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The Steelers have placed 28-year old OLB Andre Frazier on Injured Reserve due to a knee problem ending his season. Frazier played in 14 games for the Steelers last season and he had 13 tackles. He has played in 48 games in four years for the Steelers and he has 41 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 forced fumble. This is not a big loss for the Steelers as Frazier’s main role was on special teams.
The Steelers have already lost their best O-Lineman (Willie Colon) for the season and the line wasn’t that good with him. LT Max Starks is a solid run blocker but he has issues with speed rushers which will lead to quite a few hits in the back for Steelers’ QBs in 2010. LG Chris Kemoeatu is a solid run blocker because he’s so strong but he needs to improve his pass blocking. Center Justin Hartwig has been terrible his last two seasons as a pass blocker giving up 14 total sacks. If he doesn’t improve soon rookie 1st round pick Maurkice Pouncey could bounce him out of a starting job soon. It seems more likely that Pouncey will battle Trai Essex for the starting RG guard job in 2010. Essex started all 16 games for the Steelers last season but that doesn’t mean he’ll start over Pouncey. RT will be manned by Flozell Adams who is a much better run blocker than a pass blocker at this point in his career.
PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STEELERS O-LINE in 2010: D+
The Steelers lost to the Chiefs, Browns and Raiders down the stretch last season and it cost them a chance to defend their Super Bowl Championship. The Steelers were a very disappointing 9-7 (56.3%) last season as they missed the playoffs. Tomlin has a regular season record of 31-17 (64.6%) in his three years with the Steelers. The Steelers are 3-1 (75%) in the post season under Tomlin and he earned a Super Bowl ring in 2008. Tomlin is a solid football coach but he will be tested this season playing at least 4 games without Ben Roethlisberger and the whole season without Santonio Holmes (he was traded to the Jets).
31-year old kicker Jeff Reed might get drunk and arrested once in a while but he’s still a solid kicker. Reed played in 16 games for the Steelers last season and he connected on 27 of 31 field goals (87.1%). He also made all 41 of his extra point attempts last season to finish with 122 points. Reed has now played in 118 games with the Steelers and he has made 189 of 227 field goals (83.3%). He has also made 288 of 291 extra points in his career and he has scored 855 points for the Steelers. As long as he can stay out of jail, I see Reed having another solid year for the Steelers in 2010.
PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STEELERS KICKERS in 2010: A
The Steelers have claimed fullback Dwayne Wright off waivers from the Eagles. Wright has not played in the NFL since 2007 (his only year in the league). In 2007, Wright played in 14 games (0 starts) for the Bills in which he carried the ball 29 times for 94 yards (3.2 ypc). He also caught 3 passes for 17 yards (5.7 avg) for the Bills that year.