Our soft middle remains

[Joel Buchsbaum]

First off, the DL, outside of Hewyard is too easily pushed around. Will the 35 year old Alualu hold up, and what about the other end? Two question marks for the start of our defense on the line. Eyes will be on rookie Leal. He needs to deliver.

The inside linebackers, who are without a doubt the weakest collection I've seen on the Steelers. We have Jacksonville's cast off, Miles Jack. He appears to be better than the last cast off form Jacksonville, but that's all I can say about him except Jacksonville cut him. Bush remains a bad combination of key and diagnose, and lacks the physicality to shed locks and make tackles where they should be made. Robinson is built for the job and can move...I'm really hopeing he makes the team. He's a mobile tank who needs to learn his trade but has the tools. Naturally strong so he should be able to shed blocks

And then there is Edmunds our in the box safety who's average at what he does. The fact the Edmunds and Bush did not get their contact extended tells me all I need to know. Gone is Tuitt who was good vs the run.

These are the men to stop the run. Very suspect as our run last year indicates. Not exactly a steel curtain. Next year draft and offseason must address the run defense. We need to find THREE players..A NT, an ILB and a better win the box safety.

[Buzz]

With what we're paying for our D, you'd think all the weak spots would be shored up

[Joel Buchsbaum]

With what we're paying for our D, you'd think all the weak spots would be shored up

We didn't plan for Tuitt retiring or Bush and Edmunds to be draft disappointments. Ugh. We spent a lot of draft capital on Bush. Edmunds to me was over-drafted. I had a 3rd round grade on him, And we shall see with the expensive Jack brings to the table. But you're right we paid a lot for this run D. ( Bush - two #1's and a 3rd, Edmunds = a 1st ) Three first round picks and a 3rd round pick! And a hefty free agency contact to bring in Jack. Yet the weak spots remain. That's why our deep safety, not the ILB or in the box safety led the team in tackles by good margin.

[whisper]

With what we're paying for our D, you'd think all the weak spots would be shored up

And yet, they clearly are not. Below avg. DL, below avg. ILBs and probably below avg. CBs.

[Flasteel]

From what I am reading, the best hope to solidify the DE spot is going to be Loudermilk. None of us are there to see him each day, but perhaps his growth is one reason the team is pumping the brakes on chasing down another DE in the wake of Tuitt's retirement? Apparently, he has put on 20-25 lbs of "grown man weight" and has impressed.

We're going to need a player like Loudermilk to step up and get far better play from both inside backers than the last season they put on film. None of these criticisms of Bush were there prior to the injury, so there is a chance he can rebound. I'm in the camp of I'll believe it when I see it, but the legitimate possibility is nonetheless there. The early reports on Jack seem to be positive, but we aren't going to know Jack about Jack until Jack straps 'em on and the hitting begins.

I still say we need to bring in some insurance along the D-line to keep our inside backers as clean as possible. Someone who is versatile enough to rotate between end and nose and is a proven block-eating run-stuffer. In my opinion, Suh fits the bill perfectly and also offers significant pass rush-capability. Who cares about his age? He's remarkably durable and still playing at a very high level - and the team likely only needs one year of help. But just like with Loudermilk, perhaps Adams or Davis, or some other player is impressing the coaches to the point where they are confident in riding with the players they have?

Personally, I'd rather have the proven commodity, just in case. We need to do something more than cross our fingers and hope the same players who got run over last year are going to be better.

[Iron City Inc.]

So looking at us as a playoff team a year ago we have taken some steps back. Ben gone. Tuitt gone. JuJu n Washington gone. Haden going going gone.
Yes we added some nice pieces in the off season at corner n oline n perhaps ilb. However this is a new era now. We have a relatively young core but imho we are at least 1 draft away and more likely 2 drafts away from being real good.
We'll need to do a much better job in who we draft and how to work the draft to accumulate draft capital. New man on the job OK will need to show he can work it in this modern era of moving around the draft board. He's got some pressure on him because Colbert did it well old schooling it. But now it's time to play it better if we're going to be heading back to the playoffs as a serious contender on a regular basis.
A move we really need to make is trade MR and get what we can a 5th or 6th. That will allow for 2 men to get the reps at camp n the pre-season. Keep the rookie as the 3rd. Signing a vet rb wouldn't hurt as it will keep the treads on the Harris tires. I do not want him burned out before we become serious contenders.

[Steel Maniac]

We definitely need to add to the D-line. Not a matter of “if”… a matter of when.

[hawaiiansteel]

We definitely need to add to the D-line. Not a matter of “if”… a matter of when.

wow, what a great observation there Steel Womaniac.

nothing gets past you

[Flasteel]

wow, what a great observation there Steel Womaniac.

nothing gets past you

Dude...c'mon. We don't need unprovoked stuff like that, regardless of anyone's history. Let's be better than this as a group.

[hawaiiansteel]

Dude...c'mon. We don't need unprovoked stuff like that, regardless of anyone's history. Let's be better than this as a group.

hawaiiansoft

it was provoked.

[Flasteel]

it was provoked.

Obviously in another thread. You're a core poster and grown-ass man, so I won't tell you how to conduct your business. Plus, I understand - at least somewhat - the history here. But maybe we should all try to restrict the fire to the battles where they are born and not drag them from thread to thread.

Not trying to be preachy or impede your right to battle douchebaggery on a global scale. Just trying to help maintain decorum that I know we all welcome.

[hawaiiansteel]

Obviously in another thread. You're a core poster and grown-ass man, so I won't tell you how to conduct your business. Plus, I understand - at least somewhat - the history here. But maybe we should all try to restrict the fire to the battles where they are born and not drag them from thread to thread.

Not trying to be preachy or impede your right to battle douchebaggery on a global scale. Just trying to help maintain decorum that I know we all welcome.

I never fire the first shot.

but if someone decides to start name calling I will respond accordingly.

[Mr.wizard]

So looking at us as a playoff team a year ago we have taken some steps back. Ben gone. Tuitt gone. JuJu n Washington gone. Haden going going gone.
Yes we added some nice pieces in the off season at corner n oline n perhaps ilb. However this is a new era now. We have a relatively young core but imho we are at least 1 draft away and more likely 2 drafts away from being real good.
We'll need to do a much better job in who we draft and how to work the draft to accumulate draft capital. New man on the job OK will need to show he can work it in this modern era of moving around the draft board. He's got some pressure on him because Colbert did it well old schooling it. But now it's time to play it better if we're going to be heading back to the playoffs as a serious contender on a regular basis.
A move we really need to make is trade MR and get what we can a 5th or 6th. That will allow for 2 men to get the reps at camp n the pre-season. Keep the rookie as the 3rd. Signing a vet rb wouldn't hurt as it will keep the treads on the Harris tires. I do not want him burned out before we become serious contenders.

When comparing the team to last year, I'm not sure you could count losing Ben and Tuitt as steps back. Ben was not good and Tuitt didn't even play. Also JuJu missed a bunch and Washington also didn't really play.

[whisper]

From what I am reading, the best hope to solidify the DE spot is going to be Loudermilk. None of us are there to see him each day, but perhaps his growth is one reason the team is pumping the brakes on chasing down another DE in the wake of Tuitt's retirement? Apparently, he has put on 20-25 lbs of "grown man weight" and has impressed.

We're going to need a player like Loudermilk to step up and get far better play from both inside backers than the last season they put on film. None of these criticisms of Bush were there prior to the injury, so there is a chance he can rebound. I'm in the camp of I'll believe it when I see it, but the legitimate possibility is nonetheless there. The early reports on Jack seem to be positive, but we aren't going to know Jack about Jack until Jack straps 'em on and the hitting begins.

I still say we need to bring in some insurance along the D-line to keep our inside backers as clean as possible. Someone who is versatile enough to rotate between end and nose and is a proven block-eating run-stuffer. In my opinion, Suh fits the bill perfectly and also offers significant pass rush-capability. Who cares about his age? He's remarkably durable and still playing at a very high level - and the team likely only needs one year of help. But just like with Loudermilk, perhaps Adams or Davis, or some other player is impressing the coaches to the point where they are confident in riding with the players they have?

Personally, I'd rather have the proven commodity, just in case. We need to do something more than cross our fingers and hope the same players who got run over last year are going to be better.

I don't buy any players who "haven't done it before" can be "impressing" coaches enough to matter, being that everything up to this point is sans pads, playing football "in shorts." Just adding weight without seeing the additional weight in action would not be enough to convince coaches someone could play. And depending on a 35-year-old vet, coming off a major injury, seems unwise. And no ILBs look good without beef in the DL to keep OGs off them. Even Ray Lewis took a dip without beef in front of him. We desperately need a NT on the roster, but they continue to refuse to add anyone fitting the description. It will be an error that will continue to haunt us.

[Oviedo]

I never fire the first shot.

but if someone decides to start name calling I will respond accordingly.

Hawaii...not need to respond. Just recognize who the nonsensical fools are and don't take the bait. A few come here to just to create chaos because they really hate the team because of the head coach and hope for failure to advance their arguments.