Pure Steel
Steelers '07 Grades
By Jerry DiPaola

The Steelers season ended far short of the Super Bowl (isn't that the goal every year?), so the grades weren't high when coach Mike Tomlin's first report card showed up in his mailbox. Here it is, courtesy of the Pittsburgh Sports Report:

QUARTERBACK -- B+
We marked down Pro Bowler Ben Roethlisberger because of things that occurred on the offensive line and and at wide receiver. Behind underachieving and injured blockers and in front of pass catchers that weren't universally great at getting open, Roethlisberger was sacked 47 times. Former Steelers offensive coordinator Ron Erhardt complained about the same thing 14 years ago: Get out of the pocket and get rid of the ball, Neil, Ben, whoever. Live to fight another down. But Roethlisberger, when upright and with help, is one of the five best quarterbacks in the NFL, with a 32 touchdown passes (third in the league) and a 104.1 passer rating (second only to Tom Brady). The Steelers are contenders every year because of their quarterback.

RUNNING BACK - B
The Steelers won a Super Bowl with Willie Parker, so his style does mesh with success in Pittsburgh (no matter what the critics insist). He rushed for 1,316 yards (4.1 per carry) and is a tough guy inside the tackles. But his two rushing touchdowns (is that a misprint?) are indicative of bigger problems inside the red zone. Backup Najeh Davenport is no Bettis. Next summer, can we kill the hype for Gary Russell until he gets more than seven carries in the regular season?

WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS - C
Too low? Maybe, but you can't judge a team's passing game just on the top people. The best is clearly Santonio Holmes, who had 52 receptions for 942 yards and eight touchdowns in a season that included his own dreaded high ankle sprain. A real tough guy and the next great pass receiving star in the NFL, Holmes missed only two games with an injury that usually costs a player much more. The Steelers should be worried about 11-year veteran Hines Ward, who will be almost 33 by the end of next season. Another Hines headache: An average of 10.2 yards per catch. The Steelers need to think about a replacement for Ward by 2009 and a better complement of backups than Nate Washington and Cedrick Wilson. On the other hand, tight ends made 11 touchdown receptions -- ON THE STEELERS??? (Must be another misprint.)

OFFENSIVE LINE - C
If it's a C with All-Pro guard Alan Faneca, what will the grade be without him next year? The Steelers need help at center (Sean Mahan was one of the least effective free-agent signings in team history), guard (because Faneca wants to be a billionaire) and tackle (especially if free agent Max Starks and the Steelers can't agree on a new contract). Is there hope? The team needs to find new players in free agency and the draft and, finally, get something from fourth-year guard Chris Kemoeatu.

DEFENSIVE LINE -- B-
There's nothing wrong with the three starters, assuming Aaron Smith, one of the best ends in the business, makes a complete recovery from his torn bicep at the age of 32. Nose tackle Casey Hampton and right end Brett Keisel played well, but the Steelers' once-stout run defense showed too many cracks and that took away from the secondary's effectiveness. (Strong safety Troy Polamalu is good, but he can't be everywhere.) Tomlin admitted both sides of the line need an infusion of young talent.

LINEBACKERS - C
The linebackers have to shoulder some of the blame for the problems in run defense and the lack of a fierce pass rush. The best football player on the field in the Jaguars playoff game was inside linebacker James Farrior, but he's 33. Getting nothing from first-round pick Lawrence Timmons should be worrisome, and now he must beat out veterans Farrior and Larry Foote for playing time. Outside linebacker James Harrison led the team with eight sacks, but he faded slightly late in the season. Rookie LaMarr Woodley had four sacks and will slide comfortably into the left OLB spot when Clark Haggans leaves in free agency.

SECONDARY - C
Nothing hurt the Steelers more than the variety of injuries that beset Polamalu, who had no interceptions and no sacks (ouch!). Cornerbacks Ike Taylor, Deshea Townsend and Bryant McFadden aren't bad, but their biggest sin is that they are not special. Great teams need great shut-down corners, who allow your defensive coordinator to be more creative elsewhere on the field. Dick LeBeau didn't have that luxury. When free safety Anthony Smith grows up, he could be a good safety. In real time, however, he was a liability.

SPECIAL TEAMS - D
There isn't much more Tomlin can do with his weak coverge units. He devoted more than enough practice time it. Maybe he needs to coax Bill Cowher out of retirement to coach special teams. That would fix the problem. The return guys and rookie punter Daniel Sepulveda were below average, too, but kicker Jeff Reed missed only two field-goal attempts.