Our Projected Pick, from Every Mock Draft
by PaulMorel on Feb 3, 2009 1:01 PM EST
Email
PrintBefore I run down this list, I should note that the Steelers have one or two valuable free agents, so there is a not-insignificant chance that the Steelers will trade up (as pointed out by betelgeuse in this comment).
With that in mind, here is my collected run down of our projected 1st round pick, from all of the supposed draft-masters on the internet (that don't charge money to see their picks).
The Big Sites
Yahoo Sports - William Beatty, OT, Connecticut
Sporting News - Duke Robinson (G)
Sports Illustrated - Duke Robinson (G)
ESPN's Todd McShay - Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
Fox Sports - Max Unger, C/OT, Oregon
NBC Sports - DT Peria Jerry, Mississippi
MockingTheDraft - Eben Britton, OT, Arizona
Random Sites Found Via Google
Scout.com - Duke Robinson, OG Oklahoma
draftcountdown.com - MAX UNGER, C, OREGON
newnfldraft.com - Alex Mack, C, Cal
walterfootball.com - Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU
draftking.com - Duke Robinson, OG, Oklahoma
nfldraftdog.com - OT, Eben Britton, Arizona (JR)
thefootballexpert.com - Alex Mack, C, California
A lot of people on this list like Duke Robinson, Tyson Jackson or Max Unger.
It's interesting that everyone on this list has us taking a position on the offensive line, or else Tyson Jackson at DE. That's interesting because Colbert almost NEVER reaches for players in the draft. He is more apt to take the best player available, then to reach for a lower ranked player in a spot we need to fill.
Obviously we need players for the offensive line. The question is this: is the situation dire enough that Colbert will break tradition and reach for an offensive lineman? Or will he just take the best player available?
I'm not a draft analyst, so I have no idea.
In the comments, link me to the drafts that I missed so that I can add them to this list.
83 comments
|
2 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I agree 100% with you about the mock drafts. It is quite frustrating really because I am someone who really likes to get into the NFL draft and mock drafts in general, the only thing is this year I can’t hardly find a draft that doesn’t have us taking O-line or D-line players at #32, that are mid-second round prospects.
Also, the SBN site Mocking the Draft has us taking Eben Britton, OT, Arizona: http://www.mockingthedraft.com/2009/1/26/737247/mock-draft . I would recommend checking out the site, it is actually how I originally found BTSC last year. Also, the site could use some Steeler presence…..
I can see us trading up, but who do you think would be someone we would trade up for?
Possibly BJ Raji, Peria Jerry, or Vonte Davis (who I am not a big fan of).
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Feb 3, 2009 2:05 PM EST reply actions
Alex Mack
is the only player I care about for the 1st round. The guy’s a beast; I’ve been championing him for 2 years now (I’m probably biased, as he played his college ball 10 miles north of my house), but if Mack somehow actually lasts all the way until the last pick of the first round, he’d make a damn fine Pittsburgh Steeler … great attitude, huge & sturdy, quick learner, and wants to win.
My problem with Alex Mack is Hartwig may have been the most consisent O-Lineman we had all season. I guess he could switch to guard but It really seemed like was a decent fit.
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Feb 3, 2009 2:29 PM EST up reply actions
consistent
People (well, Wexell) talk about Mack like he’s a future team captain and pro-Bowler. Damn smart, tough, good size, plays nasty. So if the FO thinks he has the potential to be better than Hartwig, i think they’d take him. For my money, whether they take him depends on how good a guard they think he’ll be, not center.
by syrsteelerfan on Feb 3, 2009 2:46 PM EST up reply actions
love me some Wex
But he was also very very high on Humpal. Jurys still out on him, but we may have a little bit of a case of projecting some underdog status on some of these prospects from Wex. just throwing that out there.
In Macks case, hes clearly much more capable than Humpal, but still, just saying any talk of future captain is….
Hartwig
gave the line something it was lacking, which was absolutely necessary. I think he could be moved over, or Mack could learn a new spot just as easily. One of the main reasons I’ve spouted Mack’s name every time this topic comes up is that I truly believe he’ll provide an anchor at his position (any position) along the line for a solid decade. I think he’s a great long-term prospect, who would have an immediate and noticeably positive impact on the line.
At the moment, however, I’ve got no real gripe about the line. We can say what we want about ‘em, but they’ve all got a fresh set of rings coming their way … that’s much more than all the highly touted lines from this season have…
If mack is drafted, he could play RG for a year and then slide over to center when hartwig leaves the next year
by spartansteelers on Feb 3, 2009 6:14 PM EST up reply actions
After the superbowl at about 1:30 am I commented to a friend at the bar that we’d be talking about the draft by the end of the week.
I love steeler nation.
Defense
If Tyson Jackson is there…. we SHOULD TAKE HIM. I do not believe Mack is the best Center in this draft. Centers like Wood and Luigis will be great fits. Additionally there are alot of quality OL that will be available after the 1st round. There is no one after Tyson Jackson.
by SteelCityDefense on Feb 3, 2009 3:44 PM EST reply actions
a lot of OL, but not starters
there is alot of OL in this draft, but not many of them willbe able to start during their rookie season
I’m not sold on Robinson as a pass protecter. A lot depends on what we want to do with our offensive identity, but we need guys that can keep Ben upright. There are 4 quality centers (Wood, Unger, Mack, Luigis), but everybody has their own top guy. I’m not sure there is a consensus best at this point. I think we’ll trade up to make sure we get our guy, whether that’s Britton or Beatty. There’s a ton of good OL value at our spot, though, so I’m not sure we can go wrong staying put. We could wait in the first and trade up in the second and get, say Kropong and Unger, with our first 2 picks.
charity standing orders
Draft thoughts
Offensive linemen have the longest careers of any position so you never draft one for immediate need. I would argue we have a long-term need at EVERY SPOT ON THE OFFENSIVE LINE, therefore if we keep our pick at No. 32 we draft the best OL available regardless of position. That’s why I would like the idea of picking Alex Mack if he is still available at No. 32. He separated himself from Max Unger at the Senior Bowl and is considered to be the best of a strong group, likely to have a long NFL career and possessing intelligence and leadership skills. There is a lot more uncertainty about LT candidates at that point in the draft because in a lot of cases they are still projects, as would be the case with Britton and Beatty. Mack is the top center candidate, Britton and Beatty are the fifth or sixth rated OTs. It’s a lot easier to project Alex Mack as a quality 10-year starter and eventual Pro Bowler, than Eben Britton or William Beatty. Does anyone remember OT Jamain Stephens? He was drafted 29th overall in 1996, the sixth tackle taken, and was a total bust, starting just 11 games in three seasons before being cut. Mack may also contribute immediately as a candidate at guard, as Mike Pollak (last year’s top ranked center, and not nearly as good a prospect as Mack) did this year as a starter with Indianapolis. I saw Mack play only a couple games but I think he is a better interior line prospect than guard Duke Robinson. I’ve seen him play a lot and he is way over-hyped, although a tremendous athlete for his size.
I think the only reason we would move up in the draft is if one of the top four ranked OTs would fall into the 20s. We have the extra draft picks to make that feasible and maybe even some draft trade value in Larry Foote, as was pointed out in another post.
So much depends on free agency. If Washington and McFadden go elsewhere, then it’s entirely possible the Steelers stay at No. 32 and add WR and CB to the group of positions (OL and DL) that merit a first-round pick as the best player available. I really don’t see Maclin dropping anywhere near the Steelers pick but he would be a great addition and contribute immediately on special teams as well as being a much better replacement than Sweed should Hines or Santonio get injured.
by steeler.lifer on Feb 3, 2009 8:19 PM EST up reply actions
Great thoughts on the O-line. The way I look at it, we can obviously “get by” with what we have on the O-line. That said, there is substantial room for improvement. As you say, if we draft the best available OL we can bring that improvement in the long term and probably in the short term. Every position can be improved upon, but it’s not as if the difference between Colon and a potential replacement is much different than the difference between Kemo and his potential replacement. We need to upgrade everywhere on the line, and if we can’t do it with the tackles this year we’re just going to have to deal.
Sacrificing the draft for a tackle just makes no sense if we can sacrifice nothing and develop a quality interior. I think Colbert is more likely to reach on the interior than trade a boatload for a top tackle.
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
I understand o-line
but why C? Hartwig now, with Stapleton able to play G or C down the line…
The main reason
in my opinion why reach for a tackle that is way above his draft spot, or get a the best Center or Guard in the draft?
makes sense to me…
I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!
by Frank Mineo (DYMS) on Feb 3, 2009 7:44 PM EST up reply actions
Then trade down
Dont reach below, but say hey we will go down a few spots in exchange for another round 6.
I believe more teams need to do this. If you dont like where you are at when you get there, move out the way.
tru dat
and of our starting linemen Stapleton has the best technique, he just wore down(a bit light) toward the end of the season.
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Feb 8, 2009 1:43 PM EST up reply actions
Help me out here...
I thought I read in another post (somewhere here on BTSC) that the main problem with Willie Colon was that his arms were too short to be an effective tackle. Any opinions on this? Would he make a better guard than tackle? It seems that the concensus is to throw him off a bridge….but I’m guessing they Steelers have another plan.
"Whaddya' mean all the beer is gone..?
He should make a better guard than tackle, but who knows?
Willie’s problem is predominately with speed guys. He is not quick enough / lacks the length to get to the edge and block guys coming around him quickly enough to not hang on to them and end up with 10 yards. He deals with strength and bull rushes adequately, but his push in the running game seems average at best.
If he were to end up at the guard position he could mostly avoid getting beat around the edge, and should be a pretty good pass-protecting guard. I don’t see his run game improving much, but against a 3-4 I could see him helping out with the NT more than stapleton has.
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
Most of his problems are upstairs
He just makes mental errors. Mis reads, false starts, not having his noggin on the LOS, not getting his hands back to the middle to avoid holds.
Its a lot of little things that add up.
Honestly if a Drive was a Vampire, Colon would be Buffy.
I don’t believe that at all. The reason he makes mental errors is because of his lack of physical prowess. When he says a player lined up at that he knows can beat him around the edge he gets nervous. In some ways I’d rather he take the false start or line up incorrectly than let his guy blaze around him and hit Ben for 5 yards and a loss of down. It’s shocking that he didn’t commit a penalty in the superbowl.
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
Hahaha
“If you post Steeler draft topics, I will come”
To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)
Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.
by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Feb 3, 2009 10:49 PM EST reply actions
Drumroll Please...
My Earliest attempt at a Mock Draft.
1. Alex Mack, C, Cal -I’ve preached that all year long.
2. Herman Johnson, OG, LSU
3. Fenuki Tupou, OT, Oregon
3(comp). Shonne Greene, RB, Iowa
4. Bruce Johnson, CB, Miami
5. Jovorskie Lane, FB, Texas A&M
6. Sammie Lee Hill, DT, Stillman
7. Pat Turner, WR, USC
To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)
Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.
by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Feb 3, 2009 11:09 PM EST reply actions
minus the extra "e" off Shonn Greene
To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)
Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.
by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Feb 3, 2009 11:09 PM EST up reply actions
I thought we had 2 more picks than that, no? Leftovers from trades? I’m assuming the 3rd round comp pick is Faneca.
Guns don't kill people. Lamar Woodley kills people.
Here it is...hopefully it is accurate
http://www.prosportstransactions.com/football/DraftTrades/2009.htm
Scroll down to the 7th round.
If the Steelers could swing that out of the 1st 3 rounds that would be awesome
I don’t think that Herman will last until the late 2nd…same with Tupou in the late 3rd.
For Shonn Greene’s, sake I hope he will get drafted before pick number #97+.
Whether we should draft all OL in the first 3 is debatable, but I see the value there. I don’t like picking up a RB and an FB in this draft though. You’re hanging our old DL out to dry for a position we are stacked at (and have guys in the wings).
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
Please name the FB on the roster you think is good enough to hang around for more than 2 years. Davis is not him. McHugh is ok(ish) blocking down on the line, but seems to need some work in the backfield, and I think if he was a capable lead-blocker they’d have him doing it.
Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t think we need another halfback, but I wish we had a competent fullback again.
Guns don't kill people. Lamar Woodley kills people.
We don’t need anything special from our fullback. Right now I think Davis is treated (and is) too much like a 4th tight end. They use him to catch and run. I’d prefer if the FB was just a bruiser that got a dive every once and awhile. We don’t need our FB to be great at running because we have a ton of halfbacks, and we don’t need him to be great at catching. We just need him to block, and blockers are a dime a dozen around town.
Now tell me which young DL on our roster is going to replace the unit that anchors are entire defensive unit?
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
We haven’t seen anything from Paxson, so I have no idea what he’s capable of. And I’m not opposed to picking up DL help, but backfield blockers are most decidedly not a dime a dozen. If they were, we’d have someone not named Mewelde Moore who could block back there.
Guns don't kill people. Lamar Woodley kills people.
We dont use Moore enough
I hate those passes out to Davis in the flat. Its like asking a walrus to do a cheetah’s job.
We should go like-a-so…
OT
DE
OG
CB
RB (ideally a beast man who could tween FB)
BA from here on.
You want our FB to stand in and protect Ben?
I just want our FB to be big, able to run, and lead the way for our running backs. I don’t want him back there to block for Ben. Moore may not be the best at it, but he isn’t bad, and I’d prefer to have someone who is a serious threat out of the backfield than an FB who is there just to block. Moore has shown time and again his value on third down.
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
The fullback, as we used to use him, had 2 roles. On play-action and some regular passing plays, stand back there and block. A true FB would unquestionably be better at that than even Moore, based on size alone. The second role is lead blocking through the middle. Davis is bad at both. We absolutely do not need a FB with hands. We don’t need one that can carry or catch.
But he is the guy in the backfield on pass plays. Look at how we used Krieder for the model. The man barely came off the field. He was EXCELLENT in the backfield pass blocking, and also as a lead blocker.
Answer me this: Why on earth would you not want a backfield pass blocker?
Guns don't kill people. Lamar Woodley kills people.
At this point I’m just pulling for us to use a fullback the way we use McHugh in the running game, and to do so with someone more effective than he is. If we go back to running play-action out of the I- more than once every few games then I would agree with you.
As it is I don’t expect Arians to alter his play book. I’d just like him to do it with a better blocker in the FB position and I don’t see us needing to go to the draft for that. I certainly don’t see us finding someone I want protecting Ben in the backfield in round 5 of the draft.
To answer your question…If the defense sends 3 against our offense and our line can actually handle them (which they do every blue moon), I’d rather have Moore in the backfield than someone with nothing better to do than lick their lips. Having Moore in the backfield gives you versatility of the 3,4, or 5 man rush is picked up and if it isn’t picked up, he can pick up the blocker adequately. I don’t see Arians ever deciding to not have more guys that he can pass the ball to on passing plays. If it was legal he’d probably only have three guys on the offensive line.
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
Also, I don’t expect Arians to alter his playbook much, either. I just don’t necessarily see us using his playbook for very long.
Guns don't kill people. Lamar Woodley kills people.
Since we can’t expect Arians to alter his playbook can we please alter Arians?
by Marvin, The Paranoid Android on Feb 8, 2009 1:49 PM EST up reply actions
Pete Schrager at Fox Sports trying two rounds worth
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/9168376/A-very-early-NFL-mock-draft
William Beatty (OT UConn) and Kraig Urbik (G Wisc) for Pitt
by IllinoisSteelerFan on Feb 4, 2009 8:26 AM EST reply actions
I want William Beatty
I know Alex Mack is a stud center. But I would like a project able bookend LT. Both have upside.
A pretty good class of centers this year – Mack, Unger, Luigs, Wood, and Caldwell. I think we can wait. Besides there is a good chance Mack will be gone by 32. Eagles, Vikings, Titans, Bears…among others could take Mack with there 1st selection.
Yeah we wont get a C
No need for a C. Ours is good enough. Replace the Colonoscopy or perhaps build up the G position.
Wasn’t Hartwig originally a guard? Just because he plays center now doesn’t mean he needs to stay there.
Guns don't kill people. Lamar Woodley kills people.
True
He played center though for the last couple years at least.
Stapler was a C earlier.
I just think we have good depth at that spot.
Personally, I’d be all for keeping Starks, Hartwig, Stapler, and filling in the Colon and Kemo Spots.
Heck, Simmons could return and handle the LG spot fine.
Hartwig Wants to be a Center
That why he was let go by Carolina. They offered him to stay as guard, but he truly wanted to play center and that’s why we have him.
by TrueSteelerForLife on Feb 7, 2009 11:17 AM EST up reply actions
Also, from what I understand, there are more quality centers in this draft than guards.
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
Deep group at center
In addition to Mack there are four other centers projected in the top 3 rounds: Max Unger (Oregon, the most versatile lineman in the draft), Jonathan Luigs (Arkansas), Eric Wood (Louisville) and Antoine Caldwell (Alabama). As far as the Steeler depth is concerned, Hartwig has a year left on his contract. Stapleton was a two-year starter at center at Rutgers and a Rimington Trophy finalist. Not sure he has the strength to handle nose tackles in the AFC North. Ngota eats Hartwig for lunch as it is. Being a Rimington finalist is not a big deal. Marvin Philip was a two-time Rimington finalist at Cal (he preceded Mack) and was drafted by the Steelers in the sixth round 2006. I believe the Bills are now his fifth NFL team and he hasn’t played a down. I don’t think having some “depth” at center precludes drafting a big, smart, ready-to-play, potential future All-Pro. With Smith and Simmons there is depth at all OL positions, pending who is re-signed. There isn’t a great player in the bunch, however.
There is also some depth at OT in this draft. ZnJersey put together a great list of players to watch in another post, which includes Round 2-3 OT prospects such as Troy Kropog, Phil Loadholt, Jamon Meredith and Jason Watkins. Watkins (Florida) drew a lot of praise at the Senior Bowl and is maybe the most likely of that group to be available late in the second round. So here is a speculative choice: Would you prefer the combination of Mack and Watkins in the first two rounds, or Beatty and Round 2 BPA available among Interior OL, DL, WR and CB, none of whom are likely to start for a while. Beatty certainly sounds like a good prospect but my choice in the first round would still be best OL available regardless of position.
by steeler.lifer on Feb 4, 2009 4:25 PM EST up reply actions
Absolutely pick for the lines
The O-line is priority #1, however free agency and re-signings come first. We have to decide who stays and goes.
I would think Colbert recognizes the Defense was #1, and the Offense was not. And the only position with no depth and lots of need is the O-line.
The D-line should be 2nd priority, as its combined age dates back to the cretaceous period.
CB should be considered 3rd, more seriously if B-mac leaves.
Before we go to the draft we should find out what is up with Starks. I think if they resign him they almost assuredly go interior OL. If they do not and do not pick up anyone, I’ll be looking for them to get a OT. I think signing starks is the right move if they can get it done, as we can load up on interior talent this year and wait for a draft a bit deeper with tackles. Even if they resign Starks getting a top-tier talent at OT is not a bad idea, I just hope they don’t plan on starting whoever we pick up.
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
I would love Starks
Idk why the FO was rough on him this last year. But honestly, if you ask me, he is our best lineman.
I just hope he hasnt gotten a big head from that one year trans deal. But if he will be reasonable I would love to see him go back to RT and us draft a LT.
I think Kemo run blocks well, but our main blitz pickup problems stem from the tackle spot. I dont think Starks belongs at left.
Agreed
By the way, me being from Arkansas and keeping up with the Razorbacks, i don’t think Luigs is the direction we should be headed. This is just my opinion, but i think the guy is soft and overrated. He benefitted last year from always run blocking for McFadden/Felix Jones and this year his protection did not improve. He would not be an upgrade and i would rather have Hartwig.
by TrueSteelerForLife on Feb 7, 2009 11:24 AM EST up reply actions
Centers are simply NOT chosen in the first round....
..yet Mack is considered so solid that he may be gone by #32.
If he is there, he should be chosen. 6’4", 316, strong, quick, and fast. And smart. Offensive lines are built around their centers. This guy has the potential to follow in the footsteps and Mansfield, Webby, Dawson, and Hartings. He could be the man for years.
And you simply don’t pass that up.
As much as I love Duke Robinson as a man to make the run game go, there’s just something about Mack. Make whatever adjustments are necessary later. But pick this guy. Everything I’ve seen and read says perennial all-pro.
+1
And i’ve seen Duke get beat a lot, by the same problem we have now….speed rushers. Draft Mack, although i do reserve the right to change my mind
by TrueSteelerForLife on Feb 7, 2009 11:27 AM EST up reply actions
Centers never used to be drafted in round 1 but if you’re picking #32 it’s one of only a handful of positions (used to be Safeties as well but no longer) that you can get the best player in the draft at his position. Guard used to be one as well but the majority of Centers can play Guard as rookies too. A few have been though. I know virtually nothing about the prospects on offer this year but a top notch Center has been the absolute staple of all our great offensive lines. Hartwig is decent, nothing more so far but he has one more season to go. Drafting Mack, having him play G or hell even Right Tackle with his size as a rookie and ultimately having him replace Hartwig in 2010 sounds mighty fine to me.
The OL is obviously a big need area for us though and for once we actually have a big wedge under the salary cap available to us. We’re also Superbowl champs. There’s also a good collection of Offensive Linemen who’ll make it to free agency for once. Both Philly’s experienced pair are free agents and either would significantly upgrade our OL, at least in the short term. There’s plenty of others too to choose from. If we extend Hines and cut Simmons our cap situation looks even better. I really think our best plan of attack is to address our OL in free agency and use this draft to use early picks on a DE, a CB (assuming McFad is going) and a mid round pick on a NT prospect bearing in mind Big Snack is a free agent in 2010 and there’s no way I’m extending him until he shows some commitment to staying in shape in the off season. We could use a prospect at WR as well in the draft.
Free Agency for immediate need, draft for future need.
I guess I'll give it a shot...
There are odviously alot of ways for this to play out, but here’s what I think we could do.
1. Max Unger- Oregon C- I think that Mack will actually be gone by pick 32. I could see alot of teams grabbing him in the 18 and up range. Detroit with there second pick will be looking to move Dominic Raola, he doesn’t want to be there and they don’t need a distraction, they’ve got enough problems… Sorry Detroit. Baltimore maybe and Arizona at 31 needs a little help up front as well. Plus Unger can play G or T possibly and we could use him at either of those spots too.
2. Fili Moala- USC DT- This would give us the depth on the D-Line we need, the only question here is will he still be there. I think he will. There are some good DT’s that could go in front of him despite his talent. He’s known to take plays off. But he is so athletic and quick we could use him at DE or DT.
3. Victor “Macho” Harris- VaTech CB- With such a solid crop of talent at CB last year, I think this will be the position that sees alot of guys slip. Hard to guess at that, but I got a feeling. He can return kicks plus hes just a solid CB. And I’m a VaTech fan so there you go.
3/4? Comp Pick- Clay Matthews- USC DE/OLB- This guy is great. He’s a “tweener” but if he’s there he’s ours. If you run a 3-4 you need ’backers.
4. Tony Fiammetta- SU FB- I live about half an hour from ‘Cuse and I actually own season tickets (I can’t believe I admitted that) and this guy was the best player on the field last year. Not a known name but a good fullback who does what we ask of a FB.
After that its a crapshoot. A bunch of things have to fall in place to even project a player here after. But a couple of guys I like are Pat White, we’ll see, he could go alot earlier than here. I really like Javorskie Lane, his name has been thrown about a bit, but he needs to lose about 30 pounds to get back to where he was as a sophmore, when he was at his best. He’s like 280 somethin’. Way to big to be effective in the NFL at HB. Jarrett Dillard is an interesting guy. A TD machine at Rice- 20 TD’s last year alone, and 60 for his career. Extremely underrated, and losing Nate (assumption) and Limas struggling to catch a cold (I really think he will still be great) we could use a guy like this. Not too big 5’11" 190 or so I believe, but clearly talented.
I still think we missed out last year on a CB and FB (Owen Schmitt was born to be a Steeler- any West Virginia fans around to back that up?). But no use living in the past.
My guy Rey
Maualuga is “slipping” if you listen to Mayock, Kiper and McShay (or the 3 wisemen of the draft). If by some strange luck he’s there at 32, gotta get him. I’m willing to forgo a O-line pick for this guy.
by NYSteelersFan4 on Feb 5, 2009 10:17 AM EST up reply actions
Agreed
Again pick 32 means anything goes.
Honestly, Farrior has his days numbered and its Timmy’s time to replace the foote.
God imagine our LB corps’ with Maualuga and Timmy, Deebo and Wood. Sweet jesus.
Ideally, we should get Maualuga, and pick up Ndami Mgoshaguga or whatever from the raiders. Then Polamalu. With Big Ben, we’d have the most unpronouncable team ever.
lol
Your plan id brilliant. Teams won’t be able to prepare for us because they won’t be able to pronounce the names on our roster!
It's actually possible
This year’s draft is going to be one of the most exciting since the Big Ben draft. Your mock has us taking recognizable names with the first 4 picks… a month ago I would have said no way, but now… anything is possible. Based on a lot of pre-combine player rankings, we could actually get your top 3 picks which would be AMAZING. I’m also big on Jacorskie “Train” Lane. I hope that he goes undrafted and the Steelers can pick him up. He could be the next Mike Sellers from the Redskins. A Fullback with good speed that looks like an Offensive Lineman.
by SteelCityDefense on Feb 6, 2009 10:53 AM EST up reply actions
Love the Irony...
Of the Steelers’ pick of Clay Matthews.
plea for fullback and throwback days
guys, i starting to believe its just complete wishful thinking for a fullback and our days of power running. I’d like to see it at times as well, but I think BA is lovin whats happening with spreading things out. Especially after what happened in the SB. I think BA and 7 clicked at the end of the season just like they did in 2007. Next year Mendenhall is going to fit right into BA’s plans with this offense and his spread experience at illinois. With that in mind, i’d like to see another WR instead of FB. or spend that pick on an extra OL, DL, CB or an “athlete” pick as a KR/PR.
draft
This draft will be similar to last years in the sense that we need OT’s but all top flight ones will be long gone by #32.
Trade up? I think it will cost way too much to trade up for a top 3 or 4 OT, even if one slides.
The more I read about C Alex Mack the more I like him. If he’s there I think we take him. Any time you can get a guy thats been called "the best center to come along in 5 years’ at #32, you do it.
As free agency unfolds, we’ll have a better sense of direction from FO.
build the d-line
as long as arians is the OC it seems the traditional fullback will be obsolete. i’m not sure that’s a bad thing. slashers don’t need banging FB’s to bust up linebackers. we don’t know what type of back mendenhall is yet, but willie p. is definitely a slasher, as is moore. arians loves the zone scheme, which doesn’t require a tim lester/dan krieder type, so i doubt we’ll get a “true” fullback under his watch. and having just watched the super bowl again on dvr, i am more than comfortable with moore as the 3rd down guy picking up blitzes and catching balls out of the backfield. he was great on protection on the final drive so maybe now, in the post-bettis era, that blocking fullback isn’t a real priority after all. i recognize the need for o-line help, and we’ll have to see who they choose to re-sign and who to let go, but my chief concern at the moment is the d-line. the 3-4 requires studs up front and nothing exemplifies the steeler identity better than that scheme. with hampton and kiesel up for new contracts in a year and no one besides paxson on the roster under 30, we have to rebuild here. i trust colbert and the front office with the draft, but we have to get two d-lineman who can play out of the first four picks. throw in a quality o-lineman (mack at 32?) and that’s a draft to celebrate.
by weegie thompson lives! on Feb 8, 2009 10:02 PM EST reply actions
Fullback is an afterthought now
Exactly weegie, for better or worse the FB position is just not that important to the Arians’ offense and can be filled cheaply in free agency, from undrafted players or other teams’ cuts. A good young FB like FA Leonard Weaver would be awesome, but is there enough budget room on the Steelers to pay $2 million a year to a FB in this offense? Probably not.
The d-line absolutely needs some fresh blood to start sharing the load and eventually moving into the starting lineup. It won’t be easy to find the next three guys to replace our starters, they’re all good to great. Mid-round draft picks are iffy (ie, Ryan McBean), and top tier FA linemen (Chris Canty, Antonio Smith) might not want to come to Pittsburgh because A) they know they’re not guaranteed to start; and B) the Steelers won’t want to spend that much money on a rotation guy who’s not much better (if any) than the guy we already have. Here’s an interesting FA: C.J. Mosley of the New York Jets (6-2, 305) who has backed up and played all three 3-4 D-line positions the last couple years. He’s young (25) and would be relatively cheap. Would be great to sign someone like that before going into the draft.
Hmmm...
Mosley sounds just like the type of player we like to pick up pre-draft. Modest signing, but good depth at a position of need to allow the FO to be free in their draft pick.
by Chicago Steeler on Feb 9, 2009 5:55 PM EST up reply actions
Should trade second and third to move up...
in the second round to about 50 or so. (If they throw in Foote they could get into the low 40s). They will be getting a (most likely) 3rd round compensatory pick and it would be in they’re best interest to move up in the second and get more quality than quantity.
By doing this there is no reason that they shouldn’t be able to go OL/DL, DL/OL, or OL/OL, and get two players that will contribute immediately. Pair that with Mendenhall and Sweed who should contribute, and this team is looking stellar.
Love that idea
The Giants have done this successfully in recent years, targeting guys they wanted in later rounds and making what seemed like minor deals to get them. This makes much more sense than giving up multiple premium picks to get one guy in the first round.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
"Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history."
Art Rooney Jr.
"Level-headed thinking." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Related FanPosts on Behind the Steel Curtain
Related FanShots on Behind the Steel Curtain
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
