Pittsburgh Steelers 2011 offseason and draft thread

• thavoice

  ..and they will continue to work on a contract extension that is for sure.
  
  
  There W I L L be a season. No doubt. It may be a bit shorter....could be just less preseason games. I could see them being ok with just a 14 game season this year as that was the previous norm in the league.....but do expect to have a season.
  
  Steelers got lucky this last year....woodley was one of the number of guys in the league who were in that in betweeeen spot for contracts. By the owners opting out it changed a little bit when players could negotiate their rookie deals.
• DaBrowns41

  Jimmy Smith would be a great corner for you guys to grab at the bottom of Round 1. Aaron Williams is also a great option.
  
  I still think that Pouncey is the pick if he makes it to 31. To have that much stability on the interior line would be HUGE for the Steelers.
  
  I also look for you guys to target Kendric Burney around the late 3rd-4th round.
• thavoice

  PPG states that the steelers are in talks with Taylor for an extension. Not a bad idea unless they break the band. I think he is a very good CB and if he could catch........who knows how many ints he would have.
  
  I missed pretty much all the regular season but PPG says he may have had his best season yet.
• Non

  

  Taylor is their top priority, even moreso than Woodley just because of the position. The Steelers can always find linebackers much easier.
  
  So far, here is how I would breakdown the draft
  
  CB (No. 1 position of need)
  
  Patrick Peterson
  Prince Amukamara
  ...Top two clearly but they will be gone. Steelers have no shot.
  
  Brandon Harris
  ...The ideal first round pick if he's there but it would be a stretch for him to slide down to #31.
  Jimmy Smith
  ...Good size at 6'2 but I was not real impressed by him on film. It didn't seem like he was active enough. Also not sure about his speed.
  Ras-I Dowling
  ...He might be too big and slow to be a cornerback. More of a second round prospect.
  Rashad Carmichael
  ...Good, steady all-around cornerback. If he was 6'0 instead of 5'9/5'10 I'd say he'd be a good first round pick.
  Davon House
  ...Decent size at 6'0 and 182 lbs. along with the speed and quickness. A decent second round possibility if they don't take a corner in the first round.
  Aaron Williams
  ...Very possible first round pick. He seems to have a good blend of size and speed for a corner and there's a good chance he'll be around when the Steelers pick.
  Richard Sherman, Stanford
  ...Sleeper at this position. 6'3 and long arms. Might be a CB/S tweener. I like him more than a lot of the CBs who are currently rated higher.
  
  OL
  Mike Pouncey
  ...Would play RG.
  Marcus Cannon
  ...Massive dude at 6'6 and 350 but good athleticism. Guard or tackle prospect.
  Gabe Carimi
  ...Proably will be a guard or right tackle at the next level. 6'7 and 315. Mauler in the run game but not enough quickness to play left tackle.
  Derek Sherrod
  ...Probably has the best chance to be an NFL left tackle of this group.
  
  miscellaneous
  
  Terrence Toliver, WR
  ...Steelers could use a bigger receiver and Toliver is 6'4 and 210 with run after the catch ability. He played big some games and then was quiet other games but some of that might be the QB play being inconsistent for LSU. Steelers might be able to get him in the third or fourth round.
  Preston Dial, FB/TE
  ...He would be a good Steelers utility player, primarily as a blocking back or tight end. They probably can get him in the sixth or seventh round.
  Sione Fua, NT
  ...Considering the way Hood played after Aaron Smith got hurt, the Steelers are fine at DE but they could use a young NT prospect. Fua would be a great selection in the second or third round.
  Tyler Sash, SS
  ...Always liked him. He plays with good energy and creates turnovers. Probably third round he'll be off the board. I can see him going to a team like the Steelers or Ravens or Patriots or Jets.
• killer_ewok

  

  Former Steeler Carnell Lake is the new DB's coach.
  
  I like that hire.
• thavoice

  Knew he intetrviewed............hope he does a goog job. He was a very good player for the steelers...did whatever was needed as he changed positions from Safety to DB....not an easy job and he did very well.
  
  KUdos to him.
• Art Modell

  

  Well it's sounding like the 1st pick will either be an olineman or a corner. Lets say the best one from each position were still on the board. Who ya take?
• Automatik

  

  I want Mike Pouncey.
• Art Modell

  

  Alot of people are predicting that but I think they would have to trade up to get him which they have done before.
• thavoice

  Automatik;715242 wrote:I want Mike Pouncey.

  
  I admit...as huge of a steelers fan I am (we have season tix and make the 620 round trip for some of the games)....I do not follow the draft and the college players at all. Is Pouncey that good or are ya just enamored by how well his brother was and that is swaying your opinion? I just hope they dont let how his brother did to sway them in their pick and make it on merit alone. This isnt good ole college where a scholly is given to a sub par style of player just because that college had that player's brother, or other guys from that HS, and just assume he will pan out.
• Automatik

  

  Its hard to say because he played center this season and his natural position is guard. From what I've read and heard from others he is also the real deal and like his bro...a very intelligent player. If he could pan out to be 50% of the player as Maurkice as rookie I'd say that is a success. Pittsburgh cannot continue to ignore the O-line. I know injuries were a major issue, but even our starters are mediocre. Strenthening the O-line is wayyyyyy past due.
  
  Of course I have 100% in the Rooney's and who they draft. I'm always wanting someone and they throw me a loop. Hell I wanted Mike Doss over Polamalu so that goes to tell you what I know. I'm confident they will make the right choice.
• thavoice

  I agree totally. I have total faith in the Rooney's and the organization to draft the right guys. MOre often then not they hit a homerun. Some duds...yeah....but isnt it nice to say we trust the organization and not have to bitch and moan and complain like browns and bengals fans about whom to draft? As steelers fans, we have totaly faith in the organization to do the right thing...whereas those others have zero.
• dont_belong

  

  killer_ewok;702303 wrote:Former Steeler Carnell Lake is the new DB's coach.
  
  I like that hire.

  
  Does this mean I can break out the old 37 Jersey and sport it around now?
• dont_belong

  

  thavoice;719746 wrote:I admit...as huge of a steelers fan I am (we have season tix and make the 620 round trip for some of the games)....I do not follow the draft and the college players at all. Is Pouncey that good or are ya just enamored by how well his brother was and that is swaying your opinion? I just hope they dont let how his brother did to sway them in their pick and make it on merit alone. This isnt good ole college where a scholly is given to a sub par style of player just because that college had that player's brother, or other guys from that HS, and just assume he will pan out.

  
  From what I saw out of him at FL, I think he's the real deal, but then what the hell do I know. I will be surprised if he is still available.
• Automatik

  

  thavoice;719758 wrote:I agree totally. I have total faith in the Rooney's and the organization to draft the right guys. MOre often then not they hit a homerun. Some duds...yeah....but isnt it nice to say we trust the organization and not have to bitch and moan and complain like browns and bengals fans about whom to draft? As steelers fans, we have totaly faith in the organization to do the right thing...whereas those others have zero.

  
  Yeah that is one thing I definitely don't take for granted as a Pittsburgh fan. Time and time again they pick the right players to fit THEIR system. Of course they will have some players that don't pan out, but rarely do they have a 1st round dud. I can't think of one from the top of my head?
• Art Modell

  

  Since 2000:
  Burress
  Hampton
  Simmons
  Polamalu
  Roethlisberger
  Miller
  Holmes
  Timmons
  Mendenhall
  Hood
  Pouncey
• thavoice

  Um....wasnt the QB, i forget his name, drafted in the first round for the steelers? He has done pretty good.
• Art Modell

  

  thavoice;719804 wrote:Um....wasnt the QB, i forget his name, drafted in the first round for the steelers? He has done pretty good.

  
  Just keeping you guys on your toes.
• killer_ewok

  

  Art Modell;719801 wrote:Since 2000:
  Burress
  Hampton
  Simmons
  Polamalu
  Roethlisberger
  Miller
  Holmes
  Timmons
  Mendenhall
  Hood
  Pouncey

  
  Pretty impressive list. Only Simmons was a bust (due to injuries, health).
  
  A far cry from the Tim Worley and Huey Richardson picks years earlier. Troy Edwards was a bum too.
• Art Modell

  

  Just heard that the Steelers will be playing an overseas game next season. The opponent will be Arizona so it wont cost Pittsburgh a home game. That is if there is a season.
• thavoice

  Art Modell;730704 wrote:Just heard that the Steelers will be playing an overseas game next season. The opponent will be Arizona so it wont cost Pittsburgh a home game. That is if there is a season.

  
  So that would have been a steelers away game next year?
  I always hoped that if they did get one of these games that it would not be a home game because i am confident that irregardless of whom they would play overseas it would be almost like a home atmosphere.
  
  
  as a side note....i do not believe this as it is Retards day....
• Art Modell

  

  Heard it on the radio today. They didn't know where the game will be played but speculated that it will be in Ireland. Just passing along what I heard.
• Non

  

  draft approaching...thoughts?
  
  this is probably the least amount I've followed the prospects in about 20 years
  
  I'm thinking Brandon Harris or Aaron Williams in the first round
  
  and Marcus Cannon from TCU in the second round
  
  that would seem like a solid deal
• killer_ewok

  

  Any chance they move up to get Pouncey? Or do they just go CB?
• Non

  

  killer_ewok;745507 wrote:Any chance they move up to get Pouncey? Or do they just go CB?

  
  I've seen a lot of mock drafts have them taking a DE. I don't really understand that. Ziggy Hood was outstanding last year.
  
  Maybe a NT prospect like Phil Taylor from Baylor or Sione Fua from Stanford. Fua would be a second or third rounder.