Don't be surprised when the Steelers....

[NJ-STEELER]

recent history of the draft is riddled with backs taken later on and perfroming well.

with mendy taking over the #1 role last year, we can use a 2nd/3rd day pick to fill in as back up.
personally i'd wait til at least the 3rd round

[birtikidis]

the very earliest I take a RB is round 2, J. Best.
I really want Thomas, McLain or Spikes in the first.

[skyhawk]

I wouldnt' be surprised they go for a S now that Troy is injury prone.

[Shawn]

I won't be surprised if Steelers draft an OT in 1st Rd and OG/OC in 2nd Rd. Improving O-line would improve 3rd and short/Red Zone struggles.

Just really don't think this happens. They have 5 returning starters and I think they will take a wait and see approach with the new OL coach and how he can improve what he has.

The team has never been as down on the OL as the fans have and I don't think that changes this draft.

I think it depends on who is available. If Iupati or Bulaga are there at #18, I think that there is a very good chance they draft one of them. Even if they tender Colon, it would appear that he is not in their plans down the road. I don't know if the team is "down" on their o-line personnel or not. But I bet they will not pass on a chance to upgrade it if the BPA at #18 is an OG or OT.

I'd be happy with Iupati but I still want a homerun with CJ Spiller. No one here mentions it, but we do have a need at RB. Mendy is good, Moore is nothing but a role player. We need a legit #2 back who has a skillset significantly better than Moore. Forget about Summers and "Pre Season Hero" Redman. They couldn't help if Mendy went down.

I have mentioned it...and I think it's a need. But, I would rather beef up our D that gave games away last season. If Thomas, Cody, and Williams are gone...maybe.

[Shawn]

Rooney has spoken. It was very odd that his opinions were directed to onfield / coaching issues. "Run the ball." "Younger players need to see the field earlier." It has teeth!

Making it known that Hampton, Clark, & Reed are priorities tells me they have a direction. After taking it all in, I came to a conclusion that even forced me to change my mock. They will get those deals done because the window is still open with them. There is a 2-3 year window where Hampton & Clark can still give you their best play. They are in the plans.

With those 2 locked up...It is simple. RUN...RUN...RUN. The passing offense is potent and puts points on the board. The only think stopping them now at being elite is keeping the ball away from the other offense when we have the lead. My gut tells me it will be these PLAYERS...This order...If available. Iupati, Bulaga, Williams, or Spiller. I think Iupati will be higher on their board because Day one he plays "in college poisition" at the Steelers biggest hole. He fits the mold of an "Old School" Steelers G. He's Faneca! Having Iupati at RG with Kemo at LG takes the handing out of the offense. Any of you who played ball knows what that does to the run game and what it does to a defense to try to defend it.

The Steelers will address CB in the first 3 picks if Clark is retained. S will come later with the starters in place. Where the Steelers sit in the draft, it favors them more to address OL in the 1st, CB in the 2nd, and RB in the 3rd. OL looks to be heavy mid 1st and CB looks to be heavy early 2nd. If things fall right, the Steelers 1st 3 picks all could have significant production year 1.

Smoke screens are always used but this one might be more clear. Hampton isn't going anywhere in my opinion. The Steelers just can't replace him quick enough. They had options with Faneca. Hoke is an emergency option...But the window is still too open to use your emergency option. The Steelers hold the cards on Hampton. Clark wants to stay and the Steelers want him. Retaining Clark really simplifies things. It really makes good business sense to retain both of them. Having Troy come back healthy with Smith is a big step forward. Getting a CB early and depth at ILB, OLB, DT & S through the draft makes this defense better now. Loosing Hampton & Clark, even with Toy & Smith coming back, could be a major setback.

"RUN...RUN...RUN" = CJ Spiller plus he can CATCH...CATCH...CATCH plus he can RETURN...RETIURN...RETURN.

Look at it this way, for the #18 pick you get the equivalent of Mendy, Logan and Wallace. How is that not value?

Ok let me give you a little help here. CJ Spiller is special...no doubt about it. He could fill multiple roles and would probably find PT from day 1. He has Chris Johnson potential. Typically, I do not like "speed backs"...but he does everything I like in a running back. He is fast, runs with elite vision, good hands, has terrific lateral moves and for a "scat back" runs with some power. He will make some team very happy. I like him better than Moreno last year.

With all of that said, how much longer can we ignore our DL that averages 32 years of age? We didn't lose games because we couldn't score. We lost games because our geriatric front 7 grew weaker as the game wore on. Do you think that will improve with another year of age?

[Dee Dub]

Ok let me give you a little help here. CJ Spiller is special...no doubt about it. He could fill multiple roles and would probably find PT from day 1. He has Chris Johnson potential. Typically, I do not like "speed backs"...but he does everything I like in a running back. He is fast, runs with elite vision, good hands, has terrific lateral moves and for a "scat back" runs with some power. He will make some team very happy. I like him better than Moreno last year.

I wont debate Spiller's skills but dont use a first rounder on a player who sees action sparringly in year one and probably doesnt have a shot at being a starter in year two---that position belongs to Mendenhall.

With all of that said, how much longer can we ignore our DL that averages 32 years of age? We didn't lose games because we couldn't score. We lost games because our geriatric front 7 grew weaker as the game wore on. Do you think that will improve with another year of age?

Agreed about the DL....however...a defense with Troy Polamalu is a defense like no other. He allows Lebeau to do things accross the board that brings strength to those areas of weekness--such as the front seven you mention. For what it is worth I think Jared Odrick is going to be everything that Aaron Smith is and maybe even better. He is what 3-4 teams want and need.

Shawnie-shawn-shawn...

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

After the Senior Bowl, Mike Iupati isn't deserving of the 18th pick. I still like him, but he slots more into the bottom part of the 1st round. He was the opposite of Urbik last year. Looked great in drills and at practice. Struggled in the game. His struggles are all coachable. Still will be great but not as NFL ready you want an OL in the top 20. I also think Dan Williams stock rose him enough to be right around 18, mabe earlier. Bryan Bulaga & Trent Williams are very young prospects who only look to get better. Their level of play right now against top level competition make them very appealing. Both have played G at some point and could challenge for the RG spot. Would give the Steelers flexabilty if they can not retain Colon past this year and also depth at LT. I still think this will be the direction if one is still there. I think they will go "Ugly Early" on the offensive side in the first round.

[Shawn]

Ok let me give you a little help here. CJ Spiller is special...no doubt about it. He could fill multiple roles and would probably find PT from day 1. He has Chris Johnson potential. Typically, I do not like "speed backs"...but he does everything I like in a running back. He is fast, runs with elite vision, good hands, has terrific lateral moves and for a "scat back" runs with some power. He will make some team very happy. I like him better than Moreno last year.

I wont debate Spiller's skills but dont use a first rounder on a player who sees action sparringly in year one and probably doesnt have a shot at being a starter in year two---that position belongs to Mendenhall.

With all of that said, how much longer can we ignore our DL that averages 32 years of age? We didn't lose games because we couldn't score. We lost games because our geriatric front 7 grew weaker as the game wore on. Do you think that will improve with another year of age?

Agreed about the DL....however...a defense with Troy Polamalu is a defense like no other. He allows Lebeau to do things accross the board that brings strength to those areas of weekness--such as the front seven you mention. For what it is worth I think Jared Odrick is going to be everything that Aaron Smith is and maybe even better. He is what 3-4 teams want and need.

Shawnie-shawn-shawn...

I agree with some of that. But it doesn't change the fact that our average age on the DL is 32 y/o. Also, Aaron Smith's play has dropped off significantly. I remember reading a stat about Smith giving up more YPC to his side than in recent years...significantly more than Keisel. Age is starting to take it's toll and I don't think burying our head in the sand will change that.

[SteelBucks]

ignore the needs at OL, Secondary and DL and draft LB Sean Weatherspoon at 18. I think that is a real possibility and something to watch develop over the next month.

IMO, ILB is a need.....Farrior isn't getting any younger.

[ANPSTEEL]

Not so sure about ILB- I think the team has Farrior's immediate replacement on the roster, in Timmons. They move Timmons over- and put KFox in at RILB.

the exception being- if by some flipping crazy miracle- McLain falls... all bets are off.

Now- with all due respect to CJ's cousin- "Oviedo Spiller", the team has too many other needs to afford the luxury of drafting your boy.

If they can resign Casey- he likely has 2-3 years left
if not- he needs to be replaced immediately- as in 1st Round pick.

Clark - not as critical as Hampton, imo- primarily because the team has at least three other players that can fill his role- (as long as Troy is healthy). Don't misunderstand me- I'm not suggesting that the other players are as good- but DeShae, Mundy, K Lewis, or even TC- can all fill that spot with relative success -better than anyone on the current Steelers roster could fill in as full time replacement for 98.

IMO- the only way the team goes secondary in RD 1 is if one of the top few guys is still sitting there at #18- This is not to say that the team doesn't need help at CB- they do, but and as I understand it- this draft has more 2nd-4th round quality in the secondary- than 1st round talent.

Net net: ruthless is right on when he mentions depth/replacement on the DL & OL. The DL is old and fading- and the OL has very limited depth.
C, RG, RT- all likely need to be filled over the next 2 seasons.

IMO @ 18 look for BPA DL or OL- with an outside chance of ILB and lesser chance of FS.