Steelers 2009 Mock Draft
by Michael Bean on Apr 9, 2009 6:32 PM EDT
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PrintCompliments of datruth4life. This can be found in the comments section of the previous post. -Blitz-
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Guys, I made one change to my mock draft after talking with Dale Lolley and hearing him say that he doesn’t think A.J. Shipley from Penn State will be drafted, and if he does, it’ll be the 6th or 7th round. For those of you who haven’t seen my mock, here is something to discuss:
1) DE Jarron Gilbert – San Jose State – Just what the doctor ordered for DL coach John Mitchell, a diamond to mold. However, if CB Darius Butler is available at no. 32, there will be a lot of discussion on the South Side for this pick. I go with Gilbert.
2) CB/S Sherrod Martin – Troy – The Steelers view him as a corner with some thump. There is a reason Kevin Colbert spent a lot of time talking to him at the combine. He’s 6’1, 198 lbs, runs in the low 4.4’s and isn’t 5’9’’ like CB Anthony Smith from Wake Forest. Can you see A. Smith trying to stop Larry Fitzgerald on a fade route in the end zone? I can’t either.
3) WR/KR/PR – Mike Wallace – Missippi – Is this a little early for him? Not if you are a Super Bowl team who has a hole for a KR/PR and a WR to stretch the field. Wallace has decent size as well at 6’0, 200 lbs. Like the fact that he played in the SEC and the light really came on his senior year in leading the conference in yards per catch average and and had 8 TD’s. And, oh by the way, he ran a 4.33 at the combine.
4) LT Joel Bell – Furman – A sleeper at the tackle position. The Steelers also could go for for Andrew Gardner from Georgia Tech here (Larry Zierline worked Gardner out personally at his Pro Day) but I’m going with Bell. At 6’7’’, 315-lbs, he offers good size at the position and brings a little attitude to the table. His 40 at 5.13 is pretty good for someone of this size as well.
5) G Louis Vasquez – Texas Tech – I could actually see this guy playing next year for the Steelers at RG, though not starting there for the first game. He was the strongest guard at the combine (39 reps), but yet ran the 8th best 40 time at his pro among guards for this year’s draft (5.2) at 6’5, 330 lbs. Datruth looks at it as a positive that this guy comes from a predominantly pass blocking offense. Maybe he can teach Chris K. and W. Colon that it isn’t as hard as they make it appear to be.
5) FB/RB – Frank "The Tank" Summers – UNLV – Time for the Steelers to put some thump back into its ground game and goal-line offense. Summers can do that while also being a good outlet out of the backfield for Ben, picking up the blitz and being a beast on special teams. Yep, a Mike Tomlin type of guy. Remember, the more you can do …
6) NT/DT – Sammie Lee Hill – Stillman – Meet the heir apparent to Casey Hampton at NT. Stillman is a little taller than your average nose tackle at 6’4’’, but has the strength and girth at 320 lbs. to apply for the job. He’s raw, but that is how Coach Mitchell likes his DL meat.
7) DE Zach Potter – Nebraska – Yep, you guessed. This is to make up for the past 3 years where the team has given John Mitchell nothing but lumps of coal to work with. He now has 3 young players with ability to learn behind the starting 3. Hopefully, the team will resign the Diesel and Big Snack to extensions, but at least Coach Mitchell will have some players to work with to get them ready to play Steelers type of ball.
7) OLB Philp Hunt – Houston – Classic case of a tweener that is too short (6’1’’), too slow (4.8 in the 40), not big enough (250 lbs.) and not strong enough (16 reps on the bench) to fit any of the profiles to get teams excited. However, he does one thing that Mike Tomlin loves – he kills QBs. 24 sacks in the past two years. He’s built like James Harrison, just doesn’t have his explosiveness (who does?). However, killing QBs is an acquired skill and taste. And the Steelers acquire them while teaching them to do other things, such as drop into coverage, hold the point and play special teams.
Datruth could easily see the Steelers considering some DB’s in the late rounds like Derek Cox from William and Mary and Don Carey from Norfolk State. Thoughts?
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Comments
from an earlier thread
Your draft is quality and addresses all of the steelers immediate needs.
On DE we draft tons of depth and someone that can hopefully start alternating in to the rotation and learning his role. Hill & Potter will get started, coached up, and give us hope for the future. I also like drafting DE because those guys can step in and start to get reps sooner rather than later.
Unless the OL beat out the current roster (and it’s unlikely that they will) they will have a few developmental years, and the obvious problem with drafting Mack/Wood is that center is one of our more solid positions. Thus, they’d probably end up at a new position and a new league, tough for a rookie.
We need a WR with talent this year to fight for the #4 spot, and obviously need help on returning.
We need a CB with talent that can project to safety.
A LB? We take and need at least 1 a draft.
Not sold on Frank Summers, I think we could use more OL depth around here since the only OL you plan on drafting is a G (and from your comments on DL’s blog, pick up Shipley UDFA).
I like shipley, should be good quality for late round for talent. I could give a crap about his short arms. Did you know J. Harrison is too short to play OLB?
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I was just about to make myself useful and post this as a story, then Blitz did. Someday.
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
hehe
certain folks just have to ask and they shall receive. DaTruth and Wolfy are two of them. It’s a good mock. I’m intrigued. Havent heard much about lots of these guys. Then again, I havent been paying as close attention to this draft as some of y’all. Curious to hear more.
Cool, thanks! :)
I would have commented on this thread earlier, but I’ve been following it on my cell phone. Not as good as a computer (I can’t seem to read the text after the jump, I only see the comments), but it allows me to keep up with the mock draft.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 11, 2009 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Love Vasquez
Saw lots of Texas Tech football and was impressed by him and others on that line. Coule questions about him:
1) Is he an underclassmen?
2) I know he’s huge – tall and wide – is he quick enough to play guard? Be effective in the run game?
3) Will he be around that late in the draft?
I like Mike Wallace, but
I think a different Mike would be better suited to Da Burgh. Mike Thomas. Good mock though, a lot of guys I’m thinking of putting in mine, are on here, but I think a5th rounder for Summers is a little early, and I’m not sure that Hill falls to the 6th. I’ve seen some drafts where he goes as early as the third, but that being said, I would love to grab the guy in the 5th.
It's true what they say...Even the NFL's Big Wigs hate the Steelers. On the plus side, I can now tell my future grand kids about Hines Ward and how the NFL made rules because of him. Roger Goodell, you make me sick.
by Tim Mullhaupt (HSS) on Apr 9, 2009 6:59 PM EDT reply actions
Gilbert
I’m echoing Jim Wexell here, but why pick a guy who plays too high and gets blown off the ball too often to stop the run at 1.32? You’re gambling that they’ll be able to coach him up – and yea, Mitchell is probably the best DL coach in the league, but do you want that kind of risk as your first round pick?
I say Alex Mack, Eric Wood, or trade up or down. I’d like to see either a move up into the mid-late 20’s to pick up a 1st round talent they love, or a trade up in the 2nd or 3rd round.
My dream draft is Wood, Fili Moala and Jairus Byrd in the second (via trade up) and then very similar to how you have it, except i think they’ll take at least 2 corners.
Also, I love Frank Summers with the 5th – he could go anywhere 5-7, so I say grab him.
Replace.......
Jarron Gilbert with Alex Mack and I would be thrilled with these picks.
I like Bell from Furman, he has a mean streak! I also like Vasquez from Tech. Our OL will be in need of major overhaul soon and IF we draft these three we might have the quality players to fill the voids. We got a LT we can’t seem to sign long term (presently $8.45 for 1 year) and a C and G that have 2 years left on their contract.
We have signed Ben to a contract worth over $100 million….. I think it is about time we try to protect that investment.
Herman Johnson???
I posted that subject on another post. The Steelers had a visit with this guy. Can that be real? He could pump up the run game all by himself. Play action would acquire new life. I guess that would be about the extent of his pass protection skills, to keep blitzes in check due to his scary run blocking threat via play action. But surely zone blocking would be gone for good…
Could play either guard position, or even replace Willie at RT.
Who knew?
He would be a great replacement for Colon I think
by BallsofSteel on Apr 9, 2009 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ve heard questions about his footwork and agility in the passing game. If we took a guard with sub par footwork and athleticism and put him at tackle, we’d have… well Willie Colon.
But I really like this guy, I’d prefer to keep him at guard though. Leonard Davis type, I think. Davis struggled at tackle with Arizona, before heading east to Dallas.
by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 10, 2009 9:23 AM EDT up reply actions
your #1
From what I’ve read, there are FAR too many questons about Gilbert to pick him that high. Doesn’t give 100% all the time is the second most heard criticism. First is, “If he’s so physically dominant, why didn’t he dominate his opponents on the field?” I like the guys potential even if there are no pools to jump out of on the field, but #1- absolutely not. Trade down if possible and take Unger or Woods and pick up another choice.
Charlie Casserly says Gilbert is 2nd round to 4th round pick
Guys,
I just watched the NFL’s Path to the Draft special where they were talking about DT’s. The consensus is that there are 2 first round DT’s, Raji and the tackle from Ole Miss, and that pretty much everyone else has talent but haven’t played to their potential. Casserly specifically said that Jarron Gilbert has more upside as far as the pass rush than the other candidates, but that he could go anywhere from the 2nd round to the 4th round.
I have no problem with the Steelers going with Eric Wood or Alex Mack with pick no. 32 if they want more of a sure thing. However, I do believe if the team wants to upgrade the DL that it is going to have to trade up in the second round to get either Gilbert or Maola from USC. I’ve seen USC play several times during the past two years and I never remember Fili Maola standing out in any game. If I’m the Steelers, I’m willing to take a chance on Gilbert. They need to get some DL from somewhere and I’d rather take a chance on an athlete/football player on the come who had some good numbers this past year. I think John Mitchell as a coach and being able to learn from Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel would do wonders for the kid.
I know syrsteelerfan had mentioned why would you take Gilbert at no. 32 for someone who has been blown off the ball and can’t stop the run. I don’t think that is accurate. He lead THE NATION in tackles for loss this year and collected 9.5 sacks on top of that. He wasn’t as productive during the previous 2 years, but neither was Robert Ayers at Tennessee and Mayock said this week that he expects Ayers to be the best player from this draft three years down the road. Maybe the light just finally went on for him. A
lso, Rashard Mendenhall only had one big year and the Steelers took him in the early 20’s. I’d like to Gilbert a shot on our DL, but I have 100 percent faith in our scouts and front office that they’ll do what is best in the interest of this team going fwd.
Anyone knows who Mel Kiper has in his 4-round mock draft for the Steelers?
Tackles for loss
Just means he did a good job of being a quick, gap-shooting tackle… it doesn’t actually imply he can hold the point and let LB’s make plays. The tape shows him getting blown off the ball. He’s an athlete no doubt, but enough of a football player?
That said, Mitchell is a hell of a coach and we’re very much a one-gap team now, so if they think they can coach it out of him, go for it. I prefer one of the safer bets, but what do I know.
I agree, if we want a top D-lineman, we’ll need to trade up. As for Moala…. doesn’t make splashy plays, but ties up blockers and the teams LB’s go crazy (one of the reasons USC LB’s made so many plays)…. sounds like a 3-4 Steelers DE to me.
by syrsteelerfan on Apr 10, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions
My First Round Sleeper
As you said, not a flashy player, but can take up two blockers any given play. Athletic, strong, he’s what we look for. But he’s a little bit older than the average rookie, 24 at the start of the season. Not that 24 is that old, he could still play a legit ten years in the league.
by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 10, 2009 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions
Steelers should pass on Herman Johnson
By the way, guys, I watched some of the senior bowl practices and Herman Johnson is a statue that can’t move. His man usually beat him like a turnstile. He would not be an upgrade on this line.
agreed about johnson
PS. I heart/can’t believe you watch Senior Bowl practices :)
by Michael Bean on Apr 10, 2009 10:18 AM EDT up reply actions
I like the top five
Great thoughts as always datruth. With the draft it’s normal for us fans and draftniks to get caught up in things like where guys are ranked as prospects and of course all NFL teams are making up their draft value charts.. The bottom line though is who you end up with and I wouldn’t mind ending up with the top five on your list. I’m not sure Vasquez would last till the end of Round 5 but I think you could swap him and Bell (or Gardner) and end up with the same thing. That it is a high pick for Summers and I doubt Hill would last till the sixth round or Potter till the seventh but of course you never know. Yeah there should be a CB in there somewhere considering there’s about 10 CBs, ranging from potential first-rounders to likely undrafted players, visiting the Steelers out of their allowed total of 30 players.
Gilbert seems like a reach and maybe he is, but I agree with you that he was a dominant player in his senior year and has rare athletic ability for that position, so I don’t believe there is much chance of him being a bust. He could be worth taking a chance on if he is available but I can appreciate the viewpoint that he comes with some risk. I’m sort of old school when it comes to 3-4 DEs because the Steelers have always found them in mid to late rounds or on other team’s rosters but maybe it’s harder to find them now with so many more 3-4 teams.
One guy that doesn’t get talked about much on this site is NT Ron Brace. He is generally considered the best NT prospect in this draft. His college linemate BJ Raji might also end up being a NT but he is really more of an overpowering DT with quickness than a typical block absorbing, run-stuffing NT. There is lot less uncertainty about Brace’s NFL prospects than Gilbert’s, and it is typically harder to find a top NT than it is a 3-4 DE. Again, with Brace everyone will argue that since he is ranked as a mid-second-rounder it would be a waste of the No. 32 pick. But I’m not sure that at the end of the day he isn’t the safest DL we could pick at No. 32 and be more valuable as a successor to Hampton than Gilbert or Moala or Hood would be as future replacements for Keisel and/or Smith. The effectiveness of a 3-4 defense always starts with the NT.
As for Herman Johnson, the Steelers have him scheduled for a visit so they must like something about him. Looks like they are trying to beef up the right side of the OL, with the huge trio of Johnson, Loadholt and Vasquez all scheduled for visits.
back issues
I’d love a Ron Brace if the Steelers doctors clear his back up. Otherwise, recurring back problems for a man that big spells problems down the road.
My favorite linemen (excluding Raji) are Tyson Jackson, Ziggy Hood, and Moala. Not sure the value will be there for any of them when we pick, though, so i wouldn’t be suprised to see Mitchell end up with late-round talent again.
by syrsteelerfan on Apr 10, 2009 9:39 AM EDT up reply actions
I like Stillman, but....
Green Bay and Denver are switching to the 3-4. Many other teams have fans and writers murmuring about it. With 3-4 nosetackles in hot demand Stillman just can’t last that long, even as a project. Or can he? Anyway, love your Mike Wallace pick. I didn’t fit a WR into my mock. A glaring error in my mock, I think. Others gently pointed out my third round pick of Tyronne Green as a big school reach. Your Joel Bell sounds like a sleeper in comparison. My inexperience shows.
I would like to see a tough, blocking, possession receiver. I like Brandon Gibson
Who knew?
Just wondering....
who is going to be your backup QB? Leftwich looks to be moving on and you don’t plan on drafting one here, so what are your expectations after Ben?
Rexx
We're set
Charlie Batch at #2, and Dennis Dixon at #3 and eventual #2.
And we just offered leftwich a 2yr contract an vet minimum… if he signs, we get a great backup QB on the cheap for 2 years. If he doesn’t sign, we still have Batch and Dixon. Great move.
by syrsteelerfan on Apr 10, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah, technically Batch isn’t on the roster yet, but I have no doubt that they’ll get him there. And I’m very hopeful that after a full offseason of training Dixon is our #2. If Ben goes down for a few games I’d prefer someone with Dixon’s speed and playmaking over Batch’s steady nature.
by Chicago Steeler on Apr 10, 2009 11:06 AM EDT up reply actions
Charlie isn't going anywhere
Batch does so much for the city of Pittsburgh and is so well established, I can’t see him going anywhere regardless of the situation.
Batch isn’t going anywhere because no one besides the steelers will sign him. If Lefty signs there is no way that Batch makes this roster. The steelers aren’t going to sign him as a 4th QB for fun unless he suddenly unleashes his ST ability.
There may be other roles for him on the steelers, but QB is not one of them if BL signs.
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
Tony Fiametta
Any chance we go after a FB who’s got a fairly complete game. I’ve seen enough of Carey Davis, I think we could upgrade, maybe get back to an I-Form every now and again. We use McHugh for most lead blocking plays, so I guess it’s not a huge need, but we can get better.
by NYSteelersFan4 on Apr 10, 2009 10:06 AM EDT reply actions
One could only hope that the steelers draft will turn out this great!
I really like the picks that Lolley has in his mock draft….there are no wasted picks and all address specific needs for the steelers. If the steelers could even come close to getting Gilbert, Hill, Potter on the defensive line it would be tremendous additions for backups to a aging d-line. REally like Vasquez at guard with his size and strength as he performed well at Texas Tech. This is probably the first mock draft that I have seen where the picks make sense regarding the specific needs of the steelers and not like the so many others that seem to just place a guy for the steelers based on “what the steelers typically like”.
Great Job Blitzburgh!
I mistakenly gave credit to Dale Lolley in my previous post and wanted to make the correction. Peace!
hard time for all!
The funny thing was the mock was by “datruth4life”.
:)
Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.
DaTruth, DaTruth, DaTruth is on fire.
LB from Furman clinches it. Finding a beast from a program no one is looking at is a Steeler tradition.
Hey datruth
Very solid mock. I love the Potter, Bell, and Vasquez picks. Even more impressive than his 40 time is Bell’s 1.69 10 yard split and 30 inch vertical, and he has good tape as well. I’m partial to Roy Miller as a NT, but Hill is an intriguing player, too.
I echo others’ sentiments that Gilbert is a huge risk in round 1, though, and I’m not comfortable with the pick. Like Duane Brown last year, he strikes me as the guy everyone wants to draft in the second round, which is slowly inflating his value as teams think about what it would take to get him. I think he’d be a worth a mid or late second rounder, but there’s no way he’s getting past the Chargers or Jets, and he could be the target of a lot of trade talks. He seems like the type of hyped up guy the Steelers usually pass on, but if the Steelers actually pick him in the first, I’ll be more comfortable, meaning they think he fits their system and has a little less risk than some. I’d rather see Hood, Jackson, Butler, Britton, Beatty or someone else who fell a little.
charity standing orders
Steelers Options on Draft Day
Guys,
If the Steelers want to take the best player with the least amount of risk at no. 32, then I think they’ll probably take C/G Eric Wood from Louisville. If they trade up for a player, which I don’t think they’ll do in the first round, then it would probably be for CB Darius Butler from Connecticut.
If they want to take a chance on a player with a lot of upside at no. 32 that drops, then I think they could choose between Vontae Davis from Illinois (I think he’s going to drop because of character/off the field stuff) and Jarron Gilbert (production doesn’t meet abilities thus far).
Maybe I’m wrong, but even if you were to take a chance on Gilbert at no. 32, on a position of need with someone who has a lot of ability, you stil have 8 other draft picks to play if safe if you want to. Or you can play it safe with Eric Wood or Alex Mack at no. 32, and take some risks on some other picks. Either way, I think our front office will make the right choice.
Is there anyone else out there who is just as interested to see the undrafted rookie free agents that this team signs as the players that the team drafts? Our scouting department is the best in the league in finding players that no one else wanted in the draft but fits what we do here.
Thoughts?
UDFA
Yes, I’m certainly hoping to see something from some of the undrafted free agents. There may be some guys that they picked up last year that are ready to step up this year. Wasn’t there a DL that we thought might be something last year? Clement or something like that?
by WolfpackSteelersFan on Apr 11, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Unexpected value...
Anyone think that Alex McGee could move back to inside linebacker? Don’t laugh. Rey Maualuga is at or near the top of draft boards at the position. He is expected to be selected in the top half of the first round. Alex McGee has already dropped his weight to something like 280 pounds and now has run the 40 in 4.82. Stripped to 265 pounds would he not be equal in value to the vaunted Rey? And he will probably be no higher than mid second. Or he could be left a little heavier and provide extra support to the defensive line. In such a configuration, we would not necessarily need all that expense at DE. I do like Gilbert though. And I am probably wrong. But the idea just won’t leave…It just sounds like something our FO would do…
Who knew?
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