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Ben Roethlisberger and Le'Veon Bell

Pittsburgh Steelers Plan is Clear

Ben Roethlisberger and Le'Veon Bell

The Pittsburgh Steelers have not made any huge splashes this offseason in free agency. That is partially due to their current cap situation, but that may not be the only reason. It seems like the Steelers feel fine with the way last year ended.

As most remember, the Steelers started the season 2-6. However, the team ended the season at 8-8, going 6-2 in their final eight games. That’s a complete 180 degree turnaround from the first eight games. It’s apparent that the Steelers as an organization feel they were right there last year. They aren’t wrong, either. The Steelers were in it until the very end and narrowly missed the postseason. So what exactly is the plan?

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Three More Draft Picks For Steelers

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Looks like Kevin Colbert knew what he was doing after all…

In last year’s draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers sent their third round pick this year to the Cleveland Browns in order to move up to the top of the 4th round and take Shamarko Thomas. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what Kevin Costner does with our pick. In the meantime, while I like the Shamarknado, I was never thrilled about giving up a third rounder for a guy not likely to start for the foreseeable future. In today’s NFL, you stay under the salary cap is by constantly infusing the roster with young talent. And the picks you’re most likely to hit on come in the first three rounds.

Well, the Steelers got their third rounder back yesterday when the NFL awarded their compensation picks in the 2014 NFL Draft. Granted, it’s about 20 spots later than the one we traded away but when you view the Thomas deal as trading back a couple dozen places the price definitely looks a helluva lot cheaper.Read More »Three More Draft Picks For Steelers

Steelers Add Arthur Moats

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NFL: Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns

My original title was “Steelers fall into the Moats” but that pun was groan worthy even for me.

The Pittsburgh Steelers continue to chip away at their depleted roster, signing linebacker Arthur Moats to a one year minimum salary deal. Moats started 12 games for the Buffalo Bills last season although initial reports seem to indicate he’s being brought in as a super-sub capable of backing up at both inside and outside linebacker. If the team pegged him as a potential starter, it does stand to reason they’d sign him for longer than a year. Read More »Steelers Add Arthur Moats

Lance Moore Replaces Jerricho Cotchery

Lance Moore

Late Friday afternoon, it was announced that Lance Moore signed a two-year contract with the Steelers. This comes just a day after the Steelers lost Jerricho Cotchery to the Carolina Panthers.

This was another good signing by the Steelers because it strengthens their receiving corps. After losing Emmanuel Sanders and eventually Cotchery, Thursday night, the Steelers top three receivers were Antonio Brown, Markus Wheaton, and Derek Moye. But, Moore adds some depth to that receiving core. Now, it’s Brown, Moore, and Wheaton as the top three wideouts for Pittsburgh.

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Cotchery Headed To Carolina

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Wild Card Playoffs - Pittsburgh Steelers v Denver Broncos

Eight.

That’s the total number of receptions made by wide receivers not named Antonio Brown remaining on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster. Maybe – I stress the word maybe – they improved their defense this off-season. They for damn sure didn’t improve their offense. In fact, it’s hard to look at the current depth chart and argue it’s gotten anything but significantly worse.

Jerricho Cotchery is the latest to depart, reportedly agreeing to a two year $6 million deal with the Carolina Panthers. The Cotch Rocket had a career year in 2013,  catching 45 passes for 602 yards and a team leading 10 touchdowns. Unlike Mike Wallace and Emmanuel Sanders, the Black and Gold actually wanted to re-sign Cotchery, who provided a dependable veteran presence to the passing game. With the Steelers down to only $2 million in salary cap space – they have to wait until June 1st for nearly $8 million of LaMarr Woodley‘s money to clear – it appears Cotchery wasn’t willing to wait and see what the Steelers planned to offer.Read More »Cotchery Headed To Carolina

Eric Decker’s Replacement: Former Steeler Emmanuel Sanders

Emmanuel Sanders

On Saturday night, free agent wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders inked a three-year, $15 million deal with the Denver Broncos. The Broncos just recently lost Eric Decker, arguably one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, to the New York Jets. Sanders, now a former Steeler, appears to be his replacement. Yes, the Broncos have Wes Welker and Demaryius Thomas, but the Broncos took a huge step back as far as depth at wideout.

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Steelers Sign Nose Tackle, Sanders Joins Broncos

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Cam Thomas

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed their second big free agent, coming to terms on a two year deal with former San Diego Chargers nose tackle Cam Thomas. And when I say “big,” I mean that literally in the case of the 6’3 330 pound man affectionately nicknamed Baby ‘Zilla. The acquisition of Thomas gives some clue as to how the Steelers are planning to rebuild a defensive line that performed quite terribly last season. It’s hard to imagine these moves leading to a run D worse than the one that got gashed with alarming ease last year.

Thomas was a fourth round pick out of North Carolina back in 2010. He started ten games last season for San Diego before losing his job over what is rumored to be the coaches’ dissatisfaction with his effort level. From what I’ve read on Chargers blogs, Thomas was frustrating to watch because in some games he looked like a world beater while in others he barely bothered to show up. If the Steelers can properly motivate him – and while Mike Tomlin is about as inspiring as a shrieking parakeet, Dick LeBeau has traditionally inspired fierce loyalty in his men – they could kill two birds with one stone, so to speak.Read More »Steelers Sign Nose Tackle, Sanders Joins Broncos

Ex-Steelers Someone Else’s Problem Now

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NFL: FEB 06 Super Bowl XLV - Steelers v Packers

If at first you don’t succeed…

Pittsburgh West once again lived up to their nickname by signing running back Jonathan Dwyer on Wednesday. Dwyer won’t start for the Arizona Cardinals – Andre Ellington took hold of the job last season after the signing of uber-bust Rashard Mendenhall predictably blew up in Bruce Arians‘ face. Mendenhall recently announced his retirement at 26 years of age which shocked those in the media not familiar with what a colossal nutcase that soft baby really is. Hopefully, Mendy can find some joy traveling the world like Caine in Kung-Fu or whatever the hell he plans to do with all that money he stole from the Rooneys.

Dwyer was the first ex member of the Pittsburgh Steelers to sign elsewhere but he would not be the last. Over the past 24 hours, two more longtime Steelers found employment with new teams. Recently cut LaMarr Woodley didn’t remain on the market long, signing  a two year deal with the Oakland Raiders. He won’t win many games out there although he’s almost guaranteed of beating the Steelers should the they play in the near future. Defensive end Ziggy Hood also found work with one of the league’s bottom-feeders, joining the Jacksonville Jaguars.Read More »Ex-Steelers Someone Else’s Problem Now

The Steelers Should Not Stop With Mike Mitchell

James Jones

The Pittsburgh Steelers made a big splash on Tuesday by signing free agent safety Mike Mitchell to a five-year, $25 million deal. Mitchell brings youth to a defense where the average age of the starters was 33 last year.

I give this signing an A if I have to grade it. Mitchell had a breakout year in 2013 on one of the NFL’s best defenses. He also came at a pretty good price for the Steelers.

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Steelers Sign New Starting Safety

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Mitchell

Ryan Clark spent last season auditioning for a job at ESPN. As Chuck Noll would say, it appears to be time for him to get on with his life’s work. The Pittsburgh Steelers have already found his replacement.

Mike Mitchell of the Carolina Panthers became the Steelers first significant free agent signing in nearly ten years. By “significant” I mean rather than their usual method of dumpster diving for back-ups and role players, Mitchell represents a first day signee who will be expected to start. Not only start but be an upgrade for a defense that has fallen off considerably the past couple seasons. Why else would they give him 5 years at $25 million ($10 million guaranteed)?Read More »Steelers Sign New Starting Safety