Grading the Steelers 2008 Draft

although that could change if sweed suddenly gets his stuff together. but im not feeling very confident about that anymore

I’d give him an Incomplete. He had a neck injury if I recall correctly.

Worth note that Bruce Davis has gone on to collect 4 tackles as a Raider. ok maybe not.

I think Hills made some progress last year. If he continues on that trajectory and makes the roster once more, he could end up as a career backup or maybe swing tackle. Big IF I know.

If Hills and Sweed stick this year, I’d give it a B. Tough competition for both guys though.

If Sweed would not have ruptured his achilles this past year, I don’t think he would have been kept on the roster. The Steelers drafted two WR’s and signed 2 more in free agency, so that kind of told you how much they were depending on Sweed. At least Sweed is starting with a clean slate since he has a new WR’s coach that did a great job with the young guys and helping Wallace take that next step. He has a chance this year to contribute if he has his head together. Gotta love that fact that he either has to bring it or pack his bags early because of the young guys he has in front of him.

With the draft of T. Hills, C. Scott, M. Gilbert and K. Williams, the law of averages says that the Steelers has to hit on a tackle sooner rather than later. The fact that T. Hills couldn’t beat out J. Scott for playing time was depressing. I’m curious to see how the OL will look if Willie Colon returns. Would you rather have he or Flozell starting at RT next year? Also, people talk about the hole at RG for the Steelers, but I think the Big Legursky did a credible job there when he played this past year. He did a damn good job in the Super Bowl because I didn’t hear the names of B.J. Rajii or Cullen Jenkins mentioned that often.

I think the Steelers need to open up Kemo’s job at LG and make him compete for that. He’s been here too long to keep making the same boneheaded mistakes. Plus, there were some games this past year where Kemo was dominated (i.e. Kyle Williams of the Buffalo Bills). Time for Max Starks to put up or shut as well. I was all for K. Colbert resigning him, but to me thus far, he hasn’t played up to those numbers. Can we find a LT somewhere, anywhere that can block T. Suggs of the Ravens? He’s good, but J. Scott made him look like the second coming of Lawrence Taylor.

And lastly, with the resigning of Keyaron Fox, I think this could be the best group of LB’s that the Steelers have had for a season during the Colbert era. I expect Worilds and Sylvester to make big jumps this year and Chris Carter appears to have bend coming around the corner and tenaciousness that says this kid is a keeper (see what he did against Gabe Carimi two years ago for a hint at his talent). It might be time for D. LeBeau to do something different on passing down to try and combat the spread — maybe replacing Farrior with Sylvester or letting Worilds rush from Harrison’s spot and moving Harrison inside next to Timmons where he can’t be double-teamed.

Ultimately, the Steelers ability to be successfully against all of the 4 and 5-WR pkgs will depend on the development of Crezdon Butler and Curtis Brown this year.

Keenan Lewis is toast, Gay can’t cover and McFaddens’ play has fallen off the past two years. Crezdon Butler could be HUGE for the team this year.

and that R. Foster was the RG, but I think Legursky could start at G for this team and be an upgrade over Foster or Kemo. He’s not as big as those two, but he is quick, strong and doesn’t make mental mistakes.

He should not be starting. His position flexibility makes him a great back up and I think he will do well in spurts when called, but with his lack of size, I believe he will get exploited and worn down the longer he plays.

This draft was kinda fugly.

Mendenhall is a B IMO. When you consider the next guy drafted was Chris Johnson, I think we messed up somewhere.

Ball security is my only real beef with him. We remember the Super Bowl fumble, but don’t forget he fumbled one two weeks prior in the AFCCG and lost it.

It’s a concern when you have two in a row in the two biggest games of your career.

IMO. We got him pretty late in the 1st.

Or if Colon stays, would you guys have him play his normal RT position, keep Foster at RG and have Flozell be the game day swing tackle instead of J. Scott?

Can’t say I’ll be upset if we don’t resign Colon. The media always claimed he was our best lineman when he was in but i was never a fan. Just don’t think his play justified his price tag. Gotta hope Adams can stay healthy and give the rookie from FL a year to learn.