Joe Soriano
O.J. Lewis3/2011 Team Scope: Pittsburgh Steelers
March 25th 2011 15:54
The Steelers are obviously in good shape with another Super Bowl appearance under their belts. However, there are still some weaknesses on this roster that need to be patched up.
We all know how great Ben Roethlisberger is, and they are deep at quarterback. Dennis Dixon is a decent player, Byron Leftwich is startable, and Charlie Batch is a good veteran backup. The Steelers have arguably the best group of QBs in the league. The Philadelphia Eagles are close with Kevin Kolb, Michael Vick, and Mike Kafka. The Packers are also in contention with Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn, and Graham Harrell.
Rashard Mendenhall is a good power rusher, and Mewelde Moore is one of the premier third down backs in the game. He racks up yards after contact and played really well in the Super Bowl. At receiver, Mike Wallace is the best deep threat in the game. Their receivers play well off of eachother's strengths and weaknesses. Hines Ward is a possession receiver that plays the short game. Heath Miller is a solid blocking tight end that is a nice red zone target as well as another short range receiver. Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown are speedy downfield receivers. Overall, it is a solid core that suits Roethlisberger.
Willie Colon was missed last season, and he is a huge upgrade over the completely inept Jonathan Scott at left tackle. Colon is a solid player, and he is the best offensive lineman on the Steelers. Chris Kemoeatu is a great run blocker who has incredible strength. He does a great job of pulling defensive linemen and creating holes. I would say he is the second best OL on Pittsburgh. Rookie center Maurkice Pouncey is overhyped, but he is still a great leader- especially for a young player- and he will definitely be a good player for years to come.
Trai Essex is a poor guard, and Flozell Adams is a decent run blocker but horrible in every other part of his game. Adams is too old and is only a decent run blocker because of his size. The O-Line has no depth, and the Steelers sorely need to draft a guard and maybe a tackle too.
Defense has always been a strength in Pittsburgh, and it all starts with Dick LeBeau's amazing blitz packages in his 3-4 defense. Aaron Smith is still one of the better run stopping ends in the league, and that's very important for a 3-4 end. Brett Keisel put together a nice year in 2010, and fellow 2010 starter- because Smith was out for the year- Ziggy Hood was also solid. Nick Eason is a capable backup too.
James Harrison is a stellar pass rusher, and he plays a rugged style that makes him pay far too much fine money. However, Harrison is the best linebacker in the league because of his pass rushing ability and his decent run D. LaMarr Woodley completes the dynamic edge rushing duo. He is very explosive and is a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
James Farrior is actually still a solid player, even at this stage in his career. Farrior's leadership and excellence are vital, and he is the one that mentored Lawrence Timmons. Farrior still gets the tackles; he always has. Lawrence Timmons had an incredible year last year and was the second best linebacker in 2010; behind teammate James Harrison. Timmons is going to be a star in the NFL for a while. Jason Worilds and Larry Foote are solid backups.
The biggest problem with the Steelers lies with their cornerbacks. Ike Taylor is a top cover corner that excels in zone coverage, but he's the only person on this roster worth starting at the position. Teams almost always throw it away from him because their other corners are just so bad. Bryant McFadden is a physical corner, but he gives up far too many catches and repeatedly gets burned. Nickel corner William Gay is poor. The only good thing I have to say about is that he's fast, and pretty much every cornerback in the NFL is fast. Fourth corner Anthony Madison is terrible and can't cover at all.
Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu make up one of the five best safety tandems. Clark is a vicious hitter that is excellent in run support, but he is one of the worst safeties in coverage. Polamalu is one of the biggest superstars in football, and his meaning to the Steelers cannot be expressed in words. He is such an athletic and instinctive player that can do it all. Polamalu can blitz, intercept, and he is the guy that the scheme revolves around. Antonio Brown is a good returner and so are backup returners Antwaan Randle El and Emmanuel Sanders. Shane Suisham is one of the worst kickers in the league, and punter Jeremy Kapinos is subpar.
Mike Tomlin is one of the best coaches out there, and his players love to play for him. He does a great job of motivating and managing. We already talked about LeBeau, and both of them help make up a really good coaching staff. With all that being said, I see the Steelers going deep in the playoffs again next season. What about you? Leave your input in the comments section.
We all know how great Ben Roethlisberger is, and they are deep at quarterback. Dennis Dixon is a decent player, Byron Leftwich is startable, and Charlie Batch is a good veteran backup. The Steelers have arguably the best group of QBs in the league. The Philadelphia Eagles are close with Kevin Kolb, Michael Vick, and Mike Kafka. The Packers are also in contention with Aaron Rodgers, Matt Flynn, and Graham Harrell.
Rashard Mendenhall is a good power rusher, and Mewelde Moore is one of the premier third down backs in the game. He racks up yards after contact and played really well in the Super Bowl. At receiver, Mike Wallace is the best deep threat in the game. Their receivers play well off of eachother's strengths and weaknesses. Hines Ward is a possession receiver that plays the short game. Heath Miller is a solid blocking tight end that is a nice red zone target as well as another short range receiver. Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown are speedy downfield receivers. Overall, it is a solid core that suits Roethlisberger.
Willie Colon was missed last season, and he is a huge upgrade over the completely inept Jonathan Scott at left tackle. Colon is a solid player, and he is the best offensive lineman on the Steelers. Chris Kemoeatu is a great run blocker who has incredible strength. He does a great job of pulling defensive linemen and creating holes. I would say he is the second best OL on Pittsburgh. Rookie center Maurkice Pouncey is overhyped, but he is still a great leader- especially for a young player- and he will definitely be a good player for years to come.
Trai Essex is a poor guard, and Flozell Adams is a decent run blocker but horrible in every other part of his game. Adams is too old and is only a decent run blocker because of his size. The O-Line has no depth, and the Steelers sorely need to draft a guard and maybe a tackle too.
Defense has always been a strength in Pittsburgh, and it all starts with Dick LeBeau's amazing blitz packages in his 3-4 defense. Aaron Smith is still one of the better run stopping ends in the league, and that's very important for a 3-4 end. Brett Keisel put together a nice year in 2010, and fellow 2010 starter- because Smith was out for the year- Ziggy Hood was also solid. Nick Eason is a capable backup too.
James Harrison is a stellar pass rusher, and he plays a rugged style that makes him pay far too much fine money. However, Harrison is the best linebacker in the league because of his pass rushing ability and his decent run D. LaMarr Woodley completes the dynamic edge rushing duo. He is very explosive and is a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
James Farrior is actually still a solid player, even at this stage in his career. Farrior's leadership and excellence are vital, and he is the one that mentored Lawrence Timmons. Farrior still gets the tackles; he always has. Lawrence Timmons had an incredible year last year and was the second best linebacker in 2010; behind teammate James Harrison. Timmons is going to be a star in the NFL for a while. Jason Worilds and Larry Foote are solid backups.
The biggest problem with the Steelers lies with their cornerbacks. Ike Taylor is a top cover corner that excels in zone coverage, but he's the only person on this roster worth starting at the position. Teams almost always throw it away from him because their other corners are just so bad. Bryant McFadden is a physical corner, but he gives up far too many catches and repeatedly gets burned. Nickel corner William Gay is poor. The only good thing I have to say about is that he's fast, and pretty much every cornerback in the NFL is fast. Fourth corner Anthony Madison is terrible and can't cover at all.
Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu make up one of the five best safety tandems. Clark is a vicious hitter that is excellent in run support, but he is one of the worst safeties in coverage. Polamalu is one of the biggest superstars in football, and his meaning to the Steelers cannot be expressed in words. He is such an athletic and instinctive player that can do it all. Polamalu can blitz, intercept, and he is the guy that the scheme revolves around. Antonio Brown is a good returner and so are backup returners Antwaan Randle El and Emmanuel Sanders. Shane Suisham is one of the worst kickers in the league, and punter Jeremy Kapinos is subpar.
Mike Tomlin is one of the best coaches out there, and his players love to play for him. He does a great job of motivating and managing. We already talked about LeBeau, and both of them help make up a really good coaching staff. With all that being said, I see the Steelers going deep in the playoffs again next season. What about you? Leave your input in the comments section.
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