Ed: Steelers Have Highest Draft Pick in 5 years

Monday, 31 December 2012 07:46

Written by Ed Bouchette

Good morning,
    More post-mortems:
   --- By earning the 17th pick in the draft, the Steelers will have their highest selection since 2007, when they picked 15th. That was Mike Tomlin’s first draft and they picked Lawrence Timmons No. 1. In 2010, they picked Maurkice Pouncey at No. 18.
--- Cortez Allen looks as though he has everything to start at cornerback next season, but if Keenan Lewis returns, he will not. It might make it easier for them not to offer Lewis as much before free agency starts.
--- Boomer Esiason went off on Ben Roethlisberger during an appearance last week on 93.7 The Fan. He ripped him for allegedly not being a leader other than on Sunday, and for being what he termed a “drama queen.’’ He said Roethlisberger must become more of a leader. Esiason has the best commentaries on the CBS radio network. But he was off here for one big reason, that Roethlisberger always mentioned his injuries, even while he was winning two Super Bowls and three AFC championships. He’s no less a leader than he was during those title seasons. Now when the Steelers miss the playoffs, that is suddenly their problem?
 --- With all the problems they have had at left cornerback it seems a bit strange it took Lewis four years to become a starter. It either took him that long to get it, or it took the coaches that long to get it.
 --- Carnell Lake has done a pretty good job as secondary coach, judging by how his young players have done and how Ryan Clark has improved his play since Lake joined the staff two years ago.
 --- The former secondary coach, Ray Horton, is defensive coordinator at Arizona and may be interviewed for the Cleveland Browns job that should become open today.
--- Those doing the what-if thing, how the Steelers could have made the playoffs had they just won two more games, should not forget they easily could have lost two more also.
--- Chat moved to Wednesday at 1:30 p.m.
--- No Penguins, no Steelers, it will be a long winter in Pittsburgh.
--- YOU: With what you and Gerry were saying in the Steelers Report this evening that Ben admitted to still being somewhat injured and maybe coming back too early, does that not reinforce the belief that this team needs to improve the backup QB situation?? CB might be acceptable, but Leftwich’s performance, let alone his injury history, would seem to make him the odd man out wouldn’t it???
ME: If Charlie Batch is acceptable, then they do not need to do much to improve their backup quarterback situation. I believe they will go with two veterans next year and a younger quarterback as No. 3, perhaps on the practice squad. That would be a change but not necessarily an improvement, though. If you are down to your No. 3, usually you are in trouble, but the Steelers won with their No. 3 in Baltimore this year.
--- YOU: As someone who never had a problem with Arians, I am stunned at how anemic this offense looks now. Do you think the Steelers would have an interest in Norv Turner once he is fired? He is considered among the best play callers in the NFL.
ME: You could bring back Don Shula and he would not have done much better. Injuries held this offense back. Most people I knew were generally OK with the offense when they were 6-3 and before Ben Roethlisberger was hurt. Instead of getting Norv Turner, they need to get a running back and another wide receiver. And I don’t believe they will introduce a third different offense in three years.
--- YOU: how do we have a top ranked Defense & our 2 best players this year, L.Timmons & R.Clark don't make the Pro Bowl?
ME: One is because they selected only one free safety and Ed Reed was it. The Pro Bowl is a popularity contest.
--- YOU: You wrote “Two successful fake punts in one season should be one too many” -
Do you know something we don’t about the fate of special team coach Amos Jones?
ME: Jones is part of Tomlin’s original staff and he’s always been the No. 2 special teams coach. I believe Tomlin will hire a No. 1 for next season and Jones will stay.