Losing season,salary-cap issues mean new look for Steelers

[Gunzlingr]

If the Steelers fail to approach respectability in the second half of the season, beginning Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, jobs held by key players for many years will be in serious jeopardy.
Bottom line: The team will have a new look in 2004.

The Steelers have questions at many positions, and the organization may not be able to fix all of them in one offseason. A good start, though, would be freeing up money under the salary cap by releasing players whose salaries have reached the multi-million dollar level.



more (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/sports/steelerslive/s_164014.html)

[R. Rich]

Yeah, they have major problems:

*offensive line (letting Wayne Gandy go was a mistake)
*quarterback (they're seeing now why Maddox was in the XFL)
*running back (Bettis is too old; Zereoue is average at best)
*tight end (they need a receiver; we know it ain't Reimersma)
***SECONDARY!!!***

NONE of their starters have shown they can cover on a consistent basis! Chad Scott is overrated. Dewayne Washington flat out sucks; he's getting beat regularly and his tackling leaves a lot to be desired (see Seattle game and his 'tackle' on Darrel Jackson). Brent Alexander is a step slow to the action all the time. Deshea Townshend is probably their best cover man, and he's adequate at best. They traded up to get Troy Polamalu, who looks clueless out there. He just doesen't know where he should be. And he was the best safety prospect in the draft? It could be rookie jitters and he could make a nice comeback. We'll see. Until then, we'll reserve judgment on him.