Monday Evening Quarterback - Week Sixteen

The 2009 season is over, and it didn't end the way any of us wanted it to.  Let's bury this season, confident that the problems that arose with this team are fixable and that some of the bright things that happened will simply continue.  Add in what should be a fruitful offseason, and there's nothing to prevent this team from reclaiming its rightful spot among the league's elite.

The Good

Ben Roethlisberger

He had his best regular season as a pro.  There are lots of impressive stats surrounding Big Ben's season, but the most impressive one in my eyes was 12 interceptions.  That's a nice low number considering all the attempts and yards.  Ben is still a work in progress and he took a career high 50 sacks, but he showed that he could handle all the responsibilities involved in running the offense, while improving ever so gradually as far as getting the ball out quickly to the right receiver.  Ben's biggest improvements this year were in the way he reads defenses (very few of his interceptions were the result of bad reads) and in his command of the no huddle.  The arrow is still pointing up, and that's a very encouraging thought moving forward.

Rashard Mendenhall

I didn't think Mendenhall would have the impact that he had this year.  He still has plenty to learn and improve upon (he did a much better job against Miami of staying square through the hole), but it was a great opening stanza in what will hopefully be a long career.  The big step up I expect to see next year is in the passing game; he will be given more responsibility there as he moves along in his career.  I expect him to catch 50 balls next year simply by staying on the field on third down.  As far as running the ball, Mendenhall's numbers will improve based on two things:  teams will come out trying to stop the pass next season which will open up the run, and I don't think there's any way that the Steelers stand pat along the OL (at the least they'll have some challenges from within), which should lead to better run blocking.

Santonio Holmes

He really stepped up and solidified his spot among the top receivers in the NFL.  He's the best receiver after the catch in the NFL.  On the downside, he dropped too many balls this year, many of them in the red zone.  Holmes will be aided greatly by Mike Wallace's continued development as teams were able to devote far too much attention to Holmes at times this year.  I remain convinced that Holmes won't reach his full potential until he's playing the flanker position in this offense, with more presnap movement and shorter routes where his RAC ability can be fully exploited.

Mike Wallace

The above comment was no knock on Wallace - he had an exceptional rookie season.  However, he disappeared during the losing streak and it wasn't a coincidence that they lost those games.  Wallace will improve over the offseason as a route runner and in his understanding of the offense, and that's a scary thought for defenses around the league.
 

Lamarr Woodley

He was extremely effective as a pass rusher in the 2nd half of the season after a quiet first half.  Though he's not very good in space, he is pretty stout against the run.  He showed more moves down the stretch and was far less predictable as a pass rush, he set up the Dolphins' left guard (Justin Smiley) on a molly block attempt beautifully by showing to the outside and then countering, though the concept of trying to block a red-hot pass rusher by expecting the left guard to get there was pretty flawed in the first place.

Ziggy Hood

Despite playing less than others along the DL, Ziggy Hood finished the season tied for 2nd among the defensive linemen in combined sacks/pressures and QB hits.  Hood figures to be a much improved player in year two, especially as an interior pass rusher.  Lost in the defensive failures this year was the fact that the defensive line produced only 7.5 sacks on the season, down from 12 sacks last year.  With offenses more competent than ever at handling outside pressure, it's important to get pressure up the middle, and this is one area where the Steelers were lacking this past season.  Ziggy in a rotation with Brett Keisel and Aaron Smith could bring big improvements in this area.

The Bad

The Right Side of the Offensive Line

The Steelers have to get better push from their RG and RT to improve the run game.  Trai Essex was an improvement over Darnell Stapleton and Kendall Simmons in pass protection, but he doesn't have the power to re-establish the line of scrimmage, he's more of a wall off blocker.  He's likely to lose his job next offseason to either rookie surprise Ramon Foster or Kraig Urbik.  Willie Colon started out strong but faded badly down the stretch.  Even the penalties came back.  I expect Colon to hold down his job for one more year, but I also expect the Steelers to challenge him with a high draft pick at tackle.

James Farrior

Farrior wasn't as bad as many made him out to be, but he showed his age at key points in the season.  I expect Farrior to return for one more season, though I don't expect his job to be safe and I would look for the Steelers to add an inside linebacker in rounds 2-4.  I do not view Keyaron Fox as anything more than a stopgap, though he would get a look if Farrior were to decide to retire.

William Gay

I supported him last offseason and even through the beginning of this season.  I believe that he is hurt by the cushions he's instructed to play - this kid had a reputation coming out of college as a cover two type CB that can play some press and jump routes to make plays.  However, too many of his issues had nothing to do with scheme, they were simply a matter of playing bad football.  Slipping in coverage.  Not knowing whether he had help or not.  Missing tackles.  Gay will return, but I expect a four way challenge for the starting CB spot opposite Ike Taylor between Gay, Joe Burnett, Keenan Lewis and a draft pick, possibly a high draft pick.  Tomlin comes from a school of thought that you can take corners late and coach them up.  Unfortunately for him, that mode of thinking doesn't hold water with the way the league has changed in the last few years.

The Ugly

Limas Sweed

I have no idea what's really wrong with Sweed, no one does.  But he's barely played, and when he has he's made critical drops.  The Steelers have to find a big wide receiver to complement their current group and to fortify their red zone packages with some size.  There are a variety of big receivers in the upcoming draft who could help right away.  They thought enough of the concept of a big wideout to draft Sweed, and I don't believe that Wallace's quick development will make them shy away.  This is a matchup league that rewards teams with playmakers, it never hurts to add another one.  However, there's only so many holes they can fill in one draft, and it would take the perfect wide receiver (Demaryius Thomas) to make them jump before round 3.

The Kickoff Coverage Team

The real culprits here are the backup linebackers and safeties, both of which need to be addressed not only to improve the athleticism of the coverage units, but to bolster the regular defense as well.  A team can field one or two guys like Patrick Bailey, Andre Frazier, Keyaron Fox, Arnold Harrison and Donovan Woods.  They cannot put 3 or 4 of those types out there at one time.  The Steelers need to add at least two young linebackers with talent, which will go a long way towards fixing the special teams.

The Safeties

#1, Troy doesn't need to be on the field goal block unit anymore.  In fact, he needs to be taken out of the victory formation personnel group.  Troy proved his greatness with last year's spectacular season.  Now, there's even more proof as the defense went from historically great to mediocre without him.  I don't think a healthy Troy fixes everything, but I do believe that a healthy Troy fixes a lot.  Still, they have to improve their safety depth, both to guard against another injury to Troy and to bolster the special teams.  The issue is, the Steelers like veteran safeties, and unless there's a new CBA there simply won't be free agent safeties around who would present an upgrade.  That leaves the draft, and it's a near given that the Steelers will draft a safety in the first 3 rounds.  I do not expect Tyrone Carter to return, and I would hope that Ryan Mundy doesn't make the team.  But I could see Ryan Clark coming back on a short-term contract.  I think he was a victim of trying to cover for others far too often this year, and there's as much chance at taking a step backward at the FS spot as there is finding a short-term upgrade in free agency.  I believe that the safety play made the CB's look worse than they were.

THE FURIOUS FIVE

1.  Minnesota Vikings

I'm right back to where I started as far as non-Steeler contenders.  They're built for the playoffs, and match up very well against the NFC frontrunners, especially the Saints.

2.  Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning has never had a dominant postseason, but he just might this year as there are favorable matchups all over the place for passing teams.

3.  Dallas Cowboys

They just match up well against the Eagles.  Forget the Dallas offense, the story of this late-season surge is the play of their cornerbacks, who can all run.

4.  New Orleans Saints

The Saints bandwagon is full, I'd never seen a Saints jersey in public and then I saw about 40 of them in Florida last week, including a Scott Fujita.  Scott Fujita?!?

5.  San Diego Chargers

Like I said, the AFC playoffs are going to be a big passing fiesta.  And the Chargers will likely benefit.

AWARDS

Offense

Willie Parker

If it was his last game as a Steeler, he put an exclamation point on what was a stellar Steelers career, carrying the ball 9 times for 74 yards on the Steelers' final drive of the season.  I would not be surprised at all to see Parker get a one year contract to return next year.  He has played well over the last two months in a spot role and is a good change of pace to complement Mendenhall.

Defense

Lamarr Woodley

Back to back weeks for Woodley.  11.5 sacks over his final 8 games.  Hopefully he puts together a full season next year.

Special Teams

Stefan Logan

Did you think he was going to get the corner on the 39 yard kickoff return?  I did.

Goat

Tony Sparano

Pat White is a nice wildcat quarterback, but he can't throw the ball.  Sparano should have played Tyler Thigpen earlier, he even has more experience than White.

QUOTABLE

“I feel like we had our moments where we were unstoppable, we had moments where we stopped ourselves, and moments when the defense stopped us. I think it’s a building block for us, I think we are still very young on offense and I really think that the sky can be the limit for us.”

- Ben Roethlisberger

STATS, STAT

6

MAKING THE ROUNDS

1.  The Steelers' wide receivers run block too much.  Okay, I've probably lost some of you, but hear me out.  When the Steelers run the ball, they almost never run off any of their wide receivers, they have them block.  That's great and all, likely a byproduct of having quality run blocking receivers.  But especially against teams that play man, running a guy off can take a cornerback completely out of the play.  Not only that, but a team that passes the ball well can occupy the safety for a split second on running plays simply by sending a receiver down the field.  It also makes play action easier for the defense to diagnose, they know that when the receivers aren't blocking it's likely not really a run.

2.  Whether Casey Hampton comes back or not (I'm inclined to believe that he'll be franchised), Chris Hoke is likely done as a Steeler.  He got paid $1.3 million this year to play an average of 4 snaps per game.  Quick quiz:  who had more tackles this year, Chris Hoke or Daniel Sepulveda?  It's a trick question, they both had four, though Sepulveda's were all solo and Hoke's included 3 assists.

3.  Your official Monday Evening Quarterback Steelers' Mock:  1.  Dan Williams, NT, Tennessee 2. Sean Weatherspoon, LB, Missouri 3. Darrell Stuckey, S, Kansas, 4. Vladimir Ducasse, RT, Massachusetts  5. Crezdon Butler, CB, Clemson 6a. Cameron Sheffield, OLB, Troy 6b. Bryan Anderson, WR, Central Michigan 7a. Mike Salerno, K, Northern Illinois 7b. Alphonso Smith, RB, Kentucky.

4.  Without a new CBA, this is going to be a quiet year for free agents, especially young veterans.  However, there may be plenty of older veterans who get cut.  This is where the Steelers should focus their free agency efforts, on getting a name veteran or two without a ring who can bring some fresh leadership into the locker room, even if they're only brought in to fill a role.

5.  The Steelers could return their roster as-is, and with some better execution, the return of some injured players and just a little more luck I'd put them at 12-4 next season.  I believe this team will see their developing players (Ben, Mendenhall, Holmes, Wallace, Woodley, Timmons, Hood) continue to grow, and that's an exciting thought.  The team is transitioning in terms of leadership, and I believe this year was simply a hiccup due to those growing pains.  It will be interesting to see which members of the old guard return next season, and how those who do return will acclimate to being passed up on the team hierarchy.  Only 11 of the 22 starters from Super Bowl XL remain on the team, and that number could go down to 6 or 7 this offseason.  What's amazing is that the Steelers replenished their core over the past 5 years, with new stars waiting to take over for Steeler legends.

IN THE CROSSHAIRS

Kevin Colbert

It's a big offseason for this team.