PSR Showdown
What do the Steelers need to address in the draft?
By Tony Cimaglia
Sports Editor of the Keyser (WV) Mineral Daily News-Tribune

Gotta Go O-Line

You would never buy a cart if you didn't have the horses to pull it. By the same token, you would never give a quarterback an 8-year extension worth $102 million if you didn't have the horses up front to protect him. The Steelers signed Ben Roethlisberger to that $102 million deal in March. Now the question is this: Will he be on his feet enough in 2008 to earn it? Big Ben was sacked 47 times last season, tied for seventh most in the NFL. And to make matters worse, the best player on that 2007 line-Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca-is now playing for the New York Jets.

Did I mention the Steelers also allowed 46 sacks in 2006?

To protect your investment, you must invest in protection, and the Steelers can do that in this year's NFL Draft in April.

Pittsburgh has the 23rd overall pick, and University of Virginia guard Brandon Albert could be ripe for the picking.

Albert goes 6-foot-7 and 310 pounds, and he opened the eyes of many scouts at the NFL combine. He would be a solid replacement for Faneca.

Offensive tackles Chris Williams (6-6, 320) of Vanderbilt and Pitt's Jeff Otah (6-6, 340) would also fit, but chances are both will be gone before pick No. 23.

USC guard Chilo Rachal (6-5, 315) could be a real stretch in the first round. The Steelers' next problem area is the secondary, and that's where Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib comes in.

Talib (6-2, 200) posted five interceptions (two for touchdowns), 13 pass break-ups and 66 tackles as a junior in 2007. He runs the 40 in 4.5 seconds, but is still a little raw and has a tendency to gamble too much. He has the ability; however, to be the shut down cornerback the Steelers haven't had since Rod Woodson.

If the Steelers take an offensive lineman in the first round, Oklahoma cornerback Reggie Smith or Penn State's Justin King could be options in round two, with "tall" wide receiver Jordy Nelson (6-3, 217) out of Kansas State in the third round.