Mike Mayock’s Thoughts on Prospects at Upcoming Combine

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  • RuthlessBurgher
    Legend
    • May 2008
    • 33208

    #16
    Re: Mike Mayock’s Thoughts on Prospects at Upcoming Combine

    Gosselin's final mock is consistently the best year after year. Problem is that it is not released until the day before the draft. He does 3 mocks during the week of the draft, and the final one is always the gem.
    Steeler teams featuring stat-driven, me-first, fantasy-football-darling diva types such as Antonio Brown & Le'Veon Bell won no championships.

    Super Bowl winning Steeler teams were built around a dynamic, in-your-face defense plus blue-collar, hard-hitting, no-nonsense football players on offense such as Hines Ward & Jerome Bettis.

    We don't want Juju & Conner to replace what we lost in Brown & Bell.

    We are counting on Juju & Conner to return us to the glory we once had with Hines & The Bus.

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    • aggiebones
      Pro Bowler
      • Jan 2009
      • 1427

      #17
      Re: Mike Mayock’s Thoughts on Prospects at Upcoming Combine

      Originally posted by The Sodfather
      Mayock may be right in his DE assessment but how many of those fit our 3-4? Maybe 4 or 5. But still I agree there could be some good value there at #31.

      Wouldn't surprise me at all if that's the pick.

      That means they are more likely to fall to us.
      We know DTs, Ts and CBs are normally picked through if there are any good ones. They DO NOT slip through the cracks very often. Only attitude guys at that position fall. Worth a gamble periodically, but you can't bring in too many of them.

      Comment

      • hawaiiansteel
        Legend
        • May 2008
        • 35649

        #18
        Re: Mike Mayock’s Thoughts on Prospects at Upcoming Combine

        Wexell's Combine "buzz":

        SUNDAY, FEB. 27

        1:45 p.m.: OK, one last entry before I hit Route 70 East. I caught up to Rashad Carmichael in the hall after his press conference and asked him if he's getting any love from the Steelers.

        "Oh, man, I hope so," said the boundary corner from Virginia Tech. "Jason Worilds is my best friend. I'd love to play there."

        But you haven't met with them?

        "I have a formal meeting scheduled tomorrow with them," he said. "I'm looking forward to it."

        Carmichael was impressive in his press conference. Really wish I could say the same about another of my favorites, Curtis Brown, who'll have trouble impressing in his interviews with his slow drawl.

        Noon: The cornerbacks just hit town last night and their meetings with teams are slow to be scheduled. However, but Utah cornerback Brandon Burton (6-0, 190) not only sat down with the Steelers last night, he said he has another meeting scheduled with them today.

        Pittsburgh fans may remember Burton for the work he did in the college opener against Jon Baldwin. Burton agreed today that "my high point was covering Baldwin" and agreed that his low point occurred in a 47-7 loss to TCU. "There was probably one play there that probably shouldn't have happened," Burton said of his missed tackle at midfield that turned into a 93-yard touchdown pass.

        A junior who'll turn 22 on July 31, Burton called Michael Floyd of Notre Dame the best receiver he's faced. Burton said he was "100 percent man" on Floyd this past season and allowed him only 4 catches for 39 yards and a 3-yard touchdown.

        First-round prospect Brandon Harris also gave up a touchdown pass to Floyd, the only touchdown pass Harris said he gave up all season. Floyd caught 6 passes for 109 yards and 2 touchdowns that day in the Outback Bowl, but Harris said he only covered Floyd on "probably five or six snaps."

        10:20 p.m.: Jerrell Powe of Ole Miss said he checked in at 6-2, 335 and also told reporters, "I'm the best nose in this year's draft. You're not going to find anyone else who pushes the pocket the way I do."

        That said, he still struck me as a humble guy. But he guy who played so well two years ago doesn't appear to have fallen within the Steelers' scope, since there are no meetings planned.

        SATURDAY, FEB. 26

        5:20 p.m.: I've been too busy writing to get up and talk to some of the running backs, particularly WVU's Noel Devine, who weighed a mere 160 pounds at the Senior Bowl. But my friend from Green Bay, Bill Huber, just told me that Devine met with the Steelers here and "went through the chalkboard, the whole thing" with them.

        So, there's that. See you tomorrow.

        5:10 p.m.: J.J. Watt showed up at 6-5 3/8, 290 without an ounce of fat on him. The guy’s built like the perfect 3-4 defensive end, and of course said he’d play that position even if it meant occupying blockers and letting the linebackers make the plays.

        That would seem like such a waste for a guy with his speed and motor, but it’s unlikely the Steelers will even get the chance to draft him with the 31st pick. In fact, a source just told me that “the Pats** are all over him.”

        Watt said he transferred to Wisconsin a few years ago from Central Michigan in order to get a real shot at making it to the NFL. When reminded that five Chippewas recently played in the Super Bowl, Watt laughed, lauded his former teammates, and said that his problem had more to do with being a tight end in a spread offense and not being able to get anyone to consider moving him to defense. Wisconsin even made him walk on, but it didn’t take Watt long to show his pass-rushing skills.

        Watt also was reminded that Mike Vrabel pulled out his old tight end skills in the NFL and Watt said he’d think about that at a later time. I do know that Brett Keisel regrets not stressing to the Steelers’ offensive coaches his skills as a tight end when he was a younger player.

        I also listened in on Quan Sturdivant’s media interview. The North Carolina linebacker’s former teammate, Steelers offensive tackle Kyle Jolly, told me months ago that he thougght Sturdivant was one of the smartest players he knew in college and that he’d make a great replacement for James Farrior some day.

        Sturdivant was happy to hear such a compliment, but he didn’t want to comment and have it taken the wrong way by someone he respects as much as Farrior. Sturdivant did say that he hasn’t heard from the Steelers here.

        3:50 p.m.: A while back I asked Steelers rookie Crezdon Butler about the upcoming draft prospects coming from his alma mater Clemson. I asked in particular about DT Jarvis Jenkins and Butler spoke enthusiastically about his former teammate. Butler also said that he'd recently told Kevin Colbert the same things he was telling me.

        Well, Colbert must've been listening because Thursday night he sat down with Jenkins for a lengthy interview. I asked Jenkins if he sensed a genuine interest from the Steelers.

        "Yes, sir, I do," Jenkins said.

        Jenkins said he could play nose tackle and defensive end in a 3-4, or defensive tackle in the nickel defense the Steelers used so frequently last season. When pressed by another reporter, the 6-4, 310-pound Jenkins said he's most comfortable as a 4-3 tackle but that it doesn't really matter to him.

        Two days ago, Lee Ziemba had named Jenkins and Marcell Dareus the best defensive linemen he's ever faced. Jenkins returned the favor today when asked to name the best offensive linemen.

        "Honestly, I didn't know he had said that," Jenkins said with a laugh. Jenkins listed Danny Watkins along with Ziemba.

        "Watkins is the strongest guy I've ever gone up against," Jenkins said of the 26-year-old prospect. "He old, but you'll see him start to shoot up the draft boards."

        2:40 p.m.: It was in Reno last spring, at the University of Nevada's junior pro day, when defensive end Dontay Moch started a legend.

        Scouts say it's impossible to run the 40 in a faster time than 4.2, but Moch was timed in 4.18 seconds.

        "Hand held," Moch said from the podium a few minutes ago.

        It was as if Moch was allowing for human error, but he claims it as the truth nonetheless.

        That was at least 13 pounds ago, he said. And at 248 pounds, Moch says he'd be satisfied to run a 4.4 when he runs here tomorrow.

        "A 4.4 electrically would be a good time, like a 4.3 hand-held," said the two-time Arizona state high school sprint champ.

        Moch speaks and smiles just like former Steelers receiver Lynn Swann. He comes off that smooth, like the time he was asked to cover Boise State's speedy wide receiver Titus Young.

        "I lined up in a 4-3 situation and dropped back on a flat route and Titus Young came right around the corner," Moch said. "I had underneath coverage on him and broke up the pass right then and there."

        Not bad for a defensive end. Moch said he's hearing from the 3-4 teams about playing OLB and the 4-3 teams about playing both DE and OLB. But he hasn't heard from anyone who wants him to play inside linebacker in a 3-4. That might be something for the Pittsburgh contingent to look into.

        1:20 p.m.: For the purpose of analysis, you can't beat those telling one-on-one matchups during the regular season. But Gabe Carimi's impressive showings against Cameron Heyward and Adrian Clayborn seemed to have the opposite effect in the draft media.

        Carimi's stock seemed to fall among draftniks, not rise, after what I thought were outstanding back-to-back performances in the middle of the season.

        So, what was I missing?

        Nothing, according to Heyward and Clayborn, who both just finished saying that Carimi was the best college lineman they faced last season. Clayborn even said Carimi was the best he's ever faced.

        As for Clayborn, he said his disappointing senior season had to do with "double teams, triple teams, tight ends chipping me, running backs chipping me. It led to frustration at the beginning of the season."

        Clayborn said the nerve damage in his right shoulder had nothing to do with his play.

        "I've heard more about that this week than I care to," said the Iowa defensive end. "I've been playing with it since the seventh grade. It doesn't bother me at all."

        12:30 p.m.: Just as I was getting over the enjoyment of Mike Pouncey's entertaining press conference yesterday, along comes Cameron Heyward.

        I'll provide a full write-up later -- not that there's any news pertaining to the Steelers other than he doesn't mind playing defensive end in a 3-4.

        Heyward didn't respond to queries about team interest, but it's probably foolish to even ask such a question, because, yes, the Steelers would have to have interest in a player who was as dominating as Heyward in the Sugar Bowl.

        Of course, his stock seemed to fall like a rock after a stretch of games at midseason. The Wisconsin game against Gabe Carimi in particular was one Heyward called disappointing.

        Before that stretch, he appeard to be a Top 10 prospect, but now on some media reports he's listed near pick 31 where the Steelers are lying in wait for free-fallers with his kind of talent.

        Heyward once again showed that talent in his bowl game when he dominated DeMarcus Love and Arkansas. And Heyward did it with a damaged elbow ligament. The injury occurred in the second quarter but it didn't appear to slow Heyward down at all.

        He underwent surger on the UCL on Jan. 12, so Heyward won't work out at the combine, "and it's killing me," he said.

        But judging by his personality, he'll be able to pass the time by regaling coaches and personnel men with stories of how he and Papa Ironhead used to "beat up" Falcons teammates after Craig moved his family out of Monroeville, Pa. and into Atlanta. And he can tell one team in particular how much he'd enjoy playing 3-4 defensive end for them.

        FRIDAY, FEB. 25

        5:30 p.m.: The Mike Pouncey transcript is up on the message board.

        4:30 p.m.: Mike Pouncey finally showed up in the combine media room and he put on quite a performance for a throng of reporters. I'll post the transcript as soon as it's finished, but here are some of the high points in chronological order:

        Q: Knowing your brother's injury was so severe, why did you think he'd still play in the Super Bowl?

        A: We've been playing football since we were six years old and never missed a game. So it was shocking.

        Q: Are you crossing off the Steelers from drafting you?

        A: I'm not crossing them off. I hope they do. I want to play center, though.

        Q: What's your goal on draft day?

        A: I got to be drafted higher than Maurkice, 18 or better.

        Q: Why?

        A: I'll never hear the end of it.

        Q: What are they saying about you in comparison to your brother?

        A: They say we look the same on tape. Some scouts were saying I look better.

        Q: Are you hoping the Steelers draft you?

        A: It'd be nice. But I'm not hoping for anything because when you hope for stuff it never happens.

        Q: What are the chances the Steelers will draft you?

        A: It's not looking too good, but there's free agency in the NFL.

        Q: Who has more tattoos?

        A: I do.

        Q: Any negatives in your game?

        A: Oh, no. There ain't nothing negative about either one of us.

        Q: Did you meet with the Steelers?

        A: I had a real good meeting with the Steelers yesterday (earlier said that he'd met with Mike Tomlin).

        Q: What do you do better than your brother?

        A: I think I block in the open field better.

        Q (female reporter): What do you do better off the field?

        A: There's a lot I do better off the field, but we can talk about that later.

        Q: When Maurkice was at the combine, the Steelers drew plays on the chalkboard, erased them, and he re-drew them almost exactly as the original. Did they do that with you?

        A: They did the same exact same thing with me.

        Q: And how'd you do?

        A: Great.

        Pouncey has the same mannerisms as his brother and of course looks the same. Some of us from Pittsburgh expected him to walk and ask us what was up. Seems a little more relaxed. Too bad he's going to be drafted way before 31.

        2:10 p.m.: Every time I watched Pitt LT Jason Pinkston I thought of Willie Colon. Well, Pinkston checked in at the combine at a very Colon-like 6-3 1/4, 317 with 34 1/2-inch arms. Colon came to the 2006 combine at 6-3, 315 with 34-inch arms. Colon, of course, played right tackle for the Steelers while all but Bruce Arians clamored for him to be moved to guard. It might be the same question for Pinkston, who played LT at Pitt.

        "I understand that I’m not the size of some of the left tackles in the NFL," said the alert and enthusiastic Pinkston. "Whatever team drafts me I’m going to do whatever they need me to do. If it’s ‘move into guard,’ I’ll be a guard. If it’s ‘move into center,’ I’ll play center. If I have to play right tackle, I’ll play right tackle."

        Pinkston entertained reporters with scout-like comments on teammates Jabaal Sheard, Jonathan Baldwin and Dion Lewis. He also talked about dating the cousin of Stanford's Owen Marecic and how he tried to get Marecic to come to Pitt. That and much more here on the message board.

        12:20 p.m.: Jonathan Baldwin spoke to reporters a few minutes ago. He measures 6-4 3/4, 228 with a wingspan of 79 inches and 10 1/2-inch hands. He's a physical freak, and he has pedigree. One scout, when asked about the Pitt WR, said, "How can he fail? He's from Aliquippa." Baldwin took the comment with a smile and ripped off the names Darrelle Revis, Ty Law, Sean Gilbert and Mike Ditka. Baldwin forgot to mention perhaps the greatest football player ever to come out of the rusting Pittsburgh-area steeltown: Tony Dorsett, who matriculated to Hopewell H.S.

        Anyway, the word, as written before, is that Baldwin will be chosen in the middle of the first round.

        7 a.m.: Anyone who watched the Outback Bowl has to be hoping for the Steelers to draft Florida G/C Mike Pouncey and line him up next to his twin brother here in Pittsburgh. So Mike's many fans were probably disappointed that I didn't list him among those who visited with the Steelers here in Indianapolis. But don't fear, because Pouncey didn't show up in the media room yesterday. We're expecting him early this morning. All 3 of the Pittsburgh reporters are waiting on him. We checked with the officials here and they assured us they'll have their fastest transcriber at his media session, so the update should come fairly early here.

        We've already asked Kevin Colbert about Mike Pouncey and Colbert doesn't think the Steelers will have a chance to draft him, that he'll be gone before they pick, and that he can play center in the league. Colbert also said he doesn't think the Steelers would bump his grade up over any perceived extra chemistry with his brother, but I'm not so sure of that.

        Anyway, Mike's transcript will likely be full of Steelers questions, and some info, so be patient. Many O-linemen didn't show up yesterday.

        Late last night, Auburn OT Lee Ziemba showed up and told me he did have a quick meeting with the Steelers. We also talked a bit about Kendall Simmons, the former Auburn LT who was drafted by the Steelers and moved to RG. Simmons is now a part of the Auburn coaching staff and Ziemba said that Kendall's one of his favorite people. He was one of mine, too. That's what made it so hard to criticize him when he was with the Steelers.

        A couple of other notes: Derrek Sherrod and Steve Schilling are a couple of linemen who didn't visit with the Steelers, for whatever that's worth.

        As for my impressions from yesterday, I'd have to say the two most impressive physical specimens were guards Zach Hurd and Andrew Jackson. They are massive men who are also very serious men. The Steelers visited with both and I'll have more about them in my Pouncey/guard story later today.

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