AFC North 2016

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-nfl-features-news-blog-long-form/2016/2/3/10785758/2016-afc-north-free-agents-draft-position-way-too-early-predictions?ref=yfp

Quote :

Pittsburgh Steelers

2015 Record: 10-6
2016 NFL Draft Position: 25th
2016 Free Agents:
Will Allen, S
Kelvin Beachum, OT
Antwon Blake, CB
Brandon Boykin, CB
Ramon Foster, G
William Gay, CB
Clifton Geathers, DT
Robert Golden, S
Bruce Gradkowski, QB
Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR
Will Johnson, FB
Doug Legursky, C
Steve McLendon, DT
David Nelson, WR
Sean Spence, LB
Byron Stingily, OT
Cam Thomas, DT
Jordan Todman, RB
Michael Vick, QB
Greg Warren, LS

Way too early prediction for 2016: 12-4, 1st place in AFC North

I've bolded the players I'd like to see re-signed.

stlrtruck wrote:

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-nfl-features-news-blog-long-form/2016/2/3/10785758/2016-afc-north-free-agents-draft-position-way-too-early-predictions?ref=yfp

Quote :

Pittsburgh Steelers

2015 Record: 10-6
2016 NFL Draft Position: 25th
2016 Free Agents:
Will Allen, S
Kelvin Beachum, OT
Antwon Blake, CB
Brandon Boykin, CB
Ramon Foster, G
William Gay, CB
Clifton Geathers, DT
Robert Golden, S
Bruce Gradkowski, QB
Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR
Will Johnson, FB
Doug Legursky, C
Steve McLendon, DT
David Nelson, WR
Sean Spence, LB
Byron Stingily, OT
Cam Thomas, DT
Jordan Todman, RB
Michael Vick, QB
Greg Warren, LS

Way too early prediction for 2016: 12-4, 1st place in AFC North

I've bolded the players I'd like to see re-signed.

Golden > Allen... at this point.   Otherwise... I agree with everything else.  I don't think Beachum will be back... he'll find a job elsewhere.

Edit: William Gay needs to be re-signed.

agreed Gay needs to come back. We can't lose too many veterans in the secondary. Ideally, I'd like to get back both Gay and Boykin. McLendon is also a must

stlrtruck wrote:

Pittsburgh Steelers

2015 Record: 10-6
2016 NFL Draft Position: 25th
2016 Free Agents:
Will Allen, S
Kelvin Beachum, OT
Antwon Blake, CB
Brandon Boykin, CB
Ramon Foster, G
William Gay, CB
Clifton Geathers, DT
Robert Golden, S
Bruce Gradkowski, QB
Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR
Will Johnson, FB
Doug Legursky, C
Steve McLendon, DT
David Nelson, WR
Sean Spence, LB
Byron Stingily, OT
Cam Thomas, DT
Jordan Todman, RB
Michael Vick, QB
Greg Warren, LS

This would be mine.

Buddha Bus wrote:

stlrtruck wrote:

Pittsburgh Steelers

2015 Record: 10-6
2016 NFL Draft Position: 25th
2016 Free Agents:
Will Allen, S
Kelvin Beachum, OT
Antwon Blake, CB
Brandon Boykin, CB
Ramon Foster, G
William Gay, CB
Clifton Geathers, DT
Robert Golden, S
Bruce Gradkowski, QB
Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR
Will Johnson, FB
Doug Legursky, C
Steve McLendon, DT
David Nelson, WR
Sean Spence, LB
Byron Stingily, OT
Cam Thomas, DT
Jordan Todman, RB
Michael Vick, QB
Greg Warren, LS

This would be mine.

I'm sorely disappointed you forgot to bold Cam Thomas. We need a new backup QB.

I don't think we need Cam Thomas. He barely played. We need to move on from William Gay unless late in free agency he is a bargain but he would have to fight for his roster spot. he is the best of a bad bad group and that is scary.

we need younger, faster and more athletic in our secondary...oh, and the ability to cover would be nice, we don't have anyone who can.

steelers5895 wrote:

I don't think we need Cam Thomas.  He barely played.  We need to move on from William Gay unless late in free agency he is a bargain but he would have to fight for his roster spot.  he is the best of a bad bad group and that is scary.  

we need younger, faster and more athletic in our secondary...oh, and the ability to cover would be nice, we don't have anyone who can.

Rollerskates cam thomas is expendable. Gay and McLendon are the top priorities imo, and keeping Boykin would be nice since I still think he's our best cover corner.

I'd like to see McLendon in the DE rotation to give a breather to Heyward / Tuitt also, I thought he did a good job at DE when asked

Fire Arians wrote:

steelers5895 wrote:

I don't think we need Cam Thomas.  He barely played.  We need to move on from William Gay unless late in free agency he is a bargain but he would have to fight for his roster spot.  he is the best of a bad bad group and that is scary.  

we need younger, faster and more athletic in our secondary...oh, and the ability to cover would be nice, we don't have anyone who can.

Rollerskates cam thomas is expendable. Gay and McLendon are the top priorities imo, and keeping Boykin would be nice since I still think he's our best cover corner.

I'd like to see McLendon in the DE rotation to give a breather to Heyward / Tuitt also, I thought he did a good job at DE when asked

I agree with McClendon. why do you think Gay is a priority?

This is why:

http://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2016/01/05/william-gay-pitches-a-shutout-for-the-steelers-in-2015/

Years ago, I would have agreed with you. He earned the moniker of "burnt toast". The past 3 years, his play has been good. Plus, he knows our system.

If he goes, you will have Cockrell, an untested Golson, and an untested Grant as your signed CBs. Let's assume that Boykin and C. Allen are as good as gone. Blake is your other FA that could be resigned, but we know his story and his abilities.

Without Gay and Blake, your CB depth chart looks like: Cockrell (2nd year player), Golson (rookie), Grant (effectively a rookie), and let's say Eli Apple (for conversation sake). That may even be worse than this year. That's a total turnover in the CB position from 2015's starting of season starters.

Even if we somehow manage to resign Boykin, this is the person for whatever reason didn't see the field. None of us really know the answer of why. I haven't heard of a single rumor that Boykin is in the plans to be resigned. However, I have heard that Blake will be getting an offer. If so, you can bet that Blake will be penciled in as the #1 CB, which will push the depth chart down one level.

It's not the best situation, but it's making the best of a bad situation.

i don't know if I can take another season of watching Gay line up 15 - 20 yards off a receiver. if we head into 2016 with Gay as one of our starters or slot CB our defense is no better than it is now.

keep in mind, he saw the least amount of attempts because teams feasted on Blake and Cockrell. I think its a situation of best of the worst

steelers5895 wrote:

Fire Arians wrote:

steelers5895 wrote:

I don't think we need Cam Thomas.  He barely played.  We need to move on from William Gay unless late in free agency he is a bargain but he would have to fight for his roster spot.  he is the best of a bad bad group and that is scary.  

we need younger, faster and more athletic in our secondary...oh, and the ability to cover would be nice, we don't have anyone who can.

Rollerskates cam thomas is expendable. Gay and McLendon are the top priorities imo, and keeping Boykin would be nice since I still think he's our best cover corner.

I'd like to see McLendon in the DE rotation to give a breather to Heyward / Tuitt also, I thought he did a good job at DE when asked

I agree with McClendon.  why do you think Gay is a priority?

Right now he's our best defender in the secondary. Also I think there has to be some kind of continuity in there so the chemistry isn't too messed up. All this secondary needs is an upgrade at SS and an upgrade from Blake, and they can be pretty good.

IowaSteeler927 wrote:

Buddha Bus wrote:

stlrtruck wrote:

Pittsburgh Steelers

2015 Record: 10-6
2016 NFL Draft Position: 25th
2016 Free Agents:
Will Allen, S
Kelvin Beachum, OT
Antwon Blake, CB
Brandon Boykin, CB
Ramon Foster, G
William Gay, CB
Clifton Geathers, DT
Robert Golden, S
Bruce Gradkowski, QB
Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR
Will Johnson, FB
Doug Legursky, C
Steve McLendon, DT
David Nelson, WR
Sean Spence, LB
Byron Stingily, OT
Cam Thomas, DT
Jordan Todman, RB
Michael Vick, QB
Greg Warren, LS

This would be mine.

I'm sorely disappointed you forgot to bold Cam Thomas. We need a new backup QB.

I think you're grossly underestimating the difficulty of a transition from safety to QB.