Ed Bouchette: Post-Season Analysis

Post-Season Analysis: '05 picture might be even better
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

KEY DATES:
Feb. 22: Teams designate franchise and transition players
March 2: Free-agency period begins
April 23-24: NFL draft

Slick posters from the Steelers' 2004 season are on sale through the Post-Gazette. They're nice keepsakes. Frame them, hang them on the wall, and send them as gifts to family and friends.
It's a good way to remember the Steelers' record 2004 season, at least the regular season, because this is one newspaper product that provides only the good news.

You won't find the Steelers' 41-27 loss to the New England Patriots in the AFC championship on the poster. Perhaps it will be included in a poster for next season, because, as Bill Cowher said, this is the beginning, not the end.

A poster that would better define the entire season would be a glossy reprint of the Jan. 26 front page of Hines Ward in tears. Now that tells the story, and it's not necessarily a bad one. Ward shows the passion and bitter disappointment of an entire team.

It just might represent a beginning, because the Steelers rebuilt a base in 2004, one of philosophy and attitude and, yes, talent that should carry them for several years. Somewhere along the line, the Steelers need to discover how to get over the hump and whether something they are doing or not doing prevents them from succeeding in the postseason. Otherwise, everything seems to be in place for them to make a run at the Super Bowl next season and beyond.

If anything, the Steelers should improve in 2005. That doesn't mean they will win 15 games again. Their schedule may preclude that. The Patriots and Jaguars visit Heinz Field and the Steelers play at Indianapolis, San Diego, Green Bay and Minnesota. That's not a schedule conducive to winning 15 games. But then, the Steelers beat both teams that will play in the Super Bowl, quite handily, in successive games at home the past season.

Although teams can go sour in a hurry in the NFL, the Steelers should be better for many reasons:
* Pro Bowl nose tackle Casey Hampton returns, and his backup Chris Hoke proved he deserves more playing time, perhaps in the nickel and dime defense.
* Ben Roethlisberger should be a much better quarterback, more knowledgeable about defenses and his offense. The Steelers can afford to put more on his shoulders next season and strike a better balance between the run and the pass than they did in 2004. His coaches, though, must put him through a rigorous offseason program, on and off the field, and make sure he spends much of his time at the team's training facility, starting in March.
* As well as the offensive line played, it may improve with Kendall Simmons back at right guard and massive Max Starks at right tackle. As with Roethlisberger, safeties Troy Polamalu and Chris Hope will benefit next season from their first as starters. So, too, will linebackers Clark Haggans and Larry Foote.
* The offense and defense will benefit from the entire coaching staff's return. This was Cowher's best staff up and down the line, starting with the two new coordinators, Dick LeBeau on defense and Ken Whisenhunt on offense.
* Free agency, which robbed some Steelers playoff teams in the 1990s of top talent, won't be a large factor this year. They may lose Plaxico Burress, but Antwaan Randle El is ready to fill that role if they do. They may lose Kendrell Bell, but he was lost for the season anyway and Larry Foote played well in his absence. They will lose Keydrick Vincent and probably Oliver Ross on the right side of their line, but Simmons and Starks will more than make up for that.

Here are some moves the Steelers should make:
* Ask Chad Scott to take a pay cut, the way Jerome Bettis did this past year. They may not want to pay Scott, a veteran cornerback, $4 million in salary, but he's worth having back at a more reasonable number.
* Make Plaxico Burress a decent offer. He's not likely to take it because someone will unload a ton of money on him. The other option is to put the franchise number on him and swallow more than $7 million as a cap hit for one season. That would allow the Steelers to see if Burress and Roethlisberger can build on their rapport and buy the Steelers one more year to find or develop another receiver behind Randle El.
* Sign Hines Ward, who has one year left on his contract, to a long-term deal. He represents the heart and soul of the team.
* Make Ross an offer, but not a big one because Starks will take over at right tackle. Ross would become the top backup at tackle/guard if he accepts their terms, although he likely will leave as a free agent. Vincent will sign elsewhere as a free agent.
* Convince Bettis to play another season, and do it soon. The Steelers can go with Duce Staley, Bettis, Verron Haynes and Willie Parker another season. However, if Bettis decides to retire or does not like the terms, the Steelers will need another good running back, through the draft or a free-agent bargain.
* Find out what Tommy Maddox is thinking, and if he will accept his role as the backup to Roethlisberger. If he is steadfast against it, trade him. Charlie Batch, provided his knee is sound, would re-sign as the No. 2 quarterback. Otherwise, Brian St. Pierre can be No. 2.
* Alonzo Jackson is not an outside linebacker. Either try to use him as a situational pass rusher or turn him into a 3-4 defensive end. If he can't do either, be done with him.

The Steelers do not need to sign any expensive free agents, no matter what happens or which players leave. They do not need to pursue cornerback Ty Law or find someone on the outside to replace Burress. They need to continue to look for players such as Travis Kirschke, Clint Kriewaldt, Willie Williams and James Harrison -- good players who either bargains in free agency or were on the street, players who can help you win.

The draft can be used to truly take the highest-rated players on their board, unless he's a quarterback, in the top rounds. The Steelers can use a tight end who is a good pass receiver and can become a steady target for Roethlisberger. They don't need to abandon their philosophy about blocking tight ends, but a complement to that would help. It's something they haven't had in a long time.

Cornerback and wide receiver also should be high on their list, whether or not Scott and Burress return. The Steelers always need outside linebackers but they should consider one of those undersized athletic defensive ends in the middle rounds and give him a year or so to develop, the way they did with Joey Porter, Jason Gildon, Clark Haggans, etc.
Kimo von Oelhoffen is 34, so finding a stud defensive end -- like Aaron Smith -- should be a priority.

Most importantly, Cowher and his staff need to follow the plan they devised a year ago when everyone seemed to draw motivation from their 6-10 record in 2003. The thoughts of preventing that again carried them through the offseason and into training camp.

How do you draw that kind of motivation after blowing through 16 games with 15 victories? That's easy. Instead of the Post-Gazette's slick salute to that accomplishment, the Steelers should construct a poster of their own. Reproduce the photo of a tearful Hines Ward and nail it to the inside of each player's locker, on the door of each coach and in the office of every Steelers executive.