Pittsburgh Steelers offseason

• Non

  

  Six more college prospects visited the Steelers Tuesday and Wednesday.
  
  Bryan Bulaga, T, Iowa...6'5, 314 lbs...sound player coming from the Hawkeyes system but isn't a good knee bender...he played left tackle in college but will likely have to move to right tackle or a guard spot
  
  Golden Tate, WR, Notre Dame...5'10, 199...despite being a little short Tate displayed his toughness and playmaking ability over the past two years...seems to be a bit like Hines Ward in that he's a better player than the measurables suggest
  
  Dez Bryant, WR, Oklahoma State...6'2, 225...freak in terms of size and speed but not really a good fit with the Steelers, he can be too lackadaisical and inconsistent
  
  LeGarrette Blount, RB, Oregon...6'0 241...if not for the punch there would be a lot to like about Blount to the Steelers...he has the size and power but also good quickness in space
  
  Koa Misi, LB, Utah...6'3 251...classic DE/linebacker type that the Steelers, Ravens and Patriots tend to get
  
  Adrian Tracy, LB, William & Mary..6'3 248...edge rusher from Mike Tomlin's alma mater...he had 12 sacks last year and was an FCS All-American...late-round prospect
• Al Capone

  I've seen reports of the Steelers moving up to grab Joe Haden.
• Al Capone

  Blount would also be a good pick later on.
• Al Capone

  The Roethlisberger case is finally going to the DA's office. Hopefully, one way or the other there will be a resolution soon.
• Non

  

  I was thinking maybe they should trade Santonio Holmes and try to draft Golden Tate.
  
  They're likely not going to sign Holmes to a long-term deal.
  
  Even with the extra baggage, he's a talented receiver in his prime so there probably are some teams that would be interested.
  
  Only thing is next year would they have too much of a dropoff with an aging Ward and two young receivers Tate and Wallace, Randle El and Miller.
  
  They would definitely be better for one season with Holmes.
• killer_ewok

  

  Non wrote: I was thinking maybe they should trade Santonio Holmes and try to draft Golden Tate.
  
  They're likely not going to sign Holmes to a long-term deal.
  
  Even with the extra baggage, he's a talented receiver in his prime so there probably are some teams that would be interested.
  
  Only thing is next year would they have too much of a dropoff with an aging Ward and two young receivers Tate and Wallace, Randle El and Miller.
  
  They would definitely be better for one season with Holmes.

  I could not agree more. I was thinking the same thing on the way home from work while listening to 93.7 The Fan today.
• rock_knutne

  Speaking of Holmes, espn radio 1250 in Pittsburgh had the PG's Ed Bouchette on today and he thinks the Steelers will not renew Holmes' contract after this year. Plus he said Holmes wants to leave because he feels the Steelers won't pay him what he's worth. That's why the Steekers are interviewing all these WR's.
• rock_knutne

  killer_ewok wrote:

  Non wrote: I was thinking maybe they should trade Santonio Holmes and try to draft Golden Tate.
  
  They're likely not going to sign Holmes to a long-term deal.
  
  Even with the extra baggage, he's a talented receiver in his prime so there probably are some teams that would be interested.
  
  Only thing is next year would they have too much of a dropoff with an aging Ward and two young receivers Tate and Wallace, Randle El and Miller.
  
  They would definitely be better for one season with Holmes.

  I could not agree more. I was thinking the same thing on the way home from work while listening to 93.7 The Fan today.

  Vinny and Cook!
• killer_ewok

  

  ^^^LOL. I love 93.7. Seibel and Starkey are great too. Paul Alexander and Co. in the morning are pretty good as well.
• Non

  

  Pittsburgh native Marc Bulger is now available if something happens to Ben and they need another QB
  
  Dixon
  Batch
  Bulger
• Non

  

  Six more college prospects visited the Steelers Thursday.
  
  Mike Iupati, G, Idaho...6'5, 331 lbs...may very well be the first round pick if he's on the board at No. 18...American Samoa native...powerful in the run game with the ability to move and pull
  
  Maurkice Pouncey, C/G, Florida...6'4, 304...this would be a safe but outstanding pick...Pouncey has a nice combination of size and athletic ability for a center, and a lot of experience...versatility to move to guard until he's ready to take over at center for Justin Hartwig
  
  Clifton Geathers, DE, South Carolina...6'7 299...a project...outstanding size and long arms...good potential as a run defender which would suit him well at DE in the 3-4...he won't be another Aaron Smith but clearly that's the type of frame the Steelers are looking for here
  
  Linval Joseph, NT, East Carolina...6'4, 328...remember this name...he could be a mid-round NT...very strong (39 reps) and does a good job controlling the run in the middle...Jay Ross is probably the more popular defensive lineman from East Carolina but Joseph sounds like a better NT prospect
  
  Carlton Mitchel, WR, South Florida...6'3 215...raw but good size, build and has potential to stretch the field
  
  Rob Gronkowski, TE, Arizona...6'6, 264....nice rangy target and an effective blocker...could develop into more of an all-around tight end like Heath Miller...injuries are a concern, he missed the entire 2009 season after back surgery
• Al Capone

  Both Mcshay and Kiper have the Steelers taking Pouncey in their latest mocks.
• Non

  

  I think it will be one of those two, Iupati or Pouncey.
  
  Either one would be a solid pick.
  
  Kemoeatu is their top guard and he's not all that great.
  
  Hartwig will be gone in another year or two so they need a center.
• Non

  

  
  
  Maurkice Pouncey
  
  - just under 6'5 and 304-312 lbs.
  
  - 20 years old/turns 21 in July (Iupati is 22 years old/turns 23 in May)
  
  - 2009 Rimington Trophy winner
  
  - Pouncey has always been an anchor on the line for top programs. He played at powerhouse Lakeland High School, which won three consecutive state titles, and then at Florida where he won the BCS National Championship as a sophomore.
  
  - known for his intelligence, capable of making all of the calls upfront
• Non

  

  All things considered, here is a four-round projection of the upcoming Steelers draft:
  
  1st
  Mike Iupati, G, Idaho or
  Maurkice Pouncey, C/G, Florida
  
  2nd
  Brandon Ghee, CB, Wake Forest
  
  3rd
  LeGarrette Blount, RB, Oregon or
  Anthony Dixon, RB, Mississippi State or
  Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford
  
  4th
  Linval Joseph, DT, East Carolina or
  Cam Thomas, DT, North Carolina
• j_crazy

  

  cam thomas is no good. I would steer clear of that guy in the draft.
• Non

  

  I was impressed at the Senior Bowl. He really had too much natural strength and size for the guards and centers to handle one-on-one.
  
  He probably won't be there in the fourth round. A lot of the mock drafts have him second or third.
• thavoice

  Dookie holmes' lawyer comes out and says has evidence of no sch thing happened...and he has proof.
  I hope he sues the bitch, if she is just trying to extort money.....
  
  Think they signed Eason as I read
• Non

  

  yeah Nick Eason was signed to a one-year deal
  
  Defense line outlook
  
  Starters
  
  RDE-Brett Keisel
  NT-Casey Hampton
  LDE-Aaron Smith
  
  DEs
  Ziggy Hood
  Nick Eason
  
  NTs
  Chris Hoke
  Scott Paxson
  
  DE/DT
  Sunny Harris (it's unclear at this point whether he can play NT on a regular basis but he can play inside when they use four defensive linemen)
  
  With 10 picks they might as well add one more young DT but I don't necessarily like too many guys competing because then they end up cutting the wrong guys, like they did with Harris last year. Although they ended up getting him back.
• Al Capone

  There'll be a decision on Ben coming down on monday.
• thavoice

  i xpect no charges
• Al Capone

  Holmes's lawyer says the police not only haven't enough evidence but they fingered the wrong guy. We'll see how it all pans out.
• LJ

  

  Should they have fingered Freddy?
• Non

  

  Three more players visited the Steelers.
  
  Earl Thomas, S, Texas...5'10 208 lbs...ballhawking safety...intercepted eight passes and returned two for TDs last year...only 20 years old, coming out as a redshirt sophomore...despite being a tad short, he's a good tackler often going low with good technique like an Antoine Winfield...good cover skills and could potentially move to CB
  
  Emmanuel Sanders, WR, SMU...5'11 186...fast and quick...posted a 39-inch vertical at his pro day...could help as a backup receiver or return man...played in June Jones' passing offense and put up prolific numbers, including 98 receptions as a senior
  
  Arrelious Benn, WR, Illinois...6'1 219....strong, physical receiver with above average speed...elite talent when he plays up to his potential...might struggle to get open early in his career because he's bulky and not real fluid changing directions
• j_crazy

  

  i really like sanders. I've never been on the regis benn bandwagon. but he seems to have all the tools to get it done. I think his hands are a liability. it might just be that juice couldn't put the ball on him, but I think he's a question mark at this point.
  
  one final thought on cam thomas.
  
  he did well in the senior bowl, but in the ACC (i.e. not a power football conference) he only managed 83 tackles in 4 years. he's got the albert haynesworth syndrome in my opinion. plays well to get a contract, then loafs when he's locked it up.