Top Need Heading into the Offseason

[SteelerMaine83]

This. A 35 yr old NT coming off an ankle break is not likely to be a 17 game player.

There are a lot of DL who play a long time. He was playing the best football of his career these past few years. If Tuitt returns next year, Alualu only needs play about 33% of the snaps. Montravius Adams and the youngster, Carlos Davis, may prove to be adequate depth or even starter quality players when given the chance with Tuitt next to them. The intriguing thing about Adams is may be a good fit for what the Steelers ask a NT to do, and he may be a late bloomer like Alualu.

While the temptation to draft a DL in the first is there (Leal or Davis), it seems that if Alualu and Tuitt come back, that would be a luxury, and where do you put them when you only keep 5-6 DL on the 53? Heyward, Alualu, Tuitt, Wormley, Davis and Loudermilk (and maybe Adams)? Those 2 return to the DL next year, I just don't see us having room, to be honest.

[SteelerMaine83]

I agree with this 100%. I don't know how an argument can be made that the O-line is not the highest priority. It needs to be addressed via the top pick and free agency. My eyeballs tell me this is one of the worst offensive lines in Steeler history. Truly offensive.

Truly offensive, true.

I'm with you, the OL is the top priority. There are 5 OL in the 1st round this year that will start right away--Neal, Green, Ekwonu, Linderbaum and Cross. Neal will be gone but the other 4 may be available when we pick. I would argue that if we take an OG (Green or Ekwonu), we move Dotson over to his natural RG position and start them at LG. If we take Cross, we start him at LT and move Moore in to LG, where he may be better suited in the pros. As for Linderbaum, he is a master technician but appears a bit light in the pants. I would prefer the Steelers pick an OC/OG guy like Patterson, Brown, Ford a little later (rounds 3-4) to either supplant Green if he doesn't improve or become the top IOL swingman. This should at least make us a much stouter running team, which I think needs to be our goal for the near future.

[WindyCitySteel]

Especially if Tuitt doesn't return.

Cam is getting older and will eventually decline.

I'd trade Cam for as much as they can possibly get. They'll never win with him, might as well get some pieces for the future.

[WindyCitySteel]

Just as another reason for Humphrey, had they taken him, the Steelers would have been able to draft the #1 RB and the #1 C in the draft. That doesn't happen very often where you can draft the #1 prospects at two different positions.

I'm not sure Harris is one of the top three backs in this draft. He has no second gear. I'd take Williams, Carter, and Mitchell over him right now.

[Ernie]

I'm not sure Harris is one of the top three backs in this draft. He has no second gear. I'd take Williams, Carter, and Mitchell over him right now.

I'd like to see the guys you mentioned.. trying to run behind our OL

[WindyCitySteel]

I'd like to see the guys you mentioned.. trying to run behind our OL

Me, too. How well do you think the Jets block for Carter? Even when Najee has had some room, he has no burst and it maxes out at 10-ish yards.

I guarantee that Mason Rudolph wouldn't have the long run if we had one of those other guys.

[Ernie]

Me, too. How well do you think the Jets block for Carter? Even when Najee has had some room, he has no burst and it maxes out at 10-ish yards.

I guarantee that Mason Rudolph wouldn't have the long run if we had one of those other guys.

I'd say the Jets OL run blocks better than our OL

[Oviedo]

I'd trade Cam for as much as they can possibly get. They'll never win with him, might as well get some pieces for the future.

You don't trade a Steelers great. To even suggest that is nuts.

[Joel Buchsbaum]

#1: Head Coach
#2: OC
#3: OL
#4: QB
#5: ILB

Don't forget DL, but yes your top 4 needs are spot on

[WindyCitySteel]

You don't trade a Steelers great. To even suggest that is nuts.

Pats do it all the time. You'd be doing Cam a solid - get him the ring he deserves. He'll never get it here.

Win win.

[hawaiiansteel]

I'd like to see the guys you mentioned.. trying to run behind our OL

yup, some guys just don't think about things like that when they post.

[WindyCitySteel]

yup, some guys just don't think about things like that when they post.

YAC per attempt - Najee at 35th. Conner 16th. Five rookies ahead of him - Carter, Mitchell, Williams, Stevenson, Hubbard. Two rookies top five, three top eight.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2021/rushing_advanced.htm

[Ernie]

YAC per attempt - Najee at 35th. Conner 16th. Five rookies ahead of him - Carter, Mitchell, Williams, Stevenson, Hubbard. Two rookies top five, three top eight.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2021/rushing_advanced.htm

I'm not sure how anyone can look at this OLine and throw shade at Najee. He is absolutely the LEAST of our worries on offense.

[WindyCitySteel]

I'm not sure how anyone can look at this OLine and throw shade at Najee. He is absolutely the LEAST of our worries on offense.

It's fact, not shade. And if you wish to operate under the assumption that he *was* the best back in the draft, then this season is a perfect example of the value of the position and why you never pick one in the first round, especially one who doesn't have the speed to get to the edge or run farther than 25-30 yards without getting caught.

The Chiefs rebuilt their OL and ran on the Steelers with two UDFAs at RB in the 2nd half.

[feltdizz]

Pats do it all the time. You'd be doing Cam a solid - get him the ring he deserves. He'll never get it here.

Win win.

Where is he going that he is guaranteed to get a ring? Does he even want to go somewhere else?