Last but certainly not least, many thanks to c63tho for his great writeup here at No. 64 for the Green Bay Packers. WIth the second round just about to start, we squeezed it all in! Great work everybody. We'll review our community mock sometime next week. - Michael B. -

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With the 64^th overall draft selection, the Green Bay Packers select OL Clint Boling, Georgia.

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Many thanks to maryrose for this fine writeup. As it turns out, datruth4life and some of the rest of you were correct in identifying Carpenter as a guy that was rocketing up draft boards and worthy of a good, hard look by the Steelers in either round one or two. Well, turns out Carpenter went off the board even earlier than we expected, taken at No. 25 by the Seattle Seahawks. Nevertheless, let's take a look at the writeup by 'rose and see what he has to say about the kid and the Steelers' potential thoughts in round two. Keep in mind this was penned prior to Thursday night's developments. - Michael B. -

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Some believe you should build a football team from the inside out.  After securing its core last year with Maurkice Pouncey, the next logical move for Pittsburgh is to get high quality dance partners lining up next to him.  Enter James Carpenter, who by the way was picked by Todd McShay to go number one in the second round.  He brings two elite qualities to the table. First, his blend of height, weight and speed is right up there with the top linemen in the draft.  Dude is 6-5, 324 pounds and brings a surprising amount of speed for a guy his size.  Second, Carpenter is tough as nails with a mean streak, an element not lost on the Kuglinator himself.  He plays through nagging injuries and started all 27 games during his Alabama career.

Carpenter also brings unique talent to both run block and pass block with relatively equal effectiveness, both above the line, though neither spectacular at this point in his development.  The better news is that Carpenter is a young guy on the rise.  His place on everyone's draft boards has gone up from the end of the season.  He now carries an impressive 85 NFL Scouts grade, and he won Alabama's Bart Starr Award as the Tide's most improved player. 

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Many thanks to ICEICETHATGUY13 for his pick at No. 62 for the Bears. I like this pick quite a bit for Chicago, particularly after they drafted an OT, Derek Sherrod, in the first round of our mock. Next up: the one and only Pittsburgh Steelers, represented by the one and only maryrose. (We will post this tomorrow before the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft commences at 6 pm EST). - Michael B. -

Really, this is the worst case scenario for the Bears. DT isn't nearly as big of a positional need like the OL is. Ideally for the Bears, they'd hope a guy like Orlando Hudson or Stephen Wisniewski would fall to them. I'd imagine they'd pick up Marcus Cannon in an instant too. Guys like Orlando Franklin & James Carpenter could be picked up here for guard, but Franklin is a reach and Carpenter is more a of road grader type, wherein the Bears need a pass protector. But since nobody else is worthy of a pick here, I'd go BPA and get Nevis. They've got a need for a 3-tech DT, which is where Nevis should play. He's not overly athletic and he's not tall, but there's a reason why he commanded constant double teams. He's relentless, and plays well technique wise. He was constantly in defensive backfields during the season last year, and here, could be considered somewhat of a steal. If you want to see him at his best, watch him vs Florida or Alabama. Worst? Watch him vs Auburn.

BTSC 2011 Community Mock Draft Selections:

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Thanks to J Lee for promptly getting me the Chargers' pick at No. 61. Looks like we're in great shape to get to the entire second round before those selections are made on Friday night. Next up: the Chicago Bears, represented by ICEICETHATGUY13. - Michael B. -

For the San Diego Chargers, selecting Marcus Gilbert to fill a need at right tackle might be more ideal than re-signing OT Jeromey Clary, a free agent (which almost half of the team seems to be right now). Gilbert is versatile enough to play multiple position on the line, but really is more suited to play at right tackle than anywhere else. Gilbert even garnered an award from the RT position several years ago. Watching him during his career at Florida, I would say he is not as athletic and as aggressive as he'll need to be at the next level. At times, he struggles at getting to the second level to hit guys. But he has excelled for the most part with his pass protection. Phillip Rivers and the pass happy Chargers system would benefit from his skills at pass blocking.

In general, for two rounds where I have had the chance to pick the players for San Diego, the emphasis has been more about filling needs. If we were doing a third round, I would project another pass rusher, either another defensive end or outside linebacker like Sam Acho or Dontay Moch; an inside linebacker like Quan Sturdivant; or even a cornerback or safety, as the Chargers have multiple picks in the third round of this year's draft.

Video highlights and updated draft selections after the jump:

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Thanks to NYSteelersFan for taking care of this pick while I was out. Next up: The San Diego Chargers, represented by J Lee. - Michael B. -

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The Patriots continue their (in my humble opinion) great draft, and select corner Ras I Dowling from the University of Virginia 60th overall. Last year's first round pick, Devin McCourty, absolutely dazzled in his first year, collecting 7 interceptions, 17 deflected passes, and forcing two fumbles. Now they look to bolster their cornerback depth, as well as find a potential #2 to play opposite McCourty for years to come.

Ras I's coverage abilities combined with his size and experience make him a great pick for the Patriots. He can come in and play the slot behind Bodden and McCourty, and assuming he shows the abilities he showed for his first few years at Virginia, he may be able to allow the Patriots to get out from under Bodden's contract in time if the Pats choose to (something they have done in the past with corners). If the draft were to play out like this, the Patriots will debate this corner pick between Johnny Patrick and Doowling, and in my opinion will choose Dowling's potential for injury concerns over Patrick's potenial for off the field problems. Though neither is a huge concern to me, Patrick's worry me only a bit more given the circumstances. Plus, in terms of measurables, Dowling beats out Patrick in almost all categories as well.

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Many thanks to one of the site's readers I always enjoy hearing from, Bluegrass Steeler, for his pick and write up for the Atlanta Falcons at pick No. 59. By the way, Comcast/Xfinity was interested in placing an advertorial all day as the second post on our main page, so check out the interview with Rich Eisen if you're so inclined. But just a heads up that it's there and will remain as the second post on the page no matter how much content gets published on Wednesday. Thanks for you all's support. Next up: the hated New England Patriots, represented by the not at all hated NYSteelersFan4. - Michael B. -

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So, to quickly recap: After considering a number of different players (including Mike Pouncey who has become a Patriot in this nightmarish mock draft world gone wrong), the Falcons picked Iowa Defensive End Adrian Clayborn with pick #27 in the 2011 NFL Draft. So, given how the board has fallen, what's next present the Falcons faithful get to open on draft weekend?

First, I'm tempted - as the Falcons surely would be - to double dip in the deep defensive end crop. The Falcons have shown an awful lot of interest in Miami DE Allen Bailey. Bailey is a bit of a tweener; he could probably bulk up and play the 5-technique, be the strong side end opposite Clayborn, or even compete with Clayborn at the Right End position. Bailey worries me however. He was never overly productive in college despite his amazing physique and very impressive athleticism. And if there's one thing I find troubling in defensive linemen it's the whole "looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane" phenomena. In other words, even though Bailey has the athleticism to be a good player, I'm not sure if he has the attitude to play the run down after down at LE not to mention constantly fight chips from TE's and RB's on passing downs.

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After seeing the post this morning about the Steelers' wide receiver position, and remembering Big Jay recently saying, 'Hey, are we overlooking defensive line?," etc., I feel compelled to write that indeed every position on the team, to one degree or another, is really a position of need.  There are those who mention another tight end to compliment Heath Miller, like Belichick did last year in drafting two tight ends.  The safety position can be weak and fragile and what if Mendenhall gets hurt?  The beat goes on and on.  Unless a team has Johnny Unitas at quarterback, Dan Marino as a back-up and Bob Griese as the third emergency guy, and has the same quality and depth at every single position, there is some "need" involved with every aspect of the team.

A football team, any team, comes into a draft much like a guy who just ran his bike into a bus comes into the emergency room.  The guy's arm is broke, his ankle is twisted, he has a bruise on his face, his spleen is bleeding and his glasses are broke.  What the doctors do in emergency is assess the priorities of all the guy's "needs."  They better fix the bleeding spleen first, or patching up other areas will be moot when the guy dies.  They better set the arm before they wrap the ankle so the bone will heal.  They might not do anything with the bruise, simply live with it, and they will order another pair of glasses when everything else is calm and in order.

Drafting a football team is more complicated (not more important than an emergency room, but more complicated), because you simply cannot just list the needs in priority and then fix accordingly.  Unlike the emergency room, the needs are weighed against the particular talent available at the given moment of a draft selection.  You might have a slightly bigger need at position B than A, but if player A is far superior than player B, then he will be the wisest choice....maybe...

To me, there is one position on the Steelers that represents the bleeding spleen, cornerback.  If we don't fix that, if we don't draft someone of impact, if our young bucks don't step up and especially if we lose Ivan, then nothing else will matter.  The Pittsburgh Steelers will not and cannot win another Super Bowl without fixing their spleen.  The Steelers have played 71 football games under the Mike Tomlin-Dick LeBeau regime.  They are 1-6 against guys named Manning, Brady, Brees and Rodgers. The only victory came via miracle on the last play of the game. They are 47-17 in all the other games.  The Steelers will win alot of football games in 2011, no doubt.  They will beat teams regularly who have less than Pro Bowl quarterbacks who don't have the ability to shred them.  But they cannot navigate to the promised land again unless they fix their spleen.

Other than the spleen, the guy is not going to eventually die.  Therefore, we can debate which body part to fix next.  Interestingly, we have made 57 picks in out BTSC mock draft, and there are some pretty good football players available with Pittsburgh's pick coming up soon.  So I ask you, Steelers Nation, help me make that draft choice.  I am not even going to put Ras-I Dowling in the poll.  He's the spleen doctor and from what I am hearing would be an overwhelming choice.  But what about the other body parts?    Randall Cobb is still sitiing there.  After reading the wide receiver post this morning, is he the guy?  How about Ryan Matthews?  He's a really good running back dropping late into the second round.  Jurrell Casey, Christian Ballard and Allen Bailey are still available.  After reading Big Jay's reminder that our D-Line is aging and fragile, should we go there?  Clint Boling is an offensive guard, you know we need some of that stuff.  So is James Carpenter.

Thanks to Josh Roberts for sending me the Baltimore Ravens selection at No. 58. Getting close to the Steelers pick at No. 61, so great work by all with the solid but not-too-frantic pace throughout this process. Next up: the Atlanta Falcons, represented by Bluegrass Steeler. - Michael B. -

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The Ravens Select Christian Ballard, DE, Iowa

The Ravens are in need of youth on the DL, a rush OLB and a good RT since it appears that Gaither is now leaving. The best player available at any of those positions is Christian Ballard, the 6-4 286lb defensive end from Iowa is often overlooked by the casual observer due to his partner in crime at Iowa Adrian Clayborn's success. However Ballard is a very athletic DE for the 3-4 and is strong at the point of attack. Although his tape shows certain inconsistencies, with such a great group to learn from in Baltimore he will be able to learn and contribute in the rotation early.

Some other notable players at this point that Baltimore could consider:
- James Carpenter OT Alabama
- Marcus Gilbert OT Florida
- Sam Acho DE/OLB Texas
- Dontay Moch DE/OLB Nevada

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