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Pittsburgh Steelers Free Agency Grade and Review

Contributor: James Pete, Steel Tradition

Team Needs: OG, OT, CB, S, WR, ST, DL, ILB

Key additions: LB Keyoran Fox (Kansas City), C Justin Hartwig (Carolina), RB/KR/PR Mewelde Moore (Vikings)

Key Losses: OG Alan Faneca (NY Jets), KR Allen Rossum (San Francisco), TE Jerame Tuman (Arizona)

Key Free Agents Retained: OL Max Starks (transition), DE Travis Kirschke, OG Chris Kemoeatu, LB/DL Andre Frazier, OL Trai Essex, Long Snapper Greg Warren

Free Agency Notes: Pittsburgh's offensive was really in disarray as the season progressed last season. Some attribute it to injury, but Pittsburgh's line hasn't been that good in two years. Pittsburgh lost their best lineman, OG Alan Faneca, who signed a mega-deal with the New York Jets. Faneca is one of the best run blocking guards in the game, but pass-blocking isn't his specialty. Faneca struggled in the Steelers' passing game, because of Ben Roethlisberger's mobility. The team's key moves have been on the line. Sean Mahan, the big OL signing last year, was continually blown off the ball at center, which led to the Steelers to sign center Justin Hartwig from the Carolina Panthers. Hartwig provides a more seasoned center than Mahan, and while he's not a long-term solution, he should be an improvement in the middle. Mahan will add versatility, and will challenge for one of the guard positions, and provide the Steelers with a swing lineman who can back up the guard and center positions. Pittsburgh re-signed OG Chris Kemoeatu, who will be battling Mahan for the departed Faneca's guard position. He's inexperienced, but may be better than people think, especially against the run. Trai Essex was also re-signed, and can play both guard and tackle. He should be in the mix. The watch is now on for Max Starks, who the Steelers have labeled as a transition player. Nobody has offered him a contract, and the Steelers are still working on a deal. If they can't sign him, he'll make the average of the top 10 OL in the league, which would be 6.9 million. Pittsburgh addressed several needs when they signed former Minnesota RB/KR/PR Mewelde Moore. Moore immediately becomes the Steelers third down back, and return man. This will be a major upgrade over old-man Allen Rossum, who was allowed to leave after a disappointing season. Pittsburgh also signed LB Keyoran Fox from the Chiefs to help the Steelers in special teams. He also will move from OLB to ILB to back up a thin position. The Steelers still need to address several areas, including the defensive backfield, the defensive line, wide receiver and special teams. It may be difficult to do with their limited cap space, although the recent release of Cedrick Wilson gives them 2 million more to play with.

Grade: C+ The needs are being addressed, but it's hard to do with restricted cap space.

Review of Grade: In truth, the Steelers have their hands tied with Cap Space, so the moves they have made have fit what they can do. Still, this team really hasn't addressed their issues with any real depth. The offensive line lost Faneca and added Hartwig, while re-signing backups without experience, and keeping the others that weren't all that effective. Nothing against Hartwig, but him at center, with Mahan or Kemoeatu at guard probably isn't the answer. The Steelers line needs an overhaul. The defensive backfield is very thin. Troy Polamalu is as good as it gets, but there are injury issues that keep coming up. Ryan Clark fits well with Polamalu, but after getting injured last year, it's unknown what or if to expect him back and up to snuff. Tyrone Carter is to small and Anthony Smith bites on every play action, provided nothing but burnt toast as fill-ins. The Corners, Ike Taylor and Deshea Townshend are as inconsistent as they come, and have needed replaced for the better part of two-years, but they do just enough to keep their jobs. The defensive line is solid, but Casey Hamption, Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel are all 30 years and over, and after Smith went down, we saw how little depth there is on the dline. The WR position also has two solid starters in Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes, but not a consistent back-up with size and hands. Special Teams still needs addressed. At the end of the day, the Steelers need to add depth in the draft, or it could be a long season.

post-gazette.com

NFL owners vote to end players' contract early

The NFL owners voted unanimously Tuesday to end their agreement with the players' union in 2011, two years before the deal was to expire.

NFL Notebook: Owners meet to discuss labor situation

The NFL's labor situation could get more complicated this week. The league's owners meet today in Atlanta and could vote to opt out of the labor contract. ...

Belichick: 'There was no deception' in videotaping opponents

BOSTON -- New England coach Bill Belichick lashed out at the team's former video assistant Friday, saying in a televised interview that Matt Walsh was a low-level staffer who was fired for "poor job performance."

steelerslive.com

If I were Dan Rooney

If I were Dan Rooney , I can promise you I would be screaming loud and clear over Matt Walsh videotaping the Steelers signals during the 2001 AFC Championship !

read more

Pac Man Jones - a disgusting mess

This article doesnt have alot in common with our Steelers but it is something to think about .

read more

Mike Humpal LB Iowa

For what it's worth, I happen to pick up a Sporting News Draft Preview magazine today and Humpal is listed as a sleeper prospect.

read more

nfl.com

Steelers first-round draft pick Mendenhall robbed during walk

Police and family members say Pittsburgh Steelers first-round draft pick Rashard Mendenhall was robbed at gunpoint along the Chicago lakefront early Monday.

Steelers hoping Parker, rookie Mendenhall can provide 1-2 punch

NFL teams rarely devote a first-round draft pick to a position of strength, but that is exactly what the Steelers did by choosing Rashard Mendenhall of Illinois with the No. 23 pick last weekend.

WR Washington back with Steelers

Wide receiver Nate Washington, a restricted free agent, accepted his tender offer from the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday and will make $1,417,000 this season.

mvn.com/nfl-steelers

Prisco gives Steelers credit, temperature in hell plummets

There is generally no love lost between Pete Prisco and the city of Pittsburgh.  Not after he ranked Ben Roethlisberger as the 17th-best QB in the league prior to the 2007 season and included just two Steelers in his list of the top 100 players in the league.  And he was one of the first [...]

On the Bubble: Sean Mahan

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin seems to have an affinity for his former players. This year’s hot choice was Anthony “Booger” McFarland, who eventually was not signed because of a failed physical (however, he is still under consideration if he can prove he’s healthy later this month at a private workout). Last year, [...]

What’s this about a Pens-Steelers rivalry? GO PENS!!!

There’s been a ton of talk about a Penguins and Steelers rivalry over the past week in the major Pittsburgh media. In some of that media, there’s been the suggestion that the Penguins have overtaken the Steelers as Pittsburgh’s favorite sons. I’m not here to talk about how utterly ridiculous that is. [...]

steelersgab.com

Agent for McFarland Thinks Steelers Should Sign Him

The Steelers have been though this before, but it appears that the agent for Anthony McFarland is again trying to get his client in a black and gold uni.  Karl Bernard is suggesting that the Steelers sign the big D-linemen, this after he already was set to come to the Steelers in late March before [...]

Steeler Great To Lead Scholarship Program

Steeler Hall of Famer Franco Harris has been named the chairman of the Pittsburgh Promise.  The Promise is a joint venture between the city of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh School District.  The 250-million dollar fund will provide college scholarships to most students who graduate from city schools.  The program is one of the first of [...]

#1 Draft Pick Mendenhall Robbed at Gunpoint in Chicago

New Steelers running back Rasheed Mendenhall, who was the teams top draft pick two weeks ago, was robbed at gunpoint in Chicago early Monday morning according to the Chicago Sun-Times.  Mendenhall, who was not injured, was walking along the South Side lakefront around 2am when two people robbed him of his phone, cash and wallet.  [...]

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