Week 1: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly vs. Titans

Week one came, and for most of the members of Steeler Nation, we wish it hadn't.

Yeah, the Steelers got two points at the very beginning of the game when Tennessee's kick returner left the endzone and then re-entered the endzone to down the ball giving the Steelers a safety, but then until the final two minutes of the game the Steelers didn't score again.

So here we go with the first edition of The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly for the 2013 season.

The Good

Honestly, there is very little good coming from this game. It was brutal. I had the Browns game on my television (I live in Cleveland, so that's the game that was on) and I was streaming the Steelers game on my laptop. If it wasn't for uniforms, I would have been confused on which game I was watching at any time because the most popular play of both offenses was the punt.

So the good is the fact that the defense played well. They gave up 16 points, and that damn sure isn't bad at all seeing how much time they spent on the field. Tennessee's offense was on the field for 34:01. If the offense could have sustained drives and allowed the defense to catch their breath, they would have won this game.

Also, on the good part, the rest of the division lost. The entire division goes into week two with a record of 0-1. So we are tied for first, or last depending on how you look at it.

The Bad

What the hell was the offense doing? We couldn't run, and the passing game was inept until the end of the game when Ben drove them down the field for a touchdown. Redman fumbled on the three yard line, the ball was recovered in the endzone by the Titans for a touch back. No running back gained even 20 yards yesterday, and three of them got carries! 

Normally I am not "blame the offensive coordinator" guy, but Haley's play calling was putrid. This is his second season running the offense. All I read leading up to the season was that he was more comfortable with the players and they were more comfortable with him. I didn't see any of that yesterday. I saw a team with no identity. At least with Whisenhut the players knew the offense would be run based and with Arians the players knew the team would be pass based. I don't think even Haley knows what he wants to do on offense. When it was obvious that we couldn't run the ball, he should have adjusted to more of a pass based offense. Instead, he kept trying to beat a dead horse.

The offensive line is horrible. Again. I thought maybe this was fixed seeing how second round picks had been used at the tackle positions and two first round picks had been used on a center and a guard. But this offensive line looks no better than ones of the past made up mostly of mid-round picks. If the Steelers are going to even reach the 8-8 record they had last year, this offensive line is going to have to shape up and give Big Ben some time and our running backs some type of hole to run through. I'm not asking for the HOGS of Redskins fame, but I've seen better offensive line play in high school football games. Hell, a local high school might have done a better job on Sunday than the guys wearing Black & Gold. The offensive line play was that brutal.

The Steelers resigned Jonathon Dwyer, a running back that they cut just nine days ago. He was last year's leading rusher with 623 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was brought back because of the lack of a run game, and because of a season ending injury to LaRod Stephens-Howling. I know the coaches want Le'Veon Bell, their second round pick, to be the starter however he's currently out with a foot injury. So this is Dwyer's chance to seize the starting running back position. If he doesn't impress, Bell will be inserted when healthy.

The Ugly

Injuries, injuries, and more injuries. The Steelers are looking more and more like a MASH unit than a football team, and we are just a week into the season.

Pro Bowl starting center Maurkice Pouncey is out for the season with a torn ACL and MCL in his knee, after fellow offensive lineman David DeCastro dove or fell (depending on your point of view) and crashed into the back of Pouncey's knee. Pouncey was our best offensive lineman, considered by many to be the second best center in the AFC. Now he's gone for the year. The Steelers signed former Titans center/guard Fernando Velasco. Seeing how he wasn't on a roster in week one, I don't know if he's going to replace Pouncey in the middle of the line or is just a depth signing because they're going to reshuffle the line.

Starting veteran inside linebacker Larry Foote sustained a ruptured tendon in his bicep, and is also out for the season. I have no idea who is going to replace him. On the two-deep the backup ILB's are Vince Williams (rookie) and Kion Wilson. I have a feeling they might move Chris Carter inside seeing how he has the most experience of the three in our defense. I really wish Sean Spence had never gotten that freak injury, because he would have been able to step in here, and I felt he was going to be a future star LB for this team. Now I am really hoping he can make a full enough recovery to play again, because Foote's career is likely over now.

LaRod Stephens-Howling tore his ACL in Sunday's game, which is a big reason why Dwyer was resigned today. He was expected to be a third down back and be fresh legs in the backfield this season with his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He was also probably the fastest RB on the roster.

Those are just the season ending injuries sustained yesterday.

Shaun Suisham is having hamstring issues, so the Steelers signed Shane Graham, who was recently cut by the Cleveland Browns a little over a week ago, after spending all of training camp and preseason with the team competing for the then vacant kicker position. Matter-of-fact, the Browns cut BOTH kickers on final cut day and opted to try out two guys that were free agents and hadn't been in camps and use one of them. So we now have a kicker who wasn't even good enough for the Cleveland freaking Browns! And we currently have two kickers on the roster, meaning we would have to cut from another position (or place on IR) to bring in a LB for depth until Suisham is healthy.

Folks, it doesn't get much uglier than that!

Looking towards the 2013 season

Well, it's the day after the Super Bowl, the 2012-13 football season is officially over. And what a crappy season it was for Steelers Nation. Mike Wallace holds out of training camp and then goes on to have a rather crappy season. Ben Roethlisberger gets hurt right as the offense starts to get on a roll. We lose to the Cleveland Browns....the FREAKING BROWNS!!!!!!!!!! We miss the playoffs. The Super Bowl is a real punch to the gut...either the 49ers tie us with six Super Bowl wins or...our arch enemy, the Baltimore Ravens win it. The Ravens win it, and Ray fricking Lewis rides off into the sunset on top.

So I, for one, am glad that this season is OVER!

Now everyone is tied at 0-0. Everyone is in first place. It's time to look at the 2013 season for the Pittsburgh Steelers....and that starts with the offseason.

The Steelers have a good amount of free agents. Lets take a look at the list.

Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA's)
Mike Wallace, WR
Rashard Mendenhall, RB
Will Allen, S
Charlie Batch, QB
Plaxico Burress, WR
Larry Foote, LB
Ramon Foster, G
Casey Hampton, DT
Brandon Johnson, LB
Juston King, LB
Byron Leftwich, QB
Doug Legursky, OL
Keenan Lewis, CB
Ryan Mundy, S
Leonard Pope, TE
Max Starks, OT
Greg Warren, LS

Restricted Free Agents (RFA's)
Jonathon Dwyer, RB
Steve McLendon, DT
Issac Redman, RB
Emmanuel Sanders, WR
Stevenson Slyvester, LB

Exclusive Rights Free Agents (ERFA's)
Baron Batch, RB
DeMarcus Van Dyke, CB

Now the RFA's and ERFA's I am not worried about whatsoever. It's been years since one tendered has been signed by another team. If nobody went after Mike Wallace in free agency last year, then nobody is going after our restricted guys. Nobody on that list is going somewhere else if they get tendered by the Steelers.

Now the UFA list is one that is split into three sections: Guys I don't want back, guys I want back, and guys I want back for the right price.

Guys I Want Back

Max Starxs, OT  - Max Starks isn't an elite tackle. The Steelers know that, the fans know that, and Starks himself knows that. However he is a good tackle. And if he wants to come back, and we can make the contract work with us always being up against the salary cap, then I welcome him back with open arms. Marcus Gilbert is an injury risk and Mike Adams had an up-and-down rookie year that ended on IR. Starks would compete for a starting job and at the least be an excellent backup at both tackle positions.

Plaxico Burress, WR - Burress returned to the Steelers when wide receiver depth suffered due to some injuries. Burress accepted a lesser role in the offense. With how he left after the 2004 season, many fans didn't want him back. I feel he had to earn not only the trust of the fans, but the trust of the team. I think he earned it and would be a good third receiver on the outside, moving Sanders or Brown to the slot in three-receiver sets.

Keenan Lewis, CB - Going into last season there were a lot of questions about the starting corner spot across from Ike Taylor. Keenan Lewis plays phenomenal and honestly showed that he could be a #1 CB in the NFL. If the Steelers want to remain one of the top defenses in the NFL, they have to lock Lewis up.

Doug Legursky, OL - This guy is like the little engine that could. He's an undersized offensive lineman that can play guard and center. He knows he's not a starter, but a guy that can play either guard position and center is a valuable guy to have on the team as a backup.

Guys I Don't Want Back

Mike Wallace, WR - I was hoping Mike Wallace would have one hell of a season and truly earn the big contract that he coveted last offseason. Instead, he whined all offseason and then held out of training camp...and he's been here long enough to know that the Steelers will not negotiate with a player not in camp. Then there were times during the season that he wasn't even trying. Giving up on routes, not blocking down field, not fighting for balls...hell not even trying to knock them down so they aren't intercepted. Then, in the season finale which meant little more than pride because the Steelers were eliminated from the playoffs, Wallace showed his true colors....he held himself out of the game to avoid a possible injury going into free agency. That's not something that a Pittsburgh Steeler does.

Rashard Mendenhall, RB - Mendenhall was a first round pick who had a few good years. In the regular season finale of the 2012 season, he tore his ACL. He came back this season and just imploded. He fumbled the ball three times in a mere 51 carries. Then for the game against San Diego, when he was told he wouldn't be active for the game, he chose to no show on game day. Being deactivated isn't permission to not attend the game. I feel that he wants to be gone, and the Steelers shouldn't even offer him a contract.

Byron Leftwich, QB - Leftwich has been an injury waiting to happen. He can't even hold up for one game. He's not young, nor do I feel he understands the game well enough to be of any help to Ben Roethlisberger on the sidelines. I would much rather draft someone in the third round or so and groom them to not only be the #2 QB, but possibly one day take over when Big Ben walks away from the game. Leftwich isn't worth the roster spot that he would take off.

The rest of the UFA list, I would take back at the right price. None of them would be guaranteed a starting job, and most would be just depth at various positions and play special teams.

The 2013 NFL Rookie Draft

It's now time to start really looking at the NFL draft. So here are what I feel are the teams' biggest needs, in no particular order.

Backup Quarterback - The Steelers don't have a guy who's young and can step in for a game or two if needed, nor do they have anyone that they are grooming behind Ben Roethlisberger. I think it's time to get someone, and the draft is the perfect place to do this.
Outside Linebacker - James Harrison is on the wrong side of thirty and played all last season with a bad back, not to mention he could be a cap casualty this offseason. LaMarr Woodley had hamstring issues again. I don't believe the team has the next great Steelers outside linebacker currently on the roster. Maybe they can find that guy this offseason.
Offensive Line - In the past three seasons the Steelers have taken the following offensive linemen in the first two rounds: Maurkice Pouncey (center), Marcus Gilbert (tackle), David Decastro (guard), Mike Adams (tackle). These guys should be the core of the offensive line for years to come, should turn that part of the team into the strength. However, I think we might be able to draft a better player for left guard. Foster isn't that good, in my opinion. Willie Colon can't stay healthy to save his life. And Doug Legursky is nothing more than a backup. Maybe a second round guard can be taken to put nothing but first and second round picks making holes for the run game and protecting our franchise quarterback.
Safety - Troy Polamalu is a constant injury risk. There have been rumors floating around the Twitterverse that Ryan Clark might be released this offseason, though nobody can say why. The team needs to find a young playmaker at one of the two safety positions to at least groom behind the Polamalu/Clark combo we currently have.