Brett Keisel spurns Cardinals to return to Steelers

[Ice]

Heyward
McClendon
Tuitt
McCullers
Thomas / Kiesel
Mauro
Arnfeldt, etc.

[Legacy User]

Look guys, Cam Thomas is not a starting caliber player. Tuitt can play but is a rookie so he'll be prone to a few mistakes too many.

Thomas is every bit the starting player that Keisel is now. Tuitt is a rookie who is prone to mistakes, but he'll learn from them. Keisel is a shadow of what he once was, so he'll make a tone more mistakes based purely on the inability, physically, to perform. tuitt is a beast. Get him on the field, let him learn, let him become dominant.

Kiesel is not a starting caliber player either. I do not know what it gets them.

We can argue that. Can't argue this: as of today he's their 3rd best defensive lineman.

bullshit.

Good signing, he can definitely help on 3rd down rushing situations.

that should be the exclusive domain of Heyward and Tuitt

Just add keisel to that front on 3rd down passing situations. He's another tall body that can deflect balls..

[tbsteel]

Look guys, Cam Thomas is not a starting caliber player. Tuitt can play but is a rookie so he'll be prone to a few mistakes too many.

Thomas is every bit the starting player that Keisel is now. Tuitt is a rookie who is prone to mistakes, but he'll learn from them. Keisel is a shadow of what he once was, so he'll make a tone more mistakes based purely on the inability, physically, to perform. tuitt is a beast. Get him on the field, let him learn, let him become dominant.

Kiesel is not a starting caliber player either. I do not know what it gets them.

We can argue that. Can't argue this: as of today he's their 3rd best defensive lineman.

bullshit.

Good signing, he can definitely help on 3rd down rushing situations.

that should be the exclusive domain of Heyward and Tuitt

The kid is a rook. There's a lot he can learn from Keisel.

Who steps up if Heyward goes down for any length of time? There is only good that comes with bringing Keisel back for a ton of reasons. There still might be room for Mauro and he'd be an obvious choice for the practice squad if not.

[Ice]

The reach/height of a line of Heyward/Tuitt, Mt. McCullers and Kiesel would certainly be a forest to throw through.

[Legacy User]

The reach/height of a line of Heyward/Tuitt, Mt. McCullers and Kiesel would certainly be a forest to throw through.

Certainly is, plus they can rush the passer and in certain situations can drop back into zone

[Joe Steeler Fan]

This is a really good signing on many levels. Provides some insurance (depth) and allows for a veteran like Kiesel to work with a young kid like Tuitt as a mentor for another full season.

I expect Kiesel to see 20-25 snaps per game which allows others to rest and stay somewhat fresh.

Kiesel is a Steeler to his very core ... I would hate to see him in any other uniform and now that won't be an issue.

[Havoc]

I would have preferred to turn the page.

[Scunge]

I am not happy about this signing. I question how much he has left in the tank and if he will be healthy enough to contribute anything. People forget that he is not the most durable of players. He has only once, just once, played all 16 games in a season if you look at his last 6 seasons. He missed 6 games in 2008, 5 games in 2011, and 4 games last season, in all some 19 games the past 6 years.

Being part of a rotation, yes, maybe he will be able to stay healthy but this was a signing that wasn't needed. The depth we have on the defensive line is the greatest that I have seen in a long, long time. Thomas has looked good and has 54 games played and 15 starts under his belt, Tuitt, McCullers and Mauro are three great rookies. Sure, I guess Keisel can teach them something (but that is ultimately what John Mitchell is supposed to do) but I think you learn more from actually playing and Brett is going to limit those opportunities now.

[Legacy User]

There is no doubt BK can provide a few hundred high quality snaps this year.

Big Sewer has been a pleasant surprise...but it's likely not long until he gives way to Tuitt. No one is going to take Tuitts snaps. Tuitt is going to be a beast. Based off what I've seen so far this year I take Tuitt over Heyward...who doesn't look like near the player he was half of last year.

BK will be at worst the fifth Dline on this team and he can take some snaps inside in packages as well.

It's a nice add....

[Ice]

I appreciate that he's been a good player. I appreciate it as a PR move. I like it as depth/insurance. I don't trust the staff not to put him on the field more than he should be.

I hope to be proven wrong. I am also interested to see if we don't show some more four down looks this season, given the group of linemen we have assembled.

[Steelperch]

My guess.

Cam Thomas starts at LDE and Heyward at RDE. Keisel and Tuitt play the nickle packages mostly. Those four and McClendon get the hats on game days and McCullers is a healthy scratch most weeks. Arnfelt and Mauro to the PS unless they keep 7 DL, then I think Mauro makes it.

[Smashmouth21]

I appreciate that he's been a good player. I appreciate it as a PR move. I like it as depth/insurance. I don't trust the staff not to put him on the field more than he should be.

This is about where I am on this move. Love the Beard but I think his time has passed.

[SteelerZen]

This has a Hines Ward feel about it. If they can get some good work out of him, and have him provide some depth and mentoring to the young guys, it could work. If LeBeau gets married to his vet ideals again, that's where this breaks down along with the run defense, the pass rush and likely everyone gets pissed and Ike because he can't cover anyone because we aren't getting pressure.

Wow, this could end really badly.

[Ice]

My guess.

Cam Thomas starts at LDE and Heyward at RDE. Keisel and Tuitt play the nickle packages mostly. Those four and McClendon get the hats on game days and McCullers is a healthy scratch most weeks. Arnfelt and Mauro to the PS unless they keep 7 DL, then I think Mauro makes it.

This is a pretty good assessment of the situation as it stands.

I really think NT is the weak link on the line, more so than end was, even before this signing.

[Flanker]

I like the leadership on a team that is lacking.

[Ice]

I like the leadership on a team that is lacking.

You realize the Pandora's box you're risking cracking open with this, right?

[Legacy User]

It is going to be very interesting to see how we are game planned this year.

I've read we saw the second highest number of 3 WR+ packages in the NFL. That resulted in the base only seeing 35% of snaps...add injuries and we had 6 DBs on the field 49% of the time. Given the teams philosophy and projecting an uptick in 3 WR packages the base D might see as little as 30% of snaps and there will only be 2 Dline on the field about 70% of the time this season. Whoever we have playing DT in packages will see more PT then the base starters...so it's going to be some sort of wave approach.

I figure at the start of the season Tuitt will be the primary package tackle with Kiesal and Heyward waving snaps at the other.

[R_S]

The sky is falling. We signed a long time steeler and team leader to a 1 year vet minimum.......wow, this could end very badly... /sarca.

[K_C_]

He can't play football anymore.

[Legacy User]

I expected the signing at some point. Didn't think it would till after week 1 where his salary isn't guaranteed. I agree he'll give 20 or quality snaps a game. He gives them a better chance to win week 1 than Tuitt or Thomas

[CASTEELER]

This is a good signing, remember we are looking at two new guys on the DL. They will make mistakes as this defense takes time to learn. Keisel will speed up the learning curve for the newbies and provide great value in the DL meeting room.

[lifelongsteel]

I expected the signing at some point. Didn't think it would till after week 1 where his salary isn't guaranteed. I agree he'll give 20 or quality snaps a game. He gives them a better chance to win week 1 than Tuitt or Thomas

Spot on. pretty straight forward.

[Legacy User]

Arnfelt? Mauro? Williams?

[Jobu]

This shit is hilarious! Kiesel will be starting and taking the majority of the snaps by week 4. Nothing in the Steelers and Dick Lebeau's past says differently.

[lifelongsteel]

The sky is falling. We signed a long time steeler and team leader to a 1 year vet minimum.......wow, this could end very badly... /sarca.

Right. Right?

Chicken little's on parade

[Legacy User]

I would rather go with the young guys...

[Legacy User]

except they pretty much suck cock at this point....

[lifelongsteel]

except they pretty much suck cock at this point....

Details

[Legacy User]

watch the tape

Actually Kiesals numbers are comparable to Heywards on a per snap basis.

And none of those udfa types look close to playable to me...not with this run defense.

[Legacy User]

Oh for crise fucking sakes! This fucking organization just can't move on. Might as well bring back Harrison too. I'm sure Ward would gladly come out of retirement, and Larry Foote should be available. Washed up has beens all around. Stuck in mediocrity.

Welcome to the starting lineup Beard!

Larry is first team at Steelers West