Charlie! Charlie! Charlie! Credit: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

Old Faithful – aka Charlie Batch – reportedly signed a one year deal with the Steelers.  Batch joins the Steelers for the 10th straight season.  For those of you who are surprised with this move, the only backup QB of the Steelers to see action during the regular season obviously did not impress upon you.

Batch was an obvious choice to bring back, and will be until his legs or arms fall off.  If there ever was a ‘master’ backup QB, he would certainly win honors for that title.  Batch consistently steps into the back up role year in and year out and steps onto that field with poise.  1st quarter or 4th quarter. 10 points down or 14 point lead.  It doesn’t matter.  Batch can crouch behind center and manage an offense effectively.  And really, isn’t that all any team can ask for in a back up?  A game manager.  To try and ask for more is… well…. asking for a starting QB, not a backup QB.  And, no team will pay the money to have a starter sit on the bench all season.

Dixon and Leftwich are high risk athletes because they can’t stay healthy for more than a month.  The Steelers should save a ton in health insurance with those two gone.  All joking aside, the Steelers will probably look for a #3 QB late in the draft now that they have decided to keep Batch.  We likely won’t see the other two and maybe, just maybe Troy Smith might prove some worth when camp rolls around.

This is just another good signing by the Steelers in a usually quiet offseason.  They will trust the draft with getting linemen to protect Ben and potentially nab a high value QB late in the rounds.  Another start to the work week for Colbert and Co., and another sound decision by this franchise.  Let me just lean back in my mid-back desk chair and enjoy this one – I like Batch, and if he were to hit the field this upcoming season for whatever reasons, I’m confident the offense is in good hands.  Welcome back, Charlie.

RB Rashard Mendenhall was the Steelers 1st Round Pick in 2008

With one season of his Steelers coaching career in the tank, Mike Tomlin had successfully begun to brand the team “his” after following in the lofty footsteps of William Laird Cowher,  The 2007 Draft had provided Coach Tomlin with his first set of Steelers draft picks, many of whom made solid contributions to the 2007 season.  That season would result in Tomlin’s first AFC North title as head coach, a 10-6 team that secured the #4 seed in the AFC Playoffs – only to be bounced out in the Wild Card Round by the Jacksonville Jaguars At Heinz Field.

Heading into the 2008 Draft, the Steelers had a few positions that required attention.  Long-time OG Alan Faneca had become a free agent, signing with the New York Jets for a massive five-year, $40 million contract.  The deal would include $21 million in guaranteed money, making Faneca the highest-paid offensive lineman in football for a short while.  The loss of Faneca left the Steelers with a massive hole to fill both on and off the field, as the Pro Bowl guard had become one of the leaders of the franchise during his amazing run in Pittsburgh.  OLB Clark Haggans also left the team in free agency, a move that opened up a starting position for 2007 draft pick LaMarr Woodley.  The team signed Center Justin Hartwig to replace Sean Mahan – a dismal failure in 2007.

Fans of the Steelers were still clamoring for the team to use a high draft pick on either a shutdown Cornerback or a massive Offensive Lineman to shore up the two areas that needed depth and a talent influx.  The Steelers felt that they could enhance the roster better by looking for those positions later in the draft, and instead they decided to draft the best player available in round one.  The player the team targeted was there for the taking at #23 overall, and the Steelers jumped on him quickly.

RB Rashard Mendenhall, Illinois

Round One – 23rd Overall – Rashard Mendenhall – Running Back – 5’10″ 225 lbs. – Illinois

The Steelers had been lacking a power running game ever since “The Bus” retired on the podium at Super Bowl XL in February 2006.  The team had employed players such as FB Carey Davis, RB Gary Russell, and RB Najeh Davenport in goal line and short yardage situations throughout 2006-2007 with little success.  Starting RB Willie Parker had established himself as a legitimate NFL ball carrier, but lacked the size typically associated with the Steelers power running game.  With Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians refusing to fully commit to a true fullback, Steelers fans were anxious to see the team acquire a back who would harken them back to the days of Barry Foster and Jerome Bettis.  The team found their man in round one when Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall fell into their laps at #23.  With Oregon back Jonathan Stewart off the board at #13 and the rest of the first round quality running backs being more of the “Fast Willie” variety, Mendenhall was a natural choice for the Steelers.

Rashard Mendenhall had spent his career at Illinois as a bruising back with substantial success.  His 2007 season was impressive – 1,681 yards rushing with 17 rushing touchdowns and a 6.4 YPC (yards per carry) average.  Mendenhall seemed to fit the bill as a primary power back in a revamped Steelers running game that would utilize the quickness of Willie Parker and the power of Mendenhall to create the new trend in the NFL – the two-headed monster.  After dealing with fumbling issues in the preseason, Mendenhall opened up the 2008 season as the youngest player on the Steelers roster.  In Week 4, Willie Parker suffered an injury that forced Mendenhall into a starting role – just in time for a midseason clash with arch-rival Baltimore at Heinz Field.  The stage was set for the emergence of Rashard Mendenhall as the next great Steelers running back.  After rushing for 30 yards on nine carries to start the game, Ravens ILB Ray Lewis smashed Mendenhall with a vicious hit, fracturing his shoulder and forcing him to IR (Injured Reserve) for the remainder of 2008.

The real breakthrough for Mendenhall would come in 2009.  Another injury to Willie Parker opened the door to a start for Mendenhall against the San Diego Chargers.  He answered the call and rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns against the highly-ranked Chargers defense.  The Rashard Mendenhall era in Pittsburgh had officially begun.  Over the next few weeks, the influx of #34 jerseys in the seats of crazed Heinz Field would be noticeable.  Steelers fans had fallen in love with their new running back.

His 2009 season ended with 1,108 yards rushing and seven touchdowns, establishing himself as the incumbent starter for 2010.  In 2010, Mendenhall turned into the player the Steelers had hoped he would be when they drafted him, rushing for 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns en route to leading the team to another Super Bowl appearance, albeit a loss to the Green Bay Packers.

The 2011 season was a step backwards, as Mendenhall seemed to be playing injured all season.  It also must be mentioned that a severe lack of adequate blocking did not help matters.  All told, he rushed for 100 yards only two times all season.  He did score 9 touchdowns, however, and finally helped the team achieve a solid goal line offense.  His season would end in Week 17 against the Cleveland Browns when it was discovered that he had torn his ACL.  Mendenhall finished the 2011 season with 928 yards rushing and nine touchdowns.

The future is cloudy for Mendenhall, who seemed to be on his way to superstar status after his 2010 campaign.  He enters 2012 as a player who will be unable to play for an extended time period.  He will essentially miss all of training camp and a currently unspecified number of regular season games.  Hopefully, when he does return he starts right where he left off – on pace to become one of the top running backs in the NFL.

WR Limas Sweed, Texas

Round Two – 53rd Overall – Limas Sweed – Wide Reciever – 6’4″ 220 lbs. – Texas

It was a perfect storm that brought Limas Sweed into the lives of Steeler Nation.  The lack of a large target for QB Ben Roethlisberger had been a subject discussed in every Pittsburgh media outlet since the departure of Plaxico Burress.  Sweed was originally touted as a bone-fide first round quality player, and when he slipped down to round two it was only natural for the Steelers to take a flier on a player who had a ton of upside, despite injury and personality issues.  The selection of Sweed was considered a fantastic move by draft gurus and media outlets nationwide.  Physically, he was everything a team could want in a wide receiver – tall, fast, and a track record of using his great hands to haul in touchdown passes at an astounding clip.

Unfortunately, the potential that so many saw in the young player from Brenham, Texas never materialized in the NFL.  Sweed had a very tough time learning the complex Steelers offense, and when he finally seemed to be catching on to the routes and timing patterns that are so important for the Steelers passing game, his head began to get the better of him.  After playing sparingly throughout 2008, he was forced into a larger role in the AFC Championship Game after an injury to Hines Ward.  Sweed had a chance to catch a perfectly thrown 50-yard pass that would have been a sure touchdown late in the first half, a touchdown that may well have been the death nail for the Steelers opponent – those hated Baltimore Ravens.  Sweed allowed the pass to slip through his fingers, an offense that would have been forgiven had he not followed it up with a sulking performance that cost the Steelers a key timeout due to his inability to get up off the field because of the embarrassment he felt by dropping the pass.  Although he would come back into the game later and deliver a massive block that was greeted by a thunderous Heinz Field ovation, the writing was on the wall for Limas Sweed.

A strange series of injuries and personal issues basically ended Sweeds time in Pittsburgh over the next few years.  After entering training camp 2009 in a battle for the #3 wide receiver slot with rookie Mike Wallace and veteran Shaun McDonald, he emerged on the roster and eventually secured the #4 spot in the Steelers rotation, although he saw little in terms of actual playing time.  In 2010, an Achilles tendon injury forced him to IR and he missed the entire season.  On August 17, 2011 the Steelers began to cut ties with the wideout by releasing him to the waived/injured list.  By mid-September, Sweed no longer had a roster spot or a locker in the Steelers locker room.

LB Bruce Davis, UCLA

Round Three – 88th Overall – Bruce Davis – OLB – 6’3″ 250 lbs. – UCLA

A fantastic athlete who had excelled at both defensive end and outside linebacker at UCLA, Davis seemed to be a perfect fit for the Steelers.  His college resume included a first-team All American season in 2006 (47 tackles/12.5 sacks/17.5 tackles for loss), a similarly productive senior season (45 tackles/12.0 sacks/15.5 tackles for loss), and national recognition as a semi-finalist for the Bednarik Award in 2007.  A marginal combine performance dropped his draft status and enabled the Steelers to select him late in the third round, a value-based pick that looked to be a steal.

Unfortunately for the Steelers, transitioning to the professional 3-4 defense and the speed of the NFL game both proved to be obstacles that Davis could not overcome.  He was woefully over matched during the 2008 preseason, and spent most of his rookie season on the inactive list.  By the beginning of 2009, the Steelers gave up on Davis, releasing him prior to the start of the regular season.  Since that time, Davis has had stints on the practice squads of the Patriots, Broncos, and 49ers.  In 2010, he was signed by the Oakland Raiders and played in a combined 10 games between the 2010-2011 seasons.  He was released by Oakland this past October and has not been given another opportunity as of yet.

OT Tony Hills, Texas

Round Four – 130th Overall – Tony Hills – Offensive Tackle – 6’6″ 305 lbs. – Texas

The Steelers reached back into the former Texas Longhorns player pool again in the forth round, selecting OT Tony Hills.  Hills would join fellow Texas star Limas Sweed as rookies in Pittsburgh for 2008.  His college career started as a tight end in 2003, a redshirt season that was forced upon him due to a very serious left knee injury that was deemed career-threatening.  When he returned the following season, he was converted to offensive tackle and played in 31 games at that position, including being part of a dominant blocking rotation that helped Texas win the 2005 BCS National Championship.  Despite missing the final two games of his senior season with a fractured left fibula, Hills was named to both the first-team All Big 12 team and the first-team Walter Camp All-American team.

Hills was unable to crack the Steelers offensive line depth chart during his three seasons with the team.  He played in three games for the team in 2010, working at both tackle and guard.  He was leapfrogged by Ramon Foster on the roster and released by the Steelers on September 3, 2011.  He was signed by the Denver Broncos for the 2011 season but did not play in any regular season games.  He heads into 2012 as part of the active roster in Denver, looking to secure a spot blocking for new QB Peyton Manning.

Hills was another in a long string of mid-round offensive line gambles by the Steelers that did not pay off.  A list that includes such notable failures as Bo Lacy (2004), Cameron Stephenson (2007), and Kraig Urbik (2009).

QB Dennis Dixon, Oregon

Round Five – 156th Overall – Dennis Dixon – Quarterback – 6’3″ 200 lbs. – Oregon

A prolific athlete during his high school and college years, Dennis Dixon was well on his way to being a first round draft pick in 2007, leading the Oregon Ducks all the way to a #2 National ranking before suffering a torn ACL that cost him the final two games, a Sun Bowl appearance, and the all important NFL Combine workout prior to the 2008 Draft.  Dixon was such a tremendous athlete that he was also drafted in the fifth round of the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft by the Atlanta Braves.  After struggling in a short rookie league season, Dixon gave up the bat and glove and returned to Oregon to resume his quarterback duties for his senior season.

During his college career, Dixon established himself as both a legitimate passing QB, as well as a rushing threat with blazing speed and pinpoint cutting ability.  His senior season included a 67.7 completion, 2,136 passing yards, and 20 touchdown passes to only 4 interceptions – numbers that equaled a QB Rating of 161.2, good for third overall in all of college football.  He was voted onto two All PAC-10 teams (2006 and 2007), was named the PAC-10 Offensive player of the year in 2007, was a finalist for the Davey O’Brien and Maxwell Awards in 2007, and finished fifth in voting for the Heisman Trophy.

With his impressive resume tucked under one arm, Dixon went on to impress scouts during Oregon’s Pro-Day workouts and in his own sanctioned private workouts prior to the 2008 Draft.  With starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger dealing with both personal and injury issues, long-time backup QB Charlie Batch on IR for 2008, and newly-signed backup QB Byron Leftwich just getting his feet wet in Pittsburgh, the Steelers were looking to add a young quarterback who would potentially take over as the primary backup to Roethlisberger in the long run.  Due to concerns over his injury, NFL teams passed on Dixon all the way until the fifth round, where the Steelers were able to select him at 156th overall.

After an impressive 2008 preseason that included a combined 12-for-24 on passing attempts and an impressive 47-yard touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills, Dixon was deactivated for most of the regular season.  He was active in Week 17 and completed his first NFL pass to WR Hines Ward – the 800th career reception for the all-time great.  For his contributions to the team in 2008, Dixon received a Super Bowl ring following the Steelers Super Bowl XLIII victory over Arizona.  All told, it was not a bad way to start a promising NFL career for the sleek young quarterback.

In 2009, the Steelers were dealing with injuries to Ben Roethlisberger and Charlie Batch, giving Dixon the opportunity to start on November 28 in a pivotal AFC North road clash with Baltimore.  Dixon played admirably in that game, finishing with a 12-for-26 line, 145 yards passing, a touchdown and a game-deciding interception late in the forth quarter.  He also ran for a touchdown on a spectacular planned QB run.

The 2010 season started with a four-game suspension for Ben Roethlisberger, and Dixon battled with Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch in the preseason for the right to start in the absence of #7.  After starting the first two games of the season, Dixon suffered a knee injury against Tennessee during the week two game and eventually landed on IR for the season.  In 2011, Dixon did not play following his knee surgery and was eventually placed on IR once again, possibly ending his time in Pittsburgh.

Dixon is currently an unrestricted free agent and is free to sign with any team.  He is intent on signing with a franchise that will enable him to compete for a backup job, with the possibility of a future starting role.  The Steelers seem content with re-signing Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch to back up Roethlisberger, also scouting mid-round quarterbacks for the upcoming draft.  Dixon has the skill set to be an intriguing pick up by any team with an unsettled QB situation.  While being drafted by the Steelers enabled him to win a Super Bowl ring in his rookie season, being drafted by Pittsburgh also placed him in a situation where he would forever be behind a future Hall of Fame quarterback.  When given the opportunity to play extensively on any team, Dixon could eventually mature into a solid #2 QB for many years to come.

This is a large write-up for a fifth round pick, but the drafting of Dennis Dixon was one of the more intriguing Steelers picks of the past five years.  Originally it was thought by Steelers fans that Dixon could have transitioned to the old Antwaan Randle-El role as a WR who can line up at QB and catch defenses off guard.  Those types of players always catch the eye of Steeler Nation.  While Dennis Dixon may never be a starting quarterback in the National Football League, he is a prime reminder of the type of talent that can be had in the mid-to-late rounds of the NFL Draft.  The Steelers made a solid selection with this draft pick and it is the type of pick that fans would like to see more of – bold.

LB Mike Humpal, Iowa

Round Six – 188th Overall – Mike Humpal – Linebacker – 6’3″ 244 lbs. – Iowa

Personally, I love when the Steelers draft players from the Iowa Hawkeyes.  Besides the fact that Iowa looks like a college version of our beloved Steelers, Hawkeyes players are always hard-nosed, blue collar types.  The exact sort of athletes that are always welcomed with open arms in the Steel City.

Humpal was a solid college linebacker, recording 123 tackles and 3 interceptions in his senior (2007) season.  The team envisioned him as a player that could provide solid depth on the inside in the 3-4 defense.  Humpal was injured prior to his rookie season and did not play a down for the Steelers before being released.  He was re-signed and placed on injured reserve in 2009, a gesture of good faith by the Steelers to a player they felt could eventually get healthy and become a solid addition to the depth chart.  Humpal was never able to get over the “humpal” (pun so sadly intended) so to speak, and was released for good on February 26, 2009.  He is currently out of football.

DB/S Ryan Mundy, West Virginia

Round Six – 194th Overall – Ryan Mundy – Safety/Cornerback – 6’1″ 205 lbs. – West Virginia

The Steelers capped off their 2008 Draft by selecting a Pittsburgh product, Woodland Hills High School graduate Ryan Mundy.  Mundy had started his college career at Michigan, playing for the Wolverines in both 2004 and 2006, with a medical redshirt season in 2005.  After graduating from Michigan, Mundy utilized his final year of eligibility by enrolling at West Virginia.  He started for the Mountaineers and had his best college season (59 tackles/3 interceptions).

Mundy was not invited to work out at the NFL Combine, but did so at the West Virginia Pro Day.  His work out numbers were not eye-popping, but his 4.55 40-yard dash time and 21 reps of 225 lbs. on the Bench Press was enough for the Steelers to give the local product a shot to make the roster.  Mundy was cut before the regular season, but was almost immediately re-signed to the practice squad.  He ended up being active for all 16 games in 2009 and has played in 48 total games for the Steelers as the primary backup to both Ryan Clark and Troy Polamalu.  He has started two games due to injuries to the starters during that time, including the 2011 AFC Wild Card game in Denver which saw him and now-former teammate CB William Gay attempting to chase down Broncos WR Demaryius Thomas on the game-winning touchdown in overtime.  Overall, Mundy has been a valuable backup and special teams player for the Steelers – about what the team would expect from a late sixth-round pick.  Furthermore, Mundy continues a tradition of local products living out their childhood dreams as active members of the Pittsburgh Steelers, something that has always been important to the Steelers organization and their fans.
2008 Draft Summary

The second draft by Head Coach Mike Tomlin saw the Steelers draft a potential superstar running back who has made significant contributions to both a Super Bowl winner and Super Bowl losing team.  The Steelers also drafted an exciting young quarterback project in Dennis Dixon, and a long time piece of their defensive secondary and special teams depth in S Ryan Mundy.

Unfortunately, that pretty much sums up the high points of a very disappointing Steelers draft class.  The total value of this class hangs on the long-term ability of RB Rashard Mendenhall to return from a serious ACL injury and regain the form he showed in 2010.  Limas Sweed and Mike Humpal are completely out of football just four years later, and Bruce Davis is searching for another practice squad job for 2012.  Tony Hills is an active member of the Denver Broncos, but has yet to play in a game for the team.  Hills held zero value for the Steelers in his time here.

The toughest aspect of this draft to swallow for Steeler Nation is the failure of Limas Sweed to develop into the tall wide receiver that has been so coveted by QB Ben Roethlisberger.  Sweed never seemed to get over the dropped touchdown pass in the AFC Championship Game against Baltimore, as he dropped another sure TD the following season and within six months was no longer a part of the organization.  His immaturity was a concern for teams heading into the draft, and the Steelers took a gamble that did not pay off.

Dennis Dixon will continue to play in the NFL, however he will more than likely not be in black and gold.  His years with the Steelers will be forgotten in time, despite the potential he showed in limited duty when it was given to him.

As far as the past five Steelers drafts go, 2008 should be deemed the least successful of the Tomlin Era.

Tomorrow, we will review the 2009 Steelers Draft.  The 2009 class included a now-starting defensive lineman, a Pro Bowl wide receiver, a potential starting cornerback for 2012, and a valuable late-round tight end pick that has turned into one of the best seventh round picks of the past five years in the NFL.

——————————————————————————————-

Follow Jeff Snedden on Twitter @jeffsnedden

Follow Nice Pick, Cowher on Twitter @nicepickcowherC

Be sure to get the best Steelers coverage year-round here at Nice Pick, Cowher.

First, let me apologize for my erratic posting schedule the past week or so.  I’ve been waylaid by the Avian Flu so haven’t felt much like posting as you may well imagine.  I’m starting to feel a bit better so I should get back to my Pittsburgh Steelers Report Cards and other stuff in short order.

Anyway, in between trips to the bathroom, I saw on Friday that the Steelers placed the Franchise tag on LaMarr Woodley.  This is interesting for a few reasons.  Not the least of which is the salary cap implications.  Last season, Mister Woodley made $550,000.  Next year, he’ll make a cool $10 million.

The use of the Franchise tag on Woodley as well as Michael Vick and Peyton Manning seems to indicate the owners think it’ll be part of the next CBA.  Maybe, maybe not.  It’s well known the players hate it and if they walked in to the meeting room and said “Get rid of the tag and you can have your 18 games” it would likely be gone before the owners could start smiling like a butcher’s dog.  Thanks Mike Lange.

Also expected to be part of the next CBA is a salary cap.  This is where Woodley’s new salary presents an interesting situation.  The last cap (in 2009) was approximately $127 million.  The Steelers’ payroll back then was about $120 million.  Since then, the only significant salary which has come off the books has been Fast Willie Parker.

Everybody else has gone up.  James Harrison went from $1.4 million to an estimated $7 million+ next season.  Ben Roethlisberger‘s contract extension signed three years ago is also going to increase his cap hit by about $2 million.  Factor in Woodley’s salary going up almost 10x and that leaves the Steelers with precious little cap room assuming the new cap is determined the same way as the old one (as a percentage of revenues).

Therein lies the problem.  The owners are trying to roll back player salaries by changing the method revenue is shared much like they do in hockey.  In simpler terms, they want the players to accept a smaller share of the pie.  Since the size of the pie determines how big the cap is, a smaller slice by extension would equal a smaller cap. Good for lousy teams like Detroit or Carolina who only have a few highly paid players on the roster.  Bad for the Steelers who have already committed big money to their stars.

Since we have no idea when the CBA will be ironed out and what it will say, this is all speculation.  But it does open up a pretty big potential can of worms for this team.  Do they use whatever scant space left under the cap to bring back Ike Taylor and basically go into next year with the exact same team?  Or do they lose Ike because they can’t pay him enough?  If they lose Face Me Ike, are you prepared for B-Mac and Willie Gay to be your starting corners?  The thought of that gives me the chills.  Or perhaps that’s the bird flu.  Either way, I’m pleased Woodley will continue to be part of the best defense in the NFL but I’d be lying if I said I’m not worried about the cost.

With the season over, I find myself with a frightening lack of structure.  It was nice knowing every Monday I could recap the previous afternoon’s game and every Friday I could roll out Know Thy Enemy.  So in that vein, I’m starting a recurring feature whereby I look at every area of the Pittsburgh Steelers, evaluate their 2010 performance, and assess their outlook for 2011.  I’ll still post relevant Steelers news and talk a little about the ongoing labor strife but this will give us a little something to talk about from now until the draft.

We’ll start by getting the most insignificant part of the team out of the way.  I know some people don’t like it when I say kickers aren’t real football players so allow me to explain.  The average guy off the street would get killed trying to play linebacker.  They would have no chance at wide receiver.  But my schlub of a brother, whose greatest athletic accomplishment is two years of J.V. soccer, has successfully booted a 40 yard field goal to win a free meal at Benihana.

In fact, my favorite non-Steelers moment of the season was when Ndamukong Suh attempted an extra point.  The Big Fella had nice form and was only about a foot and a half away from an exact copy of Shaun Suisham‘s hideous conversion in the Super Bowl.

Speaking of which, did anybody else catch the Punt, Pass, And Kick girl whose dream is to be an NFL kicker?  Frankly, I wouldn’t be shocked if it happened.  My cool physics professor at CMU once broke down the mechanics of kicking and “leg strength” is actually a misnomer.  Acceleration of your leg through the kicking motion and the angle which you strike the ball are just as important.  And we all know women, at least the ones who make the best girlfriends, are much more flexible than men.  So I fully expect to see the NFL’s version of Gina Carano take the field before the end of the decade.

Anyway, back to Suisham.  He did a pretty good job for the team after replacing drunk malcontent Skippy Reed midway through the season, converting fourteen of fifteen field goal attempts including eight of nine from 40-49 yards.  His kickoffs were more than satisfactory as well.  The only question with him is how he responds to pressure.  Suisham is infamous in Washington for missing an easy kick against the Saints and shanking two easy ones in the playoffs for Dallas.  He kicked the game winning 41 yarder in OT against the Bills so I’m willing to chalk his previous failures up to playing for cursed franchises.  Yeah, he had a shaky Super Bowl but a 52 yarder isn’t automatic for any kicker so I fully expect him to be back next year.

The punting situation is a little more interesting.  Daniel Sepulveda, who suffered his second season-ending injury in three years, is a free agent.  His replacement, Jeremy Kapinos, was adequate at best.  Then you have to factor in that the Steelers used a 4th round draft pick on Sepulveda.  Kevin Colbert may re-sign him just to prove he didn’t waste that pick.  Obviously I don’t have access to Sepulveda’s medical reports but if he’s healthy, I would imagine he’ll be back.  Otherwise, the job is likely wide open to whomever the Steelers bring into camp this fall.

I cannot finish this post without talking about actual football players so let’s talk returners.  The three-headed monster of Manny Sanders, Antonio Brown, and Antwaan Randle-El shared duties at various points throughout the year.  We’ll eliminate ARE from this discussion because he’s basically the football version of a DH.  Or, in his case, Designated Fair Catcher.

Which leaves us with the youngsters.  Sanders began the year as a return man and handled the duties fairly well.  Then Brown was given a shot and responded with an 89 kickoff return for a touchdown.  By the end of the season, Brown had “won” the job and I expect that to continue going forward.  He narrowly missed breaking a few after that and his 27 yard return in the AFC Championship Game was crucial in sealing the victory.

Oh, one final point about special teams.  Mike Tomlin has learned from previous years where he refused to have “special teams specialists” and would cut guys who excelled as gunners because they couldn’t play during the game.  A big part of our improved coverage this year was because of guys like Anthony Madison and Arnaz Battle.  Although one guy who better not be here next year is Keyaron Fox.  Fox’s dumbass antics in the Super Bowl severely hampered Big Ben’s chance to perform the superhuman heroics only he can perform.  It was not his first offense as his dumbass penalty in the Ravens game was what pushed the team back inside their 5 where a few plays later Ben was sacked and fumbled.  If your only job is to be a special teams ace and you suck at it, pack your bags for Kansas City because that crap don’t fly in the ‘Burgh.

FINAL GRADE FOR 2010:  B

Breaks down as follows:  Kickers: C+ (Skippy gets an F, Suisham gets a B+), Punters: C  Returners: B+ and Coverage: B+

Don’t judge.

I’ve finally managed to pull myself together enough to write about the Pittsburgh Steelers without having to blink back salty yet manly tears.  It’s time to lock memories of Super Bowl XLV in the same box as Super Bowl XXX and never speak of either again.  Rather let us turn our attention to next season.  Provided the greedy dickhead owners and high-living meathead jocks ever agree on a new collective bargaining agreement so we have a season.

Let’s start with the coaching staff.  Pittsburgh West Arizona wasted no time trying to poach yet more assistants from our staff.   Unfortunately for Ken Whisenhunt, the Steelers denied him permission to speak to LB coach Keith Butler.  Butler was given a new deal last season and word around town is he has been promised the defensive coordinator job when Dick LeBeau retires.   And if the Rooneys promise you something, take it to the bank and open an account.

So the Cards will have to settle for secondary coach Ray Horton, who is also interviewing with the Cowboys.   Maybe he can teach Whiz’s corners his fabulous technique of backpedaling at the snap so every receiver gets a nice comfy five yard cushion.  I sure hope this Butler guy is worth the hype when he eventually ascends to the top job.  Although that won’t be in the immediate future as LeBeau has told his men he is definitely returning for next season.

Which leaves us with Bruce Arians.  B.A.’s contract has also expired and he’s really done precious little to earn a new one.  People seem to have forgotten the stretch in the middle of the season where we scored two offensive touchdowns over three entire games.  In an ideal world, B.A. would be gone although the labor issues may prevent any changes.  If there is a lock out, it would be stupid to bring in a new offensive coordinator since they would have very little time to work with the players over the off-season.  Then again, the Steelers could promote from within since the plays aren’t really the problem but rather the Einey, Meany, Miney, Moe Method he uses to call them.

Roster-wise, Hines Ward (34), James Farrior (36), and Aaron Smith (34) are all reaching retirement age.   All three have said they plan on returning for one more go-round, with Ward scheduled to have multiple surgeries this week.  Hines and Farrior are not as effective as they used to be but aren’t at the stage where they embarrass themselves out there.  Smith is the question mark.  He’s due to make about $6 million this year which is way too much for a guy who gets hurt all the time.  Smith is a good man but the emergence of Ziggy Hood makes him kind of expendable.  I can see the Steelers asking him to renegotiate to a much smaller cap hit and, if he refuses, releasing him ala Joey Porter.

The Steelers have a list of free agents which I will get into when/if the free agency period ever begins.  Suffice it to say, the list is headed by LaMarr Woodley and Ike Taylor, both of whom we absolutely need to keep.   Woodley is a young stud linebacker who’ll be a fixture on the outside for years to come.  Taylor, whether you like him or not, is by far the Steelers best corner.  They’ve already started talking with Face Me Ike so I can see them signing one and Franchising the other.

Unless talks completely break down and Taylor leaves via free agency, I wouldn’t expect the Steelers to do anything except dumpster diving for free agents.  Paying high-priced mercs is just not their way.  So anybody dreaming of Nnamdi Asomugha in Black and Gold should just put those thoughts out of their head.  If he pulled a Bettis and told the team he’d play for a winner for a meager contract, maybe, but he’s not going to do that and the Steelers don’t have the cap room to pay him what he’s worth.

Would you let Woodley and Taylor go in exchange for Asomugha?   The Steelers wouldn’t but that is the choice you have if you’re in the Sign Nnamdi! camp.  For the sake of argument, let’s say you make that trade.  Then you still have B-Mac on the other side and instead of him getting targeted 15 times a game, he gets thrown at 20.  And you lose Mister Woodley in the process.  I love Asomugha as both a player and a character guy but it makes no sense.

If the salary cap returns (as expected) and the Steelers keep Woodley/Ike (as expected), that gives them very little wiggle room.  They may sign a few unloved veterans to either fortify the offensive line or play nickel but I wouldn’t expect any major roster additions to come through free agency.  Picking at the ass end of the draft, they’ll likely go Best Player Available which means I can see them taking anything from a corner to a young safety to groom behind Clark/Troy to another young defensive linemen (remember, Ziggy was our pick after our last Super Bowl).  We’ll examine both free agency and the draft in more depth in the days to come but suffice it to say, I don’t expect major help to come from either.

It’ll be more of the same from the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2011.  Can they rebound from arguably the most devastating loss in this core group’s history?  Can they stay healthy?  Can Big Ben stay away from drunk sluts?   They’ll be plenty of questions heading into the off-season but remember this group was good enough to still be playing when 30 other teams were sitting at home.  And that’s good enough for me.