Dissecting Steelers’ needs for ’16 season
Now that the Broncos have clinched a spot in the Super Bowl, the Steelers’ loss in Denver in an AFC Divisional Playoff game might hurt even more.
The Steelers had already beaten the Broncos in a Dec. 20 home game, rallying from a 27-13 halftime deficit, and led the Denver deep into the fourth quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High two weeks ago before losing, 23-17.
Injuries obviously played a big part for the Steelers this season, with no fewer than 12 starters missing time during the course of the season. Despite that, the Steelers found ways to win games and advance to the second round of the NFL playoffs for the first time since 2010.
“Hopefully, (we’ll) grow from it,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “But by no means does it carry over into next year. It carries over in the (players), in terms of the experience and the understanding that they bring to the journey, but I am excited about starting the next one anew.”
That process is already under way. While the Super Bowl is still a week away, the Steelers are making plans to assure themselves of a spot in the NFL championship game next season.
Here’s a look at where the team stands coming out of 2015:
Ben Roethlisberger will be 34 when the Steelers open the regular season and the window of opportunity is closing on his ability to bring another title to Pittsburgh.
Roethlisberger missed four games and parts of five others with knee, head, foot and shoulder injuries this season, the first time he missed a start since 2012. But he led the NFL in yards passing per game and torched some of the league’s best defenses despite his injuries.
The Steelers need their star quarterback to cut down on turnovers. After throwing just nine interceptions in 2014, Roethlisberger had 16 this season in four fewer games. That’s too many for a quarterback of his talents and experience.
Landry Jones is the only other quarterback under contract. In his third season, Jones was a player teetering on being cut in training camp. But he engineered late scoring drives against Oakland and Arizona when Roethlisberger was injured to help salvage the season. Jones was unable to work the same kind of magic in the playoffs at Cincinnati, but he showed enough that the Steelers will bring him back with a shot at the No. 2 job.
Veterans Bruce Gradkowski and Mike Vick are each unrestricted free agents and the Steelers might want to bring in another veteran to challenge Jones. Gradkowski could be back, but he struggled through a shoulder injury throughout the offseason, then suffered a broken hand in the preseason when he finally did get on the field. The 35-year-old Vick is probably done, despite going 2-1 when Roethlisberger was out.
Veteran DeAngelo Williams was signed to fill in for Le’Veon Bell during a suspension to open the season and wound up leading the Steelers with 907 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns after Bell was limited to just six games.
Bell sat out the first two games of the season because of his suspension for a DUI arrest and averaged more than 100 total yards over the next six games before a torn MCL ended his season.
He’ll be just 24 next month, but has seen his past two seasons ended by knee injuries. Bell remains one of the league’s best all-around running backs and the Steelers need him to bounce back in 2016. He will be in a contract season, if the team doesn’t extend his contract this year.
Williams gave the Steelers more than they envisioned when they signed the 10-year veteran to a two-year deal, and he’ll be back in the same role next season. With his former team, Carolina, in the Super Bowl, you can bet he’ll be motivated to help the Steelers reach the championship game.
Fitzgerald Toussaint began the season on the practice squad and ended it starting two playoff games with Bell and Williams injured. He’ll be remembered for a key fumble against Denver that was the game’s lone turnover, but the Steelers wouldn’t have beaten Cincinnati without his efforts. He’ll be back in a similar role in 2016, as could Jordan Todman, a free agent who impressed in limited playing time.
The Steelers made the rare choice to keep two fullbacks in 2015, thanks to Will Johnson’s impending free agency and the ability of Roosevelt Nix as a special teams player.
Johnson offers versatility with his ability as a lead blocker, runner, H-back and special teams player. He could be brought back if the price is right. Nix took over more of the fullback role last season and the former college nose tackle should continue to get better.
Antonio Brown actually improved on his 2014 team record-setting performance by recording 136 receptions for 1,834 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. He was named team MVP for the third time.
Brown had just 11 catches for 111 yards in the three games started by Vick or he would have easily broken the NFL season record for receptions and yardage. He’s got two years remaining on his current contract and is scheduled to make just $6.25 million, so a contract extension could be near.
Martavis Bryant was expected to be one of the breakout stars of the NFL this season, but things didn’t start well as he was suspended for the first four games for violating the NFL drug policy. He missed a fifth game to start the season after suffering a minor knee injury after returning to practice but still managed 50 catches for 765 yards and six touchdowns.
Bryant suffered through a late-season swoon as defenses worked hard to take away the deep passing game. But he rebounded in the playoffs, especially against Denver when Brown was out with a concussion.
Like Bryant, Markus Wheaton went through a period in the middle of the season where he was underutilized. But he still managed 44 receptions for 749 yards and five touchdowns, leading the team at 17.0 yards per catch. Wheaton still struggles with consistency, but he’s a solid run blocker and is improving.
Darrius Heyward-Bey was a surprising contributor, especially when Bryant was out to open the season. He continued to see playing time after Bryant returned because he proved to be the best run blocker at wide receiver. Heyward-Bey is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent but the Steelers could try to bring him back if the price is right. Rookie Sammie Coates could be ready to fill that role if he progresses.
Tight end Heath Miller is slowing down, but still finished second on the team with 60 receptions, though his 8.9-yard average was the lowest of his career. Miller is heading into his final contract year and considering he’ll be 34, this might be Miller’s last season.
The Steelers selected Jesse James in the fifth round of the draft and he had his moments as a receiver and blocker but might be more of a secondary tight end than a No. 1.
Veteran Matt Spaeth is still solid as a blocker, but constant knee injuries have robbed him of what little speed he had. He remains under contract for 2016.
Playing without injured center Maurkice Pouncey all season and left tackle Kelvin Beachum for 10 games, the offensive line didn’t miss a beat, making it arguably the Steelers’ most impressive unit.
Cody Wallace stepped in for Pouncey, who suffered a broken leg in the second preseason game, and was more than adequate. Former practice squad player Alejandro Villanueva filled in for Beachum after he suffered a torn ACL. Both gained valuable experience that should help in the long term.
Coupled with an All-Pro season from right guard David DeCastro and solid years from right tackle Marcus Gilbert and left guard Ramon Foster, the line did a nice job in pass protection and creating running room.
Beachum and Foster are unrestricted free agents, while DeCastro is entering the final year of his contract, so the Steelers are going to have to pay a lot to keep this group together.
At 30, Foster is the oldest member of the unit and might be considered the easiest to replace, though his locker room contributions shouldn’t be overlooked. When Villanueva was forced into action, it was Foster’s guidance that helped him to quickly get up to speed.
Beachum’s injury came in October and, while he’s progressing nicely, it could preclude him from getting a deal from another team. At worst, he could wind up being Foster’s replacement at left guard.
DeCastro will earn $8 million in the final year of his rookie deal after the Steelers picked up his 2016 option. They team will probably try to work out a long-term deal that will lower that number.
In Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt, the Steelers have a pair of emerging defensive stars, albeit ones who are overworked. It wasn’t unusual for Heyward and Tuitt to play more than 90 percent of the defensive snaps and Heyward said some kind of rotation to keep them fresher could be beneficial.
Tomlin agreed, but with the caveat, “I’m not going to play people that aren’t (capable).”
That doesn’t bode well for reserve nose tackle Daniel McCullers and rookie L.T. Walton, neither of whom played much this season. The team would like to see more aggression from McCullers.
The Steelers will have to make re-signing free agent nose tackle Steve McLendon a priority.
McLendon is solid, but plays mainly in the base defense as his participation in just 34 percent of the defensive snaps last season would suggest. He shouldn’t command a huge contract.
Two free agents, Cam Thomas and Clifton Geathers, did little to distinguish themselves and can be replaced through free agency or the draft. The Steelers are in dire need of at least two more players at this position who are doing more than taking up roster spots.
The Steelers have to make a decision on Lawrence Timmons and his $15.1-million cap hit. Previous restructures to free up cap space have left Timmons with that gaudy cap number, despite a base salary of $8.75 million. But Timmons isn’t in danger of being released. The Steelers will have to work out a reasonable contract extension to lessen that blow.
A decision also must be made on outside linebacker Jarvis Jones. His option for 2017 would cost just over $8 million or lets him play out this season and become a free agent. That’s a big cap hit for a player who has five sacks in 36 career games, but Jones is a solid run defender.
If 37-year-old James Harrison, who worked in a rotation with Jones last season, decides not to come back, the Steelers might have no choice but to move forward with Jones.
Inside linebacker Ryan Shazier has flashed star ability and the Steelers remain intrigued by the athleticism of outside linebacker Bud Dupree, the teams’ top draft pick last year, so the position is stocked despite the impending free agent status of inside linebackers Sean Spence and Terence Garvin.
It’s unlikely the Steelers bring back both, but one of the two could be re-signed for depth and special teams play.
The Steelers ranked 30th in the league in pass defense and, as team president Art Rooney II said last week, upgrading the defensive backfield will be a priority.
Second-round pick Senquez Golson, who missed the season after suffering a shoulder injury in mini-camp, will help, as will a full offseason for Ross Cockrell, who played extensively despite signing less than a week before the start of the regular season.
Free safety Mike Mitchell had a solid season in his second year in Pittsburgh, but Will Allen and Robert Golden, the starting strong safety and top backup, will be free agents. Bringing back Golden would be a good move to replace Allen, who had his best season but will turn 34 in June.
Brandon Boykin was acquired in a trade with Philadelphia after Golson’s injury and he struggled to pick up the defense early on. Though he played extensively down the stretch as the nickel cornerback, it’s unlikely Boykin, a free agent, will return.
William Gay and Antwon Blake are heading toward free agency and it wouldn’t surprise if the Steelers made an attempt to re-sign both. At 31, Gay hasn’t yet showed signs of slowing down, though he could be better suited to play in the slot. Blake struggled in his first season of extended playing time, but the Steelers stuck with him. They won’t overpay for the 25-year-old or make any guarantees, he could be brought back to compete for a starting job and provide experienced depth.
One player who likely won’t be back is Cortez Allen.
Allen has twice lost a starting job and played in just 12 games since signing a 4-year, $24.6-million extension two years ago and the Steelers will save $1.7 million if he is released prior to June 1 or $4.4 million after that date. They would then have to carry some dead money from his deal into 2017.
Do the Steelers go with Shaun Suisham or Chris Boswell at placekicker? Actually, it’s not much of a question considering Boswell proved to be just as good as Suisham last season and makes nearly $2 million less.
But releasing Suisham saves just $200,000 on the cap prior to June 1. Look for the Steelers to take both to camp and attempt to trade Suisham.
Punter Jordan Berry had a decent first season, placing 28 of his 59 punts inside the opposing 20 with just one touchback. But he injured his shoulder in the playoff game against Denver requiring surgery that will keep him out of action four months. Look for the team to bring in some competition.
Long snapper Greg Warren, one of just four players on last year’s roster who has won two Super Bowls with the Steelers, is getting older but remains very good at his job. He’ll be a free agent, but as they did last season, look for the Steelers to bring him back again on a one-year deal at the veteran minimum.