With Sepulveda back, and possible getting Carr to return, we could see the special teams be an asset instead of a liablity this year, think about how dangerous this team will be when we can actually change field position with our special teams and have a line to block for ben and CO. I smell 14 wins.

I think that watching the team win the Super Bowl without him could be the biggest lesson of Rashard’s career. Hopefully he is motivated to make an impact on a team that has proven that they don’t need him.

Hopefully this situation works out just like Timmons’ in his second season.

The positive out of all of this is that the Steelers now have a deep and talented backfield. Coming into training camp Mendenhall will have to battle against FWP, M&M, and Gary Russell. (4 headed monster?) – along w/ freshly resigned Carey Davis who is almost a running back in his own right.

the kid learns how to hold onto the damn football. I can’t effing stand RBs with fumbling problems.

Blitz, the Steelers not only have 2 1st round picks this year, you can say that they will have 2 draft classes vying for playing time. The Steelers essentially got nothing from their draft class this past year. They were strong enough to essentially give everybody a redshirt year. Mendenhall really looked like he was surprised by the speed and physicality of the NFL. That shouldn’t be a surprise this year. Most players in the NFL make their biggest improvement from year 1 to year 2, so last year’s class can really step up.

Something that hasn’t gotten a lot of attention is the job the scouting department did with the rookie free agents this past year. LB Patrick Bailey, CB Roy Lewis, S Ryan Mundy (drafted and then cut, then signed to the practice squad, so essentially a rookie free agent) and LB Donovan Woods all have good shots of making the team this year. I attended the Steelers first game against the Texans last year and D. Woods was the best special teams player on the field then. Bailey just took that spot after Woods pulled his hamstring.

I really think this is a draft for the OL and DL. Nine picks and a few free agents should add a lot of competition and depth. Now, can we just sign CB/KR Chris Carr, Galloway, Essex, and Keyaron Fox and get this show on the road.

Also, call me crazy, but I think moving Willie Colon inside to guard and starting Jason Capizzi at right tackle could really improve this line. I know a lot of people think this Capizzi guy is just a stiff, but Datruth is telling you, the guy can play. He’s pretty athletic for his size with good feet and a nice kick-slide. His major undoing before was injuries and him needing to improve his strength. I think this is the year he sticks and vies for some playing time. Another good rookie free agent find for the Steelers who had a couple of years to develop.

2009 Mock Draft for 1st 3 rounds:

1 – DE Jarron Gilbert
2 – C Eric Woods
3 – CB Coye Francis
3B – WR/KR/PR – Mike Wallace
 
Thoughts?

Steelguy99,

I wouldn’t be mad if the Steelers took Alex Mack at no. 32. It just seems that Gilbert has more upside and won’t be there at the end of the 2nd round. I think a good center prospect like Eric Woods will be. Also, remember in our 3/4 D, DE’s and DT’s are the same thing. There is a good chance that C Eric Woods will be. Centers always drop in the draft.

I think there is a chance that Tyson Jackson from LSU could last until the end of the first round also. I know some people here say taking a DE at 32 is unnecessary. If he is the best baller on the board at that point and it is also a position of need, I say you take him. I think DL Coach John Mitchell can mold this dude into something special.

If the Steelers sign either Galloway or Carr, they might be able to wait until the 4th round to draft a WR or CB. Another OL that I like on the first day is G/T Jamon Meredith from South Carolina. He can play either guard spot and has the feet to play left tackle. Call me crazy, but I’m willing to roll the dice on Phil Loadholt if I think I have a competent OL coach that can coach him up. Can you imagine having someone with that size and length going up against Woodley and Deebo in practice every day? You could have a monster in a couple of years. I do have some questions about his feet, though.

Thoughts?

yes, we get Sepulveda back, but…does he have the aim of Berger to purposely bounce the ball off the opposing teams helmet at crucial times??? That’s what I want to know.

Mendy?? In my mind questions abound, which I know will get answered.
  
  1. Rashard soft? Remember seeing a post entitled this where U of I staff seemed to imply this.
  2. Goal line drill in camp. Coach Tomlin publicly calls him out for pussy-footing around goal line. Mendy’s excuse? He wasn’t sure of the play call. Not good.
  3. Limited action. Many fumbles. Not good.
  4. Big chance to step up in regular season. Scapula fracture. Nothing to be ashamed at getting KO’d by Lewis. But, and this is a big but…the only way you break your scapula from a head up tackle (unless of course you get hit from the back) is if you shy away from the hit and turn your back to the tackler. I saw him do this a couple of times in pre-seasons games…literally shy away from contact…and I was shocked that a first round pick would do that. Most likely, that’s what happened when he was hit by Lewis. Not good.
  5. Stay away from the team, alot of the time, while on IR. Not good.

I hope the kid proves me wrong. But, aside from a couple decent runs, I’ve not been impressed with Rashard, especially as a first round pick. With RB’s there is not a big learning curve, they excell or they don’t. He better really pick it up this pre-season and do it quickly.

It’s great he didn’t fumble during the regular season but then again he could not have had many carries.

I’m hoping he, and Sweed for that matter, come through but I have my doubts about RM. Time will tell.

Guys, I think we are all on the same page. What I’m saying is that basically in the Steelers 3-4, their DE’s would be what 4-3 teams would have as DT’s, except the Steelers want taller and better athletes. NT’s are a different story in the Steelers D. Just 2-gap, hold the point and penetrate in the backfield every once in awhile.

It’s a good thing for the Steelers that this is a draft deep in OL, DL, and NT’s where they can draft for the future.