What is the outlook for the Steeler players in 2001? How well did they perform in 2000? What follows is my analysis of each and every player currently on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster, a summary of their 2000 season performance, and what might be ahead for them in 2001. The players are critiqued in alphabetical order.

Brent Alexander (27/S) - Originally signed as a free agent to back up Scott Shields and Lee Flowers, Alexander proved to be much more valuable than Travis Davis from 1999. Alexander won the starting job from Shields and never looked back. He will be a starting Safety for Pittsburgh in 2001, and unless Scott Shields improves dramatically, or the Steelers find a gem in the draft, or say Ainsley Battles can beat out Alexander, he will win the Safety job untested. 

Ainsley Battles (28/S) - Battles was placed on special teams and excelled. He was forced into the starting Safety role at season's end due to an injury to Lee Flowers. Battles even recorded a sack. But the rookie from Vanderbilt has skills, and will push Scott Shields to the limit as a backup to Lee Flowers and Brent Alexander. 

Jerome Bettis (36/RB) - Now that the Steelers have secured Bettis's services for most likely the remainder of his career, those who doubted his abilities in 2000 had their feet placed in their mouths early in the season. It did not take long to see that Bettis had not lost a step like so many had thought. In fact, Bettis looked quicker, and was making moves and jukes not seen before while playing for Pittsburgh. At season's end, Bettis was running with a passion, and an anger that Steeler fans had looked for in him. Now that he is happy with a new contract, and once again working out in the off season with track specialist Bob Kersee, I believe Bettis is prepared to have his finest season yet in Black and Gold. 

Will Blackwell (89/WR) - When Will Blackwell went down with a knee injury before the season began, the Steelers passing game still looked like it might be ok. We still had Plaxico Burress, Troy Edwards, Hines Ward, Bobby Shaw, Malcolm Johnson, and Courtney Hawkins. Little did anyone know that Burress would be a major disappointment, Edwards lose his starting job, and Hines Ward would have to carry the remaining receivers on his back. Courtney Hawkins was his typical self; clutch on third down, but not game-breaking plays. Bobby Shaw was consistently dropping passes, and it became obvious that the Steelers were lacking a deep-threat receiver. Blackwell never gave the impression of being a Carl Pickens type receiver, but he was capable of making some big plays. He is one of Pittsburgh's unrestricted free agents in this offseason, so it will be interesting to see if Art Rooney Jr. will offer Blackwell a nice contract or a contract at all. Given his performance at the end of this last season, it will be worth giving Blackwell his due in 2001. 

Kris Brown (3/K) - If Kris Brown does not show a stronger leg in training camp 2001 on kickoffs, Bill Cowher may have to bring in someone who can get the ball into the end zone consistently. But for field goals, it appears Brown's job is safe. Could it be a technique problem, or a loss of strength in his leg as the reason to why his kicks have been falling short? Only time will tell. 

Mark Bruener (87/TE) - I'm sure Bruener was smiling when Bill Cowher promoted Tight Ends Coach Mike Mularkey to Offensive Coordinator. Mularkey has already hinted at more passes to the Tight End. Fans have been waiting since Bruener's arrival from the draft seven years ago to have a season comparable to a Frank Wychek, Ben Coates or say a Shannon Sharpe. 2001 could be that year. 

Plaxico Burress (80/WR) - Suffering from a sluggish offense in 1999, the Steelers were in need of a big-play, big-sized Wide Receiver. Malcolm Johnson drafted in 1998 and standing 6'5" could not fill that role. So, in 2000's NFL draft, the Steelers passed on a possible "franchise" type Quarterback in Chad Pennington, and instead drafted 6'5 ½", 229 pound Burress from Michigan State. In the preseason, it looked like Pittsburgh made the right choice. In the Dallas preseason game, Burress made a "Lynn Swann" like catch and it seemed Burress would be one of the league's top rookies for the season. But once the season began, Burress was dropping passes, running bad routes, and not making the downfield players the Steelers were counting on. He seemed to be lacking concentration at times, typical in one of the Jaguar games when after making a big catch and going to the ground untouched, he jumped up and spiked the ball for an obvious fumble of which the Jags recovered. To his defense, the Steelers did not test him enough downfield, and he was playing with a bad wrist for a number of games without knowing the extent of the damage. Hopefully, he will return next season 100% healthy, and will be used correctly on offense as well as playing smart and showing more skills than he did in 2000.