Its a stinking hot 40 plus degree summer leading into our southern hemisphere Christmas.
Trapped inside under an air conditioner so it is the ideal time to mock.
Here is my thought process and analysis leading into my mock.
I might need a few posts.
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Current Roster position heading into 2014
Depth Chart for 2014
QB: Roethlisberger (15), Gradkowski (15), Jones ( 16)
RB: Bell (16), Johnson (14),
WR: Brown (17) , Wheaton (16) , Moye (15),
TE: Miller (14), Paulson (15), Spaeth (14)
OT: Adams (15), Brown (16), Gilbert (14), Beachum (15)
OG: Cheadle (15), DeCastro (15), Embernate (???), Foster (15)
OC: Pouncey (14), Snow (14),
2014 Starting O:
QB: Roethlisberger
RB: Bell
FB: Johnson
WR’s: Brown, Wheaton
TE: Miller
O Line: Beachum, Foster, Pouncey, DeCastro, Gilbert
Obvious holes that appear on the starting Offensive Unit is a true #1 WR.Obvious holes that appear on the starting Offensive Unit is a true #1 WR. After that it is a depth and replacing expiring contracts. Tight End contracts will expire in 2014 as well as Center
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NT: Fangupo (15), McClendon (15)
DE: Heyward (14), Williams (16), Arnfelt (14)
OLB: Carter (14), Jones (17), Woodley (16)
ILB: Foote (15), Garvin (15), Spence (15), Timmons (16), Williams (16)
CB: C.Allen (14), Blake (14), Brown (14), Green (14), Jackson (???), Taylor (14)
S: Golden (14), Polamalu (14), Thomas (16)
P/K: Suisham (14)
Starting D:
????, McClendon, Heyward
Woodley, Foote, Timmons, Jones
C. Allen, Polamalu, Golden, Taylor
Starting D has a huge hole at LDE, and after that depth is a huge issue at OLB, CB and Free safety. Expiring contracts decimate the CB ranks. This indicates to me that 2 cornerbacks will be drafted.
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Free Agents:
QB: None
RB: Jones, Stephens-Howling, Dwyer,
WR: Sanders, Cotchery, Burress
TE: Johnson, Palmer
OT: Butler, Whimper
OG:
OC: Olsen, Velasco,Wallace, Warren (LS)
NT: Woods
DE: Hood, Keisel
OLB: Worilds, Westerman
ILB: Sylvester
CB:
S: W. Allen, Clark
P/K: McBriar
From the list of free agents the signings I would make include: Stephens- Howling (if fit), Dwyer, Cotchery, Warren ( LS), Woods, Hood, Worilds and W. Allen.
Huge holes on the roster are now at depth positions for:
Running Back, Corner Back, Outside line backer, Swing O lineman
Practice Squad:
RB: Alexander
WR: J.Brown, Moore
DE: Hall
OG: Hubbard
From the practice squad only Justin Brown (WR) and Alvester Alexander ( RB) appear worthy of a roster spot.
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Current Mock Draft as per current conditions:
Round 1 Sammy Watkins WR Clemson 6’1 205” Junior
Watkins is the perfect #1 WR for Haleys system. Great outside WR , good in the slot and also commands serious attention whilst in motion. Great for Haleys bubble screen / end around plays as both a receiver or decoy . Antonio Brown will benefit greatly as Watkins will command serious attention. I think Watkins is the most complete receiver in this draft and much attention will go towards the taller modern NFL WR’s.
Round 2 Kyle Fuller CB Virginia Tech 6’0 194” Senior
Has steeler size and speed. Like what I see on film. He covers well, sticks his head in against the run, and coming from VT has special teams discipline. At this point in time I believe his speed is in the 4.4 range. If he runs outside this time he will drop. I think he is a solid corner who will have a good NFL career. Not elite but steeler solid.
Round 3 Comp CJ Fiederowicz TE Iowa 6’6 265” Senior
Do it all TE who isn’t the flashy TE that is enamouring the NFL. He is Heath Miller 2.0 ( and maybe a better run blocker at that.) Steeler TE’s are a extra OT who can release and catch in the middle when needed. Whilst everyone is concentrating on Ebron, Amaro, ASJ, CJF will go unnoticed. A bargain at this point. I could justify a round 2 pick on him.
Round 4 Tre Boston FS North Carolina 6’0 205” Senior
Sometimes when I watch film I get a gut feeling about a player. I was talking to DWINSGAMES about this. I had it with Austin Collie, I had it with Kikio Alonso, I had it with Sean Spence. Some guys just play football. Tre Boston is a Free safety who can play anywhere on the field as a safety. Boston is good deep, has good hands, a nose for the ball, puts his head in hard on tackles and can blitz. I just see a footballer and I can see him in Black and Gold.
Round 5 James White RB Wisconsin
As long as Todd Haley is the OC he is going to find a way to get another Jamaal Charles or another Dexter McCluster. He wants a fast twitch option to complement LeVeon Bell. The tape and stats don’t lie with White. He has great vision, very fast & nimble feet and he has speed to finish a run. All the steelers fans today know that once LSH got injured the steelers had no speed at RB. This year behind a typical badger line he has reeled off 1337 yards at 6.4 average on 209 attempts. Throw in 292 receiving yards at 7.9 average I think he is a great #2 RB. I will not be surprised if he goes higher.
Round 5 Comp Derrell Johnson OLB East Carolina 6’2 264” Senior
I don’t see many DE’s / OLB’s that fit the steeler draft profile,the typical 6’1 260” guy, who goes unnoticed by the 4-3 teams and is too small for most 3-4 teams. Steelers usually want a guy who can pass rush, drop in coverage but most importantly, set the edge against the run. On film he looks fast, powerful and good against the run. Has played standing up, from both sides at ECU and has a good bull rush. At this point we are sifting through coal trying to find diamonds. Polish is needed.
Round 6 Ryan Groy OG / OT Wisconsin 6’5 320” Senior
I had pencilled in before White. I was impressed by Groy’s run blocking ability, the typical badger road grader type interior lineman. Looking deeper into his body of work you find that he has also played left tackle at Wisconsin for a good period of time. Dig deeper and he has some center history and capability. I am not looking for a starter. I am looking for a player who is an upgrade over guy whimper. Along the way you notice the RB’s finishing runs behind the giant holes opened up. Hence the James White pick in round 5.
Round 7 Carrington Byndom CB Texas 6’0 185” Senior
The steelers are not very deep at CB looking at the projected 2014 roster. Curtis Brown will most likely a ycasualty come the end of the season. Why go to the well once more with a longhorn CB?? Steelers draft six foot cornerbacks. Steelers draft six foot four forty speed cornerbacks. Steelers draft six foot four forty cornerbacks who can blitz and tackle. If you scout players at the back end of the draft that fit this profile I can guarantee their aint many options. His film looks OK.
Round 7 Comp Tom Hornsey P Memphis 6’3 210”
Homer pick - Aussie punter, who is also a current Ray Guy Finalist. Australian Rules background so this guy know how to kick. 2013 season 45 yard average with a 79 yard best punt this season. Darren Bennet, Sav Rocca and Ben Graham are a couple of big kicking Aussie punters. Don’t count Hornsey out.
Sleeper pick
Chad Abram FB Florida State – a sledge hammer fullback who I could see on the roster.