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ESPECIALLY sacks from the NT position... I'd rather have a guy who does job 1 the best, than a guy who throws in some extra at a position that isn't his.
"My RB is the best passer in the league.." OK... so you can do 5 halfback passes a year? Good for him... But, can he RUN the ball?
2013 MNF Executive Champion!
The Steelers had a great draft in 2023. However better play calling / coaching is badly needed. Tomlin is hasn't won a playoff game in six years and counting. Nor has hired anyone good to his coaching staff. Think about that. But Khan and Weidl appear to have better management on the salary cap and focused on the right free agents and draft needs.
I've heard the argument that the NCAA doesn't do all that good a job producing big space eating NTs.
But I don't watch college ball.
Does anyone know if that's true?
It seems to me that a big two down player who doesn't get sacks shouldn't be expensive (either draft capital or UFA dollars). But there doesn't seem to be a big supply of them either (which probably drives the price up in either currency).
We are getting back to the time when 3-4's were not common, thus the players needed to run it were:
1.) Less common, not seen as much in college.
2.) Less common, but more plentiful if you needed them.
The positions it impacts are:
1.) DE. Not so much as sack producers, but guys who can stand up to the rush. 3-4 linemen are a different hybrid, let them hold up vs. the rush and allow the OLBs to get the sacks. Think of Aaron Smith, Keisel, Heyward (although he also has sacks). It used to be guys of this nature could be found later in the draft.
2.) NTs. These guys are pure space eaters. Cool Shades has slowly tried to phase these guys out, but it hasn't worked. You need these immovable forces in there to stop the rush in a 3-4. Tomlin has tried to change that, it hasn't worked. Hampton and Steed are needed bodies in there. A 4-3 doesn't quite need these same bodies. A 3-4 does.
3.) OLBs. Since OLBs in a 3-4 is mostly how you get QB pressure, they are KEY in a 3-4's effectiveness. Again, back in the day, we used to be ble to take under-sized DEs from college and turn them into OLBs. But then, you could find them later in the draft, the Greg Lloyds, Joey Porters, Mike Merriweathers, Lamarr Woodleys, James Harrisons.
We may be somewhat returning to the day where these positions can be found easier than 4-3 defenders, if only Cool Shades let's it happen.
Mike Tomllin met with Mazi Smith twice during Michigan's pro day week. - Tony Pauline, Pro Football Network
The Steelers really need some defensive line help, so perhaps they'll be targeting Smith atop the second round.
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