Blitzburgh Steelers

I had a big, in-depth post typed up, and the website screwed up when I went to preview it, so I'll put an abbreviated version of it on here.
Overall, the team had a decent year. This is Pittsburgh, where it's a failure unless you go deep in the playoffs. Barely winning a pathetic division, and losing in the 1st round is not acceptable. We also lost several games to inferior competition, mainly due to coaching. Tomlin was outcoached in Denver and Arizona, and blew the Jacksonville game with his stupid 2 point conversion attempts (especially from the 12 yard line...how retarded is that??). Overall, we didn't play up to our talent level, partially due to coaching, and partially because they neglected the OL and it was obvious by the # of sacks and low YPC this year.
Analysis by position:
QB: Big Ben is the best QB in the NFL for the Steelers' system (no pass blocking) and Batch is a great backup. Absolutely no need, unless they wanna take a flyer on a late round draft pick for Batch's eventual replacement.
RB: Willie is probably a top 5 RB, but with no run blocking, not as effective as he should/could be. Depth is a question though, with Najeh having legal issues, and undrafted rookie Gary Russell having almost no experience.
FB: Definitely a need in my eyes. Dan Kreider was deactivated much of the season, and Carey Davis sucks.
WR: Ward and Holmes are a good 1-2 combo, but Ward is getting old, and injury prone lately. Holmes has also missed a few games. Nate "Stone Hands" Washington and Cedric "Wannabe Entertainer" Wilson were starters this year in 4 games when Holmes/Ward were injured. With Arians wanting to utilize 3-4 WR sets, WR needs addressed to keep those 2 off the field, and also to find Ward's successor.
TE: Miller is a young, top 5 TE, and Spaeth was a 3rd rounder who played well this year. No need at all, unless it's a very late pick or UFA.
OT: Marvel Smith is older, and nearing the end of his contract. Could very well be a salary cap casualty after '08 season. Colon sucks, so OT is a must have, very early on. Capizzi has potential, but has big concerns, so I'm not counting on him.
OG: Faneca is most likely gone, and Simmons was resigned to a big contract though he sucks. The scrubs on the roster don't impress me.
C: Mahan was the weakest link on the OL, which isn't a good thing since he's supposed to be the anchor. A huge need here.
DE: Smith and Keisel are very good, but both are in their 30s and we have absolutely no depth behind them. I would go for an older FA pickup on a short, affordabel contract for this year, and spend early picks on it next year.
NT: Big Snack is elite, but in his 30s too. D Linemen can play into their mid 30s, so I would address this with an early pick in '09 as well.
OLB: James "Silverback" Harrison looked very good in his early role as a starter. One dimensional as a pass rusher, but effective overall. Wood looked good too, but didn't play enough to really prove himself as a long term starter, though I think he'll work out. Harrison IS in his 30s though, and there is absolutely no depth behind them except undrafted Arnold Harrison.
MLB: Farrior is as good as they come, but already well into his 30s. Foote, on the other hand, is about as average as they come. Timmons is said to be competing with Foote for the Mack Backer position, so Farrior's replacement will need to be picked up soon. Given the weaknesses on the team, I'd wait till '09 and try to trade up and get James "Lil Animal" Laurinaitis, or maybe Sean Lee from Penn State.
CB: Taylor is good and young, but Townsend is old and average. BMac isn't that great, or he'd have supplanted Townsend as the starter already. The fact that the Steelers were after Revis last year shows that they considered it a need then, so I'd imagine it's an even bigger need now in their eyes...and it definitely is in mine.
FS: Undisciplined Anthony Smith did a very good job of ruling himself out as the long-term answer at FS after costing the Steelers several games this season due to his ineptitude. Clark is average, and the spleen issues are cause for concern. This is just as big of a need as the OL.
SS: Polamalu is a great SS when healthy, but is hurt way too much. Tyrone Carter sucks. It would be very nice to get a serviceable backup to Troy, given his injury history.
K: Reed sucks on kickoffs, and is nothing special at FGs.
P: Sepulveda is going to be "great", by punter standards.
KR/PR: If Jeremy Bloom can get back to his electrifying form he had as a Buff at CU, no need at all. If he can't, then it has to be addressed, as Reid, Rossum and the rest of the scrubs on the roster don't cut it.
My 2008 Mock Draft. 3 trades involved.
Trade #1: Trade 1 (23) to Falcons for both of their 2nds (37 and 48). They overpay to move up and grab one of the top QBs that is sliding ala Browns/Quinn last year.
Trade #2: Trade 2 (53) to the Vikes for both of their 3rds (73 and 82).
Trade #3: Trade '09 6th and 7th for a 6th rounder.
2-37. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB/FS, Tennessee State 6'2" 188 lbs. Guy looks like a stud, but will he move clear into the 1st round off of one week? He isn't even a real D1 guy after all, and this is VERY early 2nd.

2-48. Sam Baker, OT, USC, 6'5" 308 lbs. Pass blocking LT with good mobility. Lack of strength/run blocking drops him a bit.

3-73. Adarius Bowman, WR, Oklahoma State, 6'3" 220 lbs. Big, physical WR in the mold of Brandon Marshall/TO. He'll make a great #2/3, and eventually pair with Holme-boy as a starter when Whines is gone. He slid big time due to a very poor senior bowl week of practices...projected as a 3-4th rounder now. (Jordy Nelson is another option here, about the same size, not quite as fast, but with better hands)

3-82. Justin King, CB, Penn State 6'0" 186 lbs. I believe that at pick 82, this guy is simply way too good to pass up. The sky is the limit with him if he gets good coaching, which I believe he will with the Steelers. Possibly the steal of the draft.

3-88. John Sulllivan, C, Notre Dame, 6'4" 284 lbs. Mahan's replacement. He's a center, which we need. Nuff said.

4. Tom Zbikowski, S/KR, Notre Dame 5'11" 210 lbs. Instant upgrade at S, and also an instant contributor on special teams coverage and as a KR/PR. Decent speed, athleticism and a hard hitter.

5. Kirk Barton, OT/OG, Ohio State, 6'5" 303 lbs. Versatile, with good upside, but an injury history drops him in the draft.

6. Brian Johnston, DE, Gardner-Webb 6'5" 276 lbs. Good size and measurables. Small-school guy. Gives us depth at DE.

6. Jacob Hester, HB, LSU 5'11" 230 lbs. Versatile and tough. 3rd down back, blocking back, and special team guy. With The Dumptruck in legal trouble, a 3rd down back could be a key pickup this offseason.

Possible UFA: Derek Lokey, DT, Texas, 6'2" 288 lbs. Stanford Keglar, OLB, Purdue 6'2" 246 lbs. Jordan Grimes, OG, 6'3" 332 lbs. Sam Keller, QB, Nebraska 6'3" 228 lbs. Tyler Polumbus, OT, Colorado 6'7" 305 lbs. Kevin Eberhart, K, Colorado, 5'11" 195 lbs. Dusty Sprague, WR, Colorado, 6'3" 192 lbs. Bo Ruud, LB, Nebraska, 6'3" 238 lbs. Tyson DeVree, TE, Colorado, 6'4" 247 lbs.

I realize the draft is heavy in DBs, BUT, there are several good reasons for that. #1. The best teams in the AFC are very heavily pass-oriented....Pats, Colts, not to mention the Bungles and Browns in our own division. #2. Our FS position really sucked this year, Deshea is old, and BMac STILL isn't starting. We need 2 new starters, at CB and FS, alongside Taylor and Polamalu in the secondary. #3. Zbikowski is a huge asset on Special Teams, both in returning and coverage.
'09 draft: 1st. James Laurinaitis, MLB. 2nd. Nose Tackle. 3rd. Defensive End.

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