This is a letter from Jack Wilson to the fans of the Pittsburgh Pirates throught the Post-Gazette. True pro. I wonder what will happen to the Bowling with the Bucs now. I really like Wilson. He toughed through 0 losing seasons, but yet still only focused on the good times Good luck Jack!

Here's the link:

I like the picture, too. Great smile. Hey, Jack and Julie had three kids named Jacob, Jaidyn, and Jersi.

Good Ole' Jack!

According to Dejan, the Pirates will retain John Russell as the manager for next year. 

Good move?

Now, I know not many people like him. But,

1. It's not his fault, we have to wait for our prospects and then we will be a contender. And, as much as it is going to sting for us to be the team to set the record for losing seasons, we wouldn't of avoided it with the team we had. And now, we could be looking at cconstant winning.

2. He's had to deal with constant, non-stop roster moves. No manager in pro ball can help a team win win they don't have the players that will help win. Our prospects, in the future, can help the Pittsburgh Pirates win a World Series.

Finally, we don't even have a good replacement. There is not many available managers that have experience and the ability to win. So, even though he isn't Lou Pinella or Ozzie Guillen, he is a solid manager. Who thpught Joe Maddon was a good manager? Now look at him with great players.

Quality vs. Quantity. It seems like you hear that about the Pirates every where you go. I believe the Bucs have added enough quantity for the minor leagues system. Now I think they should (if they're really committed to building through the Draft) that we should sign these high-end high school players who fall because of signability. I think they're doing that. They've got 10 mill to spend on the draft, Sanchez's pick was helped by the fact they could sign cheaper and faster, and they saved money from the trades. No, I'm not going to name them all, but that might make 75 words for someone who's talking about something else. Anyway, We've signed Trent Stevenson and Colton Cain, plus our first 4 picks. BTW, how are they doing so far? I think our #1 priority right now for the Draft would be sign Zach Von Rosenburg. The guy was rated as a bordering 1st rounder, maybe a 2nd round or compensation pick. We got him in the 6th. Here's a report I just found on the guy, before he got drafted.

http://www.maxpreps.com/news/j5DxWD3vEd6pcwAcxJTdpg/top-100--zacharys-von-rosenberg-relishes-the-big-games.htm

So, he's had a great HS carrer. I'm looking for a scouting report.

Here we go:

Photo: Perfect Game

Full Name: Zachary Von Rosenberg Position: Right Handed Pitcher Born: September 24, 1990 Birthplace: Zachary, Louisiana Height: 6' 5" Weight: 205 Bats: Right Throws: Right How Acquired: Draft Drafted: 2009 Amateur Entry Draft, 6th Round (175th Overall) High School: Zachary (LA) ETA: 2014

Edit: The scouting report went off the page and you couldn't read it. Here you go.

Scouting Report:
Von Rosenberg is the classic projectable high school pitcher. He has great size and mechanics and features three pitches. Currently he has a fastball, high 80's, a curve and a change. All the pitches have great movement and most feel that as he gets stronger the velocity will definitely increase. The kid has great stuff and has put up excellent numbers during his time at high school. Definitely an extremely high upside pitcher, though he does have a commitment to LSU.

I like him and think he could have a higher ceiling then most the pitchers we've drafted the past couple years.

I'm not sure how much we're talking, but it might be like 1,000,000+. But that's just a random observation. Give or take.

Another guy, who was drafted two rounds ahead, Zachary Dodson. Huh, Zach and Zach. The Zack Attack. hmmm, I got it.  Z. Z., cause we're gonna put you to sleep! What'd ya think.

Anyway, on to Dodson. I found some great stats on Dodson, some believe he's an OF, but he more than likely will pitch if he signs with the Bucs.

The guy was 10-0, 1.20 ERA, 1 HR against him, 129 Ks in only 64.1 IP. That's equal to 2 Ks an inning. 28 hits in 64 1 IP means about a hit every other inning, and 2 Ks every inning.

Great stats. Amazing stats.

Scouting Report:

Photo: Perfect Game

Full Name: Zackry Dodson Position: Left Handed Pitcher Born: July 23, 1990 Birthplace: Natalia, Texas Height: 6' 2" Weight: 180 Bats: Left Throws: Left How Acquired: Draft Drafted: 2009 Amateur Entry Draft, 4th Round (115th Overall) High School: Medina Valley (TX) ETA: 2014

Edit: The scouting report went of the page and you couldn't read the whole thing so it might look a little odd. Here you go.

Scouting Report:
Young lefty from Texas, Dodson is committed to Baylor. The young lefty has been a two way star in high school, leading the team on the mound and in the batter's box. Dodson features a mid 90's fastball and a curveball. He also has been working on a change up as well. he will need to work on his command and his mechanics to advance up the ladder in the pro ranks, but has a good foundation, starting with his good fastball.

Man, I found this site, that's got detailed scouting report, all the info about the guy, even when he could be in the majors.  More of that to come later. . . . . . . .

I've been looking at mlbtraderumors.com and there are some interesting possible deals.

http://www.piratesreport.com/page/blogs.detail/display/162/Maholm-for-Rios-is-fascinating-to-dissect.html

Rios for Maholm? I say take it. You have a power-hitting RF (no disrespect to Moss, well, sort of) for a subpar pitcher. If Toronto does pay a portion of his deal we could have a cheap power option. To be honest, I'm surprised Toronto would pull that kind of deal, yet this guy make it sound like a tough decision for us.

Make or Break?

Another one that I like is from a recent post by thecheeseisblue. Capps for Colorado's Eric Young Jr. and Casey Weathers. Now this again may be a deal for colorado to make or break, but if they do, I do. Jr is most likely the fastest guy in milb. He already has 48 SBs.  I believe he led the league(milb) in SBs in 2007, but I'm not sure about 2008. He'd give us a spark of pop and a SB threat we really need with Morgan and McLouth gone. He also allows us to deal Freddy. I also think we might get Joey Williamson into the deal and push Weathers out, but that might be a stretch. He's a great reliever for A-Advanced. 10-1 with with a 3.76 ERA and 62 Ks in 69 IP. Plus, batters are hitting just .234 against him.

Make or Break?

http://www.piratesreport.com/page/blogs.detail/display/163/The-rumor-mill-keeps-on-turning.html

I like Kyle Drabek. Watching him pitch in the Futures game made me just think get that guy. I say if it works trade Duke straight up for Kyle Drabek. If we can get another prospect, do that too. I doubt the Phillies will take the deal. I can see why.

Make or Break?

Also, why trade Sanchez? I highly disagree with the Sanchez for Sanchez deal. Even adding if we got Bumgarner it might still feel like the McLouth deal. You hate giving up the best player on the team, but you do like the prospects and deep down might believe it was the right deal. I was reading Dejan's chat and noticed something that I think he is exactly right on.

"bertbpman: DK - If the Pirates are able to trade Jack Wilson, do they currently have anyone who can be another everyday shortstop?

Dejan Kovacevic: Honestly, though no one ever mentions his name, Sanchez could do it. He is a good, if not great, shortstop. The main reason he has been kept away from there -- aside from Wilson's presence, obviously -- is fear of wearing him down. ... As for anyone else? No."

This could let the Pirates have Jr. and Sanchez both in the middle infield. Jones, LaRoche, Rios, Doumit have good power. Milledge could do well, to.

Maholm deal might not work. We already have McCutchen, Tabata, and Milledge. I personally want Jones in there. That is why we have to leave it up to who wins the starting jobs out of 2010 Spring Training. Who do you think will make up the 2010 OF? Answer in comments.

 Hello, Steelers fans! You all might of forgottten me, as hard as that is, but Air Holmes is back. With work piling up and it being the offseason with not many moves by the Steelers I kind of took a break. But, anyway, what's new? Can y'all catch me up with what's been going on? What Steelers' draft pick have been signed? Any free agent pick-ups? Any new people on the blog? Sorry, I'm a little energetic right now.

If any of you watch college football, you know I'm talking about Graham Harrell. The guy won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award given to the top senior QB in college football. He was 4th in Heisman voting. He makes all the NFL throws and his team was ranked was #2 for the last part of the year. Now, I know we still have injury prone Batch and rising Dixon, but why not add 1 more back-up?

I've looked over the drafts and I have to say, Detroit made some great 1st round picks. They got their leader. They gave him a great TE for him  to throw to along with Calvin Johnson at WR. But, you can't pass up Rey Maulauga for Louis Delmas. Here is what their draft could have been if they kept all their picks starting in the 2nd round to the 5th:

Round 2: 

Rey Mauluaga.

Round 3:

Louis Vazquez

Derrick Williams (they actually made this pick and now Stafford has 3 good recieving options)

Round 4:

No pick because Detroit traded its 2009 fourth-round selection (101st overall) and its 2008 third-round selection to Dallas for its 2008 third-round selection (92nd overall, used to select Cliff Avril). Which was a good deal because Avril led the league in sacks for a rookie.

Round 5:

Scott McKillop.

You guys can finish it, I don't have time. I'm going to write a post about Denver's great draft soon.

Now, I don't know if anyone agrees, but is Eric Mangini trying to copy Bill Belicheck's draft day strategy? I mean, he keeps trading down for more picks in the 2nd round, then he takes his new divison rival's main guy in Alex Mack. Belicheck seems to cause troble around the league with either the Cutler situation (more on the Broncos in a later post) or the Spygate tapes. Mangini must think if this guy (Bill) can resurrect his carrer from a team until then that was unheard of (Pats) then maybe he can, too. Your thoughts?

My best friend was shot at in Iraq. He got shot on his arm. Under the uniform where he was shot was a part of my 1st Terrible Towel that I gave him for good luck the day he left. The doc said he'd have to get his arm amputated. The next day the Steelers when Super Bowl XLIII and Chris's arm is x-rayed again and he is healed. The story was about to be published in the Post-Gazette, but Chris didn't want it to. I was talking to my friend the other day and I noticed he was wearing the Towel I gave him. I said to him, "Pal, I never really thought of this until now, but I think the Steelers saved your life." He replied, "I don't know about that, J. But, I think their fighting spirit rubbed off on me." Now, I'm not superstitious, but I believe the Steelers saved my best friend's life.

Now in my mock draft a while back I had the Steelers taking Alphonso Smith in the 2nd round, but looking at some of ESPNs mocks along with other sites he'd be more likely at #32. He in my opinion is very talented and I'd really like him in black and gold. But, what if we could get a guy that could play CB and a safety? Sean Smith from Utah is solid at both positions. Now, I really like it when Ryan Clark knocks the lights out of someone (Wes Welker, to be exact), but he has been getting injured and in the final year of his contract. Smith and Smith are talented, but who do we pick. A. Smith is more talented at CB, but S. Smith can play CB and S. If we took A. Smith we might try working him into a S position, too. 

Talent CB Smith vs. Insurance Smith 

Was up, Broncos fans? Us Steelers fans over at Behind the Steel Curtain are having our own mock draft. I was the guy who did who the Broncos would pick. Now, I wanted to pick Aaron Maybin, but the Bills (guy right in front of me) took him. Check it out. I picked Michael Johnson because Everette Brown, Brian Orakpo, Aaron Maybin, and B.J. Raji were all taken. I feel for you after losing Cutler. But that baby was acting like a total b***h. I guess you get some great picks, but OUCH! that has got to hurt. Losing your star player (no disrespect to Marshall or former best player Champ Bailey).

Jay Cutler as a baby.

Jay Cutler as an actor of a baby.

Jay Cutler.

I was watching the Celtics-Heat game. I didn't care who won because my 2 fav teams are the Celtics and Heat. Anyway Mark Jackson and Jeff Van Gundy were debating who was the best MVP canidate on the defenisve side. Not the best devensive player. Who is probably Dwight Howard, even though I wished it was KG again. Anyway the were saying it was:

1. D-Wade 

2. Kobe

3. Lebron

I think LeBron is better than Kobe on defense and offense. Wade though brings home the gold. He is one of the best in the league in steals, forced TO, and leads the team in blocks. I don't know if that has changed with the new O'Neal. Well, even though all of you are probably die-hard Heat fans, anyone think Paul, Lebron, or Kobe are better?

Now, in my mock draft i put Alphonso Smith at #64,  but people disagreed he'd be available. The more I look at him and watch highlights on him the more I like him. Now, what if we take him at #32 and then get maybe Eric Wood. Then we''d get Jason Watkins in the 3rd. Then Derrick Williams for the extra 3rd round pick and then so on as my draft goes. That looks pretty good. Actually, I'd take Williams with whatever pick is higher in the 3rd then Watkins because Williams is still a prospect to other team. This guy thought Smith had a 60/40 chance to be picked there. I like Ike and Deshea is still got some gas left in the tank and some people say William Gay will have a breakout year. I think Ike should be #1, Smith #2, and Deshea #3.  Who's with me?

Make sure to click the link and read the article.

Yeah, I know a few people have already made a few mocks, buy hey 1 more couldn't hurt. Of course, everyone thinks mine could never stand up to HighSchoolSteeler, but hey it's not a competition. Here we go:

                                                          Round 1:

Selection: Alex Mack. Position: Center. College: California. Height/Wieght: 6' 4" 316lbs. This guy can play all over the line, but we could use him at center or maybe RT( yes I know we have a handful of Tony Hills' fans). He is a great OL prospect and can really make the call to keep Ben clean and help Willie get 4+ yards. He does an excellent job of getting to the second level as a blocker to help allow Willie and Rashard and Mewelde get longer runs. He is also excellent in pass protection as well he shows good footwork to stop both strong and quick defenders. Mack is a very intelligent player and knows how to play the game. There are a few other pressing needs such as D-line, WR, and CB, but I think we need at least 1 o-lineman. He can help solidify the line and look at it this way Max Starks, Chris K, Willie Colon, TONY HILLS, and then Alex Mack. He'd have to compete with Justin Hartwig, but again could move anywhere down the line. Pretty solid line.

Highlights:

Alex Mack Highlight Reel

                                                               Round 2:

Selection: Alphonso Smith. Position: CB. College: Wake Forest. Height/Weight: 5' 9" 190lbs.  

No Aaron Curry isn't the only good player from the Wake Forest defense. Smith did a great job last year. Smith has everything anybody could want from a cornerback -- with one exception. He is quick, has great instincts, can catch the ball very effectively and is rarely caught out of position. The one problem is his size. He is only 5-9 and 190 pounds. If he had just 3, 4, 5 more inches he would be just down right dominant. Smith finished the year with seven interceptions and 13 pass break-ups. He also had 38 tackles. His carrer stats are 174 tackles, 4 FF, and 21 INT. Pretty good for a CB who only gets to make about 5+ plays a game. He ran a 4.56 on the 40-yard dash. He is very talented and great work ethic. I've olny gotten the chance to see him play on TV a few times, but he is good. He is talented and I think he'll be there at #64. Great and consistent. Keep your fingers crossed we see him in black and gold. I know I will.

Highlights:

Alphonso Smith Highlight Reel

                                                              Round 3:

Selection: Derrick Williams. Position: WR. College: Penn State. Height/Weight: 6' 194lbs.

He was a star on the return team and a great WR. I loved watching him play. During his collegiate career Williams caught 161 passes for 1743 yards and 9 touchdowns. He has also rushed the ball 117 times for 594 yards and scored 8 rushing touchdowns. This type of versatility could be valuable to Steelers. He is the guy. I'd love to see him go grom blue and white to black and gold. Williams gets off the line as fast as any receiver in college football. He is excellent at exploding when the ball is snapped and blowing by press coverage. You have to have a safety backing up the corner when he plays.  He gets to top speed quickly and is very good at stopping during curls and deep comeback routes. Perfect deep threat also. I pray he is there and taken at #96.

Highlights:

Derrick Williams Highlight Reel

                                                            Round 3 Compensatory Pick:

Selection: William Beatty. Position: OT. College: Connecticutt. Height/Weight: 6' 6" 306lbs.

Beatty probably helped his draft satus this year more than any other player. He has fixed up his pass protection problem. Beatty is mobile and uses great foot quickness to get into position. He uses his athleticism nicely on pulls and traps where he can get out and move around. Although he sometimes takes poor angles, he does a good job getting to the second level. Keeps his feet active to wall off pass rushers. Has long arms to push speed rushers out of a play. Smart. Adjusts well as the play develops. Normally he would be an early 2nd round choice, but with more OT and OG he is pushed down. He might not reach down to our pick, but could.

Highlights:

William Beatty Highlight Reel

                                                                   Round 4:

Selection: Maurice Evans. Position: DE. College: Penn State. Height/Weight: 6' 2" 264lbs.

No, I'm not just picking another Penn State guy. I catergorized each DE into rounds, then looked at who would be the best DE pick in the 4th round. Evans isn't as good as Aaron Maybin, but he has one thing all d-lineman need. A high speed motor to the QB. In 10 games this season, Evans recorded just 34 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks. That isn't even close to his 2007-08 year where he had 54 tackles, an astounding 21.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, broke up 3 passes in coverage, and forced 5 fumbles. If he can stay out of trouble he can return to that form. The Steelers really wanted to have a youth movement on the D-Line, which is already the best in the league. If Evans will stay out of trouble, he could be a great replacement for Brett Keisil (I think I misspelled his last name) or Aaron Smith.

 Highlights:

Sorry, no highlights. Every highlight is for the NBA's Maurice Evan. If you find one comment where.

                                                                       Round 5:

Selection: Terrence Taylor. Position: DT. College: Michigan. Height/Weight: 6' 318lbs.

I have seen Taylor before, playing Penn St., but never really looked into him until someone brought it up in a comment and I explained all about him. He is a big massive guy. As I say, a run-stuffer. He could be the next Casey Hampton. His massive frame has allows him to eat up blockers and catch the RB or QB. For his college carrer he registered 104 tackles, 17.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, and has batted down 3 passes at the line of scrimmage. He said in an interview during the combine, "I'm very comfortable playing nose tackle in the 3-4 alignment." He has a great motor and the fact that he'll probably be a 5th-6th rounder makes me say TAKE EM!

(I wouldn't want to be that QB.)

Highlights:

Terrence Taylor flips player 

                                                                     Round 6:

Selection:  Cullen Harper. Position: QB. College: Clemson. Height/Weight: 6' 4" 225lbs.

Cullen Harper is the best QB available in the 6th round. Harrell won't go past the 3rd round before he's taken. Harper is a great QB. If we don't sign Lefty, Ben and Dennis are all we have. We need to pick a QB again. Harrell would fight it out with Dixon. He has good size, an accurate and strong arm and plenty of athleticism. His quick release is also a big plus in a class of quarterbacks where many have poor throwing habits. Harper's downside is his decision making. He will not often make the bad throw, but he does tend to hang onto the ball too long which results in quite a few sacks and a lot of throwing the ball away. If our o-line could hold though and he works on getting it to a WR quicker it would be OK. Of course throwing the ball away is not a bad thing at all, but it would be beneficial if he did it a little quicker. He is still a solid QB.

 Highlights:

Cullen Harper Highlights (Sorry 1st few plays are South Carolina)

                                                                       Round 7:

Selection: Ramses Barden. Position: WR. College: Cal Poly. Height/Weight: 6' 6" 227lbs.

I didn't even no there was a school called Cal Ploy, but looking at the list of WRs in the Draft I noiced him and he looks like a lesser known player so he should be available in the 7th round. His best advantage is his size. He knows how to jump and catch the jump ball. Barden has a knack for getting open behind defenders and being able to gain yards after the catch. He is a physical wide out who is not afraid to block. Just like a guy I know. Who is a physical reciever who makes hard blocks and plays for the Steeler? The only problem he really has is his awareness. He sometimes just doesn't focus. He has to go into a game thinking it'll be his last. If he can keep this mental approach he will be more succesful. Now some might say why would we take Sweed, Williams, and Barden, but depth is what we need. I really don't trust Dallas Baker. Even if thing don't work out he still is just a 7th round pick. That being said T.J. Housh was a 7th round pick and look at him now. 

Highlights:

Ramses Barden Highlights (read description, amazing day)

OK, that's the wrap up of the Steelers 2009 Mock Draft. I think they were all solid picks. Well, of course I do or I wouldn't of picked them. Not so sure though that the Steelers willl take 2 WRs, but you never know. 

Ok. Last time I talked about CB prospects. Here are some WR prospects that could (or won't) be available to the Steelers:

No sense in doing Crabtree or Maclin.

Percy Harvin. Flordia. 5' 11'' 195lbs. Now my grandfather went to Flordia so I had to do Harvin. He might be around pick 20. If so, the Steelers obviously will have to trade down. The guy is such and explosive runner and a great WR. He can be an explosive RB when needed and then go catch the ball for a TD. Harvin ran a 4.41 in the 40 and he is just as elusive as he is fast. Anytime he touches the ball he has touchdown potential, regardless of where he is on the football field. He is just a great offensive weapon. The only problem with Harvin is his size. It remains to be seen how he will deal with bigger, stronger cornerbacks at the next level. If he can deal with them he can be an explosive and dominant WR for years to come.

Darrius Heyward-Bey. Maryland. 6' 3" 206lbs. This guy is just ridiculous. He was the fastest guy and the combine. Has great size. Can you say Larry Fitzgerald of the future? He definitely has the athleticism to become one of the best jump-ball threats in the nation. Just like Larry. He is a guy I'd love to see in B & G, but it all depends on how much everyone else wants him. Great, great speed. He really can blow you away.

Hakeem Nicks. North Carolina. 6' 2" 210lbs. Hicks is a sold WR and depending on how much teams want WRs could go from 1st to 3rd round. Nicks is not a pure speed receiver, but he has certainly been productive. At 6-2 and 210 pounds, he has decent size and could develop into a solid complimentary receiver on just about any team in the NFL. I'd say we take him in the 2nd round, but I planned on Alophonso Smith there. If he is there at #96 we probably take him, but I doubt he does.  He is an overall pretty solid reciever. He might not make those miracoulous plays, but he makes the catch. A lot of guys (Sweed and Washington for us) focus too much on making the TD then worrying about catching the ball.

Juaquin Iglesias. Oklahoma. 6' 204lbs. This is the go-to-guy for Heisman winner Sam Bradford. The problem is that Iglesias is a possession receiver, not a tall touchdown scoring machine. At 6-0, he is not going to be a number one receiver, but he could be a great deep threat with Nate gone. He ended the year catching 74 passes for 1,150 yards and ten touchdowns. On a team with such talent, Iglesias was often overlooked. He did a great job and he would be a great pick also at #96 if available.

Derrick Williams. Penn State. 6' 194lbs. Now who could forget the home state boy. With the Panthers not doing to good I watched the Nittany Lions. He was a star on the return team and a great WR. I loved watching him play. I think he might win the battle for WR in 3rd round. During his collegiate career Williams caught 161 passes for 1743 yards and 9 touchdowns. He has also rushed the ball 117 times for 594 yards and scored 8 rushing touchdowns. This type of versatility could be valuable to Steelers. He is the guy. I'd love to see him go grom blue and white to black and gold. Williams gets off the line as fast as any receiver in college football. He is excellent at exploding when the ball is snapped and blowing by press coverage. You have to have a safety backing up the corner when he plays. Perfect deep threat. I pray he is there and taken at #96.

(David Tyree like catch)

Mike Thomas. Arizona. 5' 8" 195lbs. This guy was brought to my attention by High SchoolSteeler. He would be a good 4th-5th rounder, but I think we don't wait that long to take a WR and we don't need to take 2. Thomas is an undersized receiver with excellent quickness and very reliable hands. Another guy who focuses on making the catch 1st then scoring. He has better than average top-end speed and will be an excellent possession receiver. He is pretty strong for his size.

Well, that is the wrap up. I might make a mock draft soon and this might contribute. If any of you have good suggestions for 6th and 7th round selections I'd be happy to hear them.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/scorecard/nflnews.asp?articleID=255693

Wille Colon has accepted the tender from the Steelers. Colon, who will enter his fourth year in the NFL, has started every game at right tackle for the Steelers over the past two seasons, including 34 regular-season contests and four postseason games. He was originally selected by the Steelers in the fourth round (131st overall) of the 2006 NFL draft out of Hofstra. Well, props to Colon. He isn't wanted by some fans, but we need all of the o-lineman we can get. He as I've said in a previous post is the stinkiest player in the locker room.

Chris Carr also is visiting Sixburgh today. With the depature of Bryant McFadden to the Cardinals, Carr would be a perfect fit for the team. If the Steelers can make a deal with Carr, whose spirit on the field fits the Steeler mold, it would fulfill two potential needs. The first as a return man and also as a defensive back. The Titans want him back, but he wants more playing time. He'll get plenty of time in the Steel City. Keep your fingers crossed. 

OK. All of a sudden everyone is completely shutting out the idea of drafting an o-lineman in the 1st round. I understand, but not completely sure we should pass up Mack. Deshea is getting older. Gay and Madison aren't 100% reliable leaving Ike Taylor our ownly CB option for the upcoming future. Although William Gay and Anthony Madison might get better by then. Who knows? fftoolbox does provide a clearer better description si there are parts I flipped my word with theirs. Anyway, here are some 2009 CB Draft Prospects with a little help from fftoolbox.com:

Malcolm Jenkins. Ohio State. 6' 1" 201 lbs.: We will not get him. He is tied for top CB in the Draft with Vontae Davis. We probably won't get him unless we trade up which we can't do because we need the other picks to get some WRs and D-linemen and O-lineman. Malcolm had a great carrer at Ohio State, but didn't really impress at the combine. He is still a great CB. He could play safety so his versatility helps his stock. At Ohio State he played in 52 games, registered 196 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss, had 1 and forced 4 fumbles. In coverage, Jenkins has tallied an impressive 11 interceptions and 17 passes broken up - including two interceptions he has taken back for touchdowns.  fftoolbox.com:

Vontae Davis. Illinois. 6' 204lbs:  He is another great CB. He probably won't get to #32 considering he'll be the #1 or #2 CB. Again if we trade up we lose picks we need later on. Davis is a great prospect and shouldn't be overlooked. Davis finished the season with 76 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions, 8 passes broken up, and he even blocked 2 kicks on special teams. Jenkins had to blocks in 4 years while Davis had 2 in one season. He would be a great fit for an aggressive defense like the Steelers because he's an excellent blitzer. Davis is just as comfortable rushing the passer from the corner spot as he is in coverage.  He had a decent combine. fftoolbox.com:

D.J. Moore. Vanderbilt. 5' 10" 182lbs. Solid 2nd rounder, but a little small. Wouldn't match up well witha bigger guy. The reason he'd be a perfect fit for the Steelersthough is beacuse Moore not only plays CB but, returns kicks and is sometimes used at receiver to maximize his rare assembly of skills. As someone said describing NE Pats coach: Taking two birds with one stone. He was a great star on defense. HighSchoolSteeler, if we don't take your man Chung look at this kid right here. You should do a major post on him. Shutting down his opponents' best receivers and leading the conference in punt returning is just the way he plays. The cornerback led the SEC in interceptions with six and was among the SEC and national leaders in solo tackles (63), total tackles (83), and pass breakups (10).  This is the guy I think the Steelers take in the 2nd round. He did a good job in the combine, too.

Darius Butler. Connecticut. 5' 10" 187lbs. He is another guy who is capable of playing receiver, Butler has great hands to go along with his speed and quickness. He hasn't ever gotten the chance to escape being the under the radar guy. His numbers are down, too. He only tallied 40 tackles on the year and failed to intercept a pass (and his skills as a kick returner did not go very well either). He only averaged 23.6 yards per kick-off return and had a long of just 36 yards. Butler is still a talented player and much of that lack of production is due to the fact that the opposition avoided throwing in his direction. fftoolbox.com

Sean Smith. Utah. 6' 3" 214lbs. He had a pretty good year. He is a later 3rd round and up guy. He really has tons of potential. Smith is an excellent athlete with great size-speed (4.52) combination. He played cornerback during most of his time (he actually began his career at WR) at Utah, but will need to switch positions in the NFL. Smith reads the quarterback and breaks quickly to get outside and help his cornerbacks on deep routes, and is able to close quickly on passes in front of him. With very good backwards speed, Smith is best at reading the QB's eyes. While he has good, not great, recovery speed, (recovery speed is what we needafter fitzgerald made that lond TD catch to put the Cards ahead in the SB) he does not get sucked in by play action and has the speed and agility to get to areas in a hurry. Smith also has great burst to finish, making strong tackles. Smith is a very good run defender who has the instincts and speed to chase down runners. fftoolbox.com

Alphonso Smith. Wake Forest. 5' 9" 190lbs. No Aaron Curry isn't the only good player from the Wake Forest defense. Smith did a great job last year. Smith has everything anybody could want from a cornerback -- with one exception. He is quick, has great instincts, can catch the ball very effectively and is rarely caught out of position. The one problem is his size. He is only 5-9 and 190 pounds. If he had just 3, 4, 5 more inches he would be just down right dominant. Smith finished the year with seven interceptions and 13 pass break-ups. He also had 38 tackles. His carrer stats are 174 tackles, 4 FF, and 21 INT. Pretty good for a CB who only gets to make about 5+ plays a game. He ran a 4.56 on the 40-yard dash. I think this guy has tons and tons and tons of potential. HighSchool Steeler, this would be a great guy to put in your final Mock Draft.

Those are just some of the prospects. There are others who could be a 4th and higher rounder.  How'd you like it HighSchoolSteeler? Blitz? Agree with the post? Disagree with the post?

Steelers.com put a very interesting report on their site about former Steeler. Amos Zereoue opened an African/French restaurant in Manhattan called Zereoué. The restaurant is located at 13 East 37th Street in New York City. The resturant is called Zereoue'. He started to look cooking that when he was drafted by the Steelers, it was common for him to prepare dinner for his teammates, introducing them to some new culinary delights that he created himself. From Steeler.com:

“We used to get together at Joey’s (Porter) house or one of the guys house and I would make my African dishes,” said Zereoue. “A lot of the guys really enjoyed it.  At first they were kind of skeptical about what I was making. Joey used to make fun of what I was making. He would make fun of it, but when it was prepared, everyone enjoyed it." It’s not uncommon for athletes to open a restaurant or lend their name to one. Normally they are gathering places on game day, often times with a menu filled with fun bar food. Zereoue wanted something different. So he did his homework, seeking assistance from those with a restaurant background as well as looking at what was out there and what might be lacking. With over 20,000 restaurants in New York City, he found his niche with an African/French theme “We have to be different,” said Zereoue, who is from Africa’s Ivory Coast. “What’s new, what is different from the rest. I thought that was different. I didn’t want a sports bar with just burgers. I wanted something classy, high end type of thing. I didn’t want them to think from the name that it had just a sports theme. I wanted to get away from that.” Zereoue is taking a hands-on approach to the business as well. He is there on a daily basis, and if you time it right you will find him in the kitchen preparing some of those same meals that he cooked for his teammates a while back, now perfected to fit the menu. Other days he focuses on the business-side of things, from the wine list to advertising and everything in between. “The restaurant business is a funny business,” said Zereoue, who opened his restaurant in July, 2006 and has made changes since then. “I thought football was tough, but this is the toughest thing I have ever done. You don’t know what to expect. There is a different challenge every day. You have to deal with things you aren’t always prepared for. It’s one of those deals where you have to go with the flow and prepare yourself for whatever might come up.”          

During his football carrer with the Steelers he spent most of his time as a back-up RB to Jerome Bettis. However, he got good playing time in his five seasons in Pittsburgh from 1999 to 2003. His best season came in 2002, when he rushed for a career-high 762 yards and four touchdowns. Also in 2002, Zereoué caught a career-high 42 receptions for 341 yards. In his years in Pittsburgh, Zereoué rushed for 1,698 yards and seven touchdowns.

I'm hoping to open my own resturant and inspired by Amos. I really hope to go to his resturant, try his food, meet him, and get some tips. I thought his story was neat and since everyones writing about former players I thought he'd be a great person to write about. If anyone so happens to live in New York please visit the resturant and tell me your thoughts.

Thank you

Air Holmes

The guy I thought was a good option for us to pick up will now face us 2 times a year. A day after I thought we wouldn't have to worry about T.J. Housh they get Laveranues Coles. ESPN reports he agreed in principle to a four-year, $28 million deal, according to a source. Both sides still have to work on the language of the contract and the guarantees, but the money figures were acceptable to Coles. I don't know, but it looks like they have 2 starting WRs again. Just as we do with Holmes and Ward.

Here is my 1st report for the Steelers. Every day I add a little bit more to it. Then, after 2,3,4 days I publish it. This issue will look a little bit on young Steeler prospects and possible future Steelers players. 1st off:

Lawrence Timmons. 22-year-old ILB out of Florida State. 15th overall pick in 2007 Draft. The guy is a lighting fast, hard hitting intimidator that is vastly superior athletically than the ILBs we've had patrolling the middle of the field for most of this decade. Even in the case of Farrior and Foote - guys that I love and think the world of as players in Dick LeBeau's defense - they don't carry the same potential to make a game-changing disruptive play in the flat or in the middle of the field, or as stunting blitzers. Timmons is younger, quicker, and already is better than Foote. In 2008 Timmons had 65 tackles, 1 forced fumble, a 89-yard interception return, and 5 sacks. Foote had 63 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 0 INT, and 1.5 sacks. I think he should fully replace Foote. We can cut Foote or trade him for some draft picks. Save money to invest in CB, WR, and mainly the o-line. He isn't a leader on the team (James Farrior, Troy Polumalu, and Ben Rothelisberger). He isn't a sacker and not much of a run stuffer.

LaMarr Woodley. 24-year-old OLB from Michigan. 2nd rounder in 2007 draft. He had an absolute breakout year. Pretty much the same stats as Timmons, but 11.5 sacks. On of the top sackers in the NFL in only his 2nd year. He had 60 tackles, 2 FF, and 1 INT.  He will be a dominant Steeler for years to come. He is an explosive run stuffer, great sacker, and if you block him here comes James Harrison. He knows how to play the game.  As Jim Rome says "He is a guy who is going to step on your throat and press down until you stop breathing. I mean come on I know Holmes (my favorite player) made that great catch, but if he hadn't forced that fumble Warner might have made it to Fitzgerald on the next play. We are going to keep our eye on him.

Santonio Holmes. 24-year-old WR from Ohio State (hate them). 25th overall pick in 2006. He is an absolute awesome player. Very quick, has great range, catches the ball, 55 receptions for 821 yards and 5 TDs, and averages 14.9 yards per catch. He was the leader in yards per catch in 2007 with an 18.1 average. He was the MVP of the Super Bowl rightfully so. He was the reason we won on that final drive. Without him we don't score at all on that drive. I know Woodley sealed the deal. I think he will become one of the best Steeler recievers ever. 

 Heath Miller. (yeah I know he might not be as young as they other stars, but he still has gas left in the tank for a while) He's a 6-5 256 lbs. tight end from Virginia. The guy is very gifted. He knows how to get open. He is an excellent blocker. He can bounce off a tackle. He can knock a guy out. He has strength and power to really help out not only Ben, but also Willie Parker. When you run a toss play, Willie uses his speed and uses Heath as his main blocker. Miller had 48 receptions for 514 yards and 3 TDs.  That is pretty good for a tight end. Miller definitely will and is a great player and a great teammate.

Limas Sweed. Rookie out of Texas. He's a 6-4 220 lbs. WR. His birthday is on Christmas Day so that has to mean something good. A lot of you were saying with time he could become a new Plax without the attitude. I agree with his size and great jump-ball ability he is an attractive prospect. That size and ability could trump any concerns about his speed. While he may not be that burner some we love him to be, he has the talent to follow in former Longhorn star Roy Williams' footsteps and at worst, be an excellent possession and red zone receiver. If he can really practice on focusing on catching the ball 1st then I think he could definitley be a great reciever. Hines Ward (one of the best catchers in the game) can mentor him to learm how to do that. Just like Mendenhall who had his problem with fumbling. If he can catch that ball better, he would really help our team.

Now onto posible Steeler players (in my opinion):

 Laveranues Coles: He is the veteran reciever the Steelers could sign. He has great speed. I know this might be a squeeze with Ward, Holmes, and Sweed. Someone has to become a fourth reciever. Sweed needs experience and playing time. Ward just too good for our team. Holmes has got to much he can do. He is fast, he can jump for a 5-11 guy, and he knows what to do with the ball. Coles might not fit, but he looks like a good contributer. He had 70 receptions for 850 yards and 7 TDs. I don't know if he could fit, but he would be good for our team.

Alex Mack. California. I've seen about 5 mock drafts that say Mack goes to the Steelers. I understand why.  He plays center, but can mover around the line. Mack is a very intelligent player who is capable of making all line calls. He always plays with his head on a swivel and is the anchor for one of the top running attacks in college football. Mack has a very strong lower body and uses great technique in run blocking to drive defenders off the ball. He does an excellent job of getting to the second level as a blocker to help allow running backs to break longer runs. He is also excellent in pass protection as welll he shows good footwork to stop both strong and quick defenders. He is 6-4 and 316lbs.

Duke Robinson. Oklahoma. At 6-5 and 335 pounds, Robinson is a big, big man. He is a road-grader who could be a starting guard on many teams in the NFL as a rookie. Ideally, Robinson should be a guard, but he is versatile enough to play at the right tackle spot if needed and that will be a big plus for some teams. Not many offensive guards crack the first round of the NFL Draft, but Duke Robinson is one of the few who can. His size, experience and sheer talent will be difficult for teams in need for a guard to pass up. Robinson could slip into the second round since he is a guard, but he will almost certainly be the first taken in April. If Mack is taken and Robinson isn't, I don't see them drafting anyone else.

Phil Loadholt. Oklahoma. Another Oklahoma lineman. There are not many tackles as big as Phil Loadholt. At 6-8 and 337 pounds, he is big even for a lineman. Loadholt is just massive. He is a beast. He can just clobber guys. He might be better than Robinson in some categories, but Robinson might be better in other areas. His size alone could make him a first round selection, but Loadholt has plenty to prove during the 2008 season. Thus far, his collegiate career has been marred by inconsistency. When Loadholt can't simply physically have his way with the opposition, he tends to get beat. If he is to get picked higher than Robinson, he has to show he doesn't need just his size. He has a long way to go in the mental game before he will be a top lineman in the NFL. If he can keep his head in the game and work on his technique, Loadholt will be a great offensive tackle. Phil Loadholt was having a good season until he went up against Brian Orakpo. The Texas defensive end got the best of Loadholt and that has brought up some questions about the massive 6-8 tackle. Loadholt has to prove that he can deal with quick ends and keep his head in the game.

Free Agency: There is something postive for even the teams such as the Lions, Rams, and Chiefs. Its the fact teams will receive an additional $4,050,000 in salary cap room in 2009. The Steelers are believed to be around $108,243,000 spent against the cap meaning the increase would leave the team nearly $18,757,000 in cap room. This number is down now the Kemo is resigned.

Here is a look at Air Holmes's thoughts on Steeler free agents
 
QB Charlie Batch -. This guy isn't dependable. He's old. Always injured. I'd invest the money used on him on resigning Byron Leftwich.

Byron Leftwich - A few weeks ago, it seemed like a done deal that he has seen his last days in Pittsburgh. He was very reliable behind Big Ben. He played well when called on. I hope we resign him. Dixon has potential, but that potential will have to take time to turn into a back-up. More and more it looks like if he isn't offered a starting job, the Steelers practically have him on their roster.

CB Bryant McFadden - He is the best cornerback on the market. Hard-hitter. Young. Lot left in the tank. If it's money he is looking for (which probably is considering he has two SB rings and knows he is the best CN in free agency), he probably won't be resigned. If he is the biggest priority (or Leftwich) he might get resigned. 

LB Keyaron Fox - He is a guy who can play linebacker pretty well and may (with the Lions) start. He might not be reliable, but if he wants to go get a starting job. Detroit is probably where he goes. He can't get a big contact, so he'll probably be a cheap starter for the Lions.

CB Fernando Bryant  I didn't know who he was until I saw his name on the list of our free agents. We signed him when Bryant and Deshea both got hurt. Not reliable. Unless Kevin Colbert can't find a good CB free agent or draft pick, he is gone.

OT Trai Essex- Never has reached his potential. He can play tackle or guard so his stock rises. The Steelers also needd to fix their o-line and if we can resign him more draft picks can go toward a CB or WR. Look for us to pick him up.

LB Andre Frazier - Was a special teams player. He did a good job their. Probably won't leave because it doesn't look like he will be offered a starting job..

LB Arnold Harrison- Maybe resigns. He was injured all of last year. Resigns in a back-up role. 

OT Marvel Smith- When he was healthy, he was great. Problem is, he is almost never healthy. He has way too much back problems. His whole salary could go towards the entire Draft. 

DE Orpheus Roye  He is 36. Not that good. Didn't know this guy either. Not going to be signed.

WR Nate Washington - He loves the Steelers and has two rings. He has great spped and can be a deadly deep-threat. Normally I'd say we resign him, but he is considered the top wide reciever in free agency. He is in discussions with the Titans and Lions.
 
 
RESTRICTED
OT Willie Colon -Considered the stinkiest guy in the locker room by a lot of his teammates. Smelly feet. He has been tendered. Big guy. I guess all lineman are.
S Anthony Smith - He was the guy last year who said we'd give the Pats their 1st lost last year. All talk, no show. Potential. 50-50 is he resigns.
G Jeremy Parquet - I don't know who the heck this guy is. Looked into him. Not going to get resigned.
CB Anthony Madison - He is young (27) and a good back-up option. Played pretty well on special teams last year.

Wow! The Chiefs get a franchise QB (Matt Cassel) and an experienced linebacker(Mike Vrabel) for a 2nd round draft pick! Wow. A dumb decision by the Patriots. Cassel is young and very talented. I really think he is a great prospect. On top of that, Vrabel is a leader on defense and good at stopping the run. He is a great decision-maker. Chiefs pulled off a huge steal! Agree?

Also, Brian Dawkins, 36-year-old 7-time Pro Bowler safety was signed by the Broncos. His hard-hitting and leadership role will really help the struggling Bronco defense. He had 75 tackles, 3 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, and an INT in 2008. I think he will aid the Broncos and if they draft Rey Mauluga, the ILB for USC, they will be in formation to help new head coach Josh McDaniels have a playoff season.

Your thoughts?

Here is a new idea that sparked in my mind: Plaxico Burress returning to the Steelers. We need a good reciever. Plax won't mind a homecoming. He could really make our depth at WR expand. The Giants don't really think he''l really want to come back. http://www.boston.com/sports/football/articles/2009/02/21/giants_gm_not_counting_on_return_of_burress/

He is a tall and very talented reciever. A lot of you were defending Sweed (who does have potential). Well, here is a perfect mentor. He'll be teaming up with Hines Ward again. Hines Ward (one of best Steeler WR ever, Super Bowl XL MVP), Plaxico Burress (one of the top 10 recievers in the NFL), and Santonio Holmes (my favorite player, Super Bowl XLIII) would make a deadly recieving corp. Big Ben even said last year he wanted a taller WR. Plax is 6 feet 5 inches tall. Wouldn't you just love to flip to the SPORTS section in the Post-Gazette and see in bold:

PLAX IS BACK!!! 

For all of those people who keep giving me crap, I know someone all ready mentioned this. I'm just writing what I have to say.  The big guy on the Steelers line resigns. Kemo has reportedly agreed to the 5-year $20 million deal. I think we should focus al of our efforts now on the Draft. Agree? We could probably get an Alan Mack or Eben Britton or trade up and get a Michael Oher. If we get a good WR and soldify our o-line (sorry Mike Tomlin) we could get a repeat. Who's with me?!

BREAKING NEWS: I just finished watching an NFL Live on ESPN and Albert Haynesworth signed with the Redskins. He agreed to a 7-year $100 million offer. This is the biggest contract in NFL history. That is an average of more than $14 million per year! The Defensive Player of the Year, James Harrison, made $1,550,470 in 2008! Harrison was better in almost all defensive catergories. Haynesworth, in my opinion, pulled off with a lot more bucks than he is worth.

What do you think?

When free agency starts at 12:01 AM tommorow, signings will be made. Negoiations will be long and hard. Players will get there big money. Players will rejoin their former teams. When this all happens the team with the bucks will get the big names. Cowboys (of course), Giants (maybe not if deal with Jacobs goes through), Bucs (cut a lot of money off, got plent ready), and all of those rebuilding teams (Lions, Browns, Bengals, Rams, Bucs, and the Broncos). Like everyone els the Steelers will have to try to resign their players. If we can get Jeff Saturday (which wil REALLY help our team) we'll have less money for our own free agents. Who do we resign? I say Bryant McFadden (Townshend is getting older and Ike Taylor is our only reliable corner), but Leftwich did an excellent job as back-up. Marvel Smith has had back problems, but when healthy he is out best offensive lineman. Max Starks has a franchise tag so we get to have the 1st crack at him. If he signs elsewere we get some draft picks. When Smith was out HE was out best guy on the o-line.

You chose.

In breaking news, the Steelers have released 7-year veteran Kendall Simmons. Mike Humpal, the rookie, was also released.  Simmons made $4,975,760 in 2008. Simmons wan't able to contribute to the team playing in only 4 games. Humpal played in 0. This move frees the Steelers up to pick up a free agent lineman and put money into the Draft. I 100% agree with this. He was no use to us at all and he cost 4+ million. What do you guys think?

The Steelers got the money. I think we should get Jeff Saturady and we need to trade up and get an awesome OT prospect in the Draft. We are an awesome team except for the o-line. Hines is getting older. Washington is almost out. Sweed can't catch a ball. Baker hasn't shown he is a reliable reciever. Holme is still great, but we're running out of options. We need a good WR. Since the Draft is focused on the o-line we have to find a good free agent pick-up. Who agrees?

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Who should we pick for out O-lineman in the Draft? Alan Mack, Eben Britton, that 6-7 330+ pounder from Oklahoma? Trade up and get a Duke Robinson or Andre Smith if either fall to what we might trade to? Or trade up and focus on our WR drought I talked about in a previous post? Can anyone spell Percy Harvin?                                P-E-R-C-Y  H-A-R-V-I-N. Any other ideas?

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Who is the Steelers best player? A question that's hard to answer. So many stars. Troy Polumalu (best safety in football), James Harrison (Defenseive Player of the Year), Ben (won two SB and has a knack for winning), Santonio (my favorite player, Super Bowl MVP), James Farrior (great tackler, leader for defense), Casey Hampton (when you stuff the run like that and scare even Albert Haynesworth you have to be mentioned), or Hines Ward (one of best WR in our history, great blocker, passion for game, great smile)? You tell me.

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What is more important? Resigning our free agents or fixing the O-line? I'd say O-line. We can't run and Ben has to get sacked 4+ times a game. If we can sign Saturday, resign Marvel Smith and put him at RT instead of LT, and draft some O-line prospects we could turn things around. I guess resigning Smith I would be signing a Steeler free agent. Your thoughts on what we should do?