Pittsburgh Steelers: Analyzing the Role and Expectations of Each Rookie
Now that the draft is over, and with free agency still frozen by the lockout, the focus turns to how each rookie from the newly minted 2011 draft class will fit into each team's plans.
With seven picks, the Pittsburgh Steelers were able to fill some needs and were also to fill out the depth chart to some degree. What they were able to accomplish could have far-ranging effects at several key positions.
Here's a look at how the players selected will fit into the team's future plans.
Future Starters on Defense
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Who?
Cameron Heyward and Curtis Brown are virtual locks to become starters at some point during the next year or two. Both players were drafted at positions where starting spots should be up for grabs in the next season or so as well.
Expected ETA?
Heyward's starting role will be tied directly to the performance of three current players: Aaron Smith, Brett Keisel and Ziggy Hood. How well (and how long) each performs at a high level will dictate when Heyward takes the field. He's got stiff competition, but with Smith ailing almost every year and both he and Keisel over 30, he should find a spot somewhere quickly. We'll say 2012 for him.
Brown could be a starter by the end of this season, although rookies rarely get much face time in Dick LeBeau's defense. He should be the team's nickel back by mid-2011. I'd say he will probably be starting at one corner spot in 2012, 2013 at the very latest if he is a late bloomer.
Future Starters on Offense
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Who?
Marcus Gilbert and Keith Williams, two key acquisitions along the offensive line, will likely be starters in Pittsburgh before long. They both play positions that hold an important need in this offense. The likelihood is that both will develop quickly.
Gilbert is a stud who could play guard or tackle. Williams is also a swing man, but he's more of a guard. They could see time this season depending on how quickly they digest the complex playbook and blocking scheme.
Expected ETA?
Gilbert should be starting either at guard or at right tackle by the end of 2011. If he comes as advertised, there's no reason he shouldn't be able to unseat Ramon Foster or Flozell Adams. If he doesn't, he'll likely be starting in 2012 at one of the tackle spots.
Williams is probably a 2012 or 2013 starter. He'll take a little longer to develop, but could rotate in some this year, particularly if the team can't find a way to stay healthy at the position. His versatility is excellent, and he could have a similar impact to Doug Legursky.
Possible Future Starters
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Who?
Cortez Allen and Christopher Carter both are good draft selections who could eventually turn into something more than complementary players.
Carter is in luck. The Steelers have a history with late-round linebackers. James Harrison was an undrafted player. Now he's been Defensive Player of the Year and could have even been Super Bowl MVP in 2008. Joey Porter came before him as a third-round draft choice. The list of players the Steelers have turned into stars at the position is endless.
Allen could be a starter by default, but he could also earn the job if he develops like new secondary coach Carnell Lake thinks he can. Allen has decent size, speed and other measurables, and a lot of good talent. He might be the team's most intriguing draft pick this year.
Expected ETA?
I would say Carter won't be a starter for a while. He'll be in the mix once Harrison retires or Woodley leaves. Neither scenario is likely any time soon, so Carter may have to bide his time. I don't think he's cut out for NFL inside linebacker, where he's also blocked by James Farrior, Lawrence Timmons and possibly even Stevenson Sylvester.
Allen will probably be the nickel back once Curtis Brown moves up to a starting spot and could then step into a starting job, depending on how the Ike Taylor situation shapes up in the coming weeks and (hopefully) years.
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Excellent Complimentary Piece
4 of 4
Who?
Well, who's left? Baron Batch, the running back/wide receiver from Texas Tech. Batch amassed over 1,000 all-purpose yards three seasons in a row. He is basically a poor man's Reggie Bush. If he can stay healthy, he can do what the New Orleans Saints always hoped Bush would do for them.
In an offense that has always valued versatility and athleticism (see Ben Roethlisberger, Mike Wallace, Hines Ward, etc.), a guy like Batch might be the missing link. He can be a home run threat out of the backfield with his speed. He can be a third-down back who can catch the ball in the flat. He'll be unpredictable to be sure.
Expected ETA?
2011. As long as there's a season, expect him to have an impact. He should be a returner on special teams and should also make some plays on offense. He'll likely replace the production of Mewelde Moore, who probably isn't coming back now. He could also become a dangerous receiver in spread formations.
He might be the most interesting player who can have the most immediate impact. He's not a starter, but he could end up carving out quite the career.
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