stillers4me
03-09-2011, 08:10 AM
I remain conflicted about who the Steelers should draft in the first round. This is not unusual. I do have it narrowed down to defensive back or offensive lineman, undoubtedly because those are the two positions where Pittsburgh annually needs help.
And, hell, maybe even defensive line, depending on how the first 30 picks shake out.
In the last few weeks I have written on CB vs. OL (http://www.steelerslounge.com/2011/02/bigger-steelers-cornerback-oline/), and why we should temper expectations for a Mike and Maurkice (http://www.steelerslounge.com/2011/02/managing-expectations-mike-maurkice-reunion/) reunion should it happen. Now, after finally getting through all the NFL Network combine footage that had been taking up way too much room on my DVR, here’s a first pass at the Steelers’ early-round draft strategy.
1) Get an o-lineman in the first round. This has less to do with need than available talent. As I have written before, the Steelers can win with the current cast of characters, both in the secondary and lined up in front of Big Ben. So if the depth at safety and cornerback were top-heavy, I’d have little trouble suggesting the Steelers should go safety or cornerback early and sort out the offensive line with later picks.
As it stands, Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara will be long gone when Pittsburgh goes on the clock. Mike Mayock loves Jimmy Smith’s physical skills but his off-field issues will likely mean the Steelers won’t be interested. It’s not clear if Aaron Williams is a better safety than cornerback, and if you believe the predraft obfuscation, safety Rahim Moore is no longer a first-round pick. According to the National Football Post (http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFP-Sunday-Blitz-3902.html), “Moore didn’t time very well, and he turned off some teams in the interview room too,” although Mayock and Deion Sanders loved his combine workout.
There appear to be seven or eight offensive linemen who could be first-round selections. And six weeks out from the real thing, some mock drafts have Mike Pouncey falling to 31 (admittedly, that seemed like a stretch in Indy when everybody and his brother couldn’t talk about how much Mike blew them away both physically and in interviews). There’s also a chance tackle Derek Sherrod is around, or guard Danny Watkins.
Shutdown Corner’s Doug Farrar absolutely loves Sherrod (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/The-Shutdown-40-20-Derek-Sherrod-OT-Missis?urn=nfl-323412) (and unlike me, Doug really knows what he’s talking about), and Pouncey II or Watkins could be Day 1 starters. That would be less likely with the crop of DBs still available at the bottom of first round. Which leads me to this…..........
read more @ http://www.steelerslounge.com/2011/03/steelers-bad-moving-draft-board/
And, hell, maybe even defensive line, depending on how the first 30 picks shake out.
In the last few weeks I have written on CB vs. OL (http://www.steelerslounge.com/2011/02/bigger-steelers-cornerback-oline/), and why we should temper expectations for a Mike and Maurkice (http://www.steelerslounge.com/2011/02/managing-expectations-mike-maurkice-reunion/) reunion should it happen. Now, after finally getting through all the NFL Network combine footage that had been taking up way too much room on my DVR, here’s a first pass at the Steelers’ early-round draft strategy.
1) Get an o-lineman in the first round. This has less to do with need than available talent. As I have written before, the Steelers can win with the current cast of characters, both in the secondary and lined up in front of Big Ben. So if the depth at safety and cornerback were top-heavy, I’d have little trouble suggesting the Steelers should go safety or cornerback early and sort out the offensive line with later picks.
As it stands, Patrick Peterson and Prince Amukamara will be long gone when Pittsburgh goes on the clock. Mike Mayock loves Jimmy Smith’s physical skills but his off-field issues will likely mean the Steelers won’t be interested. It’s not clear if Aaron Williams is a better safety than cornerback, and if you believe the predraft obfuscation, safety Rahim Moore is no longer a first-round pick. According to the National Football Post (http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFP-Sunday-Blitz-3902.html), “Moore didn’t time very well, and he turned off some teams in the interview room too,” although Mayock and Deion Sanders loved his combine workout.
There appear to be seven or eight offensive linemen who could be first-round selections. And six weeks out from the real thing, some mock drafts have Mike Pouncey falling to 31 (admittedly, that seemed like a stretch in Indy when everybody and his brother couldn’t talk about how much Mike blew them away both physically and in interviews). There’s also a chance tackle Derek Sherrod is around, or guard Danny Watkins.
Shutdown Corner’s Doug Farrar absolutely loves Sherrod (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/blog/shutdown_corner/post/The-Shutdown-40-20-Derek-Sherrod-OT-Missis?urn=nfl-323412) (and unlike me, Doug really knows what he’s talking about), and Pouncey II or Watkins could be Day 1 starters. That would be less likely with the crop of DBs still available at the bottom of first round. Which leads me to this…..........
read more @ http://www.steelerslounge.com/2011/03/steelers-bad-moving-draft-board/