Steelers Draft and Mel Kiper sucks thread!!

The 40 yrd. sprint at the combine is a joke! Rarely does any player on the field have to run 40 yards during a game. I can think of 2 possibly 3 positions where a player might run 40 yards during a game. That would be a WR and the Corner covering him. Possibly a Safety but not often enough to warrant a 40 yard dash. And then at the most around 3 times a game on average I would suspect.......

 

Don't forget TEs and RBs on occasion. And the infrequent LB who is chasing one of them

The stupid thing about the 40 to me is that it's done without full pads. That said, every play not on the line (offense or defense), could hypothetically find themselves running 40 yards at some point

 

Mike Golic (x-Philly DL) would disagree with you. He hates the 40 and see's no reason for it. And now you are going to hypothetically? Please! The DB's are supposed to tackle a RB if he's 40 yards down the field!

 

The 40 does help to show a couple things -

Initial burst (10 yd split)
Quick range (20 yd split)
A players natural ability to run (eye test)
Breakaway Speed
Overall Conditioning

Just for the first 2 metrics, the 40 yard dash is still one of the more useful tools in the draft.

 

Most of those have nothing to do with running 40 yards Tim. Initial burst to the QB is about 10 yards. Range from side to side is not a 40 yard dash. Short distance running, not 40 yards. They don't wear pads and that makes a difference. Breakaway speed is for receivers and I already brought hem up for a few times a game. The other running drills can measure conditioning.

 

The field is over 50 yards wide. Distances of over 20 yards running happen more often than what you are alluding to.

The 40 yard dash helps to confirm or change your opinion on what you see on tape because of the measurements and intangibles it includes.

Until I see a reasonable argument not to have it I see no reason to do away with it.

 

Yeah I'll have to agree with Tim but it's just a reference tool.

 

That is where the truth lies breed. It should rarely be used for more than that.

 

If a player runs from the far hash to the sideline in a straight line they travel a hair under 30 yards, add losing or gaining yards and you easily have 40 yards. I would say it's done numerous times in a game by many players outside of the interior linemen, which probably do it at least once a game on average.

The field is 100 yards long not counting the endzones, 53.3 yards wide and they have a 40 yard dash. I believe the people who decided on 40 yards did so with some expertise. I know to those who play and those who watch may not completely understand why the powers that be made that decision, but I guarantee that there was thought put into it. If it was a useless stat they would do away with it. IMHO

 

Ever heard of Special Teams? They do a little bit of running.

I think this conversation seriously discredits the hustle shown by our lineman on both sides of the ball. I've seen both Heyward and Tuitt make many critical tackles down the field...maybe 20-30 yards downfield after they penetrated across the line of scrimmage. I've also seen many offensive lineman getting downfield on runs and screens....maybe they don't always get a hat on someone, but they're hustling and there to clear the pile and help our guy up.

 

The 40 is not a good indicator for judging a player's quality. I think that's where disdain for it comes from. Talking heads who pander to the basest fan imaginable will repeat a player's 40 ad nauseum and some skill position players will rise in the consensus rankings based on that alone. Was Mike Wallace a better receiver than Antonio Brown? Not even close, but if you look at combine 40 times Wallace should have been very superior. 40 times don't account for what's between the ears, nor does it judge a player's ability with a football in his hands.

I think everyone who knows the 40-yard-dash is just a tool for measuring a small portion of a player's worth is correct no matter what they say. It'd be nice to know even linemen can run that distance if they have to. It's just been inflated in value to a ridiculous extent by people like Mel Kiper and the late Al Davis.

 

First NFL-wide first-round mock in a while. Feedback wanted.

Bold denotes Steelers' pick
Italics denote AFC North pick
Underline denotes players of interest

1. Titans - Jalen Ramsey, FS, Florida State
2. Browns - Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
3. Chargers - DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
4. Cowboys - Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
5. Jaguars - Myles Jack, OLB, UCLA
6. Ravens - Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
7. 49ers - Jared Goff, QB, California
8. Eagles (from Dolphins) - Vernon Hargreaves III, CB, Florida
9. Buccaneers - Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
10. Giants - Ezekiel Elliot, RB, Ohio State
11. Bears - Darron Lee, ILB, Ohio State
12. Saints - Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
13. Dolphins (from Eagles) - Reggie Ragland, MLB, Alabama
14. Raiders - Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
15. Rams - Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
16. Lions - Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
17. Falcons - A'Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
18. Colts - Robert Nkemdiche, DL, Ole Miss
19. Bills - Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
20. Jets - Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
21. Redskins - Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
22. Texans - Corey Coleman, WR, Baylor
23. Vikings - Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
24. Bengals - Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor
25. Steelers - Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
26. Seahawks - Kevin Dodd, DL, Clemson
27. Packers - Leonard Floyd, OLB, Georgia
28. Chiefs - Josh Doctson, WR, TCU
29. Cardinals - William Jackson III, CB, Houston
30. Panthers - Noah Spence, DE, Eastern Kentucky
31. Broncos - Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana

 

An OT ?

 

A player who isn't a reach and who until lately had been ranked as high as the mid-teens. I wouldn't be upset with it.

 

Jason Spriggs had a lengthy sit down with Pittsburgh at his pro day. Right now that's who I have penciled to the Steelers in the mock I'm working on.

 

Agreed on not being upset but a curious pick

 

I think it's one of two starting spots that could be upgraded, but not necessarily an immediate one.

 

I think theres more than 2 spots that need upgraded. The DL, DB and LB could be upgraded also imo.........

Edit: Lets not forget about the new rule where there will be no cut blocking allowed at all or at anytime. This means the OL players are going to have to be a little better......

 

Igloo, you are thinking of chop blocks. Cut blocks are still allowed. I'm not sure either indicate the quality of the OL though, a cut block or chop block is sometimes the best option to get the job done.

 

Not a bad mock demo, it's always appreciated as I know how long it can take.

I think the Titans do one of two things, they either trade back or they select laremy tunsil, I would be really surprised to see jalen Ramsey go first overall even though many so called experts are mocking him there.

I agree Taylor decker would be decent value but I think the steelers go in a different direction. I think they would select William Jackson with who is left on your board. Another name I would suggest which may get slated here is Chris Jones, he's my favourite d-lineman in this draft and I would love to get people's thoughts on him.