Holy Steelers Moves, Batman!

The Steelers are usually quite mild when you think of their past off-seasons, as it relates to free agency, but not this year! They have made alot of moves that will impact their next season, and the years to follow. Let's take a look at what they have done so far.

They signed Arnaz Battle...umm...(pause for dramatic reaction by reader)...yea, this guy isn't very good. He's 30, has a total of 11 career touchdowns, and really brings little value to the receivers, but apparently he is really good on Special Teams. Obviously, they added him to give Limas Sweed a push, or they signed him because they think he has more potential than what he does (he has played for San Francisco, with QB's like Tim Rattay, Alex Smith, and any other curtain jerker you can think of) He was cheap, and the Steelers must know something I don't because this wasn't a sexy signing at all.

Will Allen, yes, Will Allen? He's done nothing in Tampa Bay since he was drafted. He is another Special Teams upgrade and he's an above average tackler. This signing almost seals the fate of "Bonesaw" Tyrone Carter...which excites me. Allen did play at The Ohio State University, so his pedigree is second to none, but this isn't 2004 anymore, and he ain't getting any younger.

Ryan Clark signed a new contract and will be back in Pittsburgh. I thought for sure this guy would be gone. After he rejected the Steeler's initial offer, I thought he'd sign with another team for more money, but I guess Miami just wasn't a good fit for him (yea I'd choose cold Western Pa, over sunny South-beach). This was a smart move by both parties. Clark isn't a good pass defender, but he knows how to play beside Troy, and I think he understands that he looks better than he actually is, because he plays beside Troy. Ryan Clark is ok by me, but only because of the hit he laid on Willis Maaccgayhee...if he wouldn't have laid that hit on him, he'd be a bum.

The most exciting and surprising move of the Steelers off-season by far, was the fact that they brought Antwaan Randle-El, back to Pittsburgh. I love this little midget of a wide out. He never made enemies with the Steelers faithful, the front office liked him, and he produced while he was here. I don't dislike the guy because he took a great contract from Washington (who overvalued him and overpaid him), I love this little guy. Trickerration will be apart of the Steelers playbook once again. If your thinking why did we sign him again, the answer is simple. He knows how to play with Big Ben. He is a great option as a 4th WR and might be the future Hines Ward (after he retires).

With the Steelers signing these players (and a re-signing of Larry Foote on the Horizon), I like our odds. By sealing up some glaring holes, the Steelers can choose either a DE, RB, or Offensive Lineman in the draft. Why don't they take a CB in the draft? I just don't think the Steelers put a priority on CB's because we never have good ones. They probably feel that Lewis, Burnett, and Gay, can platoon and do a good enough job, that they don't have to draft or sign another important one. I would go with that strategy, because if our Special Teams weren't so bad last year, our Dbacks wouldn't have looked as bad as they did.

Remember, Frank Summers is healthy next year,so we might use a FB. Rashard and Moore will be our running backs (with probably another rookie in the mix), so that's why theirs no need to sign another important running back. O-line doesn't need touched, WR's are locked, Tight Ends are locked, D-Line is locked, Linebackers are locked. Really, I don't see a huge impact CB in the first round of this draft, so maybe they should draft an O-Lineman.

If I had their pick, I would take a Defensive End. Aaron Smith is really old, and injury prone. Keisel is still young, for the position, so you need someone to play when Ziggy Hood starts, this draft is deep with D-Lineman, you might as well take one now.

After this year the debate over who we should sign will take place, San Antonio or the "Carpenter" Woodley, so maybe this year's draft will indicate, which way the Steelers are leaning.