My premise was to compaire last year with what this year should bring.

2012 vs 2011 Steelers

Ike=Ike
Lewis>Lewis/Gay
Brown/Allen>Gay/Allen
Troy=Troy
Clark=Clark

Harrison>Harrison/Timmons
Timmons>Foote/Selvester
Draftpick/Foote/Selvester=Farrior
Woodley>Woodley/Worlids

Hood>Hood/Smith
Draftpick/McClendon/Hampton=Hampton/McClendon
Keisel/Heyward>Keisel/Heyward

There is no reason I can see that the DB group should be worse in 2012.

The front seven may be weaker vs the run in the middle than we are used to,
but, as the season goes along it should stiffen up with the return of
Hampton and some playing time for a draftpick.

The outside of the D should be better with a healthy Woodley and Harrison and with Hayward
Having some real playing time from last season and OTA's this spring.

With improvement on the outside of the D the CB's get even better.

All of this is possible, even likely.

To be clear I don't feel a team that loses the SB needs fixed, but here goes anyway. And this can break the tension of Ravens week for a little while.

For this exercise you get to be GM for the day and we assume Troy is locked up for the long term and healthy. Have to eliminate some variables.

The bad part of part one is that way fewer players got released than I suspected would. My thought right up until Wednesday was that lots of high priced vets would be released and be available to sign after week one without the guaranteed for the year contract clause. Didn't happen, guess I'll recall my resume from ESPN tomorrow.

Part 1:

What FA that's out there now would you sign? My guess is a LT, G, CB will be on the shopping list but before you answer see part 2. To be honest I could not find a good list of FA’s to choose from. I'm going with Max Starks who, once in shape, could be and upgrade for this OL.

Part 2:

Now transport yourself to the 2012 NFL draft and the FO comes and tells you that you can be Atlanta this year in the draft so you can get "the guy" the last piece of the puzzle. Who do you move up to get?

Just as a reminder Atlanta moved up 21 spots to #4 and gave up 1st, 2nd, and a 4th this year and a 1st and 4th next. Of course you can move up less and pay less if you want also. Who you sign as a FA in Part 1 may influence this one a lot.

I don't think there is a Guard worthy of a big move and Hampton has one more year and there's no one to sell the farm for at NT in this draft anyway. Someone will step up to help Harrison get a breather by 2012. An ILB to replace Farrior might be nice but Selvester will have one more season under his belt and Foote should still be a good 3rd ILB and fairly young.

I think Dre Kirkpatrick CB might just do the trick.

Go ahead and kick it around if you like.

The OL/C thing was a no brainer so no credit at all.

I think I failed.

Well theres always next year.

1st round options.

LT Not the biggest need but if the right guy can be had you have to pull the trigger.

CB An easy upgrade no matter how good or bad Burnett/Lewis end up being. 

G  Have lots of guards but could improve the position.

C  Especially if he can play G for a year to learn. 

NT  If Dan Williams is there.

ILB  Needs a year to learn anyway.

OLB  If a college DL that needs a year.

DT  Needs a year.

RB  Willie is now a Redskin, a younger faster version of  Moore is necessary soon.  Spiller?

 

Unlikely:

SS  This is the #1 need without a 1st round prospect.  He would be a backup to Troy no matter where he’s drafted so round 1 would be unlikely anyway.

FS  Unless a guy can play some dime for a couple of years and CB.  Earl Thomas?

 

Not;  QB, WR, TE

 

I’m leaning toward CB, Ike has one year left and the rest are unknowns.

Next would be OL, the guy they think could play right away.

Then the dreaded BPA since they would not start in 2010.

 

QB:  Ben, Dixon, Batch

RB:  Mendenhall, Moore, Summers/Redman, ?

TE:  Heath, Spaeth, Johnson/McHugh

WR:  Hines, Holmes, Wallace, Randel El, Battle/Sweed/Grisham

LT:  Starks, Hills, Scott

LG:  Kemo, Foster

OC:  Hartwig, Legursky

RG:  Essex, Urbik

RT:  Colon

 

25

 

NT:  Hampton, Hoke

DT:  Smith, Keisel, Hood, Harris

OLB:  Harrison, Woodley, Frazier, Bailey

ILB:  Farrior, Timmons, Fox, Foote

CB:  Ike, Gay, Burnett, Lewis, Madison

FS:  Clark, Allen, Mundy

SS:  Troy, ?/Carter

 

24

 

PR:  Logan, (Holmes, Moore, Randel El, Battle, Burnett)

KR:  Logan, (Battle, Burnett)

K:  Reed

P:  Sepulveda

LS:  Retkofshy

 

4

 

Total 53

 

Position comments.

QB:  Ben may be missing some games, (less likely than when I started this) so a QB could be and option if the cards fall just right, now that Batch signed, (my guess not till round 5), camp arm/PS.

RB:  I don't think both Summers and Redman will make the team so one is on PS.

TE:  Good to go.  I'd love to see Mark Bruener #2 and get rid of the TE/FB/HB that Ariens loves so much.

WR:  Good to go.  Grisham is the PS guy.

LT:  Always looking for an upgrade, I like Starks, but would move him back to RT.

LG:  Ilupita and move Kemo to RG, don't see it.

OC:  Pouncey at RG for a year or two and then to C like Dawson, Webster, and Harting before him.

RG:  Ilupita or Colon?  Essex plays four positions. Pouncey in 2010, Urbik in 2011.

RT:  Any top five T could serve a year or two at RT like Smith did.

 

NT:  Hoke could be upgraded.

DT:  Youth required.

OLB:  Upgrading the backups and the future of this position is needed.

ILB:  Nine LB's need to be on the roster OLB or ILB though Foote makes ILB depth not as bad as it was.

CB:  I can see a need, Ike is fine but has one year left, Gay is a nickle, Burnett is Gay right now but can be a return guy/DB, Lewis is a complete unknown.

FS:  Good.

SS:  Anyone want to see Carter back there any time soon?

 

PR:  Lot's of options.  See KR.

KR:  I don't think Logan will be with us this year.

K:  Skippy for one more.

P:  Robo Punter will be fine.

LS:  Warren will not be ready for the beginging of the season.

 

1st round options.

LT Not the biggest need but if the right guy can be had you have to pull the trigger.

CB An easy upgrade no matter how good or bad Burnett/Lewis end up being. 

G  Have lots of guards but could improve the position.

C  Especially if he can play G for a year to learn. 

NT  If Dan Williams is there.

ILB  Needs a year to learn anyway.

OLB  If a college DL that needs a year.

DT  Needs a year.

RB  Willie is now a Redskin, a younger faster version of  Moore is necessary soon.  Spiller?

 

Unlikely:

SS  This is the #1 need without a 1st round prospect.  He would be a backup to Troy no matter where he’s drafted so round 1 would be unlikely anyway.

FS  Unless a guy can play some dime for a couple of years and CB.  Earl Thomas?

 

Not;  QB, WR, TE

 

I’m leaning toward CB, Ike has one year left and the rest are unknowns.

Next would be OL, the guy they think could play right away.

Then the dreaded BPA since they would not start in 2010.