The Steelers have now signed tow of their 9 draft picks. The first was Alameda Ta’amu. Now fifth round pick RB Chris Rainey is signed and ready to go. Rainey has a chance to be a real contributor to this team. He will most likely be returning kicks and punts. He also could have a Dexter McCluster type role in Todd Haley’s offense. Speed is the name of Rainey’s game. It could carry him a long way on this team.
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Steelers All Pro Center Maurkice Pouncey is fully healed from ankle surgery this offseason. Pouncey struggled with the injuries to his ankle over the last two seasons. The surgery should make it so the chance of another injury is much smaller. Now that Pouncey is fully healed he will be able to participate in OTAs with the team this month. With Pouncey fully healthy this offensive line will only get better. Pouncey is the key to the offensive line. He is the brains. He makes all the calls and can really help these guys around him. The addition of Pouncey in his rookie year made the offensive line so much better then it had been. His presence and leadership made the line look much better than it was. Pouncey could have two new teammates on the starting offensive line with him. David DeCastro is almost assured to start. OT Mike Adams could also fight for a starting job. Pouncey can really influence the two of them and keep growing the offensive line. The faster these guys get ready and can make an impact the better this line will be. The Steelers signed their first draft pick of the year. NT Alameda Ta’amu singed a four year deal with the team. The Steelers still have 7 other draft picks to sign. Ta’amu is going to be the heir apparent to Casey Hampton. He may also be the starter at the beginning of the season. Hampton is still recovering from ACL surgery. He may have to start the year on the PUP list. That would mean either Ta’amu starts or the Steelers move Ziggy Hood to NT. Ta’amu has prototypical size for a 2 gap NT in a 3-4 defense. He could fit the role well. He does not have to be spectacular or make big plays to be big in the defense. He just needs to eat up blockers. The Steelers may have their fourth round pick start this year and be good. That would be huge for this team.
Alameda Ta’amu appears to be the heir apparent to the NT position for the Steelers. He will learn under Casey Hampton and John Mitchell on how to play the position this season. He could even end up starting if he learns fast enough and Hampton is unable to recover from knee surgery. Hampton will do a good job of helping Ta’amu become the future at the position. Ta’amu got another call though from someone else on the defense that could be even more helpful. Troy Polamalu made a phone call to Ta’amu after he was drafted last weekend to help him get ready for the NFL. When he first picked up the phone Ta’amu did not believe it was Polamalu.
Polamalu and Ta’amu share the same heritage. They are both of Samoan culture. Polamalu reaching out to Ta’amu gave him a good feeling about coming into the NFL. It calmed his nerves and let him relax in minicamp yesterday. It made the first part of the transition much easier on Ta’amu. That will help him out to get comfortable in the defense. He can look to Polamalu anytime he needs assistance. Polamalu and Hampton will continue to mentor this kid into the NFL. Polamalu will have the advice Ta’amu will seek out about being a professional and doing things the right way. Then he will have Big Snack to show him how to be the best at his position. Ta’amu got really lucky coming into this situation. The Steelers could also get lucky after Ta’amu reaches his full potential under these two guys mentoring.
It seems as if a familiar face had entered Steelers minicamp practice today. First round pick David DeCastro changed his number to 66. Steelers fans remember the last great guard to wear that number. Alan Faneca was a stalwart for the Steelers at the Left Guard position for years. Until the helmet came off you may have thought it was him. DeCastro will have a lot to live up to wearing that number. Faneca was a 9 time Pro Bowler and a nine time All Pro. Faneca was one of the best guards to ever play the game. He was the best guard of his generation and proved so by being named to the all decade team for the 2000′s. Faneca is sure fire Hall of Famer. It will not take him long to get in. DeCastro and Faneca both came from big time schools. Faneca came from LSU and DeCastro from Stanford. They are both smart players. They are both tough no nonsense kind of guys. They were both drafted in the mid 20′s. They both are great pulling offensive linemen. They have so much in common DeCastro might as well wear the number. That means DeCastro will be thought of like Faneca every time he touches the field though. The fans will see that number and want to see Faneca type play. That could put some pressure on DeCastro. If he plays poorly early he will hear about it. I think he should be able to handle it. DeCastro has the ability to play like that. If he can live up to that hype the Steelers will be more then happy. Today marks the end of a fun-filled Reader Appreciation Week. With that, we have also reached the conclusion of the Pittsburgh Spirit Contest and the Social Networking Giveaway. For the Pittsburgh Spirit Contest, we asked the BB&G faithful to show us how they bleed black and gold. We a nice mix of….interesting submissions. After a careful deliberation by the BB&G crew, we have decided that the photo below takes Pittsburgh spirit to dizzying heights!
Congratulations to Robb Watters for the submission! For your efforts, you will receive a Steelers New Era Draft Cap. In the Social Networking Giveaway, we gave out a 3-part code across our Facebook, Twitter, and newsletter. Quite a few were able to piece together that “Nobody likes the Ravens” (though I don’t think they needed a code to come to that conclusion). From all the correct answers, we randomly selected Eian Wagner to receive a $50 gift card to Steelers.com! We hope everyone enjoyed Reader Appreciation Week! Tell us what you thought about it in the comments, or send me an email at jimmykudo@bleedblackandgold.com. We are always looking for ways to better interact with our readers. In anticipation of Reader Appreciation Week, we asked for article submissions for a guest column spot right here on BB&G. We got quite a few worthy submissions from which we’ve selected our three favorite. Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to our selected few. By Justin Manns
Many things had to go right for this scenario to play out exactly the way it did last Friday night, and, in my opinion, both parties (the Steelers and Adams) will benefit from this peculiar sequence of events. Mike Adams committed to the buckeyes on March 3rd of 2007 from Dublin Coffman High School, only about a 10 min drive from where his rocky college career would take place. He entered the University as the number 2 offensive tackle prospect that year. In 2008, Adams started 4 games as true freshmen before being sidelined with a shoulder injury. Then in January of 2009, mike was stopped by campus police for running a stop sign and cited for drug paraphernalia. The paraphernalia charges where dropped however when substance tests came back negative. Subsequently, he was suspended for the first two games of the upcoming season for team’s rules violations. He did start 4 games in the middle of the season before being sidelined with a knee injury for the remainder of the year. As the 2010 season got underway, Adams began living up to all the hype that surrounded him coming out of high school as a 6’7”, 323lb prototypical, left tackle. He started all 13 games that year and earned First Team All Big Ten accolades along with winning 3 Jim Parker linemen of the week awards. However, prior to the bowl game that year news broke of the Ohio State memorabilia scandal and Adams was named as one of the 5 OSU players who sold personal possessions for tattoos and cash to a local Columbus “business man.” Following an NCAA investigation, Adams was suspended for the first 5 games of the 2011 season and finished out his senior year starting the last 7 games. Despite his shortened season, he still earned Second Team All Big Ten honors. However, Adams troubles didn’t end there. He reportedly tested positive for marijuana at the combine in April destroying Adams already questionable draft stock and seemingly ending all hope of Adams playing for his favorite NFL franchise, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Reports surfaced of Mike being removed from numerous draft boards including the Steelers, which were seemingly confirmed by Pittsburgh General Manager Kevin Colbert. Following all of the troubles that surrounded him, Mike took it upon himself to try and rectify the situation prior to the beginning of the draft. He sent a letter to the Steelers organization apologizing profusely for not only the positive test but for lying in the face of the GM and coaches during the one-on-one interviews at the combine about the last time he had partook in marijuana use. He then requested another meeting. It was reported that Tomlin, Colbert and Art Rooney II granted this request and met with him face to face. They laid out a plan for Adams and the criteria he must follow to become a successful member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Adams must have impressed the organization in that meeting, because it is well known the Steelers do not draft prospects of questionable character or tolerate troubled players. A recent example includes another Ohio State alum, Santonio Holmes. In the end, the Steelers provide Adams with the stability he needs in Mike Tomlin as a mentor, an organization that breeds success, and teammate role models. Adams provides the Pittsburgh Steelers with all the intangibles of a franchise left tackle at a great value in the second round. The question moving forward: Will Mike do what is asked of him and mature into the championship caliber player many (including the Steelers) believe he can be? Only time will tell. Ed Bouchette was going over some predictions he saw possibly coming to the Steelers offensive line. He put out his projected starting offensive line. In that line was a surprise. Bouchette put Willie Colon in as the starting left guard. That means that both rookies make the starting lineup this year. David DeCastro will be starting at right guard and Mike Adams starting at left tackle. That is what I am hoping for and I agree with Ed that it may not happen right away but those two guys I hope are on the field at those positions for the team. This is something that many fans have been clammoring for since Colon arrived. He was expected to be a guard and was projected to be a guard. The Steelers stuck him out on an island at right tackle. Colon had some good times but for the most part he was below average at the position. We kept hearing how good Colon was but Flozell Adams came in and played better two seasons ago. Then Marcus Gilbert came out and showed great promise at the position this year. Two years without Colon and our offensive line was better then when he was on it. That means he was not that good. These guys were not Pro Bowlers and still outplayed him. Colon belongs at guard. That is the position he should be playing. Moving him inside you take away his weakness. Colon struggles against speed rushers. Putting him inside covers both his shoulders and gives him help if there is a guy he is having trouble with. Colon also is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Being next to Maurkice Pouncey would make it so Colon could be told what to do and have Pouncey hold him accountable. That is a plus. This move will improve our offensive line greatly. Gilbert can stay on the right side where he belongs. Adams can play the left side where if he gets his head on straight and he can dominate. We all know what Pouncey can do. Then we have DeCastro coming in. This is an exciting time for this offensive line. It is moving forward and becoming a much better unit. Ben Roethlisberger has always stuck up for his offensive line. He had their backs even when they were awful. He is in for a new world where he has time to get rid of the ball. His play should improve and instead of running for his life he can get the ball out from the pocket and make even more big plays. Even though he will not say it out loud because he will not throw those guys under the bus he has to be excited. I like the move if it happens. The Steelers made two moves today according to Aaron Wilson. The Steelers released RB Chad Spann and CB Antonio Smith. Both of these guys were long shots to make the practice squad let alone the roster. The Steelers ran out of room for Spann when they drafted Chris Rainey. The team has a full stable of backs and still most likely will have to release one if not two more before the season starts. With Mendenhall unlikely to be ready for the start of the season that is another roster spot that has to be held and the team will be unable to keep all of these guys. That will be a good position and roster battle during training camp. Smith was unlikely to even make the practice squad. The team drafted Terrence Frederick in the 7th round. That spelled the end for Smith. He may be brought back during camp with as few defensive backs as are on the Steelers roster. They will need bodies if anyone gets injured. So Smith could get back. In anticipation of Reader Appreciation Week, we asked for article submissions for a guest column spot right here on BB&G. We got quite a few worthy submissions from which we’ve selected our three favorite. Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to our selected few. Today’s guest column is particularly radical and I’m interested to hear everyone’s thoughts in the comments. By Robb Watters We are quickly coming up on twenty years since the Pirates have been relevant in the world of Major League Baseball. Blame has been passed around from fired managers to GMs to ownership (and especially) to the lack of salary cap in the league. Many have used the excuse that the Pirates simply can’t win because they either don’t have, or won’t spend, the money needed to compete with the likes of the Mets, Cubs, Yankees, and Red Sox. Of course, other small market clubs around the league have proven this excuse to be just that–another excuse from jilted fans. We’ve seen teams like Oakland, Minnesota, and Milwaukee become competitive without splurging like Miami seems to do every 6-8 years. For the Pirates, though, the Billy Bean recipe just isn’t there. We must enter a Major League Baseball twilight zone where the makeup of the league is made to resemble that of soccer’s English Premier League for the Pirates to be successful. In the EPL, the bottom three clubs each year are relegated to the nPower League who then send their top three clubs up. For this to work in baseball, we must forget that minor league clubs are affiliates of the Big League teams and picture them more as independents like the Washington Wild Things. In this scenario, the American and National Leagues would relegate their bottom two clubs each year in exchange for the top two minor league clubs. Relegation in the Premier League is generally accompanied by disgrace amongst fans, the players, and the ownership, which also tends to result in turnover of employment at all levels. This may be exactly what fledgling organizations like the Pirates need. If nothing else, relegation would give the fans something to cheer about at least every four to five years when the Buccos are competing at the lower level. And let’s face it, what would be better for western Pennsylvania baseball than a rivalry brewed up between the Pirates and the Wild Things? As this episode of the twilight zone ends, we reenter the real world where the Buccos annually get our hopes up for only a week or two each season, Pedro Alvarez gets to play third base for the only professional club that would let him, and the team is considered a farm system for the playoff competitors round the league to poach from year to year. Relegation will never become a reality in Major League Baseball, but being a lifetime Pirate fan calls for a healthy helping of imagination. The Steelers have given jersey numbers to their incoming class of draft picks and undrafted free agents. David DeCastro is number 61. These things are never set in stone though. Especially since the Steelers ran out of numbers and some are doubled. Cameron Heyward changed his right before the season last year. LaMarr Woodley did the same. Caution to those who plan on buying jerseys. Wait until season starts. Here are the jersey numbers. Rookie Numbers:
As part of our first ever Reader Appreciation Week, I am pleased to announce the Social Networking Giveaway. To take part, make sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter and signup for the newsletter. One part of a code will be released on each outlet daily, today until Thursday. Everyone who completes the 3-part code will be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift card to Steelers.com!
Giveaway Rules:
In case you missed it, we started a Pittsburgh Spirit Contest yesterday where you can submit a picture of your Pittsburgh spirit to win a Steelers New Era Draft Cap. Stay tuned to BB&G for all the Reader Appreciation Week fun!
In anticipation of Reader Appreciation Week, we asked for article submissions for a guest column spot right here on BB&G. We got quite a few worthy submissions from which we’ve selected our three favorite. Thank you to all who entered and congratulations to our selected few. By Claire Wisoke It was a cold, windy, and exciting day in the Steel City in January 1975 when a group of us stood on Fifth Avenue for four to five hours waiting for the first Super Bowl Steelers to make their way from the airport into the city for a parade and celebration. I’ve been to nothing quite like that since! The ropes that held the crowd back were at their breaking point as we were pushed right on top of the cars and trucks passing through the streets. There was actually dancing in the streets! A band was playing from the roof of, what was once, the Carlton House on Smithfield Street. They played the good old polka songs that were originally our Steeler fight songs. The temperature may have been chilly, but the warmth in our hearts had kept us moving and celebrating with people who have laid the foundation to become Steeler Nation, the best fans in the world! It is a very special feeling to have been a part of history in-the-making for what we look back in time and lovingly call the beginning of the Steelers Dynasty! Who knew? We sure didn’t! We only knew that the Steelers on that team were hard-working and community-loving people. It’s not the league-leading six trophies we have gotten since then, it is the players, the organization, and the fans the make the Steelers great. Steeler fans are known for our loyalty, and it’s because we actually do Bleed Black and Gold! Almost four decades later, my own kids have picked up the baton and carried it forth as they now have their own memories from Super Bowls. I feel a great pride that they also have an opportunity to be a part of something special. |
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