October 20, 2012; Corvallis, OR, USA; Oregon State Beavers wide receiver Markus Wheaton (2) runs the ball as Utah Utes defensive back Reggie Topps (28) defends at Reser Stadium. Oregon State won 21-7. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

During the summer of 2012, Mike Wallace was absent for most of the offseason. The Steelers and Wallace’s camp were not able to come to an agreement on a long-term deal, so Wallace decided to play on his $2.7 million first round tender. Right after Mike Wallace supposedly turned down a big deal from the Steelers, they decided to sign Antonio Brown to a 5 year, $42 million deal.

After Brown’s deal, the writing on the wall was quite clear on both fronts, concerning Mike Wallace. To no surprise, Mike Wallace left the Steelers this offseason to sign a huge deal with the Miami Dolphins, making him one of the highest paid receivers in the NFL. I can’t say I can blame Wallace for taking that big deal. What I will say though is that I am glad it wasn’t the Steelers paying him that kind of money.

I was at the point where I was ready to say goodbye to Mike Wallace because quite frankly, he needed to go. Not only was I sick of his ‘me first’ mentality, I was also sick of what he did on the field, or should I say lack of what he did on the field. When Coach Tomlin coined the phrase “one-trick pony” for Wallace, many thought that he was just joking or trying to motivate him. Mike Wallace was a total one trick pony that was a track star in a football uniform. Yes, he took the top off the defense, but exactly what else did he do to help the Steelers win last year?

If you can’t tell already, I am not as big of fan of Mike Wallace as others. The production he had while in the black-and-gold is great, but he would always disappear in the playoffs. One of the few plays he made came in an end around against Denver, which wasn’t even a passing play. You can’t tell me you pay a guy $60 million to disappear from the playoffs. In 2012, when Ben would try to pass to Wallace, it was a safer bet that he would drop it instead of catching the ball. Steelers fans, including myself, became sick and tired of the way Wallace played in 2012.

After Wallace left, the Steelers had even more depth issues at wide receiver. The Steelers feel they partially filled that hole by drafting Markus Wheaton out of Oregon State. I have seen dozens upon dozens of articles saying “Can Markus Wheaton fill Mike Wallace’s shoes?” Or “Is Markus Wheaton the second coming of Mike Wallace?”

I hope not. I think the funniest thing is, other than the fact that both men are fast, and they have the same initials, the two receivers don’t have all that much in common at all. Mike Wallace is faster than Wheaton, but honestly, that’s the only edge I see Wallace having. Wheaton has WAY better hands, he’s a better route runner, he is not afraid to go over the middle, and he is willing to jump up to get the ball. How many times did you see Wallace put his body out there to make a play? You would have to look pretty hard to even find one time. Another area where Wallace struggled and Wheaton excelled in, is run blocking. Wallace does something called “look back blocking” where he is constantly just looking back at the runner, trying to avoid the confrontation of blocking the defender. Markus Wheaton on the other hand is not afraid at all to get in there and get his nose dirty.

Even though Mike Wallace might be a one trick pony, he does that one trick well. I believe he does it about 40 million well, not 60 million. Can Markus Wheaton match the production Wallace has had? I firmly believe that he can and will. Not only will he match what Wallace has done, I truly believe he has what it takes to end up being twice the receiver Wallace was and will be become. Is Markus Wheaton Mike Wallace’s replacement? Not only will Wheaton be his replacement, Wheaton will be seen as an upgrade a season or two from now.

Can Markus Wheaton take on a starting role in the Steelers offense? Let us know in the comments.

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Heck, the Steelers have more UDFA’s on their roster from their 2009 UDFA class than they do from their entire 2009 draft class!  Ramon Foster, Steve McLendon, and Isaac Redman all proved that the talent pool of a draft class does not necessarily evaporate once “Mr. Irrelevant” is selected.

So with UDFA’s in mind, today I thought that I would share my thoughts on Pittsburgh’s 2013 class of undrafted signees.  Moreover, I thought that it would be nice to gauge whether or not some of these guys have a legitimate shot to make the practice squad or even the 53-man roster this season or in the future.

Defense

Arnfelt could receive a very good chance to make Pittsburgh’s roster. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Defensive Ends

The Steelers are essentially bereft of depth at the defensive end position, and the only players backups behind the three-man rotation of Brett Keisel, Ziggy Hood, and Cameron Heyward are Al Woods and 7th round draft choice Nick Williams.

Compounding Pittsburgh’s issues at the position is the fact that Keisel and Hood will both be unrestricted free agents next spring, and one if not both could be playing elsewhere in 2014.  Thus, the door could be wide-open for either Brian Arnfelt of Northwestern or Cordian Hagans of Louisiana-Lafayette to earn a practice squad spot.

Interestingly enough, Hagans began his career as an offensive lineman at Louisiana State University.  After a year of not playing with the Bayou Bengals, Cordian transferred to Louisiana-Lafayette and switched from the offensive line to the defensive line.  Then after one season spent on the bench due to transfer rules and another as a backup, Hagans stepped up in a starting role last season and recorded 41 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, 5.0 sacks, and recovered 2 fumbles for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

Although newer to the defensive line, Hagans has a terrific frame to make the transition to the 5-technique position (6’4″ 299 lbs.).  Moreover, I am sure that defensive line coach John Mitchell will take all of the developmental depth that he can get at the moment.

While Hagans’ upside intrigues me, I am very interested to see how Brian Arnfelt does during the upcoming offseason.  Like Hagans, Arnfelt has the perfect frame to be a 5-technique in Pittsburgh’s defense (6’5″ 302 lbs.), and he possesses a ridiculous amount of raw athletic ability.  At his Pro Day, Arnfelt ran the 40 yard dash in 4.83 seconds and bench pressed 225 lbs. 38 times!  While he was a rotational player until his senior campaign, Brian burst out last season and notched 25 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 3.0 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery from his defensive tackle position.

Arnfelt could be a sleeper to not only make the practice squad this year, but he could make a run at even earning a roster spot if he performs well over the next few months.  While still a raw and developing player, the former Wildcat’s developmental skill-set could definitely intrigue a veteran coach like Mitchell who has done a terrific job of developing late round talent during his career.

Nose Tackles

Although the Steelers have plenty of young and emerging talent at the nose tackle, questions might still linger about the reliability of the depth at the position.  For one thing, Alameda Ta’amu and 2012 free agent pickup Hebron Fangupo saw essentially zero playing time during their rookie campaigns last year.  While both players have tools to be effective anchors and backups behind Steve McLendon, their roster spots are not necessarily assured for the 2013 campaign.  If Ta’amu and/or Fangupo under-perform during the summer and early fall, then Omar Hunter of Florida and Anthony Rashad White of Michigan State could be in line to take advantage.

Although overlooked when compared to Sharrif Floyd, Dominique Easley, and other Gator defensive linemen, Hunter was an effective player during his collegiate career.  After he gained a large amount of playing experience and notched 18 starts during his first three seasons, Hunter started all 13 games for Florida last fall.  Overall, Omar logged 40 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, and 4 passes defensed as the Gators went to the Sugar Bowl.

If Hunter does want to transition to be an effective 3-4 nose tackle in Pittsburgh’s defense, he will likely need to add more weight and strength to his already “bowling-ball frame” (6′ 313 lbs.).  Furthermore, Omar will likely need to get stronger and use his weight more effectively to anchor and draw double-teams.

Like Hunter, White was a rotational player early in his career until he finally got a chance to start full-time as a senior with the Spartans.  After he racked up a combined 42 tackles, 1.0 sack, and 5.0 tackles for loss as a sophomore and junior, White recorded 23 tackles and 1.0 tackle for loss last year as Michigan State’s full-time gap-clogger.  Built a bit bigger than Hunter (6’1″ 320 lbs.), Anthony can anchor himself a bit better, and he is better suited in the present to transition to the nose tackle position in a 3-4 scheme.  White has some short-area quickness to his game, and I will be intrigued to watch how he progresses during the offseason.

Inside Linebacker

While the Steelers addressed the inside linebacker position in the 6th round with their selection of Vince Williams of Florida State, the depth issues at the position are far from settled.  Behind Larry Foote and Lawrence Timmons are veterans either on their “last chance” in Pittsburgh like Stevenson Sylvester and Kion Wilson, or unproven first and second year players like Williams, Brian Rolle, and Marshall McFadden.  This type of environment could be ideal for a versatile prospect looking to make a splash like Alan Baxter of Northern Illinois.

A former defensive end, Baxter was an effective compliment to his teammate and fellow defensive end Sean Progar over the last two years.  Overall, Baxter registered a combined 15.0 sacks and 24.0 tackles for loss during the last two seasons.  Although Alan does not possess the type of frame to be an outside linebacker (6′ 238 lbs.), he does have a decent amount of athleticism and tenacity to at least compete for a backup spot at inside linebacker.  I should also add that Baxter could prove to be an effective A-Gap blitzer or edge-rusher in sub-packages if he is moved inside full time.

Jan 4, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Oklahoma Sooners receiver Justin Brown (19) runs after a catch against Texas A

We continue our look at the 2013 draft selections for the Steelers.  We’ve asked you to grade Rounds 1-3 and Rounds 4 & 5.  Time to move on and deal with rounds 6 & 7.

6th Round, 186th Overall: Justin Brown

Dec 01, 2012; Fort Worth, TX, USA;Oklahoma Sooners wide receiver Justin Brown (19) lines up during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Oklahoma won 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Though Markus Wheaton was a solid pick in the third round for the Steelers, he lacks the size that many crave after Mike Wallace’s departure.  Wheaton’s fast, no doubt, but the team would still be reliant on the aged Plaxico Burress to ‘go up and get it.’  So with the 186th overall pick in the draft, the Steelers gained some height by drafting Sooner WR Justin Brown.  Brown was once a Nittany Lion before he transfered to Oklahoma.  NPC’s own Dom Di Tolla has this to say of Brown:

A two-year starter with the Nittany Lions, Brown recorded a combined 68 catches for 969 yards and 3 touchdowns during the 2010 and 2011 seasons.  Brown however transferred to Oklahoma in the spring of last year after the fallout from the horrific ‘Jerry Sandusky Scandal.’…. An experienced receiver, Justin started 39 consecutive games over the last three years, and his height (6’3″ 207 lbs.) and frame should make him a terrific red zone target for Ben Roethlisberger.  Although Brown is not necessarily a “burner” in terms of his raw speed (4.59 40 time at pro day), he can definitely stretch the field vertically.  While raw, Brown definitely has the tools to develop into a solid pass-catcher if he works on his fundamentals like route-running and blocking.

I think Brown is a solid pick and will be right there in the thick of it during training camp competing for roster spots.  He will certainly give Plaxico a run for his money.  With a 4.5s 40 time, he has a slight speed edge on the well worn and gun shot wounded Burress.  Having teammate Landry Jones there should help him feel comfortable, and he could become a favorite Red Zone target for Ben Roethlisberger – especially if TE Heath Miller struggles in his return from injury.  Should Brown show up on the field consistently, we may need to adjust Antonio Brown’s uniform to ‘A. Brown.’

How would you grade the Justin Brown pick?

Nick Williams (middle) is now a member of the Steelers. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Like the cornerback position, defensive end could be an issue for the Steelers by the time next season begins.  Not only will the contracts of Brett Keisel and Ziggy Hood expire after this year ends, 2011 1st round pick Cameron Heyward has not seen much playing time, and Al Woods is the only depth behind those three players on the roster at the moment.

Williams is definitely an intriguing prospect because he only played one year of high school football.  A three-year starter at the FCS-level, Nick nevertheless enjoyed a very productive career with the Bulldogs.  Last season was the best of Williams’ short career, and the redshirt senior registered 31 tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss, and led Samford in sacks with a total of 6.0.

While the former Bulldog is definitely a “project” of a prospect, he definitely has a number of things working in his favor right now.

Already, Nick possesses a frame (6’4″ 309 lbs.) perfectly suited for him to make the transition to the five-technique defensive end position.  In addition to his frame, Nick’s long arms (34.125″), big hands (10.25″), and deceptive quickness will definitely come in handy for him when he is asked to gap-clog and shed blocks aside at the point of attack.

Best of all though is the fact that Williams will be able to work with longtime defensive line coach John Mitchell who has turned late-round and UDFA prospects into effective starters at the professional level over his career.  I am sure that Mitchell is excited to work with an athletic yet raw prospect like Williams, and I for one am excited to watch the former Samford defensive lineman progress over the years.

While this pick is not particularly “flashy,” it is a sensible one for rebuilding purposes.  The Steelers need help at the five-techniques, and Williams could very well be a “diamond in the rough.”

Final Grade: B-

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Players Stats Provided By Specific Team Pages: Samford and ESPN.com

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Players Heights/Weight Provided By: CBSSports.com and NFL Combine Page

Williams is now a member of the Steelers. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

I can’t say that I blame Pittsburgh’s brass for wanting to add more depth at inside linebacker.  The depth behind Larry Foote and Lawrence Timmons is non-existent at the moment.

Veteran Stevenson Sylvester was not even tendered as a Restricted Free Agent this offseason, and has been mistake-prone on special teams over the last couple of seasons.  Worst of all though, Sean Spence is still recovering from the gruesome knee injury he sustained last year.

Williams was a two year starter with the Seminoles during his career, and was a huge part of Florida State’s linebacker-rotation during that time.  Overall, Vince recorded a combined 113 tackles, 3.0 sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, and 1 fumble recovery during the last two seasons.  In addition, Williams was also was a team-captain for the Seminoles last year.

While Vince’s strength is not his speed, he is a more than capable run defender.  The former Seminole’s “coke machine-build” (6′ 247 lbs.) and nastiness between the tackles should serve him well at the next level.  Thus, I believe that he could be a developmental “strongside-inside linebacker” in Pittsburgh’s defensive scheme after a couple of years of learning under linebackers coach Keith Butler.

While Vince projects to be more of a”2-down linebacker,” he will likely be utilized most on the kickoff and punt return coverage units for most of his career.  This of course is good for the Steelers, because their coverage units last season were undisciplined and downright inconsistent for essentially the entirety of the 2012 regular season.

While not as enormous Mauti’s health issues, Williams also has some injury concerns heading into the N.F.L.  Vince missed the entire 2009 season due to a back injury and most of spring practice last year with a cracked tibia.

Injury concerns aside, I for one am intrigued to see how Williams can help to improve the Steelers’ special teams units this season.  Moreover, I am happy to see that Pittsburgh at least tried to add more developmental depth at the inside linebacker position.

Final Grade: C+

Follow me on Twitter: @DominicDiTolla

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Players Stats Provided By Specific Team Pages: Florida State, and ESPN.com

Players Contract Info. Provided By: Spotrac.com

Players Heights/Weight Provided By: CBSSports.com and NFL Combine Page