Steelers Sign Twelve Undrafted Rookie Free-Agents
Here's the list so far. I'll update if necessary.
LB Patrick Bailey, Duke
C Doug Legursky, Marshall
QB Mike Potts, William & Mary
DT Martavius Prince, Southern Miss
DT Jordan Reffett, Washington
TE Dezmond Sherrod, Mississippi State
LB Donovan Woods, Oklahoma State
K Julian Rauch, Appalachian State
CB Travis Williams, East Carolina
WR Micah Rucker, Eastern Illinois
WR Dorien Bryant, Purdue
CB Roy Lewis, Washington
Woods is an intriguing selection. At 6'2" and ~225 lbs, he didn't play LB in college. He was a QB and a safety while at Oklahoma State. His brother Rashuan Woods, was a 1st round selection by SF in 2003. I'm not sure if the Steelers have plans to convert him to safety or pass -rush as a LB, or employ him in nickle or dime situations.
So much for finding DL help here. We'll see what, if anything, these CBs are able to provide. That sure is a lot of WRs coming in to battle for one, maybe two, spots. Are any of those guys KR threats?
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DL Help
What about Prince and Reffett? Too small?
by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 28, 2008 5:09 PM EDT reply actions
Prince
Finally found some data on him:
http://southernmiss.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/prince_martavius00.html
Looks like he may be the right size for 3-4 DE. A couple of quotes give some reason for hope:
Named “Best Run Stuffing Tackle” by The Sporting News
and, apparently contributed to Chuck Amato losing his job:
Two-time Player of the Week as voted by the coaches against NC State (9/16) and East Carolina (10/28)
by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 28, 2008 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions
And Reffett
His bio:
http://gohuskies.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/reffett_jordan01.html
We can hope he was good player who got lost because the team so horrible.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 28, 2008 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions
OL
Is anyone else surprised that there is only one OL on this list? I wish they would have gotten a couple big uglies to take a look at during camp.
OL
Yeah, we have quality depth on OL and a couple of project players like Capizzi, so it would be hard for a young guy to come in and get a roster spot. Still, I’d expect to see a few more training camp fodder/PS types to come in eventually.
Have there been any success stories
at the oline from undrafted free agents? Not just the steelers, but any organization?
I recall the Bills’ Jason Peters went undrafted, but he wasn’t a tackle in college.
I want to say undrafted starters are rare, and more likely to be a wr/te/rb than on the o-line. But can anyone think of some undrafted oline guys, even average nfl calibur?
undrafted OL
Jeff Saturday – center & 3-time pro bowler (05-07)
Brian Waters – OG & 3-time pro bowler (04-06)
That’s the only two that jumped out at me
Did some more digging for recent guys
Mike Flynn c 10 year career
Matt Lepsis ot 11 year career
Casey Weigmann c (111 game starting streak)
Stephen Neal g starter for pats
Shaun O’hara c starter on giants
Rich Seubert g (started in super bowl for giants)
Hank Fraley c (first signed by the steelers, has 100+ career starts)
Robbie Tobeck c 13 year career
Tom Ashworth g (started in super bowl for seahawks)
interior guys
I see an awful lot of interior guys in that list and especially centers so maybe there is some hope for Legursky (who by some accounts can play guard or center).
DaTruth Is Still Alive
Hey, Steelers Nation, What’s Happening!
A couple of comments about the free agents:
- DaTruth don’t know much about any of them. However, here are a couple of things that I do like.
- Here are the numbers for 6’5, 217 lb. WR Micah Rucker’s Pro Day. Two 40s at 4.57 and 4.47 (the latter is great for someone that size), a 39-inch vertical jump, an 11-foot, 3-inch long jump, 4.57 short shuttle, 6.90 cone drill and 20 reps in the bench press. Can you say athlete?
If those numbers still don’t get your attention, he torched the Cardinal’s 1st round pick – Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie – for two touchdown when they played. He seems to be a guy with good character and is coming to the Steelers as a free agent with a BIG chip on his shoulders. He said in an article that I read that his numbers compare to any wide receiver in this draft and all he wants is an opportunity.
http://blogs.trb.com/sports/football/ncaa_blog/2008/04/draft_this_guy_micah_rucker.htm
Well opportunity, granted. I say here that the Steelers could keep 3 rookie WR’s—Sweed, Rucker and Dorien Bryant (could be the team’s return man). That would give them 5 WRs and 1 return specialist, as was the roster setup from this past year. If Rucker shows anything, the Steelers won’t be able to stash him on the practice squad. Big WR’s are the rage in the NFL right now, and he’ll be scooped up. With Nate Washington probably leaving next year and Ward doing the same in about 2 years, while not keep him around if he shows something?
- Also, here are the Pro Day numbers on DE Kyle Clement from Northwood University. He was measured at 6’4’’, 316 lbs, ran a 5.21 40-yard-dash, bench 225 pounds 37 times… yes, 37 times, and had a vertical of 29.5 inches. His arm length was 32.2 inches (kind of short for a DE), hand size was 10 inches, short shuttle was 4.54, 3-cone was 7.54 and broad jump was 8 feet, 11 inches. Again, these numbers that he has some athleticism. Whether he’s a player or not, DaTruth doesn’t have a clue.
If this guy shows anything, he could also stick. Nick Eason is a little bit less than useless, and if any of the 3 free agents show anything, they could grab a spot. Ryan “Steely” McBean is nothing the team can count on because he’s been on crutches because of his stress fracture and did zilch last year.
One help to the DL could come right around training camp, when I believe Booger McFarland will be cleared by the Steelers doctors and become that rusher on 3rd down that the Steelers DL could use inside.
- The return spot will come down between Jeremy Bloom, Willie Reid, and Dorien Bryant. Reid has 2 strikes against him because (1) he can’t catch punts and (2) he will be the highest paid of the 3 this year, being a 3rd round pick while the others are free agents. This will be interesting to follow as whomever makes it will also have to have the ability to play the slot, too. Now that is something I think that Reid can do.
- Blitzburg, like Jay-Z, “What you want me to say, I’m sorry, but I’m back! So, show me what you got!”

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