<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday signed running back Rashard Mendenhall, their first-round pick in this year's draft, to a five-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed, but the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported that Mendenhall agreed to a five-year deal worth $12.55 million. The Steelers also signed wide receiver Limas Sweed, their second-round choice, to a four-year deal. Mendenhall, the Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Year last season at Illinois, was the first running back taken by the Steelers in the first round since Tim Worley in 1989. Mendenhall rushed for 2,539 yards and 22 touchdowns and caught 59 passes for 564 yards and five scores in his three seasons with the Fighting Illini. Last year, he helped lead Illinois to the Rose Bowl , setting single-season school records for rushing (1,681) and touchdowns (17). Mendenhall became the first Illinois player drafted by the Steelers since they selected safety Bobby Dawson in the 11th round in 1988.</div> I really liked the Steelers draft the past two years, particularly in rounds 1 and 2. Timmons and Woodley last year; to add help to what was an aging LB group. And this year, Mendenhall and Sweed to give Roethlisberger some very young weapons to work with (with Parker, Holmes, and Miller as other young pieces)
True...but assuming Sweed develops to at least a solid #2 WR; they have youth at RB (and depth), at WR1 Holmes and WR2 Sweed, and at TE with Miller.
Oh I definitely love the weapons they've collected over the past few years. But I was surprised they completely neglected their O-line this offseason. Considering they've invested so much in their QB, you'd think they'd do whatever they can to make sure he stays on the field.
Steelers have a quiet confidence with there O-line, plus if you have weapons to dump the ball off to or hand it off to, sometimes that makes the defense thinks for 1/4 second and thats enuff time for Ben
The beat writers reported after the draft that the Steelers were comfortable with their O-Line, which was surprising since almost every fan wanted them to address it during the draft and all they did was draft Tony Hills in the 4th.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vintage @ Jul 25 2008, 04:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I really liked the Steelers draft the past two years, particularly in rounds 1 and 2. Timmons and Woodley last year; to add help to what was an aging LB group. And this year, Mendenhall and Sweed to give Roethlisberger some very young weapons to work with (with Parker, Holmes, and Miller as other young pieces)</div> Don't overlook Bruce Davis, their 3rd round pick this year. With Timmons moving inside, they needed another young guy for the outside. With his motor, he should be able to make some noise later in the season.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vintage @ Jul 25 2008, 06:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I assume James Harrison is going to start with Woodley opposite him, no?</div> Yes, that is the plan. Timmons will back up (have the chance to beat out in camp) Foote and Farrior on the inside.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Vintage @ Jul 25 2008, 06:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I don't catch many Steeler games...give me the rundown on Foote/Farrior</div> Both are very solid, but Farrior is 33. Last season Farrior had 96 tackles and 6.5 sacks. Foote had 80 tackles and 3 sacks.
I forgot that the Steelers signed Justin Hartwig. He can play Center and Sean Mahan, who struggled at Center last season can move to guard. Neither is Faneca, but at least they have experience.
Meh Faneca only has a couple years left anyway, I'm confident in the Steelers this year, too bad the schedule makers made us a tough one
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BasX @ Jul 30 2008, 02:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Meh Faneca only has a couple years left anyway, I'm confident in the Steelers this year, too bad the schedule makers made us a tough one</div> Its always hard to tell... Last year, everyone had Cleveland pegged as an easy win. They ended up being pretty good. Last year, everyone predicted Tennessee would fall to the bottom of the barrell. They nearly ended up making the playoffs. Jax ended up being much tougher than people thought, too. Ditto with Green Bay. Teams like Chicago and New Orleans fell off. Its way to hard to predict schedules.
