[BuckNutty]

Steelers' roster still holds potential

By Mike Prisuta
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, May 21, 2006


They won the Super Bowl a season ago, and, in many respects, you just can't do any better than that.
The Steelers will attempt to, anyway.

First on the agenda will be filling the holes created by unrestricted free agency and retirement. If the Steelers can get from running backs Duce Staley and Verron Haynes what they got from Jerome Bettis in support of Willie Parker a season ago, they'll be satisfied. The same goes for Brett Keisel taking over for Kimo von Oelhoffen at defensive end, for Ryan Clark replacing Chris Hope at free safety and for high-profile draft choices Santonio Holmes and Willie Reid stepping in for Antwaan Randle El on punt returns.

Fresh from minicamp and a week into the offseason coaching sessions, there's reason to suspect the Steelers have that coming.

There's also reason to believe the Steelers have within their ranks players who are capable of producing even more than they did on the way to winning Super Bowl XL.

That group includes:

• Wide receiver Cedrick Wilson: He gets first crack at replacing Randle El as a starting wide receiver. Should Wilson perform as he did in the playoffs a season ago, bettering Randle El's 35 catches for 558 yards and one touchdown reception in the 2005 regular season will be well within Wilson's grasp.

Of course, with Wilson starting, the 26 catches and 451 yards he produced as the No. 3 receiver a year ago will have to be gleaned elsewhere. Nate Washington, Quincy Morgan, Holmes and/or Reid ought to be capable of at least that much. And if one of them scores a regular-season touchdown, they'll go one better than Wilson as a No. 3.

• Right guard Kendall Simmons: His 2005 season was a personal triumph after seasons sabotaged by diabetes (2003) or a knee injury (2004). But while he was able to start all 16 regular-season games, Simmons wasn't as dominating or as consistent as the Steelers envisioned when making him the 30th overall selection of the 2003 draft. That was understandable given all he'd endured the two previous seasons. But so are the higher expectations confronting Simmons in 2006.

• Left cornerback Ike Taylor: As dominating as he was in the playoffs, Taylor dropped, in his own estimation, at least 10 interceptions in a one-pick regular season. The Steelers would be wise to extend his contract prior to a 2006 campaign that Taylor intends to use to make interception amends and become the complete, shut-down corner he's on the verge of becoming.

• Punter Chris Gardocki: A mid-season lull in terms of Gardocki's hang time and accuracy had the Steelers wondering if he was washed up. A furious finish has the Steelers convinced Gardocki can still get it done with the best of them at 36, provided he's a little more consistent.


Mike Prisuta is a columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_454803.html