Pittsburgh Steelers: Old and Slow

Warren Sapp and every other NFL analyst out there has come out and said that the Pittsburgh Steelers are too old and too slow anymore. After the first quarter of the season I'm starting to think that they're on to something.

The Steelers can't block well, they can't tackle well, they can't defend the run well, and they aren't making any big plays with the exception of Troy Polamalu, Ben Roethlisberger, and Mike Wallace.

The defense has been very underwhelming considering that the majority of the big money and draft picks have gone to that side of the ball. This year alone they drafted defensive end Cameron Heyward in the first round, and re-signed Ike Taylor, Polamalu, Lawrence Timmons, and LaMarr Woodley to big deals.

They also decided to bring back 35 year-old Aaron Smith at a whopping $6.5 million for one year.

The Steelers have won two Super Bowls and have been to a third in the last six years. That's a lot of great success. That being said, the Steelers have been guilty of being way too loyal to aging players.

When the Steelers are considered old and slow, it's not fair to the whole team. Mike Wallace is both young and fast.

However here are some Steelers that are old and slow and way past their prime.

Aaron Smith- 35 years old, 13th year in the league. Aaron Smith is one of my favorite Steelers of all-time. He's been about as dominant at the 3-4 defensive end position as you can be throughout his career here. Peter King had him on his all-decade team, as did I. 

However; Smith has been injury prone most of the last few seasons. Smith has suffered season-ending injuries in three of the last four seasons, and just suffered another injury again this year against the Texans. 

Smith has been a great player but given his age and injury history, the Steelers should have parted ways with him after last year. Now Smith is making $6 million this year and is injured and underperforming. 

It especially doesn't make sense for Smith to be here anymore as a starter making that kind of money, considering that the Steelers have drafted two defensive ends in the first round in two of the last three NFL drafts. 


Smith has had a great career and should be on everyone's all-time Steelers' team but his career was over two years ago.

Hines Ward- Every Steelers' fans favorite Steeler, Mr. Hines Ward.  Ward had just one catch for 19 yards against the Houston Texans. He had a critical fourth-quarter drop. Ward is on pace for 52 receptions and n. He's averaging just 10.4 yards per. Ward simply can't get open anymore.

Ward is the 9th highest paid player on the team this year which is truly laughable. He's making 6 TIMES more money than Mike Wallace this year! That's laughable.

Ward is on his last legs. He shouldn't be starting anymore. He's a role player at best. I guess Dancing with the Stars performance didn't help Ward find the fountain of youth. 

Ward is a future Hall of Famer and that's well deserved. He's the greatest statistical receiver for possibly the greatest franchise in NFL history. However, he's not what he's perceived. Knowing Hines, he's already regretting playing another season. Should have retired after last year and at least went out as a winner and playing in the Super Bowl. No he's a role player and nothing more. His play indicates that he shouldn't even be starting anymore in place of the young guys. 


James Farrior and Larry Foote are ancient. At 36 years old Farrior is the oldest player on the team. Farrior has gotten slower every year and this year it's as if he's running with a boulder on his back. He's been missing tackles, and watching Farrior try to cover tight ends and running backs is comical and a little depressing. 

Farrior is signed through the 2012 season. Farrior has been a key member of a great defense that has won two Super Bowls during his tenure. Farrior has been a great during his career for the Steelers but it's over for him. Hell it was over for him a few years ago. He's washed up. 

The fact that Larry Foote, who is a backup on this team, makes more money than Mike Wallace is laughable. Foote should have been brought back for the league veteran minimum. 


Foot and Farrior have been splitting plays at inside linebacker so far this season which is one of the stupidest things I've ever seen. Neither one of them have played well and they're both making a lot of money. I'd rather have Steven Sylvestor splitting time with Farrior and have Foote's contact money put towards re-signing Max Starks and/or Flozell Adams or another player to help the offensive line situation. 


But the Steelers have to have all of those linebackers. F the O-line

James Harrison is in his 30's and is now injured and will miss 4-6 weeks. Old and injured. Harrison has played the best 

Ryan Clark is in his 30's. He's old and overrated. Clark recently blocked me on twitter and said that it was because I'm too negative. Clark was too busy attacking bloggers and reporters like Joe Bendel of ESPN 970 AM radio. 


Clark is the side-car to Troy Polamalu. Polamalu one of the defenders that has been playing well, still hasn't been able to cover up for how mediocre Clark is. At least Clark has a good career in broadcasting coming up to join us media scum. 
The Steelers' defense is old, there's no doubt about it. Sapp was right. The Steelers are guilty of being too loyal to their veteran players. The old rule for this franchise was once they're in their 30's they don't get re-signed. They should have followed that rule because now they're old on defense and the offensive line sucks. 

What they should do: Make a lot of cuts next year. Aaron Smith, Farrior, Foote, Clark, all gone. Ward gone. If you want to let them go out on their own terms the team will suffer. Good franchises get younger. 

You drafted Cameron Heyward and Ziggy Hood, play them. You drafted a bunch of young cornerbacks, play them, and cut William Gay and Bryant McFadden. 

You have Emmanuel Sanders, Antonio Brown, and Wallace, play them over Ward. 

I know that some of these guys have done a lot for this team and the franchise over the years, but eventually you have to cut the cord. The NFL is about speed and athleticism and the Steelers need to get faster and younger, especially on the defense. 


This season is on the verge of being a disaster. The Steelers have to acknowledge their problems and try to fix them instead of being arrogant. The Steelers haven't done a great jump of improving their team's weaknesses and have been way too loyal to aging players. 


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