SAFETIES

The Steelers have 2 All Pro calibre safeties one dependable backup with 2 Super Bowl rings and a lot of inexperience behind them. Besides the defensive line which the Steelers started to address with Ziggy this year, another position where the Steelers are getting a little gray is the Safety position. When they brought Ryan Clark over from Washington I thought he would be a backup for Anthony Smith, a hard hitting safety the Steelers had drafted. Ryan Clark won that battle for the starting position and Smith stock fell as fast as snowball rolling downhill. Smith is a hard hitting Safety but unfortunately never harnessed that style effectively with the Steelers. He would get out of control and provided some hard hits to his teammates in practice, most notably to Hines Ward. So, he packed his bags and headed off to Green Bay. The Steelers must be pretty secure with what they have because there was not a safety drafted this year. Here's the ones they do have though.

Troy Polamalu, 7, USC:
Hall of Fame, 'nuf said. No, I've got another word. Clutch. Did you see the last score in the AFC Championship game last year?

Ryan Clark, 8, LSU
If James Farrior wasn't the QB of the defense Ryan Clark would have that title. He sees all and makes all the plays. I'm of course biased, but these guys are the best Safety tandem in the league.

Tyrone Carter, 10, Minnesota:
Carter was picked up right before Super Bowl XL and has been very valuable as a backup and starter when injuries have occurred. He is still dependable, but 10 years is a long career in the NFL. I don't have any stats to back it up but Safeties seem to be one of the positions where careers last a little longer than other positions. He should continue to provide some quality backup this year.

Ryan Mundy, 1, WVU
The Steelers tried to address part of their aging safety core by picking Ryan Mundy after he had a great one year stint at WVU after attending Michigan for 4. One of those obscure NCAA rules allowed that. Don't know if he would have been picked in the draft the year before, but that extra year allowed him to showcase his talents and the Steelers thought enough of him to use a draft pick. He was injured during training camp last year and the Steelers released him and later signed him to the practice squad. They are hoping that he will show something this year in training camp enough to make them think that he can provide some depth at the position. Reports have been so-so so far though. May be another practice squad candidate if he shows enough even for that.

Derrick Richardson, R, New Mexico State
Free agent signee, would say a candidate for the practice squad. Competition for Mundy. They need someone in case of injury.

Could pick someone up after rosters are cut. Definite draft need next year.