Par: 6 - Every team is looking for the next Mike Singletary. Or, in the case of the 3-4 defense, Mike Singletary and Ray Lewis.
Score: 5 - James Farrior is the best player on the Steelers' defense...and possibly the best player on the team. His name was mentioned as a possible defensive MVP, and deservedly so. Lining up beside him next season will be....(drum roll): Larry Foote. Kendrell Bell is more explosive. Bell is more powerful. Bell is faster. Bell makes more plays. But, Bell will cost about four times as much. For the same amount of money, the Steelers could re-sign/extend Larry Foote, Chris Hope, Casey Hampton, and Lee Mays. Besides, not only did Foote play well, he actually played. I have grown tired of getting my hopes up about Kendrell having an All-Pro season, only to be disappointed when he hobbles of the field during the pre-season...and misses the rest of the year. In short, Foote is not as good as Bell, but Larry is still impressive. And, I would rather watch Foote, Hope, Hampton, and Mays than watch only Kendrell Bell (especially since it will most likely be Bell sitting on the side-lines). Either way, depth is needed at this position: a late round developmental player, much like Foote was a few years ago.
Hole #13: Safeties
Par: 6 - This is a tricky position to fill. Many
teams do not want to spend an early round pick on a
safety...but the few that do, reap the rewards.
Score: 3 - Two years ago, the Steelers traded up in
the first round for the first time ever...yes, I said
"ever." The player they coveted was described as the
"best player I have ever coached" by Pete
Carroll...again, I said "ever." Troy Polamalu has
lived up to his billing...and he will only get better.
At the free-safety position, the Steelers are set
with Chris Hope. Like Polamalu, Hope is young. The
best thing about Hope is that he is rarely out of
position (which is unique for such an inexperienced
player). That, and the fact that when he tackles
someone, it sounds like a dump truck driving through a
dynamite factory; just ask Lamar Gordon. As far as
depth goes, Russell Stuvaints is a solid back-up, but
the player who I think would be a perfect fit as the
back-up safety/ nickel-back is Chad Scott. If Chad
would reduce his salary (to the league minimum), he
would be an awesome nickel-back/safety. Since we are
on the topic of cornerbacks.....
Hole #14: Cornerbacks
Par: 8 - This is quite possibly the hardest position
to fill. First of all, most young players in college
with good height and speed play on offense. Add the
recent focus on the "5-yard chuck rule" to the
equation, and this position has become nearly
impossible to play.
Score: 10 - Deshea Townsend had his best year as a
starter, but he is not a "shut down" corner. He is
more of a number-two cornerback. Plus, Deshea is going
to be 30 pretty soon. Next year, lining up on the
other side, will be Ricardo Colclough. According to
scouting reports of the Steelers' practices, Ricardo
was actually ready to start at the end of last
season...but the coaches did not want to disrupt the
chemistry on defense. By the end of the season,
Colclough was finally comfortable with the defensive
schemes, which translated into him making plays during
practice. If this sounds familiar, it is because this
is almost the exact same thing that was said about
Troy Polamalu at the end of the 2003 season. One can
only hope for similar results.
The nickel-back spot is interesting. Again, I think Scott would be perfect in that role, but he would have to take a pay-cut. Willie Williams is a free agent, but he could easily be re-signed if the Steelers choose to do so. Willie is a smart player, and he did not get beat deep all season...but the 10 yard cushion this season might creep up to an 15 yard cushion by next September. In other words, an infusion of young talent is needed at cornerback. Ike Taylor is young, but he has not yet developed into anything more than a dime-back. The guy I would love to see wearing black and gold next season is Brandon Browner from Oregon. He is a physical anomaly (6'4", 200 pounds) and is fast. Plus, he played well in the pass-happy Pac-10.
