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The plan for 2016-2017

S

steelbush

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First and most importantly, this team needs to win the division and get a bye week/home game. Ben and this team plays so much better at home in the playoffs. That has to be the number one goal! Its just so hard to win consistently on the road.

Second, every draft pick should be spent on defense (maybe add another OL, best available in 4th or higher). Our offense is great and additionally we saw the potential of Coates yesterday. Our defense needs a few more pieces and this can be a team to be reckoned with.

Third, Harrison needs to come back for one more year. If not for the leadership but also to break the sack record (my selfish reason).

Fourth, we should keep Jarvis Jones another year. I know some will hate this idea, but we have years invested in him now and I don't think its worth starting over their unless a stud LB falls to us in the draft. If anything he provides depth and experience at this point. I think he played better than average all year (not what we wanted out of a first rounder, I get it, but its better than starting over) and is worth keeping around.

Fifth, hard not to keep Boswell as our kicker, not sure how the contract situation works with Shuisam but at least there needs to be a competition to start camp.

Sixth, DeAngelo Williams needs to be back. I'm not a contract and numbers guy so I have no idea if he is under contract or not. If he is great, if he isn't, he needs to be.

I have never been so proud of a team and so excited for the future. We have a few years left of our franchise QB. This team has insane talent and should easily be a considered a favorite to win the Super bowl next year.
 
I believe this offseason is also time for Bell's contract to be redone. Boswell must be the kicker. His FG's were great but what truly puts him over the top is the fact that he can kick most kickoffs through the endzone. That is a must with this team and how pathetic our special teams have been for years. I hate those lollipop kicks Suisham and our recent kickers always do. Kick it deep. Line drive it through the endzone every time, if possible.

I'd also like to see Ben go on a diet and exercise program. He needs to lose about 15-20 lbs to prolong his career and give himself a little more mobility. The past 2 years he has seemed to come in more and more out of shape.
 
OK, I keep reading or hearing people questioning whether Boswell or Suisham should be the kicker next year. To that, I say "Are you kidding me?" It's a no brainer, goodbye Suisham!
 
TDX27 said:
I believe this offseason is also time for Bell's contract to be redone. Boswell must be the kicker. His FG's were great but what truly puts him over the top is the fact that he can kick most kickoffs through the endzone. That is a must with this team and how pathetic our special teams have been for years. I hate those lollipop kicks Suisham and our recent kickers always do. Kick it deep. Line drive it through the endzone every time, if possible.

I'd also like to see Ben go on a diet and exercise program. He needs to lose about 15-20 lbs to prolong his career and give himself a little more mobility. The past 2 years he has seemed to come in more and more out of shape.
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That's an interesting point and I think you're right. Ben isn't able to scramble and move like he could in his younger years. Yes, he's getting older but in order to keep his legs under him and knees healthy, he does need to lose weight IMO. I think that would really benefit him.
 
I finally have a kicker that's not only money but can consistently nail kickoff in the end zone. Who doesn't feel confidant that this kid can nail them from 50 yards? He's my kicker and I try and shop Suisham for a 6'th round draft pick.

Sign DE Castro and Beechum to long term contracts which just leaves Foster unsigned.

Sammy Coates is my new slot receiver and I'd try and trade Wheaton for a draft pick. Wow! Can you imagine AB, Martavis and Coates with DHB as your #4.

On defense you have to upgrade NT, CB and Safety. Do that in the draft and F/A.
 
TDX27 said:
I believe this offseason is also time for Bell's contract to be redone. Boswell must be the kicker. His FG's were great but what truly puts him over the top is the fact that he can kick most kickoffs through the endzone. That is a must with this team and how pathetic our special teams have been for years. I hate those lollipop kicks Suisham and our recent kickers always do. Kick it deep. Line drive it through the endzone every time, if possible.

I'd also like to see Ben go on a diet and exercise program. He needs to lose about 15-20 lbs to prolong his career and give himself a little more mobility. The past 2 years he has seemed to come in more and more out of shape.
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Very good point on Ben....I actually thought that but forgot to add that. He could afford to lose at least 20LBs IMO. Part of his game that makes him so great is his movement in the pocket, dropping the weight and bringing that aspect back to his game would make him a better QB and I think help him avoid some of these hits.
 
Troglodyte said:
OK, I keep reading or hearing people questioning whether Boswell or Suisham should be the kicker next year. To that, I say "Are you kidding me?" It's a no brainer, goodbye Suisham!
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I want Boswell, no doubt, I just don't know the contract situation on Shuisam. Kickers are delicate...they can make 20 in a row and then miss 3 outta 4. I love what I have seen from Boswell but I want to see more. Next years camp and pre-season should provide that.
 
steelbush said:
I want Boswell, no doubt, I just don't know the contract situation on Shuisam. Kickers are delicate...they can make 20 in a row and then miss 3 outta 4. I love what I have seen from Boswell but I want to see more. Next years camp and pre-season should provide that.
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We save something like $1.2mil if we cut Suisham.. I fully expect him to be in camp for competition though.
 
I know Ben is 6'-4" or so but he was easily playing at 260 this year. He should be playing around 230. I hope Tomlin gives him a little offseason challenge of some sort to come into camp healthy like he did a few years ago.
 
steelhurt said:
I finally have a kicker that's not only money but can consistently nail kickoff in the end zone. Who doesn't feel confidant that this kid can nail them from 50 yards? He's my kicker and I try and shop Suisham for a 6'th round draft pick.

Sign DE Castro and Beechum to long term contracts which just leaves Foster unsigned.

Sammy Coates is my new slot receiver and I'd try and trade Wheaton for a draft pick. Wow! Can you imagine AB, Martavis and Coates with DHB as your #4.

On defense you have to upgrade NT, CB and Safety. Do that in the draft and F/A.
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Bryant can be amazing. His ability to run with the ball is the best i have seen. I don't know how many times it seems like he will get tackled or pinned and he just accelerates past people like they are standing still.

Coates looked good and I like the idea of trading Wheaton. I am not a fan of him. He will have a good game every so often, but disappears too much.

I hope they can find a true #1 cb and maybe a pass rush specialist.
 
Coates and Martavis have similar running ability. Both of those guys seem to be at full acceleration as soon as they begin running. Can't wait for next year.. this loss is a tough one to get over though.
 
If Suisham is a June 1st cut, we save $2.4m. His cap hit for next year is stated to be approx. $3.5m. Need to look at cutting Cortez Allen too but Gay, Cockrell, and Boykin all need new deals.
 
Coates is a big boy. That team will be damn scary with AB, Bryant, Wheaton and Coates out there next season. Coates showed me enough in yesterdays game to give him a hat next year. DHB may be the odd man out this time but who knows. He has been a gritty player for us and still has speed to burn.
 
And remember, Coates did this against a defense that did not have to focus on Antonio Brown

Brown, Bryant, and Coates if healthy will make up the best WR group in the league next year, and maybe the best the league has seen in several years
 
steelbush said:
Second, every draft pick should be spent on defense (maybe add another OL, best available in 4th or higher).
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I said that last year.

Third, Harrison needs to come back for one more year. If not for the leadership but also to break the sack record (my selfish reason).
Click to expand...
Agree.

Fifth, hard not to keep Boswell as our kicker, not sure how the contract situation works with Shuisam but at least there needs to be a competition to start camp.
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I'd call it a wash, they're both very good, but Sushi earns more because of the vet minimum so I'd keep Boswell to save money under the cap.

Sixth, DeAngelo Williams needs to be back. I'm not a contract and numbers guy so I have no idea if he is under contract or not. If he is great, if he isn't, he needs to be.
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I'm pretty sure he has another year plus he likes it here.

I have never been so proud of a team and so excited for the future. We have a few years left of our franchise QB. This team has insane talent and should easily be a considered a favorite to win the Super bowl next year.
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Agree.
 
Despite frustration from time to time as any fan would, I'm extremely proud to be a Stiller fan. This team showed up, especially when the chips were down.

Obviously some moves need to be made offseason but not as many as for a rebuilding team.

I thought Big Ben had a nutritionist and had been eating better. He took a pounding this year, especially his foot. Despite it he came back time and again. After the Burifect hit in Cincy I was almost sure he would be out but Ben stood tall.

The Defense really started to come on toward the end. Let's hope the D backs improve offseason.

Injuries are surely part of the game but the combination of serious injuries and a brutal schedule probably played a great role in not getting a division championship and bye week.

Off season we need to forget the Bengals and focus on winning the division.
 
Fifth, hard not to keep Boswell as our kicker, not sure how the contract situation works with Shuisam but at least there needs to be a competition to start camp.
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It wouldn't be a competition. Sushi would be... well - sushi. Make sure you factor in kickoffs as well.

As for resigning Bell. Fine but absolutely work something in that saves you in case he goes down for another season. He's had 2 season enders in what 3, 4 years? His promise is beginning to look like just that. Promise. I do, I love him. But the reality is he has been off the field quite a bit. How much can you afford to sign him or Pouncey for? Is it their fault? No. Does it matter? No.
 
wig said:
It wouldn't be a competition. Sushi would be... well - sushi. Make sure you factor in kickoffs as well.

As for resigning Bell. Fine but absolutely work something in that saves you in case he goes down for another season. He's had 2 season enders in what 3, 4 years? His promise is beginning to look like just that. Promise. I do, I love him. But the reality is he has been off the field quite a bit. How much can you afford to sign him or Pouncey for? Is it their fault? No. Does it matter? No.
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I agree regarding his availability. But there are also probably 30 other teams that wish Le'Veon Bell could be their starting RB who would pick up the slack if we made him a low ball offer
 
steelhurt said:
I finally have a kicker that's not only money but can consistently nail kickoff in the end zone. Who doesn't feel confidant that this kid can nail them from 50 yards? He's my kicker and I try and shop Suisham for a 6'th round draft pick.

Sign DE Castro and Beechum to long term contracts which just leaves Foster unsigned.

Sammy Coates is my new slot receiver and I'd try and trade Wheaton for a draft pick. Wow! Can you imagine AB, Martavis and Coates with DHB as your #4.

On defense you have to upgrade NT, CB and Safety. Do that in the draft and F/A.
Click to expand...

Some thoughts on this:

Why give Beachum a big contract? I like him, but the Steelers have more of a prototypical player at the LT position with Villanueva.

Fans are on Villanueva for giving up that late sack to Ware in a crucial spot, but he was great most of the game, and for much of the season.
Also, he still has upside, as he is still adjusting to the position.

I would like to bring Beachum back to compete for the LT job, but another team is going to offer him some money with more playing time guarantee/security.

Regarding Coats, it definitely seems that Tombert has done it again. They find and develop WRs to absurd extents

They're easily the best in the league at it since Tomlin has been in Pittsburgh. If only they could do the same with DB talent.

As for the idea of trading Wheaton, I think the Steelers could get a 3rd or 4th, but why trade him?

He's a better receiver than many think. He's going to get pretty much the same type of deal in FA in 2017 that Emmanuel Sanders got in 2014.
 
With what I saw in Coates, and Wheaton's inability on special teams, wouldn't be upset trying to move Wheaton and keeping DHB for special teams and the 4th WR.
 
Punxsutawney said:
Why give Beachum a big contract? I like him, but the Steelers have more of a prototypical player at the LT position with Villanueva.

Fans are on Villanueva for giving up that late sack to Ware in a crucial spot, but he was great most of the game, and for much of the season.
Also, he still has upside, as he is still adjusting to the position.

I would like to bring Beachum back to compete for the LT job, but another team is going to offer him some money with more playing time guarantee/security.
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Thing is, decent LT's get big money and the simple fact is that injury or not, someone else will offer Beachum more than the Steelers can afford to pay under the cap. I like Beachum but that's just the situation we're in. Same with Bell and Pouncey, given their injury histories I would make them a fair offer but if someone wants to pay them a dollar more I let them walk. Bell has played one full season in three years and Pouncey has missed two full seasons in six years.
 
We just signed Pouncey to an extension in the summer of 2014, so I don't know what the cap hit is if we cut him. At this point, I think I'd rather give Villenueva an entire offseason, let Beachum test Free Agency and sign Foster.
 
The thing I like about Wheaton is that he has a knack for making tough catches in coverage. I will definitely give him that. He's not particularly good for YAC though and he disappears for large parts games. I'd be fine without him but I can see why we'd keep him. I just don't consider him part of the "core" that makes the offense great
 
Need to decide if we think Jesse James is our next TE, not sure how much more Heath has.
 
coryea said:
We just signed Pouncey to an extension in the summer of 2014, so I don't know what the cap hit is if we cut him. At this point, I think I'd rather give Villenueva an entire offseason, let Beachum test Free Agency and sign Foster.
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i didn't mean we should cut Pouncey, just that when it's time for a new contract. Agree with you on everything else.
 
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