Steelers Draft Needs

By Donny Chedrick  

For the last handful of years, the Steelers have spent their first-round pick on a defensive player, and it has paid off to this point  You know the names - T.J. Watt, Artie Burns, Bud Dupree and Ryan Shazier are all guys that have made huge impacts on the Steelers' defense throughout the past few years, and especially this past season. The draft needs, however, aren't the same going into this year. The Steelers could also use free agency to mold their roster for next season 2018-2019 season. But we'll take a look at the Steelers' draft needs as if nothing happens in free agency this off-season. There are five positions the Steelers can look to build upon in April's draft.

Quarterback 

Photo creds to Heavy.Com

Although Ben Roethlisberger still has a deep touchdown pass or 20 left in him, he can't play forever. Currently,  QBs Landry Jones and Josh Dobbs are behind him. I wouldn't say this is the biggest need for the Steelers, but one that could be added to depending on what happens with Big Ben. Jones has looked below average in his five career starts. Although it's a relatively small sample size, Jones has been average. It wouldn't surprise me if the Steelers give Jones a chance as the starter once Ben retires, but there should be pressure behind him in the form of Josh Dobbs and another young QB. With the heavy quarterback class coming out in 2018, the Steelers could draft another signal caller in late April.

Tight End

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One of the bigger needs for the Steelers in the upcoming NFL Draft is the tight end position. Right now, there isn't much production at the position when you look at the combination of Jesse James, Vance McDonald and Xavier Grimble. There has been a void at the position since Heath Miller retired a few seasons back and the Steelers are still looking for that next Heath Miller. With guys like Mark Andrews out of Oklahoma, Mike Gesiki out of Penn State and Troy Fumagalli out of Wisconsin being available in April, look for the Steelers to select a tight end in the draft.

Outside Linebacker 

This shouldn't be a surprise. It's the Steelers favorite position to draft. Dupree Watt, Jarvis Jones, etc. have all been high draft picks over the last few seasons. In this case, the Steelers wouldn't be using a high draft pick on an OLB, but it should be a pick for depth later in the draft. With Pittsburgh losing James Harrison (in more ways than one)  and possibly losing Anthony Chickillo and Arthur Moats to free agency, the Steelers could be using one of their later picks on an outside linebacker.

Offensive Line - Bulking up on the offensive front wouldn't be half bad either.   Since the Steelers could lose guys like Chris Hubbard and B.J. Finney to free agency, there is some need to pack some depth up front. With veterans up, the Steelers offensive line has turned into one of the best in football, but with frequent injuries to offensive linemen, building around that group with guys behind them will help Pittsburgh continue their success at the offensive line position.

Free Safety

Although the Steelers have done a great job of rebuilding that secondary with guys like Artie Burns, Sean Davis, Mike Mitchell and Joe Haden, finding a younger replacement for older players would be an intelligent move. Burns and Davis seem to be turning into very good, young defensive backs so if the Steelers can strike gold again, that secondary can become among the best in the NFL.

The Steelers don't have many holes as of right now, but there will be some more distinct openings, and those will need to be filled come draft day.

Three keys to an Eagles victory

By Joe Smeltzer

Nick Foles is the man. Can he work his magic the way he did against the Vikings? (Photo creds to Texas HS Football)

It's Super Bowl Sunday. Pretty much everybody outside of the Northeast- and maybe a few NFC East cities- is pulling for the Philadelphia Eagles today, and I am one of those people. Here are three things the Eagles can do to pull off the unthinkable and slay Tom Terrific.


Key #1: Pressure Tom Brady

Photo creds to Ranker

When defenders get close to Tom Brady, he can be vulnerable. When they don't,  he's the greatest quarterback of all time. If Fletcher Cox, Timmy Jernigan and co. can handle the Pats offensive line and get close to Brady, number 12 could be in trouble. If number 12 is in trouble, so are the Patriots.

Key #2: Take advantage of opportunities

Photo creds to Eagles.com

If Jacksonville had made the most of Dion Lewis' fumble two  weeks ago, which took place when the Jags were up by ten early in the fourth quarter, this Super Bowl could have an astronomically different look. But instead, the Jags stalled, and if you can't put away Tom Brady, Tom Brady will put you in the grave. The Seahawks learned that three years ago. The Falcons learned last year, and the Jags learned in the NFC Championship Game. If the Eagles have momentum and don't take full advantage, they could be next in line.


Key #3: Don't get conservative

Photo creds to Barstool Sports Stoe

Kyle Shanahan showed the world how not to coach with a lead against New England in last year's Super Bowl. Will Doug Pederson do the same should Philly be in the driver's seat late in the second half? Time will tell. I would assume that the Eagles are aware of New England coming back from the dead in its last two Super Bowl wins, and hopefully, they use this knowledge not to repeat the mistakes of the others that were once on the biggest stage in North American sports.

Prediction
I want the Eagles to win, but I don't see it happening. After the last two Super Bowls, and even after the AFC Title game, how do you bet against Tom Brady? The Patriots never blow teams out in Super Bowls, so I'm hesitant to pick an easy win. But I think this margin of victory will be the highest of New Englands' soon to be six Super Bowl wins. The Eagles are good. They are not New England good.

Pats 31, Eagles 21. 

Patriot haters: Root for the Eagles, not just against the Patriots

By Joe Smeltzer

The dog masks are certainly fitting for this Super Bowl matchup. (Photo creds to NJ.Com)

In Pittsburgh, Some are billing this Super Bowl as a "battle of Evil vs. Evil."

On one side, there's the dreaded Patriots, who have owned our beloved Steelers so much so over the past 15 years that a franchise that prides itself on being a cut above everyone else has developed an obsession with them. On the other side, hated "Filthadelphia," -not Pittsburgh- is flying the Pennsylvania flag in the pinnacle of North American sports. So it's understandable that Steelers fans and a lot of others find themselves in a no-win situation of sorts come Sunday. But one of these two teams is quite likable, and for that, they should have the support of any football fan outside of the Northeast.

What's there not to like about this Eagles team? As far as neutral fans go, Philly checks off all the boxes on being the team to root for in the Super Bowl- and not just because the Eagles aren't the Patriots.

Fans love underdog stories. The Eagles fit the bill for that, not only because they got to the big dance coming off a 7-9 season, but they also overcame several injuries- most notably Carson Wentz- along the way. The fact that Nick Foles has a shot to stop Tom Terrific from winning his sixth Super Bowl says it all about Philly's long shot status. Even the head coach fits the bill.

Doug Pederson spent a total of three seasons as an NFL coordinator and had never been a head coach above the high school level before being hired to clean up Chip Kelly's mess. After a rocky (no pun intended) rookie campaign, now has a chance to do what no Eagles head coach has ever done in bringing a Super Bowl to the City of Brotherly Love. Underdogs make for a great story, and the Eagles are a great story.

Fans love personalities, and the Eagles have plenty of them. From the "take home to mom and dad" Wentz to the borderline frat-boy attitude of offensive tackle Lane Johnson, and even to the best baseball player in the world, Mike Trout, attending every home game, the Eagles enjoy what they do, and understand that games are made to be fun. Personalities make for entertainment, and the Eagles are entertaining.

Fans love teams that haven't been there before. Given that Philly has just two Super Bowl appearances in its' history and lost both of them, it's fair to say the Eagles and their fans check that box. While Philly has an ugly image- and have done more to deserve that image than a lot of fanbases have, there are Eagles fans, some of which are friends of mine, that deserve to see their beloved franchise hoist the Lombardi trophy for the first time. Fans love first-time winners, and the Eagles could bring it all home for the first time Sunday.

So for those of you outside of the Northeast, when your buddy asks you who you are rooting in the big game, you'll likely say the Eagles. But don't say that just because you don't like the Patriots. Say it because this Philly team is fun to watch, and easy to get behind.