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I still don't get the Haley hiring.

QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 09:12 AM ET  02.21 by TxHeat

I still don't get the Haley hiring.

It was a bad hire in my opinion.

The Steelers main ingrediants are getting on in age and injury. Their feared defense has been labeled "dirty" and fined repeatedly. I think the Steelers need some fresh talent soon!

QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 09:54 AM ET  02.21 by drip drop

It was a bad hire in my opinion.

Only time will tell us if it was bad or not!

New staff or not, they'd be crazy to let Wallace walk or be stollen as the case may be!

Hopefully some of the recent draft picks from the last few years will step up and contribute...but to me, OL and NT remain significant concerns...

I really think they need to get a nose tackle now. Snack isn't going to last much longer, and he'll need time to train up his eventual replacement.

QUOTE(#7):

Originally posted 07:17 PM ET  02.21 by Kerovan

I really think they need to get a nose tackle now. Snack isn't going to last much longer, and he'll need time to train up his eventual replacement.

I wonder if they plan to start McClenden at NT going forward??? Even if that's their plan they still need a backup NT. I don't know **** deep NT is in this year's draft.

The Steelers HAVE been great with what they've had. The problem is that they've had it for quite a while now. Now their roster is comprised of Big Ben, a patchwork offensive line, tiny speed receivers, and an aging defense.

Their Super Bowl window is closing, fast. If it's not already closed.

QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 11:33 PM ET  02.22 by RickRoll'd

The Steelers HAVE been great with what they've had. The problem is that they've had it for quite a while now. Now their roster is comprised of Big Ben, a patchwork offensive line, tiny speed receivers, and an aging defense.Their Super Bowl window is closing, fast. If it's not already closed.

I agree that their current roster has alot of players much closer to the end of their careers than the beginning...DL needs an overhaul, and the OL is a mess..., as far as their "window" is concerned, Roethlisberger is just turning 30.... IMHO, Bruce Arians was a greatly overrated OC, who allowed Ben too much leeway..the Steelers offense was PREDICTABLE and especially ineffective in the Red Zone...let's see what Tod Haley can do with the offensive talent he has now... Also, not to make any excuses, but if they can get through a season without losing at least a half-dozen starters to injuries, their chances of getting to the Big Dance go up a bit...

QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 03:46 PM ET  02.22 by EazyDozit

The Steelers have for the most part been great with what they got,but age is catching up on a few dominate teams and next year it may show more.

The Bengals are younger and getting better.

QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 08:35 AM ET  02.23 by drip drop

The Bengals are younger and getting better.

True enough...the Steelers could be VERY young if they released several of the "fixtures" on their team...ie Max Starks, James Farrior, Aaron Smith, Casey Hampton... Roethlisberger is the oldest offensive player..turning 30. They could start a DL of 2nd/3rd yr ends and the LB are pretty much intact....they have been grooming a number of young backups for the past few years...this might be the year they have to cross their collective fingers and hope the younger guys can step up.....

The Steelers roster over the last bunch of seasons has looked largely the same, with a few new names popping up. They've been a great team and a model franchise, but they've been together for quite a few years now, and it's starting to catch up to them.

Bottom line is, teams like the Steelers (that believe in building through the draft and not spending in free agency) have to have success in the draft or they'll crumble. If you look at their draft history over the last 5 or 6 years, they haven't really "hit" on a whole lot of players past the first round. None of the other guys really developed. And that hurts "home grown" teams.

Here are the Steeler's first round draft picks since 2001:

2001- Casey Hampton
2002 - Kendall Simmons
2003 - Troy Polamalu
2004 - Ben Roethlisberger
2005 - Heath Miller
2006 - Santonio Holmes
2007 - Lawrence Timmons
2008 - Rashard Mendenhall
2009 - Ziggy Hood
2010 - Maurkice Pouncey
2011 - Cameron Heyward


So, their first-round picks are a decent bunch - there's a reason these players are picked highly, after all. But once you get past there, the draft picks aren't as solid. Their second-round picks in the same time:

2001 - Kendrell Bell
2002 - Antwaan Randel El
2003 - Alonzo Jackson
2004 - Ricardo Colclough
2005 - Bryant McFadden
2006 - n/a
2007 - LaMarr Woodley
2008 - Limas Sweed
2009 - n/a
2010 - Jason Worilds
2011 - Marcus Gilbert


Yeeeah. It doesn't take a genius to see that that is not a very solid group aside from Lamarr Woodley and Bryant McFadden. The talent gleaned from the draft rounds below that isn't exactly stellar, either. Suffice to say that a vast majority of these players aren't members of the Steelers anymore.

So for a while, they've had this solid nucleus of players. However, in terms of maintaining a franchise team, they had a few bad years in a row on draft day. That is what is absolutely killing them right now.

QUOTE(#14):

Originally posted 12:52 AM ET  02.29 by RickRoll'd

The Steelers roster over the last bunch of seasons has looked largely the same, with a few new names popping up. They've been a great team and a model franchise, but they've been together for quite a few years now, and it's starting to catch up to them. Bottom line is, teams like the Steelers (that believe in building through the draft and not spending in free agency) have to have success in the draft or they'll crumble. If you look at their draft history over the last 5 or 6 years, they haven't really "hit" on a whole lot of players past the first round. None of the other guys really developed.

Obviously, you aren't someone who follows the Steelers very closely....Looking over the list of 1st round picks, EVERY SINGLE player ended up a starter (even Heyward, due to injuries last year)...not too bad of a % for an NFL Team (any other teams with that much success?)...

As far as the "underperforming" second round picks go...

2001-Kendrell Bell was a starter for the Steelers for several years until lost in FA
2002-Antwaan Randle El (Seriously?) was the second coming of "Slash" for several years and who can forget the TD he threw in SBLX??? Again, such a valuable player that he was signed away for ridiculous $$ by the Redskins in FA
2010-Jason Worilds has progressed in the expected fashion for young LBs in Dick Lebeau's fairly complicated defensive scheme...he would probably be on the field already for most teams but cant crack the starting lineup due to the All-Stars ahead of him
2011-Marcus Gilbert is projected to START for the Steelers at either RT or LT..

And dont forget several players that, although drafted late in the draft, have contributed for the Steelers...chief amongst them...Ike Taylor (?5th round), STARTING CB......Max Starks (7th round/FL), who has been a fixture on the OL since his 2nd season... Larry Foote (? round) basically ILBa to James Farrior and starting LB on most other teams...

It's true that there will be a "changing of the guard" soon for the Steelers defense that, as recently as LAST YEAR, was statistically #1 in the NFL..... But their is alot of developing young talent behind the aging starters...and with any luck, this years draft will provide the NEXT STARTER too... I might not be a GENIUS, but I do pay attention to history.... This team was one play away from securing the #1 SEED in the playoffs last year (4th down catch on the final Ravens drive in game #2)..so I wouldnt prematurely pronounce them DOA yet.....

Your salary cap is so FU'barred you can not afford to sign any new draft choices. The fact that you are some where around 25 Million over the salary cap, I think that you should be worrying more about the potential Free Agents you are about to lose, like Mike Wallace, who you can not even afford to Franchise...How do you get better when you can not improve the talent on your club, or keep some of the best talent already on your roster.

Welcome to mediocrity, where you have to sit and watch sub-level talent represent your team.

QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 10:54 AM ET  02.29 by BGDUECE

Your salary cap is so FU'barred you can not afford to sign any new draft choices. The fact that you are some where around 25 Million over the salary cap, I think that you should be worrying more about the potential Free Agents you are about to lose, like Mike Wallace, who you can not even afford to Franchise...How do you get better when you can not improve the talent on your club, or keep some of the best talent already on your roster.Welcome to mediocrity, where you have to sit and watch sub-level talent represent your team.

+1


But Ironman, the point I was making is, when you look at the Steelers' in the offseason over the past bunch of seasons, they largely make their living in the draft. And when you're either not drafting well or losing your players in FA, that hurts a lot. Losing Santonio Holmes two seasons ago was huge. Not because they don't have receivers (Mike Wallace filled in nicely), but they lost their 1st round pick in 2006.

And look again at the 2nd round picks. More specifically, 2001-2009. Two of those years, they didn't even have 2nd round picks! Only two of those players are still with the Steelers - Lamarr Woodley and Bryant McFadden. That's a lot of wasted 2nd rounders. That kind of retention issue is huge when you build through the draft.

And yes, they gleaned some good players lower in the draft. I didn't dispute that. But most of their players drafted in the lower rounds did NOT pan out very well. While that is true for most teams in the NFL, the lack of success and retention in the 2nd round of the draft is just killer.

Bell and Randel El WERE starters that left in FA. The Steelers had to try to fill those holes in the offseasons, rather than continue to build for the future. Those guys leaving does not do anything for the current Steelers. The 2003-2009 2nd round picks are just disappointing aside from Lamarr Woodley (who is a beast) and Bryant McFadden. Bryant McFadden really wasn't all that good, either. He's not even on the team anymore, either.

The only 2nd round pick they still have from 2001-2009 is Lamarr Woodley. The rest are gone. How can you build a team with that lack of success?

QUOTE(#17):

Originally posted 12:26 PM ET  02.29 by RickRoll'd

The only 2nd round pick they still have from 2001-2009 is Lamarr Woodley. The rest are gone. How can you build a team with that lack of success?

Simple, never miss on your your 1'st rounders. Then add on a couple 3'rd or later rounders like Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, Keenan Lewis, Emmanual Sanders, Willie Colon....etc.

To only look at the 2'nd round and think the Steelers have failed in the Draft is a bit short sighted. If you look at their overall drafts from the past 10-12 years, they are near the top of the NFL.

QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 10:54 AM ET  02.29 by BGDUECE

Welcome to mediocrity, where you have to sit and watch sub-level talent represent your team.

As a Bears fan you know that feeling very well.