Looking for Steeler fan's opinions on the draft

by blitzzburgh on Feb 2, 2012 5:07 PM EST

Since the Steeler's season abruptly ended against Denver, Steelers mock drafts have been one of the hottest topics on BTSC (along with offensive coordinator talk). Its pretty clear that the Steelers biggest needs heading into the draft are offensive guard, nose tackle, and inside linebacker. Safety, kicker, and running back (depending on how the Mendenhall situation turns out) are also potential needs but far less so than the first 3 positions. My question is what do you all think is the MOST glaring hole/needs to be drafted as high as possible, NT, OG, or ILB? This has been a question I have contemplating to myself for a while now. Farrior is just too old/slow to get the job done at ILB, Foote isn't much better, and Sylvester is still very unproven. Hampton had a noticeable dropoff this year and finished the season with an ACL tear, and I'm not sure McClendon has what it takes to be a legitimate NFL nose tackle. And we all know the offensive line, guard especially, is simply not cutting it.

Poll

Biggest need for the Steelers in the draft

Nose Tackle

23 votes

Offensive Guard

22 votes

Inside Linebacker

8 votes

Other

1 votes

54 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

im working on a somewhat related post to answer this question

the way i see it. Guard and NT are 1a and 1b. if i HAD to choose, ill take the NT.

what astounds me is how much people are hating on Farrior. sure he’s not as quick as he was a few years ago but there are much worse options than having him for another year. if anything his incredible leadership and knowledge of the defense make up for any added athleticism a younger player would bring to the team. ILB is clearly a big need, dont get me wrong. but its definitely #3 behind G and NT.

by steel.curtain.number2 on Feb 2, 2012 5:13 PM EST reply actions

Rnd 1 is always BPA

So the actual pick could be any one of those 3 spots. I think OL (I think OT is equal in need to OG) ILB and NT are spots where we have to get players that will be starting before the year is out. We are hurting. I am a believer that we need to be young & strong up front. We need blue chippers on the Lines. If we are successful in this draft, we will take a big step in that direction: OL= Pouncey, Gilbert & 2012 stud; DL=Hood, Heyward & 2012 stud. (No disrepect to 99-just focusing on the young guys!) The blue chippers on the O-line have produced. The D-line is a bigger question-Ziggy did not seem yo improve in 2011. Heyward looked good but can he do it in a starting role. In 2012, we will have our answers. Hopefully, we will add to our ranks with picks that can contribute early.

by 21Clemente on Feb 2, 2012 5:23 PM EST reply actions

exactly

we have 3 blue chip LBs already, we need some in the trenches! plus, our defense was incredible all year even through tons of injuries. if we actually get some offense going we’ll be on our way toward #7

by steel.curtain.number2 on Feb 3, 2012 1:58 AM EST up reply actions

I was wondering

I’ve been coaching youth football for quite some time. We run the 3-4 defense, not quite as exotic as coach dad but a 3-4 nevertheless. Some yrs I’ve been blessed with a great NT, other years we’ve had to tweek our system. I’m wondering with the changes coming to our def in the next few(one) seasons if we’ll need the typical Steelers NT…Maybe a more athletic DT type guy that can rush the passer is what we need…There are several of those types of players in the draft this year. If we went in that direction, we could then stick to BPA, which could be an olineman or LB…

by jonesynysteeler on Feb 2, 2012 5:44 PM EST reply actions

This is tough

We need a NT like it’s no one’s business. We literally have 1 serviceable NT on the roster right now.

We need an ILB badly. Farrior is old, Foote is (probably) gone, and there’s not much depth.

We need a G desperately. Their starting talent is awful.

I guess I’ll say guard is the biggest need, but that doesn’t make me stray from BPA

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by glass0941 on Feb 3, 2012 9:18 AM EST reply actions

From what I understand

gilbert can play guard. Foster isn’t that bad. We may have to endure another year with him at RG. The tackle position isn’t very good. So if we could get Mike Adams and put him at LT, Gilbert at LG, Pouncey C, Foster RG, Colon RT, that isn’t that bad of a line.

I see ILB, NT and OL as equal need. So the only question is if we can get a decent ILB in the second round which the value seriously drops off after the first half of the second round, so if we don’t go there in the first then I doubt we get a quality player to fill that need. There are mixed opinions about the need for ILB, I obviously grade it as a higher need than others.

With the league being so pass heavy having a liablity as ILB in the passing game hurts more than not being the #1 run defense in the NFL. To me its an issue we need to fix so Troy can play further away from the line and make more splash plays.

As much as chapman will fall I know for certain we will be able to get him in the third round and I believe he is adequate for what we need. The guard class is deep.

I don’t think we should draft a WR nor RB nor TE this year. We don’t need to draft a guy to be our 4th WRs and a situational player nor do we need another RB because I have faith in batch and the fact that Mendenhall will be back. I also think we won’t draft another TE since Welsye Saunders can give us what we need at the TE position. We don’t need QB nor CB and I think we can wait a year before getting Clark, and Troy’s replacements.

So here is what I think we should do, trade our first round pick and pick up an extra 2nd and 3rd round pick.

2.7 Ronnel Lewis ILB Oklahoma
2.24 Kevin Zeitler OG Wisconsin
3.7 Jared Crick DE Nebraska
3.24 Josh Chapman NT Alabama
4.24 Don Barclay OT West Viriginia
5.24 Donte-Paige Moss, DE/OLB North Carolina
6.24 Evan rodriguez, FB, West Virginia
7.24 Randy Bullock, K, TAMU

I love the Steelers.

by tannofsteel84 on Feb 3, 2012 11:05 AM EST reply actions