The 2008 Steelers marched to a Super Bowl title despite getting little from their rookies. Bad luck played a major role in the lack of production of the rookie class; first-round pick Rashard Mendenhall likely would have been a contributor if he hadn’t suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in September. Also, the Steelers did not need major contributions from WR Limas Sweed (who struggled with his consistency and will be in a fight for the No. 3 WR job this season) and OLB Bruce Davis and OT Tony Hills (neither of whom made an impact) considering the veteran depth at those positions.

With the vast majority of last season’s club returning, the Steelers don’t necessarily need a major lift from the 2009 rookie class, either. Nonetheless, the newest group of first-year players looks capable of helping in Year One based on the roles available for the taking on the Steelers.

First-round pick Evander “Ziggy” Hood was drafted to eventually become a starting defensive end, but the interior pass-rush pressure he created as a defensive tackle at Missouri is not lost on the Steelers, who plan to use him when they go to a four-man D-line in passing downs this season — but not at nose tackle in the base 3-4, we're told.

Rookie ORG Kraig Urbik, who could push starter Darnell Stapleton with a strong training-camp performance, is one of three Pittsburgh third-round picks with a shot at contributing this season.

WR Mike Wallace, selected five spots after Urbik in Round Three, may compete for playing time in three- and four-WR sets, but his kickoff-return ability makes him a rookie to watch in the preseason. Wallace, who has been clocked at 4.31 seconds in the 40-yard dash, returned a pair of kickoffs for touchdowns at Ole Miss.

CB Keenan Lewis, the last of the team's third-round picks, has drawn comparisons to current Steelers starting corner Ike Taylor. Lewis, who was Wallace’s high school teammate in New Orleans, figures to be a No. 4 or No. 5 cornerback and could be the long-range replacement for Taylor. A source close to the Steelers says Lewis, who starred at Oregon State, was the most impressive of the club’s rookies this summer.

Another notable rookie is fifth-round CB Joe Burnett, who will contend to be the punt returner.