Steelers Situation, Case for Worilds, Troy’s Level

The NFL free agency period is set to begin soon and you can bet that we won’t miss a beat of Steelers coverage. While the Steelers are looking to sign free agents, restructure and extend contracts and re-sign their own free agents we’ll be busy looking around for mentions of your Black & Gold. Here’s your Steelers Morning Huddle for Sunday, March 8^th.

Running back situation

The Steelers shouldn’t have any worries at the running back position for the 2015 season. With Le’Veon Bell leading the AFC in yards from scrimmage and earning himself all kinds of honors, the Steelers should be as set in that position as they have been in years. Gerry Dulac of the PPG reminds us of the tricky situation the Steelers are in, however.

Because Bell will likely face at least a two-game suspension following his July 2014 arrest for marijuana possession and driving under the influence, the Steelers are left wondering what to do for the first two games of the season. Knowing how much his absence was missing from their wild card loss to Baltimore and figuring that they’ll face New England in the season opener, it’s got to be addressed.

I’d argue that even without the impending suspension on Bell, the position needed to be addressed this offseason anyway. The amount of carries a back like Bell takes and his style of running don’t necessarily make for longevity at the position. The Steelers were going to need a viable backup for Bell regardless of him getting suspended just because it would be irresponsible not to.

Making a case for Worilds

ESPN’s Scott Brown ranked the Steelers’ approaching unrestricted free agents and naturally linebacker Jason Worilds ranked No. 1. Worilds has actually dipped out of the top linebacker free agent rankings across the league but it’s still likely the Steelers would have to significant money to sign him long-term.

To make the case to keep him would be to say his 15 ½ sacks over the last two seasons lead the team; however the Steelers overall sack numbers have been severely down during the same time. The case to let him walk would be that Worilds started every game for the 2014 season for the first time in his career. He’s proven he can put about a half a season’s worth of solid play together at a time but he isn’t exactly a game-changer.

Can Troy still play?

Mark Kaboly of the Trib explains that while it’s still unknown whether or not the Steelers will release Troy Polamalu or if he’ll retire; the most important thing to evaluate would be to see if he can even still be effective. To answer that question Kaboly consulted Matt Bowen, former NFL safety and current writer for Bleacher Report.

"“You can tell based off the 2014 tape that Troy’s body is starting to break down and he doesn’t have the same burst or acceleration out on the field. Now, I do think he could still play as an underneath nickel or dime defender in the right system. I am not sure he can have the same impact on the back end of the secondary unless he adjusts the way he plays.” – Matt Bowen"

Kaboly reminds us how much of a risk taker Polamalu is and how it paid off for him and the Steelers defense because he had the ability to recover. It’s painfully obvious that he doesn’t have that ability anymore.

Next: Steelers Sign Tajh Boyd

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