Not a Great Year for CB/LB...

Apparently, not a great draft year for our positions of need. These rankings place CB next to last (10th) and LB dead last (11th).

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300...est-to-weakest

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10) Cornerback: Your team picked a bad year to need a cornerback -- well, at least a CB1. Over the past three drafts, at least four cornerbacks have been picked in the first round (counting the versatile Minkah Fitzpatrick in last year's group). It could happen again this season, but some of those picks will be reaches. The trend of bigger, longer cornerback continues, and this is a fast cornerback group overall, but it lacks a bona fide star. Potential first-rounders like Deandre Baker and Byron Murphyare 4.5 40 guys. There is actually intriguing value on Day 3 in this group.
11) Linebacker: I wouldn't call this a "bad linebacker draft," but it definitely thins out earlier than many teams would probably like. Devin White and Devin Bush are legitimate first-round talents, but Mack Wilson may be the only true second-round candidate, while a relatively small group of linebackers could fill out Rounds 3 and 4. There is decent backup/special teams depth available on Day 3.

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First up is everyone's #1 ILB in 2019 draft. Devin White games vs. Auburn then Miami.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sYaQyNKIW0

This is White vs Georgia then Ole Miss.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7x6v21BHOI

This is Devin Bush game tape vs Mich State then Penn State.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5z2VuUBu0ZI

Here is Mack Wilson vs Arkansas then Missouri then LSU.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IulezWjBy8k

Minnesota's Blake Cashman vs Ohio State then Northwestern.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkzkZKUhseg

Germaine Pratt vs Clemson

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AigLyFJIg_Y

Germaine Pratt vs Wake Forest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pbfbr4UHJcI

Germaine Pratt vs Georgia State

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4zG318EXUs

After the devins there isn't a quality ilb difference maker. Makes me wish they would have nabbed Leonard at pick 28

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Originally Posted by st33lersguy

After the devins there isn't a quality ilb difference maker. Makes me wish they would have nabbed Leonard at pick 28

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And this is what I disagree with pretty much everyone about. The 5 ILBs I posted above are all about the same skill level, IMO. Watch the links I posted and decide for yourselves.

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Originally Posted by st33lersguy

After the devins there isn't a quality ilb difference maker. Makes me wish they would have nabbed Leonard at pick 28

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After Day1, everyone wanted Leonard n R2, and talked about whether he’d be there for us or if we needed to trade up a few spots to get him. No one predicted he’d go that early in R2 (let alone that we should have taken him at 28).

But, Yes, in hindsight... it would have been a great choice.

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Originally Posted by teegre

After Day1, everyone wanted Leonard n R2, and talked about whether he’d be there for us or if we needed to trade up a few spots to get him. No one predicted he’d go that early in R2 (let alone that we should have taken him at 28).

But, Yes, in hindsight... it would have been a great choice.

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I honestly don't understand how after watching Blake Cashman's game tapes he can still be considered a reach. From everything I have watched on him I would take Cashman OVER the Devins tbh. Devin White I can understand with his size and speed and production in SEC play, 286 tackles, 28.5 TFL in 34 games. Not going to debate that pick. But apples to apples: Bush 172 tackles, 18.5 TFL in 32 games. Cashman 179 tackles, 30.5 TFL in 33 games. Both played in the Big10. I took away Cashman's Freshman year to make the years of production match. If both Devin Bush and Blake Cashman were available at 20, I would take Blake Cashman. I know the shoulder surgery on both sides raises an eyebrow. I can find NOTHING on the severity of his injuries. CJ Mosley had the same scare coming out and has been an iron man of sorts at ILB. I am not concerned about that without more info than just he had surgery. I believe this kid is a 1st round ILB.

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Originally Posted by teegre

After Day1, everyone wanted Leonard n R2, and talked about whether he’d be there for us or if we needed to trade up a few spots to get him. No one predicted he’d go that early in R2 (let alone that we should have taken him at 28).

But, Yes, in hindsight... it would have been a great choice.

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Thing is though he wasn't rated lower than or expected to go later than the guy they actually took at pick 28

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Originally Posted by st33lersguy

Thing is though he wasn't rated lower than or expected to go later than the guy they actually took at pick 28

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Unless you take into the account the late-breaking pre-draft and draft day reports that Edmunds was shooting up more than one draft board across the actual NFL. I remember hearing that like a day or so and early on draft day that this guy no one had ever really thought about was getting late buzz. Then, of course, the Steelers picked him.

In contrast, and we know this was incorrect, almost all the draft pundits were talking about Leonard as a 3rd or 4th round pick.

What is my point? We still don't know what the proper grade was for either guy. But we do know that the talking heads, twitter warriors, and internet draft sites all typically have about 3-6 guys that they value totally differently than the NFL does. Sometimes they have guys way higher (the Billings/Butler DT draft class from a few years back) or they have guys far lower (Leonard and Edmunds are solid examples of this). This year, who will it be? I have no idea. But it will be someone...

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Originally Posted by st33lersguy

Thing is though he wasn't rated lower than or expected to go later than the guy they actually took at pick 28

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Maybe. And, maybe Edmunds was a bad pick. :noidea:

That doesn’t change the point: After R1 was done, no one was saying “Oh man, we should have taken Leonard at 28.” Again, people were discussing Leonard at 50 (or “maybe” trading up to the early 40s)... but, no one was thinking he’d go at 36 (let alone at 28).

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Originally Posted by Born2Steel

I honestly don't understand how after watching Blake Cashman's game tapes he can still be considered a reach. From everything I have watched on him I would take Cashman OVER the Devins tbh. Devin White I can understand with his size and speed and production in SEC play, 286 tackles, 28.5 TFL in 34 games. Not going to debate that pick. But apples to apples: Bush 172 tackles, 18.5 TFL in 32 games. Cashman 179 tackles, 30.5 TFL in 33 games. Both played in the Big10. I took away Cashman's Freshman year to make the years of production match. If both Devin Bush and Blake Cashman were available at 20, I would take Blake Cashman. I know the shoulder surgery on both sides raises an eyebrow. I can find NOTHING on the severity of his injuries. CJ Mosley had the same scare coming out and has been an iron man of sorts at ILB. I am not concerned about that without more info than just he had surgery. I believe this kid is a 1st round ILB.

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Are you suggesting they take him at #20 or in later rounds? I know nothing about him, but NFL website projects him for 5th-6th round.

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Originally Posted by DesertSteel

Are you suggesting they take him at #20 or in later rounds? I know nothing about him, but NFL website projects him for 5th-6th round.

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Which is why I posted all those game tapes above so you can watch White, Bush, Wilson, Cashman, and Pratt and come to your own conclusion. The NFL site has Cashman as a 5th-6th round and projects as a backup or ST guy. The Draft Network analysts all have him as a 2nd/3rd round guy. Most draft sites have Cashman as their 4th ranked ILB behind White, Bush, and Wilson. I think they are all just copying each other. When I watch the game tapes I put them in this order, 1.Devin White 2.Blake Cashman 3.Devin Bush 4.Mack Wilson 5.Germaine Pratt. So yes, if it comes to pick 20 and White is gone, I would select Cashman over the other ILBs. Just watch the first qtr of Cashman vs Ohio State and I think you will see it too.

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Originally Posted by Born2Steel

Which is why I posted all those game tapes above so you can watch White, Bush, Wilson, Cashman, and Pratt and come to your own conclusion. The NFL site has Cashman as a 5th-6th round and projects as a backup or ST guy. The Draft Network analysts all have him as a 2nd/3rd round guy. Most draft sites have Cashman as their 4th ranked ILB behind White, Bush, and Wilson. I think they are all just copying each other. When I watch the game tapes I put them in this order, 1.Devin White 2.Blake Cashman 3.Devin Bush 4.Mack Wilson 5.Germaine Pratt. So yes, if it comes to pick 20 and White is gone, I would select Cashman over the other ILBs. Just watch the first qtr of Cashman vs Ohio State and I think you will see it too.

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As much as I love the actual draft and talking about it on here, I really don't have time to watch game film on guys. I watch games as they're both compelling and available to me. I'll take your word along with theirs and reach the uneducated conclusion that he could be a sleeper in R3. Thanks for the tip.

Fair enough. I would love to get Greedy Williams at 20 and Blake Cashman at 52. I think there is a better chance of Greedy being there at 20 than Cashman being there at 52. I think there will be a better player at CB available at 52 than there will be for ILB. I could see taking Cashman at 20 and a DB at 52. Everything depends on how the board falls of course. I honestly believe the Steelers have Devin Bush in their sights though.

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Originally Posted by Born2Steel

Fair enough. I would love to get Greedy Williams at 20 and Blake Cashman at 52. I think there is a better chance of Greedy being there at 20 than Cashman being there at 52. I think there will be a better player at CB available at 52 than there will be for ILB. I could see taking Cashman at 20 and a DB at 52. Everything depends on how the board falls of course. I honestly believe the Steelers have Devin Bush in their sights though.

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fwiw, Charley Casserly just predicted that Greedy Williams will fall completely out of the first round.

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Originally Posted by hawaiiansteeler

fwiw, Charley Casserly just predicted that Greedy Williams will fall completely out of the first round.

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Wonder I'd that's because he didn't do visits?

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Originally Posted by hawaiiansteeler

fwiw, Charley Casserly just predicted that Greedy Williams will fall completely out of the first round.

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Did he give reasons for that prediction? That’s interesting.

Greedy’s stock seems to be plummeting for some unknown reason.

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Originally Posted by DesertSteel

Greedy’s stock seems to be plummeting for some unknown reason.

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( perhaps a positive test or medical red flag ) that has not been disclosed to the rest of the world at the combine ?

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Originally Posted by DesertSteel

Greedy’s stock seems to be plummeting for some unknown reason.

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Hes stated he will not be going to any predraft visits or workouts

I've stated LBs but I agree on CBs as well. There isn't a CB worth taking at pick 20 IMO

So how good is Greedy? His testing numbers look great. But so did Artie's. On the other hand LSU has been churning out pretty good DBs.

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Originally Posted by st33lersguy

Hes stated he will not be going to any predraft visits or workouts

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I interpreted it that he wasn’t invited. Are you saying he refused?

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Originally Posted by DesertSteel

I interpreted it that he wasn’t invited. Are you saying he refused?

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He is choosing not to attend pre-draft visits/workouts

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Originally Posted by st33lersguy

He is choosing not to attend pre-draft visits/workouts

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I couldn't tell if refused or got no invites. Either way it's odd.

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Originally Posted by Mojouw

So how good is Greedy? His testing numbers look great. But so did Artie's. On the other hand LSU has been churning out pretty good DBs.

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Could just be nursing an injury. He’s already tested at the combine and pro day. Plus there is a ton of film. His knock has been he isn’t a tackler and holds off in run support. They don’t run tackling drills for DBs at visits anyway. I can’t see him falling off 32 first round boards over that. Really sounds more like an undisclosed injury to me.

Last Steeler visit.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7FT-EPIRYQ


https://steelersdepot.com/2019/04/report-steelers-to-host-wisconsin-edge-andrew-van-ginkel-for-pre-draft-visit/