Steelers go for one on ‘D,’ one on ‘O’

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH, PA.

Finally, the initial fallout from the Pittsburgh Steelers’ troublesome and problem-filled offseason.

The Steelers used their third-round pick Friday on SMU wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, a player they almost certainly wouldn’t have taken if off-field issues hadn’t forced them to trade former Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes.

Without him, wide receiver suddenly became a higher priority.

The Steelers also wanted to add some younger players to an aging defense, leading them to choose outside linebacker Jason Worilds of Virginia Tech on the second round. Among the players they passed up to get Worilds were Penn State linebacker Sean Lee and Notre Dame wide receiver Golden Tate.

The wide receiver, as it turned out, came a round later during the second day of the NFL’s first three-day draft. Rounds 4 through 7 will be today, when the Steelers may use some of their seven picks on a cornerback, defensive lineman and running back.

The Steelers believe Sanders is productive enough and fast enough — he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds at the NFL draft combine — and that he can learn quickly from the receiver he may someday replace, 34-year-old Hines Ward.

“I’m an elusive player, and I feel I’m very quick,” said Sanders, who also returned punts in college. “I’m really looking forward to being able to learn from Hines Ward.”

There’s something else, too.

“I’m so excited about Pittsburgh — they’ve got a good quarterback,” Sanders said.

Even if Ben Roethlisberger won’t be able to throw to Sanders until at least the fifth week of the season as he serves a six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

Despite discarding Holmes, the Steelers are deeper at wide receiver than they were when the season ended. Earlier, they brought back Antwaan Randle El from the Redskins and signed Arnaz Battle from the 49ers.

While playing in coach June Jones’ run-and-shoot system at SMU, Sanders caught 98 passes for 1,339 yards and seven touchdowns last season. He made nine TD catches in each of his first three college seasons despite his size — he’s 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds.

“We’ll find a place for him and try to get him the ball as soon as possible,” wide receivers coach Scottie Montgomery said.

With all the 30-something players in their defense — all but three starters are 30 or over — Worilds is a 20-something player who reminds them of their two excellent outside linebackers, James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley.

“Pittsburgh is a blue-collar, gritty type of place, and that’s the kind of ball I’ve always played,” Worilds said.

Although Harrison has started only three seasons, the 2008 NFL defensive player of the year is 32 and might be peaking. With no proven backups behind Harrison and Woodley, the Steelers chose to use a relatively high pick — No. 52 overall — on a player who won’t be ready to start next season.

SDLqIn this system, we haven’t started a rookie linebacker and for good reason. He’s going to have to earn his keep on special teams for a couple of years, and he’s fully aware of that,” linebackers coach Keith Butler said. “You’ve got an NFL defensive player of the year, another guy who made the Pro Bowl last year. It’s going to be hard to get him on the field for next year, but you never say never.”

Special teams became a major issue last season as the Steelers allowed a league-high four kickoff return touchdowns in a five-game span. Worilds, Battle and former Tampa Bay safety Will Allen are expected to help improve their kick coverage.