CORNERBACK
LOCKS (4): Ike Taylor, William Gay, Joe Burnett, Keenan Lewis
QUESTION MARKS (2): Deshea Townsend, Anthony Madison
ANALYSIS:

Cornerback is the Steelers position group with the most questions.
Ike Taylor is without question the team's top corner, but he will be entering the final year of his contract and turn 30 years old in May. And while age 30 is not old, corners can start looking old fast in the NFL. On top of that, Taylor watched his playing time get cut into late in the season in rotations with William Gay and rookie Joe Burnett. Is the franchise committed to him? Would the write him the expensive check Taylor's agent will surely demand to keep him beyond 2010?

Gay was expected to advance in 2009 as the starter opposite Taylor, but certainly disappointed in that regard. Gay and Taylor combined for just 1 intercepted ball all season, and Gay was picked on repeatedly by opposing quarterbacks. Gay was finally replaced at starter by 12 year veteran Deshea Townsend for the season's final two games. Despite all this, and Gay's status as a restricted free agent, it's doubtful the team would cut ties with William and in fact at this point he is still probably penciled in a starter again in 2010. Can he improve his game with a full offseason of work?

Townsend is an unrestricted free agent, and probably has another couple seasons in the NFL left. He brings sure hands in addition to great understanding of the Steelers defense, in addition to position flexibility. Will he take less pay to stay? Despite the Steelers starting him late in the year, it is doubtful Deshea is in Mike Tomlin's plan to start a full season in 2010. Townsend did play safety as the year progressed and is a potential conversion guy.

Rookie 3rd round pick Keenan Lewis didn't learn the defense adequately enough to earn him playing time, and was not impressive enough on special teams to be activated on game day but for a handful of games. The franchise will no doubt stick with Lewis and expect more from him in 2010, but how much can be expected of him beyond a rotational safety? He certainly is not ready to start.

Burnett showed flashes of ability, but also looked overwhelmed by top-flight NFL receivers at times as well. As a 5th round draft talent from a relatively small Division 1 school (UCF), Burnett looks to be a good depth guy but several years away from being starter material, if ever.
Regardless of long term decisions on Taylor and Townsend and progress of Lewis and Burnett, the Steelers need to add a starter quality cornerback in 2010. The free agent pool is littered with aging, nickel corners and doesn't fit the bill here. The Steelers will almost certainly take a corner in Rounds 1 or 2 of the draft in April.

DEGREE OF NEED: 8 out of 10

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INSIDE LINEBACKER
LOCKS: James Farrior, Lawrence Timmons, Keyaron Fox
QUESTION MARKS: Rocky Boiman, Derrick Doggett
ANALYSIS:

The team's defensive captain Farrior is signed through 2012 (albeit on a contract that was front loaded through the first three years), and up-and-comer Timmons is signed through 2011. With Fox signing a two year deal last season, the Steelers have a nice three-man rotation at inside backer set for 2010.

However, Farrior's play has regressed in pass coverage at key times of late and at age 35, Farrior like Hines Ward he may be entering the final year of his contract. The team would be wise to add a compliment to Timmons this season or next.
Boiman and Doggett are special teams players only at this point, along with Patrick Bailey who has also played some inside backer and is a potential emergency replacement.

DEGREE OF NEED: 6 out of 10

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
LOCKS (3): James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley, Andre Frazier
QUESTION MARKS (1): Patrick Bailey
ANALYSIS:

With both Woodley and Harrison making the Pro Bowl this year, as well as combining for 23.5 sacks on the season (this after setting a team-duo record 27.5 in 2009), the Steelers future at outside linebacker is set for years to come. Woodley enters final year of his rookie 4-year contract in 2010, but is certain to stay for the long haul. Harrison just signed on the dotted line through 2014, and at age 32 this May he should have several good years left.

The bigger question at outside backer becomes depth. Frazier is the team's top true backup and signed through 2010, but more often Lawrence Timmons moves outside in cases where Woodley or Harrison needs to come off the field. Recent draft picks Bruce Davis and Alonzo Jackson never panned out, and the team does have a need for a young backup to be groomed.

DEGREE OF NEED: 4 out of 10

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NOSE TACKLE
LOCKS: Chris Hoke
QUESTION MARKS: Casey Hampton, Scott Paxson
ANALYSIS:

It's hard to imagine the team allowing Hampton to move on in free agency, given his talent level (selected to his 5th Pro Bowl) and the lack of an obvious fill-in behind him. Chris Hoke filled in admirably for Big Hamp in 2004 when he went down with a season ending injury, but Hoke will be turning 34 years old in April and is best suited as a backup.

However, even assuming Hampton returns via the franchise tag or for a few more seasons (Hampton is 32 himself), the Steelers would be wise to begin grooming a successor. The top two draft prospects this year, Dan Williams of Tennessee and Terrence Cody of Alabama, will be tempting for the franchise in April. A second round pick of either would make much sense (provided either is still available).

DEGREE OF NEED: 6 out of 10

DEFENSIVE END
LOCKS: Aaron Smith, Brett Keisel, Ziggy Hood
QUESTION MARKS: Sunny Harris, Nick Eason, Travis Kirschke, Steve McLendon
ANALYSIS:

Pro Bowler Smith is signed through 2011, and Keisel is now locked up through 2013. With Ziggy Hood selected with the 32nd pick in the draft last year the team's future at DE is rock solid.

In addition Sunny Harris looks like a real find from the 6th round of the draft last year, and the team was fortunate to be able to reacquire him from Carolina mid-season and add him back to the roster. Previous mid-round defensive line prospects Orien Harris and Ryan McBean left Pittsburgh to land elsewhere in the NFL in recent years (the Steelers had no room for them), but don't expect the team to let Harris go.

As a result, Kirschke and Eason won't both return (both are unrestricted free agents), but both are intriguing to provide additional depth. Kirschke will turn 36 years old, though, and his back bothered him significantly last season so he could decide to hang up the cleats for good. Eason started 5 games in 2009 and played very well, although he was also inactive for 8 contests and will find it hard to see the field next year ahead of Hood. He may decide to sign elsewhere. Even if they both are gone, the team is fine.

DEGREE OF NEED: 1 out of 10

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TACKLE
LOCKS (2): Max Starks, Willie Colon
QUESTION MARKS (1): Tony Hills
ANALYSIS:

Starks was inked on a four-year deal through 2012 last June, and it appears the team has finally come to believe (enough, anyway) in Starks' ability to keep Roethlisberger's blind side clean (for the most part). However, it was just two seasons ago that Starks was beaten out by Willie Colon for the starting right tackle spot and was merely a multi-million dollar backup. Career ending injuries to Marvel Smith changed things.

Starks had a pretty good season despite the 50 sacks that Ben took, as Max held his own with some of the elite pass rushers in the game (Jared Allen and Antwan Odom to name a few). Clay Matthews gave Max problems in the Green Bay game, but more often teams like Denver and Kansas City avoiding Starks, using their top rushers Elvis Dumerville and Tamba Hali along other locations on the Steelers offensive line.

Colon seems better suited as a run blocker than in pass protection, in both attitude and skill. The Steelers offense, though, has become pass-heavy. I'd expect Colon to be retained for one more season, but with Ben as the future there's no doubt the Steelers could upgrade here with a franchise tackle of the future with their 18th overall pick in the April draft.

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said recently he believes the Steelers are one lineman away from being a great offense, and if Matt is right drafting a stud in the first round coming up could really be the perfect move.

Tony Hills has really disappointed as a tackle project, and unless new offensive line coach Sean Kugler can make a difference with the former 4th round pick I don't think he'll survive cuts in August.

Ramon Foster and Trai Essex, both guard-tackle capable, remain nice backups in case of emergency at tackle. Essex signed a three-year extension last offseason and Foster was a real find as an undrafted lineman.

DEGREE OF NEED: 6 out of 10

GUARD
LOCKS (3): Chris Kemoeatu, Trai Essex, Ramon Foster
QUESTION MARKS (2): Darnell Stapleton, Kraig Urbik
ANALYSIS:

The Steelers are really very well set with interior linemen, assuming Ramon Foster continues to make progress and last year's 3rd round pick Kraig Urbik starts to display the talent the franchise saw to spend that high of a pick on him.

Kemoeatu is the significant financial investment here, signing a $20 million contract through 2013 last offseason and shirking the NY Jets to do so. Chris K. is the arguably the team's best run blocker, and his pulling ability on the Steelers signature lead counter run to the right is improving all the time. He's no Alan Faneca, but then again he hasn't been given the consistent chance in the run game to prove he isn't capable of becoming a very good one.

They could certainly upgrade with an elite talent at right guard, and rumblings were they had their eye on a 1st round draft last year at draft time at interior line (Eric Wood and Alex Mack were selected ahead of their pick), but they have three men who have played significant minutes in Stapleton (a Super Bowl winner who will return from his 2009 knee injury), Essex (signed for two more seasons), and Foster. Those three will battle for the starting RG spot in training camp along with Urbik.

DEGREE OF NEED: 1 out of 10

CENTER
LOCKS: Justin Hartwig
QUESTION MARKS: Doug Legursky
ANALYSIS:

Two days before the opener last year, the Steelers locked up Justin Hartwig on a 4-year contract which keeps him in black and gold through 2012. Hartwig is not of the talent level of past Steelers greats at this position (Webster, Dawson, Hartings), but he has been highly durable (32 straight starts) and a team leader along the offensive line. The Sean Mahan experiment failed in 2007, but Mike Tomlin corrected his mistake in adding Hartwig a year later.

Legursky was another nice find from the undrafted pool of talent in 2008 (out of Marshall). He played a key role as a reserve last season (including some at fullback on the goal line) and the team has faith in his ability to step in if needed. Last year's 7th round draft pick AQ Shipley undoubtedly saw this and chose to move on to Philadelphia. Don't forget Stapleton can also play center in addition to guard, making even Legursky's spot on the roster in doubt.

DEGREE OF NEED: 1 out of 10

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TIGHT END
LOCKS (2): Heath Miller, Matt Spaeth
QUESTION MARKS (3): Sean McHugh, David Johnson, Eugene Bright
ANALYSIS:

Miller finally got his due and made a Pro Bowl in 2010 (albeit after some selections ahead of him turned down the offer) coming off a team-record 76 catch season for a tight end. The team locked up Miller through 2014 with a 6-year extension last offseason.

Spaeth is a restricted free agent this year, and although the 2007 3rd round draft pick hasn't wowed with his blocking he remains a viable pass-catching option should Miller go down due to injury for any length of time. Expect Spaeth to be retained for one more season.

McHugh, who spent the year on IR, and the 2nd year man Johnson are much better blocking options, and also have served as de facto fullbacks in the Arians' offense. Johnson is the better pass catcher of the two, and also five years younger. Expect Johnson to stick around and McHugh to be in camp as an insurance policy.

I wouldn't expect any additions here in free agency or the draft, although a late round blocking tight end is a possibility. In the long term, the team could use a better #2 tight end than Spaeth, one who can pave way in the run game better in double tight end looks, but at this point that would be a luxury and not a necessity.

DEGREE OF NEED: 2 out of 10

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