‘Smart’ look at what Steelers have, need

Somebody on the message board requested me to write down a report on precisely whom the Steelers have signed and the way they match.

Effectively, I am positive yinz all find out about B.J. Finney.

Level being, it is perhaps extra informative to write down a report on precisely whom the Steelers nonetheless want. That means I can pump some quantity into this morning’s column.

QB: They’ve three quarterbacks; they don’t have any quarterbacks. One is outdated and close to the top; the groomed backup is getting into the ultimate 12 months of his contract; the third is a failed first-rounder who’s solely redeeming high quality is that he busted out with the WTFs, and the WTFs yearly make extra poor soccer choices than most. So, I give this failed first-rounder – Dwayne Haskins – an opportunity. In any other case, the Steelers have introduced again Ben Roethlisberger as an alternative of Bud Dupree. And get off my garden for those who’re attempting to say the numbers do not align! They’re shut, and so they might have labored, particularly if Dupree was being trustworthy in his gracious farewell to the town and group. Had the Steelers introduced Dupree again, they’d be pressured into discovering a brand new quarterback. One thing they should do anyway.

RB: If Anthony McFarland is placing the time into his physique and making himself tougher to convey down, the Steelers might have one thing. However now we have to imagine they do not, as a result of McFarland has but to point out something. So, as an alternative of a quarterback, they will search for a working again. I like Travis Etienne‘s game-breaking pace at 215 kilos, however I additionally love Najee Harris‘ dimension and non-bust-a-bility issue. And Harris’ persona suits into my locker room. No diva there, only a team-oriented massive again with nice arms. He is the man. He is the again who can take a primal beating for 5 years as they seek for their quarterback. After all, by the point they discover one, they will want a brand new again. Sigh.

WR: They introduced JuJu Smith-Schuster again so now there is a participant the Pittsburgh media can hate. They at all times want that. It is big on this city, as a result of unfavorable media at all times appears to be like like sensible media to their huge base of imbecilic minions. So, yeah.

TE: How does a company that prides itself on toughness find yourself with no working again however with a finesse tight finish? Each 10 years the Steelers get their tight finish and go to the Tremendous Bowl. In 1995, it was Mark Bruener. In 2005, Heath Miller. In 2015, Jesse James. Oh. Wait. No Tremendous Bowl with The Outlaw. And no working recreation with Eric Ebron. Deliver again The Outlaw for his Tremendous Bowl second in Ben’s final hurrah, proper?

OT: The signing of Joe Haeg offers the membership a nasty deal with who can play poorly on each side, at guard and as a 3rd tight finish. The truth is, he overcame his Jackie Smith second within the Tremendous Bowl to win a hoop with the Tampa Bay Bradys. If the Steelers re-sign Alejandro Villanueva, they will have 4 tackles with NFL expertise and may then concentrate on discovering their middle.

Middle: It is Finney in the mean time. However yinz know I like me some Landon Dickerson as a first-rounder, and sure, earlier than I learn 100 feedback about the way you would not take Dickerson within the first spherical due to his harm historical past, thanks very a lot to your enter. And I do know that. I am simply mentioning that I’d love this man within the first spherical as a result of I haven’t got to place my cash in danger on these knees. Nonetheless, I’ll take him within the second spherical after which in Harris and the bulldozing Dickerson I’d have the Alabama working recreation. After all, I’d relatively have the Alabama passing recreation, and once more I’d take QB Mac Jones twenty fourth, however you’re taking what you may get when your perpetually rebuilding workforce perpetually drafts twenty fourth. So, again to middle: Quinn Meinerz might be gaining an excessive amount of momentum to final till decide 55, however I checked out Creed Humphrey final night time and noticed a Day 1 starter. What a fast first step! And I assume with what’s being hailed as the best set of exercise numbers since most likely Dermontti Dawson, Humphrey can get outdoors and into open grass extra and higher than what was requested of him at Oklahoma.

Creed Humphrey is a OC prospect within the 2021 draft class. He scored a ten RAS out of a potential 10.00. This ranked 1 out of 488 OC from 1987 to 2021.

That is the perfect #RAS for a OC on this class utilizing official numbers. Really, the best for a OC ever.https://t.co/4M42BZppb4 pic.twitter.com/JJwzehd9oc

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 28, 2021

DL: As somebody mentioned to me on the telephone yesterday, get your Tremendous Bowl tickets prepared as a result of Tyson Alualu is again. So, yeah.

OLB: I do not learn a lot of the native stuff, however I could not assist however being shocked by the overwhelming response by Pittsburgh media to the signing final in-season of Cassius Marsh. I used to be questioning what the heck did the Steelers stumble into right here? After which I watched him. After which I noticed why I do not learn a lot of the native stuff. However, yeah, they kicked sturdy man Ola Adeniyi to the curb and introduced again Marsh as their solely backup right here. Yay.

ILB: We will pray, chant and kumbaya that they draft Cobra’s guy, Jamin Davis, within the first spherical. However I ain’t see no means this workforce drafts a defensive participant within the first spherical for the ninth consecutive 12 months — though they want a backup within the worst means. By the best way, who’s the first ILB backup? When you mentioned Jerry Olsavsky, you won’t be flawed. Perhaps former Lions coordinator and present Steelers secondary coach Teryl Austin is aware of one thing about Miles Killebrew that the present Lions coordinator doesn’t.

CB: Hey, if it’s a must to reduce a serviceable starter to re-sign a raging asskicker of a blind-side OLB, you do it. Oh. Wait. They did not re-sign Dupree, though they did reduce Steven Nelson. Effectively, I actually do not have an issue with transferring Cam Sutton over to begin reverse Joe Haden, however they will want to usher in a cornerback amongst their first three picks. So, let’s predict for this draft: Najee Harris, Creed Humphrey and overhang slot nook Aaron Robinson of Central Florida.

S: If Killebrew is a linebacker, then Jordan Dangerfield can stay particular groups captain as a backup security and Antoine Brooks can understand his potential in his second season because the No. 3. Not dangerous.

Specialists: I understand I have been slightly unfavorable (a.okay.a. sensible) however the re-signing yesterday of punter Jordan Berry offers all of us an opportunity to sit down again, calm down that belt buckle slightly bit and dream of one other Tremendous Bowl. So, yeah.

(SCI writer Jim Wexell is the creator of the brand new e book Polamalu, the definitive e book on the Steelers of the aughts.)