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ATL96Steeler
Well-Known Member
Guys...it's been fun even though we didn't have the season we wanted.
I've been taking notes all season but rather bore everyone...I thought a simple grade would create some good dialog.
Starting @ the top.
GM (short term grade 2013 draft class)...Colbert, B-...
The good...Bell could be the best RB in franchise history if he stays healthy. Shamarko Thomas is a starter next yr...worth moving up for...not the splash I was hoping for from J. Jones, but I know he's a player...imo not an OLB in this but LeBeau was pleased so I'm not complaining. Velsco was a major positive, didn't have to use him but Gradkowski was an upgrade @ backup QB.
The bad...he put his $100 mil QB behind a 1st yr starter @ LT. Starks was the best LT on the roster and he wasn't a huge cap hit...imo Adams can be a LT, but obviously he wasn't ready out of the gates. I think that cost them two wins.
HC...Tomlin, B-, his best year as the HC imo.
The good...again working through many OL combinations...0-4 they could've tanked...especially guys like Sanders who are thinking about a contract next yr...getting to 8-8 and clearly a better team the last 6 or 7 games. Keeping Adams motivated to contribute showed me these guys respond to whatever he's saying.
The bad...regardless of intent, the side line snafu was a serious deal...should not have happened...6th rd picks start for this team...losing to OAK & TN in back to back years I don't get...win one of those games and we're not hoping another team helps us out.
OC...Haley B+...didn't start out well...imo Ben didn't do his 1st yr starter @ LT any favors...he was the old Ben trying to extend too much early probably because of the bad start. A combination of Miller rounding into form and Bell's ability to get you 4 yds a touch changed the offense and they were clearly the best unit on the field the last 6 games off the yr.
DC...LeBeau C+...to be fair, he doesn't have the horses to run his high pressure DEF...played a lot of 4 man run and nickel/dime in the back...losing Foote hurt early, but Williams settled in well and imo is the starter next yr...lack of speed in the back 4, especially FS has to be addressed.
ST...Smith, B-...a pretty solid group all year...make a big 1st down on a fake punt, AB made several big returns and very few came back due to penalty...Punter problems and the return vs GB standout as reasons to hold his grade down a notch.
I think PIT could have been a dangerous 6th seed, but it didn't bother me much to see the KC FG miss...8-8 didn't deserve it imo...I like a lot of the positives but still work to do for this to be a SB contending team.
With the 15th pick, PIT is on the clock...
I've been taking notes all season but rather bore everyone...I thought a simple grade would create some good dialog.
Starting @ the top.
GM (short term grade 2013 draft class)...Colbert, B-...
The good...Bell could be the best RB in franchise history if he stays healthy. Shamarko Thomas is a starter next yr...worth moving up for...not the splash I was hoping for from J. Jones, but I know he's a player...imo not an OLB in this but LeBeau was pleased so I'm not complaining. Velsco was a major positive, didn't have to use him but Gradkowski was an upgrade @ backup QB.
The bad...he put his $100 mil QB behind a 1st yr starter @ LT. Starks was the best LT on the roster and he wasn't a huge cap hit...imo Adams can be a LT, but obviously he wasn't ready out of the gates. I think that cost them two wins.
HC...Tomlin, B-, his best year as the HC imo.
The good...again working through many OL combinations...0-4 they could've tanked...especially guys like Sanders who are thinking about a contract next yr...getting to 8-8 and clearly a better team the last 6 or 7 games. Keeping Adams motivated to contribute showed me these guys respond to whatever he's saying.
The bad...regardless of intent, the side line snafu was a serious deal...should not have happened...6th rd picks start for this team...losing to OAK & TN in back to back years I don't get...win one of those games and we're not hoping another team helps us out.
OC...Haley B+...didn't start out well...imo Ben didn't do his 1st yr starter @ LT any favors...he was the old Ben trying to extend too much early probably because of the bad start. A combination of Miller rounding into form and Bell's ability to get you 4 yds a touch changed the offense and they were clearly the best unit on the field the last 6 games off the yr.
DC...LeBeau C+...to be fair, he doesn't have the horses to run his high pressure DEF...played a lot of 4 man run and nickel/dime in the back...losing Foote hurt early, but Williams settled in well and imo is the starter next yr...lack of speed in the back 4, especially FS has to be addressed.
ST...Smith, B-...a pretty solid group all year...make a big 1st down on a fake punt, AB made several big returns and very few came back due to penalty...Punter problems and the return vs GB standout as reasons to hold his grade down a notch.
I think PIT could have been a dangerous 6th seed, but it didn't bother me much to see the KC FG miss...8-8 didn't deserve it imo...I like a lot of the positives but still work to do for this to be a SB contending team.
With the 15th pick, PIT is on the clock...