Sylvester contributed mainly on special teams for the 2012 season. Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Steelers signed Stevenson Sylvester to a one year deal on Wednesday.  Sylvester was an RFA at the start of the offseason but became an UFA after the team decided to not offer a tender by the deadline.  The deal is reportedly less than the $1.3 million he would have received were the team to offer him the original tender.

The move of not signing Sylvester and then getting him for less money could be seen as sound economics by the Steelers.  Knowing that Sylvester was injury plagued all last season and only contributed on special teams, the Steelers probably had a hunch that Sylvester wouldn’t be a hot commodity during free agency.  Like fellow linebacker James Harrison, no one seems to want the unwanted…. unless you’re the Steelers brass.  A good deal for the Steelers who are in need of linebacker help after releasing Harrison and failing to lock up any other ‘significant’ free agent, such as Victor Butler.  But, let us remember that Sylvester is an inside linebacker and does not play well on the outside.

What this says about the state of the inside linebacking core is not a good one.  Even though shoring up the middle with depth is a good move (and I’m all for it), it gives me great pause.  What this really means for the Steelers is that 2012 rookie Sean Spence is no where near a full recovery.  Spence, as you recall, severely injured his knee during the Steelers final preseason game in 2012.  Thought of as the eventual replacement to James Farrior, Spence had a solid preseason up to the injury.  There was no way to know at that point if Spence would over the course of the season step up and over teammate Larry Foote in the depth chart.  If Spence were nearing the end of his road to recovery, I would expect the Steelers would place him back at #2 on the depth chart and allow him some playing time behind both Foote and Lawrence Timmons.  By signing Sylvester, after presumably no wanting him by making the tendered offer, it says to me that Spence is a long ways off from stepping onto the football field in a game situation.

The Steelers need depth and they need familiarity with the system – Foote’s age, pass coverage inconsistencies, and the need for special teams personnel were probably all factors in getting Sylvester back on the roster.  The signing also more than likely signifies that the Steelers are done shopping for a free agent linebacker…. at least until June 1st when they get almost $5 million in saved money from releasing Willie Colon.

Alec Ogletree, Inside Linebacker, University of Georgia

The Steelers are aging on defense and no one knows as well as Dick LeBeau that you can never have too many linebackers. Pittsburgh will be looking to add a young inside linebacker early in this years draft and Ogletree could be that guy. Another name to keep an eye on would be Alabama’s CJ Mosley and you can never count out a developmental quarterback.

Ogletree has had a fantastic Junior season. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

 

If the Steelers do indeed select Ogletree (or C.J. Mosley for that matter) in Round 1 next April, I will do cartwheels in my living room.  As a close follower of the Steelers, I believe that Sanchez is right on the money with his assessment regarding Pittsburgh’s current situation at Inside Linebacker.  Thus, a pick like Ogletree or Mosley would do this team good and would fill a tremendous need.  Don’t believe me?  Let’s look at Pittsburgh’s current “2-Deep” Depth Chart at the position for a moment:

• Larry Foote will be 33 years old in 2013, is a 2-Down player at this point in his career despite his fine season so far (84 Tackles, 4.0 Sacks, 2 FF’s, 2 FR’s), and will be an Unrestricted Free Agent when the 2012 campaign ends.

• Lawrence Timmons is still a stout force in the middle (73 Tackles, 1.0 Sack, 1 FF, 3 INT’s, 1 TD).  However, he will likely have to transition to Foote’s “Buck/Strongside” position in a few years, and has had his fair share of issues in pass coverage Subpackages this season to boot.

• Stevenson Sylvester seems to be prone to injuries, Special Teams miscues, and will be a RFA after this season.

• Rookie Sean Spence was thought to contribute as a 3rd Down & Subpackage Linebacker until his knee was shredded during the final preseason game.

I for one am a big fan of Pittsburgh selecting an Inside Linebacker in one of the first two Rounds.  In addition, I am also a fan of Ogletree, and I believe he could be a solid solution as the heir apparent to Timmons at the “Mack/Weakside” Inside Linebacker position.  The former Safety has showed off some solid pass coverage skills during his stint at Georgia, and has flashed the ability to be a “3 Down” Linebacker at the professional level.  Unfortunately, Ogletree has had to overcome some injury and off-field issues over the last two seasons.  This year however, Ogletree has enjoyed a breakout 2012 campaign.

Pittsburgh G.M. Kevin Colbert will hopefully preside over another successful Draft in April. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

In only 9 games, Ogletree has already put up 99 Tackles, 2.0 Sacks, 4 Passes Defended, 1 Interception, and scored on a Blocked Field Goal return in the S.E.C. Championship game!  The Bulldogs’ Tackling Machine also knows how to “lay the wood” to the opposition as well, and is already a menacing (6’3” 232 lbs.) presence in the middle of the field.

I should add of course that for the Steelers to even select Ogletree (as well as Mosley or L.S.U.’s Kevin Minter) in April, he must first forgo his final season as a collegiate player because he is a true Junior (Minter is a Redshirt Junior).  It would truly be a shame for Pittsburgh if both came back for their Senior seasons as I am sure that both Ogletree and Mosley would be Top-15 picks in 2014, and likely out of the Steelers’ range at that time.

The need for help at Inside Linebacker exists for the Steelers, and it will be interesting to see what direction the team goes in if Mosley and Ogletree are on the board when Pittsburgh is ready to pick in Round 1.    What Pittsburgh needs over the next few seasons is a compliment to Timmons on the Inside, and most importantly, a Linebacker who could help to form a heck of a duo with (a hopefully healthy) Spence on 3rd Downs and in Nickel & Dime packages.  Whether or not the Steelers will fill the void and attempt to upgrade at the position as early as the 1st Round has still yet to be determined.  But unless a top talent at another position of need falls to Pittsburgh like David DeCastro did last season, Ogletree or Mosley would be terrific BPA/Position of Need selections at Pick #21 in Round 1.

Share Your Thoughts:  Do you readers like Sanchez’s projection?  Is Inside Linebacker a route you would like to see the Steelers go in during Round 1?  Or are there other positions of need that must be addressed?  Would you rather see Pittsburgh select another future “Mack/Weakside” on Day 2 like Minter, Rutgers’ Khaseem Greene, Stanford’s Shayne Skov, or another prospect?

Figures, Stats, Contract Information, and Player Profiles Courtesy of: ESPN.com, Alabama & Georgia Official Team Sites, Spotrac.com

ILB Larry Foote begins his season as the Steelers "Man in the Middle"

While fans will have very limited access to the happenings this week on the South Side, the Steelers first Organized Team Activities (OTAs) of the 2012 season should bring out the newshounds in the traditional media who have been stumbling through hockey and baseball highlights for the past four months while reporting every miniscule Steelers tidbit as if the season were starting tomorrow.

The OTA season is upon us, and that means very little to us – the “media” or to you, the fan.  Other than giving the football-starved folks of western Pennsylvania some Steelers gossip to chew on between gulps of depressing Pirates game nights, very little happens during the OTA’s.  In a normal year for the Steelers, the team would simply gather a third of their roster – mainly newly signed rookies and free agents – and bring them into the fold to start learning playbooks and terminology.  This is not a “normal” year for the Steelers.  New offensive coordinator Todd Haley has arrived with an entirely new offense that has turned a simple coaching change into a certified Black and Gold emergency, taking fans back in time to the year 1999, when Head Coach Bill Cowher brought offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride into Steeler Nation and helped make the final two seasons at historic Three Rivers Stadium two of the worst campaigns the team ever enjoyed at the old concrete bowl.  Change is a curse word in Steeler Country, a term rarely heard uttered around the most consistent organization in football.  For a team that has had three head coaches since 1969, fans are used to just tuning out anything that happens before the players move into their dorm rooms at St. Vincent College in late summer.  Not this year, folks.  Change is upon us – at least in theory – and both fans and players alike have hit the panic button already in late May.  Since Phase One of the OTA sessions are basically conditioning practice, the only real news we will hear will be if someone shows up grossly overweight (my money is on RB Jon Dwyer) , but it is football so we will be thrilled to hear about it.

Nobody knows who will show up for these OTA sessions, as they are not exactly mandatory for the veterans.  We know that first and second round draft picks OG David DeCastro and OT Mike Adams won’t be there, as they are still putting the finishing touches on their final year of college.  S Troy Polamalu won’t be there because he trains on his own until camp starts.  WR Mike Wallace won’t be there because he is still pouting over his failure to land a “Larry Fitzgerald-sized” contract in his restricted free agency period.  There is a chance Wallace will milk this contract business until he is mandated to be in Latrobe, and his story will be a source of endless debate all year.

So what can fans look for once the news starts pumping out of the South Side Complex this week?  Here are a few items that are worth investigating this week.

1.  Larry Foote takes over the starting “Buck” ILB slot for the departed James Farrior – The last time the Steelers entered a season without #51 calling the defensive plays was 2001.  Foote has been with the team since 2002 – minus a one-year stint with his hometown Detroit Lions – and is going to be counted on as the leader in the middle of this Steelers defense.  The team will be without Farrior, DE Aaron Smith, and DL Chris Hoke – three of the respected, grizzled veterans of the past decade – and will need Foote to divide his time between making a ton of tackles against the run and trying to help develop young ILB Stevenson Sylvester and Sean Spence (who though unsigned, will most likely be in Pittsburgh this week).  For his part, Foote has always been a steady hand as a player.  As a starter between 2005-2008, Foote was a productive linebacker who was always better than he was given credit for.  As a back-up, he has been a consummate professional, understanding his role and just happy to be the Steeler.  It will be interesting to see how he reacts to becoming a major piece of the puzzle again, and taking over the former slot of his legendary buddy, James Farrior.  His battle to become a respected leader can begin this week.

CB Keenan Lewis will be competing for a starting CB spot this summer.

2.  The Cornerback position derby begins – Let’s just call it like it is – not many people are crying their eyes to sleep at night over the though of a Steelers secondary sans William Gay.  Gay took his ball and a nice contract and headed to Pittsburgh-West, leaving the Steelers with only Ike Taylor as a CB with any kind of game experience.  Since Ike can’t “swag” alone, he will need a new “swagging” partner in the defensive secondary.  That player will come from a group that includes Keenan Lewis, Cortez Allen, Curtis Brown, and newcomer Terrence Frederick.  The odds-on-favorite for the job is Keenan Lewis, who heads into his fourth season and at 6-foot tall and 208 lbs., has a natural build for the position.  Lewis will be pushed hard for the job by both Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown, second-year players that both turned heads last year.  Frederick comes in as one of the Steelers 7th rounders and has a real chance to make the roster for special teams duties.  No matter who wins the starting job, the Steelers finally seem to have some legit depth in talent at cornerback – a spot they have lacked solid backups for some time.  We should see all four players at OTAs this week, and it will be a good chance to see how their off-season conditioning either thrusts them into the limelight or turns them into the next Joe Burnett.

3.  The new Defensive Line takes shape – The first true team activities without Aaron Smith and Chris Hoke are upon us, and NT Casey Hampton is still nursing his ACL injury.  That means the Steelers will be looking at a defensive line potentially featuring DE Cameron Heyward, DE Ziggy Hood, and NT Alameda Ta’amu -not just for OTA action, but for the start of the season.  We won’t count out another stellar season coming from “The Diesel” Brett Keisel, but at 33-years old he should begin to be phased out this season.  It is a transitional period for the Steelers front three, and we should get a good look at how the young guns on the defensive line are looking this week.  While they won’t be wearing pads, just seeing the new players out there sweating and pushing around offensive linemen should be a sight that warms Steeler fans hearts.

DE Ziggy Hood will be starting for the Steelers in 2012

OK, I know…..this is just an OTA.  There won’t be much actual football taking place this week, but the excitement of seeing the Steelers doing anything is a sight for sore pigskin eyes in May.  The bitter taste of that loss in Denver is still in the mouths of most fans, and certainly the players are ready to move on from that debacle.  This is a minor step towards the new season, but hopefully it is enough to end the “sky is falling because Todd Haley threw out the Arians playbook” garbage we have been shoveled endlessly over the past month.  Let’s hope for some positivity out of the South Side this week, and start the push towards a very interesting and potentially Earth-shattering 2012 season.

——————————————————————

Follow Jeff Snedden on Twitter @jeffsnedden

Follow Jeff Snedden on Facebook

Follow Nice Pick, Cowher on Twitter @nicepickcowherC

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

Heyward should be bringing more Quarterbacks to the ground this season. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Pugliese-US PRESSWIRE

1. Cameron Heyward

While Cameron Heyward went through some growing pains at times while working his way into the 5-Technique rotation as a Rookie, he showed some really nice flashes of talent at stopping the run and getting after the passer when asked as the season progressed.  Rookie status aside, Heyward improved quite a bit towards the end of the season, and appeared much further along development wise than Ziggy Hood was (who was a 4-3 DT in college) at the same point in his career.

Heyward will get numerous chances to strut his stuff in Training Camp, and he will be the top backup 5-Technique in the Steelers’ Defensive End rotation.  If Heyward can log quality playing time and spell the aging yet still very effective Brett Keisel, it would be a perfect scenario for the Steelers.  The soon to be 34 year old Keisel can stay fresh throughout the season, and Heyward can get a decent amount of work in his second season with the team.  Be on the lookout for Heyward to vastly improve upon his stat line from 2011 which read: 11 Tackles, 1.0 Sack, 1 Pass Defended, and 1 Field Goal Block.  The more reps Heyward can ultimately receive, the more he can make a difference.

2. Jason Worilds

Worilds must be ready to get to the Quarterback this season and provide adequate depth. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-US PRESSWIRE

Although Worilds will likely be a backup this season, it will not take away from his total contributions to the team and ability to make a bigger difference than he did last season.  A pass-rushing Outside Linebacker, Worilds will be the top reserve behind James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley, and should see some extended playing time if the Coaching Staff elects to keep both veterans fresh (Harrison especially).

Adding to Worilds’ value is the fact that Harrison is 34 and a Public Enemy #2 (behind Jonathan Vilma now) of Roger Goodell and the N.F.L.’s crusade to wash their hands of future lawsuits.  Deebo probably has another two solid seasons of production left, but if Worilds proves he can spell Deebo effectively, Harrison might be able to extend his career, and the Steelers would have themselves a viable candidate to replace Harrison when the time comes, or the N.F.L. decides to kick him out if they so choose.  Plus it would not hurt if Worilds got in the game in some sub-package pass-rushing situations.  Even a “Psycho” type package with Harrison, Woodley, and Worilds plus 2 Linemen and 6 Defensive Backs would be pretty sweet to see at some point.  But hey, I can only dream of something so very awesome.

I have faith that Harrison and Woodley can both stay healthy over the 16+ game haul, and that disaster will likely not strike twice.  Yet after last season, where both guys went down at the same time and missed extended periods, the Steelers lack of depth was exposed, and the value of a player like Worilds increased.  While Worilds set career highs in Tackles (38) and Sacks (3.0), he must be ready to take his game to the next level this season if he indeed receives the chances.

3. Steve McLendon

Of all of Pittsburgh’s young players on the Defensive side of the ball which intrigue me, McLendon is the biggest enigma of them all in my opinion.  Another one of Pittsburgh’s Undrafted and developed contributors, McLendon (6’4″ 280 lbs.) will be get his most extended chance to play during Training Camp and throughout the 2012 season as he battles for the backup Nose Tackle spot and playing time along the Defensive Line as well.

Because the Steelers are not the most keen franchise on starting Rookies (if they are not forced to do it), especially on the Defensive side of the ball.  With that in mind, McLendon (hopefully he put on more weight to his frame) could leap-frog massive Rookie Alameda Ta’amu for the backup role behind “Big Snack” Hampton, in what will likely be Hampton’s final season.  If for some reason “Snack’s” injured knee cannot hold up, McLendon will likely jump from top backup Nose Tackle to starter. McLendon could also see some time in pass-rush sub packages, and could even be asked to fill in for spells at Defensive End if injuries hit the “Top 3″ rotation.  If McLendon’s weight hovers at closer to 280 lbs. than 300-310 lbs., the Steelers might be wise to give him some extra reps. there if “Snack” is healthy.  Whatever the case may be, this will be a big season for McLendon, and Defensive Line Coach John Mitchell seems to have quite a bit of faith in him.  Thus, I am pretty intrigued to see what he can do with some extra playing time.

4. Cortez Allen and/or Curtis Brown

Like Sanders and Cotchery, I combined Allen and Brown into one spot.  This is because the winner of the competition between the two for 3rd Cornerback (or possibly even CB#2) role will likely see the most playing time, and thus have the most chances to prove themselves.  Last season, both proved themselves as terrific contributors on Special Teams, and Allen even received some playing time in Dime situations.  Both players have big frames (Allen: 6’1″ 196 lbs. and Brown: 6′ 185 lbs.) the Steelers like in their Corners, and each will likely be asked to shut down teams which try to dink and dunk the Steelers and pick them apart when they spread the field in sub packages this season.

With a full season and off-season to learn under Defensive Backs Coach Carnell Lake, Allen and Brown should be ready to step up their games and fill the void left by William Gay and Bryant McFadden who are now gone.  Regardless of who lands ahead of who on the depth chart, both figure to be significant contributors this season.  Plus, with Ike Taylor at 32 years of age, and Keenan Lewis an Unrestricted Free Agent after this season, Brown and Allen are sure to be contributing even more in the future.

5. Stevenson Sylvester

Like Worilds and Heyward, Sylvester could end up spending most if not all of the season as a backup.  Nevertheless, Sylvester could chip in quite a bit this season and make significant strides as an Inside Linebacker and on the Defensive side of the ball.  Because the Steelers drafted David DeCastro instead of Inside Linebacker Dont’a Hightower this April, and did not address the strongside Inside Linebacker position this offseason, the door is open for Sylvester to work his way up the depth chart and prove himself that he is a valid candidate to take over in the future.

At this point, the only thing standing in Stevenson Sylvester’s way and the starting “Buck” Inside Linebacker gig is Larry Foote, a 32 year old veteran.  Linebackers Coach Keith Butler has Foote penciled in as the starter due to his veteran savvy and knowledge of the Defense, but said that Sylvester is “in the pipeline” to start at the “Buck” position down the road.  Plus, being the only Inside Linebacker behind Lawrence Timmons and Foote with any sort of significant game experience works in Sylvester’s favor if he must play on a regular basis this season.  Thus, 2012 will be a big season for Sylvester to solidify a roster spot for himself and putting himself in line for a future starting job with some solid play when he gets his chances.

Statistics Courtesy of Steelers Team Page on ESPN.com

Heights & Weights Courtesy of Team Roster on Steelers.com

For all your Steelers news and discussions follow us on Twitter @nicepickcowherC, follow me on Twitter @DominicDiTolla, and like us on Facebook.

Granted, I will not debate the notions that some of Pittsburgh’s Defenders are a bit long in the tooth and have lost a step or two from their younger days.  Those are facts, and most players when they age sustain career-ending injuries and/or see their play deteriorate.  But you know what?  Age isn’t a huge factor for some of the older players on this Defense, as many might think.  In fact, guys like James Harrison, Brett Keisel, Ryan Clark, and Troy Polamalu still have a good amount of football left in their collective tanks, and figure to compete at a high level over the next few seasons.

As for the idea that the Steelers’ run of being a successful team on the Defensive side of the ball is “over,” maybe you need to do your homework Warren.  Granted, some of the older players like Aaron Smith and James Farrior have been released or retired, but Colbert & Co. and the Coaching Staff have been doing their jobs well and quietly re-loading this team with some young talent over the past few seasons.  So while many like you might not realize it now, a contingent of young talent on the Defensive side of the football is currently waiting in the wings for the Steelers, and should be ready to contribute at a high level in the near future.

Defensive Line

Of all the positional units, the Steelers Defensive Line is the one which have received the most high-priced and attention filled upgrades over recent years.  When Pittsburgh selected Ziggy Hood with their 1st Round pick in The 2009 N.F.L. Draft, you could tell that Colbert and Co. were worried about the age of their rotation of Defensive Lineman after their Super Bowl triumph.  Hood has shown flashes over the course of his career that he can be a quality starter at the 5-Technique (55 Tackles last two seasons combined), and has the ability to get after the Quarterback on passing downs (4.5 Sacks last two seasons combined).  Nevertheless, Hood must prove over the course of the next two seasons that he is indeed a consistent force at the position and meet expectations before he hits Free Agency in 2014.

Cameron Heyward will look to build off of some nice outings during his Rookie season. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE

Colbert & Co. understand that one Defensive End is not enough, and took full advantage in the 1st Round of the Draft in 2011 and selected Cameron Heyward to be the other 5-Technique of the future.  Heyward looked much further ahead in his understanding of the 3-4 Defense and his effectiveness at the 5-Technique position than Ziggy Hood during his Rookie season, and big things will be expected from Cameron as he assumes the top backup spot in Pittsburgh’s Defensive End rotation.  Even though Heyward’s statistical contributions were not overly huge (15 Tackles, 1 Forced Fumble, 1.0 Sack) in 2011, he played extremely well for a guy that had almost no offseason to acclimate himself to the team and the position.  Effective play from Cameron will be of the utmost importance in 2012 however.  Keeping Keisel and Hood fresh will benefit the entire Defensive Line, and the more reps Heyward can get the better it will be for Pittsburgh on the Defensive side of the ball.

With Big Snack’s knee in question and entering the twilight of his awesome career, the Steelers were in need of a future 0-Technique prospect to hopefully groom to replace Hampton at the Nose Tackle position.  Well, Colbert and Co. seemed to have struck gold again, and the Steelers selected Alameda Ta’amu in Round 4 of The 2012 Draft last week.  A classic run-stuffing, space-eating, hole-clogging monster, Ta’amu, who stands at 6’3″ 348 lbs., fits the 0-Technique mold to perfection and was a 2x Pac-10/12 Honorable Mention selection in college.  A year of learning behind Hampton and under Defensive Line Coach John Mitchell will serve Ta’amu well to hone his technique against the run, and maybe even work on pushing the pocket more in the passing game to boot.  While he might not be a huge contributor in 2012, Ta’amu figures in greatly to the Steelers’ future plans, and should become the starter in 2013 or 2014.

Another youngster we should keep our eyes on this season is Steve McLendon, as he figures to make some solid contributions this season in a reserve role.  McLendon will likely assume the top backup role behind Hampton at the Nose, and should figure to chip in on passing downs, and might even see some time in the 5-Technique rotation as well.  While McLendon might be a bit smaller than a typical Nose Tackle (6’4″ 280 lbs. listed), he has developed into a decent backup option for the Steelers since being signed as an Undrafted Free Agent in 2010.  Defensive Line Coach John Mitchell appears to be very high on McLendon, and seems to believe that he is primed to step up his game in 2012.

Linebackers

Not to be completely outdone by their Defensive Line comrades, Pittsburgh’s Linebacking Corps has also received an influx of young talent over recent seasons as well.  Because Inside Linebacker Dont’a Hightower was not selected by Pittsburgh in the 1st Round of the Draft last week, Stevenson Sylvester was given a terrific chance and vote of confidence by the franchise to step up and help out more at the “Buck” Inside Linebacker position.  In spite of the fact that the savvy veteran Larry Foote will assume James Farrior’s old starting role, Sylvester will be his top backup and will be asked to step in if injuries or Foote ends up being ineffective at the “Buck” spot.  Linebackers Coach Keith Butler seems to have quite a bit of faith in Sylvester and his ability to develop into the answer at the position in the future.

Worilds (93) and Hood (96) will look to step up their games in 2012. Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-US PRESSWIRE

While he might be Lawrence Timmons’ back-up at the weakside “Mack” spot for a few years, Rookie Sean Spence should figure to be a big contributor to this Defense until stepping up into a starting role.  Spence had a fantastically productive career at Miami (FL) in college, and like most former Canes Linebackers displayed toughness, a nose for the football, and great overall athletic ability which made him an attractive option to the Steelers organization.  Spence might be a Special Teamer early as he learns the Defense as a whole., but his skills in pass-coverage should earn him a spot in passing down sub-packages before he assumes a full time starting role.

As for the young guys on the Outside, Jason Worilds did a decent job in spot starting duty last season, and set career highs in Tackles (36) and Sacks (3.0) in 2011.  Worilds will again assume the top backup spot behind Deebo and Woodley, and if injuries strike again, he must be ready to take over and produce.  Behind Worilds and competing for playing time this season and beyond will be 2nd year man Chris Carter and two Undrafted Free Agents in the forms of hometown Brandon Lindsey and Adrien Robinson who are looking to make the roster.  While these three are former college Defensive Ends and have almost zero experience on Defense at the pro level between them, at least one or two of them must step up and prove themselves as capable reserves.  The talent is there with all three, and if there is anybody at the pro level which can develop solid starters at the Linebacker position it is Keith Butler that can.

Cornerbacks

Keenan Lewis has the inside track to a starting Cornerback job. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

Ike Taylor will still remain the starter in 2012, but there are a group of young Cornerbacks which will look to step up this season and beyond.  With his 2012 season being his contract year, Keenan Lewis will be looking to build off of his successes in 2011 and entrench himself as a starter across from Taylor this season.

Now that William Gay is in Arizona, the starting job opposite Taylor will be Lewis’ to lose after the 2011 season saw Keenan finally turn the corner in his up-and-down career as he recorded career highs in Tackles (35), Passes Defended (6), and record his first Interception in the Nickelback role.  Lewis however cannot rest on his laurels after his season of steady improvement, because two hungry youngsters will be looking to take his job away.

Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown were two of 2011’s nicest surprises, and both did a nice job during their first campaigns with the club.  Allen chipped in nicely in Defensive sub packages last season as a Dimeback, played well on Special Teams, and figures to help out even more this season.  Curtis Brown, a player Mike Tomlin complimented and described as playing like his hair was on fire, teamed with Allen on the Special Teams units, and will look to help out at Corner in sub packages this season.

Both Brown and Allen are large (Brown: 6′ 185 lbs., Allen 6’1″ 196 lbs.) and physical Corners, both can Tackle and play in run support, both should transition well into Zone schemes, and with time under Defensive Backs Coach Carnell Lake, should make major strides in the next two seasons.  With Lewis, Allen, and Brown, Pittsburgh has set itself up nicely as they attempt to settle the situation at Cornerback in the coming seasons.

Final Thoughts

Will all of these players eventually pan out for the Steelers?  We will just have to wait and see.  Still, the amount of young and developing talent that the Defensive side of the football continues to add to it, the better chance the Steelers have to transition from the success they had in the 2000’s and continue the dominant tradition in this current decade and down the road.  Good teams never rebuild, they simply re-load, and the Steelers appear to be in the process of doing the same thing now on the Defensive side of the ball.  Working these youngsters in over the next few seasons will be crucial to their development, and hopefully pay big dividends for everybody involved in the end.  I for one am intrigued to see how all of this turns out, and am anxious to see how smoothly the transition will ultimately be.

Is age a factor on this Defense?  It sure is, and I will be the first to admit it.  Guys like Polamalu, Hampton, and Harrison cannot play forever, and solid starters like Ike Taylor, Ryan Clark, Keisel, and Foote are no spring chickens as well.  Yet for those like Warren Sapp who have not noticed, the Steelers have done a fine job of putting pieces in place to make these terrific players’ departure easier to sustain.

Sorry to say Warren, but it’s not “over” for this Defense.  Sure, the names might be changing here and there, and the transition period is in the present, but it is not “over.”

Stats Courtesy of: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/

Height/Weight Measurements: http://www.steelers.com/team/roster.html