Steelers Morning Huddle 6/23/13

Dec 16, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Dallas Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray (29) runs the ball during the game against Pittsburgh Steelers safety Ryan Clark (25) – linebacker Larry Foote (50) and safety Troy Polamalu (43)at Cowboys Stadium. The Cowboys beat the Steelers 27-24 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

The local Pittsburgh online news outlets continue to be light on features about the Pittsburgh Steelers.  I’m sure as we get closer to camp opening in the end of July that will change.  Here are a few other tidbits I dug up from some other places around the web.

Steelers Secondary:  Experience Outweighs Concerns About Age

Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review looks at the Steelers veteran secondary and notes that Clark, Taylor and Polamalu all admit they aren’t as fast as they used to be, but they think their experience, particularly the bond they have, will give them an advantage.  Karboly acknowledges:

"Sure, interceptions were down (only six by the secondary) and splash plays were few and far between, but that didn’t stop them from making them the hardest team to throw on.”"

However, injuries, particularly for Polamalu are the main concern.  Now that William Gay is added back into the mix, the foursome feel they are the secondary to beat.  They are focused on being the best.  I like the attitude, but I am concerned that they are all over 30.  That’s bordering on ancient in the NFL.  I want to see Polamalu have one more dominant year before he rides off into the sunset.  More than anything, I want to see the secondary disrupt and wreak havoc.  It’s almost as much fun as watching a sack.  Almost.  I would love to see a Steeler standing over Tom Brady on Nov 3rd even more, but a Polamalu pick would be great too.  I might have missed it, but I wondered why Kaboly didn’t say anything about Shamarko Thomas.

ESPN.com’s Matt Williamson also looks at the Pittsburgh secondary along with the other secondaries in the AFC North.  He thinks the Raven’s secondary will be much improved from last year. The Bengals have added depth to their secondary. Cleveland’s “Joe Haden is the star here. He is a top-five-type corner and is capable of shutting down the opponent’s No. 1 wideout — and could get better.”  His section on the Pittsburgh Steelers is the longest of the blog and he notes all the prominent departures as well as some of the late draft round picks for the Steelers.  However, it comes down to the safeties:

"At safety, the Steelers have one of the best starting pairs in the league — when Troy Polamalu is healthy. Still a superb player, Polamalu just has to stay on the field. The Steelers’ defense with and without Polamalu is remarkably different.”"

Williamson saves talking about Shamarko Thomas until the end noting that he may come into the mix sooner if Polamalu is injured.  He predicts Thomas will be an impact player.

New Award Named for Deacon Jones

In other news, the NFL announced a new award to honor the late Deacon Jones.  In 2013 the league leader in sacks will be awarded the “David Deacon Jones Award.” ESPN posted a video with some other details.

What did I miss?  What did I get wrong?

That’s it for today.  Hopefully, thing will pick up in the news world this week.  Have a good one Steeler Nation!