When the month of March started, it seemed that the Steelers very well might look to the 2010 NFL draft to solidify their wide receiver depth. At that time the Steelers had 7 receivers on their roster with only Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes and Mike Wallace being sure things. The other 4 receivers at the time included the troubled Limas Sweed and 3 inexperienced, training camp bodies. You could also add Stefan Logan to the list if you really wanted, but for all practical purposes he is merely a specialist.
Fast forward a couple of weeks and the Steelers have added former Steelers wide receiver Antwaan Randle El and 49ers free agent Arnaz Battle. Both signed deals that would imply that they are indeed expected to make final 53 man roster. If indeed they both do, this would give the Steelers 5 opening day wide receivers and one would expect that Limas Sweed would be showcased during pre season for a trade and if not, then released on the final cut down day.
For the 2009 season, the Steelers mainly carried 5 wide receivers on the 53 man roster throughout the year, 6 if you want to consider Logan a receiver. Undrafted rookie Tyler Grisham also saw some time late in the season as well after Sweed was placed in injured reserve. The club has not yet given up on Grisham according to reports.
What does this all mean? For one thing, Sweed as we all know is all but done in Pittsburgh. It is just a matter of time before he is traded or released. Both Randle El and Battle at this point in time should be considered locks to make roster. Battle more so as a special teamer and 5th receiver. This almost assures that the Steelers will not be drafting a receiver in April as well. Many thought the Steelers would eye Golden Tate from Notre Dame or Demaryius Thomas from Georgia Tech, but that just isn't going to happen now. They could sign one or two undrafted free agents following the draft, but even that seems like a long shot right now. The Steelers are set at wide receiver for 2010 and can turn their attention to other priotrity positions in the draft and work on getting Holmes extended following the draft.
The Steelers signed safety Will Allen and wide receiver Arnaz Battle to three-year contracts Monday and this morning Scott Brown has a Q&A with new Steelers on his blog.
The most surprising thing about the signing of former Steelers wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, is the fact that he states he will be the #3 receiver and not 2nd year receiver Mike Wallace. I am not so sure that is set in stone, at least not yet.
Not only was former Steelers wide receiver Antwaan Randle El signed back to the roster on Monday, the Steelers are looking into bringing back inside linebacker Larry Foote as well after his one year stay with Detroit. Foote is scheduled to meet today or Wednesday with the Arizona Cardinals, so it is not a slam dunk that he is back in black and gold
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Speaking of the Cardinals and former Steelers, Amberly Dressler reports that Steelers West will play host to unrestricted free agent defensive end Nick Eason on Tuesday.
Lost in all the signing fury of Steelers free agency was the latest Hearing from Coach Mike Tomlin segment on Steelers.com. Tomlin says the safety class is as deep as it’s been since he has been going to the combine. Coach speak? I don't think so.
The latest report in the Ben Roethlisberger, alleged sexual assault case is that the alleged victim has dropped out of school and gone back to Atlanta with her parents. Stay tuned as there will be plenty more on this debacle.
The 2009 season was a disappointment overall for Steelers fans, but it did offer up some very enjoyable and memorable plays. Below I have ranked what I believe to be the top 15 most memorable plays of the 2009 season. The countdown will start at #15 and go backwards to #1.
#15 The Big Legursky - Backup center Doug Legursky got to play fullback on a short touchdown run by Rashard Mendenhall against the Chargers. Legursky makes a nice block on the play, but it was the last time we saw him in that role in 2009.
#14 Rashard Extra Effort - Rashard Mendenhall had a great sophomore season for the Steelers and proved he can handle the role of an every down back. His second effort and ability to bounce outside made for a great touchdown run against the Raiders.
#13 Getting Ziggy With It - Rookie Ziggy Hood gets a pleasant gift after LaMarr Woodley hits Joe Flacco and the ball pops out into Hood's hands. The turnover all but sealed the win against the Ravens in a must win game.
#12 Throwing Mewelde - Mewelde Moore showed off his passing ability against the Chargers with a bullet to Heath Miller in the back of the endzone.
#11 Big Ben Mikey Bomb Part I - Mike Wallace had only 2 catches in the game versus Green Bay. This one started the game and was the first play from scrimmage. I think we all remember his 2nd catch of the day as well. More on that later.
#10 Big Ben Mikey Bomb Part II - Big Ben Roethlisberger nearly hits rookie Mike Wallace right in stride on this long bomb for a touchdown in the final week of the season. Ben shows he still has the arm in his 16th game of the year. Wallace shows why he was a steal in the 3rd round of the 2009 draft.
#9 Dixon Shows Bootlegs - Dennis Dixon showed off his legs on a key bootleg run for a touchdown run against the Ravens. The play put the Steelers ahead in the 4th quarter and gave the Steelers a shot at winning in a tough situation.
#8 Carter Pick 6 - Tyrone Carter started in the place of Ryan Clark in Denver and showed why he is a much better free safety than strong safety. Carter picked off Broncos QB Kyle Orton and returned it for a 48 yard touchdown.
#7 Dixon Comes Of Age - Dennis Dixon really took a huge step forward in the week 12 game versus the Ravens. Dixon started in place of an injured Big Ben and Charlie Batch with limited practice snaps with the first team and played great in a hostile enviroment. Dixon showed off his strong arm with as he throws his first TD pass of his career to Santonio Holmes.
#6 Hines Steals One - In the first meeting against the Browns, Hines Ward cut in front of Santonio Holmes and caught a touchdown pass intended for Holmes. At the time, it was the longest play from scrimmage of the 2009 season.
#5 Heath Miller On His Toes - Heath Miller had a career year for the Steelers making catch after key catch. His best catch of the season probably came in the last game versus the Dolphins. Miller shows off his body control and awareness with a great catch in the back of the endzone for a touchdown.
#4 Run Woodley Run - The strip of Brett Favre by Brett Keisel led to a long and exciting rumble by LaMarr Woodley. The Vikings were driving deep in Steelers territory at the time and this was one of 3 key plays for the Steelers in an action packed game.
#3 Sly As A Fox - Keyaron Fox had a great 2009 despite playing limited snaps on defense. Fox would likely be a starting linebacker on 31 NFL teams. The interception and return for a touchdown was a huge turning point in the Vikings game.
#2 Polamalu One Handed Pick - The Troy Polamalu interception in week 1 versus the Titans was one of the best interceptions all year in the NFL. Little did we know that a little bit later in the game that Polamalu would suffer an injury that affected the entire 2009 season.
#1 Mikey Does Santonio Imitation - The touchdown pass from Ben Roethlisberger to rookie Mike Wallace against the Packers was reminiscent of the game winning catch Santonio Holmes made in Super Bowl XLIII. The catch was only his second off the game as well. The Steelers hopes of making the playoffs would of gone out the window had Wallace not made that catch.
If you missed the interview I did with newly signed CFL linebacker Derrick Doggett, you can read it here. Doggett told me the Steelers plan to try him as a linebacker instead of a safety.
Tim Graham of ESPN has a short article on new offensive line coach Sean Kugler. Graham reports the Bills offensive-line woes in 2009 weren't Kugler's fault.
The Steelers have not yet named a new special teams coach and the Redskins Danny Smith might stay with the Redskins and former Bills ST coach Bobby April might be waiting for the biggest offer. The Steelers have been in talks with both, but to what true extent is not yet known.
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Yesterday we mentioned that Troy Polamalu will be in a Super Bowl commercial this year for truTV. Here is a promo for the show that starts this February. truTV and NFL Films will provide unprecedented, exclusive access to what really goes on behind the scenes of professional football. The series, which premieres Monday, Feb. 8, at 10 p.m. (ET/PT), will follow the action from draft day to the Super Bowl, showing football fans what happens beyond the playing field. Sounds like a must see for the offseason blues.
Make sure to vote for the Mike Wallace game winning touchdown at the end of the Packers game for the Sprint Can't-Miss Play of the Year. Tune in to NFL Network at 4:00 PM EST on Saturday, February 6th for the Sprint Can't-Miss Play of the Year announcement. Lets make sure the rookie wins this.
Zaxby's has released some new commercials featuring Steelers Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw. Speaking of Bradshaw, new Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett has admitted to kicking Bradshaw in the head while with Buffalo. Maybe that is why Terry seems to have a screw loose these days. The video of the incident is below.
Omar Khan, one of the Steelers top executives, will interview for the general manager's job with the Seattle Seahawks tomorrow. Khan spent the past nine seasons as the Steelers chief negotiator and is their lead salary cap monitor.
Mike Tomlin interviewed Bobby April yesterday for the open special teams job on the Steelers roster. April had the same job with the Steelers in 1994 and 1995. He is a top canidate to replace Bob Ligashesky.
Panthers quarterbacks coach Rip Scherer has been offered the offensive coordinator job at the University of Virginia. If he does not accept that job, he could become the Steelers next quarterback coach and offensive coordinator in waiting. Scherer is a close friend of Mike Tomlin and is the cousin of Pittsburgh director of football operations Kevin Colbert.
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Former Steelers center Dermontti Dawson is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 for the second consecutive year. Let us hope the voters wise up and get him in this year.
Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace was named the Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week for games played on January 3, the NFL announced this past Wednesday. Wallace had two receptions for 64 yards, including one 54-yard touchdown, in the Steelers' 30-24 win over the Miami Dolphins.
Eagles General Manager Tom Heckert could be named Browns GM as early as today, a league source said Sunday. It is not yet known if Heckert or new president Mike Holmgren would have final say in Cleveland.
This weeks tea leaves are pretty clear as far as game day inactives versus the Ravens on Sunday. Quarterback Charlie Batch will be the number 3 again with all likelihood this week as Dennis Dixon is the clear number 2 now. Safety Troy Polamalu is out once again. Guard Chris Kemoeatu will also be inactive after suffering a set back with his wrist injury. Ramon Foster will start again in his place and that means Tony Hills will likely be given a helmet again this week while rookie Kraig Urbik seeing his normal spot on the inactive list. Cornerback Keenan Lewis is out with a back injury and continues to struggle finding a way to get a game day helmet. Defensive ends Ra'Shon Harris and Nick Eason will in all likelihood remain inactives as well. The last real mystery is the final inactive spot. With wide receivers Hines Ward and Mike Wallace being a little banged up, you could see both newly signed receiver Joey Galloway and rookie Tyler Grisham both active on Sunday. This would give the Steelers 5 game day active wide receivers plus Stefan Logan who has lined up as a wide receiver in some formations. If both Galloway and Grisham are active on game day, then fullback Carey Davis would likely be the last inactive. It just as easily though could be Grisham or Galloway as the last inactive as well.
Check back here for the OFFICIAL LIST 90 minutes before game time.
Likely Sunday Inactive List
S Troy Polamalu
QB Charlie Batch (3rd)
G Chris Kemoeatu
G Kraig Urbik
CB Keennan Lewis
DE Ra'Shon Harris
DE Nick Eason
FB Carey Davis
The Steelers wrapped up practice preparations on Friday for the game on Sunday versus the Ravens. Linebacker James Harrison (biceps) was added to the injury report after missing Friday with a bicep injury. Harrison is listed as questionable. Safety Troy Polamalu (knee), guard Chris Kemoeatu (wrist) and cornerback Keenan Lewis (back) did not practice on Friday and all three are listed as out on the injury report. Defensive end Brett Keisel (neck), running back Willie Parker (knee), wide receiver Hines Ward (hamstring), running back Rashard Mendenhall (hip) and wide receiver Mike Wallace (knee) all practice fully on Friday and all are listed as probable. Cornerback Anthony Madison (illness) was removed from the Friday injury report after working fully again on Friday.
For the Ravens on Friday, tackle Jared Gaither (foot), linebacker Tavares Gooden (groin) and safety Ed Reed (groin) all did not participate on Friday and all three are listed as doubtful on the injury report. Long-snapper Matt Katula (forearm) is one of five players who are questionable. If Katula can't play, Nick Sundberg would be signed from the practice squad. Sundberg has taken all the snaps as the long snapper this week. The other Ravens who were questionable are: defensive tackle Justin Bannan (illness), wide receiver Mark Clayton (knee), defensive tackle Kelly Talavou (knee), tight end Edgar Jones (back). The Ravens who are probable: wide receiver Demetrius Williams (knee), linebacker Jarret Johnson (knee), center Matt Birk (neck), wide receiver Justin Harper (foot), tight end Todd Heap (chest), defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (ankle), tight end L.J. Smith (ankle) and wide receiver Kelley Washington (ankle).
Safety Troy Polamalu (knee) did not practice again on Thursday and now seems to be highly doubtful to play on Sunday. Guard Chris Kemoeatu (wrist) did not practice on Thursday after working fully on Wednesday and was added to the injury report. Cornerback Keenan Lewis (back) also sat out today after being limited on Wednesday. Defensive end Brett Keisel (neck), cornerback Anthony Madison (illness), running back Willie Parker (knee), wide receiver Hines Ward (hamstring), running back Rashard Mendenhall (hip) and wide receiver Mike Wallace (knee) all practice fully on Thursday and all should be good to go baring any setbacks.
For the Ravens on Thursday, tackle Jared Gaither (foot), linebacker Tavares Gooden (groin), linebacker Jarret Johnson (knee), long snapper Matt Katula (forearm) and safety Ed Reed (groin) all did not participate in the Thursday session. Wide receiver Mark Clayton (knee), safety K.J. Gerard (thigh) and nose tackle Kelly Talavou (knee) were all limited. Center Matt Birk (neck), wide receiver Justin Harper (foot), tight end Todd Heap (chest), defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (ankle), tight end L.J. Smith (ankle) and wide receiver Kelley Washington (ankle) all practiced fully on Thursday.
The Steelers began practice preparations Wednesday for the week 16 game versus the Ravens on Sunday. Safety Troy Polamalu (knee), defensive end Brett Keisel (neck), cornerback Anthony Madison (illness), running back Willie Parker (knee) and wide receiver Hines Ward (hamstring) all sat out on Wednesday. The MRI on Polamalu revealed favorable results, however he still is not sure when or if he will practice this week. His status for Sunday gets more doubtful everyday he misses practice. Ward said after practice that there's no way he's missing the game against the Ravens. Cornerback Keenan Lewis (back), running back Rashard Mendenhall (hip) and wide receiver Mike Wallace (knee) all were limited in participation on Wednesday, but all three should be back fully on Thursday.
For the Ravens on Wednesday, tackle Jared Gaither (foot), linebacker Tavares Gooden (groin), long snapper Matt Katula (forearm) and safety Ed Reed (groin) all sat out practice today. Reed was in South Florida getting an opinion on his injury. Center Matt Birk (neck), wide receiver Mark Clayton (knee), safety K.J. Gerard (thigh), tight end Todd Heap (chest), defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (ankle), nose tackle Kelly Talavou (knee), wide receiver Kelley Washington (ankle) and linebacker Jarret Johnson (knee) were all limited on Wednesday. Tight end L.J. Smith (ankle) practiced fully.
The Steelers made a practice squad move on Tuesday as they released guard Jonathan Palmer and signed wide receiver Jason Chery. Chery was needed to help take reps because of the injuries to Hines Ward and Mike Wallace, who may be limited in the early week of practice. The release of Palmer also signified that guard Chris Kemoeatu got a good week of rest and should be ready to go this week versus Baltimore.
