The Great 18: Unit Evaluation of the Pittsburgh Steelers

Neal Coolong will review all 18 positional units on the Steelers and rank them in terms of priority this offseason. Each player on Pittsburgh's roster in 2007 will be evaluated leading up to the start of the free agency period on March 3rd, based on the Steelers' need to address that position with a change at starter, a free agent pickup, or a draft choice.

18. Long snapper:
Greg Warren (restricted free agent), fourth season, no backup:

The fact Warren is a restricted free agent isn't a major concern, considering there are only 32 of these positions available in the NFL. He will receive the low-level tender, if not a long-term extension. As far as the position goes, Warren isn't challenged now, and he won't be come the start of training camp. Therefore, unless Warren signs elsewhere, long snapper isn't a concern for the Steelers.

17. Kicker:
Jeff Reed, seventh season, no backup:

Quietly, Reed only missed two field goals all year; one was a ridiculous 65-yarder in Denver, and the other came in horrendous conditions against Miami in Week 12. He did hit the game-winner with three seconds left against the Dolphins, which turned out to be huge kick at the end of the season.

Reed also appeared to have a considerably stronger leg on kickoff duties; and while the Steelers' special teams struggled top to bottom in 2007, Reed was among the game's best kickers, and he will continue his hold atop the depth chart for at least another season.

16. Punter:
Dan Sepulveda, second year, no backup:
"The Sepulverizer" was the surprise pick for Steelers rookie of the year, but that was only because of his job title. Sepulveda was one of the game's top punters in 2007, putting 28 kicks (41.2 percent) inside the enemy 20-yard line.

While it came with some controversy that the Steelers traded a fourth-round pick and a sixth-round choice to move up to grab the Baylor product, it could be said now the move was a good one. However, it's instructive to point out the Steelers made a play for 49ers restricted free agent punter Andy Lee last offseason, but he re-signed with San Francisco. Lee was named to the All-Pro team. Had they gotten Lee and not traded the sixth-round pick, the Steelers could have addressed bigger concerns the team now has with its fourth- and sixth-rounders last year. Hindsight is 20/20, and Sepulveda is a terrific punter. The Steelers just need to address their 38.9-yard net average on punts, which is in the bottom half of the league. That's not on Sepulveda, though.

15. Tight end:
Heath Miller, fourth year; Matt Spaeth, second year; Jerame Tuman (IR), 10th year; Cody Boyd, second year; Jon Dekker, third year:

One of the most intriguing positional battles going into training camp in 2008, it's not so much that starter Heath Miller has a rival (he doesn't), it's how varied the Steelers' tight end reserves are in terms of experience and ability.

After a year in offensive coordinator Bruce Arians' system, Miller looks poised to leap into the category of the NFL's elite at the tight end positions. He had career highs in catches (47), yards (566) and touchdowns (seven) in 2007, and his eight receptions in Pittsburgh's playoff loss to Jacksonville is a playoff record for Steelers tight ends.

Rookie Matt Spaeth had trouble blocking early on, but he became a quick favorite of QB Ben Roethlisberger, grabbing two touchdowns in the team's first two games. He then missed three of the next four games with injury. Spaeth came back, scoring only one more touchdown the rest of the season, but his blocking improved dramatically down the stretch. Because of that factor, the two-TE set will be a staple of the Steelers' offense next season.

Veteran Jermane Tuman will have to fight off practice squad hero Jon Dekker, which he has done successfully the last two seasons. Tuman was placed on injured reserve in November because of a back injury, and his long-term prognosis isn't incredibly positive, considering his age (he will be 31 in March) and the team's depth at the position. To be fair, though, including Miller and Spaeth, the Steelers have drafted six tight ends and signed several other rookie free agents at that position since adding Tuman in 1999, and he's outlasted most of them. He will get the benefit of the doubt if his back is healthy come July.

The Steelers also picked up Cody Boyd, a 6-foot-8 monster who was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Steelers in 2007 but was cut and picked up by Washington. Pittsburgh reclaimed him from the Redskins' practice squad this month.