Pittsburgh Steelers Official 2013 Offseason Thread

[JDM]

I do like Tomlin. I want him as our head coach but i think he is also stubborn, and a hot head at times who doesnt think rationally in the heat of the moment.

I think to ensure the team goes in the right direction we let Colbert have the final say in operations.

Tomlin has made tons of blatantly awful decisions but for the most part hes the most likeable coach in the league amongst the players which is why i like him as our coach. He deserves a majority of the blame for what happened this season. The Bengals game was absolutely ridiculous. He couldnt have been worse hence why we are posting in the offseason thread as i previously stated. This post should not be happening, this team should be getting ready for a cake walk game vs Cleveland and thinking about the playoffs.

I'm fairly sure that's the way it works. We've haven't gotten this far based solely on Tomlin, it's a collective effort - management, coaches, players, everyone. Tomlin is not going to make all of the decisions by himself. It will be a collective effort so that everyone is on the same page. Colbert isn't GM just for the hell of it, he does sign-off on all the decisions. So I think you and I are on the same page, all I'm saying is the Tomlin will have some input on decisions. That just comes with being head coach.

[SenecaValley46]

Well i think that this is the last time we see Keisel and Harrison in a Steeler uniform.. and the big elephant in the room is what are we going to do with Troys 10 million a year salary? We need him to take a paycut hopefully he obliges. Also Woodley.... way to out of shape for that 10+ mill salary

[mrbowflex1223]

I am hoping Woodley, and Polamalu take cuts I am also hoping Harrison takes a hefty pay cut and Keisel I am hoping takes a pay cut to stay. I am really hoping we cut Colon and replace him at guard this offseason.

[SluggeR]

How old was Bettis when we traded for him? Should we try to catch lightening in a bottle twice and make a run at Stephen Jackson? I know we don't go after headline worthy free agents, just thinking out loud.

[SteelBlitz]

Instead of spending big money on a 30 year old running back like Steven Jackson (Bettis was 24 when we got him) I'd rather bring back Wallace and draft a guy like Monte Ball to pair with Redman and Dwyer.

I really like Jackson, but running backs go down hill at 30 and he'll be 30 in July.

[burgh_fan66]

Just for fun and because I do this every year here is what I believe the cap savings would be for cutting each of the 34 players who are under contract for next season. It is a straight forward calculation except for the restructured players. I could be off on them and I'm probably off by a few thousand on a couple of others but it is my best attempt. It is in millions of dollars.

Player --------------- Cap Savings (in millions)
Ben Roethlisberger---	4.01
LaMarr Woodley---	-1.12
Lawrence Timmons---	0.02
Troy Polamalu---	5.1125
James Harrison---	5.105
Ike Taylor------	2.545834
Heath Miller------	3.2155
Willie Colon------	1.2
Antonio Brown---	-0.6
Ryan Clark------	3.5
Brett Keisel------	2.825
Ziggy Hood------	0.66
Maurkice Pouncey---	-0.273375
Cameron Heyward---	0.140452
David DeCastro---	-1.306823
Shaun Suisham---	1.0875
Jericho Cotchery---	1
Jason Worilds---	0.63
Marcus Gilbert---	0.343198
Mike Adams------	0.11535
Curtis Brown------	0.4247
Cortez Allen------	0.457125
Sean Spence------	0.22731
Al Woods----------	0.575
Chris Carter------	0.5143
Chris Rainey------	0.3895
Kelvin Beachum---	0.457052
David Paulson---	0.457052
Drew Butler------	0.478334
Robert Golden---	0.478334
Adrian Robinson---	0.478334
Will Johnson------	0.48
John Malecki------	0.48
Josh Victorian---	0.48

[SluggeR]

Instead of spending big money on a 30 year old running back like Steven Jackson (Bettis was 24 when we got him) I'd rather bring back Wallace and draft a guy like Monte Ball to pair with Redman and Dwyer.

I really like Jackson, but running backs go down hill at 30 and he'll be 30 in July.

Yeah I know. If he wanted to end his career with a winner and chose to come to us for a "player price", kind of like Duece Staley then great (aint gonna happen). Whether it's through the draft or a through FA, we need a back that demands carries next season. Draft: Eddy Lacey or Taylor (Stan.), FA: Not sure yet, after salaries casualties I think there will be a nice pool of backs to pick from (Stewart, Williams, Blount, etc.).

[SenecaValley46]

Ive brought his name up multiple times but no one here seems to want to comment on him.. Woodley.

[jrm2054]

Ive brought his name up multiple times but no one here seems to want to comment on him.. Woodley.

He was hurt all year. He gets these annoying nagging injuries. Wen healthy he is a monster. The issue is he is hurt the last two years. He was rushed back I feel as was Ben

[jrm2054]

La confora says Harrison is gone and dick will return for one more year.

[SteelBlitz]

A lot of guys will be gone next season including Harrison

[Polamalu43322]

4th seeded RatBirds hosting the 5th seeded Colts. Hopefully Andrew Luck is ready! ****

[SteelBlitz]

If Manti Te'o goes to the Chargers at #12 I'm gonna get real pissed because had we lost today we would have moved in front of them to pick at #11. Instead we sit at #17...

[jrm2054]

If Manti Te'o goes to the Chargers at #12 I'm gonna get real pissed because had we lost today we would have moved in front of them to pick at #11. Instead we sit at #17...

I think he will go before that

[warfelg]

I was thinking of something while watching all the head coaches get axed:

What about bringing in a guy like Lovie Smith to be a secondary coach. I know the one we have isn't bad. But Lovie has always coached secondaries that feast on turnovers. Seemingly take underrated corners and make them into all pro's. Maybe if not secondary maybe make up a role like 'associate defensive co-ordinator/assistant head coach". Let him learn the 3-4 defense for a year. Then when DL leaves Lovie can move into DC role and implement a hybrid 3-4/Tampa 2.

That's just a thought. Another name to try something similar with is Romeo Crennel. He obviously is one of those 'great coordinator/horrible head coach' type guys.

My hesitation with both is, would they willing to step into a lesser role before moving back up. And how long would they last before a HC job comes knocking.

I wouldn't mind seeing the Grimm/Wiz combo back for offense (if fired), but the question is were those bridges burned when they weren't chosen and we went with Tomlin. And if we have too many Ex-HC's would there be some undermining going on?

As far as players:

I think goners are: Keisel, Hampton, Foote, Harrison, Colon, Starks, Lefty, Chaz Batch (QB Coach?)
Restructures: Troy, Woodley, Heath (no cut in pay but a moving of money for cap reasons), Ike, maybe RC.

A dream signing: Put all of the eggs in one basket and sign Jake Long (rumored on the outs with MIA). Imagine a line of Long-Forster-Pouncey-DeCastro-Adams. Yummy...

Realistically:
QB: Kick the tires on Matt Moore. 2 yr $4Mil? If he has to start a few games maybe he can be trade bait. Draft a guy in rounds 4-6 to be groomed for bigger and better things.

RB: Just because I love this guy, I wouldn't mind hearing us in on Woodhead. A Dwyer/Woodhead combo could get a few things done.

WR: Assuming Wallace is gone, some short term stopgap 3/4 guy would work. I wouldn't mind seeing Sanders/Brown start, and in 3 WR sets see Sanders in the slot and Jerrico on the outside.

TE: Get well Heath. I wouldnt rule out a Pope/Saunders signing as a 'til Heath is healthy stopgap' signing.

O-Line: Starters are pretty much set. It's a matter of backup. A swing tackle (can be Gilbert if a different starter is found) and a 3 on the inside guy (Legursky is likely to get a starting deal somewhere).

D-Line: Someone with starter experience needs to come in to push Heyward and Hood for a spot, but do so that having them as a rotational/bench guy doesn't kill us. Ditto at DT. Push McLendon to be his best week in and week out.

LB: I rather see this filled in the draft than the FA period.

CB: The Taylor/Lewis pairing was getting better, but someone please buy both of them a set of hands. Or put a JUGS machine in front of them all off season. We NEED more TO's from them. Other than that we need depth along the CB's. Maybe some 'specialist' type guys. Like a big hitter, speed guy, bigger corner to cover TE's.

S: Depth...draft for the future. Find fountain of youth. Get the magic injury spray from the World Cup/FIFA.

P/K: As much as they got on our nerves...steady as she goes. Just keep status quo. Ugh.