Steelers Talk

[BuckNutty]

Wilson likes depth at position



Wilson
Chaz Palla/TRIBUNE-REVIEW

By Joe Bendel
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, May 21, 2006

A supremely confident Cedrick Wilson insisted the other day that he is not concerned with the Steelers' decision to draft speedy wideouts Santonio Holmes and Willie Reid in the first and third rounds, respectively, of the NFL draft.
The way the veteran pass-catcher sees it, the new blood on the roster is only going to make the team better.

And, it will force the receiving corps to play at an extremely high level.

"Competition is great," Wilson said. "Because the thing with competition is, it brings out the best in you -- or, it should, anyway. It's either going to bring out your best or you'll be destroyed. By competing, that's how you win games and how you win Super Bowls. So, it's great that Santonio and Willie are here. They're great guys, good kids willing to come in here and learn."

Wilson is penciled in as the heir apparent at split end to Antwaan Randle El, who left for the Washington Redskins via free agency this offseason. Some might have questioned Wilson's credentials as a Steelers starter based on his 2005 regular-season statistics -- 26 receptions for 451 yards (17.3 per catch) and no touchdowns -- but he came to life in the playoffs and quashed any concerns about his abilities.

In four postseason games, he had nine catches for 216 yards (24.0) with two touchdowns. Against the Denver Broncos in the AFC title game, Wilson had five receptions for 92 yards and a score.

"Ced's a great player; we always knew that," wideout Hines Ward said. "He's another playmaker on this team."

Wilson might even get a chance to be a playmaker with his throwing arm next season, like Randle El was throughout his Steelers career. Wilson was a nationally recognized quarterback as a prep star in Memphis and originally signed at Tennessee to play quarterback (and be the successor to Peyton Manning) before moving to wideout.

"I want to help us win games any way I can," Wilson said. "I want us to win another Super Bowl."

Wilson, 27 and a six-year veteran, is philosophical heading into 2006 training camp, where Holmes, Reid, ever-improving second-year man Nate Washington and Quincy Morgan will be battling for playing time. He understands that those players could reduce his opportunities to make plays, but he sees that as a healthy situation -- not a negative one.

"You have to be secure with yourself," Wilson said. "You have to be confident that you're giving all you have, and, at the end of the day, whatever decision the coaches make, or the organization makes, whatever direction they have to go, you can't point the finger at yourself and say, 'Oh, I (stink).' You have to know that you don't (stink)."

Wilson said he often repeats three important words to himself.

"Catch the ball," Wilson said. "That's all I worry about. If I catch the ball, it doesn't matter what my statistics are. When the ball is thrown to me and my team is counting on me to make the play, I need to make those plays."

Wilson felt he wasn't making enough of them in the 2005 regular season, and was not shy about making it known publicly. He wondered out loud if Pittsburgh was the right place for him and if he fit into the offense.

The former San Francisco 49ers wideout voiced his concerns after going through a two-game stretch in Weeks 6-7 during which he had no catches. In a span of five games from Weeks 4-7, he managed a total of three receptions.

"It wasn't even a case in which I thought I wasn't performing at a high level; it was a case of circumstance," Wilson said. "We got into certain game plans of how to beat other teams, and that's how we played. But it's tough to sit back and say, 'Wow, I'm in my prime and I only have 26 catches.' And at the same time, if you don't get frustrated, you shouldn't be here. I don't know one receiver in the league who doesn't want the football."

As he continues to participate in voluntary workouts with the Steelers, Wilson said he is taking nothing for granted. He knows the NFL is a business, and that if he doesn't meet expectations, he could lose his job as a starter.

That's why he stayed around Pittsburgh for much of the offseason, and it's why he'll continue to do so when the voluntary sessions conclude June 8.

"I can't live off of what I did in the playoffs," Wilson said. "I was fortunate to get some huge opportunities and to make plays -- and hopefully, it gave the coaches and Ben (Roethlisberger) confidence in me, knowing I can perform on a big stage. But you have to continue doing it. Last year was last year. Nobody cares what you did last year if you can't do it again, or make yourself better. I know what's expected of me -- and what I expect from myself -- and I'm going to work to keep getting better every time I step on that field."

Joe Bendel can be reached at joecbendel@aol.com or (412) 320-7811.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_454813.html

[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

[BoxCar_Willie]

Anyone else see that the Steelers signed Dwight Stone over the weekend after he announced he was coming out of retirement?

[Jaxbuck]

Originally Posted by BoxCar_Willie

Anyone else see that the Steelers signed Dwight Stone over the weekend after he announced he was coming out of retirement?

Unless he's had a hands transplant I don't see why anyone would sign him.

[Ohio Steeler]

Originally Posted by Jaxbuck

Unless he's had a hands transplant I don't see why anyone would sign him.

LOL and I dont think that will happen

[BuckNutty]

Steelers Sign One of Two Fourth-Round Draft Picks
Monday, May 22, 2006

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers announced the signing of rookie offensive tackle Willie Colon to a three-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not released.

Colon (6-3, 315) was selected by the Steelers out of Hofstra in the fourth round (131st overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft. He is the first of nine Steelers 2006 draft picks to sign with the team.

Colon was named first-team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation this past year for Division I-AA. He was also a first-team All-Atlantic 10 selection as a senior as well as being recognized as a third-team All-American by Don Hansen's Football Gazette.

A starter in every game the past three years, Colon was the Steelers first of two fourth-round selections in this year's NFL Draft. Defensive end Orien Harris was the Steelers second fourth-round pick (133rd overall).

http://media3.steelers.com/article/64443/

[Ohio Steeler]

not who I wanted to get signed right away but I am glad we did get one signed...

[Ohio Steeler]

Porter a no-show for