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Pressing Issues The Steelers Have to Address This Off-Season

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By Jacquelyn Johnson SteelerNation.com   After finishing the year 8-8, the Pittsburgh Steelers missed out on the chance to progress into the playoffs, leaving their fans with a lengthy and interesting off-season in which to ponder on a few key questions. The future of defensive lineman, Javon Hargrave will be high up on the list […]

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Do something about the soft middle of the defense. And throw to the middle of the field more. 3rd downs too
 
I don't see Javon Hargrave as a "pressing issue". We need a monster, huge run-stuffing nose tackle that can't be blocked by one lineman. I hope they don't break the bank on this guy. I'd rather keep Tuitt, who has shown he can dominate. And for the love of God, have more than one d-lineman on the field! Cam Heyward is bad-***, and I wish he could play forever.
I'd like to keep Dupree, if he's reasonable. One good year after 4 near-bust years doesn't convince me he should be paid like a perennial pro bowler. Maybe the light came on and he WILL be great for several years. Who knows?
If Conner gets a huge contract, someone seriously needs a head examination. We badly need a running back.
Vance Mcdonald is not a consistent player. We need a tight end. Remember that time he caught a pass, straight-armed a guy, and ran for a long TD? Yeah, me too. Got any other good memories of him?
We need a backup QB that isn't terrible. Does Mason Rudolph fit that description? I really don't know. Ridiculous play calling and two big injuries make it difficult to tell. If we could pick up a Dalton or Mariota on the cheap, well, that would be great.
It seems obvious to me that the o-line is not very good. We need a LT, a LG, and a RT. Will we get any? I doubt it. Promote another backup when one of these starting backup players goes down.
We need a coaching staff that knows what the hell they're doing (I know that's not going to happen), and ownership that is more interested in winning Super Bowls than counting colors of faces on NFL sidelines.

I'm not real optimistic. I wish I had some confidence in the people capable of making changes. Maybe Ben can come back healthy and keep carrying the team for a couple more years. The defense was really good for a change, so with a healthy and effective Ben we've got a shot to be much better next year.
 
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MeanJim said:
I don't see Javon Hargrave as a "pressing issue". We need a monster, huge run-stuffing nose tackle that can't be blocked by one lineman. I hope they don't break the bank on this guy. I'd rather keep Tuitt, who has shown he can dominate. And for the love of God, have more than one d-lineman on the field! Cam Heyward is bad-***, and I wish he could play forever.
I'd like to keep Dupree, if he's reasonable. One good year after 4 near-bust years doesn't convince me he should be paid like a perennial pro bowler. Maybe the light came on and he WILL be great for several years. Who knows?
If Conner gets a huge contract, someone seriously needs a head examination. We badly need a running back.
3)Vance Mcdonald is not a consistent player. We need a tight end. Remember that time he caught a pass, straight-armed a guy, and ran for a long TD? Yeah, me too. Got any other good memories of him?
2)We need a backup QB that isn't terrible. Does Mason Rudolph fit that description? I really don't know. Ridiculous play calling and two big injuries make it difficult to tell. If we could pick up a Dalton or Mariota on the cheap, well, that would be great.
It seems obvious to me that the o-line is not very good. We need a LT, a LG, and a RT. Will we get any? I doubt it. Promote another backup when one of these starting backup players goes down.
1)We need a coaching staff that knows what the hell they're doing (I know that's not going to happen), and ownership that is more interested in winning Super Bowls than counting colors of faces on NFL sidelines.

I'm not real optimistic. I wish I had some confidence in the people capable of making changes. Maybe Ben can come back healthy and keep carrying the team for a couple more years. The defense was really good for a change, so with a healthy and effective Ben we've got a shot to be much better next year.
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You've nailed several problems through out your post. QB is a big issue and a vet back up would be huge, Philip Rivers is also an option pending pricing. Coolie mentioned a LT from UH, Josh Jones (i think) would be awesome upgrade to the line. Eifert should definately be looked at and priced to see if a deal could be made provided he checks out ok but also bring guys in as it can't hurt to look. LASTLY Scouting must due diligence on drafting reports as we NEED TO HIT ON OUR PICKS due to so few of picks available.





Salute the nation
 
We are currently 1.4 million under the cap.
So yes a back up veteran QB would be nice but who are you going to pay very little to ?
A TE would be great, but who and at what price?
If they tag Dupree that's 16 million right there.
They're going to want to resign Cam this offseason, that can actually lower his cap hit this season.
JuJu is going to get a new contract
Have to sign the upcoming draft class.
Watt, Nelson, Minkah are all going to deserve huge deals next offseason and the following offseason.

Everyone better pray Ben is able to come back healthy.

Yes the cap is expected to go up, but that gives the other 31 teams that much more to spend also.

As for a big NT that can't be moved, that'd be great, if Tomlin would use the guy. We don't use 3 DL, when Tuitt and Cam are healthy, Hargrave saw the field only 28 or 38% of the plays last year. This year Hargrave was second to only Donald when it came to wins vs double teams, and Tomlin rarely played him. We could have Hampton on our roster and he's going to watch the majority of games because Tomlin doesn't use 3 DL very much.
 
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MeanJim said:
I don't see Javon Hargrave as a "pressing issue". We need a monster, huge run-stuffing nose tackle that can't be blocked by one lineman. I hope they don't break the bank on this guy. I'd rather keep Tuitt, who has shown he can dominate. And for the love of God, have more than one d-lineman on the field! Cam Heyward is bad-***, and I wish he could play forever.
I'd like to keep Dupree, if he's reasonable. One good year after 4 near-bust years doesn't convince me he should be paid like a perennial pro bowler. Maybe the light came on and he WILL be great for several years. Who knows?
If Conner gets a huge contract, someone seriously needs a head examination. We badly need a running back.
Vance Mcdonald is not a consistent player. We need a tight end. Remember that time he caught a pass, straight-armed a guy, and ran for a long TD? Yeah, me too. Got any other good memories of him?
We need a backup QB that isn't terrible. Does Mason Rudolph fit that description? I really don't know. Ridiculous play calling and two big injuries make it difficult to tell. If we could pick up a Dalton or Mariota on the cheap, well, that would be great.
It seems obvious to me that the o-line is not very good. We need a LT, a LG, and a RT. Will we get any? I doubt it. Promote another backup when one of these starting backup players goes down.
We need a coaching staff that knows what the hell they're doing (I know that's not going to happen), and ownership that is more interested in winning Super Bowls than counting colors of faces on NFL sidelines.

I'm not real optimistic. I wish I had some confidence in the people capable of making changes. Maybe Ben can come back healthy and keep carrying the team for a couple more years. The defense was really good for a change, so with a healthy and effective Ben we've got a shot to be much better next year.
Click to expand...

Is it the players or the coaching with the O-line? O-line looked very good with the same players 2 years ago with Munch as OL coach...looked terrible last year without him..
 
We sure need a TE that can make plays to win games, all this blocking BS as a need has done nothing to improve this offense. JUJU with the injuries and lack of production does not deserve big time money.
 
LeXX75 said:
Is it the players or the coaching with the O-line? O-line looked very good with the same players 2 years ago with Munch as OL coach...looked terrible last year without him..
Click to expand...

I think losing Munch hurt, but I think it was more of teams had no reason to respect our passing game without Ben, so defenses just stacked the box, run blitzed, and Rudy or Duck couldn't make throws to back them off.
 
black and gold apex said:
We sure need a TE that can make plays to win games, all this blocking BS as a need has done nothing to improve this offense. JUJU with the injuries and lack of production does not deserve big time money.
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Just curious, JuJu had two very good seasons in 17 and 18, youngest player ever to get to 2500 receiving yards, he had a down year with injuries and no real QB.
Do you think Dupree deserves big money have 4 so-so seasons, and one good contract season?
 
Coryea said:
Just curious, JuJu had two very good seasons in 17 and 18, youngest player ever to get to 2500 receiving yards, he had a down year with injuries and no real QB.
Do you think Dupree deserves big money have 4 so-so seasons, and one good contract season?
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Yes. Pay STUD Dupree
 
Trade the 3rd round comp for a starting TE, get a RB, OL and DT through the draft

Sent from my Moto G (5) Plus using Steeler Nation mobile app
 
LeXX75 said:
Is it the players or the coaching with the O-line? O-line looked very good with the same players 2 years ago with Munch as OL coach...looked terrible last year without him..
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I think it's both. I disagree that they ever looked "very good". I think Ben learning to dump it off quickly made them look better in pass protection, and even in Bell's good years, this was never a "line 'em up and pound the ball" type of run-blocking line. Haven't had that since Cowher's early years. I think a combination of Munch, and Ben dumping it off to Bell a lot... made them look a lot better than they were/are. The play calling doesn't help either, when it's all too often completely obvious what's coming. Takes a hell of an o-line to overcome that. But the Titans, Ravens, and Niners do it.
 
Coryea said:
I think losing Munch hurt, but I think it was more of teams had no reason to respect our passing game without Ben, so defenses just stacked the box, run blitzed, and Rudy or Duck couldn't make throws to back them off.
Click to expand...

This.

Couple that with Villanueva and Foster getting abused one-on-one repeatedly, and your offense generally is going to suck.
 
MeanJim said:
This.

Couple that with Villanueva and Foster getting abused one-on-one repeatedly, and your offense generally is going to suck.
Click to expand...

Combination of things

1: We lost Big Ben and changed how our offense operated, there was no threat to throw the ball downfield any longer
2: Conner is soft and got hurt again
3: The line is another year older
4: McDonald was hurt some and we had to go heavy with 72 eligible often
 
If they do sign Bud, Hargrave is gone. In fact, I think he is gone either way. No way they are going to put that much money into the DL. I'd try to get a TE in FA or for a later round pick if they can do it as this years TE crop in the draft sucks. We all know they won't go for a pass catching TE. They will need to be good at blocking as well and that makes this class even less desirable.
 
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