What to Expect From the Steelers Secondary After This Year

I remember a time when the Steelers secondary was the weakest unit on the team. 

Chad Scott, Dwayne Washington, Lee Flowers.  I am so glad that those days are long gone.

The Steelers secondary has developed into one of the best in football.  Last year, Pittsburgh ranked No. 1 against the pass.

But, Steelers corners and safeties are not simply asked to cover the pass.  They also help in the run department, which by the way, ranked second in the league last year.

So, what is the state of the Steelers secondary after this year?  Things are looking bright!

Troy Polamalu, Strong Safety

Polamalu is a monster in every aspect of his game and is changing the way the safety position is played.  Defending against the run or pass makes no difference to him.  Wherever the play is at is normally where you will find him.

Known around the league as Taz, because of the reckless abandon he plays with, you can be certain that if there is a play that needs to be made, Polamlu will make it.

I know it is hard to say at the age of 28, but he is destined for the Hall of Fame. 

Ryan Clark, Free Safety

Clark came to the Steelers as an unrestricetd free agent from the Washington Redskins in 2006.  Few people thought that Clark was going to be more than a back up.  I, for one, thought he would be more of a dime player.

Over the last two seasons, Clark has been changed into a head hunter.  Against the Patriots last year, he knocked Wes Welker out of the game with a devistating hit.  Then in the AFC Championship game against the Ravens he did the same to Willis McGahee.

The rumor mill currently says that the Steelers are in negotiations with Clark about an extension.  Hopefully he can get it and stay healthy enough to play into the future.

Ike Taylor, Cornerback

I still say to this day that if Ike Taylor could learn to catch the ball he would be in the Pro Bowl every year.

At 6'2", with blazing speed, Taylor is normally assigned to the oppositions best receiver.  Last year in a seven-game stretch, Taylor was matched up against some of the best receivers in the league.

In Weeks 7-14, Taylor went up against T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Plaxico Burress, Santana Moss, Reggie Wayne, Vincent Jackson, Houshmandzadeh again, Randy Moss, and Terrell Owens.

In those eight games, Taylor only allowed Wayne over 50 reception yards and held all seven receivers to only three touchdowns combined.

William Gay, Cornerback

With the departure of Bryant McFadden, Gay will step into the starters role opposite of Taylor.  During an injury to McFadden last year, Gay stepped into the starters role, Even when McFadden returned from injury, he had to alternate series with Gay.

Gay is making the most of his opportunity this offseason by training with Taylor, Santonio Holmes, and James Farrior at Disney's Wide World of Sports complex in Florida.

Gay said that he wants to make the most out of this opportunity, so he is training with Taylor this offseason to push himself to be as good as him.  Hopefully, he will have better hands than Taylor.

Deshea Townsend, Cornerback

At 34-years-old, Townsend is on the downside of his career.  He no longer has the amazing speed that made him a starter for much of his career, which has only been in a Steelers uniform.

Having accepted the role as the nickelback last year, he will fight for that position again this year, but may not be able to overcome the youth that has been added to the team.

One of the rumors that is going around is that Townsend will be switching to a back up safety this year.  With the loss of speed, but amazing leadership ability, it will be nice to be able to have him there if Clark or Polamalu are injured.

Ryan Mundy, Safety

Mundy spent most of last year on the Steelers practice squad.  The Steelers have high hopes that Mundy will eventually replace Clark. They just don't think he is ready to make the leap just yet.

I expect Mundy to be someone to stay off the practice squad this year and compete for playing time.

Roy Lewis, Cornerback

Lewis was signed as a rookie free agent after last year's draft.  He earned some special teams playing time, but does not look to be someone that is going to compete for playing time.

Tyrone Carter, Strong Safety.

At 33-years-old, Carter has been a great back up for the Steelers since Super Bowl XL.  He is not known as a full-time starter, but comes in in certain situations, and plays well.

Depending on how the rookies do, Carter may be out of a job come the regular season.

Rookies

The Steelers invested a third and fifth round pick in this year's draft on corners.  Both come to the Steelers with very different skill sets but are expected to eventually make an impact on the team.

Keenan Lewis, Cornerback.

Drafted out of Oregon State in the third round, the Steelers see Lewis as someone that can eventually either replace or start opposite of Taylor.

Comprable in size to Taylor, Lewis is 6'0".  Though he does not posess the speed of Taylor, Lewis has a knack of finding the ball.

Joe Burnett, Cornerback.

In the fifth round, the Steelers selected Joe Burnett out of the University of Central Florida.  Much smaller that Lewis (5'9"), Burnett is not expected to be a starter at corner.  The Steelers are hoping to one day use him as the nickelback to cover faster slot receivers.

Burnett also brings the ability to return punts and kicks. A team can never have enough of those.

Outlook.

After this season, Deshea Townsend and Tyrone Carter are probably not going to be with the team anymore.

Ryan Clark, depending on his re-signing, may be gone as well. 

I look for Ryan Mundy to work his way into the starters role at free safety, replacing Clark by 2011.

Taylor has at least two more years playing at the level he is at and will eventually be replaced by Lewis.  When that happens, Taylor will probably move into the nickel position, if he can hold off the speedy Joe Burnett.

Either way, the Steelers are looking good in the secondary this year, and if the young guys can progress, the position will be a strong one for years to come.