The Steelers defense created 35 take-aways in 2010 as opposed to just 14 so far this season. I went back and watched all off the takeaways from last year to refresh myself with how they were created. 8 of them were caused by getting to the quarterback in some shape or form. 6 were results of good hits on either a ball carrier or strip after a catch. 8 of them were results of bad throws by the opposing quarterback, 5 were nice plays where the Steelers defender jumped the route. 4 were balls that originally came off of a receivers hands and 4 more came on special teams. Below is a play-by-play Read more [...]

I just finished up going through the game again and below are more observations from the Steelers 38-17 win over the Tennessee Titans this afternoon. I understand the reason why Mike Tomlin put the defense out on the field to start the game but I do not agree with it. I get the message he is sending, but really would rather the offense take the ball instead. Just saying. The defense got off to a rough start on the very first play by the Titans as Chris Hoke was cut block and Chris Johnson went off left tackle for 21 yards. It was 1 of only 3 explosive plays allowed on the day however and Read more [...]

Not much to talk about on day 11 of Steelers training camp as the players had off on Sunday and will resume practice tomorrow. Late last night an article surfaced about the short free agency period that Willie Colon went through and how his agent thought he might be a fit for the Bears even though they wanted him to move to guard. Remember Doug Worthington? He was the Steelers 7th round draft pick in 2010 and he was signed by the Redskins today after a brief stay with the Buccaneers. Former Steelers special teams captain and reserve linebacker Keyaron Fox signed with the Redskins as well Read more [...]

A third Steelers unrestricted free agent has now found himself a new team as Steelers Digest reported on Twitter that linebacker Keyaron Fox has signed with the Redskins. Fox was the Steelers special teams captain in 2010 and spent three season with the Steelers after he was signed in 2008 as a free agent. Fox was originally drafted by the Chiefs in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft after playing his college football at Georgia Tech. Fox only saw less than 60 regular season snaps on defense for the Steelers in 2010 as his main job was to play special teams. Fox had numerous penalties in Read more [...]

The Steelers 2011 training camp has begun in Latrobe and here is a quick recap of what happened today in case you missed anything. The day started with the official announcement that both tackle Max Starks and wide receiver Antwaan Randle El were being released. The surprising Starks news broke last night and the not surprising news on Randle El came this morning. Art Rooney II joined the DVE morning show to discuss the release of Starks and also said he did not see either James Harrison or Hines Ward missing any playing time due to their recent incidents both were involved in. Rooney also Read more [...]

The Steelers have finally announced their 18 undrafted free agents they will sign to contracts this morning and included in them are three players that will have many eyes on them during training camp and stand out above the others. These three players have perhaps the best outside shot at making the Steelers 53 man roster out of camp. South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders is the most intriguing of the three players I have identified as he had his draft stock drop significantly after he was suspended his senior season for having lied to NCAA investigators over an inquiry into improper contact Read more [...]

After posting the penalties on the offensive line last week, I was asked by a few readers if I had an updated Steelers penalty report of all the penalties both accepted and declined from the 2010 season. I have these all tabled up below by player and by week from the 2010 regular season and the players are listed from most to fewest. In total, the Steelers were flagged 124 times with 23 being declined. They resulted in 913 penalty yards and nullified 307 yards in total. The defensive penalties resulted in 29 first downs while the offensive penalties resulted in 22 stalled drives. Jonathan Read more [...]

During the Steelers pre draft press conference today Steelers Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert said, "We're going to pick based on our team as it currently stands," Colbert said. "I don't know how it currently stands because there's different possibilities that exist. But when the lockout began this is our team as we know it, and we're going to draft accordingly." What Colbert was of course eluding to are the several free agents the Steelers have that are up in the air. Most notably are the ones who's free agent status depends on the outcome of a new CBA like tackle Willie Colon, Read more [...]

Hines Ward and Kym Johnson danced the Paso Doble for their week 4 performance on Dancing with the Stars last night and the both of them knocked out of the park again so to speak. You will also notice Steelers linebackers James Harrison, James Farrior and tackle Max Starks in the audience cheering him on , but I can't make out which player is wearing the Braves hat though. If anyone knows, let me know. ETA: Several have commented on Twitter that it is linebacker Keyaron Fox. The video is up on Youtube and you can watch it below online until it is pulled. Ward is really putting every ounce he has Read more [...]

We are just a few days away from April and a few days closer to the Steelers perhaps drafting another linebacker in the 2011 NFL draft and maybe even two. Now of course there is no guarantee that they draft one, but since Kevin Colbert became the Director of Football Operations with the Steelers in 2000, the Steelers have drafted at least one linebacker in all but two of the Steelers drafts he has overseen and four times in that span, the Steelers have drafted more than one linebacker. A quick rewind back to last April and you will remember the Steelers actually drafted three linebackers in Read more [...]

Although Brian Billick is a few years removed from being the head coach of the Ravens, he still does quite a bit of analyst work. He is currently doing short video segments team draft needs for Fox Sports and recently he addressed the Steelers draft needs. He pretty much thinks along the same lines as I do in my latest Steelers Mock Draft 2.0 and pretty much hits on the offensive line, the cornerback position and perhaps an inside linebacker as needs for the Steelers heading into the draft. Although he says the interior part of the line might need to be addressed, I think unless the Steelers trade Read more [...]

Now that things have died down a bit before the draft, I figured it was a good time to look at the potential roster spots on the 53 man roster that one could consider as being unsettled at this point late in March. Several of these spots will close up quickly as soon as we know how the true status of the players that are unrestricted that might be deemed restricted. Also undetermined at this time is the future of free agent Ike Taylor and veteran Flozell Adams as well. Will there be 21 actually roster spot up for grabs? Highly unlikely. In fact when the dust settles I suspect it will be easy to Read more [...]

Over the last few weeks a few readers have asked me if I could put together a realistic list of players the Steelers most likely will have a shot at drafting should they stay at the #31 spot where they are currently slated to pick. As the players with first round grades are starting to settle in following their combine performances and the early pro days, it is easier now to get a better picture of the first round. I will do later rounds as we go, but there is so much movement going on still with the mid round guys it would be ludicrous to project past round one for at least a little while longer. Read more [...]

Linebacker Keyaron Fox - Steelers 2011 Free Agent Free Agent Classification: UFA (unrestricted free agent) 2010 Salary Estimation: $800,000 Base - $990,000 Cap Charge Analysis: We continue our breakdown player by player at each Steelers free agents as we head deeper into the offseason and free agency. Next up for analysis is linebacker and special teams player Keyaron Fox. The contribution that Fox has made mostly over the last few seasons is on special teams and he was credited with 16 special teams tackles over the course of the entire season and that includes the playoffs. Where he Read more [...]

There is still labor strife uncertainty and a possible lockout on the horizon, but we are going to go ahead as if there will indeed be a draft and start talking about the Steelers 2011 draft needs. If you want to take a look at the roster and what players contracts are up and who the Steelers free agents are, just click the link. Guard - Both Trai Essex and Doug Legursky are free agents and I could see Legursky being brought back as a swing inside guy, but that is not a lock. Chris Kemoeatu was very inconsistent this year, but is under contract for a while and without a doubt will be the left Read more [...]