Ohio Chatter DEV

rock_knutne

Non wrote: Draft Grades

1-Maurkice Pouncey, C/G, Florida = B+
...Safe but solid pick. He'll have a good shot to get on the field next year at right guard and then figures to be the center of the future.

2-Jason Worilds, OLB, Virginia Tech = C
...Reach. I don't have a problem with the player but I don't think any teams were targeting him that high and they should've considered trading down and adding another pick. They do need that No. 3 outside linebacker and someone who can keep Harrison and Woodley fresh. I'm taking into account both the player and the draft value. Unless this guy was a wrecking machine I don't think this was the right position for that spot.

3-Emmanuel Sanders, WR, SMU = B-
...The Steelers specifically targeted Sanders over some other receivers. Even at 5'11 he has good leaping ability and quick-twitch athleticism. He may not be Santonio Holmes in terms of polish, coming from a non-major program, but he does have a similar build and style. I also think this was a reach, though, and they could've traded down and still got him.

4-Thaddeus Gibson, OLB, Ohio State = C
...Regardless of what I think of Gibson this was overkill. They have two Pro Bowl outside linebackers and already drafted the same position two rounds earlier.

5-Chris Scott, G/T, Tennessee = D+
...This guy doesn't sound too promising. He has versatility as a guard and tackle but doesn't have a lot of athleticism. Only ran a 5.52. Good position to address, but I'd be surprised if he ends up being a factor.

5-Crezdon Butler, CB, Clemson = B-
...He'll be a project. One of those players the Steelers will redshirt as a rookie. But he has good size at 6'0 and has run in the 4.3 range. Nice prospect to add to the secondary.

5-Stevenson Sylvester, LB, Utah = B
...I'll play it safe because you never know about durability but I like what I see. He does a great job keying on the run and closing to make tackles. He'll compete for inside in the 3-4. A possible long-term replacement for James Farrior.

6-Jonathan Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech = B
...He was projected in the first three rounds for quite awhile. It was good the Steelers still had a big running back option available in the sixth round. I'm really not sure how his style will transition to the NFL. He played in a unique offensive system at Georgia Tech, which may have inflated his ability and production. But the Steelers are wise to give him a shot to be that No. 2 running back.

6-Antonio Brown, WR, Central Michigan = B-
...Another smallish receiver but he has good speed and makes great cuts with the ball in his hands. Clearly, someone who can compete for a spot as a slot receiver and return specialist.

7-Doug Worthington, DE, Ohio State = B-
...They probably should've addressed the d-line earlier but given that they didn't and had to try and make up for it with one last pick, they may luck out with Worthington. He has a good frame (tall and big) and can still add a good 10 pounds to be more sturdy as a 3-4 end.

Overall grade: B-

Clumsy draft. Poor strategy. But they had enough picks to fool around and still end up with a lot of new players.

I agree with most of that assesment Non, except I would grade Pouncey as an A and Worilds as a D-. I still believe Worilds would have been available in the third round and they passed up, what IMO, was a sure fire pick in Golden Tate.

Non

Yeah I agree with that. Passing on Tate makes it an even bigger mistake that they'll regret.

I will change that to a D.

Al Capone

Got to love the Steeler defense this year. Would have loved to have Tate though.

Non

Offensive overview

Quarterbacks

Ben Roethlisberger
Dennis Dixon
Charlie Batch
Byron Leftwich

We'll see but right now it looks like they're set up relatively decent for the 4-6 game suspension.

Running backs

Rashard Mendenhall
Jonathan Dwyer
Mewelde Moore
Isaac Redman

Steelers have a history of undrafted free agents coming in and raising some eyebrows. Richard Huntley, Dante Brown, Willie Parker, Gary Russell, John Kuhn. I'd say there is a slight opening for a guy like that this year, even with the addition of Dwyer.

Fullback
Frank Summers

He'll have to make major strides in year two.

Wide receivers

Mike Wallace
Hines Ward
Antwaan Randle-El
Arnaz Battle
Limas Sweed
Emmanuel Sanders
Antonio Brown

Not much height but some good options now to try and fill the void left by Holmes.

Tight ends

Heath Miller
Matt Spaeth
David Johnson

Johnson is the team's best blocking player, giving the Steelers two good tight ends but they could've used a third to replace Spaeth. They missed out on a deep class of tight ends when they were fooling around with all of the linebackers.

Offensive tackle
Max Starks
Willie Colon
Jonathan Scott
Chris Scott
Tony Hills

Jonathan Scott, who they picked up from Buffalo, offers versatility at left or right tackle but probably isn't a long-term solution. Chris Scott, who they just drafted, figures to be a right tackle prospect. The Steelers may have picked up another tackle, Ciron Black from LSU. That's unofficial.

Offensive guards
Chris Kemoeatu
Maurkice Pouncey
Trai Essex
Ramon Foster
Kraig Urbik

Pouncey, Essex and Foster are expected to compete at right guard.

Center
Justin Hartwig
Doug Legursky

Pouncey is going to play strictly guard as a rookie, Mike Tomlin says. That may help Legursky's chances. He's an overachiever that the coaches like.

Non

the Steelers did sign

Ciron Black, T, LSU
Andre Dixon, RB, Connecticut

Al Capone

Blount from Oregon sign anywhere? A small part of me wanted him to sign with Pittsburgh.

Non

Jets signed Donovan Warren

He really slipped but has a lot of talent

slow 40 time, 4.62

Non

wikipedia has Blount with the 49ers

Non

I think Black is better than the guy they drafted from Tennessee, Chris Scott.

Oops!

I think those UFA signings were bogus. Nothing official.

killer_ewok

rock_knutne wrote: WTF........another OLB in the fifth round. I'm not getting this at all.

The only thing I can come up with is they figure they won't be able to re-sign Woodley and if there's never a salary cap again they better stock up at that position and hope that at least one of those guys can play at a pretty high level in the NFL.

Non

I can't imagine that's true about not being able to sign Woodley.

He's such a great fit and building block player. I'd be surprised if they can't lock him up to a huge deal like some of the others -- Harrison, Polamalu, Roethlisberger, etc.

From the comments by Tomlin, Colbert and linebackers coach Keith Butler it sounds like they just decided to stick to their rankings and pick the best player on the board, regardless of whether it meant two outside linebackers. Butler said it takes guys awhile to develop in their system so they're just going for depth right now and special teams.

Colbert did say that they had the McFadden deal in the works for a few days, which probably played a factor in not taking a cornerback earlier. They were able to hold off.

Heretic

Couple of them also could be developmental youth. Harrison is a late-developer in his early 30s, so they might want to groom a guy to potentially and gradually take over for him if he declines (or, in the wake of Ben/Santonio, as a failsafe, as he's had domestic violence accusations in his past).

Pick6

Steelers have sign Daryl Clark. WOnder why they are stocking up on qbs?

rock_knutne

killer_ewok wrote:
rock_knutne wrote: WTF........another OLB in the fifth round. I'm not getting this at all.
The only thing I can come up with is they figure they won't be able to re-sign Woodley and if there's never a salary cap again they better stock up at that position and hope that at least one of those guys can play at a pretty high level in the NFL.

Non wrote: I can't imagine that's true about not being able to sign Woodley.

I'm with Non on this one. IMO, Woodley never makes it to FA.

BTW, shame on the NFL if they can't come to terms on a salary cap, would ruin the league.

LJ

Pick6 wrote: Steelers have sign Daryl Clark. WOnder why they are stocking up on qbs?

eh, he's a Youngstown and Penn State product, he will probably be a practice squad qb

Al Capone

I'm sure cooler heads will prevail and the salary cap will come back. Being the draft had much better ratings than the NBA playoffs, I'm hoping they wont mess with a good thing. Please adopt a rookie wage scale. It's a shame nobody wants the 1st pick. Give the money to the vets who have proven theirselves.

killer_ewok

rock_knutne wrote:
killer_ewok wrote:
rock_knutne wrote: WTF........another OLB in the fifth round. I'm not getting this at all.
The only thing I can come up with is they figure they won't be able to re-sign Woodley and if there's never a salary cap again they better stock up at that position and hope that at least one of those guys can play at a pretty high level in the NFL.

Non wrote: I can't imagine that's true about not being able to sign Woodley.
I'm with Non on this one. IMO, Woodley never makes it to FA.

BTW, shame on the NFL if they can't come to terms on a salary cap, would ruin the league.

Just a thought. It was brought up on 93.7 The Fan the other day.

Non

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/04/25/steelers-undrafted-free-agents/

this appears to be the undrafted free agent list

not real impressive

the most notable I'd say are

Andre Dixon, RB, Connecticut
...Productive college running back with decent size 6'1 208 and soft hands but doesn't run with enough power or speed. Just marginal in many areas.

Ciron Black, OT, LSU
...He started over 50 games at left tackle in the SEC. Was projected in the 3th or 4th round until an awful showing at the Senior Bowl. He got tore up by Brandon Graham, but then again, Graham is a talented pass rusher and may be difficult for a lot of guys to block.

Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith, S, UTEP
...He's a strong safety. 6'2 206. Had 108 total tackles last year. Sounds like a player that was coming on at the right time but not enough to get drafted.

rock_knutne

killer_ewok wrote:
rock_knutne wrote:
killer_ewok wrote:
rock_knutne wrote: WTF........another OLB in the fifth round. I'm not getting this at all.
The only thing I can come up with is they figure they won't be able to re-sign Woodley and if there's never a salary cap again they better stock up at that position and hope that at least one of those guys can play at a pretty high level in the NFL.

Non wrote: I can't imagine that's true about not being able to sign Woodley.
I'm with Non on this one. IMO, Woodley never makes it to FA.

BTW, shame on the NFL if they can't come to terms on a salary cap, would ruin the league.

Just a thought. It was brought up on 93.7 The Fan the other day.

Let me guess, it was either Vinny Racici or Joe Starkey.

killer_ewok

It was Starkey.

Non

rock_knutne

killer_ewok wrote: It was Starkey.

I don't put much stock in to his opinion, just me. Ron Cook is money most of the time.

thavoice

I was glad to get McFadden back. He was always a fav of mine. Hell iwas about to get his jersey but waited till he resigned

he always seemed to be around and in the plays when he was on the field.

lookn fwd to he and ike manning the corners.

with troy back......and clark returning....and foote back in the middle...some younger youth to rotate in on the DL....this defense is gonna be stellar once again.

Non

I just hope they keep all of the linebackers.

Don't cut the wrong guy at the end of the preseason because of numbers.

They should've taken that into account before drafting this many.

There is no way they'll cut any of the three rookies, even if they're terrible, because it will admit a mistake too soon.

Harrison and Woodley are safe.

Timmons and Foote are safe. They didn't sign Foote, a sturdy veteran, for nothing.

Farrior and Fox may have some work to do. But if you're looking at special teams Fox is one of their best guys.

If Farrior proves he can still play then I think the number has to be nine at linebacker.

Non

You never know about Ohio State guys.

They send a lot of guys to the pros that look the part but end up not making it.

Gholston, Carpenter, etc.

But I like the look of Worthington. He kind of looks like a pro. Even a guy that's been in the NFL for 5-7 years. Now he did have a DUI a couple years ago, 2008.

If you read the scouting reports, his strengths and weaknesses match what a 3-4 end is supposed to be. He has a big frame. Strong able to get a good push against the run. He's not a good pass rusher but that's not important in their system.

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