Mock Draft: We're Going With Moss

by Peter Bean on Apr 5, 2007 12:30 AM EDT in News

SBN MOCK DRAFT, HOSTED BY FIELD GULLS

We actually wanted to trade down from this position, but couldn't find sufficient interest to make something happen. Fortunately, we're high enough on Jarvis Moss to feel good about drafting him here and adding him to the Steeler family.

Moss is a freak of a football player who may just wind up a better professional than he was a collegiate player. We went straight to the biggest Gator fans we know to get the scoop on Jarvis Moss. Orson Swindle of EDSBS wasn't shy about sharing his thoughts:

Jarvis Moss may be the best bargain of the draft. He's a long defender who missed out on most of the wear and tear of college due to a bone infection from a botched cortisone shot. He's ruthless around the corner, but like most hellbent rush ends can be a bit light on the run. He was peerless on passing downs, however.

Moss could be a fine linebacker in the pros with a year to adjust to the nuances of the position. He's fast - ask anyone who wears scarlet and grey. The burn marks on their jerseys are half his.

And that's why we love Moss. He's got the athleticism to be a terrific linebacker, and he's versatile enough to play in a 4-3 or 3-4. Whatever route new head coach Mike Tomlin takes the team, having Moss around to help will be a good thing. Pittsburgh has needs at both linebacker and cornerback, but we think Moss is the guy with the most potential to be a star contributor at some point soon. Once we knew we were keeping the pick, selecting Moss was easy.

[More on Moss tomorrow, but this is our official entry for the mock. Green Bay, you're on the clock. . . ]

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interesting

I don't know about this pick. People are saying athleticism but the combine doesn't show it. Granted, I haven't seen this guy's films or anything so I dunno how much of a terror he was or in on the field. But his speed is average, his strength seems subpar for his position but I dunno, maybe it was a fluke.

by Mikey on Apr 5, 2007 8:58 AM EDT reply actions

Watching him play

It's hard to figure out why he didn't test well. He's -so- physically impressive, and such a terror on the field. His injuries, as noted, weren't really his fault, and he looks to us like a guy who's going to explode as a professional. We see him becoming more consistent than he was in college.

Is this the kind of guy Pittsburgh will draft? Maybe not, but we felt good about the pick.

by Peter Bean on Apr 5, 2007 9:43 AM EDT up reply actions

I was cool

with Moss or Timmons. Willis is a good choice too, but 1. He won't last to the Steelers anyway, and 2. Our need at OLB is much greater than at the middle.

If combine or pro-day performance clashes with game performance, I give greater weight to the latter. Granted, I've only seen one Florida game with Moss, but he was Ohio State's worst nightmare. And since being able to show a 3-4 or a 4-3 is my hobby-horse of the this particular off-season, I think it'd be a good pick.

Given that a lot of folks here seem to think that trading down to later in the first-round would be a good idea, how long do you think the usual suspects will last? Even with an extra second or third-rounder in the bargain, I wouldn't want to trade ourselves out of one of the top pass-rushers.

by Desroko on Apr 5, 2007 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

my thought

if we trade down 5 spots I think that at least one of Moss or Timmons will still be there. As for Willis, I wouldn't mind getting him at all, I think he is clearly the best LB of the bunch and the type of player you would take at 1.15. I realize he's inside and not outside but Farrior is not getting any younger either. I think the value in the 15-20 range is going to be in WR with Jarret and Bowe and CBs with Revis ann Hall but that's just my impression of things.

by schnifin on Apr 5, 2007 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah

We tried to trade down, but didn't get any offers. Frustrating.

by Peter Bean on Apr 5, 2007 6:51 PM EDT up reply actions

He's good but...

I still like Poz as the first rounder, but Moss is still pretty good.

by steelinnj on Apr 5, 2007 12:20 PM EDT reply actions

If they keep the pick

He's probably just as good as any available, but I'd still rather see the Steelers trade down a bit. They can always pick up a OLB in the second or third round pick, while he may not be ready for a year or so. I'd rather see then get a OL and a DL in the late 1st and early 2nd.

It really puts kink in predicting the draft when we don't know what the future of our defense is.

by cgolden on Apr 11, 2007 12:45 PM EDT reply actions