Beer We Go Steelers

2013 Draft Class Pittsburgh Steelers:

This has the potential to be a very good draft with many of the picks contributing early. The Steelers filled several key needs including running back, wide receiver and safety depth.

Biggest Surprise: Trading up to grab a QB. No Offensive lineman?

1 Jarvis Jones, OLB: The Steelers biggest need was at linebacker and they grabbed the best one in the bunch! This was a tremendous pick and the Steelers were lucky he had fallen. He is a perfect Steeler, great motor, solid character guy, who will make an impact early. BWG is very excited about this pick!

2 Le’Veon Bell, RB: This seemed a little bit like a reach as I think we could have snatched him in the third round. That being said, he is the exact type of runner that we need. He is a banger who can catch a pass and he actually blocks pretty well. The Steelers are drawing heat on this because he is similar to Dwyer and Redman. The Steelers don’t seem to have faith in either guy.

3 Markus Wheaton, WR: This pick made the Bell pick look a whole lot better, because Wheaton was still around in the third. He had a first or second round grade depending on which guide you believed. He is a great speed player who can stretch the field. He will add the element that Wallace took with him to Miami. This might be the steal of the draft!

4 Shamarko Thomas, S: This was another very good “Steeler pick” as Thomas will be a serious upgrade over Ryan Mundy and will give us depth. He plays Steelers football and has raw skills that will be a great fit for LeBeau’s defense. He will serve a two year apprenticeship under Polamalu and Clark.

4 Landry Jones, QB: This was the big head scratcher to me. I didn’t understand the pick and not only that the Steelers traded up to grab him? I didn’t see this one coming at all. That being said the Steelers were adamant to grab a developmental player at QB and they grabbed a good one. Jones has good arm strength and plays fundamentally well. He needs time to develop and will spell the end of the Charlie Batch era in Pittsburgh.

5 Terry Hawthorne, CB: Has good physical tools and he fits the Steelers size. He is a capable tackler and covers the bigger receivers. Best case he can be a productive nickelback, worse case he will wash out pretty quick and be gone by the end of camp. This is a nice development guy.

6 Justin Brown, WR: A very large and very raw talent, he adds depth and will have a tough road to make the team. He has great potential and certainly is worth a look. Good practice squad candidate!

6 Vince Williams, LB: A downhill run stopping linebacker, that adds depth to the inside linebacking core. He does project inside and outside so it is a good pick for the later rounds. I really want this to work out, love his attitude and think he has a good chance. This pick basically means Sean Spence is not coming back anytime soon.

7 Nick Williams, DT: This could be a great sleeper pick! He is more likely projected to be a 3-4 end, than a defensive tackle. He is a good athlete but needs help before he will be anything productive. I think he is headed to the practice squad.

Because the Steelers didn’t draft O-line this year, they grabbed some nice players as unrestricted free agents. Nick Ebernate looks like a nice sleeper pick in this group. I also am pulling for Mike Golic Jr.!

The Steelers Unrestricted Free Agents:

• Brian Arnfelt, DE, Northwestern
• Alan Baxter, LB, Northern Illinois
• Reggie Dunn, WR, Utah
• Nik Embernate, OT, San Diego State
• Mike Farrell, OT, Penn State
• Mike Golic Jr., OL, Notre Dame
• Cordian Hagans, DE, Louisiana-Lafayette
• Chris Hubbard, G, UAB
• Omar Hunter, DT, Florida
• Luke Ingram, LS, Hawaii
• Joe Madsen, C, West Virginia
• Curtis McNeal, RB, Southern Cal
• Anthony Rashad White, DT, Michigan State
• Ivory Wade, C, Baylor
• J.D. Woods, WR, West Virginia

The Steelers picked what they needed most, the best LB in the draft!

He is explosive off the edge and can shed a block. USA Today draft guide summed him up best;

“Intense, Competitive and Tough”

It looked like he could fall to 17 when the Browns, Miami and Detroit passed on him. Welcome to the BWG Nation Double J!!!

I am also going to steal a Ben line, “Hey O-line who is laughing now?” As an O-Lineman myself, It was pretty awesome to see SIX of the first ELEVEN guys chosen were O-Line. Could O-Line be the new glamour position in the NFL? Probably not but hey a guy can dream. 

Let’s grab a Running Back or Corner in round 2!

It’s the most wonderful day of the offseason for football fans, as the NFL draft kicks off tonight! For the first time since 2010, the Steelers will draft in the top twenty at seventeen.  It’s the one perk of coming off a mediocre season.  The Steelers finished 2012 at 8-8 and missed the playoffs for only the third time in nine years. It is time to get back to work.

The Steelers have several needs in this year’s draft and they will look to add at every position. Here is the Beer We Go assessment:

Quarterback: (Need Factor: 2) The Steelers already have a top five QB and have a very competent backup in Bruce Gradkowski. Plus, I am holding out hope that they will bring back Charlie Batch as the number three guy.

BWG Advice: Grab a good athlete that can carry a clipboard if they fall into our laps, maybe find some type of “wildcat” capable QB.

Running Back/Fullback: (Need Factor: 8) The Steelers have nice complementary backs, but with the departure of Rashard Mendenhall the Steelers need an impact runner who can help now. This is actually the biggest glaring hole the Steelers have but it’s not their biggest need.

BWG Advice: DON’T REACH! There are several good backs available and one of them will fall to us.  I want a banger(Eddie Lacy, maybe) but would take a speed demon if the right one fell. (Ray Graham from Pitt anyone?)

Wide Receiver: (Need Factor: 6) The Steelers lost Mike Wallace and nearly lost Manny Sanders. That being said, I don’t see the Wallace departure as that big of a loss. I like our current roster of guys. Antonio Brown and Manny Sanders are excellent starters, Plaxico Burress is a great target and red zone guy, Dave Gilreath looks like a nice prospect.

BWG Advice: Grab a project guy in the middle rounds and let them develop. This is another DO NOT REACH!

TE: (Need Factor: Not Sure) This all depends on Heath Miller. If Heath is healthy, we have the best TE in football. We also have capable backups. The question is, where is he in his rehabilitation?

BWG Advice: Given Todd Haley’s offense, a Tight End is important, so this is a sleeper pick.

OL: (Need Factor: 5) The Offensive line has awesome potential and the interior line looks great with DeCastro and Pouncey. They have solid, young talent that could make this a great unit for years to come. The Steelers will look to get more athletic as they are shifting the blocking schemes and have drafted an O-lineman in every draft for over 13 years except ‘03, so this should be no different.

BWG Advice: This is an excellent Tackle draft so grab a tackle in the middle rounds and a guard in the later rounds.

DL: (Need Factor: 7) The Steelers need some help here, as Cameron Heywood and Ziggy Hood have yet to really make an impact. With Alameda Ta’amu having serious question marks, the Steelers need to find another big man to fill the ample shoes of Big Snack. I love McClendon and think he adds a dimension that Hampton didn’t have.

BWG Advice: I think this is certainly a bigger need than WR and the Steelers need to grab someone in the early rounds to solidify this aging unit.

Linebacker: (Need Factor: 10) The Steelers are in serious need of linebacker help after the departure of Silverback. Our bread and butter is bone crunching defenses and the Steelers lacked a solid pass rush last season. Sean Spence was a great looking prospect, but he is coming off a serious injury.  Either Sly Sylvester or Jason Worilds will have an opportunity to make a move now that Silverback has gone down the river.

BWG Advice: Unless a huge “can’t miss” corner comes our way, grab the best Pass Rushing linebacker available in Round 1.

Defensive Back:(Need Factor: 9) The Steelers at some point need to invest in an impact Cornerback. The secondary performed great last season, but lost its most consistent performer in Keenan Lewis. The Steelers absolutely need an impact Cornerback.

BWG Advice: Unless a great pass rushing linebacker comes our way, grab the best impact Cornerback available in Round 1. We need to get a linebacker first and foremost.

Safety: (Need Factor: 4) The Steelers have a solid secondary and arguably the best Safety tandem in the game. The issue with them is that they are both are long in the tooth and Troy has played a full season only once in the last four years. Ryan Clark plays a punishing style of defense, and while he hasn’t shown signs of slowing down he won’t go on forever.

BWG Advice: This draft has some nice “project” guys who could be sleepers. Grab some depth in the later rounds and find the next Ryan Clark, or at least a better Ryan Mundy.

Special Teams: (Need Factor: .0005) Don’t waste  any picks on Special Teams.

BWG Advice: DON’T DRAFT A FREAKIN’ KICKER OR A PUNTER EVER AGAIN!!!

Some quick Steelers Draft facts:

-The Steelers first draft choice ever…Bill Shakespeare RB from Notre Dame, He also wrote several great plays…oh wait that might be a different guy.

– Byron “Whizzer” White was selected fourth overall in the 1938 draft – he went on to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court. That actually happened.

-The Steelers have only drafted in the 17th position twice selecting Charles Johnson,WR 1994 and Keith Gary, DE 1981.

GOOD HUNTING!!!

Saturday, Aug. 10 — New York Giants, 7:30 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 19 — at Washington, 8 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 24 — Kansas City, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 29 — at Carolina, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 8 — Tennessee, 1 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 16 — at Cincinnati, 8:40 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 22 — Chicago, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Sept. 29 — Minnesota (at London), 1 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 6 — Off

Sunday, Oct. 13 — at New York Jets, 1 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 20 — Baltimore, 4:25 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 27 — at Oakland, 4:05 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 3 — at New England, 4:25 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 10 — Buffalo, 1 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 17 — Detroit, 1 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 24 — at Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 28 — at Baltimore, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 8 — Miami, 1 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 15 — Cincinnati, 8:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 22 — at Green Bay, 4:25 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 29 — Cleveland, 1 p.m.

Everyone take a DEEP BREATH AND DON’T PANIC!!! While I don’t think the Steelers have the talent they need to contend right now, I think they made some key moves and will get better during the draft.

As Coach Tomlin said this is March talk not fall talk.

So here we go with your March Quick Hits:

–Happy St. Patrick’s Day Steeler Nation: Next year we are producing a BWG St. Patrick’s day shirt so stay tuned!

–Mike Tomlin is not impressed with the read option: He is 100% right, Big Ben is a 100 million dollar asset and to have him make a break for it every time he can you are asking for trouble! RGIII got his bell rung a number of times last year.

–Steelers tendered contract offers to RB Jonathan Dwyer, RB Isaac Redman, NT Steve McLendon and WR Emmanuel Sanders: WE NEED ALL OF THESE GUYS BACK!!! Sanders has to be a priority!

–Steelers lose Mike Wallace to Free Agency: Did anyone watch Wallace play last year? This is actually addition through subtraction. He is ridiculously fast and ridiculously flawed. I love this guy and I am sad to see him go, but why people are freaking out is beyond me. Do you really want a 12 Million Dollar receiver? If you do, he needs to throw the ball to himself.

–Steelers lose Rashard Mendenhall to Free Agency: The guy was AWFUL last year and had serious attitude issues. He is a fumbler and wore out his welcome. I don’t think the Steelers have the answer yet at RB, but I know Mendenhall wasn’t the answer. BTW I think he is the candidate most likely to return in a year or two!

–Steelers release Silverback: This crushed me as he was my favorite player on the team. My friend Bill texted me in church to let me know and I was sullen for most of mass. He was nuts and I get that he is a marked man, but he just played football the way it should be played; not flashy, just head down, seek and destroy! Why I am not overly sad about this, is that history has taught me that the Steelers get these decisions right. I hope this is a Kevin Greene situation, where he continues to play well but the heir apparent Jason Gildon in Greene’s case; Jason Worilds in this case have great Steeler careers! LOVE YA’ SILVERBACK!!!

–Steelers release Willie Colon: Another of my favorites, but he had to go. Three years in a row he was on IR and “you can’t make the club when you are sitting in the tub”.

–The Steelers sign Bruce Gradkowski: We needed a more reliable upgrade here and I think Bruce gives us that. He is a Pittsburgh kid and will do a good job. I hope they bring back Batch as the number three QB.

–Steelers re-sign Plaxico Burress: Why Burress didn’t play much when he returned last year is a mystery to me. This was a good signing and will be a huge help! He has some gas left in the tank and I hope he makes good.

–Steelers re-sign Larry Foote: He is a solid veteran who can only help us in both the skills and leadership category!

–Steelers re-sign David Johnson: He will compete for the HBACK spot and backup at TE. I like Will Johnson but this move puts his spot in jeopardy.

–Steelers sign Matt Spaeth: This was another good, smart signing that will pay dividends without a huge investment. He has many tools and can ably fill in while Heath recovers. As a guy who has taken a leak just about everywhere I shouldn’t have, I am giving him a break on his indiscretion!

–Steelers sign Willie Gay: A terrific move, he will be a solid nickleback and press some of the young guys for playing time. He knows the system and showed signs of brilliance when he played here last.

Here are the Steelers 2013 free agents:

• Mike Wallace — Wide Receiver — Not worth the money, some fools will give him(See Plex 1, See Randle El)
• Keenan Lewis — Cornerback — Not worth the money he will command, for the right price definitely, but don’t think that will happen
• Emmanuel Sanders — Wide Receiver — Absolutely a keeper and should get signed
• Rashard Mendenhall — Running Back — Did a good job until last season, he wore out his welcome and it is time to move on
• Jonathan Dwyer — Running Back — Worth one more look, I would take a chance on “the minibus”
• Isaac Redman — Running Back — Worth one more look, had shown flashes of brilliance
• Ryan Mundy — Safety — played admirable but short on talent, time to say addios
• Max Starks — Offensive Tackle — Had a good season but it is time to part ways
• Doug Legursky — Center — Keep for depth, did well in a pinch last year
• Casey Hampton — Defensive Tackle — ONE MORE YEAR, ONE MORE YEAR
• Charlie Batch — Quarterback — Yes, but as the number three QB
• Byron Leftwich — Quarterback — Not getting it done when called upon, time to let him go
• Plaxico Burress — Wide Receiver — Worth a second look and could fit in nicely
• Steve McClendon — Defensive Tackle — ABSOLUTELY, Showed flashes of brilliance
• Stevenson Sylvester — Linebacker — Kind of torn on this one, really like his upside, but did nothing last year
• Will Allen — Safety — Did a great job last year when needed, definitely should bring him back
• Larry Foote — Linebacker — Need him here, should get one more year.
• Ramon Foster — Offensive Guard— Someone will pay him, we shouldn’t
• David Johnson — Fullback — Not coming back, I like Will Johnson
• Leonard Pope — Tight End — Bring him back with Heath being out
• Justin King — Cornerback — Worth a second look and would come cheap
• Brandon Johnson — Linebacker — I didn’t even know who this guy was, so see ya later
• Greg Warren — Long Snapper — Bring him back, the Steelers will try and solve this with a rookie or a cheaper alternative

From the desk of Tom Janicki,

Past:  This is the Super Bowl, so many great memories.  I must admit that my 1^st Super Bowl memory does not start with the Steelers.  I may have been conceived after a 70’s Steelers victory but the 1^st Super Bowl that I can remember involved Marino vs. Montana and I had my 1^st bad taste from the Niners.  Com’n Man, growing up in Pittsburgh Marino was a God.  He made it look easy.  I can remember him getting dismantled by SF that day.  That was the start for me of a losing AFC tradition in the big game. I can remember being an AFC supporter and never winning.  13 straight loses if my memory serves correct.  John Elway letting me down a few times.  Jim Kelly not being able to win the big game.  Very few games growing up through the 80’s were even remotely close.  Icing on the cake was that the Steelers were rarely competitive.  I must admit that the Steelers were not even in the thought process during those years.  I watched and remember the names but I was not a true fan.  Then the Steelers started fielding good teams (finally) right around the same time that I was new to the tailgate scene.  You know, a Keg with no ice and some Solo cups, really all you really need!!  Anyway, back to the Super Bowl…My 1^st really impactful pre Super Bowl memory was Stan Humphries to Alfred Pupunu and grown men crying and not leaving the stadium after the loss to the heavily underdog Chargers in ’94-’95.  If that was the agony of defeat then the thrill of victory was the following year as the Colts and Jim Harbaugh’s pass fell to the ground.  I thought I would never see a larger group of men hugging as I did that day.  Because I was not accustomed to the winning tradition, winning an AFC Championship game at home seemed to be the greatest feeling in Sports.  I took a few weeks off of college to travel to Tempe with money I really didn’t have.  No chance to get in but was able to experience the atmosphere non the less.  Steeler nation took their 1^st Super Bowl defeat that day but the love for the atmosphere was the tip of the iceberg.  Beer We Go was born shortly thereafter.  The following years were filled with winning teams that just couldn’t seem to win the big game again.  Then we drafted Big Ben and the rest is history!!  Super Steeler Bowl # 5 was less than spectacular, freezing cold Detroit and a Seattle team that was happy to be in the game.  We were coming from the 6 seed having beaten the Bungals, the Colts (Best game that I had attended up to that point in my life, 1^st time that I was in a dome and that building was loud!) then the Broncos.  Winning that Super Bowl seemed to be a foregone conclusion being that the “Bus” was retiring and the game was in his home town. (eerily similar to this years plot).  The best part about the game was that I made a failed attempt at sneaking into the game prior to kick-off but was successfully in the 4^th quarter with the bearded King Joey Harkins.  My advice to all that are going to a Super Bowl in the future and can’t afford it…hang out by the exit of the stadium and be patient.  What a celebration that was.  We finally got one for the thumb.  I could remember back to the Mean Joe commercials and shirts pushing for one for the thumb.  Fast forward toTampa a few years back.  At this point, I was able to afford an over priced Super Bowl ticket.  This memory rivals everything that I had done up to that point.   It would have a hard time believing that there will EVER be a better Super Bowl moment than the silverback taking it the length of the field.  Then Santonio’s catch totally trumped the interception.  The last Super Bowl was our most difficult for personal reasons and the defeat did not help matters.  Bottom line, the Past has been VERY GOOD to our Black & Gold.  VERY GOOD INDEED.    

Present:  I have a distain for the Ravens because they are the Browns.  If it was ever Brown it must be flushed down and the Ravens will always be an extension of Brown.  I have a hard time stomaching either Harbaugh especially Jim just because of his antics on the sideline.   I have see-sawed all week on whether to even pay attention to the game.  How could I not, it’s the Super Bowl.  I was leaning towards rooting for the 49ers just because I did not want any joy to be felt by theBaltimorefan base.  Further more, this Ray Ray media blitz is over the top and it’s the Ravens.  We as Steeler fans have a hard time rooting for our rival.  My thought was the Super Bowl would be buried on the West Coast and would be forgotten in weeks opposed to if the Ravens won they would play the Steelers on Thursday night and probably dump Gatorade on Harbaugh before kick-off.  Man I hate the Ravens.  But….flip the coin…the 49ers are 5-0 in the big game …Doesn’t a Super Bowl in the AFC North build the divisions resume?  I typically pull for the AFC.  I must say that I would prefer a terribly played game (similar to the last Ravens Super Bowl victory) where the ravens come out on top.  It pains me to write that as well.  I take “SIXBURGH” totally out of the equation within this thought process.  I like to think Super Bowls are just a small part of the history of Championships in the NFL.  We may claim to have the most Super Bowls but many other teams (Green Bayand NY Giants come to the top of the mind) have a greater championship tradition.  This should not and does not take anything away from the “SIXBURGH” argument, just saying that argument is a bit short sighted…dontcha think?  If the Ratbirds are to win, fast forward to next year, I hope that we play them on Opening night…remember those cowards refused to play us the year after our last ring.  There would be nothing better to release the pain of this season than to beat the paper Super Bowl Champs in there own building celebrating the ring.  Again I dispise the Ravens but I would rather put it to the rival champs next year opposed to “couldn’t win the big one again” Baltimore Ravens.  My final present Super Bowl thought, Randy Moss claims he’s the greatest wide receiver of all time…what a joke…I would roster Hines Ward over Moss any day of the week and twice on Sunday…I for one do not want to see that guy win a Ring!!  You feel me?       

Future:  We, as Steelers fans, have been blessed with Championship caliber football for many years and I believe many more to come.  We are getting long in the tooth though.  We need to start doing a better job with the draft and potentially go away from the norm and bring in a free agent or two (Steven Jackson is at the top of my wish list).  As long as we have a healthy Ben, we have a good shot to bring the glory back to the Burgh.  This year has been forgotten and we will be counting down the days to another deep playoff run next year.

To wrap it up, no disrespect to the Super Bowl participants this year; regardless of our likes or dislikes, they earned the right by getting into the playoffs and winning to this point.  They both deserve the chance to lift the trophy (I just threw up in my mouth!).  May the best team on Sunday win!!

BEER WE GO STEELERS.  Next up, draft day!!

I LOVED THE RESPONSES!!! Being an optimist, we can’t win Sunday, but we also can’t lose. If the 49ers win our hated rival takes the ultimate loss. If the Ravens win we protected “Sixburgh”! Bottom line is WE GOTTA GET BACK!!!

So I posted that question on Linkedin and here are the responses:

Jay Winesburg • Absolutely have to protect Sixburgh. The Ravens helped us by preventing the Pats from reaching their 8th SB. Now they can defend our league leading six rings. Plus a little satisfaction in knowing we could/should have beat them twice this year.

Jim Barto • Totally agree… I do not want the Dirty Birds to win but I want more to protect our exclusive “SIX RING CLUB” membership!!! It really kills me to root for the Ravens but I will. We need to get number seven next year so we don’t have to worry about who has six!!!

Jerry Burns • I was torn in the beginning as they did tie us at 5 at the end of their 1st SB run with Steve Young…but, they were aging and it was the end of the run. This 49er team is just ramping up and while I can’t stand the Ravens when the Steelers are involved (i.e. AFC North championship, playoff seeding, head-to-head), I found myself rooting for them silently against the Patriots (my wife is a Pats fan) because of the SB trophy count. So, I will be rooting for the Rats With Wings on Sunday evening…although I do believe the 49ers have too much diversity for them to handle…I hope I am wrong. Sixburgh must become Seventh Heaven next year to avoid such immoral decisions…lol!

Nancy Jarosz Theys • We need to protect “Sixburgh”!

Ron Sellers • I cannot and will not under any circumstances root for the Ravens. I like being alone at the top in terms of rings, but that should be maintained by the Steelers winning more, not rooting against some other team not to reach where we are. If the 49ers are good enough as a franchise to win or exceed our total, then good for them.

I will not root for someone else to fail just so we can be the best. I will root for us to WIN so we can be the best.

Anita Giaccardo-Parisi • …I love wearing “ya got Six”… “Da Burgh Does”,,, Hate to even think another team will be able to say that!!!!!!! It’s funny when I see my cowgirls fans and 49er fans wearing their “got 5 rings” shirt,,, I just laugh

India Dillihunt-Brown • PROTECT SIXBURGH!!!! As much as I despise the Ravens, I LOVE the AFC!!!! AND I do mean DESPISE….. This is a hard call. I hate the Ravens but do not want the 49ers to catch us either. STEELERS 4 LIFE….

Gilbert Romero • I totally agree, protect SIXBURGH!! I hate the Ratbirds but keep it in the AFC North and don’t let the 49ers catch us. Pats are overrated and ARE NOT in the same class as us!!

Thank you all for your responses!!! Posting the final season report next week!

BEER WE GO STEELERS, BEER WE GO!!!

It is dark times for Beer We Go Nation!

The Ravens beat the Patriots for revenge in the AFC Championship. Now, as Beer We Go Nation, we are forced to choose between protecting “Sixburgh” or rooting for our arch rivals!

Here is my final Report Card for the 2012 Season.

GRADES:

Coaching: B, Mike Tomlin guided the Steelers through his roughest season as Steelers Coach. There were several distractions including the Todd Haley v. Ben Roethlisberger love triangle, as well as several crushing injuries. The Steelers offense looked unstoppable at the beginning of the season but never recovered after Ben’s injury. Dick LeBeau continues to be the greatest defensive coordinator in NFL history. After a very slow start the Steelers defense picked up and were first in passing defense and second in rushing defense. Keep in mind that they lost Polamalu for nine games, Silverback for three, Woodley for three, Ike Taylor for four, and Keenan Lewis for two. The lack of turnovers was a black mark, but the defense really turned it up in the second half. It is hard to argue with the coaches given the amount of injuries.

QB: B, Big Ben was off to the best start of his career when he was sidelined during the Chiefs game. That injury effectively ended both his season and the Steelers. The Steelers lost two of out of the three games. Charlie Batch put an exclamation point on his career with the big comeback win over the now AFC Champion Ravens. I wrote this last season and will write it again, if this is his last season with the Steelers,  I will remember him as a great contributor who did what was needed! Byron Leftwich was a ghost and again was injured and ineffective.

RB: F, It was a horrendous season for Rashard Mendenhall and his career with the Steelers looks to be at an end. He had attitude problems and he put the ball on the ground way too much. Ike Redman and Jonathon Dwyer both had flashes of brilliance but were inconsistent at best. Chris Rainey was a huge disappointment and then he decided to punch out a woman so we won’t be seeing his sorry act anymore. This will definitely need to be upgraded in the offseason. The lone bright spot was Will Johnson, who played a great fullback!

WR: C+, It was a very strange season for the wide receivers as Manny Sanders and Antonio Brown were bona fide threats and stars, but both had very costly turnovers. Mike Wallace was dreadful all year and his contract situation was a major distraction. He looks to be on the way out of the ‘Burgh. Jericho Cotchery was solid and the Plaxico Burress show was a nice addition mid-season and deserves an encore.  

TE: A+, Heath Miller is the best tight end in football and for the first time in his career got to showcase it.  When people run down Haley’s offense I point to the season Miller had. David Paulson was a nice contributor, as was Leonard Pope when called upon.   

OL: C, It was a tale of two seasons for the offensive line. The starting line played well and started to gel nicely. Then injuries hit, four out of the five starters went down. Max Starks was the last man standing. The biggest disappointment was Willie Colon, going down for the third year in a row on IR. He played an excellent guard and was an absolute mauler some weeks. But three years on the IR should seal his fate. Maurkice Pouncey was spectacular at times, doing duty at Center where he was an All-Pro and Left Guard. The emergence of Dave DeCastro and Kelvin Beachum together with the development of Marcus Gilbert and Mike Adams makes this unit a future bright spot.  

DL: C+, The defensive line put together a good, if not very spectacular, season. Casey Hampton, in perhaps his swan song as a Steeler, anchored the line and got better as the season went on. Brett Kiesel put together back to back good seasons.  He made several big plays and he pressured the QB all season. Ziggy Hood and Steve Mclendon both took steps forward, “Steelhead” Heywood took a few steps back and needs to put together a better 2013 campaign.

LB: C+, The strength of this team was once again hurt by injuries. Silverback and LaMarr Woodley combined for only ten sacks and only showed flashes of the greatness that they have in the past. Lawrence Timmons is now the best linebacker on the Steelers and he had his best season. He was unstoppable at times and played well within his strengths. Great things are on the horizon for Timmons. Larry Foote put together a nice campaign and provided the veteran leadership that was missing when James Farrior retired. Jason Worilds is developing nicely and had significant playing time, Stevenson Sylvester was injured and took a huge step back! This unit is seriously lacking depth.

DB: A, The Steelers secondary had a great season and again have young, exciting talent that is beginning to develop. Ike Taylor was a great contributor and he had an excellent season until his injury. Ryan Clark was a killer in the secondary and was arguabley the defense’s best and most consistent player. Troy played well when he wasn’t injured, but again, he missed nine games and never got totally on track. Keenan Lewis was injured but had a good season and appears to be headed out of town. That will open the door for Cortez Allen who is emerging.

BEER WE GO STEELERS! BEER WE GO!

We will be posting the final report as well as some quick hits this week. We are in football Armageddon right now!