With the free agent period getting underway on February 11th, it's time to have a look at the direction the Steelers will be going heading into the 2000 season.
I can't say I'm very optimistic about any major changes happening to improve our squad. As of this writing, our only viable free agent loss would be Defensive End, Orpheus Roye. If history repeats itself, he will be gone in a heartbeat. The good news, is apart from him, there is nobody else worth keeping.
Mike Tomczak has proven he is nothing more than an aging veteran back up Quarterback. If the Steelers choose to resign him, he will be designated to the 3rd string role. They need someone who can challenge Kordell Stewart for the starters job. The remaining free agents cannot be considered impact players. They include WR Courtney Hawkins, TE Mitch Lyons, OL Jim Sweeney, DE Nolan Harrison, LB Carlos Emmons, and Safeties Lance Brown, and Chris Oldham. All of these players are likely finished as Steelers.
Now the job will be finding replacements that are an improvement. The Steelers have yet to find a man to take over General Manager Tom Donahoe's position. Hopefully it will be someone with a different philosophy on acquiring, and keeping players. How would the Steelers look if they still had Hardy Nickerson, Leon Searcy, John Jackson, Rod Woodson, Chad Brown, Carnell Lake, Yancey Thigpen, etc. It's even fair to add Neil O'Donnell to that list. He's not the greatest Quarterback in the NFL, but considering the way Kordell has played the last couple of years, it would have been nice to have him around.
Even with the departure of Tom Donahoe, we can't expect the Steelers to be big players on the free agent market. For one thing, they don't have the cap room. While teams like the Jaguars are restructuring contracts to make room for free agents, the Steelers will sit on their laurels and wait for a bargain basement players such as last years Wayne Gandy, and Travis Davis. It is not the Steeler way to juggle player salaries. They don't want to end up in the same boat as the 49ers find themselves in. The Steelers instead choose to build through the draft. It is a smart way of thinking, as long as you have a successful draft.
The Steelers presently hold the number 8 position in this years draft. With so many glaring needs, it would not surprise me to see them trade down to acquire more picks. They need help on the Offensive and Defensive line, as well as Outside Linebacker, and Cornerback. They also need a speedy Wide Receiver to help open up the passing game. Bill Cowher wants a Quarterback to compete with Kordell, but they will probably look to fill that hole through free agency. No, not a big name like Jeff George, or Trent Green, but maybe a Gus Frerotte, or a Bobby Hoying. The Steelers also seem pretty high on one of their own Quarterbacks, Anthony Wright, and may choose to have him compete for the starters job.
Apart from trying to upgrade these positions, they have to worry about the healthy return of both Joel Steed, and Dermontti Dawson. These former Pro bowlers are vital to dominating their respective side of the line of scrimmage. Although Roger Duffy played admirably filling in for Dawson, the running game suffered. Jeremy Statt started to play the Nose Tackle position a little better near the end of the year, but he is not in Joel Steed's class. What the Steelers really need is for both of these players to return 100%, and regain their rightful spots in Hawaii next year.
The area that has me the most concerned is the Offensive line. I tried to convince myself that this group would be OK, but the more I think of it, this is the area that needs the most immediate help. The release of Justin Strzelczyk just makes the matter worse. LT Wayne Gandy is due to make more than 3 million this year, and last years play does not warrant that kind of salary. He gave up far too many sacks, and was adequate at best in the running game. The Right Tackle position is in even worse shape. Although Shar Pourdanesh appeared to play very well in his limited action, it's only because Chris Conrad, and Anthony Brown looked so bad.
Alan Faneca was very decent at the Left Guard position, and should only continue to improve this year. On the other side, Brendan Stai was less than stellar, and had way too many mental mistakes. We can only assume that Dermontti Dawson will return to the Center position and dominate as he once did. But even when he was healthy last year, he seemed to have lost a step. Last years 3rd round pick, Kris Farris, is expected to step in and contribute. His foot is completely healed from the stress fracture, but he is still an unproven rookie.
Successful Steelers football has always consisted of a dominating running game. If they plan on regaining their smash mouth mentality, the Offensive line must be priority number one. Jerome Bettis deserves it. It's much more fun watching "The Bus" deliver punishment, than to watch him being punished.
So here's to hoping the Steelers can somehow find a way to bring the team back to respectability. There are many holes to fill, but a long offseason to fill them.
by SteelerGil (Feb. 11, 00)
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