Center: The Steelers need to add three serviceable offensive linemen via the draft and free agency. Center is the most pressing need and will be the most difficult to address. Sean Mahan was Pittsburgh’s only free-agent signing of note last year, and he was a disaster. This is an organization that has become accustomed to exceptional play at the pivot, going from Ray Mansfield to Mike Webster to Dermontti Dawson to Jeff Hartings to, ahem, Mahan.
Offensive tackle: This is the Steelers’ second biggest need because tackles are more difficult to find than guards. LT Marvel Smith is still playing at a high level, but he is up for free agency a year from now and is battling a chronic back issue. Smith might be better off on the right side at this advanced stage of his career. Starting RT Willie Colon has trouble with speed rushers and probably would be better off inside at guard. That leaves tackle as a pressing need that very well could be addressed with Pittsburgh’s first-round selection in April.
Defensive end: When Aaron Smith tore his biceps last season, Pittsburgh’s run defense completely fell apart. Smith should be back to his outstanding level of play in 2008, but the Steelers desperately need to find a third end for their 3-4 scheme. Brett Keisel is a good player on the opposite side, but he would be far more effective with more rest in the course of a game. This need will not be filled easily. It is very rare for a draft pick to contribute immediately at this position in this scheme because most defensive linemen who are talented enough to play in the NFL are upfield-penetrating types.
Running back: Pittsburgh ran diminutive Willie Parker into the ground last year and, although he should return to full strength, the team needs one of its traditional pile movers. The offense struggled running the ball near the goal line and was more of a finesse group overall last season. That isn’t the Steelers’ style. In a running-back-rich draft, Pittsburgh should find a suitable powerful backup for Parker with one of its first four selections.
Offensive guard: The Steelers are going to make one more effort to re-sign Alan Faneca, but assuming he takes his services elsewhere, Pittsburgh is thin at guard. If the Steelers can address center and tackle, their need for a guard should fall, but make no mistake — it is a major need without Faneca. RG Kendall Simmons is a middle-of-the-road starter, and youngster Chris Kemoeatu shows promise as a straight-ahead pile mover but is far from a sure thing as a starter.
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smortas
February 15, 2008 at 9:53 pm
I agree that the steelers need to upgrade their offensive line if they want to move forward next year in the playoffs. They could definitely use a complement to willie parker. I know gary russell showed promise in the pre-season the year before. Does anyone know the organization’s feelings on the promise of russell???
Stevo
February 17, 2008 at 10:00 am
I definately agree with the upgrades to the o-line. It completely fell apart last year. If Big Ben was not a exceptional scrambler, then he would have been sacked at leat 150 times. I also agree with an upgrade to the defensive end position. The Steelers could rotate the three defensive ends, sort of what the NY Giants did, and look where that got them. But the complement to Willie Parker is Najeh Davenport. He isn’t the bruiser that Bettis was, but he provides a lot more options out of the backfield than a really big bruiser back would.
Elias Abbud
February 18, 2008 at 2:38 pm
I agree the steelers need to upgrade the O-line and the D-line as well
The O-line was terrible so if they don’t improve in this one I don’t think Ben can be a durable QB
marlon jones
February 19, 2008 at 6:52 pm
once again I say the Steelers do need a better o-line but they also need better play calling knowing that you can get so much pressure on Ben when defenses pin there ears back and come full boar make them pay.Football is a game of thinking out smart your opponent.
marlon jones
February 19, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Davenport is agood player but if you want to stick to Steeler football you need aback that can dish it as well as take it Davenport does not run like a big back.3 yards should be automatic but its no guarantee with him plus on 3rd and 3 you know what the steelers are going to do.Or may be fake it and throw the DAM ball!!!!!!!
Tim Worley
February 19, 2008 at 7:14 pm
The Steelers O-Line is a mess. Faneca is gone. Kendall Simmons is average on his best day. Marvel Smith cannot be counted on over on the left side. Willie Colon just isn’t built to be a tackle. Sean Mahan is the worst of the bunch.
The Steelers need to resign at least two of these three for depth: Starks, Kemoeatu, and Essex. As bad as the line is, they can’t afford to be thin, too.
In the draft, they should look in the first round at G Brandon Albert (great ability to move for his size, might be able to play tackle too, young) or T Sam Baker (excels in pass blocking-which this line sorely needs, better than people think because he was banged up much of the year). In the second or third round, C John Sullivan is an underrated guy who has good size and tenacity to be able to outplay his draft position. He’s probably better than Sean Mahan right now.
The defensive line is getting older, but I still like the starters. Kiesel was very good in his roving role until Smith’s absence forced him to play more conventionally. Smith was having an outstanding year until he went down. Hampton is a stud. But these guys aren’t getting younger. And due to the fact that the Steelers have wasted a huge amount of draft picks in the past few years, there is no depth. Unless Ryan McBean steps up (and obviously there’s still time), the cupboard is bare. For now, the Steelers might be better off going for a 4-3 DT in free agency they can convert to 3-4 DE, because they need help this year and colleges other than Virginia don’t have ready-made 3-4 d linemen. I’d also suggest trying to not waste so many picks and trying to take some chances on some guys in the later rounds.
Running back is a need. Willie is a star when the line gives him holes, but with the line in shambles he doesn’t get many. The problem with Najeh isn’t that he isn’t Bettis. It’s that he isn’t really anything. When he was younger, he was fast. But too many knee operations has robbed him of his speed. Now he doesn’t run like a big back and he doesn’t run like a fast back. A further reason they need depth is that Parker is the only speed back on the roster. If he comes out of the game, there is no one else who can run his type of plays. There are at least 10 strong running backs in this draft. There’s no reason the Steelers can’t get a usable guy in round 3 or 4.
marie oshetski
February 22, 2008 at 7:21 am
the worst thing the steelers did was hire bruce arians. his plAY CALLING STUNK BIG TIME. ESPECIALLY IIN THEIR LAST PLAYOFF GAME DURING THE LAST SERIES THEY HAD THE BALL. THEY ACTED LIKE THEY JUST HAD TO RUN OUT TIIME, BUT NEEDED TO MAKE SOME FIRST DOWNS.ARIANS IS SMALL POTATOES, JUST A COLLEGE COACH. THE BROWNS LET HIM GO. NO WONDER!
Kissel
February 29, 2008 at 7:56 am
I agree with the above comment. It was terrible watching when we had the ball against the Jags and Roethlisberger RAN the ball on third down. Come on seriously anyone could call a play better then that. Need a play caller and O-line the rest will fall into place.