Chidi Iwouma signs 1-year deal

[StEeLeRsGiRl1985]

Cornerback Iwouma signs one-year contract

Saturday, March 17, 2007


The day after losing special-teams ace Sean Morey via free agency to the Arizona Cardinals, the Steelers announced that they re-signed unrestricted free agent Chidi Iwouma to a one-year contract.
Terms were not disclosed.


I think this will keep stability to our Special teams... hopefully a sign of good things to come!!!

[Canada]

I couldn't believe it when they let him go last year.


I always thought he was an excellent ST's player.

[StEeLeRsGiRl1985]

Although it was a little strange last year when he was released by the Patriots and the Rams.... that makes me question him a little, although we need a leader on Special Teams.

[Canada]

He was always making tackles and always around the ball on ST's.


I was completely shocked when the let him go...

what happened with the Pats and Rams is beyond me so...

[mcelser1]

The Steelers are going to have some major issues come next season. Cleveland is improving and the Bengals and Ravens are both keeping together fairly well.

Could a last place finish be near for the Big Ben and the Steel city?

[Canada]

The Steelers are going to have some major issues come next season. Cleveland is improving and the Bengals and Ravens are both keeping together fairly well.

Could a last place finish be near for the Big Ben and the Steel city?


Pretty sure the Steelers had both a Top 10 Offense and a Top 10 Defense. If it wasn't for basically leading the league in turnovers we would of made the playoffs IMO.

Young guys at the skill positions on Offense. Roethlisberger, Parker, Holmes, Miller....

Experience on Defense. We'll be putting alot of emphasis on the Defense IMO in the Draft. ALOT of emphasis.

[StEeLeRsGiRl1985]

I don't think so.... we have the Browns number, and granted we always have problem with the Ravens, but I think that the Bengals are falling apart with all the arrests and everything, plus I think that Chad Johnson is a distraction...and I don't think that Lewis has any control over that team at all...back to the Ravens I think that everyone is making a big deal over the McGahee pick up, I think that he is over rated.... I think that if Big Ben plays well and if we don't take a lot of injuries we will probably be either second or third in the division....maybe even first!!!!

[mcelser1]

I don't think so.... we have the Browns number, and granted we always have problem with the Ravens, but I think that the Bengals are falling apart with all the arrests and everything, plus I think that Chad Johnson is a distraction...and I don't think that Lewis has any control over that team at all...back to the Ravens I think that everyone is making a big deal over the McGahee pick up, I think that he is over rated.... I think that if Big Ben plays well and if we don't take a lot of injuries we will probably be either second or third in the division....maybe even first!!!!

Big Ben was a one-year wonder. He wasn't even that. He was blessed to have Jerome Bettis behind him and carry the team both physically and mentally. Once Bettis left, the team and Ben fell apart. They would have been better keeping Charlie Batch in all season.

That's also a good prediction "second or third...maybe even first". Not bad since there are only 4 teams in the division.

[StEeLeRsGiRl1985]

Big Ben was a one-year wonder. He wasn't even that. He was blessed to have Jerome Bettis behind him and carry the team both physically and mentally. Once Bettis left, the team and Ben fell apart. They would have been better keeping Charlie Batch in all season.

That's also a good prediction "second or third...maybe even first". Not bad since there are only 4 teams in the division.

He has only been in the league 3 years... you aren't giving him a chance...last year he had the motorcycle accident, and the appendectomy.... I think that it is a little soon to be calling him a 1 year wonder....And frankly you are NUTS for thinking that Charlie Batch should have been in there all season.....What coach in the NFL would sit their FRANCHISE quarterback, after a SB season?

[mcelser1]

He has only been in the league 3 years... you aren't giving him a chance...last year he had the motorcycle accident, and the appendectomy.... I think that it is a little soon to be calling him a 1 year wonder....And frankly you are NUTS for thinking that Charlie Batch should have been in there all season.....What coach in the NFL would sit their FRANCHISE quarterback, after a SB season?

The better question is, what coach wouldn't sit a Franchise QB when they are struggling? Ben was terrible last season. He turned it around slightly at the end of the year, but much of those wins were against bad teams. They only had five convincing wins last season (Browns, Dolphins, Bucs, Chiefs, Panthers) and Batch even had one of them.

Cowher should have done what was best for his team and taken out Ben or left him out longer then he was after his injury/bad luck. No surprise that Cowher left the team to move into "retirement". His retirement will last one year and then he will be back on the field coaching somewhere else because he knows deep down that that team is going no where, especially now that they lost the backbone of that linebacking core.

[pdorazio00]

The better question is, what coach wouldn't sit a Franchise QB when they are struggling? Ben was terrible last season. He turned it around slightly at the end of the year, but much of those wins were against bad teams. They only had five convincing wins last season (Browns, Dolphins, Bucs, Chiefs, Panthers) and Batch even had one of them.

Cowher should have done what was best for his team and taken out Ben or left him out longer then he was after his injury/bad luck. No surprise that Cowher left the team to move into "retirement". His retirement will last one year and then he will be back on the field coaching somewhere else because he knows deep down that that team is going no where, especially now that they lost the backbone of that linebacking core.

I think they brought Ben back a week too early coming back from the concussion. I believe it was for the Raiders game. But I also feel that you don't bench your franchise quarterback, especially early in the season following a Super Bowl victory. And if we would have won the 2nd Ravens game, we actually would have qualified for the playoffs.

[Canada]

Big Ben was a one-year wonder.



uhhhh OK.


Ben didn't play well at all last year but he wasn't the only reason. Lots of fumbles and all around dumb play led to what the Steelers ended up at.

Colclough and Holmes made more than enough turnovers in the Return Game alone. I seen WR's running down the sidelines with the ball only to have it get stripped and have the Oppostion get control.

RB fumbles...
OL didn't get him time all year. I think they set a Steelers record for most sacks allowed.


On and on it went.


Roethlisberger has to step up this year and become a true leader on the team. No more fuckin around.


BTW Roethlisberger got smoked in the ATL game.

Mcelser....you think the Steelers should of resigned Porter? For the kind of money he got from the Dolphins? You're kiddin right? I guess keeping Porter would be more important than keeping Roethlisberger and Polamalu. Faneca's contract is up also soon, I think at the end of the upcoming season.

Its a salary cap league, teams lose players that they don't want to all the time. Steelers are no exception. If the Steelers don't think the guy is worth the money he wants they'll let him go. They've always done this. Steelers have lost LOTS of real good players over the years due to contract squabbles but always seem to field a good team. Since Cowher became HC in 92 how many teams had a better winning %?

Now with a new HC the team will more than likely be going through a transition period. Does it mean they'll slip? Who knows. Maybe the team will take off under the new regime. LeBeau is still around to coach the Defense and he seems to ALWAYS get the most out of the players he has.

Steelers have to get rid of all the dang turnovers. Its a talented team IMO.

[mcelser1]

uhhhh OK.


Ben didn't play well at all last year but he wasn't the only reason. Lots of fumbles and all around dumb play led to what the Steelers ended up at.

Colclough and Holmes made more than enough turnovers in the Return Game alone. I seen WR's running down the sidelines with the ball only to have it get stripped and have the Oppostion get control.

RB fumbles...
OL didn't get him time all year. I think they set a Steelers record for most sacks allowed.


On and on it went.


Roethlisberger has to step up this year and become a true leader on the team. No more fuckin around.


BTW Roethlisberger got smoked in the ATL game.

Mcelser....you think the Steelers should of resigned Porter? For the kind of money he got from the Dolphins? You're kiddin right? I guess keeping Porter would be more important than keeping Roethlisberger and Polamalu. Faneca's contract is up also soon, I think at the end of the upcoming season.

Its a salary cap league, teams lose players that they don't want to all the time. Steelers are no exception. If the Steelers don't think the guy is worth the money he wants they'll let him go. They've always done this. Steelers have lost LOTS of real good players over the years due to contract squabbles but always seem to field a good team. Since Cowher became HC in 92 how many teams had a better winning %?

Now with a new HC the team will more than likely be going through a transition period. Does it mean they'll slip? Who knows. Maybe the team will take off under the new regime. LeBeau is still around to coach the Defense and he seems to ALWAYS get the most out of the players he has.

Steelers have to get rid of all the dang turnovers. Its a talented team IMO.

I never said the Steelers aren't a talented team. They just aren't as well off as some of the other teams in that division. The Bengals, for example, struggled with all kinds of legal troubles this past season, which probably was the main reason why they were left out of the playoffs. Will that happen again next season? Probably not. Chad Johnson isn't a distraction for that team, no matter what anybody says. He is a little more outspoken then some of the other players, but every team has that. He is no T.O. The Bengals will be back next year. The Ravens lost their linebacker, but also possibly improved themselves at the running back position. The Browns had only room for improvement and just signing Jamal Lewis is a step in the right direction.

And yes, you are right, Cowher did have the best winning percentage. Is Cowher the coach anymore? Nope. They have some new guy with no experience as a head coach. Will he be a success in this league? Probably, but you can sure as hell bet that it won't be next season. New coaches like Sean Payton in New Orleans for example were successful last year because of the offseason moves that were made. No way would New Orleans be the same team they were this past year if they still had Aaron Brooks as their starter. Reggie Bush couldn't have even saved that team.

And you can't blame the Steelers poor play on fumbles. Every team fumbles. Hell four playoff teams from last year had just as many if not more fumbles then your Pittsburgh Steelers. Bottom line is that Ben threw 23 interceptions. All the blame is put on him. He was the worst QB in the league when it comes to that. Even Rex Grossman and Jon Kitna threw less than he did. I don't care what you say, that is just terrible and you have no one to blame, but him for their failed playoff run.

That being said...will Ben have the same problems throwing the ball next season? Probably not. He won't be great, but he will be the average QB that he is throwing in the 15 INT range. Will the Steelers make the playoffs next season? Not a chance unless they do something major to improve that team.

[Canada]

if you think the main reason the Bengals faultered last season was because of the Off-Season issues I think you forget something else.....the Defense....they didn't stop anyone all year long. They haven't been able to stop anyone for more than a few years. Sprinkle in the Off-Season shenanigans and it is a recipe for failure.

Ratbirds...McGahee can't be bouncing around at the LOS like he did in Buffalo. The Ratbird rush attack is one cut and hit that hole. McGahee liked to do the two step shuffle in Buffalo. We'll see how he turns out.
Is Odgen going to be retiring? Rumour is out there....

Browns...till they fix the lines they are gonna be hurting. Wow, they got Jamal Lewis to run the ball. He had a better line in Baltimore to run behind and hasn't done Jack Shit in a couple of years. Where did the Browns run Defense rank?......they stunk. In the AFC North you have to be able to run the ball and stop the run. When the weather changes teams have to be able to run the ball...


Cowher isn't the HC anymore, Mike Tomlin is...
Yep he has no prior HC experience but answer me this...

How much HC experience did Cowher have when he took over the HC duties???

How much HC experience did Chuck Noll have when he took over the HC duties???


They both turned out alright didn't they.

You say the Tomlin probably won't have success next season yet you don't say why next year will be a lost season, (actually you said, you can sure as hell bet) gimme a couple of reasons why! You did say the Steelers are a talented team.......


and I blame the Steelers 2006 season on Turnovers in General. Did we lead the League?....if not we were probably #2. We had more turnovers than a Bakery. Roethlisberger deserves his share of the blame but others on the team have to take some blame also. Roethlisberger has to play better. Its a must.

He has to become THE leader.

Colclough muffs a punt on his 20 is rolls backwards to the 10 and the Opposition recovers...next play, you got it...TD. He did it more than a few times.

Holmes took over and it was more of the same crap....fumbled punt, fumbled punt....he sucked so bad that Najeh Davenport had to take over the job.


I can remember games where Roethlisberger completed passes to his WR's only to have the WR's get stripped of the ball DEEP inside enemy territory...that has to be Roethlisberger's fault non??? Ward attempting to cross the Goalline gets hit and fumbles.....

C.Wilson streaking down the sidelines and getting stripped from behind and having the Opposition recover....

I can remember the Falcons game where Roethlisberger drove us down the field....8 secs left, they line up and Nate Washington jumps....penalty meant they had to take 10 secs off the clock which meant the game went to OT where we never seen the ball. Lack of focus on that one eh.... took the FG attempt away.

I seen good passes being not being caught by the WR's and being picked off by the Opposition....

On and on it went....

Willie Parker had his share of fumbles also....

On and on it went....


now you say that the Steelers should make major changes if they want to make the playoffs....what would those changes be in your opinion???


Don't forget that the Steelers were a Top 10 Offense and a Top 10 Defense....

get rid of the turnovers....

[mcelser1]

Well Chuck Noll went 1-13 in his first season as head coach. Bill Cowher went 11-5. I predict that Tomlin will be somewhere right in the middle. Say...7-9 or 8-8? Pretty much right where the Steelers were last year.

Why?

New Head Coach. No proven wide reciever other than Ward (like you said Holmes has had is issues). Ben is coming off a disgusting season passing. They lost Porter, a big part of their D no matter what you say. Lost not only Cowher, but also Whisenhunt and Grim.

Bottom line is that it is going to be a transition year. And I just can't see the Steelers being a big success. They may limp into the playoffs at 8-8 or something like that, but no further. Maybe the next year they will be ready.

[StEeLeRsGiRl1985]

if you think the main reason the Bengals faultered last season was because of the Off-Season issues I think you forget something else.....the Defense....they didn't stop anyone all year long. They haven't been able to stop anyone for more than a few years. Sprinkle in the Off-Season shenanigans and it is a recipe for failure.

Ratbirds...McGahee can't be bouncing around at the LOS like he did in Buffalo. The Ratbird rush attack is one cut and hit that hole. McGahee liked to do the two step shuffle in Buffalo. We'll see how he turns out.
Is Odgen going to be retiring? Rumour is out there....

Browns...till they fix the lines they are gonna be hurting. Wow, they got Jamal Lewis to run the ball. He had a better line in Baltimore to run behind and hasn't done Jack Shit in a couple of years. Where did the Browns run Defense rank?......they stunk. In the AFC North you have to be able to run the ball and stop the run. When the weather changes teams have to be able to run the ball...


Cowher isn't the HC anymore, Mike Tomlin is...
Yep he has no prior HC experience but answer me this...

How much HC experience did Cowher have when he took over the HC duties???

How much HC experience did Chuck Noll have when he took over the HC duties???


They both turned out alright didn't they.

You say the Tomlin probably won't have success next season yet you don't say why next year will be a lost season, (actually you said, you can sure as hell bet) gimme a couple of reasons why! You did say the Steelers are a talented team.......


and I blame the Steelers 2006 season on Turnovers in General. Did we lead the League?....if not we were probably #2. We had more turnovers than a Bakery. Roethlisberger deserves his share of the blame but others on the team have to take some blame also. Roethlisberger has to play better. Its a must.

He has to become THE leader.

Colclough muffs a punt on his 20 is rolls backwards to the 10 and the Opposition recovers...next play, you got it...TD. He did it more than a few times.

Holmes took over and it was more of the same crap....fumbled punt, fumbled punt....he sucked so bad that Najeh Davenport had to take over the job.


I can remember games where Roethlisberger completed passes to his WR's only to have the WR's get stripped of the ball DEEP inside enemy territory...that has to be Roethlisberger's fault non??? Ward attempting to cross the Goalline gets hit and fumbles.....

C.Wilson streaking down the sidelines and getting stripped from behind and having the Opposition recover....

I can remember the Falcons game where Roethlisberger drove us down the field....8 secs left, they line up and Nate Washington jumps....penalty meant they had to take 10 secs off the clock which meant the game went to OT where we never seen the ball. Lack of focus on that one eh.... took the FG attempt away.

I seen good passes being not being caught by the WR's and being picked off by the Opposition....

On and on it went....

Willie Parker had his share of fumbles also....

On and on it went....


now you say that the Steelers should make major changes if they want to make the playoffs....what would those changes be in your opinion???


Don't forget that the Steelers were a Top 10 Offense and a Top 10 Defense....

get rid of the turnovers....

I totally agree with you on all fronts.... It seems that people have lost faith in the Roonry's decision making when it comes to coaches....but people said the same thing when Cowher started.... Now granted Noll had a rough first season, look what he did with that team 4 Super Bowls, and then after him Cowher got us 1 Super Bowl.... Now if we give Tomlin a chance I think that he could take us a long way.... People have to have faith though, I understand that next year could be a transition season but I still think that we will hold our own.

Now on to Big Ben... Sitting him would have been a big mistake... now I will give you the Raiders game, I think that Cowher should taken him out in that game, but another than that I think that he should have played Ben all the time and not taken him out...another thing is that the doctors cleared him to play... you aren't the team doctor and neither am I, we don't know what all went on, but when they clear someone to play he is probably going to play, especially your franhise QB.

And once again let me reiterate that Ben has only been in the league 3 years, he still has a lot of time left to improve from last season.

I don't think that the Steelers should make any more pick ups in free agency, I really don't think that there is anyone out there that could help us.

[Canada]

Why?

New Head Coach. No proven wide reciever other than Ward (like you said Holmes has had is issues). Ben is coming off a disgusting season passing. They lost Porter, a big part of their D no matter what you say. Lost not only Cowher, but also Whisenhunt and Grim.




Holmes really started to catch on as the season progressed and ended up having a pretty good Rookie Season. I'm expecting more this year and why wouldn't I???

http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/413021/gamelogs/2006


Yep we lost Porter but face it we were not going to sign him for the money that the Phins came up with. We lose the "leadership" but sooner or later we knew it was going to happen, every team has it happen to them.

Lost Whisenhunt....Bruce Arians has taken his place who has been with the Organization for a bit.

Lost Grimm....Steelers didn't get the job because they thought Tomlin was a better fit. Last two hires for the HC job turned out alright eh....

BTW you forgot to mention how the Steelers lost Dick Hoak to Retirement.
He was with the Steelers for 35 yrs.....RB Coach.....


who knows what will happen with any team in the League. Shit changes fast and teams pop up out of nowhere to become successful. Carolina was 1-15 one season and two years later were in the SB.

I would like to think that if the Steelers clean up the Turnovers they can be a contender.

Steelers are known to reload not rebuild....