2014 Offseason Thread

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

BTSC has been releasing some cool stories on "players to watch" this offseason during camps... Short articles, but great reads! Enjoy!

Nik Embernate aka "Embernasty"
Let's not forget about Steelers OG Nik Embernate - Behind the Steel Curtain

I think it will be awesome to see this kid make the roster. He was a camp favorite last season, at least for UDFA's lol. However it will be somewhat of a longshot still. If Adams can finally figure out the OT position then we will already have 2 backup swing lineman in Wallace & Beachum. If he had the ability to play OT then he would have a better shot at beating out Whimper for the 8th spot. If PIT drafts an OT it would obviously change things a lot. Whimper would probably be out of a job at least lol. That would put Embernate in a battle with Wallace, since we can assume Beachum is cemented without a doubt.

Justin Brown
Let's not forget Steelers WR Justin Brown - Behind the Steel Curtain

Another great position battle in the making. With AB, Wheaton, Moore locked in at the top of the depth chart, we can only assume that the 4th & 5th spots are open for business! PIT is almost guaranteed to draft a WR as well, so it could boil down to the 5th spot for Justin Brown, Derek Moye, and Derrius Heyward-Bey. I think if PIT gets their tall WR in the draft then it will be tough for Moye to make the roster without having any ST value. J. Brown & Heyward-Bey could battle for KR/PR duties.

Terrence Garvin
Let's not forget Steelers LB Terence Garvin - Behind the Steel Curtain

Garvin can be used in a variety of ways due to his position flexibility between nickel coverage safety & linebacker. IMO he has the best shot of making the team for his ST duties. He & Kion Wilson made a good impact on that unit last season.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

OT...the best thing that could happen here imo is for Adams to blossom into the player they expected this year...quite frankly, and it's obvious now, that he simply wasn't ready to play LT out of the gate LY after looking decent in some breakin play @ RT.

Lost his confidence, Ben's confidence, Tomlin's confidence, the whole 9, so he had to be yanked...kudos to Tomlin/Haley for keeping the kid engaged in some capacity as he played better as the year went along...appears to have cleaned up his pot issue, and the prototypical LT size. If he can be resurrected, or maybe discovered is a better word by Munchak...that really frees up Beech to be the swing player and keep the OT count @ 8.

I'm not sold on Gilbert getting another stint in PIT yet...this season will be the deciding factor I think...the Henderson kid from our Mock...would be a great addition to groom for 2015.

WR...they didn't panic, assuming Ben clicks with Moore early and most importantly, Wheaton shows the promise everyone expects...I say level ground with LY's sqad...I'm not expecting anything from Heyward-Bey, but he can still take the top off most DEFs. If one of the top 2 WRs are on the board I would go this direction with the 15th pick...so it's Evans/Watkins/Ebron/Mack/Gilbert...as my top 5 in order.

If they're able to land Watkins or Evans, Moye is pretty much done and J. Brown would be battling H-Bey most likely to stick, unless they keep 5 WRs

Worilds...no long term yet...they're slotted on draft money, so they're not waiting for that to pass...ownership has signed off on Ben's deal so it just a matter of timing there.

Probably could free up some '14 cap money with a longer term deal but I'm wondering if they're going to let Worilds hit that much against the cap in the '14. Get one more productive year from him before locking him up long term.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

You really think their is a shot at Mack or Watkins being on the board at 15? Sounds more like a dream list rather than a wish list lol. But I have seen top 5 talent fall before! Also I haven't been keeping up with the draft rumors this week. Are Mack & Watkins losing stock?

I wouldn't be shocked if the Steelers drafted an OT. Gilbert is still young and hasn't necessarily wow-ed anyone so he won't demand a high price tag if they choose to try and extend him. And they can continue to try and "discover" (good verb ATL lol) Adams in the process until his contract is up. My guess is they will make Gilbert an offer if he has another productive season and if he asks too much then they will easily cut ties. Not a huge demand for a OT, but like you have said before… Hard to pass on Mathews/Lewan if their top guy isn't there at 15. The OT position is pretty deep, so maybe they take a low round flyer on one.

I would be a little disappointed to see Moye depart. I watched him a few times at Beaver Stadium in his college days, and was pretty excited to see him make the team last season. He is working his butt off this offseason as well. He, J Brown & Wheaton all spent time with Ben down in Cali. But yea, if PIT takes a WR in one of the first 2 rounds then it will be a battle for the 5th spot. And even then they wouldn't be guaranteed to dress each week. Reports say that Moye still has a "leg up" on J Brown though, so it will be interesting to see how it plays out. Like I said before, I think it will come down to the need at PR/KR that will sway the decision.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Watkins & Mack...yea, just my depth board...if all 5 were on the board @ 15, that's how I would pick them. Mack could be the guy in HOU for all I know.

OT...I'm still in that mode as well if Lewan is there. If the idea is to keep Pouncey, I agree they will try to go cheaper @ RT whether it be Gilbert on an extension or a 2nd yr draft pick from this class. I think Beech can be a long term utility guy or maybe even the long term LG, but I'm not sold on him long term as the LT. If the top 3 OFC skill guys are gone I can work with Lewan...he can be the everyday LT in '15 I think.

WR...I here ya...hopefully the time in Cali with Ben gives Moye more opportunities...I really like his size in the RZ and he seems to make plays...just doesn't get enough targets. The guy I think that really has to be concerned is Paulson.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Good point… I wouldn't be surprised if Paulson didn't make it past the 1st wave of cuts this offseason lol

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

More "players to watch" from BTSC.

Loni Fangupo
Let's not forget nose tackle Loni Fangupo - Behind the Steel Curtain

Glad to know that they still have faith in this guy. I didn't think much of it at the time when he "beat out" Ta'amu because I thought that it just meant PIT was finally ready to cut ties with the troubled Ta'amu. But seems like there are some coaches in Fangupo's camp that are thinking he could blossom. If McLendon moves to the outside, and they let Thomas/Fangupo or a rookie battle for the interior, I'd say it's far better than leaving McLendon in front center.

Robert Golden
Let's not forget Steelers S Robert Golden - Behind the Steel Curtain

"Little Dawk" as Tomlin fondly refers to him as, was rated as one of the top ST players of 2013 (2nd in the league). He has yet to prove he can consistently produce during the offseason/preseason, which means he won't likely see any playing time on the defense any time soon. Especially with Polamalu, Mitchell, S. Thomas, and W. Allen all ahead of him on the depth chart. He is invaluable in the fact that he is a S/CB hybrid which helps with depth. That in combination with being one of the best ST players in the league, are definitely grounds for keeping him around. What gets tricky is that PIT is looking at drafting a insurance/long term solution since Polamalu & Allen are likely gone after this season.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Good article on Sean Spence and his status:
Spence working his way back

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Phase 2 started today!


Phase 2 (Optional): On-Field Workouts - May 5th (3 week duration, continues during draft)
*Individual player instruction and drills as well as team practice conducted on what the CBA refers to as a “separates” basis. No live contact or team offense vs. team defense drills are permitted.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I've been hearing on the radio a media wave about the LB's during phase 2 today... In particular they worked out today with Joey Porter (& of course Butler). You can tell the group is very eager to get acquainted with Peezy since every LB on the roster showed up today for optional workouts. Timmons, Worilds, Jones, Moats, Williams, Spence, Garvin, Wilson, Carter, Molls, & So'oto were ALL there.

You can find them running through field workouts & weight lifting in these photos:
http://www.steelers.com/video-and-audio/photo-gallery/PHOTOS-Phase-Two-of-the-offseason-program---Day-1/6b401544-09d7-44c5-9a1c-55d7d72c79d1

One person you will notice a sizeable difference in is Kion Wilson... That dude put on some muscle mass this offseason!

 

[MISKO]

While the Steelers will likely be open to moving down in the draft, don't expect them to trade up. Steelers GM Kevin Colbert likes where the team sits in the draft and doesn't feel the need to move up with so many talented players entering the NFL this year: “I think there’s at least 19 [players] that you’d be happy to get at pick No. 15,” Colbert said Monday. That doesn’t mean the Steelers won’t consider trading down in the first round -- something they haven't done since 2002 when they moved back three spots and picked nose tackle Casey Hampton while acquiring a pair of draft picks from the Jets. Colbert said the Steelers will consider trading down after seeing which players are available at No. 15. With such a deep draft it could be difficult for the Steelers to move back in the first round with so many other teams presumably trying to do the same thing. Colbert said the quarterbacks are the X factor in determining how much movement there will be in the first round. “I think the quarterbacks are the linchpin in this whole thing and how teams value them,” Colbert said. “I think if you polled all 32 teams I think they all have the quarterbacks rated differently because I think there’s different likes and dislikes for each player that every organization has. I think that’s the one thing that could really trigger the trade up or trade down because there’s a lot of depth at the other positions and it might preclude teams from trading up.”


Black and Gold Forever

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Phase 2 - Day 2
http://www.steelers.com/video-and-a...---Day-2/e15a430f-622e-4d26-9fb9-762e9bb708ef

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Yeah...with 3 solid needs (NT,CB,WR) and some questions at LB and long-term S, Colbert doesn't need to sacrifice any picks.

I could see GB wanting to move up and get Ebron...if Colbert does move back I think Nix becomes a stronger possibility.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Phase 2 day 3
http://www.steelers.com/video-and-audio/photo-gallery/PHOTOS-Phase-Two-of-the-offseason-program---Day-3/6a2e31db-6e4c-48cd-b802-cfb985287b0a

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Jason Worilds' workout routine:
A Day in the Life of Pittsburgh Steelers LB Jason Worilds | STACK

 

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Phase 2 - Day 4
http://www.steelers.com/video-and-audio/photo-gallery/PHOTOS-Phase-Two-of-the-offseason-program---Day-4/f60ff20b-dcac-4994-8a70-d2ab8d82709e

Rookies in the mix!

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Thanks for all of this...being a Steeler Nation fan, we don't get that local flavor.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Thanks for all of this...being a Steeler Nation fan, we don't get that local flavor.

You'll really start to get more of the local flavor as soon as training camps start!

Keep your eye out for Worilds down there in Atlanta! He's been down there for the past month or so.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Phase 3 started today. Part of the rookie orientation involves the Rookie Minicamp! Phase 2 is still ongoing for the rest of the vet players. Here is a list of all of the players attending rookie minicamp:

50 Ryan Shazier LB Ohio State
91 Stephon Tuitt DE Notre Dame
34 Dri Archer RB/WR Kent State
10 Martavis Bryant WR Clemson
31 Shaquille Richardson CB Arizona
67 Wesley Johnson OL Vanderbilt
56 Jordan Zumwalt LB UCLA
74 Daniel McCullers DL Tennessee
87 Rob Blanchflower TE Massachusetts
61 Chris Elkins OL Youngstown State
79 Ethan Hemer DE Wisconsin
62 Kaycee Ike OT UAB
47 Howard Jones LB Shepherd
8 Brendon Kay QB Cincinnati
71 Josh Mauro DE Stanford
62 Roy Philon DT Louisville
65 Will Simmons OG East Carolina
80 Eric Waters TE Missouri
33 Alvester Alexander RB Wyoming
15 Justin Brown WR Oklahoma
13 Danny Coale WR Virginia Tech
18 Jasper Collins WR Mount Union
42 Jordan Dangerfield S Towson
45 Bryce Davis LS Central Oklahoma
74 Christopher Hubbard G UAB
65 Al Lapuaho DT Utah State
30 Miguel Maysonet RB Stony Brook
45 Dan Molls LB Toledo
19 Kashif Moore WR Connecticut
17 Lanear Sampson WR Baylor
30 Devin Smith DB Wisconsin
9 Brad Wing P LSU
49 *Jordan Hall HB Ohio State
2 *Mason Espinosa QB Ohio Wesleyan
4 *Terrance Owens QB Toledo
50 *Vincent Jones C Utah
56 *Adam Gress OT Penn State
57 *Grant King OT Georgia State
26 *Jake Demadel S St. Francis
33 *Lew Toler CB Rutgers
34 *Corey Brown CB Ohio State
8 *Cameron Truss CB Bowling Green
37 *Devon Carrington CB Stanford
27 *Najja Johnson CB Buffalo
44 *Maalik Bomar LB Cincinnati
40 *Delbert Tyler LB Hampton
46 *Shayne Gordon LB Pittsburgh
61 *Mike Franklin DT Sheppard
64 *Jibreel Black DT Michigan
42 *Cody Webster P Purdue
9 *Dayonne Nunley CB Miami (OH)
38 *Dorian Bell LB Duquesne

Players with an asterisk next to their name signifies a player that is trying out. Terrance Garvin was a tryout from last season that made the practice squad, and eventually made the roster and played on ST.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Phase 3 - Day 1 of Rookie Minicamp
Update: 2014 Rookie Minicamp Underway

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Phase 3 - Day 2 of Rookie Minicamp
1. Draft picks: PHOTOS: 2014 Rookie Mini Camp - Draft Picks
2. UDFA's: http://www.steelers.com/video-and-a...e-Agents/8d87bbf3-d6ef-4102-bf81-773e82a3d851