So far who rumored to be added

[steelmann58]

It going to be a long off-season as the names being associated to come to Pittsburgh. Ramsay and Lewan and now Bud.

[Jizz Mop]

It going to be a long off-season as the names being associated to come to Pittsburgh. Ramsay and Lewan and now Bud.

Jizz Mop insiders indicate none of those 3 will be wearing the black and gold

[Jobu]

Yep. It’s the off season, people need things to write, read, and talk about. Most of it is bullshit. There is zero chance that Jalen Ramsey is going to be a Steeler. Pretty much no chance of Lewan either. I give Bud a 2% chance….more likely that he’ll be out of football next year than in Pittsburgh.
Now if you want a realistic look at who might be future Steelers, start checking out the backup swing taclkles, washed up ILBs, and third string special teams aces around the league. I’d start with the Bears, Lions, and Jags. Oh, .and Josh Dobbs…don’t forget Josh Dobbs!

[jebrick]

It going to be a long off-season as the names being associated to come to Pittsburgh. Ramsay and Lewan and now Bud.

Jizz Mop insiders indicate none of those 3 will be wearing the black and gold

^^This^^

[fractalsteel]

Rock Ya Sin

Charles Demarr mentioned this on on Combine mock and I have seen it rumored around the web as well.

To the three mentioned above, thank you NO.

[jebrick]

If they keep Sutton, they may just add a CB via the draft as this is a fantastic draft class for CB.

I think ILB is more likely add during FA

[Jizz Mop]

If they keep Sutton, they may just add a CB via the draft as this is a fantastic draft class for CB.

I think ILB is more likely add during FA

Still reeling from the devastating Shazier injury

[Mick]

If they keep Sutton, they may just add a CB via the draft as this is a fantastic draft class for CB.

I think ILB is more likely add during FA

Still reeling from the devastating Shazier injury

looking at the current top ILBs in the NFL today with our FA needs, it’s hard not to be aware that Shazier would still be the best ILB on the league today if not for the injury. And it wouldn’t be close. Maybe as much a comment on the state of ilb play in the league right now, but hard not to what if.

[Thrillsseeker]

It going to be a long off-season as the names being associated to come to Pittsburgh. Ramsay and Lewan and now Bud.

This may come as a surprise but the answer is every single FA and or every player released from now until eternity.

[Mick]

It going to be a long off-season as the names being associated to come to Pittsburgh. Ramsay and Lewan and now Bud.

This may come as a surprise but the answer is every single FA and or every player released from now until eternity.

yes but can we please get a new thread for every one of them? There a way mods can automate that?

[RemoAZ]

It going to be a long off-season as the names being associated to come to Pittsburgh. Ramsay and Lewan and now Bud.

This may come as a surprise but the answer is every single FA and or every player released from now until eternity.

yes but can we please get a new thread for every one of them? There a way mods can automate that?

Don't we have a dungeon troll already on staff for that? Err gorilla...

[Thrillsseeker]

It going to be a long off-season as the names being associated to come to Pittsburgh. Ramsay and Lewan and now Bud.

This may come as a surprise but the answer is every single FA and or every player released from now until eternity.

yes but can we please get a new thread for every one of them? There a way mods can automate that?

exactly

[Jizz Mop]

I’ll start a new thread for SpongeBob SquarePants

Taking over for Dotson if money and physical work out

[W&M_Steeler]

If they keep Sutton, they may just add a CB via the draft as this is a fantastic draft class for CB.

I think ILB is more likely add during FA

Still reeling from the devastating Shazier injury

Still reeling from the devastating Bush bust too.

[Jizz Mop]

If they keep Sutton, they may just add a CB via the draft as this is a fantastic draft class for CB.

I think ILB is more likely add during FA

Still reeling from the devastating Shazier injury

Still reeling from the devastating Bush bust too.

Domino effect of Shazier injury

And here we are

Jack, Robinson and Spillane?

JFC

[W&M_Steeler]

Still reeling from the devastating Shazier injury

Still reeling from the devastating Bush bust too.

Domino effect of Shazier injury

And here we are

Jack, Robinson and Spillane?

JFC

Losing Shazier might have cost the Steelers a ring or two in the 2017-2020 period. But still, it's hard to believe that we still haven't found a decent replacement after 5 years.

[Jobu]

Still reeling from the devastating Bush bust too.

Domino effect of Shazier injury

And here we are

Jack, Robinson and Spillane?

JFC

Losing Shazier might have cost the Steelers a ring or two in the 2017-2020 period. But still, it's hard to believe that we still haven't found a decent replacement after 5 years.

Yep. Maybe it’s time to stop chasing that unicorn, and just look for good football players.

[Burghboy]

Domino effect of Shazier injury

And here we are

Jack, Robinson and Spillane?

JFC

Losing Shazier might have cost the Steelers a ring or two in the 2017-2020 period. But still, it's hard to believe that we still haven't found a decent replacement after 5 years.

Yep. Maybe it’s time to stop chasing that unicorn, and just look for good football players.

Bingo.

[Mick]

Losing Shazier might have cost the Steelers a ring or two in the 2017-2020 period. But still, it's hard to believe that we still haven't found a decent replacement after 5 years.

problem is ‘decent replacement’ isn’t remotely a thing that exists for Shazier. I mean, for context, compare Shazier’s 17 game average over his last two seasons vs. the 2022 All-Pro ILBs COMBINED:

Shazier:
4.1 Ints, 14 PD, 3.5 FF, 2.5 sacks, 8.5 TFL

Warner + Roquan (combined 17-game average for 2021/2022, so basically two full seasons worth of all-pro):
2.5 Ints, 11.5 PD, 1 FF, 5 sacks, 17 TFL

[W&M_Steeler]

Losing Shazier might have cost the Steelers a ring or two in the 2017-2020 period. But still, it's hard to believe that we still haven't found a decent replacement after 5 years.

problem is ‘decent replacement’ isn’t remotely a thing that exists for Shazier. I mean, for context, compare Shazier’s 17 game average over his last two seasons vs. the 2022 All-Pro ILBs COMBINED:

Shazier:
4.1 Ints, 14 PD, 3.5 FF, 2.5 sacks, 8.5 TFL

Warner + Roquan (combined 17-game average for 2021/2022, so basically two full seasons worth of all-pro):
2.5 Ints, 11.5 PD, 1 FF, 5 sacks, 17 TFL

A decent replacement is just that - a replacement who is decent. League average starter quality ILB. Not only haven't the Steelers found a replacement who comes close to approximating Shazier (maybe there hasn't been one available)- they haven't found a replacement that is remotely acceptable. Just Devin Bust and a bunch of below-average JAGs and has beens.

[shellwagnerblount]

A decent replacement is just that - a replacement who is decent. League average starter quality ILB. Not only haven't the Steelers found a replacement who comes close to approximating Shazier (maybe there hasn't been one available)- they haven't found a replacement that is remotely acceptable. Just Devin Bust and a bunch of below-average JAGs and has beens.

IT's inexplicable other than they seem to take a WR in the 2nd round now instead of LB'ers.

[bradshaw2ben]

If they keep Sutton, they may just add a CB via the draft as this is a fantastic draft class for CB.

I think ILB is more likely add during FA

Still reeling from the devastating Shazier injury

looking at the current top ILBs in the NFL today with our FA needs, it’s hard not to be aware that Shazier would still be the best ILB on the league today if not for the injury. And it wouldn’t be close. Maybe as much a comment on the state of ilb play in the league right now, but hard not to what if.

It's debatable whether Shazier was better or would be better than Fred Warner but, yeah, pretty much.

[bradshaw2ben]

Losing Shazier might have cost the Steelers a ring or two in the 2017-2020 period. But still, it's hard to believe that we still haven't found a decent replacement after 5 years.

problem is ‘decent replacement’ isn’t remotely a thing that exists for Shazier. I mean, for context, compare Shazier’s 17 game average over his last two seasons vs. the 2022 All-Pro ILBs COMBINED:

Shazier:
4.1 Ints, 14 PD, 3.5 FF, 2.5 sacks, 8.5 TFL

Warner + Roquan (combined 17-game average for 2021/2022, so basically two full seasons worth of all-pro):
2.5 Ints, 11.5 PD, 1 FF, 5 sacks, 17 TFL

A decent replacement is just that - a replacement who is decent. League average starter quality ILB. Not only haven't the Steelers found a replacement who comes close to approximating Shazier (maybe there hasn't been one available)- they haven't found a replacement that is remotely acceptable. Just Devin Bust and a bunch of below-average JAGs and has beens.

Yeah you're right about those stats-- they're really impressive.

[Scunge]

Yeah, I think at the time some of us didn't fully appreciate Shazier's final two seasons.

I would further add the 5 playoff games during those last two seasons.

25 regular season games, 5 playoff games in that 2016-2017 span, 30 games and Shazier had:

214 tackles, 15 TFL, 12 QB Hits, 3.5 sacks, 7 Forced Fumbles, 3 Fumble Recoveries, 8 Interceptions, 24 passes defensed.

If you are brave enough compare that to our trio of ILBs the past two years, look particularly at the FF, FR, INTs,

The pass coverage was extraordinary. I fondly remember one pass defense, where he was in coverage down the field, jumped up and tipped the ball to Mike Hilton who easily caught the ball for the interception. It was so effortless, like he planned it that way, and he probably did!

At the time I thought wow, he is just warming up, that this was the beginning of a real special player. And then we all know how it ended up.

It is very hard to replace a generational talent like that in short order.

[jebrick]

Shazier was a super athlete who had to learn his position. He played WLB for tOSU and then had to learn ILB on the Steelers. I would love to see them take a shot with Pace ( Cinn) or Trenton Simpson(Clemson) as that type of player.

[jeemie]

Instead of naming names, how about we talk about concepts.

The Fangio Six is/was the hottest new defensive trend.

The Chiefs countered the Fangio Six with motion concepts out of 4x1 alignments. Helps they have an otherworldly QB and TE, but the rest of those guys are a step above JAGs. The motion is what does it,

So…how would the Steelers construct a defense to counter what KC does and who would we need to build it?

I’d look at Cincinnati. They seem to be the only team to regularly give KC fits…they seem to do it by rushing 3 and dropping 8, for the most part.

[jebrick]

Instead of naming names, how about we talk about concepts.

The Fangio Six is/was the hottest new defensive trend.

The Chiefs countered the Fangio Six with motion concepts out of 4x1 alignments. Helps they have an otherworldly QB and TE, but the rest of those guys are a step above JAGs. The motion is what does it,

So…how would the Steelers construct a defense to counter what KC does and who would we need to build it?

I’d look at Cincinnati. They seem to be the only team to regularly give KC fits…they seem to do it by rushing 3 and dropping 8, for the most part.

Play zone and talk to each other. But KC does not call that play if shown zone coverage

[yygy]

Instead of naming names, how about we talk about concepts.

The Fangio Six is/was the hottest new defensive trend.

The Chiefs countered the Fangio Six with motion concepts out of 4x1 alignments. Helps they have an otherworldly QB and TE, but the rest of those guys are a step above JAGs. The motion is what does it,

So…how would the Steelers construct a defense to counter what KC does and who would we need to build it?

I’d look at Cincinnati. They seem to be the only team to regularly give KC fits…they seem to do it by rushing 3 and dropping 8, for the most part.

They just might already have the answer. 3 safeties. I believe they still need to add a top CB. Then they need to use this package:

CB1 (1/2a draft pick) / Sutton / Fitzpatrick / Kazee / Edmunds / Wallace

Effectively a 4-1-6.

You might say b-b-but they’ll run the ball on us! Yeah fine. What the best offenses will do is try to run you out of that package because they still want to win on chunk plays through the air.

Funny enough if you look back this is a plan they’ve been trying to hatch since probably Fitzpatrick came over. In fact you could say he’s here for that very reason. They play a lot of dime and nickel these days. In the mid 2010s they experimented with the heavy nickel. They brought Kazee in this year and he proved it right in front of their eyes.

They’re close. Key is you need corners that can cover and those 2 FS to make plays.

We could call it the Steel Shroud or the Steel Dome

[Mick]

Yeah, our roster looks pretty nice if you can squint at Terrell Edmunds and think ‘S/ILB hybrid’. He even played some LB in college, if sports reference is to be believed.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

Is Noho Hank on Barry really albino Shaz mini-me?