All this talk about drafting an offensive lineman in the first round has my stomach churning. I realize that the offensive line has been a big issue for the Steelers for a while now, but let’s be real. We have Ben Roethlisberger behind center. If the Steelers had gotten rid of Ben after his antics last season, this would probably be a different article, but they didn’t. If Byron Leftwhich were out only hope, and his statue-like way of standing in the pocket were our only option at passing, then I would probably say that drafting an offensive lineman in the first or second round would be paramount.
That’s just not the case.
Ben is able to squeak by tackles, and pick up big gains by throwing on the run or even scrambling after the blocking on the O-line breaks down. We’ve won Super Bowls with a bad offensive line. We just lost one because of a poor secondary.
I think the idea of the Pouncey brothers being on the same team is cute, too, but come on. I know I’m not the only one who watched the Super Bowl. And the Patriots game? Yeah, I was at that one. Painful. We have to play against Brady and Manning this year, guys. Assuming we make the playoffs (which I realize is a big assumption knowing the history of teams who lose in the Super Bowl) because of an easy(ish) schedule, we’ll likely have to face one of those dudes in the playoffs, too. Not to mention other high-flying QBs we could potentially face in the Super Bowl.
Yes, I’m thinking Super Bowl. I admit, I’m one-track minded.
We need a shutdown Corner. At the very least, we need a player who does their best impression of a shut-down Corner. We need a spark in the secondary.
The Warrior
I’ll be the one to say it. Troy is getting old. The frequency with which he gets injured is increasing, and frankly, he’s worthless when he is hurt. Don’t get me wrong, I love Troy. I was Troy for Halloween, so…I’m kind of a big fan. If he can stay healthy, he will destroy people. That just hasn’t been the case. He was a non-factor in the playoffs. In the SB especially, when we needed him to perform the most. When he is healthy, Troy makes up for the lack of skill at Corner, when he is not, our weakness in the secondary is exposed.
“Big Play”
Willy Gay is terrible. I’m sorry. I saw some comment on one of the posts on NPC about how Willy Gay is good at Nickle or something…I don’t care. He’s terrible. “Big Play” Willy Gay let’s more big plays by him than he creates. That’s just not worth it. A sack here and a sack there does not make up for letting a TD pass go here and a TD pass go there. Those two things do not cancel each other out.
Bryant McFadden is slow and aging. He’s really not worth talking about. When he’s healthy, we’re better than when he is not healthy, but that’s not really saying that much.
Swaggin’
Ike Taylor is our only real Corner. He’s the only guy who calls out for the opponents’ #1 receivers, and he’s the only guy who can actually defend them. He’s not one of the best Corners in the league, however. He might be one of the better Corners in the league, but even that is stretching. ESPN just did a Cornerback power ranking and out of the 20 or so Corners who got votes, guess who didn’t get one? Yep. Ike.
Prospect
So that brings me to Aaron Williams of Texas. He’s the guy we need to go after if he doesn’t get nabbed first. He’s tall, 6’1″, and skinny at 192lbs. NFL coaches would like to see him weigh in at a little more, around 205, but he’s young and has time to put on some muscle. Big Ben came in looking like a rail, too.
Williams is a solid corner with good technique and good hands (good hands being something all of the Steelers CBs lack), and has a fondness for stopping the run. I’ve watched some film on this guy, and he’s got great instincts. He knows just when to leave his man to help with the run and he loves to lay big hits on his opponents.
Sounds like a Steeler to me.
Other than Williams there are a few other options out there at Corner. I am not as enthusiastic about the others, so let’s just hope the Steelers can land Williams in the first round. If a good O-line prospect can hang on, maybe we can nab one in the second round.
My point is, the real need is at Corner. Whether or not that is where the value is, is another question. The Steelers have been known to pick where the value is and not where the need is, but I just hope they see value and need in Williams if he is available when it’s the Steelers’ time to pick.