Steelers Draft and Mel Kiper sucks thread!!

Speaking of Ohio State, I was studying Devon Smith, their WR today. He's a shorter Martavis Bryant - meaning we have a better version already. Some team will pick Smith in the second round and might get something out of him, but I see him and sincerely think Mike Wallace.

Right now, there's a chance we could get Clive Walford in round 2. We'll see how long that lasts.

 

Yes...I am surprised to see that several sites have the Steelers drafting a DL or NT in the first. The Steelers are VERY solid up front with Heyward, McClendon, Big Dan, and Tuitt. Maybe a couple more "cog guys" would be great, but there is no need to upgrade this, ESPECIALLY when looking around the rest of the defense.

On top of that, is ANYONE drafting NT's in the first round anymore? With all these spread formations, 1 or 2 down players don't exactly warrant the necessity that they once did. McClendon was undrafted and Big Dan was a 6th rounder and both of them have done just fine.

 

This is a very solid mock draft. I would be happy if this shakes out. Sure, people will complain that we didn't get a corner until the 5th, but if you truly go BPA, that's how it works. I also wouldn't be surprised if they drafted a punter later on. Wing is just terrible.

 

Ny, do you see any way Alvin Dupree falls to the 2nd round? If so do you like him more than Orchard?

I was watching some highlight videos of 1st/2nd round prospects and frankly was underwhelmed by Dupree. He was often meeting one or more of his teammates in the backfield, and often cleaning up after a teammate flushed the QB, meaning he wasn't necessarily a dominant player but playing inferior competition. I didn't see a first round player.

Or am I just stupid?

 

McLendon has a chronic shoulder problem that I've read is more serious than is being reported and he's a free agent in 2016. Cam Heyward is also a free agent in 2016 and is going to want Calais Campbell money (5yrs, 55M). Tuitt has great athleticism for a guy his size and I love his motor but he didn't answer the question as to whether or not he can stand up to a double team this year. Is his future bright? I believe it is but I'm a homer. I thought Cortez Allen would be one of the better CBs in the AFCN this year. Daniel McCullers is a project.

I'm not saying d-line is the #1 priority but I certainly can't say for certain our d-line is very solid, mostly because the best two players are question marks for 2016. If a guy like Danny Shelton is sitting there at #22 (and I doubt he is anyway) I'm not sure you can pass on him. He has Haloti Ngata upside and I'm not sure there's a CB in this draft that has that kind of upside - then again I'm pretty rotten at evaluating CBs.

 

I wouldn't draft a punter and waste a pick. King was a rookie last year. He'll get better. I thought he showed improvement as the year went on.......I'm sure they'll bring 1 or 2 in for competition but I wouldn't waste a pick......I think TE is a need also which the Gil Brandt draft didn't have for the Steelers......

 

Igloo I think you mean Wing but I agree, I think he got better as the year went on, he had the one crucial punt against TB that was a huge reason why we lost, giving them a short field with little time. Correct me if I'm wrong I don't think we had a punt returned for a TD this year against us, I'm not saying that's all him but he is a factor in that.

Last I heard they either gave him an extension or are in negotiations. They also have signed a punter for camp competition.

 

I stilil like the DL they got, but I did not know about McClendon's shoulder. JMFO but there are bigger holes. Shelton won't be there at 22 and he doesn't hold up to double teams, seen it happen. If they go DL, is Arik Armstead in the discussion? Evaluating CB, we all suck at it, so maybe I stopped picking one early because I am much better at evaluating LB and DL talent, oh yeah and I hit some home runs on WR.

 

Draft needs:

1. Tight end - Miller and Spaeth (likely re-sign) are both over 30. Miller can move the chains with the best of them, but he isn't a threat to take over.

2. Cornerback - Gay and whoever starts across from him would make good starters, but Ike Taylor is as good as gone and two of our other corners are free agents. I think Antwon Blake is a restricted free agent, meaning Brice McCain is a threat to leave. Regardless, we don't have world-beaters here by any stretch of the imagination.

3. Outside linebacker (first) - Harrison is as good as gone, and I don't see them keeping Arthur Moats and Jason Worilds. I'll assume Worilds is retained, but even so, there's literally nothing behind him or Jarvis Jones.

4. Guard - There's nothing here behind Ramon Foster and David DeCastro. Foster is not a great run-blocker and can definitely be upgraded anyway.

5. Wide receiver - This is true especially if Lance Moore is cut for cap reasons, because then we'd have three wide receivers signed to the active roster. Even with him, we need someone who can be a consistent chain-mover.

6. Tackle - Everyone can be upgraded, but the starters are serviceable, even if neither of them can run block.

7. Defensive lineman - Everyone besides Tuitt and Heyward is position-flexible, but maybe that's why no one was dominant last season. One more true NT or true end would add real depth and hopefully help make our jacks into aces.

8. Outside linebacker (second) - One OLB does not satisfy the need, so look for them to possibly double-dip. I was flabbergasted when we went into 2014 with only three OLBs.

9. Running back - Ben Tate isn't expected back, and we should make sure the offense doesn't totally fall apart without Bell again by drafting someone with a similar skillset.

EDIT: I don't expect Keisel to retire right away, but I really hope the Steelers can move on without him.

 

McClendon makes a big difference when he's in there but his shoulder issue is a major concern long term. I think he'd be a better DE than NT in the 3-4 anyway. He's come a long way since entering the league.

Shelton is a big man with very good feet. Prior to the Senior Bowl I thought he might be there at 22 but I doubt he's going to last that long now. With some coaching I am pretty sure he would learn how to handle the double teams you want the NT to take on in the 3-4.

 

I know this may seem like rose-colored glasses, but I really don't think the Steelers are that far away from being Elite once again. Seriously, the offense is going to be on fire again next year and, with some decent depth behind Bell, I am really not worried about that side of the ball.

The defense is solid up front, but could use some depth. The ILB's are set, the OLB's are lacking (but I really think they should retain Woirlds and draft depth), the Safety position and corner positions are questions marks, but they are actually in decent shape. If they get a couple of decent FA guys and draft some contributors, I see no reason why this team won't be competitive (and..with the schedule next year...they NEED to be competitive).

 

OLB is a thing of need, not sure about you guys but I'm not sold on Worilds, this year, his contract year he only produced 7.5 sacks 1 int 2 FF we need more pressure from the vetern OLB, he got 8 sacks the year before in fewer games started. We still don't know what we have in Jarvis and like Demo said Harrison won't be back and we're not sure if Moats will re-sign, and we have nothing behind JJ and Worilds, right now it's a must that we have to re-sign Worilds, he's got the Steelers by the balls. He knows there's nobody behind him. I see us double dipping in this position and CB.

The rest of the draft picks being used on a must have backup RB, a TE and whatever else they need.

 

Interesting fact about 5-STAR recruits out of high school.........This SB has none, there are about 6 or 7 4-STAR recruits and the rest are 3-STAR and lower........Is this the 1st time in SB history?

Meant Wing, Roc......Sorry

 

That's interesting. Maybe it has something to do with 5 star guys being so good they don't know how to work once they get to college, then can't figure it out in time to reach the NFL. 2nd tier talent can be developed because those guys have to work to compete at higher levels.

 

in addition to tying for the lead in sacks Worilds led the team in hurries. I also read somewhere that they rushed him less last year than the previous season (I cant remember where I read the article or I would post it).

 

I went with Maxx Williams as the pick because I feel he is the number one player at his position. Funchess is a WR at the next level, and Konyak does not have the end top speed. Funny thing is that Clive Waltford could end up being one of the top TE's in this class and his stock is steadily ascending. Dupree could fall out of the first round all the way to the end of the second if his 10 second split is slow or he does lousy in the cone drill. A poor man's Dupree is his bookend teammate at Kentucky, Za"adarius Smith, who did very well at the Shrine game and was brought up to the Senior Bowl. Smith is a potential Diamond in the Rough, that me and bb used to tag players with.

Some of the potential sleepers, players taken on day 3 that I randomly pulled off the top of my head.

Za'Ddarius Smith OLB Kentucky
Anthony Chickillo DE, MIami
Antwaan Goodley WR Baylor
David Johnson RB N. Iowa
Kenny Bell WR Nebraska
Ali Marpett OG Hobart
James Sample S, Louisville
Byron Jones CB UConn
Tre' McBride WR WIlliam & Mary

 

I read a couple of days ago somewhere the Steelers signed Wing to a 1-year deal......Roc

 

They did indeed extend wing one year and they also signed Punter Richie Leone to a reserve futures contract.

 

If you guys watched the Super Bowl, then rewatch the Senior Bowl. This mideget twitchy guys that know how to push off, yes YOU Julian Piddlepants, are what can really cause havok in the secondary. That is why I mentioned Goodley from Baylor. There was more than one of these guys in the game, I will have to rewatch and take better notes. I was really watching pass rushers and DB's.

 

One more note on players we look at, look at long corners pretty hard, to replace Ike. Nobody under 5-11. Example: Seattle took a guy out of Footlocker, Chris Matthews, and put him in the Super Bowl, and he was a star going up against the shorter Pastry Meat DB's until Hoodie had Matt Pisstechniton put Browner on him.