Year 2 that I started this thread....last year it was obvious that the secondary needed to be addressed. Has anything changed coming into this draft? I think they need to look at a QB pretty soon...no way they resign Landry Jones. I still think the secondary is an issue...any thoughts?
Steelers draft needs
- Thread starter bkmtnittany1
- Start date
Start with the defensive coach. 6 times they've played Brady and he has 19 TD passes and 0 interceptions, all victories by NE. FIRE that coach, he hasn't learned anything. DB's that can handle man to man pass coverage. Shutdown corner if they can find one. I good run stuffing LBer and another good DL man. Start with the coaches! He let two midget WR's beat him to a pulp. This looked like an OBie D coord we had for one year. Terrible.
I don't follow the Steelers as in depth as many here but I think they need to start addressing future QB plans. Without Ben they are likely a .500 team (IMO). After last night I'm not sure how much of the secondary problems are personnel verses defensive coaching issues.
I think those were Brady's stats going into yesterdays game! Add 3 more td's and another W! Disgusted big time...
I'm paraphasing, but Tomlin said in his post-game interview something like "They were able to do what they do well, and we were not able to do what we do well". What the Steelers do well does not and has not ever worked well against the Patriots. Very frustrating that they can not come up with a better game plan - it's not like they don't know what the Patriots are going to do.
Couldn't agree more. The reality is that until Brady retires the path to the Super Bowl will continue to go through New England. If you look at teams that are somewhat successful against the patriots (Ravens, Broncos, Seahawks,Giants), they all have long corners who jam at the line, and all have/had elite pass rushers. I think the Steelers need to think long and hard about a defensive scheme change. Maybe slowly revert to a 4-3 defense and try and grab an elite pass rusher in FA or the draft. Start drafting long corners who specialize in man coverage vs the current theory of drafting corners that can tackle. Give me a man to man corner in the draft please.
QB is a must but this is not the class to get one out of with their picking position. Landry is not worth putting any more time in, and Ben is on the decline of his career, need someone to come in and start getting some reps so they can be ready when he gets hurt and calls in quits (could be any day at this rate).
Need a bigger WR. Maybe Bryant's return will help but he can't be counted on to stay clean.
RB backup. Williams is solid but Bell is constantly hurt or suspended need another capable back. Not sure what it will cost to keep Bell or if he is worth it, only because of his injury history and yearly suspensions.
OLB/DE - The fact James Harrison at 38 is the best pass rusher is embarrassing. Dupree has potential but needs more work, Jarvis Jones is a bust, this might be the biggest need.
CB/S - They have seemed to drafted well, but last night got exploited. I am not sure if it was scheme or personnel or both. But something needs to be addressed at this position.
I think a new DC is needed and probably a new OC. I don't know if Haley is calling the plays or if it is Ben, but I for one am tired for 50 yard passes on 3rd and 1.
Need a bigger WR. Maybe Bryant's return will help but he can't be counted on to stay clean.
RB backup. Williams is solid but Bell is constantly hurt or suspended need another capable back. Not sure what it will cost to keep Bell or if he is worth it, only because of his injury history and yearly suspensions.
OLB/DE - The fact James Harrison at 38 is the best pass rusher is embarrassing. Dupree has potential but needs more work, Jarvis Jones is a bust, this might be the biggest need.
CB/S - They have seemed to drafted well, but last night got exploited. I am not sure if it was scheme or personnel or both. But something needs to be addressed at this position.
I think a new DC is needed and probably a new OC. I don't know if Haley is calling the plays or if it is Ben, but I for one am tired for 50 yard passes on 3rd and 1.
That gameplan was horrible. I think they need to play man on Defense, and on offense just whip it around and try to keep pace. Gotta score 30 to have a shot. Can't be in third and 4 all game . As much as they try to take the air out against New England, they last time I saw them beat them Ben threw 50 times, a lot of short stuff, and had 29 first downs. Just whip it around and use the pass to set up the run.
I just don't think they are as far from NE as that score suggests. It's like no one was even covering Hogan. God bless the guy but no way should he be doing that. Coaching is just not good against them.
That being said, they still need guys who can cover, and get to the QB. Another linebacker though.... again? Jeeze. But I like Dupree, but you can't keep counting on Harrison. Heyward is back too. I'd almost say another DB. I'm not a big fan of Cockrell. They probably also need a backup running back if Deangelo is done.
If Bryant comes back that should provide a HUGE jolt. That guy is almost unstoppable.
I just don't think they are as far from NE as that score suggests. It's like no one was even covering Hogan. God bless the guy but no way should he be doing that. Coaching is just not good against them.
That being said, they still need guys who can cover, and get to the QB. Another linebacker though.... again? Jeeze. But I like Dupree, but you can't keep counting on Harrison. Heyward is back too. I'd almost say another DB. I'm not a big fan of Cockrell. They probably also need a backup running back if Deangelo is done.
If Bryant comes back that should provide a HUGE jolt. That guy is almost unstoppable.
Not having Hayward and losing Bell hurt them big. Needs:
1. Fire Butler - guy has no business being a Defensive Coordinator in the NFL
2. Lock down corner - not some guy out of Miami who is 5-10 and going to need 2 years to POSSIBLY contribute
3. OLB - Jones isn't going to be back, and possibly Harrison
4. DE - need depth here badly
5. QB - need to end the Landry Jones experiment
6. Safety
IMHO, they need a tall lock down corner, and they need him very bad. Someone who can stay with the opponents #1 WR man-to-man. Then draft a pass rush DE in the 2nd rnd. Then a mobile QB the likes of Ben in the 3rd. From there you built depth across the DL and OL, if you can't draft good Safety, you get him in FA (which The Steelers seem to have forgotten about).
1. Fire Butler - guy has no business being a Defensive Coordinator in the NFL
2. Lock down corner - not some guy out of Miami who is 5-10 and going to need 2 years to POSSIBLY contribute
3. OLB - Jones isn't going to be back, and possibly Harrison
4. DE - need depth here badly
5. QB - need to end the Landry Jones experiment
6. Safety
IMHO, they need a tall lock down corner, and they need him very bad. Someone who can stay with the opponents #1 WR man-to-man. Then draft a pass rush DE in the 2nd rnd. Then a mobile QB the likes of Ben in the 3rd. From there you built depth across the DL and OL, if you can't draft good Safety, you get him in FA (which The Steelers seem to have forgotten about).
I think I would start with a new Defensive Cordinator. Not impressed with Butler.
After that I agree the Secondary still needs some help but I think LB'r is more of a priority.
Jarvis Jones was a mega bust and I'm not sure Harrison comes back and if he does they still need help.
If there is a good DE I might risk a pick on that as well.
Definitely agree about Landry. That experiment needs to end.
A RB might also be in the cards. Bell is great but DeAngelo is getting a little long in the tooth.
I love AB almost as much as he loves himself, but I can't help but think he's a great receiver just not the best. Without a true #2 receiver this year, he's been M.I.A. in quite a few games. The very best make plays no matter what. It could the OC play calling, or defenses watched film and learned how to stop him, but this year seemed different. Guys like Julio Jones and Megatron make/made big plays when you know that's where the ball is going. BTW, what the Heck happened to Coates? Had an all pro type start to the season, hand injury then all of a sudden he sucks?
We need to draft a new defensive scheme for the Patriots. I like the players when heathy.
Kind of like PSU in a way....the Steelers could really use a Safety who can cover passes and generate some interceptions
Also need a quality WR and a developmental QB; for example, the Patriots have spent draft choices on Garropolo and Brissett to prepare for the post-Brady era
Also need a quality WR and a developmental QB; for example, the Patriots have spent draft choices on Garropolo and Brissett to prepare for the post-Brady era
I agree with all of this. They'll win another super bowl if their D becomes dominant again. On the offensive side of the ball they need a legit number 2 receiver-those guys were pathetic last night. Could they have been any worse? I'm not even against thinking about a new o coordinator-I know statistically they've been great but in the big moments they've come up small.
Don't forget Steelers were missing Wheaton for most of the year too. With him back and also Bryant I think the WR crew will be fine. On one of the mock drafts they have the Steelers taking a TE. So as most expected, Green will never play another down of football.
Also anyone else feel like Bell was injured before the game...maybe sometime last week? The hit didn't look bad at all. When he came off the field all they did was talk to him. If it was a new injury I would think there would have been more of an examination. It was like the team and doctors already knew what it was. Remember Bell missed two practices last week for reasons unspecified.
Yea there was something really "odd" about the Bell injury, so you might be right that it happened last week.
I don't think it was just one game though, I didn't think they looked that good against KC and if Smith would have been more accurate they would have lost that game.
THIS. Especially since 1) Brady looks like he can play for another 5 years 2) the rest of the AFC East looks hopeless. I've never seen a defense look so lost, and when the Pats went hurry-up, they might as well have not even been on the field.
I'd go defensive end followed by Chris Godwin for that possession receiver Ben needs
Forget TE, some combination of James, Grimble and Green is enough. With his size, athleticism and soft hands, I think James has alot of untapped potential remaining. Hopefully this being a very strong TE class will allow some edge rushers to fall to us.
You nailed it. This draft should be almost totally defense focused. And at back-up QB, either in the draft or an UDFA signing.
With the way the Steelers offense runs, I do think they grab a TE early. Not saying first round, maybe the 2nd or 3rd, but experts say this could be the best draft for TE ever. Would love to see them grab David Njoku of Miami.
With how bad the qb situation is anymore....someone is going to pay Landry Jones alot of money. It's just not going to be Pittsburgh...
I actually like the way the rookies played in the secondary most of the season, but more help there wouldn't be a bad thing. The thing I would most like to see is a change in philosophy on defense. I hate the passive Cover 2 crap that Tomlin is so fond of. The Steelers will continue to have problems with great quarterbacks until they move away from that.
What has amazed me is the criticism that Ben took in some quarters after the game. He had two touchdowns flat dropped. Another one was called back because of a penalty and Jesse James came up 6 inches short on another one. He has had some rough games on the road this year but this game wasn't one of them. Sammy Coates not coming up with that throw on the first drive was huge. I am not opposed to the Steelers looking at a quarterback but this draft is very weak at that position.
Especially on defense. We need something more than a jr hi game plan
Bell said yesterday that he's had the injury for a while but doesn't remember when. Says he didn't tell anybody. Um, wouldn't it be a good idea to let the trainers and coaches know so they could at least treat it and have some alternative plays in the game plan for Williams? Williams is a completly different player and I saw him in the slot a few times where Bell lines up. Seems they didn't change the play calling with Williams in the game. Putting him in the slot isn't his strong suit at all.
Bell is a great talent, but unfortunately shows signs of being a knucklehead. In addition to this apparently poor communication, he's had 2 suspensions, due to weed and also a DUI involved one time. I guess he gets a big contract, but he's still not at a good level of maturity.
Steelers try to pick up an additional running back somewhere in the 3-5 round area?
Spot on! I can't believe how soft they played as Brady picked them apart, as opposed to Houston which blitzed and mauled him. As for draft, LB is one (Harrison is on last legs), entire secondary.
Due to his injury history and off the feild issues, I think you franchise him and take the best available in round 3 to 5. He's a great player, if not the best RB in the league, but is he worth a huge contract(he apparently rapped about his asking price) if he's not available come playoff time? He still hasn't played a full season because of injuries or suspension or a combination of both.
Agreed. Although I do believe the defensive scheme along with a couple of weak links in the secondary was the issue. If there is no pressure up front, Brady will pick anyone apart. However, Mike Mitchell was exposed in his lack of being able to cover. Burns can cover but missed many tackles. If Golsten is the player they thought they drafted 2 years ago, we'll have a good corner with fresh legs. Mike Mitchell and Timmons are getting slower every year and should be looked at to replace. I think it should be 1st round OLB, 2nd round S, 3rd-5th rounds RB, ILB, QB best available. Later rounds best available player.
Bell is a great talent, but I would pretty much franchise him a couple years and let him walk. Unless he signed a reasonable running back type deal. I don't think its a good idea to tie up that much money in a running back. Losing him wan't the reason they lost. A guy like Williams looked fine when he was in their this year.
Well with Ben stating that his future is up in the air for 2017 I think the Steelers better realize the future is fast approaching them...
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