Steelers Sign Shazier, Now Must Sign Roethlisberger Sooner Rather Than Later

by Jason Robinson and Jayden Matthews

"Shazier's 4-year contract with #Steelers is for $9.5 million, $9 million guaranteed including $5.23 M signing bonus" - Ed Bouchette via Twitter (@EdBouchette)

On Thursday, the former Ohio State standout became the sixth of nine Pittsburgh Steelers draft picks to sign a rookie contract, and the first to be signed with the new cap room money freed up from LaMarr Woodley's release. 

The versatile linebacker with blazing speed, or as one scout put it, "He's a blur," can play any of the four linebacker positions in the 3-4 defense and could likely make an immediate impact for the Steelers.

In college, Shazier played in 39 games at weak-side outside linebacker as well as inside. He totaled 316 tackles, including 101 tackles in 2013 when he was a first-team All-American, 14 sacks, 44 1/2 tackles for a loss, nine quarterback pressures and nine forced fumbles. 

Considering those numbers and his skill set, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Mark Kaboly from his Twitter (@MarkKaboly_Trib) account, "The Steelers are going to use Ryan Shazier in sub packages to rush from the outside. Not exclusively, but there will be a package for that."

Speaking of prodigious numbers and skill sets, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger brings his gaudy career numbers back to OTAs with an, as was put by the NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala, "awfully instructive" and an excited demeanor, but without a contract extension. - http://on.nfl.com/1j4bpWH 

The news that Big Ben has risen to a new level of leadership is the best news to come out of OTAs. Shouldn't that be rewarded or at least acknowledged by the front office? 

Big Ben has said many times that he doesn't get involved with the business side of things, that he just wants to worry about football. But that doesn't mean he isn't aware of what's going on around him. 

In the midst of those post-OTA interview questions, he congratulated San Francisco 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick on his six-year, $126 million contract. The real numbers, however, being just a two years for $28 million and "only $13M guaranteed." After year, however, it starts to turn in Kaepernick's favor. - http://overthecap.com/looking-closer-colin-kaepernick-contract-extension/

Some believe Big Ben is headed for a franchise tag that will earn him in excess of $19 million. His Salary Cap hit is set to be $18.895 million this season and $18.395 million in 2015. The Steelers should want to avoid this Cap hit and make sure Big Ben ends his career in Black and Gold. 

It's a process which only gets harder the longer they wait. Not only because of Kaepernick's deal, but because of what's to come. -  http://tinyurl.com/l2gvhz9

“Word around NFL is that when Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson get new deals next year, they will come in between $24-$25 million per year.” - Adam Schefter via Twitter (@AdamSchefter)

There is definitely a way to avoid this, however. If It Ain't Steel has actually covered it before, and it came hard upon the New England Patriot's Tom Brady's contract extension. 

"Rip up his current contract and redo it overall, which in effect turns his old agreement into a new one, and of course extend him....The New England Patriots did that very thing with Tom Brady, doing away with his old contract and its liabilities and most of his salary was paid as a bonus which doesn't count against the Cap. - http://tinyurl.com/k72gq7m

"In doing this the Steelers would not only save money but it would also allow them two years to clear up other money issues, freeing up money under the cap allowing them to re-sign their free agents and possibly sign other players....He is all about the team and will do what is needed to help the team. - http://tinyurl.com/ljeju3q

"The only drawback is the possibility of a per year salary being around $20 million." At the same time, though, the Cap numbers would be lower, which is the main objective here after all. 

That and to keep one of the best QBs in the NFL "excited." 

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TIDBITS: Antonio Brown's 1,499 yards receiving in 2013 were by far the most in NFL history for a sixth-round draft pick.

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OLB Jason Worilds has missed five of the first six OTA practices because of a calf injury. He has been running and riding the stationary bike.

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“@jimwexell: Don't buy this nonsense about the #Steelers' no-huddle looking like all that. It was awful Wednesday, as it should in June.”

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Sean Spence participating in Steelers offseason workouts http://t.co/wIP17r8pkV 

Addressing The "Trade Ben Roethlisberger" Talk; Sean Spence Put On IR

Updated 11/17/13
by Jayden Matthews

Mid-season is upon us and things aren't exactly what we'd have expected in the City of Bridges. To the degree that many fans are ready go to one of them and jump off. Especially regarding her favorite son and quarterback. 

Earlier in the season, we at If It Ain’t Steel had decided we weren’t going to unnecessarily defend said quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger, because of his play. And frankly, he hasn't deserved it. Big Ben has played nowhere near to the best of his ability and at times has resembled some guy we simply are not used to watching. What's more is he will be the first to admit that. So why defend his play? 

But what has me angered and therefore the reason for writing this is that some fans are calling for him to be benched. Further than that, more than a few are saying the Steelers should not extend their two-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback and even trade him. Now, we wrote a parody blog in the offseason about trading Big Ben, but...

What are you people thinking???

I was born after the Terry Bradshaw, Steel Curtain, four Super Bowl-winning run of the 1970's. When I was born, frankly, the Steelers were not that good. But that happens when players get old, new players come in, coaching staffs change, front office personnel change, etc... When I realized what football even was, despite their not being very good, I chose to be a Steelers fan. They were not forced on me, even though my dad was a true blue, diehard Steelers fan, as was most of my family. I chose to be a fan, again, even though they weren’t winning championships.

The first Super Bowl that I, myself, can remember was when Larry Brown became Neil O’Donnell’s favorite target - the problem was just that Brown played for the Cowboys. Sorry for the bad flashback, but, if you're like me, you probably still ruminate over it knowing it's the reason we don’t have seven Lombardi trophies. 

But that is my first recollection of a championship caliber team, and the Steelers did not return to their again until 2005, after they drafted Big Ben. There were AFC Championships during that time, but no big dances.

The Steelers drafted Big Ben in 2004 and I was very happy because I had followed him in college and I knew he could be that guy to get them back to glory. He did not let me down, either. He has led them to the promised land three times in his first 10 years under center, winning twice. His play, capped by the greatest Super Bowl-winning drive in NFL history, in SB 43 should've earned him at least co-MVP also. 

This season, however, Big Ben has hardly looked like that championship-winning quarterback. The Steelers are having one of the worst seasons on record for this storied franchise. Is he the problem? Maybe, but he is not the entire problem, a subject which will be addressed again over the next few articles. 

Big Ben, though, has been turning the ball over a lot this season, throwing interceptions and fumbling. The last time he turned the ball over this much was in 2006. Is this on him? Yes and no. Some of it is that he is getting hit often because the offensive line forgot how to block, some of it is on the receivers not running the right routes and some are definitely on Big Ben. He hasn’t been securing the ball the way he should, has sometimes been reckless with it or has simply been inaccurate. Again, he will admit to all of this.

But now fans have it in their heads that not extending Ben or trading him is what's needed. "Just cut/trade him and move on." Their reasoning being the Steelers' Salary Cap issues, saying the team would be better off not extending him. Well, those saying that didn’t do their homework. 

Trading Big Ben would not help the Steelers cap-wise. Any team that he would be traded to would only be on the hook for his contract, not the money that was pushed back due to restructuring. Trading Big Ben would actually put the Steelers in a bigger hole than what they are already in cap wise because of the dead money hit they would take. 

Right now, the Steelers are $1.65 million under the Salary Cap and approximately $3-$4 million over the cap for 2014. Yes, players will be cut at the end of the season and contracts will be renegotiated to get under the Cap. But, if they would take that extra step and trade Big Ben they would take a $18-$24 million dead money hit against the cap, basically meaning they'd be working with only a $100 million Cap. So how is that helping the Steelers? 

(UPDATE: According to Ian Whetstone, whom we often reference, the Steelers would actually take a $13.59 million Salary Cap hit, and by extending him, the Steelers would only save $5.3 million. I unfortunately went elsewhere for the Cap information and was incorrectly informed. The fault is my own. In fact, Jayden had initially told me that the dead money hit was closer to $14 million...I really hate it when she's right.)

Are you comfortable with having an approximate $110 million Cap? That ties up money that can be used in signing and re-signing players that they need. Is there a solution? Why yes, there is. 

Rip up his current contract and redo  it overall, which in effect turns his old agreement into a new one, and of course extend him. That would do away with the dead money hit, his massive salary cap hit, etc... The beautiful thing of that is that the Steelers still have their franchise quarterback. Can that be done? Yes, it can. 

The New England Patriots did that very thing with Tom Brady, doing away with his old contract and it's liabilities and most of his salary was paid as a bonus which doesn't count against the Cap. - http://tinyurl.com/k72gq7m

In doing this the Steelers would not only save money but it would also allow them two years to clear up other money issues, freeing up money under the cap allowing them to re-sign their free agents and possibly sign other players. This is what I firmly believe will happen, because Big Ben has shown, including on his radio show this week, that he is all about the team and will do what is needed to help the team. - http://tinyurl.com/ljeju3q

The only drawback is the possibility of a per year salary being around $20 million. We'll be getting back to that soon enough.

Another thing ones have thrown around is that Big Ben is too old and needs to go. I say hogwash! Big Ben will be 32 at the start of 2014. Yes, he takes more hits than most QB’s, but a lot of that goes back to his style of play too. But to say he is getting old is funny because I don’t think Peyton Manning or Brady got that memo. 

If Ben at 31 is old, what would you call Brady and Manning? “Grandpas”? It's just insane to even utter those words and no need to further address any of that nonsense.

Look, I get that fans are frustrated, but to want to cut a guy that has never had a losing season is ludicrous. Especially considering he is fourth in win percentage all-time among NFL quarterbacks. 

All he does is win and you want him gone? You are willing to throw that all away and take a chance on an unproven guy that may or may not be the answer? Just ask Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw, because he agrees with me. - http://tinyurl.com/ku7rgze

As a way of putting a bow on this, allow me to illustrate it this way: Cliff Stoudt, Bubby Brister, Jim Miller, Mike Tomzack, blah, blah, "we suck at QB", blah...

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TIDBITS: Inside linebacker Sean Spence has been placed on IR. Can't agree with Gerry Dulac’s take, though, that the Steelers should've kept Spence on 53 for practice time. It's still a waste of a roster spot and would affect player(s) evaluation as season ends, or would be a hindrance if multiple players were to go down. It doesn’t matter whether or not he's gonna start in 2014, either, because he'll have ALL of the offseason to prepare (eligible for all camps because of injury).

“@MarkKaboly_Trib: On bright side for Sean Spence, at least Steelers thought enough of him to put him on IR rather than outright release him. Had both options”

"@MarkKaboly_Trib: Actually, Sean Spence not put on IR. Kept on PUP. Either way, season is over. Just semantics."

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STEELERS PRACTICE REPORT: 

Ike Taylor and Vince Williams did not practice. David DeCastro and Markus Wheaton practiced.

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.

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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