's really what they need to do to get to the Super Bowl. Everything else is in place as far as I can tell.

4 man front putting massive push up middle at him should really help. So draft a stud Dline men or 2 and the chances get much better at beating sissy boy!

[Captain Lemming]

It looks like Kraig Urbik is available...

Let me add....
We can simultaneously LET FOSTER WALK and sign Urbik and fix THE ONE MISTAKE that has kept us from being a DYNASTY that would make us forget the 70 Steelers.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Roster Recap: Ahead of free agency
Posted Mar 6, 2016


Teresa Varley
Steelers.com


The latest Steelers offseason roster moves before free agency kicks in.


As the offseason has rolled along, it seems that the Steelers roster has taken on a new look continuously, and the goal here it to make sure you didn’t miss out on any of it.



While things were quiet this week, we all easily remember a few weeks ago when the most notable change to the roster was the retirement of tight end Heath Miller after 11 seasons.


Other recent comings and goings include signing three players, releasing four and keeping around a long-time veteran.


Added on were long snapper Matt Dooley, defensive tackle Lavon Hooks and defensive end Roy Philon.


Dookley, who played at Indiana University, had a tryout with the team last year during rookie minicamp.


Hooks was with the Green Bay Packers in training camp in 2015, but was released prior to the start of the season and didn’t play last year.


Philon was with the Steelers in training camp in 2014 and played in four preseason games. He has also spent time with the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions.


The Steelers released tight end Rob Blanchflower, guard Micah Hatchie and offensive tackles Kelvin Palmer and Mitchell Van Dyk.


The team also re-signed long-snapper Greg Warren to a one-year contract. Warren, who originally signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2005, has played in 165 regular season games and 12 postseason games.


The Steelers previously re-signed cornerback Ross Cockrell, center/guard Chris Hubbard, and fullback Roosevelt Nix to one-year extensions.


Below is a look at other players the Steelers signed this offseason.


Wide receiver Issac Blakeney: Blakeney, who played at Duke, was originally signed by the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2015. Blakeney was waived before the start of the regular season, and was signed to the Washington Redskins practice squad, but was injured and eventually released.


Safety Jordan Dangerfield: Was on the Steelers practice squad in 2015.


Offensive tackle Matt Feiler: Was on the Steelers practice squad in 2015.


Center/guard B.J. Finney: Was on the Steelers practice squad in 2015.


Defensive back Isaiah Frey: Was on the Steelers practice squad in 2015.


Cornerback Montell Garner: Garner signed with the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2015. Garner was released before the start of the season.


Tight end Xavier Grimble: Was on the Steelers practice squad in 2015.


Free safety Jacob Hagen: Spent time on St. Louis Rams practice squad in 2015, but was later released from it.


Kicker Ty Long: Signed with the Washington Redskins as an undrafted free agent, but was waived before the season started.


Defensive end Caushaud Lyons: Was on the Steelers practice squad in 2015.


Offensive tackle Brian Mihalik: Drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round last year. Was released from the Eagles practice squad on Sept. 16.


Wide receiver Levi Norwood: Norwood originally signed with the Chicago Bears as a rookie free agent in 2015, but was waived before the season started and was out of football all season. Norwood was a return specialist at Baylor where he earned All-Big 12 honorable mention two straight seasons (2013-14).


Wide receiver Tobais Palmer: Palmer has bounced around since first signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2013. He spent time on the Jaguars and San Diego Chargers practice squad. He was also with the New Orleans Saints and Buffalo Bills, but released by the Bills before the start of the 2015 season.


Running back Rajion Neal: Was on the Steelers practice squad in 2015.


Receiver Shakim Phillips: Was on the Steelers practice squad in 2015.


Running back Daryl Richardson: Drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round in 2012. Rushed for 690 yards and added 284 receiving yards in two seasons. Waived by the Rams in May, 2014. Claimed off waivers by the New York Jets and made their practice squad. Spent time on the Houston Texans practice squad and the Cleveland Browns roster in 2015.


Cornerback Al-hajj Shabazz: Shabazz signed with the Indianapolis Colts as a rookie free agent in 2015, but was released before he went to training camp. Shabazz signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in July, 2015, but was released before the season started.


Running back Abou Toure: Was on the Steelers practice squad in 2015.


Quarterback Dustin Vaughan: Signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2015. Made the roster as the third quarterback. Was released by the Cowboys before the 2015 season. Spent a portion of the 2015 season on the Buffalo Bills practice squad.


Safety Ray Vinopal: Played at the University of Pittsburgh and was released by the Dallas Cowboys prior to 2015 season.

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