Dee Dub's first 2013 Steelers draft!!

[Dee Dub]

Why not? Do it every year. But this year I really hope I am wrong. It will take drafting in the 10-15 range to get these guys. I hope they actually draft at 32.

I'll start with just 4 rounds. And it's all defense. And an emphasis on play makers.


1--Manti T'eo ILB Notre Dame--freak athletically. Can play in a 3-4 or a 4-3. And he can cover as well as play downhill.

2--Tony Jefferson FS---Oklahoma on the smallish size but he is not far off of Tyrann Mathieu in what he does all over the field..

3--Damontre Moore OLB--Texas A&M--playing in a 4-3 this year but the past two years was an OLB in their 3-4.

4--Desmond Trufant--CB Washington---last time the Steelers drafted a CB who started all 4 years in college was Deshea Townsend and Trufant, who has two brothers in the NFL, could be a Deshea Townsend type.

and a few other names I like...

OLB Chase Thomas Stanford--playing OLB in Stanford's 3-4
ILB's C.J. Mosley and Nico Johnson ILB Alabama (3-4 defense)

[hawaiiansteel]

Manti Te'o played his high school ball right here in Hawaii for the same high school Obama graduated from.

Te'o was a man playing amongst boys...

[Dee Dub]

Manti Te'o played his high school ball right here in Hawaii for the same high school Obama graduated from.

Te'o was a man playing amongst boys...

He's going to be a difference maker. He excels at just about every aspect of the ILB position.

[hawaiiansteel]

He's going to be a difference maker. He excels at just about every aspect of the ILB position.

I completely agree, Te'o is a beast and would look great in Black & Gold.

on a very sad personal note, Te'o lost his grandmother to old age and then his girlfriend to leukemia on back to back days last week but decided to go ahead and play against Michigan St anyway.

[williar]

I am actually looking forward to the draft...Seriously! If that news is true about James Harrison (possibly needing micro fracture surgery) Than yes! I am already into 2013 draft mode.... Can't Wait! And what's so twisted is I am actually half way excited that we might be picking high enough to get somebody good...

[hawaiiansteel]

I am actually looking forward to the draft...Seriously! If that news is true about James Harrison (possibly needing micro fracture surgery) Than yes! I am already into 2013 draft mode.... Can't Wait! And what's so twisted is I am actually half way excited that we might be picking high enough to get somebody good...


you mean like when we drafted 15th and selected Lawrence Timmons? :???:

[williar]

you mean like when we drafted 15th and selected Lawrence Timmons? :???:

No. Like maybe when we drafted 15 and could have had Darelle Revis, Patrick Willis, Leon Hall. Well, at least we were in the neighborhood.

[winwithd]

Maybe we could trade Timmons (to a 4-3 team of course) and our first and second picks to move up from 32 to 15 and get Te'o.

Or maybe he could drop to 24 (like DeCastro whom some probably had going as high as 15) and we can trade Timmons and our #32 to move up to 24 and get him.

Or maybe we'll get lucky and he'll smoke a little pot right before the combine and drop to us at #32. Then we could trade Timmons to move up in the 2nd round and get another future Pro Bowl guard to replace Colon.

Then having dumped Timmons and Colon, and lost Harrison, maybe we can resign Wallace, Mendenhall, and even a playmaking FA SS to be Troy's eventual replacement and use the 3rd Rd pick on the best remaining safety.

Maybe.

[pfelix73]

Here I thought I'd see about 3 or 4 OL on this list. LOL...Play-makers. hmmm, this is what I wanted to concentrate on in this years draft. Esp. in rounds 1 and 2. Those Alabama LB's are starting on thier teams. And aren't too bad either....

[NJ-STEELER]

Manti Te'o played his high school ball right here in Hawaii for the same high school Obama graduated from.

Te'o was a man playing amongst boys...

look like he still is

[hawaiiansteel]

No. Like maybe when we drafted 15 and could have had Darelle Revis, Patrick Willis, Leon Hall.

the only one of those three players you mentioned that was still available when we drafted at 1(15) was CB Leon Hall who went at #18 to the Bengals...

[Oviedo]

Maybe we could trade Timmons (to a 4-3 team of course) and our first and second picks to move up from 32 to 15 and get Te'o.

Or maybe he could drop to 24 (like DeCastro whom some probably had going as high as 15) and we can trade Timmons and our #32 to move up to 24 and get him.

Or maybe we'll get lucky and he'll smoke a little pot right before the combine and drop to us at #32. Then we could trade Timmons to move up in the 2nd round and get another future Pro Bowl guard to replace Colon.

Then having dumped Timmons and Colon, and lost Harrison, maybe we can resign Wallace, Mendenhall, and even a playmaking FA SS to be Troy's eventual replacement and use the 3rd Rd pick on the best remaining safety.

Maybe.


Or we could put our Defensive Coord out to pasture and let Timmons play our newly installed 4-3 right here. Trading Timmons is laughable. The defense's failures are now apparently all Timmons fault but never the guy in charge.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

LOVE T'eo Dub. Was actually hoping he came out last year. Love to see him here. I think this is what happens. The Steelers will release James Harrison after the season. There #1 target in the 1st will be an OLB. May even use picks to go up and get the one they like. Jarvis Jones? There may be 6-8 3-4 OLB prospects by the time it is all said and done. In the 2nd, I think we will see the S we have been waiting for. Maybe a kid like McDonald or Reid is around in the 2nd. I also think Foote & Hampton will no longer be on this roster. Just my feel at this point.

[Jigawatts]

Manti Te'o played his high school ball right here in Hawaii for the same high school Obama graduated from.

So you're saying Te'o was born in Kenya? Here we go...:p

[williar]

the only one of those three players you mentioned that was still available when we drafted at 1(15) was CB Leon Hall who went at #18 to the Bengals...

If the steelers would have truly wanted Willis or Revis, who went #11 #15, truly they were in a position to get either one of them. Just like the jets zeroed in a snatched Revis before we could get our hands on him. It's called identifying a player you want and working the phones! Surely, we were in a much better position to do that drafting at #15 then drafting #30.

Are you insinuating that the selections are better when picking at #32 then #15?

[phillyesq]

Or we could put our Defensive Coord out to pasture and let Timmons play our newly installed 4-3 right here. Trading Timmons is laughable. The defense's failures are now apparently all Timmons fault but never the guy in charge.

By all means, lets redesign the entire defense around Lawrence friggin Timmons, a guy who initially failed to play up to his draft position and has subsequently failed to play up to his contract. Let's make sure, whatever we do, that we accodomate him!!

Great players excel in any system. Timmons is not great.

[Slapstick]

By all means, lets redesign the entire defense around Lawrence friggin Timmons, a guy who initially failed to play up to his draft position and has subsequently failed to play up to his contract. Let's make sure, whatever we do, that we accodomate him!!

Great players excel in any system. Timmons is not great.

Timmons HAS excelled in this system...

The question is, why is he not exceptional now? Is he doing something different on his own? Or, is he not being used in the same manner as when he excelled?

[Dee Dub]

LOVE T'eo Dub. Was actually hoping he came out last year. Love to see him here. I think this is what happens. The Steelers will release James Harrison after the season. There #1 target in the 1st will be an OLB. May even use picks to go up and get the one they like. Jarvis Jones? There may be 6-8 3-4 OLB prospects by the time it is all said and done. In the 2nd, I think we will see the S we have been waiting for. Maybe a kid like McDonald or Reid is around in the 2nd. I also think Foote & Hampton will no longer be on this roster. Just my feel at this point.

Jarvis Jones is going to be a beast in the mode of a Von Miller, Aldon Smith, Brian Orakpo type. Comes in and dominates as a pass rusher right away. Likely a top 5 pick. Also Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery of LSU could be right there too. I think James Harrison has one more year for the Steelers and as a result ILB this coming off season will be a higher priority.

[steelblood]

I'd be good with that draft.

If Te'o keeps playing like this, he'll be a top 12 pick. We will need to trade up or lose a lot of games.

I like Jefferson's game. I think he is a missile for his size and very active.

I really want this draft to focus on 1. pass rush, 2. pass defense, 3. replacing mendenhall and/or wallace 4. run defense

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Sean Lee would look good manning the middle of the field for us......but hey, we got Jason Worilds. No, I am not a Penn State fan, and no, I won't let it go.

[Dee Dub]

I'd be good with that draft.

If Te'o keeps playing like this, he'll be a top 12 pick. We will need to trade up or lose a lot of games.

I like Jefferson's game. I think he is a missile for his size and very active.

I really want this draft to focus on 1. pass rush, 2. pass defense, 3. replacing mendenhall and/or wallace 4. run defense


I think Te'o could still be on the board around middle of first round--14-15-16 because of the demand for other higher priority positions, pass rushers, QB's, etc.

Jefferson I think would ultimately move to replace Troy at SS and could be used in a lot of the same ways.

Good RB's can be found in later rounds. Imo.

For me I would love for the Steelers to sign CB Sam Shields from Green Bay. You solid young corner who has excelled in Caper's 3-4.

[hawaiiansteel]

Sean Lee would look good manning the middle of the field for us......but hey, we got Jason Worilds. No, I am not a Penn State fan, and no, I won't let it go.


Jason Worilds reminds me a lot of the Troy Edwards pick. instead of sticking with the BPA theory and taking Sean Lee who the Steelers had a first round grade on the Steelers instead chose a player at a position they perceived they had a higher immediate need at.

[Oviedo]

Jason Worilds reminds me a lot of the Troy Edwards pick. instead of sticking with the BPA theory and taking Sean Lee who the Steelers had a first round grade on the Steelers instead chose a player at a position they perceived they had a higher immediate need at.

Jason Worilds is not as bad as you indicate. He was a leader in QB pressures last year. Part of the problem with the rush this season is that they have Carter instead of Worilds in there...another LeBeau headscratcher!!!

I have heard for 4 years about Sean Lee. I have seen alot of games with Lee playing and I have yet to see anything special. I've seen some terrible pass coverage from him, essentially he is nothing more than Larry Foote is in younger days.

[ikestops85]

Sean Lee would look good manning the middle of the field for us......but hey, we got Jason Worilds. No, I am not a Penn State fan, and no, I won't let it go.

Did you see Golden Tate do his best Hines Ward imitation on Sean Lee? It brought back memories.

[hawaiiansteel]

Jason Worilds is not as bad as you indicate.

I have heard for 4 years about Sean Lee. I have seen alot of games with Lee playing and I have yet to see anything special.


Jason Worilds can't even beat out Chris Carter, who has started all 3 of our games so far and has ZERO sacks and ZERO QB pressures.

as for Sean Lee, he is averaging making over 10 tackles a game so far this season...

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Jarvis Jones is going to be a beast in the mode of a Von Miller, Aldon Smith, Brian Orakpo type. Comes in and dominates as a pass rusher right away. Likely a top 5 pick. Also Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery of LSU could be right there too. I think James Harrison has one more year for the Steelers and as a result ILB this coming off season will be a higher priority.
We could all hope that but Harrison may never suit up again as a Steeler. 10 mil next year or a release and save 5 mil. Worlds and Carter haven't answered the call so I believe OLB Will be the #1 priority. The prognosis of Spence will be a big factor in next years draft. Pass rush premium is going up in this league and in a 3-4....We all know who carries that torch.

[Chadman]

Chadman doesn't really care if the Steelers are a 3-4 or 4-3 team, just so long as the Steelers use a syatem to best utalise the talent on the roster.

The Defense is in 'transition' with a bunch of it's more important players getting toward the end of their careers- Harrison, Polamalu, Clark, Foote, Keisel, Hampton. The new guys either haven't stepped up, or are not up to it, or don't fit the system. Hard to pinpoint exactly where the problem sits.

Chadman is not sure that Tomlin/Colbert have done as good a job of drafting 3-4 Defenders as Cowher/Colbert/etc did. In contrast, Tomlin/Colbert have certainly been able to identify athletic players- guys probably more suited to the pass happy Offenses of todays NFL.

It could be that Tomlin needs to evaluate where HIS head is at- and decide if he is rebuilding the 3-4 as well as he could, or if he perhaps needs to look at options- like the dreaded 4-3. Chadman saw the anti-Timmons argument of now having to build a defence to suit Timmons, as opposed to getting Timmons to fit the Defence. Fair argument. But maybe that's exactly what Tomlin needs to do- build a defence to suit Timmons, Woodley, Hood, Heyward, Worilds, Carter, Spence etc. He drafted these guys. Whats dumber- drafting guys that don't fit the system & forcing them to play it anyway, or after drafting guys that don't fit the system- tossing them out & replacing them with other guys that might fit better? Fact is- guys like Timmons, Spence, Woodley, Hood, Worilds...they might actually benefit from a move away from the 3-4. Not to say they can't play the 3-4, just that they might suit a 4-3 better.

So why not at least look at the possibility?

It's not like 3-4 experts such as Hampton, Keisel & Harrison can go for much longer. What better time than now to visit the possibility?

[Oviedo]

Chadman doesn't really care if the Steelers are a 3-4 or 4-3 team, just so long as the Steelers use a syatem to best utalise the talent on the roster.

The Defense is in 'transition' with a bunch of it's more important players getting toward the end of their careers- Harrison, Polamalu, Clark, Foote, Keisel, Hampton. The new guys either haven't stepped up, or are not up to it, or don't fit the system. Hard to pinpoint exactly where the problem sits.

Chadman is not sure that Tomlin/Colbert have done as good a job of drafting 3-4 Defenders as Cowher/Colbert/etc did. In contrast, Tomlin/Colbert have certainly been able to identify athletic players- guys probably more suited to the pass happy Offenses of todays NFL.

It could be that Tomlin needs to evaluate where HIS head is at- and decide if he is rebuilding the 3-4 as well as he could, or if he perhaps needs to look at options- like the dreaded 4-3. Chadman saw the anti-Timmons argument of now having to build a defence to suit Timmons, as opposed to getting Timmons to fit the Defence. Fair argument. But maybe that's exactly what Tomlin needs to do- build a defence to suit Timmons, Woodley, Hood, Heyward, Worilds, Carter, Spence etc. He drafted these guys. Whats dumber- drafting guys that don't fit the system & forcing them to play it anyway, or after drafting guys that don't fit the system- tossing them out & replacing them with other guys that might fit better? Fact is- guys like Timmons, Spence, Woodley, Hood, Worilds...they might actually benefit from a move away from the 3-4. Not to say they can't play the 3-4, just that they might suit a 4-3 better.

So why not at least look at the possibility?

It's not like 3-4 experts such as Hampton, Keisel & Harrison can go for much longer. What better time than now to visit the possibility?

All good points. I totally agree that we need an objective evalauation of what players we have and what system they best fit into to get the best from them. Not just what players we but also what players will we be able to get and how do we get them contributing as early as possible. As you co identified more and more teams are looking for those same 3-4 players that we use to find so easily.

Our defense going forward should have nothing to do with who the Defensive Coord is or what you have done in the past. If it was about history we won 4 Super Bowls playing the 4-3.

The league is very different now than it was in 2001 and we need to evaluate how we put players on the field to succceed. We all have different opinions but I think we can all agree that what we are doing so far this season isn't working.

[ikestops85]

I don't care whether we play 3-4 or 4-3 either. I know we say we are a 3-4 team but we generally only play that on 1st down. After that it changes based on down, distance, and offensive personnel. Our problem isn't whether we play a 3-4 or 4-3. It's that we aren't getting pressure on the QB.

The Giants, who many think are the standard for the 4-3, were lousy for the first 3/4 of last season. It was only when their defensive line got healthy and they could get after the QB that they looked great. That's the key.

I don't care if we go to the Buddy Ryan forty six defense. We need to get after the QBs arse and put them on the ground.

[Oviedo]

I don't care whether we play 3-4 or 4-3 either. I know we say we are a 3-4 team but we generally only play that on 1st down. After that it changes based on down, distance, and offensive personnel. Our problem isn't whether we play a 3-4 or 4-3. It's that we aren't getting pressure on the QB.

The Giants, who many think are the standard for the 4-3, were lousy for the first 3/4 of last season. It was only when their defensive line got healthy and they could get after the QB that they looked great. That's the key.

I don't care if we go to the Buddy Ryan forty six defense. We need to get after the QBs arse and put them on the ground.

100% agree. You have to make the QB worry about the next hit. We don't do that dropping Woodley into coverage and rushing three. We have to be aggressive and unpredictable. We have lost that over the past few seasons. One need to look no further than last years 21-year low in sacks, That is unacceptable for this team.

Personally, I like the 4-3. I think it gives the 4 DL a clear mission. Go get the QB. To me that works and it is easy to get players out of college and just have them continue to do that what they did that got the attention of NFL teams to begin with. None of this we want to change this and that nonsense.

It will be what it will be in terms of formation and scheme but it does have to be better than what we have shown this season.

[steelz09]

Timmons HAS excelled in this system...

The question is, why is he not exceptional now? Is he doing something different on his own? Or, is he not being used in the same manner as when he excelled?

Timmons hasn't really excelled at anything since he's been a full time starter. He was a very good situational player when he split time w/ Foote.

[steelz09]

Sean Lee would look good manning the middle of the field for us......but hey, we got Jason Worilds. No, I am not a Penn State fan, and no, I won't let it go.

Jason Worilds reminds me a lot of....... Lawrence Timmons. Maybe the Steelers will move Worilds to ILB so that way he can take years to develop (like Timmons) and that will allow us to forget that he was a bust (like Timmons).

In Worilds defense, at least he has shown some blitzing skills.

[hawaiiansteel]

Personally, I like the 4-3.

OMG, really? we would have never known that... :p

[Oviedo]

OMG, really? we would have never known that... :p

Got to stay on message. It produces results. Notice the increase in the number of posters questioning our defense and the increased number talking about the 4-3. Even if it is begruding, give credit where it is due;)

We are now really starting to have discussions about our defense and the future of it versus blindly accepting that the status quo will be here forever.

[Slapstick]

Got to stay on message. It produces results. Notice the increase in the number of posters questioning our defense and the increased number talking about the 4-3. Even if it is begruding, give credit where it is due;)

We are now really starting to have discussions about our defense and the future of it versus blindly accepting that the status quo will be here forever.

Your message has nothing to do with it, though...

Questions always come after poor defensive performances...

Not that you shouldn't feel free to wish and hope for a 4-3 alignment...nor should you stop advocating for it on the board...

This topic is just the beneficiary of the suckage of the Steelers' D...

[Oviedo]

Your message has nothing to do with it, though...

Questions always come after poor defensive performances...

Not that you shouldn't feel free to wish and hope for a 4-3 alignment...nor should you stop advocating for it on the board...

This topic is just the beneficiary of the suckage of the Steelers' D...


Don't be such a "Debbie Downer" so close to the weekend. It's all about ME!!!;)

BTW that last part is my Mike Wallace imitation!!!:stirpot

Rest assured I will continue to be a 4-3 advocate. You can't have a Steel Curtain with a 3 man DL because that is nothing more than an aluminum mini-blind!!!!!!!

[ikestops85]

Timmons hasn't really excelled at anything since he's been a full time starter. He was a very good situational player when he split time w/ Foote.

I don't know about that. I thought Timmons was an animal in 2010 and was going nowhere but up. Instead he has deflated like a week old birthday balloon.

[Slapstick]

I don't know about that. I thought Timmons was an animal in 2010 and was going nowhere but up. Instead he has deflated like a week old birthday balloon.

And, the question is, why?

Is it something he did (or is doing)? Or, is it something that he is being coached to do/schemed not to do?

[Oviedo]

And, the question is, why?

Is it something he did (or is doing)? Or, is it something that he is being coached to do/schemed not to do?

My vote is the latter.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

I don't know about that. I thought Timmons was an animal in 2010 and was going nowhere but up. Instead he has deflated like a week old birthday balloon.

I dunno. To me, looks like he has INFLATED...and maybe that's part of the problem. He's bulked up, but perhaps that's slowed him down enough to dampen his effectiveness.

[Slapstick]

Don't be such a "Debbie Downer" so close to the weekend. It's all about ME!!!;)

BTW that last part is my Mike Wallace imitation!!!:stirpot

Rest assured I will continue to be a 4-3 advocate. You can't have a Steel Curtain with a 3 man DL because that is nothing more than an aluminum mini-blind!!!!!!!

The funny thing is, you can do some research and find several articles comparing a 4-3 under defense (the basis for the Tampa-2) with a 3-4 defense and noting all of their similarities...

[Oviedo]

The funny thing is, you can do some research and find several articles comparing a 4-3 under defense (the basis for the Tampa-2) with a 3-4 defense and noting all of their similarities...

That is why it a false argument to say we don't have the players to switch. They are very similar in many things. The difference is where do you put the emphasis of attacking the QB---DL or LB. Right now we don't have the LBs.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I dunno. To me, looks like he has INFLATED...and maybe that's part of the problem. He's bulked up, but perhaps that's slowed him down enough to dampen his effectiveness.

Ray Lewis has made it a point to slim down this year in response to the proliferation of the passing game these days.

[Slapstick]

That is why it a false argument to say we don't have the players to switch. They are very similar in many things. The difference is where do you put the emphasis of attacking the QB---DL or LB. Right now we don't have the LBs.

Well, what you'd probably do is put Ziggy at a 3-Technique and make him responsble for only one gap...put him closer to the QB and over a Guard instead of out at the 5-Technique and responsible for two-gaps...

Then, you'd probably put Woodley at a stand-up DE position on the weak side...

You'd keep Heyward at the 5-Tech on the strong side, which is basically what he plays now (only now he lines up on the weak side)...

The NT would stay the same as well...most of the time, the NT in the 4-3 under lines up on the right shoulder of the Center, but there's no reason that you couldn't line him up directly over the Center's helmet and make him responsible for two gaps...

[Dee Dub]

Ray Lewis has made it a point to slim down this year in response to the proliferation of the passing game these days.

I dont think that is the reason why Lewis has slimmed down. It's because with age he has slowed down. Look at him 5-10 years ago and he was huge and still could cover.