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Steelers Team Analysis

Excerpt #2

 Updated on 2/19/06

                        

Text Box: Text Box: Ricardo Colclough will be entering his fourth season and has yet to make a significant impact. He is an average kick returner (21.5 yard average) and has yet to develop top flight coverage skills. 2006 will be a make or break year for him. He shows flashes of athletic ability but has a ways to go to refine his skills. He will be a player to watch at training camp as his future with the team may be determined in Latrobe. Willie Williams will be 35 entering his 15th season. He was only active in four games in 2005 and one would question if there’s any gas left in his tank at this point. Willie played in all sixteen games in 2004 and was a savior at corner after an injury to Chad Scott. He was drafted in the sixth round out of Western Carolina in 1993 and has had an outstanding career with both Pittsburgh and Seattle. Chidi Iwuoma has been a top-notch special teams performer the last few years. He is rarely used on the defensive side of the ball and merely provides depth at corner. Conclusion: I expect Deshea Townsend to return to the team, however this will largely determine the overall need at the position. Youth is needed to replace the aging Willie Williams and push Ricardo Colclough to the next level. Expect Ike Taylor and Bryant McFadden to be the opening day starters. Special Teams Jeff Reed was signed to a contract extension prior to last season and rewarded the team with his most productive & consistent season of his career. He was perfect (18 of 18) on field goals of thirty-nine yards or less. On attempts of forty yards or more he hit only 54% (6 of 11). This stat is a bit misleading, however, as Reed plays his home games in what is widely considered the worst kicking conditions in the league at Heinz Field. He was perfect in the playoffs (3 of 3) including a season long of forty-seven yards. His kickoffs have frequently had good depth and adequate hang time. He is another solid former rookie free agent acquisition by the front office. Chris Gardocki will be 36 years old entering his seventeenth season; however, this is not a major concern for a punter. Gardocki’s punts possess good hang-time, directional accuracy, and he has never been blocked in his lengthy career. His gross punting average was 41.8 with a net of 34.7 last season—not great numbers but effective. His best asset is consistency at this point. Mike Barr may push him more than most anticipate in training camp. Barr was in the teams training camp last year and possesses good leg strength and he also has youth on his side. Greg Warren beat out Mike Schneck for the long-snapping job last preseason. This had more to do with a large payroll savings than it did performance, as Schneck is still one of the more consistent snappers in the league, as evidenced by his Pro Bowl appearance with Buffalo following the ‘05 campaign. Warren was consistent and accurate. Overall, he did a good job for the team in his rookie debut. He has good velocity and was a cap beneficial acquisition. Former Ohio State Buckeye Kyle Andrews has been added to the roster to compete with Warren in training camp. Andrews is a former walk-on that was OSU’s starting long snapper for four years. He is highly consistent, has a quick release and will give Warren a run for his money.