As someone who has followed the Pittsburgh Steelers for 55 years and counting, I'm asking: can you identify one player on this team who you'd focus on keeping, to build a team around? I can't. Highsmith, maybe? The center (kid from WVU), maybe?
OT: Steelers - who do they build around?
- Thread starter Chairman Moe
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It feels like it's not even worth discussing until they eliminate the rot at the top, which doesn't sound likely. It's not often that I find myself agreeing w/ Madden, but he's not wrong.
https://triblive.com/sports/mark-ma...to-start-all-over-beginning-with-mike-tomlin/
https://triblive.com/sports/mark-ma...to-start-all-over-beginning-with-mike-tomlin/
I think you pretty much identified the only two viable candidates there. Anybody else is either too old or ineffective to even bother mentioning.
I don’t think you build around any particular player but more so the philosophy of you win along the lines. To win you have to have dominant offensive and defensive lines
I do think Highsmith and Herbig are good pieces on defense .
Despite their struggles - I think Frazier , Jones, McCormick , and when healthy Fantanu is a really good and athletic And Young OL .
Agreed. The offensive line in particular. You have some blocks there.
I'm putting these names out with varying degrees of confidence, mind you:
Benton
Wilson
JPJ
Highsmith
Broderick Jones
Frazier
McCormick
Fautanu
Friermuth
I mean, this isn't the greatest of situations. Every team in the NFL has at least a few guys they can build around, and none of these guys are stars (at least not yet). More than anything, they need those picks on the OL to work out.
Benton
Wilson
JPJ
Highsmith
Broderick Jones
Frazier
McCormick
Fautanu
Friermuth
I mean, this isn't the greatest of situations. Every team in the NFL has at least a few guys they can build around, and none of these guys are stars (at least not yet). More than anything, they need those picks on the OL to work out.
I'm not sure Herbig will ever be anymore than a 3rd down/pass rush specialist. He doesn't have the size to play full time.
Good call on Benton - forgot how young he is .
I do think in year 2 - Queen will be much better
JPJ is at least solid as a CB
I do think in year 2 - Queen will be much better
JPJ is at least solid as a CB
Yep. He'd get exposed real fast (and not stay healthy) as an every-down guy.
Build around a coach that understands today’s game. You can take less than star players and have them be effective with a more modern offense and frankly defense. If you stick with the same old mentality it doesn’t matter who you have at positions.
Your last sentence is the most important. They invested draft capital on the OL but they need them to work out. After playing a hefty amount over 2 years now, Jones is still a question mark. Fautanu was a question mark when drafted because of health issues and that obviously hasn’t changed yet. Frazier may be the most promising at this point. McCormick got good playing experience this year and did alright for a lower round draft choice. Good chance they’ll stick with him and not bring Daniels back after his year out with injury. Who knows if they’ll bring Herbig back either after his injury year. All depends on salary cap space after hopefully filling all the other voids.
In any case, we need a GLF from any OL holdovers from last year because this past year’s OL performance wasn’t good for running the ball or pass protecting.
We need a poll..what is in most need of improvement the offense or defense.
That’s a tough one because they both are in big need of improvement, player personnel wise and coaching/scheme wise.
I may be insane given how anemic the offense is but I think the defense is most in need of improvement.
That’s a tough one because they both are in big need of improvement, player personnel wise and coaching/scheme wise.
I may be insane given how anemic the offense is but I think the defense is most in need of improvement.
I have not seen much from Wilson to indicate he’s a difference maker
I’d leaving Muth off the list. They need to update at TE
Notice how most of the players you mentioned were drafted by Weidl and Khan. Give them a few years to retool the roster and I think they’ll “restock the cupboard.”
I think the Defense needs an upgrade at coordinator more than anything.
The dearth of talent at the skill positions on offense is the major problem. There’s not one guy the opposing defense has to game plan for. For all the talent people say Pickens has he’s 28th in targets and is rarely double teamed. The Steelers offensive weapons are pedestrian at best
I’ll jump for joy the minute I hear Austin is gone. It will probably last only for a short time until I hear who the underwhelming replacement is.
Wilson’s not a difference maker but I like him as a player and he definitely more than fills the role of a capable backup and rotational player.
The OL is the position inspires the most confidence, they look like a solid group moving forward. WR is an absolute train wreck, need at least 2 more to go along with Pickens, and I mean quality receivers not Allen Robinson depth types.
Despite their limitations both Herbig and Wilson have shown enough potential to start while still on their cap friendly rookie contracts. Use any money you can save there jettisoning higher priced guys to improve the embarrassing skill positions.
Despite their limitations both Herbig and Wilson have shown enough potential to start while still on their cap friendly rookie contracts. Use any money you can save there jettisoning higher priced guys to improve the embarrassing skill positions.
Not sure how you can say the OL looks like a solid group unless you’re basing that just on where/when they were drafted? I could comment on all of them but will just start and end with Jones.
I might think it’s a solid group going forward if they at least excelled at one thing but you can’t say that about either run or pass blocking
I think to reach their full potential, they’ll need to ditch Pat Meyer this offseason. If you want to talk about optimism, he does NOT give me hope that he can successfully get Jones to transition to LT and Fautanu to RT.
I don’t think Munchak is coming back, but they should absolutely look at someone like Bill Callahan, Tom Cable, etc.
I’d argue that both Frazier and McCormick played well as rookies and look to have long productive careers in the league. Seumalu doesn’t get a lot of attention, but he was a solid pickup and at age 31 should be set for at least a few more years. Fautanu was the most highly regarded of all of them, assuming he’s healthy for next season there’s no reason not to believe that he will step in and produce immediately. Jones is obviously a question mark with his lackluster play, but it’s still too soon to write him off.
I’m not saying it will be the best unit in the league, but on a team that doesnt have a ton of positives right now they stand out to me as a bright spot.
I'm not smart enough to know who on the offensive line is - or could become - a good starter in this league and who is just a young guy playing out of necessity (i.e. what Dan Moore Jr. has been for four years). But it feels like the near-future success of this franchise probably hinges on at least a few of these guys being studs.
This
And find a RB that at 240Lbs, chooses to lower his shoulder rather than imitate Barry Sanders.
Frazier had a decent rookie year. His pass blocking needs a lot of work but at least he wasn't launching footballs over the QB's head. Sort of funny that's the best you can say about any of them. After that, the group is a mystery. Fantanu played one game. No clue what they have there. Jones is pretty mid but a decent coach might save him. The rest, meh. Nothing great, nothing terrible.
Who is the future all-pro? They don't have one.
Who is the leader in the locker room? Obviously nobody. Can you imagine Pickens antics with James Harrison in the locker room?
The guy they can build a SB caliber team around isn't on the roster. Probably still in grade school.
Harrison wasn’t exactly known for his stable life off the field .
But was a workout warrior for sure
Not at all but he was a pretty model citizen when he went to work and he kept the rest of the club on its toes. They can't even get these guys to show up for exit meetings every year.
I hear what you’re saying and on the surface I agree with all of it. But then I can’t get by the fact that as a group they were really bad pass blocking and run blocking. So it’s a solid group just based on youth and where they were drafted, still a big question mark on if they can turn into a plus-group. Will depend on coaching and I think that’s a question mark currently as well.
You are not insane! This team just gave up 299 yards rushing in a playoff game. Even Pat Mahomes with Jamar Chase and Justin Jefferson might not be able to win a game when a defense gives up 299 rushing yards. You barely get your offense on the field when you are being run over. This team's defensive line is shot. Only Benton is worth keeping. It's hard to evaluate linebackers when the line in front of them is not holding up. That said, we still have linebackers who can't cover. The secondary is also weak. Porter and Elliot have shown out ok, the rest have taken up space, especially Minkah. Now don't get me wrong, the offense blows also, but, they have at least addressed the line, and stocked it with some young players with promise.
I think they have the pieces to have a dominant o-line but haven't had a good o-line coach since Mike Munchak left
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Yeah I think if you project improvement from their rookie year (Frazier and McCormick) they should be solid Not enough on Fautanu so hard to say but I’d give him the benefit of the doubt
Remember we were all encouraged by Jones play so nothing is guaranteed with this staff
Problem is to be good on offense I think the OL has to be better than middle of the league and I’m not sure this OL is there yet. I think they need to add another piece or two and get better coaching
But I think it’s fair to say they won’t be the glaring weakness they have been
Agree 100 pct but Id add that the Qb and RBs have an impact on how good the OL looks as well as the OC. The OC at least is no longer a net negative but I’m not sure the ground and pound scheme helps them a ton either
Only untouchable player is Boswell.
There's no one player to build around. This team needs to--and is--building around the trenches. Unfortunately, Jones hasn't lived up to expectations, though he was going to take time to develop and Fautanu missed his rookie season. Frazier and McCormick were solid in the middle.
Kenny is having a good end and beginning of the year isn't he. I would have loved to watch that game with him Saturday night...nonstop laughing, high end hooch and cigars.
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