Off season pick ups and then some....
 

I was wondering if anyone would have an idea as to what Buress would want for us to get him? How much would be too much for him? And if the Steelers do not keep him, should we go after him and how much would he help our team?


Also, how good or bad would Stephen Alexander be in this offense? Would he work better than our current TE's?

Just some stuff to talk about what do all of you think?

If Burress hits the open market I'd expect he'd be at the top of our free agent list for WR. He's not going to come cheap though.

As for Alexander a big NO THANKS. The guy is always banged up and even when healthy he is a disappointment.

Burress could be a nice pick up...but he's the deep threat for the Steelers. Does anyone know if he has consistant hands?? It doesnt take much to be better than gardner

Pittsburgh is famous for letting their FA's walk, so chances are good he could hit the market. Burress would be a huge improvement over Gardner.

Burress had the ball in his hands in the endzone yesterday and dropped it. The play was crucial and would have brought the Steelers to within a touchdown late in the AFC championship game. For a guy who gets so much talk around the NFL as a premier wideout, he [I]must[/I] make those types of plays.

You can't judge an athlete on just one play, but you cannot deny that this guy is too often an underachiever.

Last year, Plaxico Burress was not happy with the Steelers because he wanted a contract extension and they would not give him one. So the team had a "minicamp/voluntary session" in mid-May and Burress skipped it. He said the reason he skipped it was because he was spending Mothers' Day with his mother. He might have gotten away with that until he added that he was devoted to family first and since the Steelers had not made him feel like part of their family, he didn't think he should spend that weekend with the Steelers.

I don't think that is what Joe Gibbs calls a "true Redskin".

Burress should have had that catch in the endzone I agree, he doesn't seem to go after the ball as aggressively as he should at times. Still, is there a better option out there in free agency?

Don't even say Mohammed who's 32 coming off a career year and will be looking for a monster payday.

Houshmandzadeh could be an interesting choice if he tests the free agent waters. I honestly don't know a lot about him though. Just looking at his stats though he doesn't seem to be a big play guy but that could be due to the system and other factors. Still, his numbers this year were certainly more impressive than Gardner's that's for sure. 73 catches, 978 yards and 4 TD.

Burress doesn't expect to be back at Pittsburgh
 

[url]http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/sports/steelerslive/s_296187.html[/url]

[QUOTE=Mattyk72]Burress should have had that catch in the endzone I agree, he doesn't seem to go after the ball as aggressively as he should at times. Still, is there a better option out there in free agency?

Don't even say Mohammed who's 32 coming off a career year and will be looking for a monster payday.

Houshmandzadeh could be an interesting choice if he tests the free agent waters. I honestly don't know a lot about him though. Just looking at his stats though he doesn't seem to be a big play guy but that could be due to the system and other factors. Still, his numbers this year were certainly more impressive than Gardner's that's for sure. 73 catches, 978 yards and 4 TD.[/QUOTE]

Since it seems to take rookie wide receivers at least 2-3 seasons before they really start making an impact, in addition to our recent outcomes from first round draft pick wideouts, I tend to favor upgrades at that position through free agency as well. The only names I've heard that are available are the three that we've mentioned here. I'm sure there are others.

Just as we went after Laveranues Coles when all the talk was about Peerless Price a few years ago, my choice would be Houshmanzedah out of those three. Of course, I'd rather see the same type of success as the Pats when they draft guys from the 6th or 7th rounds who step up.

Ideally, I'd like to see Coles, Taylor Jacobs, Thrash and McCants be the answer, with a late round draft pick waiting in the wings. But somehow, I just don't think that would be enough to get the job done.

After watching yesterday's games, it is obvious to me that we need a speed burner, someone like the Pat's Branch to spread out the D. I don't see that kind of player currently on our roster. But is a WR the number one priority.....how about this for priorities in the offseason:

1. SPEED WR
2. CENTER/OL
2a. DB IF SMOOT LEAVES
3. DE

I would offer that we are pretty set at the following positions:

OT- Samuels/Jensen/Brown
G- Thomas/Dockery [MAYBE AN UPGRADE FOR DOCKERY]
TE- ROYAL/COOLEY
QB- RAMSEY
RB- PORTIS/BETTS

K- HALL
P- TUPA
KR- BROWN

DT- GRIFFIN/NOBLE/SALAVEA
LB- PIERCE/WASHINGTON/ARRIGNTON/CLEMONS/MARSHALL
S- CLARK/TAYLOR/BOWEN
DB- SPRINGS/SMOOT {IF HE STAYS}


Here would be my priorities in the

I personally like the Houshmandzadeh idea better. We really don't need a downfield WR, we have that in Jacobs and McCants. We just need guys to play their part and produce when they should. Take lessons from the Patriots. 15 years from now when they are naming stars on that team you will remember 1, maybe 2 names. Tom Brady and possibly Corry Dillon, but I expect him to start playing sub par again next season.

Stephen Alexander, as you might remember, was a skin, and was never impressive in blocking or receiving. I would rather nab one of the undrafted or late round guys. There are a few serviceable TEs in the draft and they all will fall. Maybe 1 of them in round 2, but the rest will be late round picks.

kingerock:


Having Jacobs and McCants as your downfield/stretch-the-defense weapons on offense is like going to the gunfight at the OK Corral with pea shooter.

1. McCants is a possession receiver who is not all that fast.

2. Jacobs has been around for 2 years and has yet to do ANYTHING in a real game that is even notable let alone spectacular. Take Jacobs stats for the last two years; add them together; now double the result. What do you have? A marginally decent WR at the very best.

Wasn't Coles supposed to be our downfield receiver? He's a lot faster than Burress (who is fast) even with his toe injury.

Does it really help to have a downfield threat if our coach doesn't trust our QB to throw it deep? It's pretty to see a receiver downfield, but it hurts to see him open, waving his arms, and jumping up and down after the ball is chucked about 5 yards behind the line of scrimmage on a flanker screen.

Also, Burress is going to want something like $13+ million SB (a deal comparable to Coles'). So let me get this straight, we're going to sign a "downfield threat" when we don't attack downfield and we can't afford to keep Smoot, but we can sign this guy?

Burress has a bigger name than his talents would suggest. He's tall and fairly speedy, but his hands aren't excellent and he's overpriced. A perfect fit for Danny boy and other fantasy football/Madden players.

If you're the #1 receiver it's hard to be a down field threat cause the safety is always coming to help on your side.

p.s. Burress is a bitch made fish who doesn't eat plastic.

I am not sure that Buress is what we need, we need a speed burner, whether in the draft or in FA. Coles when healthy is that individual, but I don't know that he is or will be healthy.