Since the Steelers typically stick to their visit list on draft day, I thought this deserved its own thread. If it is better in the draft thread, feel free to delete!
Originally Posted by BlackAndGold
Since the Steelers typically stick to their visit list on draft day, I thought this deserved its own thread. If it is better in the draft thread, feel free to delete!
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Below is the most current list of Steelers draft prospects they have interviewed:
All-Star Game / Scouting Combine
Villanova OLB, Austin Calitro (East/West Game)
Minnesota Safety, Damarius Travis (East/West Game)
Tennessee CB, Cameron Sutton (Senior Bowl)
North Carolina WR, Ryan Switzer (Senior Bowl)
Notre Dame DT, Isaac Rochell (Senior Bowl)
Youngstown State OLB, Derek Rivers (Senior Bowl)
Texas RB, D’Onta Foreman (Combine)
Clemson RB, Wayne Gallman (Combine)
Texas Tech QB, Patrick Mahomes (Combine)
Central Michigan QB, Cooper Rush (Combine)
Texas A&M WR, Josh Reynolds (Combine)
Toledo TE, Mike Roberts (Combine)
Ole Miss TE, Evan Engram (Combine)
South Alabama TE, Gerald Everett (Combine)
Alabama EDGE, Tim Williams (Combine)
Temple LB, Haason Reddick (Combine)
Florida State EDGE, DeMarcus Walker (Combine)
Wisconsin OLB, T.J. Watt (Combine)
Yougstown State EDGE, Derek Rivers (Combine)
Washington EDGE, JoJo Mathis (Combine)
Alabama OLB, Ryan Williams (Combine)
Mississippi DE, Fadol Brown (Combine)
LSU DE, Tashawn Bower (Combine)
LSU OLB, Duke Riley (Combine)
Louisville EDGE, Devonte Fields (Combine)
Auburn EDGE, Carl Lawson (Combine)
Tennessee QB, Josh Dobbs (Combine)
Iowa QB, C.J. Beathard (Combine)
Miami QB, Brad Kaaya (Combine)
Notre Dame QB, DeShone Kizer (Combine)
Houston QB, Greg Ward (Combine)
Shaquill Griffin CB, Central Florida (Combine)
Nate Hairston, Temple (Combine)
Lorenzo Jerome, St. Francis (PA) (Combine)
Montae Nicholson, Michigan State (Combine)
Cameron Sutton, Tennessee (Combine)
Marquez White, Florida State (Combine)
Oregon TE, Pharaoh Brown (Combine)
Syracuse WR, Amba Etta-Tawo (Combine)
Pitt TE, Scott Orndoff (Combine)
Virginia Tech FB, Sam Rogers (Combine)
Ashland TE, Adam Shaheen (Combine)
Arkansas TE, Jeremy Sprinkle (Combine)
Indiana PA OL, Ethan Cooper (Combine)
Temple OT, Dion Dawkins (Combine)
Florida State OT, Rodrick Johnson (Combine)
Kutztown OL, Jordan Morgan (Combine)
Villanova DE, Tanoh Kpassagnon (Combine)
Pitt DE, Ejuan Price (Combine)
Temple RB, Jahad Thomas (Combine)
Pro Day Visits:
Auburn Pro Day, EDGE rusher Carl Lawson
Great thread.
Not that the order of visits is necessarily indicative of priority, but i think its telling that right off the bat that were at least eye balling him. Safety is probably not a popular position for the 30th overall pick to most steeler fans, but i would be ecstatic with either Budda Baker or Obi Melifonwu. Budda has a mastery over everything, just a tad on the smaller size and would like to see maybe a little more punishment to his tackles (but his tackling fundamentals are outstanding, and thats way better than a hitter who whiffs frequently *cough cough* Mike Mitchell). Same knock on Obi, but again, his fundamentals are great and even when he doesnt take the best angle he uses his wingspan incredibly well to make sure he still makes the tackle. Beautiful range on both of these guys. I feel like Obi could contribute right away in 3 safety packages, whether its 2-high or in the box. You guys still worried about Vince Williams' coverage skills? Thats fine, we'll just throw Obi in there instead and use his size
Other than the consensus top 2 safeties, id say Budda has the highest floor of any safety and its not even close. Obi has the highest ceiling. Both sound great to me
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Just noticed they met with Cameron Sutton twice. At the Senior Bowl and then again at the Combine. Watch and see if they bring him to the facility for a visit as well.
They met with Glen Antoine, NT, from Idaho.
They worked out Tonoh Kpassagnon on Monday.
1. Graham Barton, C, Duke 2. Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida 3. Maason Smith, DT, LSU 3. Max Melton, CB, Rutgers 4. Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame 6. Tommy Eichenberg, ILB, Ohio State 6. MJ Devonshire, CB, Pittsburgh
YSU Rivers too
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Tomlin & Porter @ TJ Watt & Vince Biegel Pro Day.
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According to Tony Pauline of Draft Analyst, Steelers tight end coach James Daniel was present for the Toledo pro day to watch Michael Roberts go through the paces. Pauline adds in his reports that Thomas met with the Steelers and Detroit Lions Sunday night.
After his Monday drills ended, Roberts reportedly said he had an in-depth sit-down with the Steelers, according to John Kampf of The News-Herald. Additionally, Roberts said he has had frequent talks with the Steelers and Lions.
http://www.steelersdepot.com/2017/03...-sit-steelers/
solid kid , probably a mid round selection
Takk McKinley is set to meet with the Steelers.
1. Graham Barton, C, Duke 2. Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida 3. Maason Smith, DT, LSU 3. Max Melton, CB, Rutgers 4. Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame 6. Tommy Eichenberg, ILB, Ohio State 6. MJ Devonshire, CB, Pittsburgh
QB Davis Webb is set to visit the Steelers.
1. Graham Barton, C, Duke 2. Ricky Pearsall, WR, Florida 3. Maason Smith, DT, LSU 3. Max Melton, CB, Rutgers 4. Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame 6. Tommy Eichenberg, ILB, Ohio State 6. MJ Devonshire, CB, Pittsburgh
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Not really sold on Roberts. This draft has a lot of TE's that are oversized receivers with little blocking skills. Roberts on the other hand, may be just the opposite. His college production doesn't translate well into the NFL due to lack of speed/quickness and poor route running habits. He has the potential to be a VERY good blocker but even there, he showed some inconsistency and will need to be coached up.
Some team is going to overdraft him based on college production/stats and spend a lot of time scratching their heads as to what to do with him.
"I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play"
-- Jack Lambert --
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I'm not either, I want Kittle.
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I like Kittle... and Shaheen. But Sprinkle is very intriguing to me.I'm not either, I want Kittle.
"I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play"
-- Jack Lambert --
Haven't seen Sprinkle bud, but knowing you he can block, with pretty good hands.
AML
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Bingo...right on the mark
"I believe the game is designed to reward the ones who hit the hardest. If you can't take it, you shouldn't play"
-- Jack Lambert --
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Jeremy sprinkle
STRENGTHS
Combination tight end who doesn't have to leave the field. Has arm length and base to help in pass protection. Effective blocker willing to do the physical work. Snaps into down blocks and secures. Strong hands lead to sustained blocks. Able to engage and sustain against safeties in space. Long frame with room to carry more weight. Has arm length and hand size of an NFL offensive tackle. Big, presentable target over the middle. Plus red-zone worker. Sells blocks on delayed-release play-action. Burrows into holes of zone and protects passes with his frame. Goes down to pick low throws off top of grass. Sneaky build-up of speed in routes. Long strides eat up ground as route progresses. Can pull away from linebackers on intermediate routes. Uses height, arm length, and high-point technique to go way up the ladder and over top of defenders. Nasty stiff-arm after catch. Above-average body control for size.
WEAKNESSES
Needs more work on arm day in the gym. Upper-body thickness hasn't caught up with frame yet. Feet a bit heavy out of release and into routes. Legs and arms flail away into some of his breaks. Below-average at utilizing route leverage to create additional throwing room for quarterbacks. Needs to adjust crossing routes to keep defenders on his hip. Lacks short-area quickness to make defenders miss after catch. Needs to work back to ball more often. If block assignment vacates, he doesn't find new work. Instincts as blocker need work as he appears lost at times. Hand placement is average. Ankle injury limited his effectiveness for about a month.
SOURCES TELL US
"I think Sprinkle is a much better blocker (than Michigan's Jake Butt) and he's got more of an NFL body type." -- NFC South regional scout
NFL COMPARISON
Larry Donnell
BOTTOM LINE
True "Y" tight end with outstanding length and a frame that can handle more weight. Has the toughness to be an NFL blocker, but might need to add more upper- and lower-body strength before he's ready. He's a big, reliable target in the red zone and underneath against zone, but needs a longer runway to create separation in his routes. Sprinkle isn't great in any one area, but he's good in most and should be a safe pick and quality starter in the league.
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Jeremy Sprinkle, TE, Arkansas
Height: 6-6. Weight: 255.
Projected 40 Time: 4.70.
Projected Round (2017): 3-5.
12/31/16: In 2016, Sprinkle notched 33 receptions for 380 yards with four touchdowns. He is a good blocker and a functional receiver. Sprinkle is a sleeper tight end who could be a quality value pick.
7/30/16: Hunter Henry received the attention in 2015, but Sprinkle had a very underrated season, catching 27 passes for 389 yards with six touchdowns while also contributing to the Razorbacks' potent rushing offense. Sprinkle played a lot in two-tight end sets for Arkansas. He could rise with more opportunities as a senior.
Read more at http://walterfootball.com/draft2017T...SG7efS1OJLr.99
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GEORGE KITTLE
STRENGTHS
Has broad shoulders and waist with a durable frame. Plays in pro-style attack and approaches blocking like an offensive lineman. Comes off the ball with good pad level and strikes with leverage and hands inside opponent's frame. Blocks with good technique and has footwork to get to reach blocks and combos. Hands are confident and sure with just one drop against 48 catches. Able to make sudden body adjustments to poorly thrown balls. Flashes vertical speed to become a seam worker. Physical runner after the catch with more wiggle than you would expect.
WEAKNESSES
Patterns are inconsistent and he rarely tilts defenders at the top of his routes. Could generate better separation with improved route leverage. Route breaks can be too easy to decipher. Plays fast but seems to be missing separation burst coming out of his breaks. Needs to work back to the ball harder in space. Allows defenders a pathway to the throw rather than sealing them out of the passing lane. Has tendency to keep weight too far forward as run blocker creating opportunity for defender to pull him off-balance.
NFL COMPARISON
Charles Clay
BOTTOM LINE
H-back type who lacks the desired size for in-line blocking but certainly has the technique and willingness to do it. He has good hands and flashes an ability to challenge as a pass catcher on all three levels. Kittle has the athleticism and blocking ability to become an effective move tight end if paired in the right system.
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Height: 6-4. Weight: 247. Arm: 33.13. Hand: 9.25.
40 Time: 4.52.
Projected Round (2017): 5-7.
3/18/17: Kittle used the combine to help his draft stock as he ran much faster than expected in the 40 and worked out well on the field. As a senior, he made 22 receptions for 314 yards with four touchdowns while playing in a rushing offense. Kittle had 20 catches for 290 yards and six scores as a junior.
Read more at http://walterfootball.com/draft2017T...LX2jpBp8Pjx.99
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Adam shaheen
STRENGTHS
Enormous frame for a tight end. Powerfully built, well-proportioned frame. Accomplished high school hooper who brings the same footwork to the field. Has good sink into breaks and can make sharp cuts coming out. Has foot quickness for clever stutter-and-go double moves to uncover against linebackers. Above average speed and acceleration for his size. Creates leverage points against man coverage before breaking his routes off and pulling away. Moved all over the field. Was isolated for fade routes near endzone. Plus hand-eye coordination and shows ability to alter body positioning to improve catch-odds while ball-tracking.Trusted in pass protection. Sees twists and blitzes and responds to them. Needs work as run blocker but has desired frame of a Y-tight end.
WEAKNESSES
Physically overwhelmed a lower level of competition. Upper body is stiff and mechanical in his routes. Hasn't learned how to utilize hands to free himself against press. Gets jammed up in his release and can be knocked off the timing of his patterns. Will need to learn to adjust in space in order to maneuver past traffic. In need of his fair share of technique work as a run blocker. Ducks head into initial contact. Finds himself lunging and chasing when asked to climb to second level.
SOURCES TELL US
"I watched him for two games and turned the tape off because I want to see him live in Indy before I develop any more of an opinion of him. I saw some things that has me very excited." - AFC pro personnel director
NFL COMPARISON
Vance McDonald
BOTTOM LINE
Big, fast and athletic, Shaheen will immediately interest teams who are looking for size and traits. He's a poorer blocker than what might be expected for a player with his frame, but he's also a much more dangerous pass catching target. The jump in competition will be substantial and teams will expect him to become a more consistent blocker, but he's a pass catching tight end in a Y-tight end's body. Shaheen has starting potential with an ability to impact a passing game early in his career.
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Height: 6-6. Weight: 278. Arm: 33.5. Hand: 9.63.
40 Time: 4.79.
Projected Round (2017): 2-4.
3/18/17: Sources say that Shaheen is a freak athlete whose draft stock could explode in the months to come. Shaheen is expected to be a workout warrior, but team sources say that his tape showed serious receiving ability for the next level. Even though he is tall and thick, Shaheen has freaky speed and athleticism for such a big tight end. Teams think that Shaheen could be a versatile tight end to create mismatches in the passing game.
Shaheen caught 57 passes for 867 yards with 16 touchdowns in 2016. The previous season, he had 70 receptions for 803 yards and 10 touchdowns. Some team sources even compared Shaheen to Patriots star tight end Rob Gronkowski.
Read more at http://walterfootball.com/draft2017TE.php#eLFs8LX2jpBp8Pjx.99
None of those NFL comps are guys I would take higher than the 5th round.
Ignore the prospect and and just read this sentence:
The Pittsburgh Steelers traded a 3rd round compensatory pick in the 2017 draft for Larry Donnell/Clay Harbor/Vance McDonald (take your pick).
Does that sentence make you happy? I know it would make me want to throw things across the room.
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My family actually asked me what was wrong because you made me laugh so hard.
That said, the NFL comparisons never make sense. Fournette is being compared to Bo Jackson. Why isn't he #1 overall if that's who he really is?
ive always seen those NFL comparisons as a means of interpreting playing style, rather than the caliber of how good theyre going to be
I can see both that and what Born2Steel is saying as well. I have no idea what these write-ups are getting at with the player comps. But I take it to mean that the analyst believes that the prospect projects to that level of production/impact in the NFL.ive always seen those NFL comparisons as a means of interpreting playing style, rather than the caliber of how good theyre going to be
For me, if I am going to draft a TE in the top 3 or 4 rounds, I need the comp to be things like Witten, Miller, Eifert, Gronk, Gates, Gonzalez, etc. The comps being a bunch of "meh" blocking TEs and H-backs is not something that I would be willing to invest draft resources in. Those types of players are so undervalued currently in the NFL, you can get one whenever you want to - waive to the people David Johnson!
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David Johnson is 6'2" and not much of a redzone weapon. He's good for what he does but not a great comparison for the TEs we're looking at in this draft.
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If the Steelers don't get a dynamic tight end that can make big plays down the field, block, and be a weapon in the red zone.......why bother? That player will probably be a clone of someone they already have on the roster. The only players that would make sense would have to be the total package. A true Heath replacement. With the needs at other positions, you can't use a draft pick on a tight end in the first three rounds that doesn't have a clear athletic advantage over anyone they have on the roster.
Green isn't reliable with the injury history, but he is definitely a dangerous player when he's on the field.
Jesse James is a 6'7" guy that can be utilized in the red zone, has pretty good hands, but struggles with power blocking. He's pretty good when he gets position from formation and he is getting pretty good at blocking on the move.
Grimble is pretty fast and athletic, but provides zero blocking skills. He's basically a WR.
David Johnson is a blocking back that they will throw the ball to occasionally to surprise the defense.
Frankly, if they can get stronger at a few other positions.....the current tight ends are probably enough.
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All good points. I cannot argue against logic. However, our problem has not been between the 20s, our issue is redzone efficiency in the playoffs. James should be that weapon, agreed. Grimble has shown flashes, agreed. Green is incredible when healthy, agreed. I see the TEs being talked about in this draft as safety measures because we have not gotten the level of TE play, out of who we have, that we're used to. I still don't see one I would want before the 4th or 5th round though.
I think were taking our hapless red zone scoring ability for granted if we get complacent at the tight end position. This is THE draft to take a tight end on value and depth alone. A good #1 tight end out of this draft is going to see more playing time than a #3 or #4 receiver should we choose to draft a receiver early
It's not like Heath Miller was a huge red zone target....
Heath was a really underutilized red zone weapon for us. But he wasnt a great red zone weapon either. Theres a reason why his highest season TD totals throughout his career were 8, 7, and 6 respectively. We have to get better there. Having a field stretching tight end is nice, but id prefer a plodder who is capable of being a double digit TD machine. If that can be the same player? Well hot damn, Ben's throwing for 40 and ill put money on it
I'm kinda starting to think that we have all made up a player in our minds that simply does not exist. Let me see if I got this right. The next Steelers TE will have Jesse James' size and a bit better receiving ability. Miller's run after the catch, but not necessary to have Green's raw athleticism. And he will be able to block. Sound about right?
Said player will not be required to be a regular defense stretcher down the seams, as the Steelers have other weapons for that. He must be able to be a reliable target on 3rd downs and in the red zone. So far so good -- EXCEPT that red zone thing.
Where are all these 10+ TD producing TEs that are also NOT amazing at catching passes in other situations? In 2016 no TE scored double digit TDs. Several had a half dozen or so (http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorysta...ualified=false). But not a ton of plodding red zone monsters on that list.
2015 was a double digit TD year for a few TEs (http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorysta...ualified=false) and again I don't see a ton of red zone specialists.
I guess you could make an argument that Richard Rodgers and Kyle Rudolph are "red zone specialists" but not really in my mind. I feel like we are all envisioning some kind of Frank Wycheck type TE and those days are gone. Defenses realize they have to cover the TE now If you want a TE that can gobble up TD passes, you better go get yourself one of these early round monsters like Gronk or Eifert.
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Simply replace TE on the list with QB then.
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