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PITTSBURGH — The Steelers’ first week of free company has been considerably underwhelming. That is not a shock as a result of it’s at all times a gradual time for the Steelers, however they’ve nonetheless made some strikes which can be puzzling to say the least.
They made their first large transfer just a few weeks in the past after they agreed to a contract with Ben Roethlisberger. That ought to have despatched a transparent message they have been all in and enjoying to win a Tremendous Bowl subsequent season.
Sure, they’ve wage cap points, however additionally they have a knack for determining how one can navigate round these. They usually freed up cap house by extending some contracts, restructuring some contracts and having Roethlisberger take a pay reduce. All of it appeared like, on the very least, they have been going to have cash to retain a few of their prime gamers.
As an alternative they’ve allowed a variety of key gamers to stroll out the door, have signed gamers like Chris Wormley — a depth participant at finest — and have now even made it recognized they’re making an attempt to commerce cornerback Steven Nelson.
The opposite puzzling factor is the one main free agent of theirs that they signed, JuJu Smith-Schuster, was by far their least essential. It is nothing towards Smith-Schuster as a result of he is an effective soccer participant, however he’s a No. 2 receiver miscast as a No. 1 receiver and is not a sport changer or sport breaker.
Smith-Schuster performed it effectively as soon as it grew to become clear the marketplace for receivers was not profitable. Groups weren’t going to spend large cash on free agent receivers on this market with the wage cap being as little as it’s. The Ravens and Chiefs supplied him a little bit more cash than the Steelers, nevertheless it was not vital sufficient for him to go away.
Now he will get to be the “I took much less to remain right here” hero realizing full effectively this was his finest likelihood to have a giant 12 months and money in subsequent season when the wage cap will increase.
The Steelers have many extra wants, particularly on protection, than broad receiver. They might get a participant to do what Smith-Schuster does within the draft or in free company for lots lower than $8 million. It looks like a transfer designed extra to appease Roethlisberger — who lobbied arduous for the Steelers to signal Smith-Schuster — than anything.
If the trade-off to carry Smith-Schuster again was having to let Nelson go, it was a horrible determination. Sure the Steelers signed Cam Sutton and he can play nook, however the lack of Nelson and Mike Hilton means the secondary is now undermanned.
The Steelers even have holes at exterior linebacker, inside linebacker, tight finish, offensive line and operating again. They did not have a gap at receiver and all of these different positions are critically skinny proper now.
It is not the transfer of a workforce severe about competing for, and successful, a Tremendous Bowl subsequent season. It’s a workforce that’s making an attempt to have it each methods: They need to slop collectively sufficient of a roster to attempt to make the playoffs, whereas wanting forward and making an attempt to retool.
That method virtually by no means works, and albeit, I am going again to the thought that they might have been higher off with out bringing Roethlisberger again. They might have saved the $19 million, maybe signed an offensive lineman, stored Hilton and nonetheless allowed some veterans to stroll. This could have begun the method of rebuilding the roster and getting again to being precise Tremendous Bowl contenders.
I do know, the Steelers apologists will inform you the Steelers at all times determine it out! They are going to inform you they’re at all times aggressive, that Mike Tomlin has by no means had a dropping season, that they know what they’re doing and that they should not be questioned. They are going to say issues like they don’t seem to be the Jets or Lions or another sorry group that may’t get out of its personal manner.
OK, I suppose if you wish to look by rose-colored glasses and ignore the fact of who the Steelers actually are, all of that nonsensical pie-in-the-sky stuff works. However the Steelers have not been that group all of their apologists need them to be for fairly a while.
That is now a workforce that not often wins playoff video games, that collapses down the stretch and that does simply sufficient to maintain a aggressive roster round. They’ve been true Tremendous Bowl contenders precisely as soon as since 2010 — and even that 12 months they acquired skull-dragged by the Patriots within the AFC title sport.
I am certain the Steelers have a plan. I am certain the Steelers will nonetheless idiot sufficient individuals into believing they’re constructing a contender. I am certain their apologists will rationalize sufficient of their strikes that they are going to get away with it, once more.
The opposite factor I’m certain of, although, is that the Steelers are kidding themselves in the event that they assume they’re constructing a workforce able to taking one final shot at a Tremendous Bowl run with Roethlisberger as their quarterback.
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