No word on Hampton's return, but Steelers think Ta'Amu is his clone

By Gerry Dulac
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/
April 29, 2012

The Steelers think they have found Casey Hampton's replacement at nose tackle with a player who possesses some of the same run-clogging, impossible-to-move traits as their five-time Pro Bowler.

Now, they are waiting to find out if Hampton still possesses some of the traits that made him the anchor of their 3-4 defense after having a third major knee surgery.

If not, they are prepared to move on after drafting Washington's Alameda Ta'amu -- a bigger, wider version of Hampton -- in the fourth round.

"I think you have to ask Casey that," defensive line coach John Mitchell snapped Saturday, when asked if Hampton will be ready to play when the regular season begins in Denver in September. Moments earlier, the Steelers moved up 10 spots in the fourth round to draft Ta'amu, a powerful 6-foot-2 1/4, 348-pound nose tackle who once weighed as much as 390 pounds.

"I can't answer that. He was here about a week ago. He looks like Casey. I can't answer that. You have to ask Casey if he is going to be ready to play. When he shows up, I'll know."

Hampton tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in the playoff loss in Denver and did not have surgery until Jan. 27. It was the second time he has had ACL surgery on his left knee, dating to his senior season at Texas. He also had ACL surgery on his right knee in 2004.

Last month, Hampton restructured his contract and agreed to a pay cut in exchange for one more season with the Steelers. But when he will be able to play remains uncertain.

That's why the Steelers wanted to find a nose tackle in the draft. Dontari Poe of Memphis was gone with the 11th overall pick, but the Steelers had Ta'amu rated the second-best nose tackle. They had a low-second to high-third round grade on him.

When he was still available in the fourth, they gave up their sixth-round pick to the Washington Redskins to move up 10 spots to get him.

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