If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers expected to use franchise tag on Hampton
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette


INDIANAPOLIS -- The Steelers might be concerned about having an unhappy Pro Bowl nose tackle on their roster next season. But, apparently, they are more concerned about making sure they at least have a nose tackle.

The Steelers are trying to work out a long-term deal to keep Casey Hampton from becoming an unrestricted free agent, but they will use the franchise tag on the five-time Pro Bowl selection if they can't, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has learned.

The Steelers have until Thursday to place the franchise tag on Hampton, a designation that would keep him with the team for at least one more season and guarantee him the average salary of the top five defensive tackles in the National Football League. In 2009, that average was $7,003,000, according to the NFL Players Association -- a figure not much more than the $6,652,000 Hampton counted against the salary cap last year.

The Steelers then could attempt to sign the 10-year veteran to a long-term contract, much like they did last season when they named left tackle Max Starks their franchise player and eventually signed him to a four-year, $26.3 million contract that included a $10 million signing bonus.

Hampton, who will be 33 in September, has indicated to the Steelers that he does not want to have the franchise tag placed on him. But the Steelers do not want to lose him because he is still a productive player -- he was named to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl this season -- and they do not have a young replacement behind him.

If the Steelers place the franchise tag on him, such a move likely would impact what they do in the NFL draft, a process that begins Thursday, when the NFL Scouting Combine gets under way at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Indianapolis Colts. With no immediate need for a nose tackle -- arguably the most important position in the 3-4 defense -- the Steelers might decide to use the 18th overall pick to select an inside linebacker who would eventually replace James Farrior, who turned 35 in January.

Hampton will be in the final year of a five-year, $22.75 million contract he signed in 2005. The Steelers could elect to put the exclusive franchise tag on him, which would prohibit him from negotiating with other teams. Or they could deem him a non-exclusive franchise player, which means he could negotiate with other teams and the Steelers would receive two first-round picks in return if he signed elsewhere and they did not match the offer.

[NW Steeler]

Re: If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

So, Weatherspoon or Spikes then? Sounded like the Steelers really liked 'Spoon.

[calmkiller]

Re: If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

I say Non Exclusive him would be the way to go. That way if someone was stupid enough to sign him we could get 2 first rounders. I assume that would be this year's first and next years. O boy what we could do with two first rounders this year. ILB and CB/SS.

[Shawn]

Re: If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

Speculation and I believe poor speculation at that. First, just because we franchise Hampton it doesn't mean we won't draft his replacement in the first. Second, we already have Farrior's replacement...Timmons. I believe this to be the year to slide him into the buck. So that leaves us with a need in the mack which I believe Fox will fill nicely. The Steelers would have to think alot less of Fox than I do to draft an ILB in the first. The only way we go with a ILB in the first is if the Steelers have no confidence that Fox can be a quality starter. They have more info than I do...but Fox was very impressive last season. He hits like a house...has a nose for the ball and sorts through traffic well. He even has coverage skills. I believe him to be the real deal.

[Dee Dub]

Re: If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

So, Weatherspoon or Spikes then? Sounded like the Steelers really liked 'Spoon.

I dont understand where everyone keeps getting this?? Weatherspoon is not an ILB. He is better suited to play OLB. Youa re asking for too much to put him inside next to Timmons.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

Speculation and I believe poor speculation at that. First, just because we franchise Hampton it doesn't mean we won't draft his replacement in the first. Second, we already have Farrior's replacement...Timmons. I believe this to be the year to slide him into the buck. So that leaves us with a need in the mack which I believe Fox will fill nicely. The Steelers would have to think alot less of Fox than I do to draft an ILB in the first. The only way we go with a ILB in the first is if the Steelers have no confidence that Fox can be a quality starter. They have more info than I do...but Fox was very impressive last season. He hits like a house...has a nose for the ball and sorts through traffic well. He even has coverage skills. I believe him to be the real deal.

Shawn, although I agree with you for the most part the Steelers have absolutely no one behind Fox and Timmons once Farrior retires. An ILB needs to be added to provide some depth and add competition to the ILB position.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

My mock is based upon Hampton playing on the franchise tag. If he signs a long term deal, Spoon will be my pick with the Steelers looking for a young DT in the 3-4 range. Rumor has it the Steelers offered Hampton one last deal today before they tag him. It was a multi year deal front loaded with 12 mil guranteed. I actually have been saying I like Spoon better than McClain in another post.

[Oviedo]

Re: If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

Speculation and I believe poor speculation at that. First, just because we franchise Hampton it doesn't mean we won't draft his replacement in the first. Second, we already have Farrior's replacement...Timmons. I believe this to be the year to slide him into the buck. So that leaves us with a need in the mack which I believe Fox will fill nicely. The Steelers would have to think alot less of Fox than I do to draft an ILB in the first. The only way we go with a ILB in the first is if the Steelers have no confidence that Fox can be a quality starter. They have more info than I do...but Fox was very impressive last season. He hits like a house...has a nose for the ball and sorts through traffic well. He even has coverage skills. I believe him to be the real deal.

Shawn, although I agree with you for the most part the Steelers have absolutely no one behind Fox and Timmons once Farrior retires. An ILB needs to be added to provide some depth and add competition to the ILB position.

IMO they would be better drafting Brandon Graham and moving him to the ILB position than expecting "Spoon" to play ILB in our defense. As correctly pointed out, he is a OLB.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

[quote=Dee Dub][quote="NW Steeler":b3osbav0]So, Weatherspoon or Spikes then? Sounded like the Steelers really liked 'Spoon.[/quote]

I dont understand where everyone keeps getting this?? Weatherspoon is not an ILB. He is better suited to play OLB. Youa re asking for too much to put him inside next to Timmons.[/quote:b3osbav0]

I like Spoon better than McClain...I have discussed this in another thread. Spoon played ILB at the Senior Bowl and scouts & GMs told him LILB in a 3-4 and ROLB in a 4-3. See below.

[url="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63XBIV-ptmw"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63XBIV-ptmw[/url]

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

My mock is based upon Hampton playing on the franchise tag. If he signs a long term deal, Spoon will be my pick with the Steelers looking for a young DT in the 3-4 range. Rumor has it the Steelers offered Hampton one last deal today before they tag him. It was a multi year deal front loaded with 12 mil guranteed. I actually have been saying I like Spoon better than McClain in another post.

the thing i like about Spoon is his leadership qualities. he was very impressive at the Senior Bowl both against the run and especially in pass coverage but the thing about Spoon that stood out to me was the way he was making all the defensive calls, organizing the defense and encouraging his teammates.

that is an intangible that is extremely difficult to find, very few players possess it. i can definitely see why the Steelers are reportedly very high on Spoon.

[NW Steeler]

Re: If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

I don't see how Graham projects to ILB any better than Spoon.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

Speculation and I believe poor speculation at that. First, just because we franchise Hampton it doesn't mean we won't draft his replacement in the first. Second, we already have Farrior's replacement...Timmons. I believe this to be the year to slide him into the buck. So that leaves us with a need in the mack which I believe Fox will fill nicely. The Steelers would have to think alot less of Fox than I do to draft an ILB in the first. The only way we go with a ILB in the first is if the Steelers have no confidence that Fox can be a quality starter. They have more info than I do...but Fox was very impressive last season. He hits like a house...has a nose for the ball and sorts through traffic well. He even has coverage skills. I believe him to be the real deal.

Shawn, although I agree with you for the most part the Steelers have absolutely no one behind Fox and Timmons once Farrior retires. An ILB needs to be added to provide some depth and add competition to the ILB position.

IMO they would be better drafting Brandon Graham and moving him to the ILB position than expecting "Spoon" to play ILB in our defense. As correctly pointed out, he is a OLB.

See my post O. He played inside at the Senior Bowl and there is an interview where he tells the reporter the NFL brass is telling him inside in a 3-4. Graham's specialty is getting to the QB. Moving him inside would be like asking Woodley to play inside. Spoon played off the line at Mizz....That is where he belongs.

[Oviedo]

Re: If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

Speculation and I believe poor speculation at that. First, just because we franchise Hampton it doesn't mean we won't draft his replacement in the first. Second, we already have Farrior's replacement...Timmons. I believe this to be the year to slide him into the buck. So that leaves us with a need in the mack which I believe Fox will fill nicely. The Steelers would have to think alot less of Fox than I do to draft an ILB in the first. The only way we go with a ILB in the first is if the Steelers have no confidence that Fox can be a quality starter. They have more info than I do...but Fox was very impressive last season. He hits like a house...has a nose for the ball and sorts through traffic well. He even has coverage skills. I believe him to be the real deal.

Shawn, although I agree with you for the most part the Steelers have absolutely no one behind Fox and Timmons once Farrior retires. An ILB needs to be added to provide some depth and add competition to the ILB position.

IMO they would be better drafting Brandon Graham and moving him to the ILB position than expecting "Spoon" to play ILB in our defense. As correctly pointed out, he is a OLB.

See my post O. He played inside at the Senior Bowl and there is an interview where he tells the reporter the NFL brass is telling him inside in a 3-4. Graham's specialty is getting to the QB. Moving him inside would be like asking Woodley to play inside. Spoon played off the line at Mizz....That is where he belongs.

I think that we are going to have to be able to generate more pressure from inside blitzes to prevent the QBs from having the time to pick us apart like last season. Timmons was a huge upgrade there last season. The reality is that OTs are not going to get holding called on them against Harrison or Woodley. We need to generate pressure from multiple attack angles and having two ILBs who can take the most direct straight line approach to the QB and collapse the pocket and possibly force QBs into Harrison and Woodley is going to be more important.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

Speculation and I believe poor speculation at that. First, just because we franchise Hampton it doesn't mean we won't draft his replacement in the first. Second, we already have Farrior's replacement...Timmons. I believe this to be the year to slide him into the buck. So that leaves us with a need in the mack which I believe Fox will fill nicely. The Steelers would have to think alot less of Fox than I do to draft an ILB in the first. The only way we go with a ILB in the first is if the Steelers have no confidence that Fox can be a quality starter. They have more info than I do...but Fox was very impressive last season. He hits like a house...has a nose for the ball and sorts through traffic well. He even has coverage skills. I believe him to be the real deal.

Shawn, although I agree with you for the most part the Steelers have absolutely no one behind Fox and Timmons once Farrior retires. An ILB needs to be added to provide some depth and add competition to the ILB position.

IMO they would be better drafting Brandon Graham and moving him to the ILB position than expecting "Spoon" to play ILB in our defense. As correctly pointed out, he is a OLB.

See my post O. He played inside at the Senior Bowl and there is an interview where he tells the reporter the NFL brass is telling him inside in a 3-4. Graham's specialty is getting to the QB. Moving him inside would be like asking Woodley to play inside. Spoon played off the line at Mizz....That is where he belongs.

i watched that interview with Spoon at the Senior Bowl and the interviewer asked him where scouts had him projected to play in the NFL.

Spoon's answer was that NFL teams were telling him he would be an ideal fit at the weakside OLB position in the 4-3 or the inside Mack position in a 3-4 which Timmons currently plays.

this would then require a position change for Timmons, would he be better at the Buck position (replacing Farrior) than he is at the Mack?

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Re: If Hampton signs, Steelers may select ILB in Round 1

i watched that interview with Spoon at the Senior Bowl and the interviewer asked him where scouts had him projected to play in the NFL.

Spoon's answer was that NFL teams were telling him he would be an ideal fit at the weakside OLB position in the 4-3 or the inside Mack position in a 3-4 which Timmons currently plays.

this would then require a position change for Timmons, would he be better at the Buck position (replacing Farrior) than he is at the Mack?

You better listen again to the link. He said in a 3-4 possibly the "Mike" which is the LILB....Farrior's spot. Timmons plays the Mac...RILB.

In the 3-4 the left inside linebacker is also called the “MIKE linebacker”. He closely resembles his counterpart in the 4-3 except that he aligns himself in a “two technique” over the guard to the tight end side. The right inside linebacker, referred to as the “MAC Linebacker” also aligns himself in a “two technique” except he is on the “weak side” away from the tight end. In the 3-4’s most basic form both the “MIKE” and “MAC” linebackers have “A and B gap” responsibility, so like the middle linebacker of the 4-3 they must play the run from the inside out. However, in many of the 3-4 scheme’s ran in the NFL today you see the “MAC backer” playing more of a weak side linebackers role and the “MIKE” can likewise find himself in the strong side role.