2009/2010 Pittsburgh Steelers Discussion

[brat316]

Originally Posted by HinesWardJr

Personally, I don't think is mobile enough to play LT. He is a real good run blocker, but speed rushers kill him. Draft a LT and slide him to RT and I think we got a solid line with DP-Kemo-Hartwig/Ship-Urbik-Starks.

No he is good against speed rushers, well i guess playing against Jason Taylor in muddy conditions doesn't count. He can stop some speed rushers, but he gets beat by average guys.

[DeathbyStat]

Originally Posted by HinesWardJr

Sorry to not make myself clear enough. I meant to say we should consider looking for a franchise LT in round 1 of the draft next year, then moving Starks to RT.

Thats the best thing that we could do....but I don't think we will be picking high enough to grab a true franchise left tackle unless the team totally tanks next year

[Mr. Stiller]

Originally Posted by HinesWardJr

Personally, I don't think is mobile enough to play LT. He is a real good run blocker, but speed rushers kill him. Draft a LT and slide him to RT and I think we got a solid line with DP-Kemo-Hartwig/Ship-Urbik-Starks.

Really? How many guys got a sack against him last year?

Only 4 sacks.

Again, Joe Thomas... Mr. Pass blocker extraordinaire gave up 4.5.

2) We wouldn't start a rookie at LT.

3) Speed rushers haven't been that good against Starks.

Ware had 1 sack.

Suggs had 2 sacks.. 1 was against Stapleton on a stunt, and one against Starks.

Kiwanuka had 2 sacks against Starks. .5 from Blitzing from the SOLB spot.

Those are 3 good DE's.

Ware had 3 sacks against Walter Jones..

Not saying Starks is as good as Walter Jones.. Just saying from a passrushing standpoint, Starks isn't as bad as everyone makes him to be as a pass blocker.

And he's probably a top 5-10 run blocker.

[Mr. Stiller]

Originally Posted by DeathbyStat

Thats the best thing that we could do....but I don't think we will be picking high enough to grab a true franchise left tackle unless the team totally tanks next year

There's a bunch of potential LT's in next years draft.

Williams, Okung, Black, Young, Capers, Brown, Beadles... Fox is one of my favorite underrated prospects at OT. Even if not LT, dude is awesome.

with Jrs.... Bulaga, Davis, Ziemba, Carimi and Hix.

[Mr. Stiller]

Originally Posted by bhaarat316

No he is good against speed rushers, well i guess playing against Jason Taylor in muddy conditions doesn't count. He can stop some speed rushers, but he gets beat by average guys.

Everyone gets beat. It's just the nature of the game.

The fact is... Max is better than people give him credit for.


And for the ones thinking I'm on the Max Starks bandwagon.. I am. Why?

Because it might be the first Stable LT play since 2005 when Marvel Smith stayed healthy.

With a year under his belt starting at LT.... AGAINST THE #1 RANKED SOS and the defenses he played... Dallas, NYG, Was, SD, IND, Baltimorex2, Tennessee, NE... etc.

This year...

Baltimorex2, Cincyx2, Miami, Minnesota, Tennessee.


Those will be the only teams we'll see this year that posted top 15 defenses in 08.

Last year we faced:

Baltimorex3, Philly, Washington, NYG, Tennessee, Dallas, NE (This is just the top 10 defenses, of our 19 games 9 were against top 10 defenses)

Colts, Bengalsx2, Bills and Dolphins were the rest of the top 15.

9/19 games last year against top 10 defenses.
14/19 against teams finishing in the top 15 defenses.

Maybe our OL Woes were a bit overblown considering the plethora of amazing defenses we have seen?

[Smooth Criminal]

I said that all of last season. This OL is not nearly as bad as the looked last year. We played all of the best pass rushers last year. Our schedule was brutal and that caused the OL to look like a terrible unit. I'm expecting them to do alot better this year mainly because the schedule we will be facing is easier, but also because this is the first time Starks will be coming to camp as the starting LT, it will be Hartwig, Kemo, and Stapleton's second year playing.

I'm expecting them to perform better because of time together and an easier schedule. I'd like to see Urbik get in there and I want to see Colon replaced at RT. On the left side, I think Starks and Kemo will be fine.

[Smooth Criminal]

Ryan Clark-DB-Steelers Jun. 26 - 10:13 am et

NFL Network's Jason LaCanfora reports that the Steelers and Ryan Clark have had contract extension discussions.
It sounds like a deal could get done before training camp. Clark was undrafted out of LSU, but plays far bigger than his size and has proven to be a perfect complement to Troy Polamalu. He's expected to be ready for camp after undergoing shoulder surgery this offseason.

per rotoworld

Resigning Clark would be huge. He and Troy are a great safety duo. I'd love to keep them in this defense for years to come.

Lock up Clark, Heath, and Reed and I'll be happy. Depending on what Hampton does, franchise him next year.

[Mr. Stiller]

Originally Posted by Smooth Criminal

Ryan Clark-DB-Steelers Jun. 26 - 10:13 am et

NFL Network's Jason LaCanfora reports that the Steelers and Ryan Clark have had contract extension discussions.
It sounds like a deal could get done before training camp. Clark was undrafted out of LSU, but plays far bigger than his size and has proven to be a perfect complement to Troy Polamalu. He's expected to be ready for camp after undergoing shoulder surgery this offseason.

per rotoworld

Resigning Clark would be huge. He and Troy are a great safety duo. I'd love to keep them in this defense for years to come.

Lock up Clark, Heath, and Reed and I'll be happy. Depending on what Hampton does, franchise him next year.

Don't expect him to sign for much... Older, Injury case, Can't play in Denver.

[Hines]

Originally Posted by Mr. Stiller

Don't expect him to sign for much... Older, Injury case, Can't play in Denver.

I personally like Clark more than I have ever liked Chris Hope. Hope is a very good football player, though.

[Mr. Stiller]

Originally Posted by HinesWardJr

I personally like Clark more than I have ever liked Chris Hope. Hope is a very good football player, though.

When Hope was here he was a FS playing alot of Cover1/3.

In Tennessee he's a SS thats allowed a little more influx of play design, He'll get to support the run more and they play more cover 2 and Man than we do.

He just wasn't a great fit for the scheme.

[Steelersfan4life]

We signed Urbik
http://news.steelers.com/article/105920/

[terribletowel39]

Hooray!!! Alright. One more to go.

[SCSteeler]

Originally Posted by HinesWardJr

I personally like Clark more than I have ever liked Chris Hope. Hope is a very good football player, though.

...I was gonna say, it reminds of the time we lost Hope. At the time I thought Hope was expendable, but it seems like it took awhile to find his replacement. Clark should have some good years left, and shouldn't cost too much. We should extend him! Especially since Mundy is unproven.

[Hines]

So I found out today that I am pretty much going to training camp a few times. I am so ******* excited.

[Smooth Criminal]

I always make a trip up to latrobe to see camp. Its a pretty good time, esspecially when you get to the end of camp.

And I dont think it took awhile to replace Hope. We signed Clark in the same offseason that Hope left. Just seems like it took awhile cause the 06 team wasnt very good.

[terribletowel39]

Originally Posted by HinesWardJr

So I found out today that I am pretty much going to training camp a few times. I am so ******* excited.

Uh oh Hines. SG5 is gonna be there. I know back in the day yall were FB buddies. Lucky.

You can use that picture as your background. It is an awesome pic. Had to have it.

[Hines]

Originally Posted by Smooth Criminal

I always make a trip up to latrobe to see camp. Its a pretty good time, esspecially when you get to the end of camp.

And I dont think it took awhile to replace Hope. We signed Clark in the same offseason that Hope left. Just seems like it took awhile cause the 06 team wasnt very good.

I will be in the begining of camp, but hopefully I catch a few full pad practices and stuff like that.

This is my first time going to training camp and I am so excited.

[Hines]

Holmes bulks up to 201 which I think will help him. I finally seeing him maturing into that player we all thought he would be. I hope he has a great season.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt...rce=rss&feed=9

[Mr. Goosemahn]

So the Madden Player Ratings are out.

A couple of guys were snubbed.

QB
Ben Roethlisberger - 93
Charlie Batch - 63
Dennis Dixon - 42

RB
Willie Parker - 86
Mewelde Moore - 73
Rashard Mendenhall - 72
Frank Summers - 54

FB
Carey Davis - 77

WR
Hines Ward - 90
Santonio Holmes - 86
Shaun McDonald - 68
Limas Sweed - 64
Mike Wallace - 57

TE
Heath Miller - 88
Sean McHugh - 68
Matt Spaeth - 66

LT
Max Starks - 83
Tony Hills - 70

LG
Chris Kemoeatu - 76
Trai Essex - 71

C
Justin Hartwig - 86
A.Q. Shipley - 66

RG
Jeremy Parquet - 72
Kraig Urbik - 71
Darnell Stapleton - 70

RT
Willie Colon - 78

LE
Aaron Smith - 91
Travis Kirschke - 65
Ra'Shon Harris - 50

RE
Brett Keisel - 76
Evander Hood - 75
Nick Eason - 55

NT
Casey Hampton - 91
Chris Hoke - 74
Scott Paxson - 55

ROLB
James Harrison - 97
Bruce Davis - 62
Arnold Harrison - 62

ILB
James Farrior - 95
Lawrence Timmons - 74
Keyaron Fox - 59

LOLB
LaMarr Woodley - 88
Andre Frazier - 59

CB
Ike Taylor - 86
Deshea Townsend - 82
Joe Burnett - 64
William *** - 63
Keenan Lewis - 61
Anthony Madison - 51

S
Troy Polamalu - 99
Ryan Clark - 83
Tyrone Carter - 67

K
Jeff Reed - 76

P
Daniel Sepulveda - 72

Quick Notes:
No Keiwan Ratliff
No Jason Capizzi
No David Johnson
No Dallas Baker
No Martin Nance
No Ramon Foster
No Ryan Mundy
No Donovan Woods
No Patrick Bailey
No Stefan Logan
Charlie Batch at 63 is wrong.
Dennis Dixon at 42 is repulsive.
Mewelde Moore at 73 is wrong.
Heath Miller at 88 shows people still don't give him enough credit.
Aaron Smith at 91 is still a bit low.
Travis Kirschke at 65 is also a bit low.
Brett Keisel at 76 is offensive.
Nick Eason at 55 is too low.
James Harrison not in the top 10 defensive players in the league is blasphemy.
Lawrence Timmons at 74 is wrong.
William *** at 63 is utter nonsense.
Joe Burnett above William *** and Keenan Lewis at 64 is wrong.
Jeff Reed at 76 is offensive.

On the bright side, the team is only one of two to have a rating above 90. We have a 92, and the only team above us is New England with 93.

Troy Polamalu is only one of six players in the entire game to have an overall rating of 99. The others are Peyton Manning, Larry Fitzgerald, Nnamdi Asomugha, Albert Haynesworth, and Ed Reed.

Roethlisberger is the fifth best quarterback in the game, below Manning, Brady, Brees, and Warner (in that order).

[Hines]

Those ratings are ******* horrible.

[brat316]

nah seem pretty fair. Look at it this way in the 70s its your average starter, 80s is above average starter, and 90s is the star player that people recognize.

So if Timmons plays more I think he'll easily be in the 80s. Outside of the Steelers not many people know much about him. I bet you his other ratings are pretty high since he is one of the most athletic lbs.

[Mr. Stiller]

Originally Posted by bhaarat316

nah seem pretty fair. Look at it this way in the 70s its your average starter, 80s is above average starter, and 90s is the star player that people recognize.

So if Timmons plays more I think he'll easily be in the 80s. Outside of the Steelers not many people know much about him. I bet you his other ratings are pretty high since he is one of the most athletic lbs.

Still doesn't explain Dennis Dixon at 42 when He's got more physical attributes than others.

Mendenhall below Moore? Even on Hype I'm sure Madden 09 had him higher.

Sweed, McDonald and Wallace 64 and below? Really?



The most obvious one is....

Darnell Stapleton at 70 behind Jeremy Parquet who... hasn't made a roster in how long? (If ever) not to mention below an unprovedn rookie? I can get the rookie due to hype but, this was a starting RG of a superbowl unit.. How did he fall below UDFA never was's?

[terribletowel39]

Brett Keisel - 76
Jeff Reed - 76
William *** - 63
Aaron Smith - 91
Darnell Stapleton - 70
Carey Davis - 77
Heath Miller - 88

Those are my biggest problems.

[Smooth Criminal]

It till you all see sweed and timmons speed. Harrions faster than both lol

[brat316]

Originally Posted by Smooth Criminal

It till you all see sweed and timmons speed. Harrions faster than both lol

Its cause he ran 100 yards straight in the superbowl.