This time, the Steelers have needs

By Darrell Laurant  |   Wednesday, April 25, 2007  |  Comments( 4 )

Pittsburgh Steelers
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What a difference a year makes.

In April 2006, the Pittsburgh Steelers were the defending Super Bowl champions and a team without a noticeable weakness. Picking at the tail end of Round 1, befitting their world champion status, the Steelers were in the comfortable position of choosing the "best available" athlete (that is, before they traded up slightly to get Ohio State wide receiver Santonio Holmes).

Things are very different this April. The offensive line grew old, seemingly overnight. The cornerbacks began to look vulnerable. And after a subpar, injury-plagued season, Joey Porter took his explosive pass rush and equally explosive temperament to Miami.

So what will Pittsburgh do with its No. 15 pick? For one thing, operations director Kevin Colbert would love to energize a fledgling pass rush. Playing hurt, Porter led the team with just seven sacks, and that ranked 35th in the league.

The Steelers could, of course, attack this problem from two directions -- with a Porter-style outside linebacker (if there is such a thing in this year's pool) or a mobile defensive lineman. Penn State LB Paul Posluszny could be available (although a previous knee injury makes him something of a risk), along with Miami's Jon Beason (quick and mean but undersized) and Florida State's Lawrence Timmons (lots of raw talent, with emphasis on "raw.")

Florida's Jarvis Moss is an intriguing prospect -- 6-foot-6, 276 pounds and 4.7 in the 40, with quick acceleration off the edge. He might be converted into an Adalius Thomas-style linebacker. Adam Carriker of Nebraska, meanwhile, is the more prototypical D-lineman, a 6-8, 292-pound moose who can defend inside or outside.

The offensive line problems may have been solved with free agency -- notably, the acquisition of Sean Mahan to replace the retired Jeff Hartings at center and the rapid development of young linemen Trai Essex and Willie Colon -- but the Steelers also need someone to spell Willie Parker at running back, and the draft is full of solid second- and third-rounders at that position. Another player Pittsburgh would probably love to have is cornerback Darrelle Revis -- near the top of the rankings at that position, and a local product to boot.

And finally, the Steelers need for Ben Roethlisberger to stay healthy during the offseason.

Pittsburgh Steelers draft coverage, courtesy of RealFootball365.com
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