2012 NFL Scouting Combine: Hightower Interviewed with Steelers, Speculation Surrounds Burfict
by Neal Coolong on Feb 27, 2012 6:43 AM EST
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It's nearly a picture of night and day.
On one side, Alabama's Dont'a Hightower, outstanding character and college production, but limited mobility. On the other, Arizona State's Vontaze Burfict, a reputed locker room brawler and immensely talented hothead
Could Hightower's lower athletic ceiling but high football IQ be a good combination for the Steelers with the No. 24 overall pick? Or could Burfict's temper and penchant for post-whistle personal fouls be secondary to his athleticism?
Just how far up the Steelers draft board they'll climb with largely depend on their workouts today at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Burfict will almost certainly post better numbers than Hightower, but the Combine tests pure individual athletic skills. Football is played by combining all of those skills. It's also played as a team, and issues such as Burfict punching a teammate after an off-season 7-on-7 drill isn't going to help his stock much.
Nor is his declaration to reporters his "coach messed (him) up)" in 2011, when asked to explain his lack of dominance this past season. He said, "I didn't know whether I was going to start a game, or whether I was going to be benched."
It doesn't seem a stretch to suggest anyone with first-round talent wouldn't wonder if he would start a college game unless he's really in the coach's doghouse.
There's something to be said about a change of scenery though. Some environments are simply toxic.
Hightower had a silver spoon in his mouth, by comparison. The insanely talented Alabama Crimson Tide had several players among their defensive unit who will be drafted this year and next, leading to questions about how good Hightower the individual really was.
His workout today will likely be the most watched by scouting personnel. Some have suggested he'll likely run in the 4.7 range, which would make it doubtful the Steelers would go with him at 24, but if he exceeds that, the Steelers will give him a long, hard look.
The Combine is on NFL Network at 9 a.m. ET today, and it can be viewed online on NFL.com (link here).
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well if there's a mystery 450 lb lineman waiting in round 2...
because we need 1000 pounds in the first 3 rounds.
I have spoken.
We hear you...
…Lord Tonnage.
Were you as surprised as I was at the lack of bench reps some of the “hot” picks put up yesterday? Does that concern you that while you may get the gross weight you want, it will be a wall of blubber, and not steel?
United we Stand, melded like Steel
To Roger Goodell, We'll never Yield.
To quote Dilbert:
“When they talk about Buns of Steel, I believe they’re referring to hardness, not weight.”
DEFENSE
If you could take last year’s Alabama defense as is now and let them play for the Steelers from here on out, or Pitt’s current defense as it was last year, to play with next year and on from there, which one would you pick?
I don't know about the alabama players
How many are stars at the NFL level? It makes you wonder if it just the system and the combination of talent on the team that makes them look good. Maybe I should take a look to see for sure.
I love the Steelers.
by tannofsteel84 on Feb 27, 2012 8:25 AM EST up reply actions
Is this really a question?
Best NFL defense > best college defense
"If you havin' dragon problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 arrows but my knee took one."
i would go even further….worst NFL defense > best college defense
by NoVAPensFan on Feb 28, 2012 12:22 AM EST up reply actions
I’d take Bill Belichick’s defense. He’s the greatest ever, and his defenses put ours to shame. Then I’d just put Tom Brady in as MLB. Our YPG allowed would be 4 Yeah, that’s right…4 yards a game, and that would be only because Brady needed to sit a play out. Obviously the PPG allowed would be 0
One likes to believe in the freedom of music. But glittering prizes and endless compromises, shatter the illusion of integrity.
Bruflict sound like a headcase
He will haunt whatever team drafts him till he is released. I don’t know if there are test that can be used to test for long term damage due to head trauma but I would definitely run them on him before I used any draft choice on him. The more I hear the less I want him on the roster.
anyone trying to contact me via my yahoo account should be aware it has been hacked
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Feb 27, 2012 8:25 AM EST reply actions
Blaming the coaches
certainly doesn’t help, maybe it does in his mind, but not to anyone else. He will probably be there in the 2nd round.
I love the Steelers.
by tannofsteel84 on Feb 27, 2012 8:37 AM EST up reply actions
Wasn't that running back, Blount(?)...
…a couple of years ago considered a headcase; the one who got into the fight on the field with the opposing team, then also his coaches who were trying to restrain him?
I don’t follow college players like you guys do, but it seems to me that with all the weight teams put on the interviews (having psychologists in the interview, etc), Tomlin and Colbert should be able to (1) ascertain whether the guy is a loose cannon, and (2) get a read on him based on any (albeit brief) interaction this Brufict guy has with a no-nonsense coach like Tomlin, as to how he holds himself as a person, and how he may respond to the Steelers’ way of coaching.
Seems to be a whole lot of talent to let slip past, given our LB needs.
United we Stand, melded like Steel
To Roger Goodell, We'll never Yield.
I agree whole-heartedly about Burfict PaVaSteeler - but.....
After seeing the Combine today Coach Lebeau had to be salivating after watching Dontari Poe put on his display. Even “loquacious” Warren Sapp was dumbfounded. If he is available at #24, we MUST take him. He will start immediately. In round #2, I would take ILB Vontaze Burfict if he is available. This will give us the ILB that we badly need to replace Farrior and a Defense that would be “feared” even more than the one from last year. I would leave the handling of “headcases” up to Management. I know that everyone will say that we MUST get OL. I do not think that we will get a starter (OL) at pick #24. I think that we will see a new Ben, who will get rid of the ball much quicker – thus making our OL look much better than last year. There will still be quality (not starters) OL available in rounds 3 and 4. I would feel like a kid in a candy store if we get those 2 picks. Ok critics (I know there will be many) lay it on me. I won’t argue with you today. I will just wait until Draft Day.
Sorry, but....
After watching the Combine today, Dontari Poe had to make Coach LeBeau salivate with his performance. We MUST get him. His performance had Warren Sapp talking to himself. 44 reps of 225 lbs; sub 5.0 in the 40yard dash (twice) and 29+ in the vertical. And no Casey “gut”. My second round choice would be Burfict – if he is available. Management and the coaching staff will handle attitude problems. He is a gifted young man who plays “full throttle”. I have not read anywhere where he had “off the field” problems.
I wouldn’t draft Burfict… at all.
"If you havin' dragon problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 arrows but my knee took one."
agree, there is alot more talent at ILB
that we can get besides him.
ya and the only thing Blount has really done is make that insane hurdle play that made the rounds on Sportscenter top 10. Every mock draft I’ve seen has TB taking a RB in the first round as a replacement…there’s still character flaws there. You don’t just take a monumental screwup like blount, toss a lot of money at him and expect him to be a model citizen
by NoVAPensFan on Feb 28, 2012 12:25 AM EST up reply actions
Bryan Cox
Burfict reminds me of that guy. He spit on someone in a game I believe. I always thought he was extremely talented, but I was always glad he wasn’t on our team. He was a loose cannon. Maybe Coach Ryan of the Jets would like another problem child, or maybe the genius who just lost his second Super Bowl in a row thinks he can tame the lion. I say we need to pass on this guy.
hhhheaaattttthhhhh!
"You have to under promise and over deliver." Mike Tomlin
Last thing we need...
is a defensive version of Kemo, with a T.O. attitude and Ochocinco paranoia. I don’t care if he ends up hitting like Deebo.
Fly by night, away from here
Change my life again
Fly by night, goodbye my dear
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend
RUSH
by Flying Polamalus on Feb 27, 2012 8:40 AM EST reply actions
Exactly
The guy is a major loose canon. No reason to spend a high draft pick on such a risk. If he plummets I could see them taking a gamble but not in the first few rounds.
Proud fan of Pittsburgh's professional sports teams and the Pirates too.
by Black&GoldTrain on Feb 27, 2012 8:57 AM EST up reply actions
plus he ran a 4.93….sounds like his draft stock is Burfuc%$d
by NoVAPensFan on Feb 28, 2012 12:26 AM EST up reply actions 2 recs
I got Burfict ahead of Hightower
on my board…. much higher ceiling, hightower also with his knee blown out once already.. If we turned our heads to every mean stick it to you LB, we’d of never drafted Jack Lambert
unfortunately
its not 1970 anymore, you can’t get away with the stuff lambert did in today’s nfl, especially on the Steelers. The guy might be suspended within is first year of playing ball with us. He may better be suited to play for the ravens so ray can ‘straighten him out’ (sarcasm font)
I love the Steelers.
by tannofsteel84 on Feb 27, 2012 9:25 AM EST up reply actions
Thats not giving much credit
to one of the best linebacker coaches in the league…
by OR69faithfull on Feb 27, 2012 9:28 AM EST up reply actions
I thought the sarcasm font was obvious....
lol
I love the Steelers.
by tannofsteel84 on Feb 27, 2012 9:53 AM EST up reply actions
Im not sure
what your getting at…
1st… Jack was as mean a MLB as ever played…but not by any measure dirty… He’d be a Hall of Fame linebacker even in todays game…
In Hightower if its our intent to use him as mack back… I see a kid whom can NOT pass cover, thats and odd situation forcing roatation of other players to keep him on the field on third down…
As far as I know Burfict, is not a doper, not a driving down the highway 120 mph, kid… he has the athletic talent to cover on third downs etc.. IMHO he’s a better fit for our needs…..
What do you base being suspended on..? playing hard football like JH ?…. Im quite certain when he reaches the next level he’ll get the coaching he needs like all top draft prospects (provided he’s taken by a mid level team or better)
Its been my experience, you can take “blips” of conversation for interviews and twist them to make them news worthy… I dont put much measure in the presses coverage of a persons character
by OR69faithfull on Feb 27, 2012 12:05 PM EST up reply actions
Boy,
did burfict ever look slow and out of shape…what a disapointment, conversely Hightower surprised me
by OR69faithfull on Feb 27, 2012 2:46 PM EST up reply actions
no offense to you
its just the lines between dirty and not dirty nowadays are blurred, good aggressive defensive players like Jack would be suspended all the time nowadays because of Goodell’s rules.
I love the Steelers.
by tannofsteel84 on Feb 27, 2012 10:16 PM EST up reply actions
He punched a teammate, he racked up 3 personal fouls on the same play that put the other team in field goal range to win the game, was benched by his coach, STILL didn’t “get it”, and then blamed his coach for his problems….NO THANK YOU GOOD SIR
by NoVAPensFan on Feb 28, 2012 12:29 AM EST up reply actions
The difference is Lambert is smart
and would never be dumb enough to say something like this
"He pushed me, and my first instinct was to swing. And everyone thinks I’m the bad guy because my first instinct was to swing on the guy."
in a interview with a team
I'm getting tired of saying this: Dick LeBeau’s system is so complex very few rookies can make an impact.
"It would be tough for me to care less about their opinion, to be honest with you." Mike Tomlin
But I guess it was the coaches fault, right?
There is money on the line, and the only way he can capitalize on that is to run a terrible 40 and say stuff like that in interviews. Smh.
I might’ve swung on the guy too, but I’m not going to say that in front of NFL GMs.
Pittsburgh Steelers fan - nuff said.
Miami Hurricanes fan - nuff said.
Georgetown Hoyas fan - nuff said.
Cleveland Cavaliers fan - um yeah, about that...
by StoneColdSteel on Feb 28, 2012 2:05 AM EST up reply actions
Yup. Kuechly is the best MLB in the draft and it isn’t even close.
"If you havin' dragon problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 arrows but my knee took one."
Not for our scheme at all
draftdatabase.wordpress.com
Follow @steelersrule124
by seton hall and steelers on Feb 27, 2012 7:43 PM EST up reply actions
If he fell to you guys I would be pissed.
That guy impressed the hell out of me!
by TCfromDubVee on Feb 27, 2012 10:04 PM EST up reply actions
You know
I’m not suppose to say this because he is white, but Kuechly looked very athletic out there, who knows he could pan out in our scheme. :P
I love the Steelers.
by tannofsteel84 on Feb 27, 2012 10:17 PM EST up reply actions
Timmons didnt play in a 3-4 scheme in college
but there he is playing ILB for us. And, Timmons really didnt have the numbers the Kuechly had. This kid has a high football IQ, great work ethic, very good speed and will be a great fit for any team.
I think Kuechly would excel in any scheme
"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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by John Stephens on Feb 28, 2012 8:21 AM EST up reply actions
agree, you cant dismiss his numbers,
he is a tackling machine and had more tackles in his sophmore year, than Hightower or Burfict had in both of their last two years. Bufict numbers were actually worse his last year. Kuechly is pretty much double in every category, especially Solo.
Kuechly
Sophmore – Solo-110 Asst-73 Total; 183
Junior-Solo-102 Asst-89 Total; 191
Hightower
Sophmore – Solo-30 Asst-39 Total; 69
Junior – Solo-41 Asst-44 Total; 85
Burfict
Sophmore – Solo-54 Asst-36 Total; 90
Junior – Solo-40 Asst-29 Total; 69
I agree with John. I think that Kuechly is smart enough, fast enough, and strong enough to play in any scheme. And whether or not he would fit in our scheme doesn’t change the fact that he is the best MLB in the draft.
"If you havin' dragon problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 arrows but my knee took one."
draft
Burfict is the choice, i think him being around other great players will take away some of the attitude. he will learn the Steeler way and get himself together.
Did you hear the guy talk? Did you see how he performed at the combine? People went from talking about him going in the first round to him going in the 5th or 6th. There doesn’t appear to be anything worth salvaging from that wreck.
One likes to believe in the freedom of music. But glittering prizes and endless compromises, shatter the illusion of integrity.
no, it would be a mistake and highly doubt
that the steelers will draft him.
he ran a 4.93….Dontari Poe ran faster than he did. So let’s review: He gets in fights with his own teammates, he commits endless personal fouls, blames everyone but himself and to top it all off he’s LAAAAAAAAAAZZZZZY!! The combine was his last chance to show NFL teams that he still had the athleticism to make them forget about his past transgressions and he STILL couldn’t get off his butt and train….
by NoVAPensFan on Feb 28, 2012 12:32 AM EST up reply actions
Yea…we’re looking to get rid of Kemo and his stupid penalties, no point drafting another on the defensive side..
Kemo is making an effort
Burflict doesn’t appear to be though I suspect he believes that he is.
anyone trying to contact me via my yahoo account should be aware it has been hacked
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Feb 28, 2012 6:36 AM EST up reply actions
At this point....
I dont think any of the first round backers are a fit for us….Kuechly to smallish not quite fast enough, Hightower to big not quite fast enough… Burfict….pfff….who the heck knows why he even showed at the combine…out of shape, slow..then to not participate in all three cone drills… what a flake move.. the other bama backer a large OLB which isnt our need… far as im concern some other talent seemed more to our needs that we can pick up in later rounds… prob is not… Poe likely gonna be gone…. not sure how it will shake out..
So....
you didn’t see Kuechly run a 4.5 40…. Ok…
I love the Steelers.
by tannofsteel84 on Feb 28, 2012 3:21 PM EST up reply actions
do you realize Kuechly ran a 4.5 40?
Faster than Timmons, ,and he is around the same size of Timmons, within 10 pounds of each other. Hightower ran a 4.6 and for a 265 pound man, that is impressive. Hightower actually fits our scheme better because bama runs a 3-4 defense. But, you simply cant dismiss Kuechly with his High football IQ, aththetic ability, work ethic and he is a pure tackling machine, He has double the numbers than Hightower or Burfict does both of his last two years.
Please......
No Burfict No Burfict No Burfict No Burfict No Burfict No Burfict No Burfict No Burfict No Burfict No Burfict No Burfict No Burfict v No Burfict
Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.
^THIS!!!!
Too lazy to even compete at the combine…officially a 5.09 in the 40, the lowest numbers of ANY LB in the broad jump and vertical….and DNP’s everywhere else. NO THANK YOU!!! Not even as a UDFA.
"We have met the enemy and he is us" - Pogo (1970)
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