GBNREPORT's Mock draft has the Steelers taking...

[TABLE="width: 576"]
[TR]
[TD][SIZE=-1]17[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD][SIZE=-1][I][/I][/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Pittsburgh
[/SIZE][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/TD]
[TD][SIZE=-1]Jesse Williams
[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD][SIZE=-1]NT[/SIZE][/TD]
[TD][SIZE=-1]Alabama[/SIZE][/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

[url]http://gbnreport.com/2013projection.html[/url]

Chadman would be happy no doubt. And if it would go down like this it would fill our quota for an Australian. So now we dont have to draft Brad Wing. ;)

But seriously, if it were to go done like this in the first round, I'd love to trade down and get another second round pick. This means there would be two great WR's still on the board late first early second, Terrence Williams and DeAndre Hopkins. And I think these two may be the two best receivers in this draft., If any thing, they are blue chippers. And it solves the Mike Wallace situation.


One of these

Terrence Williams/DeAndre Hopkins

With maybe two of these

Kevin Minter/Eric Reid/T.J. McDonald/Bacarri Rambo/Tony Jefferson/Kenny Vacarro/Margus Hunt/Desmond Trufant/Chase Thomas/etc.

To me would be better than just drafting Jesse Williams

I have also seen lawton from michigan and jonathan banks from miss st.

any thoughts dub?

[QUOTE=Eddie Spaghetti;542457]I have also seen lawton from michigan and jonathan banks from miss st.

any thoughts dub?[/QUOTE]

Jonathan Banks is a solid CB. Long with great wing span. Has had a nose for the ball too. But for the 17th pick I think we could do more/better. Do you mean Tyler Lewan OT of Michigan? He's rated pretty high. Versus South Carolina's all-world Jadeveon Clowney in their bowl game there were times when he held his own, but there was also time when he looked flat out over-matched. But Clowney maybe the best D-lineman to come around since like Joe Greene.

yeah, that's him. My bad.

I didn't see many michigan games but know he is rated pretty high. I saw him get beat up but clowney in the bowl game, but who didn't. The only guy I saw handle clowney all season was tiny richardson from tennessee. But then clowney beat him on the last series and caused a game winning fumble.

I am always told that the Steelers simply take the best player that they rate on the board in the 1st 2 rounds. Which site or individual would you recommend I follow for draft evaluation vs teams needs?

NT Hebron Fangupo so is this guy a bust or what? How many NT's do we need?

[QUOTE=fordfixer;542470]NT Hebron Fangupo so is this guy a bust or what? How many NT's do we need?[/QUOTE]

The fact we are seemingly holding open auditions likely indicates we don't have an answer to the NT position. It is a risk of the 3-4 and so many other teams looking for the same NT we are.

[QUOTE=jj28west;542462]I am always told that the Steelers simply take the best player that they rate on the board in the 1st 2 rounds. Which site or individual would you recommend I follow for draft evaluation vs teams needs?[/QUOTE]

I think the guys at ESPN Insider do as good a job as anyone out there. If you don't mind spending money and want some really good stuff I would recommend Ourlad's Scouting Services as well as The Drugstore List, Hughes Draft Omnibus, GM Jr., and Draft Insiders Digest. Most of these are either from Ex-NFL scouts or have them on their payroll.

[B]Nostradamus[/B]___ Mock draft has the Steelers taking...[B]John Jenkins [/B]:tt1

[QUOTE=fordfixer;542470]NT Hebron Fangupo so is this guy a bust or what? How many NT's do we need?[/QUOTE]

He was an undrafted free agent who spent the season on the Seahawks practice squad...the fact that he finished the year on an active roster for 2 games (1 for Seattle, 1 for us) makes him not a bust with that pedigree...

I have a hunch NT might not be the round 1 pick. I'm thinking ILB, OLB or FS with the wild card being WR.

[QUOTE=steelz09;542509]I have a hunch NT might not be the round 1 pick. I'm thinking ILB, OLB or FS with the wild card being WR.[/QUOTE]
I'm hoping we draft a tall WR with hands like suction cups, without the prima donnas attitude any ideas?

[QUOTE=Oviedo;542471]The fact we are seemingly holding open auditions likely indicates we don't have an answer to the NT position. It is a risk of the 3-4 and so many other teams looking for the same NT we are.[/QUOTE]

Because 4-3 teams never look for a DT that can stuff the run. Ever. For example, when the Vikings had the 2 Williams at DT, the run-stuffer was just a figment of our imagination.

[QUOTE=phillyesq;542516]Because 4-3 teams never look for a DT that can stuff the run. Ever. For example, when the Vikings had the 2 Williams at DT, the run-stuffer was just a figment of our imagination.[/QUOTE]

Or when the Ravens used to run the 4-3 defense when they won the Super Bowl...Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa weren't run stuffing DT's either. Their jobs weren't to occupy blockers in order to free up Ray Lewis. Nope, nope, nope.

[IMG]http://www.planetsteelers.com/forums/images/misc/quote_icon.png[/IMG] Originally Posted by [B]steelz09[/B] [URL="http://www.planetsteelers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=542509#post542509"][IMG]http://www.planetsteelers.com/forums/images/buttons/viewpost-right.png[/IMG][/URL]
I have a hunch NT might not be the round 1 pick. I'm thinking ILB, OLB or FS with the wild card being WR.





fordfixer said: I'm hoping we draft a tall WR with hands like suction cups, without the prima donnas attitude any ideas?

Okay! As Dee Dub pointed out the Wallace situation could impact this rd1 pick. If so here is how GBN for one has these WR's ranked in their Top 100.

8. [SIZE=-1]*Keenan Allen WR California
30[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]*Cordarelle Patterson WR Tennessee
34[/SIZE][SIZE=-1] Tavon Austin WR West Virginia[/SIZE]
37 [SIZE=-1]Terrence Williams WR Baylor
40 [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]*Robert Woods WR Southern California
42 [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]*Justin Hunter WR Tennessee (X)
50 [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]*Da’Rick Rogers WR Tennessee Tech (O)
53 [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]*De'Andre Hopkins WR Clemson
64 [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]*Stedman Bailey WR West Virginia[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]80 [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]Quinton Patton WR Louisiana Tech
105 [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]*Kenny Stills WR Oklahoma [/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]
Heres how DraftCountdown sees these WR's

[/SIZE][TABLE="width: 100%, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD] 1./19
[/TD]
[TD][URL="http://www.draftcountdown.com/ScoutingReports/WR/Terrance-Williams.php"] Terrance Williams[/URL][/TD]
[TD]Baylor[/TD]
[TD]6-2[/TD]
[TD]205[/TD]
[TD]4.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] 2./21
[/TD]
[TD][URL="http://www.draftcountdown.com/ScoutingReports/WR/Tavon-Austin.php"] Tavon Austin[/URL][/TD]
[TD]West Virginia[/TD]
[TD]5-9[/TD]
[TD]171[/TD]
[TD]4.40[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] 3./34
[/TD]
[TD][URL="http://www.draftcountdown.com/ScoutingReports/WR/Aaron-Dobson.php"] Aaron Dobson[/URL][/TD]
[TD]Marshall[/TD]
[TD]6-3[/TD]
[TD]200[/TD]
[TD]4.55[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] 4,/50
[/TD]
[TD][URL="http://www.draftcountdown.com/ScoutingReports/WR/Cobi-Hamilton.php"] Cobi Hamilton[/URL][/TD]
[TD]Arkansas[/TD]
[TD]6-3[/TD]
[TD]209[/TD]
[TD]4.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] 5./52
[/TD]
[TD][URL="http://www.draftcountdown.com/ScoutingReports/WR/Denard-Robinson.php"] Denard Robinson[/URL][/TD]
[TD]Michigan[/TD]
[TD]6-0[/TD]
[TD]197[/TD]
[TD]4.40[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] 6./70
[/TD]
[TD][URL="http://www.draftcountdown.com/ScoutingReports/WR/Marcus-Davis.php"] Marcus Davis[/URL][/TD]
[TD]Virginia Tech[/TD]
[TD]6-4[/TD]
[TD]232[/TD]
[TD]4.45[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] 7./73
[/TD]
[TD][URL="http://www.draftcountdown.com/ScoutingReports/WR/Aaron-Mellette.php"] Aaron Mellette[/URL][/TD]
[TD]Elon[/TD]
[TD]6-4[/TD]
[TD]220[/TD]
[TD]4.55[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] 8./82
[/TD]
[TD][URL="http://www.draftcountdown.com/ScoutingReports/WR/Tyrone-Goard.php"] Tyrone Goard[/URL][/TD]
[TD]Eastern Kentucky[/TD]
[TD]6-4[/TD]
[TD]192[/TD]
[TD]4.55[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] 9./85
[/TD]
[TD][URL="http://www.draftcountdown.com/ScoutingReports/WR/Quinton-Patton.php"] Quinton Patton[/URL][/TD]
[TD]Louisiana Tech[/TD]
[TD]6-2[/TD]
[TD]195[/TD]
[TD]4.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]10./92
[/TD]
[TD][URL="http://www.draftcountdown.com/ScoutingReports/WR/Markus-Wheaton.php"] Markus Wheaton[/URL][/TD]
[TD]Oregon St.[/TD]
[TD]6-1[/TD]
[TD]182[/TD]
[TD]4.45[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]11./98
[/TD]
[TD][URL="http://www.draftcountdown.com/ScoutingReports/WR/Ryan-Swope.php"] Ryan Swope[/URL][/TD]
[TD]Texas A&M[/TD]
[TD]6-0[/TD]
[TD]206[/TD]
[TD]4.55[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]12. ?
[/TD]
[TD][URL="http://www.draftcountdown.com/ScoutingReports/WR/Chris-Harper.php"] Chris Harper[/URL][/TD]
[TD]Kansas St.[/TD]
[TD]6-1[/TD]
[TD]234[/TD]
[TD]4.44[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]13.[/TD]
[TD][URL="http://www.draftcountdown.com/ScoutingReports/WR/Tavarres-King.php"] Tavarres King[/URL][/TD]
[TD]Georgia[/TD]
[TD]6-1[/TD]
[TD]200[/TD]
[TD]4.50[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]14.[/TD]
[TD][URL="http://www.draftcountdown.com/ScoutingReports/WR/Corey-Fuller.php"] Corey Fuller[/URL][/TD]
[TD]Virginia Tech[/TD]
[TD]6-2[/TD]
[TD]196[/TD]
[TD]4.45[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]15.[/TD]
[TD][URL="http://www.draftcountdown.com/ScoutingReports/WR/Erik-Highsmith.php"] Erik Highsmith[/URL][/TD]
[TD]North Carolina[/TD]
[TD]6-3[/TD]
[TD]190[/TD]
[TD]4.55[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
[SIZE=-1]
[/SIZE]Frankly I would go with the ILB/OLB if that is the higher ranked player. Will check these out in a later post.

Usually, it is best to see how 5 or more of these top sites have these players ranked overall. But it is too early. Even nfldraftscout.com does not have these overall rankings. But, they do have the top players numbered in their category. But so what. The #1 in some groups might be the #25 overall. I suppose they need more time and maybe the combines to make their lists.

There were no FS/SS in the top 32 players listed on either of these sites. But there were 3 CB in GBN and 2 in DCD. Usually you can rule out a secondary player in rd1 for TS. But maybe not this year. Nah! It will probably be 1. LB[IorO]/WR 2 WR/LB[OorI/DB[CBorS 3 CB/LB/WR.

Coming soon: half full/half empty glass forecast for 2013. Don't lose any sleep breathlessly waiting.:D Oops! Better get this posted before I get that post too long and then it deletes thing. For sure it is not ever done over then.

Thanks for the leads.

[QUOTE=Dee Dub;542474]I think the guys at ESPN Insider do as good a job as anyone out there. If you don't mind spending money and want some really good stuff I would recommend Ourlad's Scouting Services as well as The Drugstore List, Hughes Draft Omnibus, GM Jr., and Draft Insiders Digest. Most of these are either from Ex-NFL scouts or have them on their payroll.[/QUOTE]

WR isn't a weak spot on our team, besides I would hate to waste a round #1 pick on another Limas Sweed.
We need help in that front seven first!

[QUOTE=supersteeler;542564]WR isn't a weak spot on our team, besides I would hate to waste a round #1 pick on another Limas Sweed.
We need help in that front seven first![/QUOTE]

I agree, we need to address NT, ILB and OLB along with S early...

I understand about BAA but, what if the best available is someone we can't use ? If BAA is there and he has not chance of making an impact because he's not truly needed to help the team then I say, pick for need or trade your number on pick to another team.

[QUOTE=supersteeler;542564]WR isn't a weak spot on our team, besides I would hate to waste a round #1 pick on another Limas Sweed.
We need help in that front seven first![/QUOTE]

If Wallace splits, would you settle for another Plaxico Burress or Santonio Holmes? Letting Holmes go sort of ended his career. [Hmm! Maybe it ended the Steelers too?]

hawaiiansteel said: "I agree, we need to address NT, ILB and OLB along with S early..."

I also agree. Something like 92, TS picked up Levon Kirkland and Joel Steel then replaced them with Casey Hampton and James Farrior. Does anyone see any replacement already here for Greg Lloyd, Joey Porter, or James Harrison?
This offseason could get even more complicated. Mendenhall may also leave. Then the RB situation is very thin. Heath hurt but I would guess with his makeup he will be back better than ever. But still? Too bad TS don't get to pick at #11. There would be a lot better chance to fill some of these perceived holes then. Several mocks have TS taking Ogletree an ILB from Georgia at 17. But it not often TS take a LB in rd1.

The reality is the draft isn't going to solve all the issues the Steelers have, even if we get some good prospects there is no guarantee they make an impact their first year. What the Steelers have to hope for is their current players step up and play better.
Last years picks had a chance to get playing time on account of so many injuries, that may help us moving forward to next season. Players like Adams,DeCastro, Beachum especially, but we also need a conditioned and healthy Woodley as well as our Wr's playing like they did prior to this season.

Our front seven and special teams needs addressed, plus we don't know which players we'll lose and we need replacements for those guys. OLB for instance, will we have JH? If not Jason Worlids has to fill the void, the James Harrisons of the world don't come around very often. Some here mentioned ILB but we already have a decent one in Foote, he had a decent year and you don't let that experience walk out the door and rely on a rookie or Spence. I've been harping on NT, it all starts up front and thats the position I would prefer the Steelers to address, not just a good NT but a dominate one.

I believe the transition started at the end of 2011, and its going to continue. We have some really good core players in place that could speed up the process, but we need the picks of the past few drafts to fill the voids, and hope we get some impact players in this years draft.
We have the best QB in our division so there is hope we can rebound, the Bengals are a young team and look to get better too so the competition increases. Cleveland is a young team as well with a decent defense but they need WR's and a QB that can get them the ball, the jury is still out whether Brandon Weeden is their guy. Baltimore will have to begin a transition period, they have some guys getting up there, Ray is retiring, Reed isn't far behind him so right there alone will impact their defense.

There could be a silver lining from this 2012 season, in that our rookies got playing time, more than any year I can remember. That could help us next year knowing we have guys that played and started games. At the very least it makes our depth better but also gives them a shot to compete for a starters position.

This will be our best draft postion in a long while, its imperative we get it right so we can at least get one or two that can take a starters position.
Pouncey did it, but he was an exception. Overall, staying healthy and limit injuries next season is probably the best medicine for the Steelers, but it wouldn't hurt to hit the jack pot in April.

Thats a pretty lame impersonation of the real SuperSteeler you have going on there Pal, the real SuperSteeler would not be pleased with this malarkey........too much free time on your hands Chuck......get back to Rock Bottom with Cali and the boys

In swear in all honesty this is not me. I believe it is Supe.i would not have time for the sheer number of posts with my work load.

it is not me.

GBN is one of the more highly regarded draft sites around. So they're pick would have some merit. But as of now I agree with Dub that it will not be a NT picked in rd1 by TS. GBN also always has an extensive overall player ranking which is helpful in making later round picks.

Since 2007 I have been tracking the draft mocks of the posters and then seeing where they are ranked overall. This gives a picture of whether or not the player is a steal or if he is picked way out of reality.

Anyway GBN is always one of the sites. Last year they ranked 250 players and so far this year have graded over 100. Of course, NFLDS/CBS is the prime site for me to do this kind of stuff. CBS uses the rankings of nfldraftscout.com and makes it very easy to get the info on just about every player. A third always used is DraftCountDown. But they are just getting it on now and are not quite ready.

Then for a change a couple or 3 newer sites are used. These sites seem to come and go pretty fast. Last year I found one I thought had a lot of merit. It was called sidelinescouting.net. They had a pretty solid Big Board and did it all. Position rankings, scouting reports, mock drafts updated regularly, rumors and speculation articles galore----Uhhh! Couldn't find them this year. I think one search said the site might be up for SALE.:D

Another one I thought was promising was nfldraftupdates.com. I had them BM'd and decided to see what they were up to. Uhh! They were still there for some reason but had not quite updated since 2011. But they had Arizona taking CB Peterson at 5 and Cleveland taking OLB Von Miller at 6.[Cleve should have listened] Hmm! They actually had TS taking Cam Heyward at 31.[So this was where that Colbert got his tip]



This year I am planning on adding a new wrinkle. Finding mocks by lesser knowns or just casual fans. Sometimes they are not so good and/or are filled with dubious or outright wrong facts in their explanations for the picks.

Of course, I do not actually do any of this hardly. It's sort of like the New Year Resolutions. You know, well maybe next year. Oh, I definitely will get started on this rest assured but the fervor usually only lasts maybe about five minutes.:D

Actually, I did find some of these dubious type mocks. But it will have to wait till later. Space limitations thing.

Looks like you did some extensive draft investigations. It's difficult to guage who or what position the Steelers will draft, its only a guess by most people. The Steelers, like all teams look for need players that can help their team especially in the early rounds. Sometimes they will go for BPA, but thats when they were having good years with their current roster.
I believe this year will be different where they will draft that need player, form the looks of our roster we could narrow it down, but in the end its still a guess.
I mentioned NT, but realize we just got the guy from Seattle that could fill that need or compete with McClendon. I'm thinking on the lines of a dominate NT not just a decent one. Whatever position we draft in round one he has to have the potentcial to either start or see the field year one, otherwise we'll be sitting with the same players we have now hoping for them to get better.

Defense:
We could use a NT, OLB, ILB, S, CB, NOT NESSASARILY IN THAT ORDER. If you break it down, most likely a draft pick won't be able to see the field at safety, or Corner unless we have injuries at those positions. So that breaks down to either NT, OLB, or ILB that would have the best chance to see the field and possibly start at some point of the season. Its also going to depend on who we release, if we can trust our current players to fill the void or the need to replace that player through the draft.

Offense:
We could use a LT if Max leaves, LG, WR, RB, TE. not in that order. I doubt they would use round one on either WR, or RB most likely later in the draft. That leaves LT,LG, AND TE when you break it down like I'm suggesting.
Now, you have those three positions on offense, and three on defense to break down and guess which one they fill first. On the offensive side of the ball TE suddendly becomes a need position with Miller having surgery and how it will impact him when he returns. He not only had a great season but a good blocker something we need, so it wouldn't surprise me if they draft a TE in round one. I doubt it but the Steelers are know for some surprises. Heath is getting up there too, so maybe its time to groom his replacement, but that replacement would have to be the top TE in the draft or close to it .

Someone here proposed taking Warmack in round one, I wouldn't be opposed to that, however most likely he won't be there @ 17, hell he 's the best G, in the draft and has that potentcial to start immediately.
Getting back to our needs, it would be safe to say our offense needs the most help out of the two units, but we can't ignore that front seven. We invested two 1st round picks at DE, neither one Hood,or Heyward lived up to that ranking. Keisel seems to be the best DL man we have but he's up there in age to. Because of that investment we made, I was thinking dominate NT to get more out of those investments and at the same time make life a little easier for our LB's.

I'm set for round one, I think of other senario's but keep coming back to NT, a position that will not only help our D-line but LB's as well. Now if Warmack was there @1, I take him in a heatbeat even over NT thats how good that kid is.