Big Ben & the Steelers Look To Climb the Stairway to No. 7

The 2008 Pittsburgh Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII and the 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers starting lineup will look nearly identical to the 2008 team.

The Steelers' lost only three players of significance this offseason. Starting CB Bryant McFadden left the Steelers and signed with the Cardinals. Starting ILB Larry Foote forced his release and signed with the Lions. And third WR Nate Washington signed with the Titans. 

The Steelers' believe that they have the replacements for these players already on the roster. William Gay is expected to start at CB opposite of Ike Taylor.  By the end of last season Gay rotated in with McFadden every few possessions. Lawrence Timmons will take over for Foote at ILB. 

Timmons is a former first round pick that played in passing situations last season and flashed tremendous potential. And Limas Sweed, a second-round draft pick last season, is expected to take over Nate Washington's role as the third WR and deep threat.

The Steelers' are known for not bringing in many free agents, but they usually add one or two that contribute. This offseason was not any different. Head Coach Mike Tomlin believes in having competition at every position so the Steelers' signed a couple veteran free agents to compete with these younger players. 

Former Bengal and Colt Keiwan Ratliff will compete for playing time at CB. And former Rams and Lions WR Shaun McDonald will compete to be the third WR with Limas Sweed.  Also, the Steelers' recently had a visit with ILB Napolean Harris, who played under Tomlin when he was the defensive coordinator with the Vikings.  

The other way to create competition is through the draft and it looks as if the Steelers' were able to do that. The Steelers' addressed most of their needs with another solid draft.

First round pick, Ziggy Hood will be expected to make the transition from 4-3 DT to 3-4 DE.  Under the tutelage of veteran defensive line coach John Mitchell, who helped turn fourth round pick Aaron Smith, seventh round pick Brett Keisel, & undrafted Chris Hoke into productive players, Hood is expected to make that transition.

Hood will likely contribute this season as a reserve DE and in the nickel & dime packages as a pass-rusher.

With their first of three picks in the third round the Steelers' selected OG Kraig Urbik of Wisconsin. Urbik is expected to compete with Darnell Stapleton to be the starter at RG.  Urbik also has the ability to play RT.

The Steelers' selected WR/KR Mike Wallace of Mississippi with their second pick in the third round. Wallace, who ran a 4.28, will likely compete for the fifth WR spot with Martin Nance and Dallas Baker.  Wallace's key to making the team will be to earn the KR and/or PR job.

Oregon State's Keenan Lewis was the Steelers' third selection in the third round.  As a bigger, more physical corner Lewis is said to remind the Steelers' of Ike Taylor.  Lewis is expected to compete for the fourth CB spot and possibly could be moved to FS and compete to be Ryan Clark's backup. 

The Steelers' did not have a pick in the fourth round, but had two in the fifth. With their first pick in the fifth round they chose CB/KR Joe Burnett from Central Florida. Burnett is a smaller, quicker CB unlike third round selection Lewis. Burnett will compete for the fourth or fifth CB spot as well as for KR and/or PR job. 

Frank Summers from UNLV was the Steelers second selection in the fifth round, No. 169 overall. Summers is expected to be the Steelers' solution to their short yardage problems.  His nickname is "The Tank" and he'll likely be placed in a "Bus" like role.  He's also expected to compete at FB and on special teams.

In the sixth round the Steelers drafted Ra'Shon "Sonny" Harris a DT from the University of Oregon.  Harris has some upside and is considered a project for coach John Mitchell.  Harris should be able to play both NT and DE in the Steelers' 3-4 alignment. 

He will compete with Travis Kirschke & Nick Eason at DE and with Chris Hoke & Scott Paxson at NT. 

With their two seventh round selections the Steelers' chose OC A.Q. Shipley from Penn St. and TE/FB David Johnson from Arkansas St. 

Shipley is expected to compete to make the team as Justin Hartwig's backup. With Hartwig's contract expiring after this season, Shipley could be kept on the team even though he is likely not able to play OG.

Johnson is a perfect fit for offensive coordinator Bruce Arians' scheme.  Arians like to use TEs as FBs and vice versa.  It will come down to a numbers game for Johnson, who in order to make the team will have to impress on the offensive side and on special teams.

The Steelers' also signed RB/KR Stefan Logan from the CFL.  He is expected to compete at KR and/or PR and RB.

Position Battles

Third WR: Limas Sweed & Shaun McDonald

Fourth WR: Mike Wallace, Martin Nance, & Dallas Baker

FB: Carey Davis & Frank Summers

Backup QB: Charlie Batch & Dennis Dixon

RG: Darnell Stapleton & Kraig Urbik

Backup DE: Travis Kirschke, Nick Eason, & Sonny Harris (2 of 3)

KR/PR: Mike Wallace, Joe Burnett, & Stefan Logan

Steelers 53-man Roster Projection

QB

B. Roethlisberger

D. Dixon - IMO will be listed as the No. 2 QB in order to get him on the field in sub packages

C. Batch - top backup QB, but Steelers want to use Dixon's abilities. Third QB rules apply.

HB

W. Parker

R. Mendenhall

M. Moore

FB

F. Summers - Will be the short yardage back & backup FB.  Also plays ST.

TE

H. Miller

M. Spaeth

S. McHugh - primary FB

WR

H. Ward

S. Holmes

L. Sweed

S. McDonald

M. Wallace - speed and return ability help him make team

OT

M. Starks

W. Colon

T. Essex - also plays OG

T. Hills

OG

C. Kemoeatu

K. Urbik - can play RT

D. Stapleton - also plays OC

OC

J. Hartwig

A. Shipley - helped to make team by versatility of Essex & Stapleton

DE

A. Smith

B. Keisel

Z. Hood

T. Kirschke - can play NT

N. Eason

NT

C. Hampton

C. Hoke

OLB

J. Harrison

L. Woodley

B. Davis

A. Harrison

 

 

ILB

J. Farrior

L. Timmons - can play OLB

K. Fox 

P. Bailey

D. Woods - can play OLB

 

CB

I. Taylor

W. Gay

D. Townsend

K. Lewis

K. Ratliff

J. Burnett - return ability helps him make team

 

FS

R. Clark

R. Mundy

 

SS

T. Polamalu

T. Carter

 

K

J. Reed

 

P

D. Sepulveda

 

LS

G. Warren

Notable Players not making team

C. Davis - With McHugh taking his FB role last year & Summers taking his ST role he doesn't make the cut.

R. Harris - Still a project.  Should make it to the practice squad.

F. Bryant - The signing of Ratliff and drafting two CBs seal his fate.

 A. Frazier - Comes down to he and Woods.  Woods is younger.

 R. Lewis - Comes down to he and Mundy.  Mundy has more upside. Should make it to the practice squad.

A. Madison - The fact that he is listed as a CB but only plays ST comes back to hurt him.  Ratliff basically takes his spot on ST and actually plays CB.

 M. Nance -   Signing of McDonald & drafting Wallace hurt him.

 D. Baker -  Same as Nance.  He or Nance should be on practice squad.

 J. Vincent - Similar to G. Russell, should make practice squad 

 S. Logan -  Moore is 3rd RB, Wallace & Burnett are KR.  Could beat out Burnett as KR.  Likely back to CFL.

 J. Capizzi - Probably won't slip through to practice squad. Signed with Rams for short time last season.

 D. Johnson - Seventh round pick can play both TE & FB, probably makes practice squad.

 R. Foster - undrafted rookie from Tennessee could take T. Hills spot.  Otherwise should be  on practice squad.

The 2009 Pittsburgh Steelers return the core of a team that has won two Super Bowls.  They once again will compete for the AFC North Division title, a playoff spot, and the Super Bowl. 

They should improve on the offensive side of the football.

Ben Roethlisberger continues to improve his game already has become one of the NFL's best QBs. Charlie Batch is a steady veteran as a backup. Dennis Dixon has become more familiar with the Steelers offense and has improved his passing, so look for him to get on the field some to take advantage of his athletic ability.

The performance of the RBs should improve due to a healthy Wille Parker, Rashard Mendenhall being healthy & having a year under his belt, Frank Summers improving the short yardage game, and Mewlede Moore having another year as the third down RB.

The WRs are led by the consistent Hines Ward.

Santonio Holmes could produce all season as he did in the playoffs, Limas Sweed is improving and feeling more comfortable with the nuances of the pro game, the addition of Shaun McDonald will bring competition and depth, Mike Wallace brings game changing speed, and Martin Nance & Dallas Baker are big bodied WRs that have good hands.

Heath Miller has turned into one of the best TEs that most people don't know about. Matt Spaeth has been inconsistent when given opportunities thats why David Johnson was drafted to compete with him. 

Shawn McHugh is listed as a TE but his really the starting FB and he gave the Steelers' and upgrade at that position over Carey Davis.

The offensive line was very inconsistent last season and at times was horrible. The Steelers are banking that this group will improve. They had to gel on the job last season, were young, and even playing new positions. 

Max Starks should be able to settle into playing left tackle. Chris Kemoeatu will be in his second season as a starter and should feel more comfortable and improve his pass blocking.

Justin Hartwig returns at center with a year of making some of the line calls under his belt. Darnell Stapleton was getting playing time for the first time last season, but his job isn't guaranteed because he will be battling rookie Kraig Urbik.  

Defensively, the Steelers will again be on of the league's top units. 

The defensive line returns in full plus the addition of Ziggy Hood. 

The only change in the LB corps is the ascension of Lawrence Timmons into the starting lineup, which should bring more "splash" plays from that position. 

The CBs should remain steady.  The loss of McFadden shouldn't affect the team as much as many believe.  McFadden missed several games due to an arm injury, during this time William Gay started. 

Even after McFadden returned, he and Gay rotated series.  In the offseason the Steelers' added Keiwan Ratliff, Keenan Lewis, & Joe Burnett.  Also, Fernando Bryant has returned after signing in middle of last season with the Steelers.  Another year in Dick LeBeau's system should help him.

The safety position is still a position of strength for the Steelers.  Troy Polamalu is an elite player and Ryan Clark proved to be a game changer.  The only change here is that Anthony Smith signed with the Packers.  Ryan Mundy, who was drafted last year, showed plenty of promise before getting injured and he is the front runner to back up Clark. 

The special teams were very solid in coverage last season and that should continue with special teams aces like Keyaron Fox, Patrick Bailey, & Donovan Woods returning.  The return game should improve and if it doesn't it would be from lack of trying.

The Steelers brought in Mike Wallace, Joe Burnett, & Stefan Logan to improve this aspect of the team. Jeff Reed will once again be back to handle the kicking game. And Daniel Sepulveda should greatly improve the punting game after missing last season with a knee injury. 

The five biggest concerns for the Steelers going into the season are:

1. Will the offensive line gel and improve? If it doesn't Big Ben could be in for another long season and the running game, once again, will suffer. 

2. Can Lawrence Timmons be a run-stuffer?  He has awesome ability and can run, blitz, cover, and tackle.  But can he put his nose in there and be a run stopper as Larry Foote was?

3. Will a WR step up and take Nate Washington's place?  The Steelers have three main options here. Limas Sweed, Shaun McDonald, & Mike Wallace. 

4. Can the RBs stay healthy and be more productive in short yardage? Willie Parker has been banged up the past two seasons. Rashard Mendenhall started only one game and didn't make it very long into that game before getting injured. 

This question and question No. 1 are tied very closely together in the short yardage issues. The Steelers' believe that the O-line improving and the combo of Mendenhall & Summers should take care of those short yardage issues.

5. Will the Steelers' suffer from a Super Bowl hangover?  The players said they've learned from what happened after the Super Bowl XL win and Mike Tomlin says he won't let it happen...we'll see.

I wrote this kinda like a "Season Preview" and attempted to answer questions one, two, and five from the "Roster Knowledge/Team History" part.