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Sports Illustrated Peter King's take on the game

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Pittsburgh: The Steelers won’t get slugged in free agency, with no stars on the market. They could re-sign versatile inside/outside cornerback William Gay and guard Ramon Foster … It’s time for the Steelers to invest a high draft choice in a tight end to become the sort of offensive threat the Chiefs have developed with Travis Kelce and the Bengals with Tyler Eifert—and one the rival Ravens think they have with Maxx Williams. Ben Roethlisberger has enough deep weapons. Now he needs an athletic intermediate weapon … If I were the Rooneys, I’d be very encouraged looking at my team. The defense is getting rebuilt on the fly under a new coordinator who had a good year, Keith Butler, and the offense is potent and fun and put up 396 yards on the best defense in the conference without Antonio Brown on Sunday … Steelers need a backup quarterback to challenge Landry Jones, with Mike Vick likely not in the plans … Pittsburgh shouldn’t lose its edge, nor should it back down from opponents. But having an assistant coach like Joey Porter mouthing off to even the most obnoxious of foes is not a good look for a proud franchise … It’s amazing to say, but the Steelers should bring back James Harrison at 38 next year.


Not a bad point. But I still don't understand why the team blows as many half times leads as we do. With our offense, you'd expect we can score when needed.

The real problem is too many Field Goals.
 
People seem to think we need a "receiving" tight end. But the real problem will be, will Ben actually throw those short/intermediate routes when necessary? On Sunday he skipped a sure 3rd completion to Heath for a much lower percentage throw for a TD that was incomplete.

Even the cheaerleading Tunch and Wolf pointed this out on their show yesterday.
 
After watching Ben for 12 years IMO there is no need to have a true receiving TE on the team. Ben needs a security blanket and a guy that he can lean on early in a game to loosen the defense and then use his WRs and RBs. Using a premium pick on a TE would be a waste of pick from what I've seen over the past 12 years. Antonio Brown runs intermediate routes, shallow routes, deep routes, curls, slants, skinny posts, screens, digs and go routes so Ben can take his pick. Coates and Wheaton are both intermediate route guys with the ability to get deep and Martavis is a Randy Moss type just waiting to happen. Adding a TE the caliber of Kelce, Gronk, Williams, Eifert, etc. in place of a few more pieces on the defensive side would be a mistake in my estimation. How good does the offense need to be? They have big receivers, a smallish receiver, a receiver that looks like TE but runs like a receiver and an average size receiver, the offense should be able to finish drives with TDs without adding anymore play makers. Oh yea, they also have the most versatile RB in the league.

Papillon
 
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Isn't that why they drafted Jesse James? I think that's about 10th on the list of needs this/next year. As usual, secondary OL/DL line depth and I guess a QB in there to get Jones the **** out of there. I am sure they'll draft a WR, they always do and I don't mind that. It's the one thing the Steelers seem to do better than a lot of teams.
 
we signed some guys to futures contracts:

http://www.Invalid Link - Check SN Home Page/2016/01/steelers-sign-eight-to-futures-contracts/

S - Jordan Dangerfield, Ray Vinopal
OT - Matt Feiler
OG/C - BJ Finney
CB - Isaiah Frey
RBs - Rajion Neal, Abou Toure
WR - Shakim Phillips
 
Love King's obsession with Porter. That's the problem with King now, he does what just about everyone else does in the media, looks for the attention grabbing comment or stance about something stupid or inane.
 
Who is our best Red zone WR threat when the pass goes in the end, zone?

Brown is amazing, but he's also on the short side and doesn't box other players out.

Bryant can be amazing, but his hands are not the most consistent.

If we had one, I think we score more touchdowns and kick fewer field goals. Also, with our threats on the outside, the middle would be reality less guarded as the safeties are often helping the corners our, or playing deep to prevent a big play.

Taller TE's with speed and skills are very hard to match up with. In fact, they kill us.

With pick #25, what if the best 3 CB's and OLB's are gone, but a player like Jordan Leggett ( 40 catches 8 TD's ) at Clemson is still on the board. If Leggett works out and runs well, this might not be a bad option, especially if we trade our first round pick.

While the O can rack up yards with anyone, I have seen a bit too many come from behind losses.
 
A WR in the First?????????????????????
 
two days, two trophies
 
Wasn't King one of those who said we had no chance? Or was that someone else writing for him on MMQB?

I just don't think the tight end class is very strong this year and OJ Howard is returning to Alabama, right? Yeah I dunno I think we can get by with Heath and the outlaw for another year and focus our drafting elsewhere
 
I'm a big "the board will dictate" guy. If that's where the value is take it.
 
I could see them going offensive line in the first, if the value is there, but not TE.

CB seems to be the glaring need, but if they like the upside of the young players they have there, like Golson, Cockrell and Grant, they may not be as compelled to address the position early in the draft as we think.
 
If the top 3 CBs and OLBs are gone at 1:25, I'd assume one of the top S will still be available. Choosing between what is a priority on defense and what would be a luxury for the offense, I'd choose the priority. Hell, we don't really know what we have in Jesse James, but the kid looks like he can be another Heath. I've read the articles calling for us to get a tall, rangy, pass catching TE. I agree we need to get one to develop because Heath isn't getting any younger and Spaeth is only serviceable .. However, no way I pick a TE with one of our top 2 picks. We're short on picks this year and TE just isn't that much of a priority. Late round pick to develop a kid with potential? Sure. Early round? Hell no!
 
I will be pissed if we spend a high draft choice on a TE.

Why? The last time the Steelers spent a 1st rounder on a TE we got Heath Miller. I'd take that level of production again in a heartbeat.

Thing is, there are a few good ones, but OJ Howard (Alabama) is staying in school. Jake McGee (Florida) looks a lot like Miller (great hands and good size) but he's not as athletic. Not sure how much Heath has in the tank, but if he's around for a couple more years, that gives the Steelers plenty of time to find the right replacement.

The hidden gem in this draft (IMHO) is Kevin Hogan (QB Stanford). I think Hogan will be a very interesting prospect.
 
Not a bad point. But I still don't understand why the team blows as many half times leads as we do. With our offense, you'd expect we can score when needed.

The real problem is too many Field Goals.

I barely read/listen to this shill anymore. He is often used by teams to "report" what they wish, whether it's true or not. I remember him "reporting" that Jason Gildon was still a very good player when Pgh wanted to sucker someone into trading for the washed up "titty fighter."

No one bit, and it was obvious the guy had NOTHING left in the tank, contrary to what King "reported."

Jax was the only team that had any interest, and he posted an impressive 11 tackles for them in his last season. King is a shill, and doesn't possess any insight or vision.
 
We use Miller alot to help block since he's so good at it, and since we have 3 solid options at WR, and a 4th when Bell is in there. Yeah Heath broke open on that 3rd down play, but there was pressure coming and Ben was mid throw when Heath totally broke open.
 
Our big end zone threats next year should be Bryant, Coates and a TE (currently on the team or not). Oh ya, and throw in AB and Bell. We should have plenty of targets in the red zone. We just need to learn how to call plays and execute.
 
Glad he does not evaluate our talent or is anywhere near our draft room.
 
I'm drafting Heath's replacement next year. We have the Outlaw, but I'm not sure if he's #1 caliber. If he is great, but the fact is, we will not have Spaeth or Miller in 2 years. We will need 2 TEs so the replacement should be drafted this year. If the talent is there, I take it.

I'm also still solidly set to improve what you do best, then to roll the dice on defense hoping for improvement. Our O is all world. We will draft some defenders, but I'm not sold on first rounders if I'm forced to only draft one side of the ball or positions.

There will be value at our 1st round pick for a LG, and if the best in the draft is there, I take him. Next would be TE for me, then roll down the Defensive needs Secondary, NT, OLB.
 
Secondary, Secondary, Secondary then OL, OL, OL. The way we seem to go through them during a season we can't have enough talent at either position.
 
Who is our best Red zone WR threat when the pass goes in the end, zone?

Brown is amazing, but he's also on the short side and doesn't box other players out.

Bryant can be amazing, but his hands are not the most consistent.

If we had one, I think we score more touchdowns and kick fewer field goals. Also, with our threats on the outside, the middle would be reality less guarded as the safeties are often helping the corners our, or playing deep to prevent a big play.

Taller TE's with speed and skills are very hard to match up with. In fact, they kill us.

With pick #25, what if the best 3 CB's and OLB's are gone, but a player like Jordan Leggett ( 40 catches 8 TD's ) at Clemson is still on the board. If Leggett works out and runs well, this might not be a bad option, especially if we trade our first round pick.

While the O can rack up yards with anyone, I have seen a bit too many come from behind losses.

Watch some games Coach. They kill everybody. You can be like Ryan and tell us how to handle Gronk.
 
Watch some games Coach. They kill everybody. You can be like Ryan and tell us how to handle Gronk.

I'll leave it up to Butler to stop the better TE's. If you asking me, chipping them on their release and covering them by being in front of them, forcing the QB to make a good throw is best. You can't cover these guys in a trailing position.

They will wall you off.
 
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