Third Day Recap Proves that Steelers will Draft for Need

The Pittsburgh Steelers have long claimed that they do not draft based on need, thus the "best player available" term that we all know so well. Their stance is that they draft according to their overall ratings of players. 

This is what Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said at the NFL Combine regarding drafting for need:

"We will never go into a draft saying we have to address that area, because if we do, we are going to over-evaluate a particular position and probably make a draft mistake."

This, now, is what Colbert said at the pre-Draft press conference last Monday:

"[We never look to] draft for need....If you pass up a great player at any position, you're making a mistake that you'll regret at some point."

Sound fairly similar, don't they? It's basically a script he and head coach Mike Tomlin follow. And while I believe that to be true to an extent, it does seem, when broken down per year, to be more the exception than the rule. 

This is especially so in the first round, but found itself being true in most of the this weekend. The third day of the NFL Draft filled needs from the very first selection of the day. 

ROUND 4 -
DORAN GRANT, CB, 5'10" 200LBs; 4.44/40 

The Steelers' pass defense was 27th in the NFL last season, plus they lost two CBs (one to free agency and one to retirement). Enter Grant. With 30 starts in his career, he recorded 146 tackles, 20 passes defended, nine interceptions and one sack. 

He is a very tough player who is also versatile as he excels as much in run support as he does shadowing receivers. Because of that, he had been looked at as a possible free safety option before the Draft, but defensive backs coach Carnell Lake has already made it clear where he will be used, saying that he is a "solid, physical corner that has decent speed." -  http://tinyurl.com/mps3xkc 

The drafting of Grant makes it five of the past six years that the Steelers have drafted a player from Ohio State.

ROUND 5 -
JESSE JAMES, TE, 6'7" 261LBs; 4.66/40 (Pro Day)

With Heath Miller aging and no true  backup designated as of yet, there was a need to get a tight end with upside to eventually take over the mantle. The Steelers like Rob Blanchflower, but more was needed. 

James has the functional athleticism to be a Move TE, but more could have been seen from him, especially with his lackadaisical approach to blocking. But the Steelers really like him.

"We feel like he is a young man who can come in and add something to the Pittsburgh Steelers next season," per tight ends coach James Daniel. "....He has enough talent to be good in all phases of the game." - http://tinyurl.com/kphtgt6

ROUND 6 -
LETERRIUS "LT" WALTON, DT/DE, 6'5" 319LBs

Hm...I can't think of any another 6th-round player from Central Michigan to ever be drafted by the Steelers. Can you?

Brett Keisel was released due to his injury having yet healed and Cam Thomas was worthless, that created the need to get depth. L.T. Walton is a massive man who's a 5-technique type who will be put at defensive end in the Steelers 3-4 scheme. Because of his balance and because of how thin they are at DE, Walton will have a chance to actually make the 53. 

Steelers defensive line coach John Mitchell alluded to that balance at the press conference when he said, "He stays on his feet and that is the most important thing for a defensive lineman." - http://tinyurl.com/p9wepen

ROUND 6 (COMP) -
ANTHONY CHICKILLO, DE/OLB, 6'3" 267LBs

The Steelers lost one OLB and another is 37 years old, so they needed depth and to get younger at the position. Despite playing more with his hand on the ground at Miami, Fl., outside linebacker coach Joey Porter said that the Steelers will use Chickillo as an edge rusher.

"[Chickillo] adds depth to our pass rushing situation. ... He's always showing up on the field, he has a live motor." - http://tinyurl.com/ouc74r6

Porter also said that he told James Harrison that he will be limiting him to 25 snaps per game next season, and that there will only be four or five OLB spots. That's Jarvis Jones and the Silverback on the right, and Arthur Moats and rookie Bud Dupree on the left who are guaranteed. 

That likely leaves only one more spot to fill. But by whom? Howard Jones? Shawn Lemon? Jordan Zumwalt? Terrance Garvin? Chickillo? Time will tell, but that player will need to wreck shop in order to do so, and will have to excel on special teams as well. 

ROUND 7 -
GEROD HOLLIMAN, FS, 6'0" 218LBs

The least of the needs, but a need nonetheless. The winner of the Jim Thorpe Award led the FBS with 14 INTs last season at Louisville. He also recorded 63 tackles, six pass defenses and a sack.

Holliman's ball hawking skills are undeniable, and he has a good chance of making the team if he learns to do just one thing. What's that? Let me give you a hint: he got his contact skills from the Deion Sanders School of Tackling. Like Yoda said, he must unlearn what he has learned. If he does, he has a good chance to stick. 

So, two edge rushers, two CBs, a prime candidate for the No. 4 wide receiver spot and the possible future at TE? Funny how "the best player available" and team needs keep overlapping...

~

TIDBITS:
"@drinelli: @steelers have agreed to terms with 12 rookie free agents following the 2015 NFL Draft. Full press release & list: http://t.co/xjgAHxuYll/s/al1X

The 2015 Steelers 1st-Round NFL Draft Possibles, Alternates and the Borgias.

Approximately a month ago we were asked to post our thoughts on whom the Pittsburgh Steelers might and/or should take in the first round of April's 2015 NFL Draft. Well, going over each of the players we believe would be viable choices for the Steelers turned out to take longer than expected as well as causing data to accumulate. In doing so, either we needed empirical data to back up what we already believed, or we needed to masticate on whether a potential draftee was deserving of his post-NFL Combine and pre-Draft rise. We may not have been writing under the If It Ain't Steel Blog umbrella, but it didn't mean that the work wasn't going into the evaluations. So, barring a trade down, and without further ado, here are the 10 men we feel may hear their names called in association with the team in Steel Town, USA.

EDGE RUSHERS -
ALVIN "BUD" DUPREE: 6'4" 269 LBs, 4.56/40, 42" Vertical -
Many of you whom we have interacted with on social media are probably thinking we must've been drinking the Kool-Aid regarding this one. Bear with us, though, there is something that puts him over the edge. Our original thoughts were that the game film dictated his being better with his hand on the ground than he is standing up. Also, that he's an inconsistent pass rusher who doesn’t always exhibit good hand use, his speed rush can be a little out of control, he doesn't have a good amount of pass rushes in his repertoire even causing him to being pancaked a couple of times (from the right side) and has trouble anchoring against the run.

BUT....Dupree has an excellent and explosive first step, his speed rush has at times forced tackles to cheat their kick-slide which allowed them to be beaten inside, he also has explosive speed, his long arms cover over other ills in his run defense, and we fully admit to loving his motor and hustle.

Unfortunately, we saw a player who we felt translated better to an NFL 4-3 DE than to a 3-4 OLB because of his being so very raw. What pushed us, though, over from the Con to the Pro side is something his bio at NFL.com said. And we quote, "He must continue to improve as a pass rusher, but his traits are undeniable. Difference between being good and great might be his coordinator." Sage words that could be prophetically descriptive of defensive line coach John Mitchell, outside linebackers coach Joey Porter and defensive coordinator (and former linebackers coach) Keith Butler. All of that and his being an underclassman, something the Steelers love, he is slightly ahead of the other edge rushers.

OWAMAGHBE ODIGHIZUWA: 6'3" 267 LBs, 4.62/40, 39 Vert., 25 reps Bench Press -
Personal choice. A huge and ripped Zulu Warrior-built weapon who can get off the ball and convert speed to power. He has huge (11") hands making him very strong at the point of attack, especially against the run. He is relentless and versatile, but he has one definite downside in that he isn't really a pass rusher. That, also, could be what very well keeps the Steelers from drafting him.

PRESTON SMITH: 6'5" 271 LBs, 4.74/40, 34" Vert. -
Certain pundits and mocks have chosen defensive end Nate Orchard as a possible pick here, presumably if the other edge rushers are gone. We prefer, though, to go farther south to get DE/OLB Preston Smith in such a "best player available" eventuality. Why? He's bigger and faster than Orchard, and he uses that power and speed well. He comes off the edge with the intent to do harm and looks like he's always in a bad mood on the field. He can even slide inside to the one-technique and attack the A-gap. And while he has the quickness to do so, he still doesn't have the quickness of some, say like that of the aforementioned Orchard. He also has the tendency to give up on a play that goes away from him. This one is possible, but not necessarily probable.

DEFENSIVE TACKLES/NOSE TACKLES -
DANNY SHELTON: 6'2" 340 LBs, 5.64/40, 34 reps Bench Press -
Look, we don't expect Shelton to fall to no. 22 to begin with, but the idea has been tossed around that a run on other positions, like edge rusher, cornerback and/or offensive lineman, could push him down the line. In such a scenario, he'd likely be the best athlete available and could fall to the Steelers. Now, we don't believe this is overly likely as we are not down on current Steelers NT Steve McLendon as others are. But the best player available is the best player available. Especially one who is a bona fide run stuffer, often faced and handled double teams, plays the requisite gaps and techniques and even got to the quarterback (9 sacks in 2014).

EDDIE GOLDMAN: 6'4" 336 LBs, 5.27/40, 26" Vert. -
Take every argument and superlative just said about Shelton and apply it to Goldman. Then add that he's actually much more explosive than Shelton, but take away from him the fact that he's nowhere near as polished, nor is he as mighty a pass rusher. But, his raw qualities make him enough of a tabula rasa that he could be molded into exactly what would be desired. You have to have at least one out-of-the-box pick in any mock or breakdown and this is ours. (What? Did you think Mike Tomlin was at Florida State's Pro Day just for cornerbacks Ron Darby and P.J. "Joyride" Williams???)

DEFENSIVE BACKS -
KEVIN JOHNSON: 6'0" 188 LBs, 4.52/40, 41.5" Vert., 6.79 3-Cone Drill -
Pardon me while I wipe the drool away...
Personal choice to say the least. We love Johnson. Great feet, is great at flipping his hips, is smooth with great balance, squares up greatly, has a great backpedal...aww, hell, he's just great. Yes, we know that Trae Waynes is the consensus top cornerback, and for good reason, but there are three CBs who are just head-and-shoulders above the rest. Johnson fits the Steelers' mold, though: he uses great technique, he likes to throw his body into ball carriers, and he is a natural athlete - maybe the best athlete at the position. There are only two knocks to him and his game - he has a bit of a thin frame for an NFL CB, especially in the legs, and while he played both man and off coverage, he had the tendency to be too aggressive resulting in pass interference calls. - http://draftbreakdown.com/players/kevin-johnson/

MARCUS PETERS: 6'0" 197 LBs,4.53/40, 37.5" Vert. -
If not for being kicked off of his college team, amongst other run-ins, Peters would be ahead of Waynes as the top CB pick in 2015. Pure talent. Prototype body. As fluid and as natural a pair of hips as you will find. An intimidator. Virtual textbook man-cover corner. Tracks and high-points the ball with the best of them allowing him to come away with the interception. Honestly, not too much negative can be said of him. Though, maybe, his long speed isn't the best, and he actually is a bit handsy at times when in tight spaces, but that's about it. If Peters drops to, or past, the Steelers, it's purely because of his behavioral/emotional issues.

ALTERNATES -
T.J. CLEMMINGS: 6'5" 309 LBs, 5.14/40, 22 reps Bench Press -
Local kid, long and athletic, versatile- can play 3 positions, has a fluid kick-slide and has the strength to make virtually any block ... yeah, we could see it. After all, the Steelers are known to stay close to the ball in there first pick. Check their last 15 first rounders.

SHAQ THOMPSON: 6'0" 228 LBs, 4.64/40, 20 reps Bench Press, 6.99 3-Cone Drill -
The limb will probably break beneath us, but we're out here nonetheless. Thompson is talented, athletic and relentless. His biggest impact in pass coverage rather than as a pass rusher. He'll also be better in pursuit (including backside pursuit) as a run defender. Bulk up and play inside/middle linebacker? Slim down even more and stay light and quick? How about stay where you are and be the hybrid defender that the NFL is going to anyway? He could be the right team's X-factor. But if you're going to be a 6'0" 228-pound hard-hitting safety type, then why not just take...

LANDON COLLINS: 6'0" 228 LBs, 4.53/40, 35" Vert., 16 reps Bench Press -
Easily the best safety in a year wanting of safeties. Plays down in the box a lot, but can cover with good speed. Lacks recovery speed, though, and has hands of stone - good for Roberto Duran, bad for a defensive back (just ask Ike Taylor). But Collins has a definite career on Sundays. Will it be with the Steelers? That depends on Shamarko Thomas' hamstrings.

There you have it, the players we feel are amongst those on the Steelers board. If you were looking for particular names that weren't here, there was likely good reason. Names such as the aforementioned Waynes (gone), Vic Beasley (gone), Shane Ray (gone), Eli Harold (2nd rounder) or Maxx Williams (LOL). But, depending on the reception this receives, a follow-up piece covering rounds two and three might just cover them as well. Stay tuned.

Time For The Landry Jones Era To Begin; The Devil Went Down To...

by Jayden Matthews

Now that the Pittsburgh Steelers have signed most of their draft picks and have also now signed center Maurkice Pouncey to an extension, they're faced with a bit of a dilemma. That being the getting of their franchise QB Ben Roethlisberger extended. 

With the contracts for quarterbacks skyrocketing here lately at a fierce pace, should the Steelers pay big money to Big Ben in order to keep him? I say...no.

If Big Ben wants to play hardball and demand all that money that Colin Kaepernick, Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan and others have gotten, then let Big Ben ride the big bench and ring in the Landry Jones era. 

Many thought the Steelers wasted a draft pick on selecting Landry Jones, but I say it's time to see what this kid's got. Why not just throw him in the fire and see if the barbecue smokes?

Move over bacon, there's somethin' meatier!

If Ben wants to be overpaid like the rest of these guys, show him who the boss is!

I mean, it isn’t like that last season Ben really did anything to help the Steelers. He had a horrendous start where he himself had nine of the team's 20 turnovers before the bye. Sure, he ended with a QB Rating of 92.0, 28 touchdown passes, 4,261 passing yards and a completion percentage of 64.2%, but he had nowhere to go but UP! 

Plus, who in tarnation who wants a QB who plays every snap, sets records for completions in a season (375) and had a 2-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio while becoming the franchise's career leader in TD passes (219)? Why would we pay this guy??? Let him be a Divo!

Even if he did lead his team to three Super Bowls while winning two of them, that still doesn’t warrant a big contract, does it? 

If I've got a guy like Landry Jones on the bench that could potentially step right in and take over, why wouldn't I use him? I mean, we are in rebuild mode anyway. So why not? 

When Landry was at Oklahoma, he accounted for...well, he threw for...uh, he won...well, he did a lot! This guy really brings something to the table! He could be the next Bobby Douglas or Craig Morton for all we know, so we have to give him a shot!

Why are we even thinking about giving Big Ben an extension when we have this guy on the roster already and have him for the next three years?  

Let's not even bother getting a deal done fo...oh, forget it. I can't do this anymore... My eyes hurt from reading this hogwash. To everyone that made it this far without busting their computer and cussing us to no end, enough with the foolishness. 

Anyone who thought for one second that If It Ain’t Steel would actually entertain the thought of sitting our beloved Big Ben for one snap, unless it was due to injury, for Landry Jones must be so dumb that if you went bobbin' in a barrel of boobs, you'd still come up suckin' your thumb. This obvious SATIRE!

Y'all know we have to do this every once in a while to keep you on your toes. By the way, we said his whole name, Landry Jones, each time because they will have the only times you'll hear it all season. ;-)

~

"THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO...PITTSBURGH"

The devil went down to Pittsburgh, he was lookin' for a soul to steal. 
He was in a bind 'cause he was way behind. He was willing to make a deal
When he came across this young scribe writin' down her latest thoughts
And the Devil sidled up next to her and said "Girl, let me tell you what."

"I guess you didn't know it, but I'm a writer, too.
And if you'd care to take a dare I'll make a bet with you.
Now you write a pretty good blog, girl, but give the Devil his due.
I'll bet a Mont Blanc of gold against your soul 'cause I think I'm better than you."

The scribe said, "My name's Jayden, and it might be a sin,
But I'll take your bet; and you're gonna regret 'cause I'm the best there's ever been."

The Devil opened up his case and he said, "I'll start this off."
And fire flew from his fingertips as he brushed his shoulders off.
And he started crackin' his knuckles and flexin' his wrists.
And a band of demons joined in and it sounded something like this.

"As I reported earlier...I'm the devil incarnate,
To overload with meaningless stats, I stay up late,
No sleep do I need, just Xanex and weed, 
And on a coffee IV will I feed. 
In eight short bars I'll prove I'm the best, no reason
To question. I'm all you need all through football season. 
I'm the best, and if you ever challenge me, bright eyes, 
I'll stomp and scream and claim you plagiarize."

When the Devil finished, Jayden said, "You ain't even pretty good ol' son,
So just sit down in that chair right there and let me show you how it's done."

"I'm a lyrical miracle, you can call me the pinnacle
Proper breathing is critical, take a breath and now here I go! 
I could fly the TARDIS like The Doctor all through time
And never find anything weaker than that so-called rhyme.
Battling you, son, ain't even worth the hassle
When ya think your filet mignon but ya ain't even White Castle.  
Now lemme put it so you understand - I'm LeGarrette Blount: I rumble!
You're Rashard Mendenhall...fumble.

...now, retire."

The Devil bowed his head because he knew that he'd been beat.
And he laid that gold Mont Blanc on the ground at Jayden's feet.
Jayden said, "Devil, just come on back if you ever wanna try again,
I done told you once—you son of a bitch—I'm the best that's ever been."

And she played:

"Fire on the Mountain." Run, boys, run!
The Devil's in the house of the rising sun;
The chicken's in the bread pan picking out dough.
Granny, will your dog bite? No, child, no."
...
original lyrics by Charlie Daniels

This wasn't *ahem* about anyone. It was purely *cough* a fictitious event. Any representation of resemblance of anyone, dead, alive or who subsists on Xanex and coffee, is purely coincidental.  

Darrius Heyward-Bey: Prove Me Wrong.

Monday morning, Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review posted an article regarding the "new Steelers receivers," Lance Moore and, specifically for the sake of this, Darrius Heyward-Bey, "deep on NFL experience." 

In the piece, Kaboly wrote that "what Heyward-Bey offers (even more than his 4.2 speed)" is "experience." 

Granted, he does have experience in the way of 63 starts in 72 career games. He has 169 receptions in those games for a total of 2,380 yards, and he can play both the X- and Z-receiver roles.

“They think I am fast....If that is what they need me to do — to be the deep threat — that's what I will do. If they need me blocking, then sure. If they need me on special teams....I am a team-first guy,” said Heyward-Bey. “....I know a lot of different places to play on the field. Some guys are handcuffed to one spot, where I feel like I am intelligent.” - http://tinyurl.com/lt4lgj4

To my knowledge no one ever questioned his intelligence. For that matter, neither were his heart, his work ethic nor his speed (which, by the way, is actually 4.3/40). 

In a recent blog post, If It Ain't Steel wrote that "speed alone won't get Hermes to Mount Olympus. Nor does it get an NFL player gridiron success."

Remember Clifford Franklin? As Jimmy McGinty said about him: "Great attitude, great desire, and THE fastest son of a b**ch I've ever seen." With the reply to that being, "Yeah, but can he catch?" (Ok, that was from the movie The Replacements. But it's a damn good segue.)

Last season, Football Outsiders had Heyward-Bey with a -24.5 DVOA for the season and a -63 rating - 83 out of 90 eligible receivers - and only a 45% catch rate. - http://www.footballoutsiders.com/stats/wr

Comparatively, Pro Football Focus had Heyward-Bey graded at -9.4 on passing plays, worst among qualifying receivers. Heyward-Bey so bad that he was pulled at halftime of the November 14 Tennessee Titans game last season. 

Why? His hands. Or lack thereof. 

Digging deeper into Pro Football Focus showed that Heyward-Bey dropped an average of 14.18% of the catchable targets in his final three years with the Oakland Raiders. But he was even worse last year, dropping over 23.5% of catchable targets, five per game average, and ranking next to last of qualifying receivers. 

So "experience", 'intelligence' and speed are all well and good, but they mean nothing if they don't translate into catches. 

Richard Mann and the rest of the Steelers' offensive staff believe they can work with him and make Shinola out of...well, you know. 

Where Heyward-Bey has found success in the past is when he got the ball in space, targeting him on slants, curls, screens, etc...giving him the opportunity to get yards after the catch. 

Can he do that for the Pittsburgh Steelers? Yes, offensive coordinator Todd Haley can certainly design such plays, but Lance Moore and Dri Archer both can perform in those capacities. 

Can he use his speed and fill the role of the X receiver vacated by Mike Wallace? Yes, but that would be akin to breaking up with your girlfriend...and getting with her twin sister. At least in this scenario it would be. Not only that, but that was why Markus Wheaton was drafted last season. 

Can he also defy the odds and move up the depth chart to secure a spot on the final 53-man roster? Yes, it is possible - possible, but not probable. Not probable in our estimation with Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton, Lance Moore, rookie Martavis Bryant, Derek Moye and Justin Brown all in front of him, with the latter of whom having impressed the coaches in OTAs thus far. 

Add Archer as de facto wide receiver and it gets harder and harder to find a spot for him. 

Can he? Yes. Will he? Likely not. The numbers say no. History says no. I say no. But, hey, prove me wrong. 

Mike Munchak - Steelers' Best Offseason Addition to Offensive Line

Forrest Gregg, Norm Van Brocklin, Jack Del Rio... Not all great NFL players turn out to become great NFL coaches. The Pittsburgh Steelers, however, seem to have a knack for finding the ones that do. 

New offensive line coach Mike Munchak played 12 years in the NFL, was a 10-time All Pro and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. Credentials laudable enough to create for him a "very high" degree of deference.

“He understands each player is different. He understands how to cater to everyone,” Ramon Foster said of Munchak. “The respect factor is very high. … It's a joy right now to be taking advice and coaching from him.” -  http://tinyurl.com/qyu2mq7

As the Tribune-Review's Alan Robinson points out further in his article, his 'understanding that each player is different' is because he "adjusts to them rather than being one who insists the linemen adjust to him," especially because he is still learning about his group. 

Munchak believes that "starters Beachum, Ramon Foster, Pouncey, DeCastro and Marcus Gilbert and backups Mike Adams, Cody Wallace, Guy Whimper, Wesley Johnson and others" have the chance to be a special group. 

Munchak does, after all, have two first rounders and two second rounders amongst those starters. He not only has Pouncey, one-time First-team All Pro, coming back from ACL surgery, but also guard David DeCastro, whom he should be able to take to the next level. DDC started road-grading his opponents in the second half of last season, and has the chance to become one of the best guards in the NFL via Munchak’s tutelage. 

Left tackle protection picked up appreciably in the second half of the season, also, when Kelvin Beachum was installed, but Mike Adams and Marcus Gilbert are of greater interest. 

The Steelers invested high draft picks in both of them and neither has been great, although Gilbert has been serviceable. They will be Munchak's biggest challenge in helping this group to pick up where they left off in 2013.

Wallace, Whimper and this year's fifth-round draft pick Wesley Johnson rate high on the list of those who'll be the most likely backups. 

In reverse order, the fifth-round draft pick out of Vanderbilt, Johnson, has nice height (6'5"), but he's not even three bills (297 LBs), which indicates he'll need to get bigger and stronger to survive in the NFL. Being that he played all positions on a zone-blocking offensive line in college, Johnson will likely be moved into the role of swing lineman that was held by Beachum before he was inserted at left tackle. 

Whimper was signed back in March to a one-year veteran minimum of $920,000 ($635K against the Salary Cap), of which only $65,000 is guaranteed. Which means he'd only be a $65K dead money hit if released. 

The possibility of that happening increases if Fernando Velasco's achilles injury heals to the point where's ready to go by Training Camp. He had said he'd be back for OTAs, but achilles injuries take longer than that. Time will tell, therefore, on Velasco who brilliantly took Pouncey's place at center when he went down.  

It was then that the 2008 fourth-round draft pick, Wallace, took Velasco's place at center upon his injury against the Baltimore Ravens. Both men can play center or guard. Wallace, also, though has a nasty streak and physicality about him that showed when he responded by proving himself emphatically over the final month of the season.

The Steelers signed Wallace to a three-year deal back on March 12th.

These men are the core of an offensive line that allowed just seven sacks over the final seven games and helped boost the running game to more than a 100 yard per game average and to 4.0 yards per carry. 

Munchak has said that he isn't changing much terminology from when Bicknell, jr. was the OLine coach, and believes they can be molded into a "special" unit that may still be a zone-blocking one. -  http://tinyurl.com/n2x4rga

Though sparingly used last season, such a system is well suited for running back Le'Veon Bell and can help the run game get going even more so. 

In the interview linked above, Munchak said about the scheme that "it stretches the defense. They’re not sure exactly where he’s going to cut. Watching [Bell] run the inside zone and some of the runs they’ve run, I can [see] he has very good vision, he has a good feel for the game, and it’s just a matter of him getting more reps at it." (Brackets ours)

Then throw in LaGarrette Blount taking part of the load and you have the makings of a powerful ground game. And sharing the load to make for a more lethal corps is something Bell is "definitely" on board with.

“I’m definitely looking forward to it,” Bell said. “We’re going to give defenses different looks, a change of pace. [Blount will] bring that power to the game and bring a lot more tough yardage. I won’t have to get all that tough yardage runs. I’m definitely looking forward to it. I’m excited about it.”

And Steeler Nation should be excited that Mike Munchak is making it all possible. 

~

TIDBITS: Flashback on FA additions this offseason:

Mike Mitchell, S, March 11th
Greg Warren*, LS, March 12th
Cody Wallace*, C/G, March 12th,
Cam Thomas, DE/NT, March 14th,
Guy Whimper*, G/T, March 17th,
Michael Palmer*, TE, March 21st
Lance Moore, WR, March 21st,
Arthur Moats, LB, March 24th,
LaGarrette Blount, RB, March 28th,
Brice McCain, CB, April 1st,
Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, April 2nd,
Eric Olsen, C, April 3rd,
Adam Podleah, P , April 15th

* indicates own free agent signed

Steelers Talk Free Agency, Lance Moore Signing; Compensatory Picks Awarded

UPDATED: Tuesday, Mar. 25

“We’re right on schedule,” Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said Sunday in regard to free agency. 

On Sunday, Colbert and head coach Mike Tomlin spoke to the Pittsburgh media, specifically the Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac and the Tribune-Review's Alan Robinson, with the subject mainly being free agency. According to Colbert, as the quote above states, the team is right where they want to be in free agency. 

This is what has transpired in free agency to this point:

Signed: S Mike Mitchell (Panthers); DT Cam Thomas (Chargers); WR Lance Moore (Saints); Arthur Moats (Bills).

Lost: DE Ziggy Hood (Jaguars); DE Al Woods (Titans); WR Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos); RB Jonathan Dwyer (Cardinals); TE David Johnson (Chargers); WR Jerricho Cotchery (Panthers).

Re-signed: OLB Jason Worilds (transition tender); FS Will Allen; G/C Cody Wallace; LS Greg Warren; G/T Guy Whimper; TE Michael Palmer.

Cut: LB LaMarr Woodley (Raiders); LB Larry Foote; CB Curtis Brown.

Unsigned: DE Brett Keisel; WR Plaxico Burress; S Ryan Clark; RB Felix Jones; P Mat McBriar; RB LaRod Stephens-Howling; LB Stevenson Sylvester; C Fernando Velasco; LB Jamaal Westerman; C Eric Olsen (ERFA; no tender).

Colbert spoke on several issues, including the loss of veteran wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery and the subsequent gain of former New Orleans receiver Lance Moore. 

Of Cotchery Colbert said that "other people saw in him what we did," but that the Panthers offered more than the Steelers could. 

They still lost valuable experience and a valuable role player when Cotch left. Fortunately, they found another on Friday in the form of Moore, signed to a two-year deal, whom Colbert described as a "very smart, experienced receiver...who knows how to work in the slot" as Cotch did. - http://tinyurl.com/lywo8y5

The 30-year-old Moore was released by the Saints last season. After just 37 receptions last year when injuries slowed his production, he had averaged 61 receptions per year the previous three seasons.

Colbert also said something to which all Steelers fans should pay attention - there is no need "to panic" about lack of running back depth behind Le'Veon Bell. 

A point which Tomlin reiterated when he spoke with the media Sunday for the first time since the season ended. He was asked about the team's running back situation, specifically Le'Veon Bell and their recent meeting with free-agent running back Maurice Jones-Drew.

"I felt good," Tomlin replied. "We are open to it. I'll stop short of saying 'have to,' but we need to add quality depth to that position, whether it's through free agency or the draft."

Tomlin then elaborated on what he wanted to see happen regarding Bell.

"Le'Veon Bell is a talented player but a young player. It would be good to get a been-there, done-that type of guy in the room to maybe help him with growth and development. But I don't view it as a necessity, quite honestly, because Le'Veon is a very grounded and humble young man and is open to getting better, and is a good listener." - http://tinyurl.com/kafllcp

MJD could definitely be considered to fit the bill as he has been the feature back for most of his eight years with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Not to mention being somewhat in Bell's position early in his career when was being mentored by running back Fred Taylor.

However, he isn't the only RB who'll be on the South Side this week. The Steelers will also meet with LaGarrette Blount on Friday, after the NFL Meetings end.

The 6'0", 250-pound Blount would seem to fit with the Steelers better than MJD. At least in financial terms. In terms of style, though, Blount fits the what Steelers fans prefer to see. He is a battering ram, a true Blount force object (sorry, couldn't resist).

UPDATE: Speaking from the NFL Meetings again on Tuesday, Tomlin reiterated that the team would be getting depth to complement Bell. Though the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's Alan Robinson tweeted (@arobinson_Trib) that the "Steelers likely to have deal with experienced running back by end of week," Tomlin has a broader timetable.

"We need to have depth in that area and we will in the not-too-distant future, whether it's in free agency or the draft." - http://tinyurl.com/mayj8s4  

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It was announced Monday that the Steelers have been awarded three Compensatory Picks - in the 3rd, 5th and 6th rounds - in May's NFL Draft. This is one more than we had been led to expect, which includes the highest Comp Pick, No. 97 in round three. They now have nine total selections. 

Teams can't receive more than four compensatory picks in a year, as did the New York Jets this year, and the picks cannot be traded.

The formula the NFL uses is a closely guarded secret, but it can be extrapolated based on given data. 

As Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly tweeted Monday (@MarkKaboly_Trib), "Compensatory free agents are determined by formula based on salary, playing time, postseason honors. Not every FA lost or signed applies."

The Steelers lost several free agents in 2013 who factor into the NFL’s compensatory formula. As Steelers PR man Burt Lauten tweeted (@SteelersPRBurt), "Players the @steelers lost as FAs last year that factor into compensatory picks: Wallace, Lewis, Allen, Mendenhall, Mundy & Legursky.”

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TIDBITS: Steelers attending North Carolina, Duke, Texas A&M pro days this week. Were at Florida St., Notre Dame and Michigan St. last week. Colbert, Tomlin will likely both be on A&M trip.