Pittsburgh Steelers: Ranking Remaining Offseason Priorities
When it comes to the offseason checklist, Pittsburgh Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert did a fine job addressing several areas of need in the draft.
A dynamic pass-rusher? Check.
Cornerback depth? Check.
Developmental prospects at wide receiver and tight end? Check and check.
Even with all of these moves, there is still work to be done for the Steelers to contend once again in 2015. However, many of the priorities that remain involve sorting out the depth chart as opposed to adding veteran talent.
With that knowledge in hand, what do the Steelers need to accomplish prior to the start of the regular season? Here is a look of the remaining offseason priorities ranked from the lowest to the highest priority.
5. Contract Extensions for Key Veterans
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The biggest storyline entering the offseason was the contract status of Ben Roethlisberger's contract station. Rather than offer him a contract extension last season, they waited until this year to get a deal completed.
The two sides did not wait long and agreed to a new deal just three days after the start of free agency. With their most significant deal of the offseason finished, the Steelers can now turn their attention to their key starters deserving of another contract.
According to Over the Cap, Pittsburgh has five starters with contracts that will expire following the 2015 season. These players include Ramon Foster, Kelvin Beachum, Steve McLendon, Cameron Heyward and William Gay.
Although the team will entertain the idea of re-signing Foster, McLendon and Gay, those deals can wait until next offseason. Instead, the Steelers will focus their attention to Heyward and Beachum, per Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
At 26 years old, Heyward is one of the bright young stars on Pittsburgh’s defense. He has slowly established himself as one of the best 3-4 defensive ends in the league and tied for the team lead with 7.5 sacks last season.
Beyond his production, Heyward is prepared to take what he has learned from Brett Keisel to be a team leader next season, per Scott Brown of ESPN.com:
“He’s always been a big teacher for me,” Heyward said of Keisel. “He’s taught me how to lead, how to get better. I don’t want to let that guy down.”
As the last of Pittsburgh’s four seventh-round draft choices in 2012, Beachum was a long shot to make the team, let alone start at left tackle.
Built to play guard (6’3”, 303 lbs), Beachum would practice at all five positions along the offensive line before the end of his second season. Eventually, he locked down a starting job at left tackle and has been a stabilizing presence on the offensive line.
The 25-year old has overcome the odds and he is about to get paid from the Steelers or another team. If Colbert has it has way, Beachum will be in Pittsburgh for a long time.
4. Determine Rotation Along Defensive Line
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One of the most promising areas on the Steelers’ roster this year is the defensive line. Burgeoning with young talent, Pittsburgh will try to recapture the days of Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton and Brett Keisel this year.
Heyward will lead the line this season and will be flanked on the opposite end by second-year defensive end Stephon Tuitt. In the middle will be Steve McLendon, who has performed well replacing Hampton.
Behind McLendon is Dan McCullers, the 6’7” and 352-pound nose tackle who has the potential to be a force against the run. Now in his second year, new defensive coordinator Keith Butler will have to find a way for McCullers and McLendon to share snaps at the nose, as well as establish a rotation for the defensive ends.
Rarely do the Steelers keep the starters on the field for the entire game, instead opting to rotate their linemen to keep them fresh not only for four quarters but also for the duration of the season.
Last year, Heyward led the way playing 86.7 percent of the defensive snaps, according to Football Outsiders. No other defensive lineman played more than 45 percent of the snaps, including the combination of McLendon and McCullers, which was on the field for only 37.1 percent of the time.
The defensive line will have a different feel without Keisel this year, meaning that the Steelers will need another end to fill the void. That job could go to veteran Cam Thomas, or they could instead go without one of their young prospects.
Clifton Geathers is the second-tallest player on the roster at 6’8” and is a player defensive line coach John Mitchell wanted back for this season. Joining him in competing for playing time will be Joe Kruger, Matt Conrath, Ethan Hemer and sixth-round draft choice L.T. Walton as well as some others.
Defensive ends typically take three years to develop under Mitchell, but the veteran coach had high praise for his sixth-round rookie, per Steelers.com:
"He’s a guy that when I watched, I’ll tell you, he’s a guy that stays on his feet and that’s the most important thing for a defensive lineman. He has a good motor and runs to the ball.
The things that he is going to have to learn how to do a little bit better is use his hands, get off blocks, and be a little more physical at the point of a tackle. When you can get a guy 6-4, 319—that can run and stay on his feet that’s a big plus.
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It is a lot to ask a rookie to play a significant number of snaps along the defensive line, but with little proven depth, the Steelers will seek all avenues to find a contributor.
Pittsburgh’s coaches need to find the correct formula for the defensive line to control the line of scrimmage. It is imperative that they have the players who can generate pressure as well as help improve upon the No. 27 rush defense from last season.
That makes finding the right mix of personnel in training camp one of the biggest remaining priorities this offseason.
3. Integrate Young Playmakers into the Offense
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The Steelers surprised many when they selected Sammie Coates in the third round. They already have star receiver Antonio Brown along with upcoming young players, with Markus Wheaton and Martavis Bryant. Why another wide receiver?
Well, beyond their top three receivers, the Steelers lack depth, and not only does Coates fill this void, but he is also a player who has the potential to become so much more. At 6’1” and 212 pounds, he is a big receiver who brings a physical aspect to his game that wide receivers coach Richard Mann is eager to work with (via Steelers.com):
"I thought it was a great selection. From what I saw on tape, I think we got a guy that needs some work but is a great athlete. He has good speed and can take the top off of the coverage. He’s a guy who can track the ball down field very well.
He has some problems straight ahead catching a football but that’s why we have drills. With a chance to coach him up, we feel like we can make that better.
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The challenge for the coaching staff will be to find ways to not only get the ball to their established superstars Brown, Le’Veon Bell and Heath Miller but also to the young talent at receiver. Remember, even as a raw rookie last year, Bryant had 549 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
As intriguing as the trio of Wheaton, Bryant and Coates is, there is a chance that fifth-round rookie Jesse James could have a significant impact as well. The 6’7” tight end has the size to be a dangerous red-zone target for Roethlisberger.
At the other end of the spectrum is the 5’8” Dri Archer.
Despite blazing speed, Archer was a non-factor last season with only 63 yards on 17 offensive touches. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley will once against have to devise schemes to get the ball to Archer in space.
When given the room to run, Archer is a home run threat every time he touches the ball. However, if asked to create his own space, he isn’t as successful.
All of the weapons on offense could have the Steelers near the top of the league in scoring this season, but it is finding the right combination of personnel packages to properly utilize them. If Haley can finally put all of the pieces together, expect more team records to fall in 2015.
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2. Carve out Role for Bud Dupree
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When it comes to linebackers, the Steelers used to be the team that set the standard. In recent years, players such as Joey Porter, LaMarr Woodley—before his injuries—and James Harrison formed some of the most fearsome pass-rushers in the entire league.
However, as these players aged, the Steelers have not adequately replaced them, and it shows in the team’s performance. Last season, they ranked 26th in sacks with only 33 on the season. This made drafting a top pass-rusher a priority.
Sitting with the No. 22 selection in the draft, odds were that Pittsburgh would miss the top prospects at the position. Instead, Bud Dupree slipped, and Colbert pounced to grab the elite prospect.
At 6’4” and 269 pounds, Dupree boasts ideal size to play the strong side of the defense, yet he is an explosive athlete with freakish speed—4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash.
Unfortunately, Dupree will not pay immediate dividends. His pass-rushing skills are raw, evident by his lack of production while at Kentucky. Part of that reason is because of the position switches he had in college. His coach Mark Stoops told Kyle Tucker of The Courier-Journal that playing one position would help him:
"I don't think there's any doubt. I talked about it: he has been extremely unselfish and really did whatever we asked for the team. If we just left him in the 4-3 and let him rush the passer and be a 4-3 defensive end you'd see his numbers go through the roof with sacks.
But he did a lot of things with us and he's very versatile, and we were transitioning. It was very nice for us to have such a versatile athlete playing that position, but it also will benefit him, honestly, with a position coach.
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Dupree has the opportunity to develop into a well-rounded outside linebacker with the ability to not only rush the quarterback but also stop the run and drop into coverage. However, the results will not be immediate.
Instead, the Steelers will develop Dupree slowly and allow him to learn behind Arthur Moats at left outside linebacker. Although he isn’t playing behind James Harrison, he will have the chance to witness his All-Pro work ethic.
As he learns the game, expect Butler to carve out a specific role for Dupree as a pass-rusher on third downs. Here, he can focus on one aspect of his game as he adjusts to Pittsburgh’s scheme.
Once he gets comfortable in the defense, Dupree can alternate series with Moats and may even get to the point where he can take over as the starter. Until then, it is important to take advantage of his athleticism and find a way to get him to the quarterback.
1. Sort Out Cornerback Depth Chart
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When the Steelers open up training camp, they should start with a clean slate on the cornerback depth chart. Outside of William Gay, there was not a consistent starter in the bunch last year, and Mike Tomlin needs to have an open competition to put the best three or four players on the field.
Gay will be a favorite to earn one of these jobs. He is a knowledgeable veteran who had three interception returns for a touchdown last year. His presence on the field will only help the younger defensive backs.
Outside of Gay, there is no clear-cut starter on the roster—including the rookies.
Cortez Allen will be provided with every opportunity to earn back his starting job. Pittsburgh signed him to a long-term contract extension last offseason to be one of its top cornerbacks for the foreseeable future. So far, that contract has not worked out as he was benched last season.
Antwon Blake and B.W. Webb are two returning veterans who will compete for a spot on the depth chart; though, both are better suited for the No. 4 role.
That leaves rookies Senquez Golson and Doran Grant to fight for a starting job either on the outside or as the nickel corner.
Golson is only 5’9” but has excellent ball skills as demonstrated by his 10 interceptions last season. Lance Zierlein of NFL.com believes that he can eventually develop into a very good NFL player:
"Golson has the twitch, ball skills and instincts to be an outstanding cornerback in the NFL. Despite playing so much zone in college, there is no reason to believe he can't transition to any coverage asked of him. He's well put-together, but his lack of height could force some teams to view him as a slot-only corner. Golson has Pro Bowl potential.
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Only one inch taller, Grant was an ideal selection for the Steelers in the fourth round. He can play at either corner spot and, at 200 pounds, has the size to step up against the run.
Each rookie has a bright future in the league, but can they contribute right away? Is Allen ready to be a starter again, or will he continue to struggle?
As the most unsettled position on the roster, it is vital that Pittsburgh’s coaching staff finds the answers to these questions as it sorts out the cornerback depth chart later this summer.
Note: Unless otherwise noted, all stats are courtesy of Sports-Reference.com, all combine results are courtesy of the NFL.com Draft Tracker and roster information is courtesy of Steelers.com.
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