Present shape of the team

[blitzburghv5]

I don't say we a re a bad team either but the Steelers defense is really lacking for us to win in our division or to go far in the playoffs. We don't seem to start players from the draft so how do we make the defense at least better than to give up a TD as against Tampa in 44 seconds. We have lost our swagger on defense,on hitting people . Our power ranking is 7 hard to believe with schedule we have this coming year and holes on defense.

Two points...our defense was good enough for us to win our division....true, we fell short in the playoffs

Our defense didnt lose its ability to hit...the LEAGUE pussified these defenses and made it an offensive show to appease viewers and fantasy nuts.......defenses are giving up record numbers of points the past couple seasons

 

[Spike]

shape?

like a soft flabby pear on defense

a mace with cutting edges on offense


hua

 

[obxsteeler]

If you look at the Steeler record over the 14 years of Colbert as GM I think only a Jabroni would fail to rank him in the top 10 at his job.

 

[jdell]

I don't say we a re a bad team either but the Steelers defense is really lacking for us to win in our division or to go far in the playoffs. We don't seem to start players from the draft so how do we make the defense at least better than to give up a TD as against Tampa in 44 seconds. We have lost our swagger on defense,on hitting people . Our power ranking is 7 hard to believe with schedule we have this coming year and holes on defense.

I am glad that the schedule is tough. In the 08-09 season PIT had the #1 ranked schedule and they rose to the occasion. (12-4 and SB champs)

 

[Punxsutawney]

Sorry, in my opinion the 2000 draft was adequate. Plaxico, as much as some on here love the guy, was not a GREAT receiver during his time here. Marvel was a good LT and better than anything we have now, but not an outstanding talent. Haggans? Serviceable.

2002 was better. But other than Keisel, which player on here was indispensable or even so highly thought of by the Steelers that they tried hard to keep them around. None.

2003 draft was good in that they made a move to get Troy. Ike was a good CB for us; sometimes great. But he wasn't a GREAT CB.

In 2004, picking Ben was a no brainer. Although there are/were rumors that they considered not taking him. Starks was serviceable.

As we are so often reminded here on SteelerNation, the draft goes seven rounds and when you look at all the picks over Colbert's tenure, the drafts have been average. I think that you're right about a night and day difference in talent evaluation since Cowher left. I also think that Colbert was given more control over that process when a new, young coach was hired. I'm not saying that Tomlin didn't have say on some players, but I think Colbert had more control. Some point to the influx of 4-3, Tamp 2 type players when Tomlin arrived. Serious question; what type of defense did they run in Detroit when Colbert was part of that organization?

You must have rather high standards for draft quality if you consider the 2000 draft merely adequate. Burress, Smith and Haggans later on were key contributors to those contending teams in the early to mid 2000s.

Kendrell Bell's achilles problems have greatly altered the perception of the 2001 draft. He and Hampton were monsters as rookies.

The 2002 draft was terrific because they landed productive starters in each of the first four rounds and found Keisel in the seventh.

The 2003 draft provided the foundation of the secondary for a decade. I tend to think it may have been Colbert's most clutch draft, as one needs to view it in the context of how bad the secondary was at that time. The Steelers really need another 2003 draft in 2015.

I think the only drafts that are anywhere near the caliber of those four since Colbert started working with Tomlin are the 2007 and 2010 drafts, and that largely depends on one's opinion on Timmons and Pouncey. We can agree to disagree, but I just do not see the same consistency in draft results since Tomlin entered the equation.

 

[stuntmanmike]

It's going to be interesting for sure we've got some good young guys that need to come through... shaz, sharknado, the killer Cortez, either jones, zumwalt, let's see who comes through... Vince Williams, this is the burgh where legends are made championships expected... Let's see who's got the balls to make a name for themselves... We need a Antonio brown on defense right now big time. Lets see who brings it

 

[Steelz]

A lot of optimism around here which is good. The offense will be fine it's the defense that concerns me. But one positive tho, with Lebeau gone the young guys will get the chance to show what they got instead of years waiting on the bench. Maybe Cortez will play better in a different scheme too.

 

[Wingman]

The draft is getting closer. It looks like that will be the only way the team gets to improve over last season. Now this year it could be the steelers could not find anyone they considered an upgrade over what was on the team. I suspect that was wrong but there may be more to the guys they brought in than fans are aware of. It could be there were guys they were interested in but could not afford. So this year it looks like we will add 7 or more draft picks and if we hit on 3 it will be a great year, and try and add some college free agents that no one else wanted to draft.

I would say we are in a major rebuild year this year as it looks like too much to get from one draft. Even if we were going to assume that the talent evaluation was perfect there might not be the players we need at the positions we are most in need of. So I am expecting the defense to get worse this year. It would be nice to see growth from some of last years new guys as some look like they could make a big step forward. I think we might spend this year and next and maybe the year after before we get the defense back on track. At that point I am wondering what the offense will be like.

 

[steel dino]

IMHO...

I see the Steelers doing something very unusal this draft, and traded way up into the first round...

Possible trading up to a top ten pick...which would cost their number one next year...

They realize we are void of pass rushers and cover guys basically, and they also know their offense is lights out for the next 3-4 years, and MUST take advantage of that, by having at least some assemblance of a defense that can make plays..

I believe the Steelers will act very un-Steeler like, in the first round of the NFL draft this year.

 

[Vader]

A lot of optimism around here which is good. The offense will be fine it's the defense that concerns me. But one positive tho, with Lebeau gone the young guys will get the chance to show what they got instead of years waiting on the bench. Maybe Cortez will play better in a different scheme too.

First off DL didn't let kids rot on the bench. That's a myth. Almost every good player was starting his 2nd year and had considerable playing time his rookie year. Hell even as bad as Jones played he started his rookie year. Shazier played last year when he wasn't hurt. Tuitt played a lot last year. Spence would have played more if he hadn't gotten hurt. Hampton started his rookie year.

Also how do you know that Butler will start all the rookies regardless of how good they are? Maybe he stays with the vets because he doesn't want the worst defense in the league? Maybe he doesn't want to lose his job because a bunch of rookies don't know what they are doing?

Also how do you know the scheme will be different? Please tell me what the scheme is since you know this.

 

[Wingman]

IMHO...

I see the Steelers doing something very unusal this draft, and traded way up into the first round...

Possible trading up to a top ten pick...which would cost their number one next year...

They realize we are void of pass rushers and cover guys basically, and they also know their offense is lights out for the next 3-4 years, and MUST take advantage of that, by having at least some assemblance of a defense that can make plays..

I believe the Steelers will act very un-Steeler like, in the first round of the NFL draft this year.

I sure as hell hope they do not trade next years number one to move up this year, that would be dumber than hitting a second franchise tag on Worilds.

 

[swal75]

I hope the un-Steelerlike thing they do is trade down in the first round instead of rushing to the podium with a full card and 7 minutes left on the clock. Maybe we can act like the Patriots once in awhile?

 

[SteelBuckeye]

I hope the un-Steelerlike thing they do is trade down in the first round instead of rushing to the podium with a full card and 7 minutes left on the clock. Maybe we can act like the Patriots once in awhile?

Play with soft balls?

 

[Steelerfan]

Play with soft balls?

Now you're getting Supe excited with your dirty talk

 

[stillwright]

I hope the un-Steelerlike thing they do is trade down in the first round instead of rushing to the podium with a full card and 7 minutes left on the clock. Maybe we can act like the Patriots once in awhile?

Rushing to the podium isn't the problem if their guy is there. The problem is who their guy has been.