Steelers News: Brown, Cruise, Thomas

The Steelers players head into the offseason for recovery and the coaches head out to prepare for free agency and the draft.

Steelers season never truly ends for Steeler Nation so while the offseason starts to heat up we’ll be busy looking for mentions of your Black & Gold so we’ve got you covered. Here’s your Steelers Morning Huddle for Sunday, Feb. 28^th.

The prototype

When you’re talking about wide receivers in the NFL and potential wide receivers in the NFL as we saw this weekend at the NFL Scouting Combine, you’re going to have to compare them to Steelers receiver Antonio Brown. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock calls him “the prototype” NFL wide receiver.

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Mike Prisuta explains how

this year’s draft class of wide receivers can’t be totally ruled out for lack of speed even if they averaged the slowest 40-time (4.56) at the combine since the 2011 receivers draft class because Antonio Brown’s 40-time at his combine was 4.57.

It’s not all about speed, it’s about running routes, making plays, crane-kicking punters in the face, flipping into the end zone and nut-hugging the goal post.

Saving the day

Imagine you’re stranded in the Gulf of Mexico, drifting along in a make-shift sail boat with 15 other migrants, hopelessly lost at sea. When what comes to save you but a cruise ship full of Steelers players and yinzers? The pictures posted by James Harrison were pretty amazing. I bet the story to tell is even better.

Looking for an upgrade

With all of the talk of the needs for the Steelers at the cornerback position we can’t forget that the defense needs an upgrade at the strong safety position, terribly. Ed Bouchette of the PPG reminds us that with Mike Mitchell the team is set at free safety for the foreseeable future.

Strong safety, however, needs to be addressed the offseason. That is mostly because Shamarko Thomas, who was drafted in 2013 to be the heir apparent to Troy Polamalu, has yet to win the job. He had his first healthy season in 2015 yet saw just 20 spans on defense.

Next: Steelers cruise rescues refugees

Both Will Allen and Robert Golden surpassed Thomas on the depth chart and both will be free agents come March 9^th. If the Steelers are going to look to the draft to upgrade the strong safety position, they’ll need to pick one early on.