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Tuesday, December 26, 2000

SAN DIEGO -- In the midst of their Christmas celebrations, members of the Steelers' organization -- players, coaches, administrators -- could look back on the season just completed with an air of satisfaction.

The team had made a hard right turn, which was all the more impressive after an 0-3 start. Of particular significance, the long-suffering quarterback showed signs of finally becoming an asset and the much-used, much-punished running back ran like a kid.

True, they didn't make the playoffs, but they had built a foundation for future postseason play. The team shed the quitter's image it had so richly earned the two previous seasons. The future would appear to be bright.

Not so fast, Buster.

There is a clear downside to the Steelers' success in the 2000 season, during which they finished 9-7 while winning nine of their final 13 games and four of their last five.

Usually, when a team rebounds from the kind of disappointing seasons the Steelers went through in 1998 and 1999, the improvement is generated by a corps of young players whose upside gives hope for the future.

That's not how the Steelers made their turnaround.

The Steelers' improvement came with pretty much the same team that had faltered so badly in the recent past. The improvement was generated not by young players but by established veterans.

The Steelers are not a young team. There is not a lot of upside with this group. Most of their key players have peaked. The natural development that takes place on young teams won't be much of a factor with the Steelers next season.

The 22 players who started the final game against San Diego averaged more than five years of experience. Only one of them, Jason Gildon, made the Pro Bowl this season. Only three others, linebacker Levon Kirkland, running back Jerome Bettis and center Dermontti Dawson have made the Pro Bowl in the past. Kirkland, who'll be in his 10th season next year, and Bettis, who'll be in his ninth, haven't made the game in three seasons and won't likely make it again. Dawson, who missed most of the past two seasons with injuries, might not be back.

The argument easily could be made that instead of being a team on the rise, the Steelers have peaked and, in fact, because of their dearth of Pro Bowl talent might even slide backward next season.

Sure, there are young players who will get better. Offensive tackle Marvel Smith is one, linebacker Joey Porter another and guard Alan Faneca a third. Improvement also might come from the wide-receiver position, which is manned mostly by young players, including two former first-round draft choices. Quarterback Kordell Stewart could take a step forward. Of course, from what we know of Stewart, who plays the most important position on the team, he could take a step backward, too.

But other key players are getting older. They might not only have peaked, they might be starting to slide. In that group would be Bettis, the team's Most Valuable Player, Kirkland, cornerback Dewayne Washington, defensive end Kevin Henry and nose tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen.

The Steelers need more of an upgrade than they'll receive from their young players. They need help from outside the organization to continue their growth.

Dare we say it? They need free-agent talent.

There is a need for help in several areas. They're going to need a center to replace Dawson. Roger Duffy, who'll be in his 12th year next season, isn't the answer. They need help on the defensive line, mainly in the form of a stronger pass rush. They need help at safety, where after Lee Flowers there is not a lot of talent. And if they're going to go with Stewart, they'll need a stronger backup than Kent Graham.

This isn't to suggest a wild spending spree. That's not the Steelers' way. It is to suggest prudent investment in players who can push the Steelers up at least another notch.

They'll need to do more than they did this season, when they brought in guard Rich Tylski, von Oelhoffen, defensive end Chris Sullivan and Graham. What's needed is more on the order of the kind of upgrade they got from tackle Wayne Gandy, who they signed for the 1999 season.

With the additional revenue the Steelers will receive from their new stadium, money should be there to be more aggressive in pursuing unrestricted free agents than in the past.

If the team wants to continue its upward flight, such a course is almost mandatory.

Bob Smizik can be reached at bsmizik@post-gazette.com.