With everyone in the draft world having settled on cornerback and offensive line as the Steelers biggest positional needs, everyone seems to have forgotten, or just overlooked, the fact that the Steelers really need to get younger on the defensive line. Brett Keisel (32), Casey Hampton (33), Aaron Smith (34), Chris Hoke (34), and Nick Eason (30) are all on the wrong side of 30 and if the Steelers keep to their drafting philosophy, where as they take a player to fill for a future need, then it shouldn’t surprise anyone to see them take a defensive lineman somewhere in the first three rounds of the draft. So it’s with that in mind that I continue to profile yet another defensive lineman for the 2011 NFL draft, this time I will focus on Clemson defensive tackle Jarvis Jenkins.

Jarvis Jenkins

Height: 6’4"
Weight: 310lbs.
40 time: 4.98secs
Bench: 17reps
Arms: 33.25in
Vertical: 26.5in
2010 Stats: 38 tackles, 1 sack, 1 Forced Fumble

Pros:

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Many thanks to J Lee for agreeing to select for the San Diego Chargers in both Round 1 and Round 2. Solid pick here for a team that definitely will be interested in acquiring additional weapons for Philip Rivers. Next up: the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, represented by Bringin' the Wood(ley). - Michael B. -

The San Diego Chargers select Leonard Hankerson, WR, University of Miami.

 

Hankerson has shown steady improvements during his years at the U. Hankerson benefited from working out with former Miami Dolphins WR, Mark Duper. His hard work paid off when he broke Michael Irvin's touchdown record last year.  Many project that Hankerson has the potential to develop into a legitimate number one option at the NFL level, which makes him a good fit for the Chargers as they consider the long term futures of Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd in San Diego. Hankerson will give them either good backup player production at worst, or immediate contributions to the present wide receiver corps of Jackson, Floyd, Patrick Crayton, Seyi Ajirotutu, and free agent Legedu Naanee.

BTSC 2011 Community Mock Draft Selections:

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Great stuff here from Flying Polamalus with the Jacksonville Jaguars pick at No. 49. Next up: the San Diego Chargers, represented by new BTSC'er J Lee. - Michael B. -

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A few years ago, as my now 8-year old son came to choosing his own NFL team, he sat in a house divided.  His mom, whom I brought into NFL fandom in 1997, had chosen the despised, Brett Favre-led Packers.  And you know where I stand.  Already the clever little diplomat, he decided to chose neither of his parents' teams, and, to my chagrin, picked the team that had just upset mine in the playoffs.  Of course, little Félix did not know that at the time: he just liked the colors, his own soccer team was named the Jaguars, and they were the only NFL team with a star approaching his own height, Maurice Jones-Drew.

 

Next stop, jersey-time.  Given that Canada and Jaguars don't really go together well in NFL gear retail, I went on e-Bay to order a kid's MJD no. 32.  Lo and behold, the guy screws up the order, and sends me a no. 18 Matt Jones, who had already left the organization in shady circumstances.  So I told the guy to get it right, and not to expect me to pay S&H on returning the discount-rack special either.  To my utter relief, we got no. 32 in the mail a few days later, and now, my son wears both with Jaguars pride.  I'll explain the NFL drug policy to him later.

 

Proof that you don't always get what you order, the NFL Jaguars are not where we expected them to be a few seasons back.  Bad drafting does that to you.  Unexpectedly last season, they contended for the AFC South crown, but that had more to do with the bad injury bug of the Colts than anything else.  Yes, the plucky Jaguars won a few good games (a Hail Mary win stands out among them), but could not deliver in crunch time.

 

As a result, GM Gene Smith, who surprised drafnickdom last year by apparently reaching for Tyson Alualu, could only confirm Del Rio for another season.  Unless they see eye-to-eye on personel matters and draft an outstanding class that helps the embattled coach get over the hump and beat the Colts, it's likely that 2011 will be Del Rio's last one.

 

On to the pick, now.  All of the above comments point to the classic organizational conflict: a general manager building for the long haul, with an almost lame-duck coach seeking to win now to preserve his job.

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It is interesting that with so many of the discussions and debates we have here on BTSC, invariably something will be posted to the effect that:

 "They know what they are doing...They do this 24/7 for a living...Hey, we've been in three Super Bowls in six years...  In (blank) we trust"

Let me be the first to step forward and claim that I am guilty of at least thinking, if not writing, comments along those lines.  I am especially vulnerable when the Bruce Arians lynching takes its normal course, but I don't want to digress here.  I think the interesting caveat is the old adage that "you stand where you sit."  In other words, if you initiate the criticism, or agree with someone else's, then you feel the freedom to talk about the situation.  If you disagree, then the instinct is to sometimes end the debate by simply claiming that we can't know as much as, or be as smart as, the inner sanctum.  How can a banker from Richmond, or whatever it is we all do, have enough insight to criticize people who spend their entire existence on this stuff?

The truth is, if we take that position, there would be no need to ever engage in any discussions or debates.  There would be no need for BTSC.  Why should we even talk about the Draft?  Kevin Colbert knows more than we do, so let's just go about our lives and wait for April 28, and then trust what he does.  Let us never question Dick LeBeau or Bruce Arians or Mike Tomlin about anything.  They are in the film room and at practice 18 hours a day.  Who are we to think we can possibly be more accurate than they?  The In-Blank-We-Trust card is the ultimate trump card.  It ends all debate.

To the contrary, I like to pretend that I am the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers.  I want to ask questions.  I want to throw out my opinions and ideas and I want feedback.  I don't know as much detail as the people I hire - if I did I wouldn't need to hire them in the first place.  So I will let them explain things and then I will be convinced or not convinced.  But under no circumstances am I going to simply live with the mantra that "They must know more than I, so I'll just stop thinking about everything."

I want to know why and why not.  As a follow-up to our fearless leader's astute column about Thaddeus Gibson, I want to know why we have enough linebackers to defeat a third-world country, while our secondary can't defend top-quality quarterbacks.   Did we over-do this BPA thing, like Mr. Bean alluded to?  Was Gibson just a Draft mistake or is he potentially a good player that was low man on a very large totem pole - either of which is bad.  As the owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers, I sign all the paychecks. You need to convince me, Kevin, why our secondary is going to be better this year, or I can assure you, we won't be taking any linebackers early in this Draft, and I don't care how good they are (Martez Wilson).  Thaddeus Gibson might be good too, but we're never going to reap that fourth-round seed, are we?  And we're not going to stop Manning, Brady, Brees or Rodgers unless we improve the defensive weaponry to cover their targets.

No matter how good Kevin Colbert is, or Mike Tomlin, or Dick LeBeau, or Bruce Arians, they are like the rest of us - they make mistakes.  These mistakes are indisputable and well-documented.  And as long as they make mistakes, they are vulnerable to being questioned.  I own this team, maybe just as a fan and in my own mind, but I have an emotional investment in the Pittsburgh Steelers that I am not going to apologize for.  I want to share my thoughts and hear yours on this web site.  I want discussion and debate.  I want you to convince me when I'm wrong.  And along this journey, I will try very hard not to trump debate by saying, "In the Steelers we trust; they know what they are doing; their success is proven; so they must be right."

Just about half way through the second round thanks to Tomlin's Puffy Jacket pick for the Oakland Raiders at No. 47. Still love that screen name more and more each time I see it. Next up: the Jacksonville Jaguars, represented by looong time reader and outstanding community member Flying Polamalus. - Michael B. -

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The Raiders are always a difficult team to mock, as you don't know which Al Davis is in the war room. Is it the guy who shocked everyone with the pick of Darrius Heyward-Bey two rounds before he was projected, or the guy who made a great pickup of Rolando Mclain last year? Whatever happens this year, it's sure to be interesting.

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Since we're well-over two-months beyond the disappointing Super Bowl XLV loss to the Packers, I finally allowed myself to go back and relive those exciting postseason games at Heinz Field that enabled the Steelers to advance to their 8th Super Bowl.

The other night, I popped in the tape of that thrilling victory over the Ravens in the divisional round in-which the Steelers overcame a 21-7 halftime deficit to win, 31-24, in arguably the most memorable and exciting playoff game in the ten-year history of Heinz Field.  Watching it the second time was almost as sweet as experiencing it in real time back in January.

It was an epic comeback over their bitter rivals and a game that Steelers fans will be talking about for decades. But afterwards I started to realize something: Facing a large deficit at Heinz field in a playoff game is nothing new for the Steelers. In-fact, it's pretty common.

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If we keep this pace up, I think we may just have a shot at getting through two complete rounds in this year's BTSC Community Mock Draft. Great stuff by all. The latest addition comes from Sarge_32, who based on his name, I'm assuming most be a serviceman of some variety. If so, many thanks for the honorable sacrifice, as well as finding a free moment to join our pre-Draft fun. Next up: the Oakland Raiders, represented by Tomlin's Puffy Jacket. - Michael B. -

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With Julio Jones available to the Rams in round 1, which filled their biggest need in the draft, the Rams brain trust can now look at the BPA that fills a need, especially DT, LB, OL, or DB. I was set to take Rahim Moore, the UCLA safety, who would have been an immediate fill in for the departed OJ Atogwe. Alas, the 49ers got him at 45, so on to plan b. I do not see any value at OLB or DB at this point, with the run of CB's taken this round, and the weak OLB class. Offensive line offers some value, and Spagnuolo and company, given this scenario, could well select a Marcus Cannon or Ben Ijilana to slide into a guard slot and help both the protection of their new franchise quarterback while providing more holes for the team's best player, Steven Jackson.

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I'm back from a quick overnight trip to the coast, so here's pick No. 46 compliments of Cannon36. Thanks to him for getting it in to me last night. Next up: the St. Louis Rams, represented by Sarge_32. - Michael B. -

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With the 46th pick in the Draft the Denver Broncos select - Benjamin Ijalana - T/G - Villanova


Exceptional pass blocker at the FCS level, dominates defensive ends on most plays with great length and athleticism. Excellent foot quickness to mirror his man. Works to sustain even if his man backs off a bit. Has the bulk, length, and footwork to be a very productive run blocker. Excellent agility to get out of his stance, capable of moving behind the line and into the hole to negate linebackers.

It's not everyday that an offensive lineman from an FCS school is named to the Outland Trophy Watch List. Ben Ijalana of Villanova certainly deserved the accolades. On top of simply being on the watch list, Ijalana ended up tenth in voting for the award given to the nation's top interior lineman. That was the culmination of a stellar collegiate career that saw Ijalana named to the first-team All-CAA team three times and to the first-team All-American squad twice. Back in 2007 Ijalana started 11 games for the Wildcats as a true freshman at the tackle position. By 2008 he was starting all the games for Villanova and he never gave up that starting job. In all, Ijalana started an impressive 53 games during his collegiate career. Ijalana's toughness and ability to stay healthy is one of his many positive characteristics.

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Solid stuff from Michael Ulhorn with the pick and writeup for San Francisco at No. 45. I like how we have folks writing about teams they know something about -- Ulhorn, for instance, is a Bay Area native I believe. Next up: the Denver Broncos for the second time this round, represented once again by Cannon36. - Michael B. -

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Many people are mocking a Corner to the 49ers in the first round. Some even think Patrick Peterson might fall to them (which would be one of the biggest steals in recent draft memory). Others say that unless Gabbert is available, there is no way they pass on Amukamara. I happen to agree that secondary is a big concern for the 49ers. Now I could break a lot of hearts and take Ras I-Dowling with this pick, but I don't think that SF will take someone with a history of injury when they are rebuilding. They need contributors, and really can't afford to miss with this pick. Last year they drafted Taylor Mays who will make a pretty decent SS for years to come. This year I have them taking Rahim Moore, FS UCLA.

Moore and Mays will make a devastating secondary that will scare WR's who decide to go deep (as both can bring the hammer). They will develop together, and I think they will allow the 49ers to get by with the CB's they have for at least another year. Hiring Harbaugh is the start of the turn around for SF, and since they landed their future QB in Blaine Gabbert in round 1, they now help toughen up their secondary.

Moore is a leader who has shown an ability to be a ball-hawk, and is pretty decent in coverage. The NFC West has 1 good quarterback in the division, and he was a rookie last year. This new secondary will pick apart the Seahawks and Cardinals, and could help SF reach the playoffs this year.

Alternative Picks:

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