As camp nears, we look at another position that could be up for grabs once camp starts. We've already taken a look at the battles that will ensue at cornerback and 3rd WR but the competition at linebacker could be the most entertaining. Not only is this a battle to play linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers but it includes a first round pick that contributed very little his rookie season and a seasoned veteran whose started over 70 consecutive games, including a Super Bowl. In the end the coaching staff could be faced with another question of experience or potential.

The Incumbent Starter: Larry Foote has to be considered a major success story as far as Steelers second day draft picks are concerned. A fourth round pick in 2002, he became a starter his third season in the league and has started over 70 consecutive games since then. The Steelers thought enough of Foote to let Kendrell Bell walk after several injury plagued seasons (quite a wise move on their part) and he's rewarded them with a handful of productive years. During those four seasons he's averaged just over 85 tackles and over 3 sacks a season while playing beside James Farrior. Foote's entering his seventh season in the league but he's still only 28 years old. He's also a team leader and a solid presence in the locker room. While he's not an overly athletic guy or a guy who will ever get Pro Bowl consideration but he simply gets the job done. He's an outstanding tackler and has great instincts thanks to endless film study. His instincts and study though don't always make up for his lack of athleticism. He's basically a two down linebacker who excels at stopping the run but can be exploited in passing situations. He's extremely durable though and hasn't missed a game since his rookie season (2002). If Foote does lose the starting job, he'll likely star on special teams in 2008 but the real question will come in 2009 when he' s in the final year of his deal.

The Challenger: Most Steelers fans weren't thrilled with the selection of Lawrence Timmons in the first round last year but there is hope now that he'll become of the most athletic inside backers that Pittsburgh has ever seen. He was incredibly raw coming out of Florida State (only started one season as a junior) so it shouldn't have been a big surprise that his rookie season a slow one. He had to deal with injuries during the summer and training camp and he was having to learn a new position. He's still one of the youngest players on the team (only Gary Russell and Mendenhall are younger) considering that he just turned 22 two months ago. What he lacks in experience though he certainly makes up for with athleticism. He's by far the fast linebacker on the roster and by most accounts has already won the starting job on the dime defense. His ability to turn and run with a running back or tight end should be a thing of beauty this season. He also adds a serious pass rush threat any time he's on the field. If Timmons does win the starting 'Mack' job, it would set up an intesting situation next season and could go a long way to determining if Farrior is signed to another deal.

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The good news is that the Steelers seem to have two very capable guys battling for a spot that will have a huge impact on the defense. Whoever wins the job will rack up tackles and makes plays all over the field. In the end, I'd imagine that Timmons' potential will beat out Foote's experience. Foote will put up a fight but a team can't leave a first round pick on the bench for very long. He'll be the top backup at both inside backers and will likely still see plenty of playing time, especially on special teams. Thoughts? Has Foote started his last game? What should the Steelers do in 2009 if Timmons is a beast this year?

First and foremost, camp is only 7 days away. We've waited nearly seven months for Steelers' football to resume and it's almost here. As Hank Williams Jr would ask, are you ready for some football??

• James Farrior's going to be a free agent after this season and while both sides are saying that they are hopeful a deal can get done, he's aware of the Steelers' history of letting 30-something players walk. His agent claims that Farrior thinks he can play another four or five years and that he doesn't think he'll return to Pittsburgh if an extension isn't done before the start of the season.
  
• Dale Lolley has some encouraging news on the upcoming signing of both Sweed and Mendenhall. He thinks that Sweed's deal will be announced by Friday and Mendenhall's should be done by the weekend. There's also a very interesting note about a possible veteran signing/extension. Could it be Farrior or McFadden or Marvel Smith? Any other guesses?
• Here's a small preview of another camp battle that we'll roll out later today. Pro Football Weekly says that it's not a sure thing that Timmons will take Foote's starting job and even goes as far to say that they could both play vital role's in the defense this season. We'll dive into this potential battle in depth later today.
  
• I don't put any faith in this report but it's out there so here goes. Santonio Holmes is working on punt returns and could be the primary punt returner for the Steelers, according to Pro Football Weekly. They're also considering a host of running backs on kickoff returns including Mendenhall, Moore and Russell. Russell seems like an odd name to throw in the mix but if Davenport can return kicks, I guess Russell can too.

Blitz is extremely busy right now as he prepares for his move to the great northwest so he asked me to fill-in for a bit and cover some possible training camp battles.  We'll have to tread water until our leader returns.

The Steelers are in an extremely fortunate position heading into this season since they only lost two starters from 2007. One of them will be missed (Faneca) and only time will tell if his replacement will be able to adequately fill his shoes. The other (Haggans) seems more like addition by subtraction, and I think we all agree that his replacement will be a better player very soon if not immediately. While it's conceivable that all other starters will remain the same, there should be some hotly contested battles in training camp at linebacker, cornerback and various spots along the offensive line. I figured we'd get started with the potential battle between long-time veteran Deshea Townsend and Bryant McFadden.

The Incumbent Starter: If you looked up 'savy veteran' in the dictionary, there would be Deshea Townsend's smiling face. Not blessed with blazing speed, superior athleticism or great size he instead gets by on heart, will and shear determination. He's entering his 11th year, the past four as a starter, and has posted seven seasons with multiple interceptions and four seasons with double digit pass defenses. He's also an accomplished pass rusher and has posted multiple sacks in five seasons. The Steelers have drafted McFadden and the recently departed Ricardo Colclough, both 2nd rounders, in an attempt to replace Townsend but so far he's held off both youngsters. He's not a flashy or dynamic player that strikes fear in opposing offenses, but year in and year out he's gets the job done. The story line for the past couple of years has been something like 'he's got the slow down sometime' but instead he posted a career highs in passes defended and close to a career high in tackles. Not only is he productive on the field, he's also a team leader and tied with Hines Ward as the longest tenured Steeler. 

The Challenger: If Bryant McFadden was a baseball player he'd be described as "toolsy." He's got the speed (4.41), athleticism (39 1/2 inch vertical and 11 feet 3 inch broad jump) and size (6'0 190) to be a fantastic player, but he's yet to put it all together and make his mark in the NFL. One of the knocks on him coming out of Florida State was that he didn't always play up to his measureables and that he had a problem with nagging injuries. He got off to a quick start though in Pittsburgh playing in the final thirteen games of his rookie season and saved his best for the playoffs when his pass breakups against Reggie Wayne and the Colts saved the game. He would continue to progress in 2006 by playing in all 16 games and won a starting job towards the end of the season. He'd finish that season with career highs in every category including tackles, pass breakups and interceptions. McFadden couldn't parlay that success into a starting job in 2007 though, as new coach Mike Tomlin chose consistency over potential and went with Ike Taylor and Townsend as starters. A high ankle sprain and then subsequent sprain of the opposite ankle cost McFadden five games in the middle of the season. He's not leaving anything to chance this off season though as he, along with teammates Taylor, James Farrior and Santonio Holmes, spent time training in Florida with former track coach Tom Shaw in an effort to be even quicker and more explosive in 2008.

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Bottom Line:  Last year Tomlin went with veteran experience over younger potential but in 2008 he'll go with whichever player performs the best leading up to the season. Townsend has fought off younger more gifted players for the past four or five seasons, but this could be the year that youth finally overtakes the veteran. McFadden, in my opinion, took his potential starting spot for granted in 2007 and it cost him an entire season. Now he's got one last chance to prove he's a legitimate starter in the league before he hits free agency. He's made no secret of his desire to not only win a starting spot but also land a lucrative free agent deal, either from the Steelers or another team. Having a highly motivated McFadden and solid Ike Taylor could give the Steelers the best starting corners to occupy Steel Town in quite some time. Townsend will still excel in the slot as a nickel back and could even see time at safety if Ryan Clark isn't healthy. Ultimately we won't know exactly how this battle will play out until September the 7th when the Texans come to town, but for now it should be an exciting competition. Thoughts/Predictions/Concerns???

Thank goodness for the generous spirit of Steelers' 3rd round draft pick Bruce Davis, who agreed to answer a few short questions for us here at 'Curtain, because there's absolutely no news in Steelers country right now.

Davis, a stand-out pass-rushing DE/LB at UCLA, is in rigorous preparation for training camp later next month. I asked him a few questions about his strength and conditioning, the coaching staff, and his new teamates. I found his answer about Coach LeBeau particularly interesting, and a confirmation of sorts to just how influential LeBeau has been during his 5-decade tenure in the NFL. - Blitz-

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BTSC:  Allright, let's start with something easy. We've noticed that your weight is listed at a solid 250+ pounds, a substantial increase from what you checked in at during your playing days at UCLA. Are you satisfied with the results you've achieved, and do you feel your speed and deceptively fast first-step will at all be compromised by the extra weight?

Same sleek build + 20 pounds = scary

Davis: My speed and my first step have not been compromised with the extra 25 pounds that I have put on. It's the biggest I've ever been, but I have adjusted to the new weight very well.

BTSC: Can you share what it's been like being back around campus and your classmates and friends after being drafted into the world's premiere sports league? In addition to receiving a gazillion more Facebook friend requests, what else is different in the life of a 22 year old ready to embark on a NFL career?

Davis:  There are a lot of football fans at UCLA, so I've been getting a lot of congratulations, and meeting people that I've never met before.  Lately I've noticed that there are a lot of  Steelers fans in Los Angeles. I feel like now every time I go somewhere I see a Steelers sticker or license plate holder on the back of cars. I never realized how many fans we have. Every thing else is pretty much the same, except the day after the draft i had like 500 new Facebook friend requests, but I'm just grateful that there are so many people that follow me through my career.

 BTSC: We the fans heard that Coach Tomlin  was instrumental in the team's selection of you, even if there might have been a few players still available with better 'measurables' at their Pro-Days or at the Combine. Having watched you on many occasions when I lived on the West Coast, I know you play with a lot of confidence and energetic swagger, but assuming that's true, what does that mean to you that Tomlin saw something special in you. As a follow-up, anything you can share about how Coach Tomlin welcomes and interacts with rookies?

Davis: It means a lot to me that Coach Tomlin saw something special in me, but it also means that there are going to be high expectations for me, and with the history of Steelers linebackers I have a lot to live up to. But that is the kind of challenge that I feel will make me a better football player. I grew up watching guys like Kevin Greene, and James Farrior and I know what it means to be a part of this group. And man, Coach Tomlin has been great, hes straight forward and he has great energy. I'm very excited to be able to play for him. 

BTSC:  Apparently the veteran players on the defense absolutely love defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau. Have you had a chance to spend much time with LeBeau yet, and if so, is it obvious why he is so well-respected and loved by his players?

Davis: Coach LeBeau has been great, he really takes an interest in all of his players from top to bottom. I knew about coach before i was a part of the Steelers because my college coaches used some of his system at UCLA, and put me in position to make plays.  He is well respected on the team and through out the league, and we all know that he is an amazing defensive mind. His reputation as a player and a coach speak for itself.

BTSC: Any of the rookies or younger players that you've hit it off with yet? Any veterans that have been particularly cool and welcoming?

Davis:  All of the rookies have been great, theres a few that I even played against or knew from high school. But we all get along well and I think that we are a very talented group of rookies.

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Many, many thanks Bruce for taking the time! I personally have very high hopes for this young man. In addition to the physical tools and the football acumen, I'm excited to see what Davis brings to the table as a vocal leader in the future. Our defense has been missing a vocal presence on the field since Joey Porter left, and though we have plenty of high-character players on defense that lead by example, I think that Davis' confident swagger will be a welcome addition for years to come.

By the way, you can check out Davis' website here for news, as well as pictures and info about his career accolades in high school and at UCLA.

So I was bored this morning and was taking a look at the contract status the current roster and one thing kept jumping out at me: there are an awful lot of players who will be free agents. This past off season was a relatively easy one for the front office considering there weren't many free agents and outside of the Max Starks fiasco, there weren't many difficult decisions. February 2009 would be a completely different story though, here's a quick list of the free agents to be:

Wow, in case anyone is counting that list of players has combined to start 295 games and play in over 500 games for the Steelers. Now to be honest some of these guys will be restricted free agents and several of these names are possible cut victims during camp. Willie Colon, Willie Reid, Anthony Smith, Anthony Madison, Grant Mason, Arnold Harrison and Ryan McBean will all be restricted free agents and Carey Davis might be as well but I'm not sure because he's actually been in the league since 2004.

Obviously the biggest losses will come on the offensive line. While one or two of these guys may get new deals in Pittsburgh, they simply can't all be retained. If I'm taking guesses, the most likely would seem to be Chris Kemoeatu, who might get a new deal before the season even starts. After Chris K, I'd have to think either Starks or Marvel, but that'll likely depend on who the front office/coaching staff sees as the future at left tackle. Essex is just a guy so I'd imagine with Hills being added to the mix, this is probably his final season in the Burgh.

Washington, Reid, Davenport, and Batch are probably playing their final season here, if they make it through the season. Reid and Davenport seem to be on the chopping block already. Washington's future took a shot with the drafting of Limas Sweed. Carey Davis will probably get a new deal even if he isn't a RFA, if for no other reason than he'll likely be very cheap.

For the defensive guys, the two big questions are obvious: what to do with McFadden and Farrior? Is Farrior worth a new deal at 33 years old and will he be willing to give a 'hometown discount?' Can McFadden stay healthy long enough to finally prove he's the playmaker that some of us think he is? I honestly don't know the answers to these questions and even though I'd really like to see both of these guys back in 2009 and beyond, it'll likely depend on whether they want to be here or not.

So who do you see as they guys we absolutely have to keep? Is this something we should be concerned about or does this look like a purge of mostly marginal players?