Bell Suspended, DeCastro Extended, Steelers Scheduled Presented and CBs Visited

Thursday proved to be a busy day for the Pittsburgh Steelers. There was good news, there was bad news and there was Hall of Fame news. Well, sort of...

Early this morning, ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted that Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell has been suspended by the NFL for the first three games of the season: "@AdamSchefter: Pitt RB LeVeon Bell suspended 3 games, fined additional game check for violating substance abuse policy, per league sources. He is appealing."

As NFL.com reporter Gregg Rosenthal posted regarding the August 20, 2014 incident, "Detective Brian Kohlhepp of the Ross Township, Pennsylvania Police Department confirmed to NFL Media that running backs Le'Veon Bell and LeGarrette Blount were pulled over Wednesday around 1:30 p.m. ET. They, along with an unidentified female passenger in the backseat, were taken into custody and admitted to marijuana possession." The arresting officer had found a "20 gram bag of marijuana inside the car."

Regarding the appeal, Steelers beat writer for ESPN Scott Brown doesn't believe the suspension stays at three games saying, "...there is no way the three-game suspension sticks. The collective bargaining agreement -- not to mention common sense -- won't allow it." - http://tinyurl.com/jww9jwv

Regardless, as it is that the Chong to Bell's Cheech, erstwhile teammate and current New England Patriots RB LeGarrette Blount, was also suspended (one game) for his part in the incident, the NFL will likely no longer pair the two teams on its opening weekend Thursday Night Football kickoff as both teams will be without two of their stars.

Next came word Thursday that Steelers exercised the extension on right guard David DeCastro. Picking up DDC's option means he'll make the average of the salaries for the "3rd-25th highest paid" OG's in NFL, per Pro Football Talk. Being that the option is for injury only, and that he is set to receive a salary of $8,070,000 in 2016, a longterm deal is likely imminent.

Signing him to a new deal would seem especially prudent considering that DDC truly established himself this past season and should've been a Pro Bowl participant. The last thing the Steelers want is for the player many are calling 'the next Alan Faneca" to become...the next Alan Faneca.

"Steelers Live" announced the team's preseason schedule at 4 pm EST and probably drew a greater audience than whatever baseball game was on at the time. The only date known at present "obviously" is the Hall of Fame game on August 9, 2015. - http://stele.rs/2run1 

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TIDBITS:
Ohio State cornerback Doran Grant had already visited the Steelers, then Thursday saw more CBs making trips to the Southside. As first reported by Steelers Digest's Bob Labriola, Stanford's Alex Carter, Washington's troubled-yet-mega-talented CB Marcus Peters and Virginia linebacker Max Valles made visits.

Though we believe Carter is a potential Steelers 2nd-round selection, the focus was definitely on Peters. Even though he was kicked off of his college team, Peters is considered by many as the best CB in the NFL Draft and that he would be a good fit with the Steelers. Interestingly, in addition to Thursday's visit, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin met with Peters at the NFL Combine. Further still, defensive backs coach Carnell Lake and former Steelers tight end and current scout Mark Bruener were at Washington's Pro Day.

If It Ain't Steel's preference may be Wake Forest CB Kevin Johnson in the first round, but we wouldn't be in any way hurt over Peters' being selected instead. Just sayin'...

Run Down Of Steelers Transition Tag; Worilds Accepts Tag

UPDATE:
Poor Jason La Canfora...

Jason Worilds has accepted the $9.754 million Transition Tag the Pittsburgh Steelers placed on him on Monday. It completely takes him off of the free agent market and the Steelers are now working on a longterm deal with him that would pare his Cap number down from the aforementioned amount.

If It Ain't Steel posted the article below that explained what this all meant for Worilds and for the Steelers. Then this came down the pike Tuesday morning from the same person who had not long before that stated that he'd be gone:

"@JasonLaCanfora; Jason Worilds has signed his transition tag w/PIT worth $9.75M. No offer sheets can come now."

Per Ed Bouchette from his Twitter (@EdBouchette), the Steelers are working on making it so that Worilds stays in the Steel City for years to come. As usual, they've taken care of home, of their own free agents, first.

Below is the article that covers all of the particulars surrounding the contract situation before Worilds' accepting (nothing was actually "signed") of the tag.

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“@BobLabriola: The @Steelers designate OLB Jason Worilds a transition player. Tender is average of top 10 salaries; @steelers can match any offer”

That was the information that came down Monday morning from within the Pittsburgh Steelers organization shortly after it was announced that the Washington Redskins had put their Franchise Tag on outside linebacker Brian Orakpo.

Facts - The Transition Tag, as referenced by Steelers Digest's Bob Labriola in the above quote, costs the Steelers $9.754 million which puts them approximately $10 million over the NFL Salary Cap, per the Rule of 51, at the printing of this piece including the $1.35 million carry over from last season's Cap (and before adding dead money owed). - http://tinyurl.com/oegxr29

The Steelers announced the move less than an hour before the 4 p.m. EST NFL deadline to make the move. They now, as with every other team, must be under the Salary Cap by March 11th.

Possible Moves - Cutting Levi Brown will erase $6.25 million.

Restructuring contracts such as Antonio Brown and Lawrence Timmons would cut another approximate $7 million off of the books.

Troy Polamalu, who turns 33 years old in April, is likely to be asked to take a pay cut, as his 2014 Cap number is $10,887,500 million. But it could be done in such a way so as to work such a reduction into an extension that lowers his Cap number and still allow him to retire a Steeler.

Ike Taylor, 34 in May, will count $11,942,404 million against the Cap and has a non-guaranteed base salary of $7 million. He could be cut or asked to take a (significant) pay cut.

Moves - Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reported early Monday morning that the Steelers are in negotiations with tight end Heath Miller to restructure his deal. Being that he is in the final year of said deal, it would have to actually be either an extension of his contract or a pay cut. I and all whom I trust believe that the Steelers will extend his contract and use a signing bonus to reduce his $9.5 million Cap number this year.

What It Means - The Transition Tag allows the Steelers some control as Worilds assuredly tests the market. The team, though, has right of first refusal and can match any deal he may get. It essentially forces Worilds' agent to go and find a deal.

A risk is taken nonetheless. Worilds has said that he wants to stay in Pittsburgh and simply asked, if they truly wanted him, that he be named the starter. One big way to do that is to pay starter money.

By putting the tag on him, the Steelers gave their answer in the affirmative.

The nearly $10 million Worilds would potentially be owed is a figure that would be paid out in 17 game checks. Both Worilds and the Steelers would prefer that number turned into a multi-year contract - it provides security for the player and then this year's number comes down to $5-$6 million which helps the team.

In other words, a potential good situation for the Steelers and for Worilds. He can still test the market and leverage his number up. He's guaranteed $10 million and, if the bottom falls out, can be a FA again next year.

The Steelers can match what he may look to accept as a longterm deal. If he stays, the Steelers have the makings of another set of OLBs set to wreak havoc if Jarvis Jones picks up where he left off in the final game of 2013.

Drawbacks - There is no compensation if they don’t match an offer Worilds accepts.

Nothing can be done with LaMarr Woodley until the situation with Worilds is finalized. If he is to be cut, it can't be done before June 1st.

Addressing The Secondary: Post-NFL Combine Look - Safety

In our last piece, If It Ain't Steel began covering the positions the Pittsburgh Steelers are in greatest need of filling as the new NFL year approaches, as well as the players likely to fill those positions. Though free agency will play into the equation, the NFL Scouting Combine gave us the first offseason look.

Speaking of which, and in no particular order, those needs going into March 11 are cornerback (covered in previous blog), safety, wide receiver, defensive line and linebacker.

Last Sunday during the Combine, ESPN NFL Draft analyst and commentator Todd McShay football in shorts is "never a replacement for tape." While this is basically true, the annual Beefcake Bonanza does, however, bring insight into things that might otherwise go under-evaluated.

Steelers Digest's Bob Labriola recently explained how this could be when wrote that the "Combine can be a big help in the evaluation of defensive backs for this specific reason: when watching the player in a game, you never can be sure what he’s being coached to do. .... Maybe a safety is playing too deep, or not attacking the line of scrimmage. Whatever it is", the Combine helps to filter it out. - http://tinyurl.com/kxerr6u

That said, who are those safeties whose intangibles backed game film? And how do they potentially fit into the Steelers draft plans?

Calvin Pryor, Free Safety, Louisville: 5'11", 207, 4.58/40, 75 Tackles, 3 Interceptions, 4 Passes Defended, 2 Forced Fumbles* (1st round) - Draft analyst Mike Mayock calls Pryor: "a bigger, stronger Bob Sanders....flies around, hits people, a little better in box than back end."

NFL.com calls him a "big, physical, hammering run defender brings an enforcer mentality to the box and an intimidating, punishing presence to the back end. Is arguably the most violent hitter in this year's draft class..." - http://youtu.be/Io0tKa1cCeU

Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix, FS, Alabama: 6'1", 208 LBs, 4.58/40, 51 Tckl, 2 INTs, 4 PD (1st round) - The 2nd-team All-American and first-team All-SEC free safety has good size and length (32 3/8" arms). Had surgery in December, 2013 for a torn meniscus, but rebounded well at the Combine.

Has what Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin would call "good see-to-do" speed, is an effective run supporter and isn't afraid of contact. Mayock describes Clinton-Dix as "better range [than Pryor], more of a deep third or half guy, covers well, complete player." - http://youtu.be/_PWWf12zHeo

Free agency likely dictates whether either of these men will be taken in the first round. With free safety Ryan Clark likely leaving, a big hole will need filling. Would cornerback Ike Taylor be the short-term solution there? - http://tinyurl.com/krlvz8v

But being thin all over the secondary, the Steelers may also want to bring in a veteran who can complete to start rather than to have a rookie playing free safety next year.

If they do go with either of these two, however, we lean toward Clinton-Dix because, as Mayock pointed out, he has the better range of the two. The Steelers already have a hitter in the box and slot cover guy in last year's strong safety draft pick, Shamarko Thomas.

Dion Bailey, Strong Safety, USC 6'0", 201 LBs, 4.66/40, 62 Tckl, 5 INTs, 6 PD, 1 FF (2nd-3rd round) - Bailey is a classic tweener who started off playing linebacker in college before moving to strong safety. His best shot in a hybrid role (think Myron Rolle). Though he compares himself and his game to Troy Polamalu, he won't play that role in Pittsburgh. - http://tinyurl.com/mc4al6h

Terrance Brooks, FS, Florida State: 6'1", 211 LBs, 4.49/40, 56 Tckl, 2 INTs, 5 PD, 2 FF (4th round) - The former cornerback took over the starting FS role the last two seasons using his range, athleticism and ball skills to make him a truly viable option for the Steelers. Has good vision and that see-to-do thing mentioned earlier. Good tackling and jumping ability (38" vertical) has others believing the senior graduate would be a fit for the Black and Gold as well. - http://tinyurl.com/mtzukt8

Possible late-round gems -

Kenny Ladler, FS, Vanderbilt: 6'0", 207 LBs, 4.7/40, 91 Tckl, 5 INTs, 4 PD, 5 FF (5th-6th round) - A three-year starter who has experience at both safety positions. Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau does at times use his safeties interchangeably, so that could work in Ladler's favor. His penchant for turnovers does also - he had 10 in 2013 alone. - http://youtu.be/i8zx3OgsOog

Brock Vereen, S, Minnesota: 5'11", 199 LBs, 4.47/40, 59 Tckl, 1 INT, 6 PD, 1 FF (6th-7th round) - Per GopherSports.com, he has extensive experience starting in the Golden Gophers' defensive backfield, so that versatility should help him. (See Ladler) - http://youtu.be/Ql5BpFzjK_M

While there are actually a few others who might be on the Steelers' radar, these here are the ones we feel could find themselves in the Steelers' Training Camp on the roster next season. By May 10th we'll know whether that will be the case.

With Free Agency Looming, The Worilds His Oyster

Pittsburgh Steelers free agent outside linebacker Jason Worilds would like to stay in the the Steel City. The Steelers would like Worilds to stay. Done deal, right?

"If the circumstances are right, for sure," Worilds told ESPN approximately a month ago. "They haven't been right for me in the past."

Ok, well what circumstances?

"I wouldn't want to fall back into (not starting) again. I've just been patient and (am waiting to) see how the Steelers view me," Worilds further said.

In that case, let's just lay this one out there: assure Worilds his starting spot and re-sign him. This needs to be GM Kevin Colbert's main priority

Worilds says he is open to re-signing with the team before the start of free agency on March 11th, as long as he is a starter. This is by no means an outlandish request, either.

He is after all a former second-round draft pick who is entering his fifth season. He sat behind James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley his first three years, and also endured some (hamstring and wrist) injuries that kept him out of starting opportunities as well (opportunities inauspiciously filled by Lawrence Timmons and Chris Carter). So his wanting a sense of security is completely expected.

Once Worilds had enough playing time to finally prove himself and gain invaluable experience, he made the left outside linebacker spot his own.

So much so that when Woodley came back from yet another injury, he was moved to the right side. Then when Jarvis Jones was subbed into the game, Woodley came off the field instead of Worilds.

Worilds' second-half performance this past season was no fluke, either. Some players just need a little extra time to have it all click. Something along the lines of Keenan Lewis the year before. Success builds confidence. He had put up similar numbers in even less time on the field, and is now increasing his repoitore of moves. 

Worilds finished the season with eight sacks - seven of which coming in his final eight games of the year. He also had 16 of his 21 quarterback hurries, and 20 of his league-leading 21 quarterback hits in that same span. He also recorded 63 tackles and two forced fumbles in his 15 games and 11 starts. Very good numbers for a 3-4 outside linebacker.

The future is now, and his is a brighter one than Woodley's at this point. Worilds is just 25 years old and should only get better.

The problem is that other know all of this as well

Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net wrote Monday morning that "at least a dozen teams" are interested in Worilds. He says that signing Worilds is a near impossibility because of the problems with Woodley's contract.

"LaMarr Woodley’s contract (is) likely to make re-signing Jason Worilds very difficult if not impossible. I’m told at least at least a dozen teams here at the combine have expressed great interest in Worilds if he hits free agency." - http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=9449

Woodley, who will be 30 in early November, suffers from chronic, repetitive soft tissue injuries. Injuries that, in the name of business and for the sake of the team, all but require him to be cut. Unless he takes a pay cut (not likely), he is likely to be cut.

Doing so after June 1st would be a savings of $8 million over the next two years each. But, per Ed Bouchette, cutting him now would be "a significant cap savings -- a total of $25.5 million (his salaries) in both real money and cap savings over three seasons with none of it counting after this one. - http://t.co/Gl54s0WLLJ

But, once again, what has to be remembered is that Worilds wants to stay. So, if someone does make him a bigger offer, would he want to uproot and re-learn?

Possibly not per Steelers Digest's Bob Labriola. He responded to a similar question a couple of weeks ago on his Twitter (@BobLabriola) account by saying, "Not so sure Worilds even wants to leave. A competitive offer can get it done. It doesn't have to be the most $$$."

Now that the NFL Salary Cap has been projected even higher at $132 million, with the definitive word coming as of the owner's meetings in March, the Steelers now have more room to make something happen.

Plus, the Steelers have approximately $1.35 million left over from 2013 that they can use. So the Steelers' adjusted Cap at this point, assuming these projections are accurate, is $133.35 million. That puts them almost even as far as the Rule of 51 is concerned, being only about $2 million over at that point minus dead monies.

Though Colbert has stated that the Steelers won't be using them, the Franchise Tag, which would be around $10M, might be to their advantage as it would give them time to get a long-term deal done and then remove the tag. This would be done ONLY as a last resort, though. They've done it before, both with the Transition and Franchise Tags, and could do it again here.

If not, if he's allowed to test the free agent waters, one of those 12 teams who've expressed interest in him will definitely overpay (as someone always does) an amount the Steelers match, and then the Worilds would be Jason's oyster.

Aptitude As Well As Attitude Behind Steelers Hire Of Joey Porter

The horrendous field conditions and lightning-filled weather that plagued the game that Monday night in 2007 reminded one a different era in the NFL and looked, amidst the mud and muck, as if it should've been played in black and white. Despite the all-too memorable conditions dominating the story that night, there is one thing I remember, will always remember, more than anything else.

"You know you love me!"

That night, former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Joey "Peezy" Porter returned home - and picked up right where he left off.

The Steelers opening drive ended with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger being intercepted by Peezy who had been cut by the Steelers in the previous March. His pick came along the Steelers' sideline, and then yelled those famous words at their bench after being tackled.

That epitomizes Peezy and exemplifies why head coach Mike Tomlin brought him in as an assistant linebackers coach as Steelers Digest's Bob Labriola would later point out on Twitter.

"@BobLabriola: Since 1992, the 2 best @Steelers OLBs re: sacking the QB & intercepting passes: Greg Lloyd and Joey Porter. He can help Jarvis and Timmons."

During that time until now, per the criteria set by Labriola, Peezy leads all Steelers outside linebackers with 60 sacks and 10 interceptions. He wasn't just the fire-and-brimstone, sack-the-quarterback menace most remember. He could also cover, and knows how to translate his skill set into a teaching format. Just ask his alma mater, Colorado State.

"Porter’s tutelage, assisting the defensive coaches with the team’s outside pass rushers, produced significant results for the 2013 Rams, who posted their best record since 2002, at 8-6, and earned a victory in the New Mexico Bowl over Washington State. Senior outside linebacker Shaquil Barrett posted 12.0 sacks and set a Mountain West record with 20.5 tackles for loss en route to winning MW Defensive Player of the Year honors." - http://tinyurl.com/lgfc534

As the title of Labriola's article brought out, and referring back to the tweet quoted earlier, 'Jarvis Jones isn't Peezy's only pupil.'

"Joey can bring a certain element of pass rush expertise, and the exciting thing is that Jarvis and him are a very similar stature,” said Steelers GM Kevin Colbert. .... "But Joey wasn’t brought in here just for one player. The expertise he can lend to all of our pass rushers, interior people as well as the outside linebackers, can only help us.” - http://tinyurl.com/mvvqxge

Part of that "element" is something that is missing with the current corps of linebackers. They don't have...let me see, how can I explain this?

Since 1974, the Steelers have always had at least one linebacker who just scared everybody. That one who personified the words from the rap group U.T.F.O. on their 1987 cut "Diss": "I never say excuse me, move out my way, sucker! You use 'Mr.', I use 'Motherfu**er!'"

And that is something this group is lacking. So, sure, he can show them how to beat up half the Cleveland Browns team, but his expertise  benefits in more ways than just that as was a fierce pass rusher and great cover linebacker as touched on before. He could help teach Jones, Spence and even Timmons in those categories.

Jones is more laid back and is, as If It Ain't Steel has described him before, more sleek and sudden than powerful and disruptive. Though Jones says he understands the import of the offseason, Peezy will still provide a real challenge on a daily basis. - espn.go.com/blog/pittsburg…

Spence, as Labriola pointed out, "is a complete unknown." He still has to overcome the peroneal nerve damage that he suffered when he tore ligaments in his knee. If he avoids further damage, as this type of injury can lead to other injury conditions like the inability to even lift the distal are of the foot, he still has to get used to being on a football field after being away for two years.

He is currently working hard at the renowned Bommarito Performance Systems in Miami, Florida. Spence has trained there before and is also from Miami where he played college ball.

According to Michael Coffey, owner of "Coach Coffey" and formerly of Velocity Sports Performance, "Pete Bommarito does a great job with Muscle Activation Technique. I'm sure that will help Spence."

Peezy will definitely be able to help all the linebackers in some way or another. He will be able to light a fire under them and get results.

"You know you love me!"

Yeah, Peezy, we do.

Art Rooney II: Steelers Will Appeal Further Punishment, Praises Tomlin; Khan Gone?

Wednesday morning, Pittsburgh Steelers president Art Rooney II addressed the media regarding several matters associated with his team. Included among were support for head coach Mike Tomlin and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and various other points.

Art II said that he would expect NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the league to notify the team of any additional discipline - the losing of a draft pick - before the Spring owners' meetings, and that they would appeal it.

“(We've) notified the NFL that we would appeal if there is additional discipline," said Rooney II via Steelers Digest's Bob Labriola. "(We'd) disagree strongly if that were to happen.”

As Rooney II stated further, Tomlin has paid the piper. He took full responsibility for his actions and insisted that they were not intentional. He referred to them as "embarrassing" and "inexcusable" in the subsequent Tuesday press conference.

Tomlin paid the price dearly in fact, as he was fined $100,000 by the league for stepping onto the white area of the sidelines and nearly onto the field during the long kickoff return by Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones.

Never mind that similar incidents of coaches actually stepping directly onto the playing field had occurred previously and since, meeting little to no punishment. Now Emperor Goodell wants to take away team draft picks also?

“Mike has paid the price and as far we’re concerned," Rooney II further said. "It should be behind us.”

Yes, it should.

More from Rooney II: Preparing for next year, as he put it in his interview, starts from the top down. That means an evaluation of the head coach. Have no fear (or "eat it" to the haters), Rooney II is completely fine with Mike Tomlin.

"I thought Mike did a very good job in the sense that, even though we created our own situation, our team continued to play hard through adversity," said Rooney II. "That's not always easy to do. They continued to fight, continued to believe in themselves, and most of that is a tribute to Mike and the kind of coaches and players we have here. They fought hard all the way through, and in the end, we came pretty darn close to being in the playoffs. Like I said, I believe we were playing our best football at the end, which is what you want to have happen, and I think that's obviously due to coaching."

So, he's here to stay. Thankfully.

Someone, however, may not be here to stay. The Miami Dolphins have requested permission to interview Steelers Director of Football & Business Administration Omar Khan. Though he is mainly a Salary Cap wiz, don't underestimate the possibility of his leaving. Thus the hiring of Samir Suleiman last year as their Football Administration Coordinator and Khan assistant after the Jets showed interest in Khan. Is he a personnel guy, though? Plus, the Dolphins are a mess at this point. Time will tell, but Behind The Steel Curtain gives a further breakdown here: http://tinyurl.com/l99u4jo

Steelers Place LaMarr Woodley on IR - Are His Days Numbered?

"All of those things are up to discussion....Obviously with a new injury, similar to the one that had kept him out for a number of weeks, he may not be available to us and that might be a process that's discussed this afternoon." - from the Mike Tomlin Press Conference discussing LaMarr Woodley's injury - http://tinyurl.com/nbtqlt9

After discussing it, they made the decision many knew was coming. The  Pittsburgh Steelers placed outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley on Injured Reserve Tuesday, ending his season.

Woodley injured his calf when jumping to knock down an Andy Dalton pass on the second play of the Bengals game last Sunday night. Earlier this season, Woodley injured his left calf. This latest injury was to his right calf. In addition to the ankle injury, he was also hampered by a hamstring injury.

Over the course of the last three years, Woodley has seen his play and time on the field diminish. He has played in only 34 games, has missed 14 games as well as being unable to finish several others due to injury and has recorded just 18 sacks.

Not exactly living up to the approximate $36 million "earned" during that time. Meanwhile, Jason Worilds is an unrestricted free agent and has outplayed Woodley for essentially a year and a half.

As Steelers Digest's Bob Labriola pointed out on Tuesday, "While Woodley will have missed 14 games because of injury during the past three seasons, during the three seasons from 2008-10 he was one of the most versatile and productive outside linebackers in football. He stopped the run, recorded 35 sacks, had three interceptions and defensed 12 passes, forced six fumbles and recovered seven."

That, though, raises questions as to what could and/or should be done with a player who can't seem to stay on the field. Looking at what Labriola pointed out, it feels as if we're dealing with degrees of diminishing returns.

That being the case, taking into the pros and the cons of the situation is imperative.

For one, there is his contract. Per sportrac.com, Woodley is scheduled to earn $8 million in 2014 and to count $13.59 million against the Salary Cap. If the Steelers release him before June 1st, though, he will be a $14.17 million dead money hit against the 2014 cap. - http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/lamarr-woodley/

However, if the Steelers designate Woodley a June 1st release, they'd carry his full $13.59 million cap hit until then. That would save them his $8 million base salary, again against the Cap.

Alex, I'll take "Chickens Coming Home To Roost" for $8 million.

But, they would still suffer a $8.58 million 2015 dead money hit because of the prorated money from bonuses and restructures still on the books.

This all becomes especially relevant with the emergence of Jason Worilds.

Worilds is an unrestricted free agent linebacker after the season and the Steelers will want to do what they can to get him under contract or to place the franchise tag on him. Doing either would require having the cap space to do so, especially come June 1st.

Finding a way to bring back Worilds should be priority one. Last season, he had five sacks in 422 defensive snaps. According to Football Outsiders, that equates to approximately 10 sacks over the course of a season.

Beyond that, in an article If It Ain't Steel wrote back in March, Worilds "is decidedly better on the left side than on the right. Nonetheless, during those three seasons {2010-12}, he played 999 snaps or the equivalent to one full season. In that time he has 10 career sacks" in 10 career starts to that point.

This season he has become a virtual sack machine with six sacks in seven games and his 18 quarterback hits are more than the other outside linebackers on the team...combined. Most all of this is also, again, since moving to the left side. A fact which isn't lost on Tomlin.

“I think he is emerging and developing like all players should,” Tomlin said at last week's press conference. “He is healthy, more healthy than he has been in recent years....Also, I think he's a different, athletic matchup for right tackles.”

Others will be paying attention as well. Worilds could playing himself into a contract worth tens of millions. That's an amount the Steelers could find difficult to match, thus the consideration to designate him as their franchise player, an amount that could cost approximately $9 million, and then work on extending that into a long-term deal.

So, between Woodley and Worilds, head coach Mike Tomlin, GM Kevin Colbert and Director of Football & Business Administration (and resident Cap guru) Omar Khan have quite the decisions to make.

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TIDBITS: To fill the roster spot vacated by Woodley, the team signed linebacker Jamaal Westerman who was released by the Buffalo Bills last week. He was originally an undrafted free agent out of Rutgers in 2009. Signed by the New York Jets, he has also spent time with the Miami Dolphins, Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts. He has appeared in 21 games over the past two seasons and has recorded 1.5 sacks. He just fills a roster spot and purely provides depth behind Jarvis Jones and Jason Worilds.

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LB Kion Wilson, who was released from the Steelers' active roster on Saturday, has cleared waivers and was signed back to their practice squad.

Latest Steelers Defensive Debacle May Beg For LeBeau's Job

"They handled us and they handled us well."  - head coach Mike Tomlin after the Pittsburgh Steelers' 55-31 loss to the New England Patriots.

Where do we begin?

The Steelers walked into Gillette Stadium Sunday afternoon with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread. The Patriots ceremoniously cut that thread, dropping the once mighty Steelers to a lowly 2-6. It's almost too difficult breaking down this loss. Like Steelers announcer Bill Hillgrove said after the game, "Too many stats."

It's for that very reason that we're going to leave the majority of the actual breakdown to Bob Labriola so that we can focus on a broader problem. - http://tinyurl.com/p95fuqm

Something one scribe wrote in his article following the game was that the Steelers had "one of the top pass defenses statistically heading into the game." Well, it is Mark Twain who is credited with the quote,"There are three types of lies: lies, damn lies and statistics."

The poor performance we saw in last Sunday's 21-18 loss to the Oakland Raiders prove some numbers don't lie, though. Meaning, in that case, the numbers of missed sacks, missed tackles and the many missed assignments.

In retrospect, that was a virtuoso performance compared to what the Steelers defense tried to pass off as professional against the Patriots.

Jason Worilds had pity sacks (pun intended) and LaMarr Woodley, Lawrence Timmons and Vince Williams got pressure only a few times, but none of it was enough. The Steelers did actually have several pressures, as helped by defensive ends Brett Keisel and Cam Heyward, but too few led to sacks managing only three for the game.

To say that their current effort simply isn't enough is an understatement. For a point of reference, the Kansas City Chiefs not only lead the NFL in sacks (36) and forced turnover (23) through nine games, but also in wins. In fact, their 9-0 record is, in large part, due to those sacks and turnovers.

That used to be the Steelers forte: a rock-hard, fearsome defense that punished quarterbacks and teams in general. They led the league or were top three in the league in sacks six times in the 10 years from 2001-2010:
2001 .................. 55
2002 .................. 50
2003 .................. 35
2004 .................. 41
2005 .................. 47
2006 .................. 39
2007 .................. 36
2008 .................. 51
2009 .................. 47
2010 .................. 48

That's the crux of this article, though. The defense isn't feared as it has been, nor does it cause the chaotic confusion it once did. A confusion that is supposed to be the driving force behind the 3-4 scheme defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau uses.

Last season, Raiders' quarterback made reference to the Steelers doing pretty much what they had done "six, seven years ago." Sunday against the Patriots, the Steelers had to blitz regularly just to get the amount of pressure alluded to earlier. And it may simply be time to make one very hard decision.

It may be time for Dick LeBeau to retire and allow new blood in at defensive coordinator.

Look, it hurts to even write that. LeBeau is tremendously respected and is one of the best all time at what he does. Few have achieved more in football than Dick LeBeau, as a player, as a coach and as a man. Who doesn't love Coach Dad?

Still, the evidence has been there over the last few years and it's a subject that needs to be addressed now.  The word "predictable" has now been used entirely too often in connection with Lebeau and his schemes. And while execution always trumps predictability, there is too much evidence to be ignored.

Let's look at Super Bowl 45 an example, where the Green Bay Packers exploited the Steelers  secondary all game. It could have been worse, also, as the Packers receivers dropped several balls, including a few that would have been big gains.

What was most bothersome, though, was after the Steelers had stormed back and made it a 28-25 ball game with just over seven minutes left, the defense gave up a huge clock killing field goal drive. The Steelers didn't get the ball back till the 2:07 mark. The defense just couldn't get off the field.

Just like they couldn't Sunday against the Patriots. And there have simply been too many situations where the defense does not show up when needed most, especially late in games.

Now with this last example being presented, it is clear that changes must be made. LeBeau had seemingly shown the ability to change his attack given the circumstances, as he did in the last New England Patriots game in 2011. Yet, his game plan was horrible, reverting back to previous years' performances.

Too much base defense, not enough bump coverage, barely any effective "quarters" coverage and great liabilities in Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark. All of this allowing quarterback Tom Brady, held to 118 passing yards the week before, to pass for 432 yards. His 151.4 QBR was nearly perfect.

The Patriots put up 610 yards total - 98 more yards than a LeBeau-coached or any Steelers' defense has ever allowed. The 55 points were the most ever allowed, also, by any Steelers' defense, with the previous high being 54 points set twice - in 1941 to the Packers and in 1985 to the San Diego Chargers.

"Probably as disappointed as I have been," Tomlin said after the game, "especially under the circumstances of how we were able to fight back there at the beginning of the second half. I am angry. We are capable and better than that. We've got to be better than that. We weren't, so we are going to fix it." - http://tinyurl.com/kkscnsy

The defense couldn't stop the pass, made rookie receivers look like seasoned veterans and, worst of all, they couldn't stop the run - they surrendered almost 200 yards on the ground. Worst of all, the last rushing touchdown scored by the Patriots was just the bully being bullied as LeGarrette Blount powered out of the arms of Ziggy Hood to score.

"For a long time here we've been tough because we've played great defense here", Keisel said. "We need to get back to that."

They were unprepared, outmatched and outclassed. In neither scheme nor adjustments were the Steelers successful. Like Clark said, the Patriots "were able to run it when they wanted to run it, which is an 11-man job, and they were also able to pass it when they wanted to pass it, which is an 11-man job....We were beat by a much better team."

That isn't merely a player-execution problem when it's as consistent as it has been for the Steelers. Like Tomlin said, they need to fix it. Well, there's a lot to fix.

And fixing it starts from the top of the defensive pyramid down.

~

TIDBITS: Injury report: CB Ike Taylor (concussion), ILB Vince Williams (concussion) RT Marcus Gilbert (ankle)

"I got rolled up on my bad ankle, but I'll be fine." ~ Gilbert

Desperate Times, Desperate Measures - The Steelers Trade For Levi Brown

“We’ve gotten below-the-line work and that’s the reality of it. It needs to be above-the-line and we’ll turn over any stone in order for that to happen.” - Mike Tomlin on the play of the offensive line

The Arizona Cardinals have agreed to terms on a trade that would send left tackle Levi Brown to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Will he provide the "above-the-line" play Tomlin spoke of above?

Brown was a first round pick in 2007, the 5th overall out of Penn State. He played two years under Todd Haley at Arizona, including protecting Kurt Warner in their Super Bowl season of 2008, and also played well at the end of 2011.

Brown was injured in 2012, though, and has graded out poorly according to Pro Football Focus so far this season.

The Cardinals had thought enough of Brown to sign him in 2012 to a five-year contract worth $30 million with a $7 million signing bonus and $8 million guaranteed. That changed.

"The tackle we evaluated in 2011 was a heck of a left tackle," Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians said of Brown. "The tackle that we got back isn't the same guy."

Cardinals GM Steve Keim said something similar: "Levi Brown was not living up to our expectations on the field."

The Steelers won't have to absorb that money, though, because, as Bob Labriola reports, the Cardinals renegotiated before the trade.

Isaiah Green has been released to make a roster spot.

As far as the player not living up to expectations, the number bear this out.

While Mike Adams was the 68th ranked tackle (out of 72 eligible) according to Pro Football Focus, Brown was only slightly better at number 60. PFF further reveals that Brown has been involved in 269 plays this season and has been bad in pass blocking, grading out at -8.5, but on 174 run plays has graded out at +2.9. By comparison, Adams grades out at -10 and -1.2 respectively.

If Brown returns to his previous potential and form, he could be a rock at left tackle. If he cannot recover well enough from his injury and advance, he can be cut without further monies being paid to him. He will, though, still have cost the Steelers another draft pick (they traded their third-round pick during the 2013 draft).

A certain blog/website reported on Tuesday that offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum had usurped Adams in practice and would be starting against the New York Jets on October 13th. This is completely wrong, or at least incompletely accurate and premature.

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Mark Kaboly reported Wednesday morning that the entire starting offensive line was benched during practice on Tuesday. Rightly so.

But the Steelers have yet to announce a new starting left tackle yet, whether it be Brown or Beachum.

Regardless, if Brown isn't the pedigree that the Steelers are "obviously" banking on, it will be yet another failed move by Kevin Colbert. - http://ifitaintsteel.blogspot.com/2013/04/house-of-lords-or-house-of-commons.html?m=1

Moves that have cost the Steelers much in the way Salary Cap problems, and have caused the Steelers to have an offensive line reminiscent of the Keystone Cops.

Though Levi Brown isn't Duane Brown, I suppose desperate times call for desperate measures.

Jonathan Dwyer: There's Something Rotten In The State Of...Pittsburgh

"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." - Marcellus from Hamlet, act I, scene IV

The reason Marcellus says "state of Denmark" rather than just Denmark is to indicate the fish is rotting from the head down - all is not well at the top of the hierarchical structure.  

We bring this up because there seems that there may be something amiss in the hierarchical structure of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Not that we're insinuating that someone's ghostly relative is influencing anything, but there does seem to be influence nonetheless. 

Maybe. But we've seen it before.

When Jonathan Dwyer was released in the final cutdown to get to the 53-player NFL allotment, there were many who were up in arms over it. My partner being among those who was particularly livid. Yet, despite social media networks being all a twitter (pun intended), the reason isn't really known.

One reason some have cited is that Dwyer fumbles too much. In reality, Isaac Redman has fumbled seven times in 273 carries. Felix Jones has fumbled 12 times in approximately 600-career carries. Dwyer? Twice in 181 carries. 

Another reason is supposed to be Dwyer's work ethic. No, he was never very consistent, being either hot or cold. Too often on the sidelines nursing an "injury." Something he probably could have come back from sooner. A reason Steelers beat writer Gerry Dulac recently tweeted from his Twitter (@GerryDulac) account as well.

“@gerrydulac: Steelers got tired of Dwyer's lack of dedication to his job; and they like Felix Jones.”

But was that behind him?

To be sure, for the zone-blocking system, yes, Felix Jones is better than Dwyer who is a more-limited runner. He can make poor decisions with the ball at times. Also, Jones is (much) faster, is a slightly better fit with how Haley uses backs and has the cutback ability needed for this run scheme. So, that I get. 

Is Dwyer better than Redman, though? Yes. When Dwyer is on his game, he is a better running back.

Maybe, though, they felt Redman reads the seams better in the zone scheme. Maybe the "Redzone" aspect of Redman's game plays into it. Or maybe...

@MarkKaboly_Trib: "One last thing on Dwyer ... it wasn't the coaching staff that wanted him gone."

"Ay, there's the rub."

It isn't as if we haven't seen Art Rooney II meddle in team affairs before. (How's that "retirement" going, Bruce Arians? Catch many fish?) Or it could be Kevin Colbert pulling the Salary Cap strings.

Regardless, this smacks at a front office decision. Dwyer was due $1.3 million in 2013 on a one-year restricted free agency tender. He led the Steelers in rushing last season, but they keep Redman instead. A player whose total and average numbers were lower than Dwyer's. 

No matter how you slice it, from an on-the-field standpoint, the move doesn't make sense. Redman was barely on the field in the preseason and saw his numbers drop last season, yet Dwyer was cut. 

"Here's to the pencil pushers: may they all get lead poisoning."

~

TIDBITS: The Steelers edified their special teams on Monday. 

Per the Steelers official Twitter (@Steelers) account: "We have signed veteran punter Zoltan Mesko (@ZoltanMesko) to our active roster today. To make room for Mesko we released second-year punter Drew Butler.”

Per Bob Labriola from his Twitter (@BobLabriola) account: "This is the key stat on Mesko: 101-of-175 punts could not be returned by the opposition." He was drafted by the Patriots in 5th round of the 2010 NFL Draft.

The Steelers also used a waiver claim on cornerback Antwon Blake after the Jacksonville Jaguars waived him. Isaiah Green was released to make room for him. He's a gunner and led Jacksonville in special teams tackles in 2012 with 12, a talent the Steelers squad desperately needs. Green, if he clears waivers, should circle back around to the practice squad. Devin Smith would probably be the one released at that point. 

~

Steelers Labor Day Practice Report from Jim Wexell: http://t.co/yHhYibIl8o 

~

Rookie linebacker Jarvis Jones, who suffered a bruised sternum in the third preseason game against the Kansas City Chiefs, practice with the team again. Afterward, he talked to the media.

"I pretty much did everything today," said Jones. "Great feeling to get back out there and just practice with the guys and go through our routine and prepare for Sunday. Today was basically a day we go through a lot of the early calls against other teams. Get back into it, been a long weekend. So, for me, it was (about) going out there and getting back into the feel for it. I've been off a week and I'm just finding out where I'm at."

@MarkKaboly_Trib: 14 of #Steelers 53-man roster weren't drafted or orginally signed by team. 9 of those 14 came this year including 5 in past 3 weeks.

For Steelers To Be Successful, They Must Grade On A Bell Curve; Injury Report

UPDATED: 8/16/13
With several positions being manned by different players this upcoming season, many talking heads have the Pittsburgh Steelers written off already, putting them into third or even last place in the division.

The Steelers, though, believe they have the formula for curing many ills. They have set their sights once again on dominating the line of scrimmage and controlling the clock. In the best years they have known, there was always one constant to their offense. That is the ability to run the ball with a lead late in the game and thereby finishing off an opponent.

With the drafting of four offensive linemen and one running back in the first and second rounds in the last four years, the team with the most rushing yards since the NFL/AFL merger have shown that their desire is to excel in that area again. NFL.com's Jason LaCanfora believes these young players portend good things for the Steelers. - http://tinyurl.com/lvhhwsm

The pass oriented NFL isn't being ignored by the Steelers by any means. But they realize that to excel completely at the pass, the run must be established.

Not meaning running on first and second to set up a pass on third, but to establish the threat if nothing else. And a threat is only viable if there is actual fear-based believability. I tell you I'll punch you in the mouth, you scoff. I just do it, and often enough, and the threat is real.

That means the running game must increase its production, and it must do so early in the season. According to Lance Zierlein of Rotoworld.com and TheSidelineView.com, he doesn't expect "the running attack to explode overnight", but he does expect a measured improvement.

"This year, the Steelers are in pretty good shape from a health standpoint on the line and they have a new feature back in rookie Le'Veon Bell....I do think we will finally see the Steelers actually commit to running the football."

Based on what the Steelers running backs coach, Kirby Wilson said last week, the Steelers believe the same.

“You would love to have a back who can play first down through third down," said Wilson. "That’s always the best. Now, you have players who can spell a starter, then you have situational players that have strengths in other areas, put for the most part you always want a guy who is there first through third.”

He and they believe Bell is that back.

However, that can only be done if he and the other players in this are healthy going into as well as throughout the season.

That sound you heard Thursday was the collective breath inhalation and Gasp! of Steeler Nation as Isaac Redman and, maybe more importantly, Bell went down to injuries. Behind the Steel Curtain covered the Redman situation earlier today. - http://tinyurl.com/lu37vqz

As for Bell, he re-aggravated his left knee injury Thursday, the same knee that kept him out of the first preseason game against the Giants, forcing him to watch the conclusion of practice with his leg in ice.

Per Steelers Digest's Bob Labriola, "When Le'Veon Bell aggravated his left knee in practice today, it was not a live tackling session. Bell to be evaluated." Current word is a mild MCL sprain.

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport said that he hears Bell's knee is "fine." Jim Wexell backed that up with his next tweet.

As does DVE's Mike Prisuta.

This comes one day after Bell had been elevated to co-starter status alongside Redman on the team's depth chart. With the Steelers' next preseason game being Monday night, both running backs have time to recover.

As a side point, this is also why the Steelers didn't and wouldn't have cut or traded Jonathan Dwyer. He has shown he can tote the rock and that they can win with him as feature back. He just wasn't consistent enough and was oft injured. Now this with the others.

When looking at the immediate future of this season's team. I see it as Le'Veon Bell, Isaac Redman and LaRod Stephens-Howling, with Will Johnson at fullback. Yes, Dwyer could make the team, but he isn't a special teams guy and is basically another Redman.

As we've written before, the war of attrition has begun. Let's hope that the Steelers know how to balance the fine line between battle testing a player and breaking him. To do so, especially for one whom they want to be their future, they might want to start grading on a Bell curve.

UPDATE: Le'Veon Bell re-aggravated knee bruise. No MCL damage or tears.

Bob Labriola tweeted from his Twitter (@BobLabriola) account: "RB Jeremy Wright signed and PK Daniel Hrapmann waived. Relax, Steelers Nation. This DOES NOT mean Le'Veon Bell's injury is serious."

"For this afternoon's practice, Le'Veon Bell is expected to be dressed and on the field. That indicates his injury isn't serious."
~

TIDBITS: The injuries continue to pile up. During their Thursday practice, rookie linebacker Jarvis Jones tweaked his groin. Dale Lolley of the Washington (County) Observer reported that he does not believe the injury is serious.

So, Redman has a stinger, Bell re-aggravated his knee, Jones tweaked his groin and OLineman Justin Cheadle has a significant hamstring injury. Tomlin says it's "a matter of weeks and not days.”

Youth Being Infused Into Steelers Defense

As the 2013 offseason progresses and more information about the Pittsburgh Steelers and their draft class is disseminated, two things come into focus fairly quickly: the defense will be younger and the draft class has, well, class.

Despite many fans being up in arms over the re-signing of Buck linebacker Larry Foote to a three-year contract (only two of which he'll see), or the keeping of oft-injured Troy Polamalu, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Mark Kaboly pointed out that the age of the Steelers defense is steadily dropping.

"[T]he Steelers have progressively gotten younger while keeping the core of their No. 1-ranked defense intact," Kaboly wrote, "which isn’t very easy to do."

"In fact," he continued, "the 'old' Steelers defense has been able to knock off a year every season and, if projections hold true for this year and into next, the Steelers will have gone from 31.1 years of age to 28.2 within a span of three offseasons without any glaring holes in the lineup and reduce their 30-year-olds on defense to as few as two in 2014 … or even less." - http://tinyurl.com/d9xs8kh

One of the younger members of the defense who has been vilified by many over the last year or so because of his weight issues and work ethic is LaMarr Woodley. After being injured and out of shape much of the last two seasons, he has been called out by his position coach -- "Don’t come to camp weighing 290" -- and by an anonymous teammate -- "He was awful. He tells us he works out, but we didn't see it. He wasn't in shape. That has to be a reason why he was always hurt."

But just a few weeks ago, Woodley let his critics know that he is ready to "get after it," saying that his "offseason is going great."

"I'm looking forward to getting back with the team in a few weeks," Woodley said per the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I've been training since the middle of February ...It was a disappointing season being 8-8 and not making the playoffs. It was disappointing at the end of the day....I said this offseason I'd be determined to get after it."

Others who look to be determined are cornerbacks Ike Taylor and Cortez Allen who, as If It Ain't Steel related a couple of weeks ago, are working together with To Shaw down at Wide World of Sports complex in Florida. Per the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Allen has had some praiseworthy words for Taylor who is becoming a mentor.

"Ike is one of the hardest workers I've met," said Allen. "Seeing the way he does things is something that I would one day like to model. I'm getting a close-up view of what it takes to play 10 years in this league."

"We know what's required in the scheme of what we do," he continued. "We know how to push one another. We have to coach each other. We're making one another and the team better as a whole."

With Allen slated to get his chance to start next season opposite Taylor, joining him in this training and mentoring is ideal for 'making one another...better.'

Another who is actually in battle for a roster spot is inside linebacker Marshall McFadden, about whom Mark Kaboly effervesced when speaking of his "power and potential." Because of some CBA technicality, 2012 wasn't an accrued season for McFadden, so he was given with an opportunity to participate in the team's rookie Minicamp, which he called a "refresher."

"When I came in last year during rookie minicamp I was struggling to understand things because it was all so new to me," said McFadden. "Coming in this year and taking that step again, it was an introduction again. It was great for me because I got a better understanding because I had a year to develop. My mind is clear enough to understand it this year. It was a great refresher for me."

"I am classified as someone that has to take a big step this year," McFadden continued. "Once the OTAs start, it can do nothing but help me by knowing what to do, playing faster, knowing where to be, where to go. This was perfect for it."

McFadden, who led the Steelers last preseason in total tackles, spent most of the 2012 on the practice squad, although he did see time on the active roster late in the year due to injuries. Don't count him out for 2013.

Then there is 23-year old, 5'10", 180-pound cornerback Isaiah Green, the second-year man out of Fresno State. Per Behind The Steel Curtain, he wants to be more than just a Training Camp body. In the article they wrote about him, and according to his Fresno State bio, Green has a "nose for the ball" all the requisite physical skills, making him another to watch in Latrobe:

"...a fast and athletic player who will is expected to see action in the secondary and on special teams ... penciled in as a starting cornerback heading into fall camp ... one of the fastest players on the team with a 4.29 40-yard dash." - http://tinyurl.com/d795cnq

Last but not least there is outside linebacker Adrian Robinson, the speed rusher from last season. We'll be focising on him in an upcoming piece.

As for the rookies, it's easy to get excited about this year's draft class. Not only because of what they will bring to the field, but also because they seem to exude what the 2012 class was bereft of: common sense and maturity.

First, there is Jarvis Jones, the southern gentleman. Shamarko Thomas, as we told you recently, will 'work hard until his hands and his feet fall off.' Plus, two others who could end up being steals and contributors this season: the Black Cat and The Destroyer.

When Steelers defensive backs coach Carnell Lake speaks of rookie Terry Hawthorne, he tends to mention one thing fairly often: "He is fast." 4.31/40 fast.

"What I like about Terry," Lake said, "is that he has a lot of upside potential that I see in him. I think he has all the physical tools. He is big. He is fast. He doesn't mind tackling, and he can play press coverage well, kind of in the same way as an Ike Taylor."

Hawthorne himself is saying all the right things, such as his proclamation that he'll 'do whatever he can to help the team' and to turn the corner.

"I'm just trying to get my technique down," Hawthorne said. "They've been correcting me on my technique. I had bad technique. As I'm getting my technique better, they're starting to get a little more comfortable with me....It gives me a great advantage for them to correct my technique now." - http://t.co/goD1wdnudG

Another to keep your eye on is inside linebacker Vince Williams. When Steelers Digest's Bob Labriola was on the Steelers Live show this past Tuesday and was asked if any other player had caught his eye over the minicamp weekend, Williams was his focus.

"The one guy that I kind of noticed was Vince Williams," Labriola said. "He would be the second pick in the sixth round, an inside linebacker from Florida State. Vince Williams, a couple of the things that I liked about him, were first of all, it wasn't very long into the on field sessions when Vince Williams was instructing teammates about where they needed to be, and shifting and those kind of things.

"Vince Williams did a lot of the defensive play calling during his college career and it seems like he has a very high football IQ and it seemed to me," he continued, "watching from the side, that that was a little bit on display right from the beginning."

Labriola continued by expounding on the main factor that's going to get him a spot on this roster, that "he's going to make special teams coordinator Danny Smith a very happy person."

"One of the main concepts, basic concepts of playing special teams, covering kicks, is find the guy with the ball, get the guy with the ball on the ground....This is a guy who will be able to find the guy with the ball and get him on the ground on special teams plays, and that alone could make him a very valuable part of the 2013 Steelers."

Despite head coach Mike Tomlin's disputing linebacker coach Keith Butler regarding Sean Spence as to whether he'll ever return or not, between McFadden and Williams, the question as to Spence's replacement may have been answered.

~

TIDBITS: This doesn't feel right as a "tidbit," but Jack Butler, the great NFL Hall of Famer and former Pittsburgh Steeler, died Saturday morning. He was 85. Here is the statement by the Steelers: http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Steelers-statement-on-passing-of-Jack-Butler/93753b20-7311-4cb8-ad60-9f339e6e6bd8

Butler was just inducted into the Hall of Fame back in August and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette said that he had never seen him so happy. About a year before he was finally recognized by the Hall, If It Ain't Steel had written about the travesty of not having this great man donning a mustard-colored jacket. We leave you with the piece written at that time as it chronicles all of his accomplishments. RIP, Mr. Butler. - http://ifitaintsteel.blogspot.com/2011/08/jack-butler-should-be-in-hall-of-fame.html

~

Steelers hire two in the family as scouts -- Dan Colbert, Kevin's son, and Mike Butler, son of deceased HOFer Jack Butler.
The Steelers also promote Phil Kreidler to college scouting coordinator to replace Ron Highes, who stays as an adviser. Mark Bruener was also promoted and had been a BLESTO scout for a couple of years.

Steelers Draft Pick Shamarko Thomas: "Work Hard Until Your Hands And Your Feet Fall Off."

Over the last couple of years, the brain trust of the Pittsburgh Steelers have tried to be more proactive during Pro Days to meet with families of potential draft picks. A solid practice - it helps one to ascertain what a player's home life and upbringing may have been like, and what values may have been instilled. A solid practice indeed, though not always possible.

Strong safety Shamarko Thomas was a promising talent even early on in his football career. He attended Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where he set school records for tackles, interceptions and defensive touchdowns. Thomas eventually became an All-State First-Team selection, and would also go on to win All-State track honors in the 100-meter dash and in anchoring the 4x100 relay team.



All seemed good. He had a bright future and a family who loved, encouraged and challenged him. He would go on to attend Syracuse University where he became a fixture right away, including seven starts as a true freshman in 2009. His sophomore year could only prove brighter. Or so he thought.

Thomas would go on to suffer a great loss on July 10, 2010 when he lost his father, "the man who pushed him to gridiron greatness," was killed in a motorcycle accident. Unfortunately, his pain would not end there.

Less than a year later, on April 18, 2011, his mother died of "hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the myocardium becomes too thick, making it harder for the heart to pump blood. She had unknowingly battled the condition for years; it has few symptoms and often goes undiagnosed." (italics ours)

The woman who was a true inspiration in his life, who called him her "chosen one" and who instilled within him to "work hard until your hands and your feet fall off" was now gone.

"When Thomas heard the news, he sobbed so violently that his friend in the upstairs apartment rushed to console him." (To experience the rest of his amazing journey, read the Sports Illustrated article from which the quoted material comes: http://tinyurl.com/ca9k4cs)

In the span of a year, he lost both of his parents. He had to become a man overnight. He would go on to assume responsibility for six brothers and sisters, fulfilling a promise to his mother. He told her "he would become successful in order to provide for his siblings."

Assuming responsibility for his Syracuse teammates also, becoming a leader of defense, he was able to live up to his word in full by becoming the 111th player taken in the 2013 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Though Thomas wasn't as highly touted as other safeties in the draft, he was a physical presence nonetheless. He was known for his, as Steel City Insider's Jim Wexell put it, "bullet-style of playing strong safety," who has a "thirst for contact."

Thomas is a player and Orangemen team captain. As If It Ain't Steel wrote about him before the draft, at the NFL Combine he ran the fastest 40-yard dash of all the safeties at 4.42 seconds (despite falling over at the finish line - http://youtu.be/9lzuKEj6ETA), and 4.38 (4.37 on some watches) at his Pro Day. He had the most reps at the bench press, tied for the highest vertical jump and was one inch off the longest broad jump.

He's a versatile player also, as he played both cornerback and linebacker at times at Syracuse. So versatile, in fact, that he covered USC speedy wide receiver Robert Woods all over the field when they played Syracuse in 2012. Something that caught the attention of Steelers defensive backs coach Carnell Lake.

"If you look at the USC game, when Syracuse played USC, I noticed that when I was watching film on Shamarko that he was in the nickel position covering Robert Woods, who was drafted in the second round. I said, “Well you play the nickel also.” He said, “Yes.” I said, “Well how come you were out wide playing Woods at the corner position. Did you play corner?” He said. “No, it was still the nickel, but our coaching staff just wanted me to match up wherever he went.” And I thought that was really impressive. Why would you have your strong safety covering one of the better receivers in the draft man-to-man throughout the whole game?...Sealed the deal in my opinion." - http://tinyurl.com/cbn4kur

Before the draft, Steelers GM Kevin Colbert matter-of-factly said, "I don't envision anybody coming in and having an impact year one."

As Lee Corso would say, not so fast, my friend. Shamarko Thomas has the drive, the determination and the inspiration to go along with speed, power and enough football prowess to make an impact. Then, the Steelers are providing him with quite possibly the best mentor in Troy Polamalu.

Maybe most importantly is that he has a promise to keep - to work hard until your hands and your feet fall off.

Addendum: Steeler Nation, follow Shamarko Thomas on Twitter at @Shamarko21ya and let him know mama and papa would be proud of him.

~

TIDBITS: Bob Labriola reported earlier that the "Steelers signed veteran punter Brian Moorman as competition for 2nd-year pro Drew Butler. WR Bert Reed waived to open a roster spot."

~

And since we gave you the Steelers' rookies' Twitter accounts, here is the entire rookie class and a link to the rest of the players' accounts:
@SacManJones_29 ;
@L_Bell24 ;
@twheat002 ;
@shamarko21ya ;
@LandryJones12 ;
@TerryHawthorne1 ;
@justinbrown19 ;
@JohnnyBrovo11 (Vince Williams) ;
@NickWilliams_94
http://www.tweeting-athletes.com/index.cfm?CatID=93