SteelerWatch

This is why I love Pittsburgh.

One state away, nine Cincinnati Bengals have been arrested in the last year, from DUIs to weapons charges. In fact, all around the league, it seems like there are players always in trouble with the law. But not in the ‘Burgh.

In fact, the Steelers are basically the antithesis to the rest of the league when it comes to criminal behavior. Think back to Byron “Bam” Morris, the then-up-and-coming star running back who was caught with marijuana. Three days later, he was fired — even though he was leading the team in rushing and was in the top five around the league. Nine Bengals were arrested and nine Bengals are still employed. It’s just a different attitude — honesty-is-the-best-policy versus win-at-all-costs.

It’s not shocking, then, that DeShea Townsend, a former Steelers cornerback, was once featured in a United Way commercial that ran for three seasons. It’s also no shock that two current players have been honored this week for their work in the community.

Running back Verron Haynes was honored Tuesday by the City Council and had the day named in his honor because of his involvement in the Pittsburgh community. Haynes is the Steelers’ spokesman for the Boys & Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania. You can read the entire article at Steelers.com. For those of us who aren’t fortunate enough to live in or around Pittsburgh anymore, we don’t get to see all the effort the team makes to improve the city. This may be the best story people outside Pittsburgh won’t hear this year.

Also honored was safety Troy Polamalu, inarguably the heart and soul of the entire team. Polamalu was named the 2007 Downtown Pittsburgh YMCA’s Person of the Year. Polamalu has a history of giving back to the Pittsburgh community and, given his humble nature and strong work ethic, it’s no surprise that he has been honored by an organization that works to educate and improve our communities nationwide. Again, see the complete article at Steelers.com.

Draft Potential:
- Day 1: VERY LOW*
- Day 2: LOW

* - Because of lack of depth at guard and some weakness at right tackle, it is possible (unlikely, but possible) that the team will attempt to trade up to take LT Levi Brown out of Penn State in the draft; however, the likelihood that he would be utilized as a left tackle is just about zero percent. Therefore, drafting a left tackle in the first round should be counted as either a draft of a left guard or a right tackle — unless Mike Tomlin is a complete sucker, which I highly doubt.

The Steelers are solid at left tackle heading into 2007, and for good reason. For a right-handed quarterback, the left side of the line is critical, because that’s his blind side. While guards are generally bigger and are responsible for interior linemen and middle blitzes, the space they need to occupy is somewhat limited. Tackles are responsible for covering outside blitzes that can come from nearly any level of the defense and can start from any point from the hash marks to the sideline. It’s a lot of ground to keep your eyes on, and you need to be in peak shape to handle the position.

Marvel Smith is, to put it simply, really good at what he does.

The seven-year veteran began his career on the right side but was moved after three seasons to the left side of the line, where he has become the hands-down starter. Combined with Alan Faneca, the left side of the line has become as dominant of a force as any in the league. The pair have started side by side for nearly every game over the last four seasons, during which the Steelers have regularly been among the top rushing teams in the league. He’s been a starter since his first game in the league.

Behind Smith is youngster Trai Essex. Essex has seen limited playing time due to the presense of Smith, but is good enough to be a starter for a number of teams. His limited playing time has hampered his growth to a certain extent, and the lack of familiarity with his fellow linemen has shown in the snaps for which he has been on the field. However, he shows natural ability and has a ton of power. He can drive his opponent off the line and is adequate as a pass blocker, although he could certainly stand to improve a good deal in that respect.

Don’t look for the team to draft a left tackle, unless their plans are to utilize the player elsewhere. There’s enough talent here to be content with as-is, and no need to dig any deeper.

Draft Potential:
- Day 1: NOT LIKELY
- Day 2: EH, MAYBE

Cue the jokes about deoderant. Finished? Good, let’s get to business.

The right side of the Steelers line was essentially a travesty this season. 2006 starting right guard Kendall Simmons has been largely dependable in his relatively short career, but he seemed to be off his game for the first eight contests or so. Willie Parker’s best runs all season came from the left side (even his middle runs came behind Alan Faneca and Jeff Hartings) because the right side seemed to be getting bullied off the line.

That said, Simmons and left tackle Max Starks showed marked improvement over the final eight games. Unfortunately it may be too little too late. Chris Kemoeatu filled in for Simmons twice and played well enough to deserve a second look. That’s a shame, because Simmons was taken 30th overall in the 2002 draft. He’s big, he’s smart and he’s gifted, but the fact that he didn’t play the season at a first-round level leads me to believe that he will at the very least be challenged hard for the spot by Kemoeatu, and may be displaced. Should a good right guard come available in free agency, we may see an immediate end of the line for Simmons as a starter. This isn’t all that likely though, as guards may be hard to come by.

While it’s definite that the Steelers will pick a guard in the draft, it’s more likely the chosen player will be slated to back up Faneca on the left side, filling a hole that’s existed for far too long.

Regardless of moves made in free agency and the draft, it’s hard to believe the Steelers will outright get rid of Simmons. However, he doesn’t have the virtual guarantee for his position that exists for other offensive players like Ben Roethlisberger, Willie Parker, Hines Ward and Alan Faneca. The departure of head coach Bill Cowher has opened a number of opportunities in the starting lineup, and the offensive line promises to have two of the better camp battles on the right side of the line. New coach Mike Tomlin will not allow underachievers to keep their jobs. That’s not to knock Cowher; he was successful at running the team, but we all got the feeling that more than one player had a spot in the starting lineup they didn’t necessarily deserve.

Bruce Arians, recently promoted from Wide Receivers Coach to Offensive Coordinator, said in a recent interview that he plans to utilize more four-wide receiver sets on first and second downs this season. He also stated that the playbook is being rebuilt from the ground up. So does this mean we can expect the classic, smashmouth offense that has characterized the Steelers for decades to disappear?

Not so fast.

A closer look at the article shows that Arians has not just an appreciation, but a deep love for the running game. Sure, it’s true that he coached the receivers, and there’s no hiding the fact that Peyton Manning is who he is at least in part because of Arians’ guidance. But the fact remains that this is a run-first city, with run-first owners and run-first personnel.

Coach Mike Tomlin recently commented on the type of offense he wants in Pittsburgh. His response was nothing short of the traditional Steeler smashmouth football we’ve come to know and love.

So why does Arians want to add more four-receiver sets? Think back to the divisional round of the 2005/2006 playoffs when the Steelers took on the Colts. Then-coach Bill Cowher opened the game with a deep pass to Heath Miller. While not a wide receiver, it showed that this is a team capable of opening up downfield to take advantage of certain situations — something that was done way too little this season. Think even further back to the regular-season matchup between the same two teams: the Colts opened up with an 80-yard touchdown on a deep sideline throw to Marvin Harrison, while the Steelers started their offensive show up with ineffective runs.

The idea in football is first to out-think your opponent, then to out-power them. In baseball, everything that happens in a single “play” depends solely on the swing of the bat. In football, however, the plan is set beforehand, so every time the quarterback takes a snap, he knows what should (theoretically) occur. Whether it’s a hand-off, a screen, a short dump over the middle or a 60-yard bomb on an out-and-up, the play is designed and set before the ball is ever snapped.

With that in mind, it makes sense to utilize pass-oriented sets on downs where the pass isn’t necessarily expected. The old adage is that the run sets up the pass, but the pass also sets up the run. By utilizing four-receiver sets on first down, it puts the pressure on the defense, especially against a run-oriented team like the Steelers. It makes the defense second- and third-guess themselves, because the offense they are lined up against is now in a passing formation on what has historically been a running down for the team.

The other options it opens up are more effective bootlegs, QB sneaks and screens. Four-receiver sets put an emphasis on a vertical passing game, which often keeps the defenders’ eyes out of the backfield. A quick check-down block by the tailback and a short sprint outside while the receivers are running deep routes can open a huge gap in coverage, if the play is called in the right situation. Likewise, an outside receiver suddenly making an inside break while the defense is playing man-on-man coverage can make cornerbacks stand around wondering what just happened.

It all boils down to situational awareness and the element of surprise. The team now has several fast receivers (Santonio Holmes, Willie Reid, Cedrick Wilson) who can go vertical, and at least one who will go over the middle with no regard for his own safety (Hines Ward). It’s a dream combination, and they finally have it — so why not use it?

The key for Arians with this slightly altered approach to offense will be striking a balance out of these sets. If he calls passes too often while there are four wideouts on the field, it eliminates the element of surprise.

Draft Potential:
- Day 1: EXTREMELY HIGH
- Day 2: HIGH

Let’s get this out of the way first: Alan Faneca is the starter at left guard for as long as he wants the job. As of this weekend he will have participated in five straight Pro Bowls and has been a team captain for the last two years. He’s started just about every game since being placed in the lineup during the 1998 season. Alan was drafted in the first round (#26) and has exceeded all expectations placed on him from Day One. To put it simply: Faneca is the starting left guard.

That’s where it gets interesting. The Steelers don’t have a backup left guard on the roster, and only have a single backup at right guard (Chris Kemoeatu, drafted #204 overall in 2005). No other spot on the roster is as thin for Pittsburgh as the two guard positions.

That said, it’s a pretty sure bet that at least two offensive linemen will be drafted or picked up in free agency this year, and left guard is sure to be the first position on the list. Unfortunately, the early word is that quality guards will be hard to come by in free agency, so it looks like the draft is the only real option here. The unfortunate part is that there are other pressing needs on the depth chart too, including cornerback. Most scouts and draft watchers see Pittsburgh going after a corner or a defensive end in the first round, but don’t be surprised to see them trade up — with diminished production in 2006, Joey Porter could make excellent trade bait now that best-friend-forever Bill Cowher is gone — to go after OT Levi Brown of Penn State and convert him to a guard, or to wait and see if Texas guard Justin Blalock is still available at pick #14.

The only other option at this point is a trade, but don’t expect to see this happen for a backup. The Rooneys are the NFL’s most conservative family, which means they are unlikely to trade away talent for anyone who isn’t guaranteed to jump right into the starting lineup and make a big splash.

Expect more of the same, though. This team often makes excellent use of strong, undersized offensive linemen, using their lack of weight to their advantage for outside runs, bootlegs and screens. They like guys who can bulldoze defensive linement but still get downfield in time to make blocks in the second and third levels.

A day-one draft at this position is almost a foregone conclusion in my book.

Draft Potential:
- Day 1: MODERATE TO HIGH
- Day 2: MODERATE

Until last week, the future at center was crystal clear: All-Pro Jeff Hartings was the starter. Then he retired.

Now, the Steelers’ coaching staff must be feeling a sudden need to bolster the middle of their offensive line. Hartings and guard Alan Faneca were the only solid performers on a weekly basis in 2006, so the need for a strong anchor to replace the departed Hartings is a must.

The new favorite for the position is Chukky Okobi (which is a lot easier to say than his full name: Chukwunweze Sonume Okobi), who has played well, but sparingly. Hartings fought through a number of problems with his knees and started most of the games played since 2001. In his rare absences — and in situations where he needed to rest for a play or two — Okobi was the go-to guy. He was a low-round draft pick (round 5, pick #15) and has been sitting on the bench for his entire six-year career, so what he is actually capable of remains to be seen. He is a little heavier than Hartings, but shorter, which could play to the Steelers’ advantage if his technique improves on running downs.

Behind Okobi is 2006 rookie Marvin Philip. Philip is slightly older than most rookies at 25, and is also a late-round pick (round 6, 201st pick overall). Philip played center for the University of California and was named a first-team All-American in 2005 by the Associated Press. That same year, he was named the team MVP and was called the best center in the NCAA by The Sporting News. At 6′-1″ and 307 lbs., he is just a smidge heavier than Hartings. Scouting reports prior to the 2006 draft noted that he is strong and funamentally sound, but could be a liability if a play breaks down.

Free-agent centers are few and far between this year. The top prospect in the league is LeCharles Bentley of New Orleans, but Kevin Mawae of the Jets is also available. Mawae may fit the current scheme better with his smaller size (6′-4″, 289lbs.) but already has 12 seasons under his belt and may become more of a liability than an asset as the season progresses. Bentley is only in his 4th year and had a great season protecting Drew Brees.

Ultimately the team needs a good, all-around center. A lot is generally expected of a Steelers center, including pulling on outside runs (Dermontti Dawson was one of the best at this). Small and strong fits better in this scheme than just being big. However, with a new head coach and a new offensive coordinator, the needs may change somewhat. This is a position that will need a lot of focus leading up to the draft and in the free-agency period.

Coach Tomlin finally gets to test his mettle on August 5 as the Steelers will take on the New Orleans Saints in the NFL’s annual Hall of Fame Bowl in Canton, Ohio. The game will pit two young coaches abd a pair of outstandingly talented teams.

The game will be viewable on the NFL Network. So, for those of you who don’t yet have this channel, now would be a good time to start annoying the heck out of your cable carriers.

Did you feel slighted by our Steelers missing the playoffs (let’s avoid rubbing salt in the wound by pointing out that they would have mae it if they had manage to beat the lowly raiders, a game which they dominated statistically…erm…oops)? Do you think it just doesn’t feel right not getting to see them in a single post-season game one year after they won the Super Bowl?

Fret not, my friends. And forget not the four Pro Bowlers on the team. This group of underachievers certainly had its standouts, and we get to see them in action one last time before the curtain officially drops on the season.

On offense, Alan Faneca will start at guard and Willie Parker will be the third-string tailback. On the other side of the ball, perennial All-Pros Casey Hampton and Troy Polamalu (or, officially, Troy Polamalu) will take the field first at their respective positions.

It’s no Super Bowl, but at least it’s still Steelers.

You can’t fly with your beloved team — but you can fly in your team. Or, at least, you can eventually.

U.S. Airways announced Wednesday that they will provide the city of Pittsburgh with a Steelers-themed aircraft as part of a deal that will see the company purchasing billboard space in the stadium, as well as hosting tailgate parties before games (bonus for us!)

Read more about it here.

I thought it would be a good way to get started with SteelerWatch by examining each position to see where the biggest needs are, and what can be done to fill them.  This discussion will continue until the draft.  We start at the most obvious position, quarterback.

Draft Potential:
 - Day 1: NOT A CHANCE
 - Day 2: LOW ALMOST NON-EXISTENT

Clearly the Steelers have their starter already chosen.  Even with a new head coach, it’s hard to believe the position doesn’t default to Ben Roethlisberger.  He’s young, intelligent and athletic.  he has the prototypical size for a quarterback in today’s NFL, and he (usually) makes good movements in the pocket.  His decision-making has been a question over the last year — let’s think back to the worst decision of his career: riding a motorcycle, particularly without a helmet — but he’s a year older and a year wiser.  His performance markedly improved in the second half of the 2006 season as his blocking up front continued to jell, but it remains to be seen if he will make wiser decisions in 2007 when under pressure.

The departure of QB coach Mark Whipple raises questions that will only be answered in due time.

Backing up Roethlisberger is still Charlie Batch, who has proven to be a great reserve player and could easily be starting for a number of other teams around the league (Cleaveland comes to mind). 

The Steelers’ official site currently has Brian St. Pierre as the third-string QB.  Brian is a good option, but hasn’t seen much playing time.  He played very solid football during the 2006 preseason, and should remain on the roster.