This is exactly what it sounds like: your chance to predict the 2008 NFL season for the Pittsburgh Steelers and/or the NFL as a whole. Here's the way it'll work, everyone gets five predictions. The predictions don't all have to be Steelers related and in fact none of them have to be Steelers related, if you so choose. If you think that Brett Favre is coming back and going to lead the Falcons to the Super Bowl, just say so. If you think that Jordy Nelson is going to be the Rookie of the Year, just say so. Or if you think that Bettis will come out of retirement to score the winning TD in the Super Bowl, go ahead and throw it out there.

Other rules/guidelines:

• You don't have to use this as a Community Projections for Steelers' players, we'll do projections for every major Steeler in due time (in case any missed the Santonio Holmes' or Big Ben's projection, you can still weigh in).
  
• Please try to refrain from criticizing others predictions (ie - if kwoog thinks that Quinn will beat out DA for the QB job and he'll win the MVP along the way, so be it). This is just a place to put down your predictions on paper (well sorta) so that we can go back after the season and see who was right on and who was flat out crazy. 
• Have fun with this guys. Be as creative or as realistic as you want. Football is almost here and this is your chance to look into your crystal ball and pull out a gem.

The meat and potatoes of any defense is it's linebackers and most importantly the middle linebacker(s). They're expected to lead the team in tackles and be an overall leader for the defense. The Cardinals have two experienced tackling machines in the middle of their defense and the depth behind the starters should be enough to keep everyone fresh and quell any panic that should arise if a starter goes down for a game or two. This unit could have the least amount of question marks of the entire defense but are they strong enough to cover the deficiencies in other areas?

Karlos Dansby: Dansby's been a starter since his rookie season and he's gotten better every season even though he's yet to play a full 16 games. It's not a stretch to say that his best football is still ahead of him though. Everyone knows his contract status and how that should motivate him this season. Anything short of a career year would have to be judged as a disappoint. He won't top the eight sacks that he had in 2006 but he should be able to easily top 120 tackles and pick up a handful of sacks. He may not be a Pro Bowl caliber player but he's a balanced player who plays equally well against the run and pass. 

Gerald Hayes: The outside linbackers get the love and Dansby gets the pub but Hayes is the only Cardinal who had 90 tackles in each of the past two seasons. He's not flashy or dynamic but he's been consistent and reliable in his two seasons as a starter. He's a take-down tackler and excels at stopping the run and is developing as a pass rushers. As long as he's healthy you can pencil Hayes in for another season of nearly 100 tackles, a handful of sacks and a play or two that changes a game (first Seattle game). The best thing is that he's still young (27) and, like Dansby, is still getting better. He's under contract through 2011 and the Cardinals will get the best out him throughout his prime.

Monty Beisel: Beisel's the top backup and he's got plenty of experience to get the job done if the Cardinals need a spot-starter for a game or two. He's never started a full season but he's started nearly 20 games over the past four seasons and averaged nearly six tackles a start. He totaled 42 tackles in 2007 despite only starting two games and is a valuable special teams player. He's a solid tackler who is better against the run and he's at his best when running 'down hill' to the ball carrier. Beisel's entering the final year of his current contract and should be motivated to prove to the team that he'll remain a productive player into his early thirties (turns 30 next month).

Matt Stewart: Stewart signed a one year deal in the offseason and comes to the Cardinals with 60 games of starting experience with the Browns and Falcons. He's not the biggest or most athletic player in the league but he's got a great work ethic, awareness and instincts. His strength is dropping back in coverage and could see most of his playing time on passing downs. He'll get his share of time on special teams coverage units as well.

Ali Highsmith: The deck is always stacked against an undrafted free agent and while that's the case with Highsmith, there is still a chance that he could win a roster spot. If he can learn both the inside and outside backer spots, he'd have a better chance of making the team out of camp. The biggest knock on him has been his lack of both height (just under 6'0) and size (230) and he's already put on some weight from playing days (223) at LSU. He's an instinctive player though who plays faster than his forty time (4.7) would indicate. It'll be a while before we know if he can shed blocks at the professional level but for now he should be able to star on special teams.

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The Cardinals don't have a superstar at inside linebacker but they do have a talented, experienced, deep group of guys who can shut down the run and defend the pass. Their all decently young and it wouldn't be a surprise if Dansby and Hayes had career years and led a surprisingly good defensive front seven. Beisel and Stewart should star on special teams and Highsmith will open some eyes during camp.

Ok, I've been trying to avoid the topic at all costs, but we can't talk camp battles without talking offensive line. We all know who the candidates are and for the most part we know where the battles will be. One of the most visual and talked about battles along the line will be at right tackle. Tackles are relatively easy to watch during games and most fans will be watching the play of whoever lines up at right tackle. Left tackle is normally the most glamorous position on the offensive line but during training camp 2008, it might be the one that gets the least amount of attention.

The Incumbent Starter: Normally when a fourth round pick becomes a full-time starter in just his second season, he's considered an outstanding success, but that wasn't the case with Willie Colon. Colon struggled through a sophomore season and was credited with allowing the most sacks. It would be uncommon for a tackle not to allow the most sacks but Colon's struggles didn't end with pass protection either. He was often times hit or miss when run blocking and would have two or three plays in which he dominated and then a handful of plays that he looked completely lost and/or ineffective (he was my 'adopted Steeler' late in the season). Inconsistency isn't uncommon for a young starter though so there's plenty of reason to think that he can still develop into a steady and reliable starter in this league. The real question is where? Everyone from scouts to fans to the media has questioned whether Colon would be suited to play guard given his size (6'3 315) and Tomlin has admitted that he will get some reps at guard sometime (although it hasn't happened yet). The future for Colon is uncertain at right tackle but I don't think there's a question about his ability to play somewhere on the offensive line.

The Challenger: Max Starks has 34 career starts and by now most of us know what
to expect from the 6'8, 337 pound lineman. He's an absolute mauler in the running game and according to most, was the best run blocker on the team last year (Faneca included). He's even decent in pass protection, when he's in shape and motivated. The problem with that is that's a big IF. He was average to slightly above average during his first season as a starter (2005) but by most accounts he played out of shape and uninspired football in 2006 and then lost his job to Colon in 2007. Starks looked like he was playing his best football of his career in four late season starts last year when Marvel Smith went down with an injury. Starks was, as we all know, slapped with the transition tag and (for the time being) will play the 2008 season with a $6.9 million dollar price tag. While some think that it would be nothing short of ludicrous to play a backup nearly $7 million a season, in the end Coach Tomlin will likely chose whoever performs the best over the guy with the higher cap hit.

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In the end I wouldn't be surprised one bit if this battle raged all the way through the preseason and a true-starter wasn't named until Houston comes to town on September 7th. After all, Tomlin was still juggling the lineup in the final week of August last year. In my mind, if Starks shows up motivated and in shape (which he has millions of reasons to do so) he'll win the starting job and could look like the best lineman at times. I've been a fan of Colon and I don't want to see his development hindered but if they both play to their 'max potential,' Starks is the better player. If Starks steps forward as the clear cut winner early in camp, I'd look for Colon to get extended reps at both guard and maybe even center (he took reps there last year). Then things really get interesting.....but we'll look at the guard and center situation in a different thread. So who you got? Can Tomlin sit $7 million on the bench if Starks struggles? Is Colon good enough to beat him out?

There's been a lot of NFL news for the middle of July, here's how some of it will effect the Cardinals:

• Brian Urlacher agreed to a contract extension yesterday and basically it gave him a bigger signing bonus and raised his per year salary to 7.5 million. Hopefully Karlos Dansby sees news like this and realizes that his $9 million a year offer was pretty absurd. The club can't negotiate with Dansby until after the season but be sure that every linebacker who signs a contract will be measured against KD.
• The Cardinals were pretty good at shutting down opposing tight ends last year and the recent trade of Jeremy Shockey to the Saints means that they'll face one less really good tight end in 2008. The Giants still have a pretty decent tight end in Kevin Boss but Shockey's a dynamic player whom the Cardinals won't have to deal with unless they meet the Saints in the post season.
  
• The trade of Jason Taylor to the Redskins is complete and even though the Cardinals had to face the 2006 Defensive Player of the Year either way, he's definitely on a better team now. Taylor is replacing the injured Phillip Daniels and is an instant upgrade to an aging defensive line that struggled to put pressure on the quarterback. He'll test Levi Brown in week 3.
  

Darren Urban just posted a note saying that general manager Rod Graves has acknowledged that there is a strong possibility that DRC will not get his deal finalized by the start of training camp (tomorrow). Rodgers-Cromartie's agent has been traveling and hasn't been able to talk money yet with the Cardinals. The players report for camp tomorrow but the first actual practice isn't until Friday so there is 'wiggle room' for the rest of the week.

While it may not be a disastrous situation for DRC to miss a couple of practices, he is a very raw player who will need as many snaps in camp as possible. Hopefully if he isn't in camp on Wednesday or Thursday, he spends that time eating burgers and drinking protein shakes to try and bulk up to close to 200 pounds.

Linebackers are the star players in a 3-4 defense with inside backers racking up tackles and the outside backers putting constant pressure on the quarterback. That should be the case with the Cardinals as well with the OLB depth chart filled with accomplished pass rushers. There will be some transition period since most of the group are former defensive ends but there is a veteran presence to help bring the younger guys along. So are these guys ready to keep pressure on opposing offenses and carry the defense?

Chike Okeafor: Okeafor is looking to bounce back from an injury that caused him to miss considerable time for the first time in his career. He was drawing rave reviews from the coaching staff during the camp last year before a triceps injury derailed his season before it even got started. He's the ideal size (6'5 265) for an OLB and has the pure athleticism to stand up and drop into coverage as well as put pressure on the quarterback off the edge. Chike has averaged over 7.5 sacks a season since he became a starter (2002) in this league and there's no reason that he shouldn't be able to better that number this season. He is 32 years old but by all accounts, he's looked great in workouts so far this off season. I wouldn't be surprised at all if his 2008 season was very similar to Greg Ellis' 2007 considering that they are comparable players in terms of age, size and production who both moved from defensive end to OLB.

Bertrand Berry: Berry is a similar player to Okeafor being that he's about the same age (about to be 33) and close to the same size (6'3 264), but Berry's athleticism isn't comparable. His injury history is something else to worry about (missed 21 games in past three seasons) and the combination of everything above led Berry to sign a restructed deal in the off seaon so that he'd have a lower cap value. For now, Darren Urban is still projecting Berry to win the starting job on the outside, but time will tell if he can handle the position. One thing that's not questionable though is Berry's ability to rush the passer and even if he can't drop back in coverage, he'll still have a role in pass rush situations.

Travis LaBoy: LaBoy signed a 5 year 22 million dollar deal in the offseason and will be Berry's biggest competition during camp. He'll have to learn the position pretty quickly though if he's going to give Berry a serious run for his money. LaBoy has never played in a 3-4, even though most scouts thinks that he's best suited for it. He's constantly compared to the recently departed Calvin Pace and should have no problem posting similar numbers if he's wins the starting job. LaBoy's an outstanding pass rusher and is relentless in his pursuit to the quarterback. Even if he doesn't start, he'll have some role that capitalizes on his pass rush prowess.

Clark Haggans: The Cardinals brought in Haggans from the Steelers in an effort to have at least one seasoned veteran with extensive experience in the 3-4. He's started the past four seasons in Pittsburgh and even though his best days are behind him, he can be productive with a limited number of snaps. He'll be one of the smallest OLB's (6'4 243) on the roster and the Cardinals will likely use his athleticism and experience in pass coverage. His greatest contribution will likely come off the field as he helps the younger guys pick up the finer points of the position.

Chris Harrington: Harrington, a sixth round pick out of Texas A&M, will look to make the transition from college defensive end to a stand up OLB with the Cardinals. His transition should be easier than most though considering that he played with his hand off the ground about 20% of the time with the Aggies. At 6'5 264 he's got the size to play the position and even though some question his athletic ability, there are no questions about his motor. He's plays to the whistle, has great instincts and is an intelligent player. He has dropped some weight since the draft and has never felt as quick as he does right now.

David Holloway: Hollaway was an undrafted free agent out of Maryland last year and he spent nearly the entire season on the practice squad (activated for last game but didn't play). He's undersized (6'2 230) but athletic (4.72 forty, 32 bench reps) and could push for a roster spot this year. He's got experience playing on the inside and outside but his pass rush skills are best suited for the outside. He's had a full season to learn Pendergast's system and could have a leg up on Harrington in camp.

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Overall this group of outside linebackers has plenty of talent and the real question could come down to, can the talent overcome a lack of experience? Berry and Okeafor have had a season to learn Pendergast's system and Haggans should pick it up quickly, but LaBoy and Harrington will be hard pressed to learn all of the ins-and-outs during camp. If Berry and Okeafor can stay healthy, this unit could be really good, but if they have to depend on Haggans for a considerable amount of snaps or if LaBoy has to 'learn on the job,' it could put the rest of the defense in a bind. Thoughts? Are you confident or cautious with this group?

The Arizona Cardinals signed Calais Campbell, their second round pick, to a four year deal today and as usual, terms of the deal were not disclosed. I should know the base salary amounts in a day or two and the signing bonus and guaranteed amounts will come out in time.

In order to sign Campbell the team had to release someone and Bo Schobel was the odd man out. Schobel, who was signed mid-way through the 2007 season, was a long shot to make the roster. He appeared in two games and had one tackle. The deal leaves Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie as the only unsigned rookie, but negotations are ongoing and hopefully a deal should be announced before camp starts. Only five first round picks have agreed to contracts so far but the Cardinals report to camp earlier than most teams. There is some speculation the Cardinals are keeping a close eye on the negotiations between the Bears and Chris Williams. It is believed that the two sides are close to agreeing on a contract and the Cardinals can then use that contract to gauge DRC's value, considering that Williams was selected at 14 (DRC was 16th).

On an even more positive note, Drew Rosenhaus, the agent for Dockett and Boldin, said that both players will be in camp on time. The Cardinals should open camp with every player there and accounted for. The team is also hopeful that Gabe Watson will be the only player who is limited because of injury, although Leonard Pope is another possibility.

To round out the defensive trench, we'll focus on the defensive ends for a bit (check out defensive tackles here). The mix of depth and youth at defensive end is amazing and the dearth surplus of players will be valuable if injuries strike again this year. The 2008 draft saw the Cardinals restock the cupboard at defensive end and the talent infusion could reap benefits for years to come.

Darnell Dockett: Dockett burst on the scene in 2007, his fourth year as a pro and fourth as a starter. He not only set career highs in tackles and sacks but was also voted his his first Pro Bowl. He got off to a monster start (8 sacks in 8 games) before fading down the stretch (1 sack in final 8 games) when injuries simply ravaged the defense and he was forced to play nearly the entire game. Dockett's move to 3-4 defensive end has the potential for him to become the premier player at a position that rarely warrants much attention. Outside linebackers normally rack up the sacks in the 3-4 defense but Dockett has a chance to become a truly special player if he can continue to get to the quarterback. He'll have extra motivation this season since he believes he deserves a new contract.

Antonio Smith: Smith also had a career year and is playing in a contract year in 2008. His 43 tackles and 5.5 sacks were both career highs in his first full season as a starter. He's not the pass rush force that Dockett is but he's still a productive player and has improved every season in the league. It'll be tough for him to rack up more sacks in the 3-4 but he's got the size (6'4 282) to hold his own and rack up some tackles. The interesting thing for Smith is what he does after this season. He'll be a free agent at a prime age (27), so he has every motivation to have another career year.

Bertrand Berry: Berry's at a cross-roads in his career being that he's about to turn 33 and might not have a position in the 3-4. He's too small (6'3 264) to be a defensive end and some question whether he's athletic or fluid enough to be an outside linebacker. We'll talk more about him with the linebackers.

Joe Tafoya: The Cardinals chose to resign Tafoya to a two year 1.7 million dollar deal after a season that saw him start 7 games (played in 13 total). Tafoya filled in for Berry when he went down last year and totaled 20 tackles and 2 sacks. Tafoya's another 'tweener' guy who is too small to play defensive end (6'4 258) but not athletic enough to play linebacker. He'll turn 30 shortly before the season starts, but he's been a good special teams player. It'll be interesting to see how the coaching staff uses him this season.

Bo Schobel: The Cardinals also resigned Schobel to a one year deal shortly after last season and he's another 'tweener' guy (6'5 265) who will have to find a position. The Cardinals signed him off the street in the middle of the 2007 season and he appeared in two games and totaled one tackle. He's younger than Berry and Tafoya but isn't near the player and he hasn't started a game since 2004. He'll have to have a heck of a training camp/preseason in order to make the roster.

Calais Campbell: The Cardinals second round pick should have a rookie season
with very little pressure on him. The starters are set with Dockett and Smith and there's enough depth around him that they aren't depending on him to get off to a great start. He'll likely start out playing in passing situations where his pass rush skills and size (6'8 282) could be a big advantage. He'll likely be the primary backup at both ends but will have to produce in order to push anyone for playing time. He's a physically elite player though who will be a starter when he's able to learn the system. This season will likely be a learning experience and if Smith isn't resigned then he should be able to step in as a starter in 2009.

Kenny Iwebema: The fourth round pick from Iowa will most likely be used in a limited role. He's buried on the depth chart right now and it'll likely take a couple injuries before he makes any significant contributions. He's better against the run than he rushing the quarterback so they probably won't utilize him in passing situations like they will Campbell. Still though, they drafted him for a reason and with the injury history of the guys ahead of him, he might be just a play or two away from considerable playing time. He'll be the primary backup next season when Campbell steps into a starting role and could be a productive backup player as he spells DD and CC.

Jason Banks: Banks, an undrafted rookie from Grambling State, provides even more depth along the defensive line. He's got the size (6'5 300) to backup either tackle or end and he played both positions in school. He's an interesting case considering that he played under four different defensive line coaches in college and by most accounts isn't close to reaching his potential yet. He's a decent athlete and with surprising quickness (sub 5.00 forty at Pro Day) but he's got almost no chance to make the roster this season. He'll have to spend at least a season on the practice squad.

Keilen Dykes: I've talked about Dykes quite a bit so I won't continue to beat a dead horse (previous stories on him, here and here). I like his game and think he's got a chance to have a solid career, especially considering he's another undrafted free agent.

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All in all, it's hard to figure out all of the guys at defensive end. Dockett and Smith are locks to start, but after that it gets pretty muddy. I'd have to think that Campbell will be the primary backup but what the club decides to do with Berry, Tafoya and Schobel will be interesting. One of those three, if not two, won't make the team simply because they don't really have a position. The team can probably only keep five  or six ends at most so there will be some battles during camp as several players are clawing for a final roster spot. Overall though this should be a talented and deep group. Thoughts? Is this the deepest position on the team? Which guys won't make the roster? Is Dockett ready to dominate again?

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?