The Steelers didn’t get any production from their rookie crop last season.  1st rounder (RB) Rashard Mendenhall was supposed to push Willie Parker for the starting job but that didn’t pan out.  Hopefully he learned his lesson and will refrain from running his mouth and firing up opposing defenses.  His season ended due to a broken shoulder with the Ravens allegedly having a bounty on him.  Mendenhall played in 4 games (1 start) for the Steelers last season and he carried the ball 19 times for 58 yards (3.1 ypc).  He also caught 2 passes for 17 yards (8.5 avg) last season.  Mendenhall also returned 6 kickoffs for 115 yards (19.2 avg) last season for the Steelers.  WR Limas Sweed was supposed to contribute as a rookie but he sucked.  He played in 11 games (0 starts) last season and he caught 6 passes for 64 yards (10.7 avg).  He also returned 1 punt for 0 yards and he made 2 tackles.  OLB Bruce Davis (3rd rounder) played in 5 games (0 starts) for the Steelers last season and he didn’t make any tackles.  OT Tony Hills (4th round) didn’t get onto the field despite the Steelers having a need at tackle.  QB Dennis Dixon was selected in the 5th round by the Steelers and they hope that he can develop into a #2 QB.  Dixon played in 1 game (0 starts) for the Steelers last season and he completed his only pass for 3 yards.  He also carried the ball 2 times for -3 yards last season.  Linebacker Mike Humpal (6th round) was waived at the end of Training Camp.  Free safety (6th rounder) Ryan Mundy spent the 2008 season on the practice squad for the Steelers.

GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  F-

GRADE FOR THE FUTURE:  C

The Steelers have lost 27-year old cornerback Bryant McFadden to the Arizona Cardinals as a free agent.  He played in 10 games for the Steelers last season and he made 41 tackles, defensed 8 passes, had a sack and he intercepted 2 passes.  In four years with the Steelers, McFadden played in 51 games and he made 135 tackles, defensed 32 passes, forced a fumble, had 2 sacks and he intercepted 7 passes (one of which he returned for a TD).  This was another blow to the Steelers who just lost Nate Washington on offense.

The Steelers have lost 25-year old WR Nate Washington to the Titans through free agency.  Washington played in all 16 games for the Steelers last season and he caught 40 passes for 631 yards (15.8 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 5 times for 18 yards (3.6 ypc).  Washington was an improving player who eventually would have replaced the aging Hines Ward in the starting lineup had he stayed in Pittsburgh.  But, the money (6 years, $27 million) and the chance to start in 2009 for the Titans was way too hard for him to pass up.  Look for the Steelers to draft another wide receiver in this April’s Draft to push the underachieving Limas Sweed to replace Washington as the #3 WR on the team.  Washington finished his career in Pittsburgh playing in 48 games in which he caught 104 passes for 1,705 yards (16.4 avg) with 12 TD grabs.  He also carried the ball 9 times for 26 yards (2.9 ypc).