Team checklist: Pittsburgh Steelers

Posted by Mike Florio on June 11, 2011, 10:27 AM EDT

Rosenthal has been doing team-by-team checklists for several weeks now. Almost as long as I’ve been telling him I’ll pitch in and help.

To date, I haven’t.

Today, I do.

I’ll start with a team that doesn’t need to do much more than stay the course. If “staying the course” also includes finding a way to score on the final drive of the Super Bowl.

1. Find a third-down back.

Mewelde Moore has handled the duties for the last three years, but he’ll be a free agent when the lockout ends. Though the Steelers may decide to re-sign Moore, who has been capable but not spectacular, some other team could be willing to pay Mewelde more (I really didn’t plan that one) than the Steelers have budgeted for a position that is among the more fungible in the sport.

And so the question will be whether the Steelers can find someone better than Moore for the money it may take to keep him. With Tiki Barber making a comeback and Reggie Bush possibly available, the Steelers could have some intriguing options.

2. Consider bringing back Plaxico Burress.

Several years ago, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger riled up Hines Ward by publicly asking for a tall receiver.

The Steelers acquired one that year, in 6-4 Limas Sweed. Who has done nothing in three NFL seasons. Also on the roster is 6-8 Wes Lyons, a Pittsburgh native who didn’t do enough during his time at West Virginia University to even get drafted.

Though the Steelers currently have Ward, Mike Wallace, and Antonio Brown, none of the three is listed as taller than six feet. As Roethlisberger said in 2008, “Hines is going to say he’s 6 foot, but he’s 5-11.”

Burress, whose final year in Pittsburgh coincided with Roethlisberger’s first, would give Big Ben the large target he covets. Though the move would be controversial, don’t underestimate coach Mike Tomlin’s affinity for guys from Eastern Virginia.

3. Give Daniel Sepulveda the boot.

In March, the Steelers extended a restricted free agency tender to Sepulveda, a four-year veteran who under a new labor deal very likely will be an unrestricted free agent. Though the Steelers thought enough of Sepulveda to use a fourth-round pick to acquire him in Tomlin’s first year on the job, he has torn the ACL in his right knee three times.

With plenty of punters available, taking an annual chance that he’ll rip the thing a fourth time and leave the team scrambling to replace him doesn’t make sense. Especially if he’s looking for a bigger pay day than most punters ever see.

4. Let Ike Taylor walk.

Cornerback Ike Taylor has said he wants to stay in Pittsburgh. And he has said he wants to test the market. If he wants market value, he simply won’t get it from the Steelers. As with Moore, someone will pay for the fact that Taylor brings a Super Bowl ring (in Taylor’s case, two) into the locker room — and in turn eats away at the defending AFC champion’s roster.

The Steelers need to accept the fact that, if Taylor insists on top dollar in a slim cornerback market, he won’t be back, and they need to plan accordingly to replace him. With the strength of the defense in the front seven and the secondary anchored by Troy Polamalu, they can get by with a lot less than the second coming of Rod Woodson.

5. Improve depth at safety.

Speaking of Polamalu, he has emerged as one of the most important players on any team. When he’s healthy, it becomes virtually impossible to outscore the Steelers. When he’s out due to injury — or, as he was late in 2010, playing with an injury — the team becomes vulnerable.

Though they’ll never find another Polamalu to back up Polamalu, the Steelers need to make the No. 2 position at strong safety a priority, even if it means overpaying a guy who could start elsewhere. Given Polamalu’s reckless style (which makes him so damn effective when he’s at 100 percent), more injuries are inevitable. Moving forward, the Steelers need to view Polamalu’s understudy as the equivalent to the backup quarterback.

I agree with two of his points, but the other 3 are way off, in my opinion ...

1. Find a third-down back.

I'm all in favor of parting ways with Moore. I think Dwyer can fill the void, and I have high hopes for Baron Batch. What I am NOT in favor of is bringing in Barber or Bush. Barber is too old and Bush will want too much money. Neither is a good option.



2. Consider bringing back Plaxico Burress.

Uh, no. If Arians planned on going to a five-wide set, then I'd be all for it. Otherwise, we're more than fine with the receivers we have. Burress hasn't gotten paid in a few years, and he's going to want big money, especially since he doesn't have too many years left to play. He's not going to start over Ward or Wallace, and the Steelers aren't going to pay him big money to be the third, fourth, or fifth receiver. Not happening.

3. Give Daniel Sepulveda the boot.

Sadly, I agree with this. I had high hopes for Sepulveda when he was drafted. But he's been injury prone, and even when healthy, he's been nothing but average. It's time to look for a replacement.

4. Let Ike Taylor walk.

The Steelers are the masters of knowing when to allow veteran players to walk. But usually when they do, they have backups who are ready to step in and take their place. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see who would fill Taylor's spot. Unless they plan on signing Asomugha, they have to keep Taylor.

5. Improve depth at safety.

Here I agree. Polamalu can't play forever, and injuries seem to be catching up to him. Even if we don't find a replacement-in-waiting for him, we at least need solid depth for when he gets injured.