mesaSteeler
02-01-2010, 07:01 PM
Junker: Time for the Steelers to make tough decisions
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_665059.html#
By Guy Junker
FOR THE PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, February 1, 2010
• There is one football game remaining and the book closes on another NFL season, even if it closed on the Steelers months ago during a dreadful five game losing streak to some of the worst teams in the league.
To prevent similar misery next year the Steelers now must decide which free agents they need to keep, to try to keep, and to allow to leave. Take out sentiment and consider the cold, hard facts that include age, ability, and cash -- but mostly cash. An uncapped season doesn't suddenly mean every player will be kept and paid what they want.
• Most important is to find a way to sign nose tackle Casey Hampton. To play the 3-4 defense well, you must have a dominant nose tackle. Hampton is still dominant. He made the pro bowl. Coach Mike Tomlin's eyes light up when you ask him to assess the season Hampton had. But he is going to be 33 by the time the regular season starts, will always struggle with his weight and could drop off the chart quickly. The franchise tag is the way to go here even though Hampton doesn't want it and says he was promised they won't do that.
It only ties him up for one year and if he were playing with the hopes of a big free agent contract after that he certainly would keep in top shape. It makes perfect business and football sense. Chris Hoke has always played well in Hampton's place, but he's not young either. If Hampton goes, they could probably do fine with Hoke for a year but would have to make the position a priority in the draft.
The other must-sign unrestricted free agent is Jeff Reed. Have you watched kickers in the playoffs? Wow, what a mess. Reed is money in the bank inside the 50 and is especially good at Heinz Field with its notoriously bad field condition and swirling winds. In a season like this past one where the Steelers offense struggled in the red zone, he is a great insurance policy.
Critics point out his short kickoffs. All I know is that two seasons ago the Steelers were at the top of the NFL in kick coverage and Reed was kicking then as well. Look back at some of those returns that killed the Steelers this past season. Directional kicks inside the 10 yard line and near the sideline should not be returned for touchdowns. He's worth the trade off. Place kickers in football are like closers in baseball. There aren't enough good ones for every team to have one. The Steelers have one and should keep him.
• If those are the only two unrestricted players the Steelers sign, so be it. But they probably need to find a way to sign either cornerback Deshea Townsend or safety Ryan Clark. Their secondary struggled and even with the return of Troy Polamalu they are still thin back there.
On paper they have more depth at cornerback after drafting Joe Burnett and Keenan Lewis last year although both would qualify as disappointments. If both Townsend and Clark leave there would be a lot of holes to fill. Clark would be more expensive but would also provide more service time and safety is the thinner of the two spots. He will be 31 in the fall but Townsend will be 35.
• Then there is running back Willie Parker. Who wants to see this guy leave from a sentimental standpoint? He has the longest run in Super Bowl history. He has the Steelers single game record for most rushing yards. He has a great personality and was a terrific story as he became one of the most productive backs in the NFL after hardly playing at all in college.
But it's time to let him go. He hasn't been the same since he broke his leg against the Rams while he was leading the league in rushing late in the season in 2007. There is already a young player ahead of him on the depth chart, Rashard Mendenhall, and Parker wants a chance to start again. That combination tells you it just isn't going to work out here for fast Willie.
• Those are the five biggest decisions the Steelers have to make soon. Offensive tackle Willie Colon is an unrestricted free agent (unless a new cba is suddenly negotiated) and that should make dealing with his situation more cut-and-dried. Basically they are young and talented on offense and old and talented on defense. That makes it difficult to tear that defense apart and rebuild. Phe window hasn't closed on this group yet as a Super Bowl contender, providing they make some good decisions in both free agency and the draft.
Guy Junker can be reached at guy@gopgh.com or .
Images and text copyright © 2010 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.
Reprodu
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_665059.html#
By Guy Junker
FOR THE PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, February 1, 2010
• There is one football game remaining and the book closes on another NFL season, even if it closed on the Steelers months ago during a dreadful five game losing streak to some of the worst teams in the league.
To prevent similar misery next year the Steelers now must decide which free agents they need to keep, to try to keep, and to allow to leave. Take out sentiment and consider the cold, hard facts that include age, ability, and cash -- but mostly cash. An uncapped season doesn't suddenly mean every player will be kept and paid what they want.
• Most important is to find a way to sign nose tackle Casey Hampton. To play the 3-4 defense well, you must have a dominant nose tackle. Hampton is still dominant. He made the pro bowl. Coach Mike Tomlin's eyes light up when you ask him to assess the season Hampton had. But he is going to be 33 by the time the regular season starts, will always struggle with his weight and could drop off the chart quickly. The franchise tag is the way to go here even though Hampton doesn't want it and says he was promised they won't do that.
It only ties him up for one year and if he were playing with the hopes of a big free agent contract after that he certainly would keep in top shape. It makes perfect business and football sense. Chris Hoke has always played well in Hampton's place, but he's not young either. If Hampton goes, they could probably do fine with Hoke for a year but would have to make the position a priority in the draft.
The other must-sign unrestricted free agent is Jeff Reed. Have you watched kickers in the playoffs? Wow, what a mess. Reed is money in the bank inside the 50 and is especially good at Heinz Field with its notoriously bad field condition and swirling winds. In a season like this past one where the Steelers offense struggled in the red zone, he is a great insurance policy.
Critics point out his short kickoffs. All I know is that two seasons ago the Steelers were at the top of the NFL in kick coverage and Reed was kicking then as well. Look back at some of those returns that killed the Steelers this past season. Directional kicks inside the 10 yard line and near the sideline should not be returned for touchdowns. He's worth the trade off. Place kickers in football are like closers in baseball. There aren't enough good ones for every team to have one. The Steelers have one and should keep him.
• If those are the only two unrestricted players the Steelers sign, so be it. But they probably need to find a way to sign either cornerback Deshea Townsend or safety Ryan Clark. Their secondary struggled and even with the return of Troy Polamalu they are still thin back there.
On paper they have more depth at cornerback after drafting Joe Burnett and Keenan Lewis last year although both would qualify as disappointments. If both Townsend and Clark leave there would be a lot of holes to fill. Clark would be more expensive but would also provide more service time and safety is the thinner of the two spots. He will be 31 in the fall but Townsend will be 35.
• Then there is running back Willie Parker. Who wants to see this guy leave from a sentimental standpoint? He has the longest run in Super Bowl history. He has the Steelers single game record for most rushing yards. He has a great personality and was a terrific story as he became one of the most productive backs in the NFL after hardly playing at all in college.
But it's time to let him go. He hasn't been the same since he broke his leg against the Rams while he was leading the league in rushing late in the season in 2007. There is already a young player ahead of him on the depth chart, Rashard Mendenhall, and Parker wants a chance to start again. That combination tells you it just isn't going to work out here for fast Willie.
• Those are the five biggest decisions the Steelers have to make soon. Offensive tackle Willie Colon is an unrestricted free agent (unless a new cba is suddenly negotiated) and that should make dealing with his situation more cut-and-dried. Basically they are young and talented on offense and old and talented on defense. That makes it difficult to tear that defense apart and rebuild. Phe window hasn't closed on this group yet as a Super Bowl contender, providing they make some good decisions in both free agency and the draft.
Guy Junker can be reached at guy@gopgh.com or .
Images and text copyright © 2010 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co.
Reprodu