The Pittsburgh Steelers lost pro bowl wide receiver Mike Wallace to free-agency this offseason. There was no way that Steelers were going to give Wallace big time money, especially considering that they had already signed Antonio Brown to a big deal. But now the Steelers have to replace Wallace and his insane production and I agree with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, it's not going to be easy.
Look at Wallace's stats with the Steelers in the four years he spent in Pittsburgh.
He averaged 1,000 yards a year matched with EIGHT receiving touchdowns per season. Antonio Brown has seven career receiving touchdowns in three seasons. Emmanuel Sanders has five career receiving touchdowns and only 1,209 receiving yards in just three season. Everyone keeps telling me that Wallace is just a one-trick pony but that's one pretty damn good trick.
This is about production. What concerns me even more is the Steelers could be without Heath Miller for most of the upcoming season if not the entire season. Miller caught 71 passes with eight touchdowns last year. He was the team MVP and the most important cog in the offense. For some reason not known to man, the Steelers they brought in Matt Spaeth to "help" the Steeler's tight end situation.
The Steelers do have veterans Plaxico Burress and Jerricho Cotchery for depth at wide receiver but replacing Wallace and Miller is still going to be difficult. The Steelers have a laundry list of needs when it comes to the draft. Here are me needs in order:
1.Running back- Lost Rashard Mendenhall and Chris Rainey. Dwyer and Redman aren't good enough to start. Running back should be drafted at least the 2nd or 3rd round this year.
2. Wide Receiver- Lost Mike Wallace, Sanders hasn't proven to be a viable number two, I think a WR should be drafted in one of the first three rounds.
3. Safety- "Troy Polamalu will stay healthy all year"- said by no one ever. Steelers lost Ryan Mundy and Will Allen as backups. They have zero depth.
4. Nose tackle- Steelers moved on from "Big Snacks" and I still feel as though they should cut Almeda Ta'amu for his trying to run over cops while driving drunk incident. No depth and Steve McLendon needs someone good to challenge for the starting spot.
5. Outside Linebacker- Even though I think Jason Worilds should be given a chance to start since he was a 2nd round pick and has 10 sacks as a backup. But they still need to draft another guy to compete with him.
6. Tight end- Miller might be gone for the entire year. Spaeth sucks. The Steelers also have David Johnson and David Paulson. They need to bring in some more talent.
Also, they need depth at cornerback, inside linebacker, and offensive guard. The Steelers failed to sign any players in free-agency because "The Steelers don't do that". That's not the Steeler way yinzers are always quick to tell me. Hey that's fine but don't bitch when they go 8-8 again.
Everyone knows that I can't stand Mike Wallace. I think he's a egotistical punk and I've called him out more than once. Hell, the dude even blocks me on Twitter. I don't think he's an elite receiver at all. He never makes catches in double coverage, he's a mediocre route-runner, and I think his attitude sucks.
That being said, once again the Steelers got rid of Big Ben's favorite and most productive target. Just like when they traded former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes for a fifth round pick, and when they let Plaxico Burress leave via free-agency.
Wallace is a punk and not worth the money, but his production is out of this world. Antonio Brown is a good receiver and punt-returner, but his duties in the return game will be reduced because he's now the number one receiver, and he'll be facing much tougher coverage from opposing teams. Remember that Wallace was the one getting double-covered the last few years.
So now the Steelers have to draft a receiver. Do they go after one in the first round? It seems that there isn't a running back worth the 17th overall pick in the draft. Some mock drafts have Keenan Allen, Tavon Austin, and Cordralle Patterson graded as good enough value for the Steelers at 17. I honestly wouldn't be mad if the Steelers went with anyone of them, but I really like Allen from Cal. Good size and speed.
Best case scenario for the Steelers would be to find a trading partner in the draft and trade down. Get maybe an extra 2nd or 3rd round pick with an extra 4th or 5th round pick. Draft a running back and outside linebacker in the 2nd round, followed by a wide receiver in the 3rd. No matter what they do though, the Steelers need to draft a receiver and early.
In the end I feel bad for Big Ben, who never seems to be able to have the weapons that other elite quarterbacks constantly get to have. In 2007, the Patriots went out and got Randy Moss and Wes Welker for Tom Brady. Peyton Manning was always surrounded by great skill players in Indianapolis, and now the Broncos just gave him Wes Welker, to join the two 1,000 yard receivers that they already have.
Can Ben get something like that?
The Steelers won't miss Wallace's personality. I think he is a punk and a poison. However, they will miss his production. Especially considering that their offense was ranked 21st in the NFL last year with Miller and Wallace. Now you have to replace their production. Good luck.....
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