Free Agent Max Starks Could Solidify San Diego Chargers’ Offensive Line

Max Starks could be the Chargers’ answer at left tackle.

Pittsburgh Steelers free agent offensive tackle Max Starks is visiting with the San Diego Chargers this week. This comes as no surprise, because Starks is a proven left tackle, which is a position of major need for Mike McCoy’s team.

Should Starks sign with the Chargers, he will be reuniting with offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt. Whisenhunt became the offensive coordinator of the Steelers the same year that the franchise selected Starks in the third round of the draft, 2004.

Starks initially played on the right-side of the offensive line and started there during the team’s Super Bowl victory over the Seattle Seahawks in 2005. With Marvel Smith still protecting Ben Roethlisberger’s blindside until 2008, Starks would be forced to wait his turn to move to his more natural position.

Once he found his way to the left side however, Starks immediately looked more comfortable as primarily a pass-blocker rather than an impact run-blocking offensive lineman. Starks would start his second Super Bowl in 2008, but this time he would be protecting Roethlisberger’s blindside. Starks would be Roethlisberger’s blindside protector from then until this most recent season. Filling that role is difficult for any team, but filling that role for Roethlisberger is a thankless task.

Troy Polamalu, Shamarko Thomas and Dick LeBeau’s Blitzing Concepts

The Pittsburgh Steelers didn’t trade up for Shamarko Thomas to let him sit on the sidelines as a rookie.

When the Pittsburgh Steelers traded back into the fourth round of the 2013 NFL draft, they had given up a 2014 third round pick to land a safety out of Syracuse who would look quite familiar to their fanbase. Of course, there was no reason for any Steelers fans to know anything about Shamarko Thomas, but watching him on the field would instantly remind them of a safety they drafted out of USC back in 2003.

Shamarko Thomas is not Troy Polamalu and he probably never will be. However, he is a similar prospect who plays with great acceleration, agility and aggressiveness on the field. Crucially, Shamarko has the flexibility to do a variety of things in space, which is undoubtedly what attracted Steelers’ defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau to him.

Richard Seymour: A Valuable Free Agent Addition in Today’s NFL

Richard Seymour should have the pick of many teams after June 1st.

It is often noted that today’s NFL is a passing league. With eight of the top 10 seasons for individual passing yards coming in the last five years, it’s impossible to argue against that claim. However, even though it is a passing league and offenses need to have a good quarterback to win games, balance on both sides of the ball is as important as ever.

When you look at the final four teams who competed for this year’s Super Bowl, each were able to run and pass the ball with different approaches. The New England Patriots unbalanced defenses with their plethora of weapons, the Baltimore Ravens have a pair of excellent running-backs and a strong offensive line, the San Francisco 49ers had the best offensive line in the league and a stable of runners in various forms and the Atlanta Falcons used their passing threat to set up the running game.

Yet, ultimately the two teams who made the Super Bowl are considered defense-first units. Led by Justin Smith and Haloti Ngata, the Ravens and 49ers ranked 12th and second in the league in points allowed during the regular season respectively. Smith and Ngata are singled out for very important reasons. Ngata wasn’t fully healthy during the regular season, which was a big reason that the Ravens fell to 12th overall in points allowed per game, while Smith wasn’t healthy in the post-season, when the 49ers’ defensive output dropped notably compared to when he was 100 percent.

Each AFC North Team’s Greatest Weakness After the NFL Draft and Free Agency

Who does the carrying in Cincinnati?

Now that the bulk of free agency and the draft is over, each one of the 32 NFL teams are beginning to take shape for the 2013 Regular Season. Although there will be reasons for every teams’ fan-base to be excited, this is also the time of the year when weaknesses on each roster finally come into focus.

In an eight part-series, I am going to try to identify and inform you about every NFL team’s weakness division-by-division. To kick things off, we go to the home of the current Super Bowl champions, the AFC North.

Pittsburgh Steelers Set Up For More Offensive Success in Todd Haley’s Second Year

LeVeon Bell is just one new addition for the Steelers’ offense in 2013.

For the first time in the whole game, the Denver Broncos didn’t run the ball on first down. Instead, Tim Tebow faked the ball to Willis McGahee before throwing a dart over the head of Ryan Mundy into the hands of Demaryius Thomas. Thomas sprinted away from Ike Taylor and into the endzone, the lowest point of the Steelers’ 2011 season was also the point at which their season came to a close.

Not only did that play bring down the curtain on the Steelers’ season, but it also would stand in history as the last play of Bruce Arians’ career as the team’s offensive coordinator. Arians, Hines Ward, James Farrior and William Gay would all be elsewhere soon after, but it was Arians’ loss that would cause ripple effects throughout the following season.

As soon as Arians was let go, star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger made his displeasure known. Roethlisberger had grown very close to Arians, some might say too close, likely because he had always allowed him to play the game his way and not tried to force him into any particular scheme. In short, Arians let Roethlisberger be Roethlisberger.

For that reason, it was a surprise to many when the Steelers brought in Todd Haley to succeed Arians. Not only was Haley seen as a completely different coach to Arians, but he also brought a very fiery, passionate character to Pittsburgh that would potentially be destructive when juxtaposed next to Roethlisberger’s.

This was something that the national media zoned in on during the quieter parts of the off-season, as the duo not speaking initially was blown completely out of proportion. Even though the idea of a rift between the two before they even spoke was outlandish, a semblance of truth to the rumors appeared to surface during the regular season. Roethlisberger never looked comfortable in Haley’s scheme and his body language was significantly worse than it had been over the previous few seasons.

Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Cooper is the Guard of Bruce Arians’ Dreams

Jonathan Cooper has landed with the perfect Head Coach in Arizona.

The defining moment of Super Bowl XL remains that touchdown pass that Antwaan Randle El threw to fellow wide receiver Hines Ward. Ward’s score helped the Pittsburgh Steelers seal a 21-10 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Then offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt received much of the credit for designing the play, while head coach Bill Cowher’s bravery was lauded by the franchise’s fan-base.

Often overlooked in that play is the impact of the team’s wide receivers coach, a coach by the name of Bruce Arians.

Arians would succeed Ken Whisenhunt as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator 12 months later, after Mike Tomlin took over the Steelers’ head coaching role and Whisenhunt filled the same position for the Arizona Cardinals. Arians helped his team back to the Super Bowl during his four years as the Steelers’ offensive coordinator, beating Whisenhunt’s Cardinals in the big game, but soon found himself unemployed once again.

Because of his previous work as Peyton Manning’s quarterback coach, Arians was offered the opportunity to become the Indianapolis Colts’ offensive coordinator under Chuck Pagano. Having already successfully aided the development of Manning and Ben Roethlisberger, Arians was tasked with fitting Andrew Luck into his new role as the Colts’ franchise quarterback.

Little did Arians know it, but he would quickly fill that head coaching role that had eluded him throughout his NFL career. When Pagano was diagnosed with cancer, Arians took over the mantle of interim head coach before guiding the team to an unexpected 9-3 record.

NFL Draft 2013: Best Landing Spots For Each Style of Prospect

Where would strong-armed quarterback Tyler Wilson prefer to be?

At this stage of the draft process, every single prospect is starting to let his mind wonder about where this portion of his life is going to project his career. Who will take him in the draft and allow him to wear their jersey?

Undoubtedly each prospect will have their personal preferences, but since it’s impossible to ask every single one and get an honest answer, I instead decided to look through the different styles of players available and where they would likely be best fit for their careers.

NFL Draft 2013: Arthur Brown Could Continue the Evolution of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Defense

Arthur Brown could be the next great Steelers linebacker.

In two days, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will step towards the podium at Radio City Music Hall in New York to announce that the Pittsburgh Steelers will draft….

And that is where the story ends for now.

Only twice since 2004 have the Pittsburgh Steelers selected as high in the draft as they will this year. The first time they came away with a young quarterback who would quickly lead his team to two Super Bowl championships, Ben Roethlisberger. The second time they would land one of their current defensive leaders n Lawrence Timmons. The Steelers will pick 17th, the highest they have picked since they took Maurkice Pouncey 18th overall in 2010.

Steelers’ general manager Kevin Colbert said at a recent press conference, “I doubt that we move up. I think the more picks we have the better, in this draft particularly. But there will be a good player at 17, there’s no question about that.” Colbert didn’t tip his hand in any particular direction, but former Georgia outside linebacker Jarvis Jones believes that he is atop their board, while safeties Jonathan Cyprien or Kenny Vaccaro could be considerations. Tank Carradine’s potential could tempt them also or a defensive lineman.

The best prospect for the Steelers may be inside linebacker Arthur Brown. Brown has been a favorite of the online scout community for some time, but most of the mainstream media is just beginning to recognize his potential as a top 20 pick. A product of Kansas, most of the skepticism surrounding Brown’s NFL projection is sourced from his size. Brown is just 6′ and 240 points. He has the frame to add bulk, but will definitely be under pressure to do so on the next level.

NFL Draft 2013: What Dee Milliner Would Bring to the Cleveland Browns

Why Should the Cleveland Browns consider drafting Dee Milliner?

In four days, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will step towards the podium at Radio City Music Hall in New York to announce that the Cleveland Browns will draft….

And that is where the story ends for now.

As is typical, the Browns are picking in the top 10 and could go in a variety of different directions with their first addition. Oregon outside linebacker Dion Jordan is probably the favorite, Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei would likely be too talented to pass up on if he falls, BYU’s Ezekial Ansah or LSU’s Barkevious Mingo could also come to Cleveland as pass rushers, while a trade down could be the ideal answer because the franchise has no second round pick.

Yet, the most tantalizing prospect linked with the Browns this off-season has been cornerback Dee Milliner of Alabama.

According to esteemed draft analyst Ryan Lownes, Milliner is the ideal cornerback prospect with the size, speed and instincts to play the position in any scheme. For the Browns, this is the perfect piece to add to their defense. Even though the regime that took over in Ohio this off-season brought in a well-respected offensive coordinator, Norv Turner, and a head coach coming from an offensive background, Rod Chudzinski, the Browns’ new defensive coordinator may be the most exciting hire made by any franchise.

Former Pittsburgh Steelers’ defensive backs coach and Arizona Cardinals’ defensive coordinator Ray Horton landed with the Browns after losing out on the vacant head coaching position in Arizona. Horton is a former NFL defensive back who has been employed in a coaching role since 2005. After the 2010 season, he took over a Cardinals’ defense that ranked 30th in the league and was enduring some significant player development.

Horton hastened individual development on the roster and allowed his unit to improve to be the 17th ranked defense over each of the past two seasons. Despite the underwhelming numbers, the 53-year-old defensive coordinator earned rave reviews from across the NFL.

Why are Green Bay Packers Interested in Pittsburgh Steelers’ Steve McLendon?

Who is Steve McLendon and why are the Packers visiting with him?

Despite playing just 139 snaps during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2012 season, young defensive lineman Steve McLendon earned a reputation as being one of the team’s most exciting young players. Despite the excitement amongst the franchise’s fans, the coaches on the sidelines never really bought into McLendon.

Some wondered if they were trying to sneak McLendon through restricted free agency this year, but that notion was dispelled as soon as the team gave him the lowest possible tender. Because McLendon was undrafted in 2009, he won’t cost any potential new suitor a draft pick.

Of course, the fact that the Steelers are so comfortable with the idea of losing McLendon and didn’t use him while he was around should mean that no other team would have an interest in signing him to a sheet. At least, that’s the logical take. However, there has been little logic to the Steelers’ off-season so far this year.

The perception of McLendon is off somewhat. He is very talented, but he is not all that young. Even though he has only been in the league for three years and started just one game during that span, McLendon turned 27 in January of this year. Still, presuming he is ready to play and has developed under the guidance of the Steelers’ coaching staff, he should be able to at least contribute this coming season.