Similar to yesterday, I preview a few guys who have been linked to us and then list some targets. If you only want to see who I would take vs who I think the Steelers will take, just scroll to the bottom.
Akwasi Owusu-Ansah – CB/S/KR/PR, IU(P) 6’0 ¼"/207 lbs. 4.47 40 yard dash
Pronounced Ak-wa-see O-woo-sue An-sa, or AOA or Scrabble, this kid was a DII highlight machine. 8 picks in 2008 led to teams avoiding him like the plague this season. Compares to DRC in his draft rise from obscurity and is one I mocked to us in my December and February Mock. In my opinion, he is what Ike Taylor could be if he knew how to catch. He had 8 picks and 10 PD as a junior so they stopped throwing his way this season and ended with 2 and 6 this season. In the last two years he has 3 KR TD, 3 PR TD, 1 INT TD, 1 FR TD. We really only have 4 CB on the roster that are worth actually considering CB, Taylor, Lewis, Burnett, and Gay. A CB will be selected somewhere between 4 and 6, and his return ability, size, and potential make him a good fit. Steelers West are also supposedly targeting him, so grabbing him for spite works too.
Chris Degeare, T/Wake Forest, 6’3 5/8", 325 lbs, 5.16 40 yard dash
Came in for a visit so the Steelers are obviously interested in. 34 inch arms and nimble feet have many convinced he can play LT. His brute strength and agility (1.72 10 yard was fastest of OL at combine, tied with Bruce Campbell) have me convinced he can play inside or outside, anywhere but center, where for the first time since Hartings left, I can say we don’t need any more. Tomlin loves versatility. A development LT. Moneyball style pick who I could really see happening.
Kam Chancellor, S/VT, 6’3 ¼"/231 lbs, 4.69 40 yard dash
Another supposed Tomlin favorite. Tthe poor man’s Taylor Mays. Played nickel back as a freshman and sophomore, SS as a junior and FS this year. During the East-West Shriner’s practices was lighting people up. Not quite a fluid as his experience may lend you to believe, but a gamer. Given a year or two he could end up a Chris Hope type of safety, capable of starting either FS or SS. This is important with Troy’s playing style and age and our utter lack of depth at safety. Is a feast or famine player. However, he is a hard worker, and again shows some versatility. I could see this happening if Tomlin is really big on this guy, although I feel there are too many other safeties that are better for our system.
Legarrette Blount, RB/Oregon, 6’0 ½"/241 lbs, 4.86 40 yard dash
I feel a running back will be drafted somewhere in the draft. Blount was one of the pre-season Heisman watch candidates, but has dropped for character concerns and one can assume the visit and interviews revolved around the sucker punch that got him suspended. He can run, no doubt, but with this off season do the Steelers risk it.
Other guys of interest in positions I see being addressed:
RB
Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech
Joe McNight, USC
Anthony Dixon, MSU
FB
John Conner, Kentucky
OT
Bruce Campbell, Maryland
Ciron Black, LSU
Chris Campbell, Eastern Illinois
Derek Hardman, East Kentucky
OG
Mitch Petrus, Arkansas
Sergio Render, VA Tech
Jacques McClendon, Tennessee
Marshall Newhouse, TCU
NT
Jeff Owens, Georgia
Al Woods, LSU
Cam Thomas, UNC
Ekom Udofia, Stanford
Martin Teveseau, Nevada
Kade Weston, Georgia
DE
Vince Oghobaase, Duke
Corey Wooten, Northwestern
Greg Hardy, Ole Miss
Doug Worthington, Ohio State
Clifton Geathers, South Carolina
ILB
Joe Pawelek, Baylor
Philip Dillard, Nebraska
Albert McClennan, Marshall
Micah Johnson, Kentucky
Mike McLaughlin, Boston College
Lee Campbell, Minnesota
CB
Perrish Cox, Oklahoma State
A.J. Jefferson, Fresno State
Donovan Warren, Michigan
Syd’Quan Crosby, Cal
Walter Thurmond, Oregon
S
Kendrick Lewis, Ole Miss
Robert Johnson, Utah
Myron Rolle, FSU
Harry Coleman, LSU
My Mock
4. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah – CB/S/KR/PR, IU(P) 6’0 ¼"/207 lbs. 4.47 40 yard dash
5a. Joique Bell – RB, Wayne State (MI), 5’11 1/4"/220 lbs, 4.72 40 yard dash
5b. Jeromy Miles – S, UMASS, 6’2"/215 lbs, 4.49 40 yard dash
5c. Tony Washington – OT, Abilene Christian, 6’6 1/8"/311 lbs, 5.25 40 yard dash (or Chris Degeare)
5d. Jamar Chaney – ILB, Mississippi State, 6’0 3/4"/241 lbs, 4.54 40 yard dash
6. Travis Ivey – NT/DE, Maryland, 6’3 3/4"/341 lbs, 5.25 40 yard dash
7. John Fletcher – DE, Wyoming, 6’5"/270 lbs, 4.82 40 yards (or Clifton Geathers, S. Carolina)
Who I see the Steelers actually taking
4. Kam Chancellor, S/Virginia Tech
5a. Anthony Dixon,RB/ MSU
5b. Chris Degeare, T/Wake Forest
5c. A.J. Jefferson, CB/Fresno State
5d. Clifton Geathers, DE/South Carolina
6. Ekom Udofia, NT/Stanford
7. Lee Campbell, ILB/Minnesota
For more Views from the SteelCage
http://www.sbnation.com/users/SteelCage/blog