nice read Free agency

[calmkiller]

Re: nice read Free agency

Secure the following players this offseason=

Harrison, Starks, Ward, Clark, Keisel, Miller, Reed.... anybody else can say bu-bye.

I agree with everyone except Starks. Let that bum go. I think I would try and Trade Hampton now. Let Hoke be the starter and find a young DT in the draft. Hines Ward will retire a Steeler. No argument. Get it done.

[Oviedo]

Re: nice read Free agency

So many of you guys are totally unrealistic about the Starks situation. It doesn't matter if you think what he signed for last year was too much because the reality was that signing may have saved our season and won the Super Bowl. Starks gave up the fewest number of sacks on the OL playing the most demanding position on the OL. Is there a problem with that? If so, do you ever watch games because the problems on the OL were Kemo, Stapleton and Colon not Starks.

Starks is as much as a must sign as any player on the team. There is no Plan B without him. All indications are that he is a "good team guy." The Steelers value that. You can dream all you want about signing FA Left Tackles but it won't happen. It's Max or nothing and nothing gets Ben killed next year.

[papillon]

Re: nice read Free agency

So many of you guys are totally unrealistic about the Starks situation. It doesn't matter if you think what he signed for last year was too much because the reality was that signing may have saved our season and won the Super Bowl. Starks gave up the fewest number of sacks on the OL playing the most demanding position on the OL. Is there a problem with that? If so, do you ever watch games because the problems on the OL were Kemo, Stapleton and Colon not Starks.

Starks is as much as a must sign as any player on the team. There is no Plan B without him. All indications are that he is a "good team guy." The Steelers value that. You can dream all you want about signing FA Left Tackles but it won't happen. It's Max or nothing and nothing gets Ben killed next year.

I'm not sure why the hate for Starks. My guess is because we're discrediting the offensive line and he's part of it, so, he must take some blame as well. I'm sure Ben would like to see him back, even though that's his blind side, Ben does well escaping from outside pass rushers. It's the immediate pressure up the middle from a blown assignment that doesn't allow Ben to get out of the pocket.

That being said, Kemo, Hartwig and Stapleton need to be reevaluated this off season. The Steelers could probably live with Colon again as well. The interior guys are the ones that seemed to not get push on the goal line and missed assignments.

Pappy

[Oviedo]

Re: nice read Free agency

So many of you guys are totally unrealistic about the Starks situation. It doesn't matter if you think what he signed for last year was too much because the reality was that signing may have saved our season and won the Super Bowl. Starks gave up the fewest number of sacks on the OL playing the most demanding position on the OL. Is there a problem with that? If so, do you ever watch games because the problems on the OL were Kemo, Stapleton and Colon not Starks.

Starks is as much as a must sign as any player on the team. There is no Plan B without him. All indications are that he is a "good team guy." The Steelers value that. You can dream all you want about signing FA Left Tackles but it won't happen. It's Max or nothing and nothing gets Ben killed next year.

I'm not sure why the hate for Starks. My guess is because we're discrediting the offensive line and he's part of it, so, he must take some blame as well. I'm sure Ben would like to see him back, even though that's his blind side, Ben does well escaping from outside pass rushers. It's the immediate pressure up the middle from a blown assignment that doesn't allow Ben to get out of the pocket.

That being said, Kemo, Hartwig and Stapleton need to be reevaluated this off season. The Steelers could probably live with Colon again as well. The interior guys are the ones that seemed to not get push on the goal line and missed assignments.

Pappy

You are right IMO Pappy. Kemo and Stapleton atre big problems. I don't think Hartwig is a problem if he had decent Guards on either side of him.

[papillon]

Re: nice read Free agency

So many of you guys are totally unrealistic about the Starks situation. It doesn't matter if you think what he signed for last year was too much because the reality was that signing may have saved our season and won the Super Bowl. Starks gave up the fewest number of sacks on the OL playing the most demanding position on the OL. Is there a problem with that? If so, do you ever watch games because the problems on the OL were Kemo, Stapleton and Colon not Starks.

Starks is as much as a must sign as any player on the team. There is no Plan B without him. All indications are that he is a "good team guy." The Steelers value that. You can dream all you want about signing FA Left Tackles but it won't happen. It's Max or nothing and nothing gets Ben killed next year.

I'm not sure why the hate for Starks. My guess is because we're discrediting the offensive line and he's part of it, so, he must take some blame as well. I'm sure Ben would like to see him back, even though that's his blind side, Ben does well escaping from outside pass rushers. It's the immediate pressure up the middle from a blown assignment that doesn't allow Ben to get out of the pocket.

That being said, Kemo, Hartwig and Stapleton need to be reevaluated this off season. The Steelers could probably live with Colon again as well. The interior guys are the ones that seemed to not get push on the goal line and missed assignments.

Pappy

You are right IMO Pappy. Kemo and Stapleton atre big problems. I don't think Hartwig is a problem if he had decent Guards on either side of him.

Well, Hartwig was rated as the 32nd starting center by some publication. That just gives you an idea of how bad Sean Mahan really was. And, moving from Mahan to Hartwig was a vast improvement. Ouch!

Pappy

[Lonbull]

Re: nice read Free agency

I'm not sure why the hate for Starks.

I think one of the biggest issues with Starks was not only was he paid a vast sum to be a back-up - he was (for a short time) the back-up to Essex as well, who started for Marvel before Starks stepped in.

I think the fear with Max Starks is that the Steelers are going to pay him a premium and he's going to have the heart of a back-up.

Why has Colon been starting in place of Starks - especially considering how poorly Colon has played?

That being said, Kemo, Hartwig and Stapleton need to be reevaluated this off season. The Steelers could probably live with Colon again as well. The interior guys are the ones that seemed to not get push on the goal line and missed assignments.

I think the Center position is the biggest one we need to look at - Hartwig was better, but he was still someone else's castoff when we got him.

Kemoeatu - This was his first year as a starter, and I'm optomistic that he'll improve in the off-season - the entire line didn't have much consistency but Kemo had to play next to three different LT's and I think the guy still has promise.

Stapleton - Is a back-up player, and considering that I think he was great! The real question is - is Kendall Simmons any better than Stapleton at this point?

L.B.