Perhaps you have gone into this New Year (as an aside, can you believe it is 2015?) with a checklist; a to-do list you'd like to get accomplished before the calendar spins again.

Who knows, maybe you want to workout more or try your hand at moderation when it comes to those Entenmann's crumb cakes that come in the little flip-top box?

Conceivably you want to save more money?

Or gamble less?

Or, perhaps, save more money as a result of gambling less?

Whatever it is, many go into a new year with eyes set on resolving to do something to make their lives better. Here is a quick five-point checklist, which if completed this off-season, could make 2015 better than 2014 for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Here we go …

+ Draft a cornerback

Ike Taylor has certainly been talking like man who has played his final game in a Steelers uniform. The Steelers were already thin on talent at cornerback headed into this season and, even as Brice McCain and Antwon Blake appeared to make strides, have they shown enough to be trusted every snap? Certainly William Gay had a much better than anticipated 2014, but at 30 years old, one can begin to question how much football he has left . On top of that, Gay's contract runs out after 2015.

The Steelers have the No. 22 pick in the first round of this coming draft. If he's still available, this franchise should go after Trae Waynes of Michigan State, a guy who has the potential to step right in and start in the NFL. If not, Marcus Peters from Washington or Ifo Ekpre-Olomu from Oregon should be selected with the pick to help at corner.

+ Sign Ben

If this doesn't happen, many would be shocked.

But, who knows?

Didn't most expect Ben Roethlisberger to have his contract extended by now, as he goes into the 2015 season entering the final year of an eight-year, $102 million deal he inked in 2008?

On Tuesday, Roethlisberger told 93.7 The Fan he'd like to get something done "hopefully sooner, rather than later" and that his agents would be working diligently to see that a deal gets done. Roethlisberger will turn 33 in March and the last thing the Steelers want is to have this linger on deeper into the summer than it needs to. Again, the very safe money is on this getting done and Roethlisberger coming to terms on an agreement that makes him a Steeler for life, but the longer it lingers, the seemingly more contentious the situation appears to be.

+ Introduce LeBeau to the sunset

There is no question Dick LeBeau is one of the all-time great defensive coordinators and, maybe, the best who ever lived. The notion that the game has passed him by is one that is up for debate, and at 77 he appears to be in better health than just about any other 77-year-old person on the planet (and most in their 50s). But there's also no debate the Steelers' defense doesn't strike the fear it once did not so long ago, as they were ranked 18^th in total defense this past season.

Is this a bigger product of depleted personnel? Maybe.

Is this all on LeBeau? Definitely not.

That said, as he has led the Steelers' defense since 2004 (he was also coordinator from 1995-96) this could be a situation where a fresh voice and ideas are needed. As such, linebackers coach Keith Butler has been with the organization for a dozen years and is widely viewed as LeBeau's successor. If there's ever a time to let LeBeau down easy, this is it. And the organization should take advantage of it before it might have to get messy.

+ Find a backup running back (who won't walk off the field and quit)

The Steelers were left in a jam for the Wild Card Game against the Ravens because of the injury to Le'Veon Bell, but just as much because of the lack of a serviceable backup. Ben Tate was signed off the scrap heap and got the start but was ineffective, Josh Harris didn't dazzle and Dri Archer was his usual small self.

But the real problem happened on a Monday night in mid-November when LaGarrette Blount walked out on his team and was eventually released. Blount, who reached highs on McKnight Road never realized while he was in a Steelers uniform, might have been able to step in for Bell in that playoff game had he stuck around.

So while Blount looked to be the backup to Bell going into 2014, the Steelers must go into 2015 and solve that same problem. Something screams at me that Harris won't be good enough to fill such a role and Archer won't grow this offseason.

That said, one guy who could make sense to make a run at is Bilal Powell, a sturdy back who is just 26 but was seemingly buried on the Jets' depth chart.

+ Acquire a hybrid tight end
There is no question --- to me at least --- that Heath Miller is the greatest tight end in Steelers history. His ability to both catch and block has been phenomenal in a career that spans back to 2005. However, Miller is coming to the end of the line and the Steelers must address adding weaponry at this position. Looking around the NFL, the hybrid tight end has revolutionized the game (see: Gronk, Jimmy Graham, etc.) but the Steelers and Big Ben have never utilized such armament. Todd Haley did a masterful job with Antonio Brown this past season, but one would think Brown's future could even be brighter if a hybrid could be infused into the offense. If I were the Steelers' brass, I'd seriously consider drafting a player such as Tyler Kroft out of Rutgers.

Colin Dunlap is a featured columnist at CBSPittsburgh.com. He can also be heard weekdays from 5:40 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Sports Radio 93-7 "The Fan." You can read his bio here.

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