In 2013 the Pittsburgh Steelers will have six players that will be in the final year of their current contract and below is a breakdown of those players.
Ryan Clark – Clark had a career high in total tackles in 2012 with 102 of which 72 were of the solo variety. It was the second season in a row that he broke the 100 tackle barrier. Clark also recorded 2 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 7 passes defensed and 5 stuffs. He battled a small concussion problem in 2012 that ultimately led to him switching to a better helmet. Clark only missed the season opener in Denver due to his sickle cell trait and missed very few snaps in the other 15 games that he played in. The Steelers veteran free safety ended the season with a severe left quad contusion suffered in the season finale that forced him to spend the night in the hospital, Luckily surgery wasn\’t necessary and he should be good to go next year.
Jason Worilds – Worilds dressed for all 16 games this season and that was the first time that he has done that since being drafted in 2010. The Steelers outside linebacker was slowed the entire offseason while recovering from wrist surgery but managed to start 3 games at left outside linebacker when LaMarr Woodley was sidelined due to injuries. Worilds recorded 5 sacks, 2 defensed passes and 1 stuff in just under 440 defensive snaps and he ended the season with 26 total tackles. There is a good chance that he could open the 2013 season as the starting right outside linebacker should James Harrison become a cap causality during the offseason.
Brett Keisel – Keisel started all 16 games for the Steelers in 2012 and that was the first time since 2007 that he was able to do that. He recorded 46 total tackles, of which 26 were solos, and recorded 4.5 sacks to go along with 1 fumble recovery, 1 pass defensed and 2 stuffs. The veteran right defensive end did suffer a MCL sprain in the season finale, but it reportedly will not require surgery. Keisel will likely battle Cameron Heyward in 2013 for the starting spot next season.
Ziggy Hood – Hood started all 16 games for the Steelers in his fourth season and recorded 42 total tackles, of which 25 were solo. He also registered 3 sacks, recovered 2 fumbles and defensed 3 passes. Hood improved in his first full year as a starter at left defensive end, but has plenty of room to get even better. Hopefully he will.
Jerricho Cotchery – Cotchery played just under 270 snaps in his second season in Pittsburgh and recorded just 17 catches for 205 yards on 27 targets. 12 of those catches resulted in first downs. The veteran is set to earn a one million base salary in 2013 so he could wind up being a cap causality as a result. Cotchery is an above average blocker but will be 31 years of age before the team reports to training camp.
Al Woods – Woods was claimed off waivers from the Seattle Seahawks in November of 2011 and managed to stick on the roster this season as the fourth defensive end. In his 30 snaps played in 2012 he recorded just 3 total tackles. He will be with the team again in Latrobe but that is where the guarantees end for him as he will surely need to win a roster soot once again.
