Pittsburgh Steelers 2011 offseason and draft thread

• Non

  

  I really like Terrence Toliver from LSU.
  
  6'4 but he runs well after the catch.
  
  I wonder if he'll be around in like the third round.
  
  Both Tomlin and Colbert were at the LSU Pro Day and from the reports he caught everything and looked real good.
• Art Modell

  

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

  
  Seattle is looking to trade out of their pick(25). If Pouncey is still there,I could see the Steelers moving up to get him.
• Non

  

  Art Modell;745546 wrote:Seattle is looking to trade out of their pick(25). If Pouncey is still there,I could see the Steelers moving up to get him.

  
  It would be great if they could.
  
  Mike Pouncey would slide right into that RG spot, I think.
• Non

  

  there's a couple other CBs worth considering if they don't get one in the first round
  
  Richard Sherman, CB, Stanford...he's 6'2 and ran a solid 4.49
  
  Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia...injuries are the big thing with him, but he ran well for his size
• Art Modell

  

  Just read a report saying Randal El will probably be released sometime this offseason.
• Non

  

  Wallace, Ward, Sanders, A.Brown
  
  They still have room for one more receiver, a taller one. Mid to late rounder.
• Art Modell

  

  Baldwin from Pitt could be there in the 2nd rd.
• Non

  

  Art Modell;745912 wrote:Baldwin from Pitt could be there in the 2nd rd.

  
  I wouldn't mind that. From Aliquippa. Local product.
  
  Ben would have another big target to throw it up too.
• Speedofsand

  

  this was a photo of the year finalist in the HoF contest for professional NFL photographers.
  
  
• Non

  

  Draft week!
  
  Let's take a look at some possible first round options for the Steelers. They, of course, have the 31st overall pick in the first round.
  
  Mike Pouncey, G, Florida (6'5, 303)
  ...Though he played center last season at Florida, Pouncey is better suited at guard and he would fit nicely at RG for the Steelers. It would be a great situation to have both Pounceys on the same team, same offensive line but the Steelers
  won't get Mike Pouncey at No. 31, as he's projected to go in the middle of the first round.
  
  Derrek Sherrod, T, Mississippi State (6'5, 321)
  ...Max Starks is 29 and was lost midway through last season with a neck injury. The Steelers could use a left tackle of the future.
  
  Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado (6'2, 211)
  ...Of the cornerbacks that could be around in the latter portion of the first round, Smith has the best combination of size and speed. He ran a 4.46 at the combine. The Steelers may have to trade up if they like Smith enough.
  
  Phil Taylor, DT, Baylor (6'3, 334)
  ...The Steelers will likely take a NT prospect at some point in the first four rounds. The first round might be a little high for Taylor who has some durability and character concerns.
  
  Aaron Williams, CB, Texas (6'0, 204)
  ...Williams has the size, long arms, hands, aggressiveness and confidence that you want in a corner but the question is his speed. He only ran a 4.56 at the combine. Some experts feel he could be better suited at free safety. Still, at this point, with a few days before the draft, he seems to be the most probable pick for the Steelers.
  
  Brandon Harris, CB, Miami (5'10, 191)
  ...Just based on the highlights, I like Harris better than Williams. He's a big time competitor and makes a lot of plays on the ball. He is a tad short compared to Williams and Smith, and at this point is considered better in man-to-man coverage than zone.
  
  Danny Watkins, G, Baylor (6'3, 310)
  ...I've seen his name popping up in a lot of mock drafts but I don't like that he's already 26 years old.
  
  Ben Ijalana, G/T, Villanova (6'4, 317)
  ...He has an outside chance of playing right tackle in the NFL but would be a better fit at guard. Good athlete and run blocker. Also noted for his mean streak and ability to finish. This is an intriguing player and he would make sense for the Steelers.
  
  Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, Temple (6'4, 315)
  J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin (6'5, 290)
  Cameron Jordan, DE, California (6'5, 287)
  Cam Heyward, DE, Ohio State (6'5, 294)
  ...These are all very good 3-4 defensive end prospects. I'm just not sure the Steelers need to go in that direction in the first round. Ziggy Hood had an outstanding year and Keisel and Smith should be back. But if it's the best value on the board they might still pick one of these players.
  
  Marcus Cannon, G/T, TCU (6'5, 358)
  ...Good athleticism for his size and he brings versatility. The Steelers are interested in him but they'll have trouble getting him because the first round is a little early and the second round will be too late.
  
  Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia (6'1, 198)
  ...Dowling is projected to go in the second round but it's mostly because of his injury history. He only played five games in his senior year. Beyond that he's an excellent option for the Steelers. Good in zone coverage. Big hitter for a cornerback.
• Non

  

  By position, here are some other options.
  
  QB - None...I don't see them using one of their seven picks on a QB.
  
  RB
  
  Noel Devine, RB, West Virginia (5'8, 179)
  ...As a change-of-pace back and return man I could see the Steelers rolling the dice in the 6th or 7th round.
  
  Dion Lewis, RB, Pittsburgh (5'7, 193)
  ...He runs hard for his size but needs to improve in other areas like blocking and receiving to carve out a role in the NFL. Still, he's an option in the late rounds.
  
  Mario Fannin, RB, Auburn (5'10, 230)
  ...Fannin is a great athlete with speed (4.38) and the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield. He could fill a third down back role. Mewelde Moore might not be back next year.
  
  John Clay, RB, Wisconsin (6'1, 230)
  ...He may go undrafted. Only ran a 4.87. But I think that's deceptive. He has good feet and a burst for a bigger back. Actually runs a little bit like Franco Harris I always thought.
  
  WR
  
  Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh (6'4, 228)
  ...If they're going to draft another receiver, I'd say it should be a bigger one like Baldwin who can be a threat in the red zone.
  
  Terrence Toliver, WR, LSU (6'4, 212)
  ...Nice mid-round option with the size and run-after-the-catch ability.
  
  Randall Cobb, WR, Kentucky (5'10, 192)
  ...Gerry Dulac of the Post Gazette mentioned Cobb as a player the Steelers like. Another former QB with versatility. He won't be a deep threat but he does have good quickness underneath could be used as a receiver or a third down back.
  
  Vincent Brown, WR, San Diego State (5'11, 187)
  ...Though not a tall receiver, Brown is a good blocker and isn't afraid to go over the middle. He brings a competitivess similar to receivers such as Hines Ward or Donald Driver. Brown would be a possibility in rounds 3-5.
  
  
  TE
  
  Weslye Saunders, TE, South Carolina (6'5, 270)
  ...He was dismissed from the team in September so there are obvious red flags about his character. But he has prototype size and good hands. The Steelers are probably in the market for another tight end as the Matt Spaeth era could be winding down.
  
  Preston Dial, TE, Alabama (6'3, 237)
  ...High character player and a good blocker in the run game. His strengths are relatively the same as current Steelers tight end, David Johnson, which might not make him the best pick but I'm sure the Steelers will consider him in the late rounds due to his intangible qualities.
  
  
  OL
  
  William Rackley, G, Lehigh (6'3, 310)
  James Carpenter, G/T, Alabama (6'4, 321)
  Marcus Gilbert, T, Florida (6'6, 330)
  ...If the Steelers draft another position in the first round, you can bet that offensive line will be a primary target area in the second round. These are a few of the names to remember.
  
  
  DL
  
  Jerrell Powe, NT, Ole Miss (6'2, 335)
  Kenrick Ellis, NT, Hampton (6'5, 346)
  Sione Fua, NT, Stanford (6'2, 308)
  Ian Williams, NT, Notre Dame (6'1, 319)
  ...Solid group of interior line prospects that the Steelers could consider anywhere from the second to fourth round.
  
  
  
  LB
  
  Chris Carter, OLB, Fresno State (6'1, 248)
  ...You can't put it past the Steelers to take another rush linebacker. Carter would fit the mold.
  
  Mark Herzlich, ILB/OLB, Boston College (6'4, 245)
  ...The more I think about it, with James Farrior coming to the end of his career, Herzlich might not be a bad pick. He would be a leader on defense and could play inside in the Steelers 3-4. He does everything pretty well -- stopping the run, covering, blitzing, etc. He started slow last year and a lot of people were saying that he might not be the same player after coming back from cancer but then played a lot better at the end of the season. It's easy to overrate a guy like this but I certainly wouldn't complain if the Steelers drafted him.
  
  
  CB
  
  Johnny Patrick, CB, Louisville (5'11, 191)
  Brandon Burton, CB, Utah (6'0, 190)
  Rashard Carmichael, CB, Virginia Tech (5-10, 192)
  Davon House, CB, New Mexico State (6'1, 200)
  Chris Culliver, CB, South Carolina (6'0, 199)
  Cortez Allen, CB, The Citadel (6'1, 197)
  ...There are many cornerbacks in play. Too many to list. Allen is a player who seems to be gathering momentum.
  
  
  K
  
  Alex Henery, K, Nebraska
  Kai Forbath, K, UCLA
  ...The Steelers made it through last season with journeyman Shaun Suisham handling the kicking duties, but they could look to that area in the later rounds.
• Non

  

  Kevin Colbert made a key statement Monday when he said the Steelers will operate with their roster as it stands, which means any of the free agents including Ike Taylor are considered not on the roster.
  
  If that is the case, the Steelers definitely have to be thinking cornerback, maybe even two in the first three or four rounds.
• killer_ewok

  

  Non;750638 wrote:Kevin Colbert made a key statement Monday when he said the Steelers will operate with their roster as it stands, which means any of the free agents including Ike Taylor are considered not on the roster.
  
  If that is the case, the Steelers definitely have to be thinking cornerback, maybe even two in the first three or four rounds.

  
  Completely agree with you. That's crazy that they're not going to re-sign Ike. He wasn't great by any means but he was pretty good and definitely our best corner. The secondary will be even more suspect without him. Not good....
• The Equalizer

  

  There is a safety out of UCLA who looked pretty good. I wouldn't mind him for some young depth...plus Troy isn't getting any younger/healthier
• Commander of Awesome

  

  killer_ewok;750647 wrote:Completely agree with you. That's crazy that they're not going to re-sign Ike. He wasn't great by any means but he was pretty good and definitely our best corner. The secondary will be even more suspect without him. Not good....

  
  Esp in Troy can't stay healthy. Its a completely different def if he's not on the field. He makes a lot of issues in the secondary go away. Looked like a differen tplayer out there in the post season vs the regular season.
• killer_ewok

  

  Commander of Awesome;751811 wrote:Esp in Troy can't stay healthy. Its a completely different def if he's not on the field. He makes a lot of issues in the secondary go away. Looked like a differen tplayer out there in the post season vs the regular season.

  Can't disagree with that.
• Non

  

  The more I examine things, I think they should go DL in the first round.
  
  There are some real monsters at DE that should be there in the late first.
  
  Wilkerson from Temple is an impressive player. 315 pounds but he moves like he's about 270. Watt and Heyward are also possibilities.
  
  There are still a lot of cornerbacks they can get from rounds 2-5.
• killer_ewok

  

  If they're serious about not re-signing Ike....I think they have to go CB. I hear what you're saying, non but that secondary will be pretty thin....
• Commander of Awesome

  

  killer_ewok;752412 wrote:If they're serious about not re-signing Ike....I think they have to go CB. I hear what you're saying, non but that secondary will be pretty thin....

  
  Beyond Taylor, is there a CB on the team you think can start? Also the #2 CB I assume is coming back?
• Non

  

  Commander of Awesome;752418 wrote:Beyond Taylor, is there a CB on the team you think can start? Also the #2 CB I assume is coming back?

  
  McFadden (No. 2 corner) will be back.
  
  They also have Crezdon Butler, who they drafted last year in the fifth round. He has decent size and speed. I think they feel pretty good about his chances to come on and be a factor next year.
• killer_ewok

  

  Bryant McFadden as non said. If he's the best CB we send out on the field next season....God help us.
• Commander of Awesome

  

  killer_ewok;752486 wrote: If he's the best CB we send out on the field next season....God help us.

  
  I feel the same way about Eric Wright. He plays like he did season.....it will be a long season.
• Tiger2003

  

  Commander of Awesome;752649 wrote:I feel the same way about Eric Wright. He plays like he did season.....it will be a long season.

  
  Isn't Wright the 3rd Corner...I thought Sheldon Brown was the Browns #2 CB?
• Commander of Awesome

  

  Tiger2003;752664 wrote:Isn't Wright the 3rd Corner...I thought Sheldon Brown was the Browns #2 CB?

  
  Yes. But Brown will be 32, likely hood he starts every game is low, plus Wright was just that bad.
• Heretic

  

  killer_ewok;752486 wrote:Bryant McFadden as non said. If he's the best CB we send out on the field next season....God help us.

  
  Indeed. Running backs for opposing teams will be like the Maytag repairman...doing nothing while opposing teams riddle the CBs. At the least, it won't be pretty.