Steelers Draft and Mel Kiper sucks thread!!

Robinon is a NT and would be GREAT in between Tuitt and Heyward but with all the DL talent not trading our 3rd Rd pick would be ideal

 

I noticed the lack of reps for Henry, and that falls in line with some of the negative assessments of his game - getting tied up in blocks, getting turned by defenders, etc.). I haven't seen tape yet so can't comment on route running. But I will say that at pick 25 you are looking for a long-term starter - not necessarily an impact player - and if Henry's shortcomings are correctable through coaching and training then they aren't severe issues at all.

Now, I'm not the one comparing him to Gronk. I am also not saying they should draft him at 25 as a no-brainer (I have several players above him on my list). I am suggesting that he should be in the conversation. I'm fine if others don't see him as a special player, but is he really that low on the draft board that he won't be considered at 25?

 

Yes, I have 6 CBs and 10 DL / Edge guys ahead of him. They're not all getting drafted before 25 so on my board he would not be considered in the first round.

 

Except I'm sure the amount of talent a player has factors heavily into the analysis. I don't recall a single first-round pick they made recently who didn't fit the bill. Jones didn't run well at the 2013 Combine and didn't do anything else, but he also broke school records at Georgia for both TFL and sacks in a single season in 2012 (24.5 and 14.5, respectively, both of which still stand today) as a 3-4 OLB. You could easily give him the benefit of the doubt after his poor Combine, and Colbert expected teams to do just that, because the production spoke for itself (supposedly), but it didn't, and he was ecstatic to get Jones. Ziggy Hood was the last first-round pick they've made who was the best of a lukewarm situation, IMO, and even then, Hood had 35 bench presses if I recall and had a great career at Mizzou, so he wasn't just some bum. There's no way you can't say Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro aren't both special talents. There's no way you can't say how natural a fit Cameron Heyward was and has been for the Steelers. Shazier, the fastest linebacker to enter the NFL in years, was also highly productive in college playing in space, with tackles, TFL, and passes defended out the ass. No one thought Bud Dupree would be available with his natural talent and versatility either - Ozzie Newsome was reportedly pissed that we were able to get him.

I don't appreciate this since I wasn't attacking you or even really talking to you specifically. I even apologized in advance for coming on strong. I post passionately at times and I always have. Please abstain from making this personal.

Couldn't test on the cone drills at the Combine despite good numbers running and jumping, very little production at Georgia, tends to get absorbed by good blockers immediately (and every single one of our division rivals has a quality left tackle), light in the arse so probably wouldn't hold up well against the run, height makes him lose natural leverage battles.

I think after 2015 the Steelers will be extra cautious about a player's injury history just to be on the safe side. I don't think the Steelers would pick Lee, to be honest, but if they were really looking for an ILB I think they'd pick him ahead of Jaylon Smith. Why not? He plays in a defense that's similar to ours already, he had a good Combine, and he carries with him confidence and passion that I think the Steelers could use more of on their defense. Smith is talented and would be great if he wasn't injured, but it ought to factor heavily into the equation. It's possible Smith falls out of the first round entirely, as a lot of boards around the web demonstrate.

The main problem with him is blocking prowess, and the Steelers value that in a TE, which will drive down his value with them immediately. He struggles to latch on and will lunge occasionally, which is an issue that could be exasperated in the NFL. He is a good receiver, very good, and he definitely is the best TE in this class based on that alone. He only did drills and bench-pressed at the Combine, so we don't have a numerical measure on how athletic he is, and his bench-press total (13) isn't impressive.

 

I'm sure he will be working on speed training before he runs at his Pro Day, and most likely he will improve that bench number too. I imagine his blocking issues are very much related to that lack of upper body strength. Again, that should be correctable.

I'll go ahead and accept that only a couple of us would appreciate Henry in the 1st, no worries there. The more time we have to digest his tape and find details on him the better off we will be. I did watch some highlights and found a drastic improvement by his 2015 season. Faster, better feet, crisper routes on the few you could actually see.

I do hope there is still a stellar DL on the board at 25. That's my #1 preference. If not, there is so much depth that you can still get a talented guy in round 2.

I don't see much difference between CBs 3-7, so one of them should be there in round 2.

Unless one of the top OT is available at 25 I don't see them going that route. I'm thinking ROLB will be a position of interest with James Harrison possibly not returning. Lots of possibilities.

 

I was flipping through the tele stations last night and stopped at the NFLN for a few minutes. They were showing some William Jackson III highlights at the combine, so I watched to see how he did. And I was kind of shocked. He looked really good catching the ball, moving back and forth and he has speed and supposedly tackles well. I think he have moved himself up to the 1st round. Wouldn't be surprised to see the Steelers take him. He has a bit of a nasty streak in him which all teams like also......

 

When you're evaluating these guys remember some are workout warriors.
Google some tape and watch.
Take notice if he gets his head around when the ball is coming?
Can he find the ball in the ball in the air and jump for it?
Does he get beat off the line in press coverage?

I was fooled by Curtis Brown's Combine a few years ago, we saw his disappointment.

 

You are easy to fool!!!

 

Did you watch Browns combine ?

 

Moving on.......Last night they were giving Todd McShay's mock picks on ESPN's bottom line. I was trying to find out the Pitt basketball score was the reason I was watching. I think Bites likes McShay much better than Kiper. They don't always agree what player a team will pick. Anyways, McShay had the Raiders taking Apple and Alexander dropping to the Steelers. Don't know much about Alexander and never saw him play so I was surprised that maybe Jackson III wasn't his pick for the Steelers. I could be wrong on that though?

 

Many people view Alexander as undersized and he didn't have any interceptions while playing at the college football...probably because he was good enough teams didn't target him very often. Scouts are all over the place where Alexander belongs.

Apple has all the physical traits NFL teams love in a corner but he's considered a little raw. Maybe he develops into a stud.

Jackson III might be a workout warrior. Some of the write ups I've read say he's got tight hips and shows a lack of route recognition/anticipation. I've never seen the kid play so it's hard to know.

I did see enough of Alexander and Apple to know I'd much prefer Alexander. I will be very surprised to see him available at number 25.

 

I've been having a look at the D-lineman this week as in my mind it's looking increasingly likely this will be the direction the steelers will go in. One guy really impressed me, Chris Jones but I've not heard him mentioned here or much in media circles. He looks a little leggy but the guy can penetrate and if you watch him doesn't get pushed back. In terms of what the steelers are looking for I think this guy fits the bill. Watch the Missouri game. If he's there in the second I would take him, but I think once the draft rolls round he will be flying up the boards. What's people's thoughts on this guy?

 

http://thedraftwire.usatoday.com/2016/03/03/2016-nfl-draft-wire-big-board-post-combine-edition/

This is an interesting top 100. Wexel tweeted he likes it.

 

Alexander is the most fluid corner in this class with swagger to spare. He'd need to learn some zone responsibilities, but he'd eventually be the best corner we've had since Rod Woodson.

 

Maybe one of the cap guys on this page could explain this to me. Seeing that a BB, AB & Pouncey restructure clears up us to 25mil under the cap. This should easily be enough to sign all the important pending FA's (letting beachum, foster go).. going with a rookie at guard and the Villanueva at LT. Getting Gay back.. and getting a safety and/or a CB. There is room there to do some FA wiggling to get the D in shape. What's stopping them?

 

The Steelers are able to sign anyone they want but they won't exceed the value they place on a player. Not an outsider and not their own.

Because they always take that approach and remain consistent they have established a level of credibility in their locker room that they will not jeopardize by overpaying a player from another organization.

If a player walks, the Steelers wish them well and hold no grudges. And by doing so they leave the light on in case it doesn't work out.

This approach can be frustrating for fans but it pays dividends in ways that aren't always seen or written about. It's why they've been so successful at retaining their guys - even if they don't all work out.

 

Look how well it turned out in Williams Gays case.
He's way better now than he was his first time and the Steelers didn't have to overpay for him.

 

I agree with you Demo. I highly doubt he falls to 25 but we can hope!

 

I was watching the NFL network and Daniel Jeremiah had the Steelers passing on Billings, Apple, Alexander, and taking Spence.

 

If Demo's on Alexander I'm on him too. He's been right too many times.