Rod Woodson – Understandable Loss That Came Back to Bite Them<\/p>\n
Rod Woodson was one of the most electric defensive backs in the history of the league. He was a shutdown cornerback with Pittsburgh for a decade before hitting unrestricted free agency in 1997. It came at a time when he was recovering from a major Achilles tendon injury, and the Steelers walked away. <\/p>\n
We all know what happened next. After a year in San Francisco, he signed with the rival Baltimore Ravens and transitioned to playing safety full time. His efforts helped the Ravens win Super Bowl XXV over the New York Giants. <\/p>\n
The Steelers wouldn’t land their next generational defensive back for another decade, when Troy Polamalu would help save the defense and lead them to two Super Bowls. <\/p>\n
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October 30, 2011; Pittsburgh,PA, USA: Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Mike Wallace (17) runs after a catch against the New England Patriots during the third quarter at Heinz Field. The Steelers won 25-17. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USPRESSWIRE | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect<\/p>\n
Mike Wallace – Deep Ball Threat<\/p>\n
In many ways, Mike Wallace was the start of a new era in Steelers wide receivers. A third-round pick in 2009, he posted his best years in the NFL in Pittsburgh, including over 1,200 receiving yards in 2009.<\/p>\n
The problem for Wallace was the amount of depth behind him pushed him out of a job. Unfortunately for him, Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown came in and supplanted Wallace. The Steelers were better off for it, but his ability as a deep-ball threat would have complemented the offense extremely well during the breakout of AB.<\/p>\n
Javon Hargrave – Missing Nose Tackle<\/p>\n
How many times have you said to yourself, “The Steelers need a nose tackle?” Since the days of Casey Hampton, there has been one player who has come close to replicating that success. That player is Javon Hargrave. <\/p>\n
After playing his final year with the Steelers in 2019, he’s continued to improved. He’s been named to two Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl. The Steelers,<\/a> meanwhile, are still searching for that long-term solution in the middle of the defensive line. <\/p>\n
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