Steel trap: Replacing Santonio Holmes won’t be easy

[mesaSteeler]

Steel trap: Replacing Santonio Holmes won’t be easy
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/footbal...rapreplacingsa
SportingNews 12 hours, 4 minutes ago

Santonio Holmes changed the look of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense. Without him, the Steelers might have to change the look of their draft board.

Before Pittsburgh shipped its Super Bowl 43 MVP to the New York Jets for a fifth-round pick late Sunday, you could have made a case that its No. 1 target in next week’s draft would have been an interior offensive lineman, such as Mike Iupati or Maurkice Pouncey; a safety, such as Earl Thomas or Taylor Mays; or a cornerback, such as Joe Haden or Kyle Wilson.

Now, the Steelers might be looking in another direction with the 18th overall pick.

"Now, I think you have to look at (Dez) Bryant or (Demaryius) Thomas or one of these other (wide receivers) in the first round," NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger said.

Putting his character issues aside—and that’s something the Steelers decided they no longer could do—Holmes has developed into one of the NFL’s best wideouts. He is fast, he is a deep threat, and, at 26, he is just moving into his prime. And no one will ever forget his balletic reception of Ben Roethlisberger’s game-winning pass in the Super Bowl 14 months ago.

The Holmes trade takes away more than just big numbers from the Steelers’ offense (he caught 79 passes for 1,248 yards and five touchdowns last season). It also removes a key component in the passing game. Holmes and Mike Wallace, a speedster who made a big contribution as a rookie last season, gave defenses double trouble.

"When you had Holmes on one side and Wallace on the other," Baldinger said, "either one of them could get behind the defense on any given play."

It might seem strange to see Pittsburgh and passing in the same sentence.

For years, running the ball was the Steelers’ hallmark. But with Bruce Arians as the coordinator and Roethlisberger as the quarterback, the philosophy has changed.

Last season, Pittsburgh attempted 108 more passes than runs (536-428), and only six other teams threw more touchdown passes than the Steelers’ 28. In recent seasons, the Steelers used more four-receiver sets and bunch formations. With Roethlisberger surrounded by playmaking weapons, they caught up to the rest of the NFL.

"If you’ve watched how they’ve evolved under Ben, they’ve become a pass-happy team in what is now a pass-happy NFL," ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski said. "It is about throwing the ball."

And the Steelers will continue to throw it. Hines Ward caught a team-high 95 passes for 1,167 yards and six touchdowns in ’09 … but he is 34 and mostly a possession receiver. Wallace had 39 catches for 756 yards and six TDs … but he doesn’t always play as big as his size (6 feet). This offseason, Pittsburgh brought back Antwaan Randle El (50 catches for 530 yards for the Redskins in ’09) … but he no longer is the playmaker he used to be.

Then there is Limas Sweed, who was disappointing—and that’s being generous—in his first two seasons; Arnaz Battle, who rarely distinguished himself during seven seasons in San Francisco; and a handful of young but unproven receivers.

"They have a lot of bodies, some with experience," Baldinger said. "But I don’t see anybody replacing what Santonio Holmes brought to that team."

And that’s why the Steelers may have to change their draft board.

This story appears in April 14’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only digital sports daily, sign up today.

Senior writer Dennis Dillon covers the NFL for Sporting News. E-mail him at ddillon@sportingnews.com.

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[stlrtruck]

I honestly believe that some of these people smoke the same shite that Holmes smoked, and more of it.

We have good depth at WR, and while I think Holmes was a vital part of that depth there are still some players that shined last year and can make Holmes an afterthought. Mike '60 Minutes' Wallace, the return of ARE, as well as a few other low men on the todem pole can very well make Holmes nothing more than a flash in the pan and former SB MVP that was a Steeler.

[supa_fly_steeler]

wallace > holmes

[Steelers>NFL]

Replacing Hines Ward will be the greater task in regards to WRs.
Replacing Big Ben would be ever GREATER...

[SteelKid212]

Originally Posted by stlrtruck

I honestly believe that some of these people smoke the same shite that Holmes smoked, and more of it.

We have good depth at WR, and while I think Holmes was a vital part of that depth there are still some players that shined last year and can make Holmes an afterthought. Mike '60 Minutes' Wallace, the return of ARE, as well as a few other low men on the todem pole can very well make Holmes nothing more than a flash in the pan and former SB MVP that was a Steeler.

couldnt have said it any better myself.

[SteelKid212]

Originally Posted by Steelers>NFL

Replacing Hines Ward will be the greater task in regards to WRs.
Replacing Big Ben would be ever GREATER...

i dread the day hines is gone....
but i really dread the day ben is gone, and were stuck with another o'donell or kordell

[tube517]

yeah yeah yeah...they said the same about Plaxico. Then we won a championship after he left. They will find another WR whether in the draft, free agency or who they have now. MW17 will step up and we'll be fine. I'm happy with Ward and Wallace at WR, Heath at TE, ARE as a #3/slot receiver, Arnaz and Limas and a draft pick(s) fighting it out for the 4th WR.

Remember, Ben made Cedrick Wilson look good.

[whatdoiknow]

I'm curious to see how Holmes leaving will affect Hines. Cause when Holmes did not play before, Hines was clearly affected. Now Wallace had a great Rookie season. But that was as a slot WR with no one paying him any attention. He certainly has the speed to be on the outside. But he will now draw a better defender and a safety at times. El is a Vet who knows the offense yes. But he won't replace the kinda pressure that Holmes placed on a D. The Steelers might decide on a WR early. But I can't Imagine they select a WR in round 1, and make him a starter over Wallace who has one season of proven play. I think rather they will look to take a WR later on down the draft. One who has a solid resume, and solid Character. Someone like a Jordan Shipley. Or SMU's Sanders.

[CRoyse#7]

I'm going to miss Santonio. He was one of my favorite players.

But look at it this way: Holmes was no longer the deep threat in our offense, Mike Wallace took the top off the coverage, and we didn't send Holmes on a go route nearly as much.

But we won't draft a receiver in the first round, and we DEFINITELY won't draft Dez Bryant, the last thing we need a player with character issues. Kyle Wilson, Markice Pouncy (however you spell it) or the guard from Idaho will be our targets on day one, maybe a receiver in round 2. But we got a lot of things to address in the draft: offensive line, corner, runningback, linebacker, etc. WR is not the most pressing need.

Plus we'll be running the ball more.

[Killer]

Ravens fans are pretty happy



Holmes trade to the Jets benefits Ravens

The Ravens should thank New York Jets coach Rex Ryan for trading for Pittsburgh wide receiver Santonio Holmes and taking him out of the AFC North late Sunday night.

Holmes has hurt the Ravens more than any wide receiver over the past four seasons. He has scored a touchdown in seven straight games against the Ravens, reaching the end zone a total of eight times. Holmes has put a dent in the Ravens’ secondary with touchdowns of 24, 33, 38, 59 and 65 yards.

Now, the Ravens won't have to face Holmes twice a year. Of course, they could see him this season when the Ravens play at the New York Jets