Chadman's 2012 Off-season Free Agency & Draft thread

[Chadman]

Now we'll turn our sights to some of the potential Steeler draft targets- after all, wouldn't it be good to know the guy before he gets here?

We'll start with one of the board favourites, some dude from Georgia..

CORDY GLENN
6'5" 345lbs
OFFENSIVE GUARD
GEORGIA (SEC)

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02/25/2012 - Georgia's Cordy Glenn weighed in as one of the largest offensive line prospects at the Combine, tipping the scale at 345 pounds. And after his 40-yard dash, he might also be considered one of the most athletic. Glenn ran an unofficial 4.96 in his first 40-yard dash attempt Saturday morning, including a 1.76 yard 10-yard split. Glenn is expected to participate in every drill this week, already lifting 31 times on the bench, an impressive feat for a player with 36" arms. He played most of his collegiate career inside at guard before moving out to left tackle as a senior in 2011. Scouts question whether or not he can protect the blindside at the next level, but Glenn helped answer some of those concerns with a positive week at the Senior Bowl. If he performs well athletically in drills this week, showing NFL scouts he can play outside in the NFL, Glenn's draft stock could jump into the top-20 discussion. Glenn currently ranks as NFLDraftScout.com's No. 2 rated guard

A standout wherever the Georgia Bulldogs needed him, Cordy Glenn enters the NFL having started 49 games at left guard (2, right guard (four) and left tackle (17). Scouts aren't only impressed with his versatility, they're left in awe at the athleticism demonstrated by the 6-5, 338 pound mountain of a man. Glenn was a highly touted prep prospect who stepped into the starting lineup early after redshirting in 2007. While appearing in 13 games, he started ten times; seven games at left guard and three games on the right side. Glenn's ability to play multiple positions was tested even more in 2009 as injuries to teammates forced the Bulldogs to move Glenn from right guard in the season-opener against Oklahoma State to left tackle for four games and back to left guard for the final eight contests. Glenn enjoyed his finest season as a junior, starting all 13 games at left guard. Glenn explored his NFL options following the 2010 season, but elected to return for his senior campaign and was promptly moved again -- this time back to the all-important left tackle position. Glenn was a first-team All-SEC left tackle in 2011, his only season at the position, but projects as a guard for most teams -- but not all. He's susceptible to speed and counter moves at tackle, but is surprisingly nimble which could convince some NFL teams to envision him operating at this position. Scouts know he's dominant and powerful inside. Considering his size and versatility, Glenn should compete to be the first senior offensive lineman drafted in 2012 and a likely first-round pick. Pass blocking: Surprisingly agile for a big man but is susceptible to speed rushes which likely will force him back inside or to right tackle after starting the entire 2011 season on the blindside for the Bulldogs. Eases out of his stance and waits for the defender to come to him. Possesses long arms and is very powerful, often easily controlling his opponent. Naturally balanced with good lateral agility to mirror the defender. Wide-bodied so opponents can rarely get past him and has an excellent anchor so bull rushes are futile. Nitpicking, but can be a bit inconsistent with his recognition on combination blocks. Typically gets an initial punch in on the defensive tackle before switching off to take on the blitzing linebacker, but can be fooled and miss his assignment. Can get a bit lazy with his hand placement, making him vulnerable to swim moves. Run blocking: Excellent size and strength as a drive blocker. Can get fundamentally lazy, at times, playing too high and/or being a beat late off the snap. As such, he can miss with his initial punch and fail to push back his target. More often, he shows good hand placement and the leg drive to clear a hole. Powerful. Can knock defenders off the ball, providing impressive pancake blocks against even talented opponents. Good recognition in combination blocks in the running game. Good, powerful initial shove to the defensive tackle and gets to the second level with good quickness. Shows the ability to adjust his path to locate and attack his target. Rare body control for a man of his size when blocking at the second level. Pulling/trapping: Shows surprising quickness and fluidity when pulling from left guard to lead on the toss and counter. Light on his feet and can adjust to hit the moving target at the second level. Initial Quickness: A bit inconsistent with his initial get-off, though this may be simply a concentration issue with the snap-count. Demonstrates good initial quickness off the snap (especially for a man of his size) when pulling, but can be a beat late off the snap on other plays. Rarely is he actually beaten when late off the snap, however, due to his girth and long, powerful arms to catch and contain his assignment. Downfield: Perhaps his most impressive trait, which is saying something. Gets to the second level quickly and consistently erases linebackers from the play. Doesn't waste his energy with pancake blocks, but instead seals off the defender completely, assuring that his assignment isn't in position to impact the ball-carrier. Intangibles: Had four starts at left tackle over his career (all in 2009) entering the 2011 season. Turned in his paperwork to the NFL Draft Advisory Committee following last season but elected to return based partially on the plan to see more time at left tackle in 2011. Never missed a game due to injury while at Georgia.

[Oviedo]

Reports are now saying the Steelers have signed former West Virginia TE/Fullback Will Johnson & also former Steeler WR Wes Lyons. Both could push for reserve roles for next season.

Lyons is obviously well known for being 6'9". He also seemed to have a solid Camp last season.

Johnson could feasably contest the 3rd TE/ H-Back/ Fullback spot that David Johnson currently holds.

Anyone who pushes Johnson off the roster is welcome although I would have preferred FA FB Owen Schmitt.

[Chadman]

As we reach the last week of March, it is now time for Chadman to update his mock draft- we'll call this the pre-complex visit mock draft....

Or Mock Draft 3.1...might be easier...

ROUND 1

MIKE ADAMS OT
OHIO STATE
6'7" 323lbs
34" Arms
11" Hands

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Chadman still finds no reason to move away from the big fella from Ohio St. He fits on numerous levels, fills a need, and improves a position of weakness. It's not often the Steelers get a chance at a "top tier" talent at OT, & Chadman would suggest that they should grab that chance while they have it.

To add some fuel to the fire, so to speak, the Steelers had Mike Tomlin, Sean Kugler & Todd Haley at the Ohio St Pro Day (see video attached):

Reports out of the Pro Day were, to quote, that Adams was 'the apple of the Steelers eye'. How much you can believe of that is debatable- but they were certainly there in numbers to see him work out.



At this point Adams lacks the great technique that would make him a reliable left tackle to protect a right-handed quarterback's blind side. Given time he certainly could learn.
Meantime, Adams already moves well enough to get into linebackers on the second level. He has a substantial frame with conspicuous muscle in the right places and the footwork of a dancer, albeit more like hip hop than ballet. On film he did well handling Wisconsin's J.J. Watt (drafted No. 11 overall by Texas last year), but was befuddled by the nifty moves of Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan (drafted No. 16 overall by Washington last year). In his final two seasons as a starter, Adams had issues on and off the field. He underwent shoulder surgery and then a season-ending left foot injury, both in 2008. Adams missed five games in 2009 with knee injury and was suspended for two games the same year for violating team rules. He as one of five players suspended first five games last year for receiving benefits from selling collectibles through a tattoo parlor and had to pay back $1,000 he received for a ring.




Pass blocking: Tall, long, athletic pass protector. Generally gets out of three-point stance with good knee bend and a wide base. Improving his ability to use his hands to redirect rushers and late blitzers away from the pocket. Power rushers lose most battles. Has an adequate anchor in close quarters, will reset hands and move feet to sustain. Stops his feet after initial contact, relying on length but allowing defender to get the corner or spin inside.
Run blocking: Solid positional run blocker who flashes the nasty demeanor and killer instinct scouts covet. Attacks when necessary, though he won't consistently dominate and can lose balance when overextending. Quick feet to get inside of defensive tackles to wall off inside and reach linebackers at the second level. Nice punch which he uses to knock down smaller defenders with one extension. Height can be a detriment in short-yardage, defender can get under his pads to hold the line. Flashes the ability to move his man with his hands, but is not yet consistent in this area.
Pulling/trapping: Best on the outside because of his height and athleticism, but is capable of blocking on the move. Effective in space and usually drops his hips to get leverage and sustain against shorter defenders.
Initial Quickness: Excellent quick-twitch movement off the snap in pass protection and as a run blocker. Finds defenders with his hands immediately and gets feet moving to engage and sustain. Can be beat off the edge coming out of his stance lunging to reach speedy wide rushers.
Downfield: Quick out of his stance with the footwork to be effective in front of screens. Willing to get out in front of ballcarriers to take out defensive backs and linebackers. Used at tight end on unbalanced lines. Intangibles: Suspended the first two games of the 2009 season for violating team rules, cited in January 2009 for misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia (charges were eventually dropped) after being stopped for running a stop sign. One of five players suspended for first five games of 2011 season for receiving benefits from a tattoo parlor owner, selling championship rings, jerseys and awards; Adams was required to pay back $1,000 for the ring he sold.

[Chadman]

ROUND 2

MIKE MARTIN DT
MICHIGAN
6'1" 306lbs
32" Arms
9" Hands


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Casey Hampton will be in his last season in Pittsburgh. Chris Hoke & Aaron Smith have already moved on. Martin is somewhat similar in size to Chris Hoke. There are unconfirmed reports that Mike Tomlin actually prefers shorter, faster DL players (per Jim Wexell of all people) & the Steelers certainly put both Martin & Ryan Van Bergen through DL drills at Michigan's Pro Day. A very strong, compact player that uses leverage well. Has experience at NT. No character concerns, big school, big production.


A lifelong fan of the Wolverines, there was little doubt where the 2007 Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year would choose to matriculate. A four-star recruit by all of the major high school scouting services, Martin also won the Michigan Wrestling State Championship in his junior season (after having no prior wrestling experience), and broke T.J. Duckett's former Michigan high school shot put record on his way to a state championship.
Martin used that combination of strength and hand/foot control to earn Freshman All American honors after his first year in Ann Arbor. Appearing in 12 games as a reserve defender and on special teams, he made 20 tackles with 4.5 for loss and two sacks. He continued his development in 2009, starting all 12 games on the nose. He was credited with 51 tackles, 6.5 for loss and 2.0 sacks, and received the Richard Katcher Award as the team's best defensive lineman.
In his junior year, Martin won that prestigious award again, along with second-team All-Big Ten honors from league coaches, after he started 12 games, registering 37 tackles, six for loss and 2.5 sacks. He missed the Purdue Game on Nov. 13, 2010, due to an ankle injury that plagued him for the rest of the season.
Martin earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2011, racking up a career-high 54 tackles and three sacks to go along with six tackles for loss.
At 6-1, Martin is undersized height-wise, but he has a thick, compact build on his wrestler's frame. He fires off the snap with a relentless attitude and uses his low pad level and violent hands to tear through blockers.
Martin's long arms allow him to keep his opponents from grasping a firm hold of him. With good lateral agility, power and a relentless motor, Martin got the better of Ohio State's Michael Brewster, a possible top 100 pick, on numerous occasions during Senior Bowl practices.Martin is an undersized nose tackle with loads of experience in a 3-4 defense. But he lacks a consistent anchor against double teams and just does not have the right frame to be an NFL starter. Because of his ability to penetrate against one-on-one blocks, Martin could be a solid rotation player in a 4-3 scheme as a three-technique tackle and move to the nose on passing downs.




Pass rush: Provides some secondary interior pass rush, getting most penetration when playing three-technique. Possesses only adequate burst off the snap even when directly over the ball, and his initial pop leaves room to be desired. Hands could be much more violent when trying to gain control of the block. Can bull rush his way past running backs in pass protection. Preferred pass rush move is an arm-over swim move while simultaneously pulling lineman forward. Once momentum is stopped, lacks a critical counter move to progress into the backfield. Spies the quarterback if stoned at the line, but lacks the height and vertical to knock down passes.
Run defense: Uses more hustle than brute strength to stop the run. Gets skinny to split double teams, using good short-area quickness to make a play in the backfield. Runs the line very well, making plays on the ball when he beats blocks on the backside. Rarely goes to the ground, showing good balance from his high school wrestling days. Constantly moving his hands, readjusting them into proper placement. Occasionally too high (despite his short stature), and bows out his arms, hampering his ability to press and lock out. Does not hold his ground while facing a double team, first instinct is to roll away to make a play, which can create a large hole.
Explosion: Does not test offensive linemen with quickness or strong initial punch. Rarely first off the snap. Able to swim past single blockers to penetrate into the backfield. Does not attempt to split double-teams, takes a step back and waits to chase down plays.
Strength: Low center of gravity and generally low pad level allows him to play with initial strength and leverage at the point of attack. Upper-body only average, however, struggles to shed one-on-one blocks or sustain leverage once out of his stance. Pad level rises late in the game.
Tackling: Catch-and-drag tackler who rarely drives ballcarriers to the ground. Very good short-area quickness to make plays between the tackles. Displays agility and secure tackling to corral backs in the backfield, also chases plays from the backside to prevent cutbacks. Intangibles: High-motor, high-character leader. Worked at Ndamukong Suh's summer football camp. Played through two sprained ankles (Iowa, 10/16; Penn State 10/30), missed only Purdue (11/13). Won team's Richard Katcher award the past two seasons for being the team's best defensive lineman.

[Chadman]

ROUND 3

KEENAN ROBINSON LB
TEXAS
6'3" 242lbs
33" Arms
10" Hands

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Call this one a 'hunch'. The Steelers always attend Texas Pro Days in force & this season was no different. The Steelers obviously need to look for the long term replacement for James Farrior, and lucky for them, there are multiple options in this season's draft. But why Robinson? Well- the Steelers have valued the Texas program under Tomlin- nearly ALWAYS selecting at least 1 Longhorn in each draft. Also- the Steelers lost their 'signal caller' in Farrior- and no doubt they'll be looking for a player with the ability to call the plays in the future. Watch the video attached later & you will see that Robinson is often calling the defensive plays for Texas. Robinson isn't a 'flashy' player- but he's solid, doesn't make many mistakes & is familiar with playing 3-4 defences & signal calling. It's a pretty good fit.


Robinson joins fellow senior linebacker Emmanuel Acho to give Texas its second top 150-prospect duos at the second level in the past three years; Sergio Kindle (2nd round, #43, Baltimore) and Roddrick Muckelroy (4th, #131, Cincinnati) both heard their names called in the 2005 draft.
As a redshirt freshman, Robinson led the Longhorns with 10 special teams tackles and saw time on defense as a reserve (24 tackles, two for loss, pass break-up). He then earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors by starting every game as a sophomore, posting 74 tackles, five for loss and 1.5 sacks, and five PBUs. Robinson produced enough in 2010 (96 tackles, eight for loss, two sacks, two interceptions) to again earn honorable mention notice from league coaches, as well as second-team all-conference honors from the Associated Press.Robinson shined in Texas' 2010 match-up against Oklahoma (as did Acho), making 19 tackles, including 10 solo stops and two behind the line of scrimmage. If he uses his size/speed combination to its fullest by improving his tackling consistency, and produce like he did in last year's Red River Shootout, Robinson will be one of the best true 4-3 linebacker prospects come April.



Read & React: Possesses average instincts, more likely to make plays with quick reactions than diagnosing. Handles misdirection well with quick change of direction ability. Comes downhill quickly against the run when he has an open lane.
Run defense: Gives effort between the tackles to find the ball, willing to take on linemen to fill a hole. Flashes strength to punch or stiff-arm to get off lineman blocks, but is inconsistent feeling them when not head-up. Stays with plays downfield, often making tackles, even after being hit by multiple linemen. Lacks pop and strength to anchor, though. Most effective when uncovered inside and chasing stretch plays to the sideline.
Pass defense: Displays nice agility and awareness in coverage. Capable of dropping deep quickly off the snap, also coming off a seam route to make tackles on underneath route. Stays with tight end and larger receivers in his zone, fights for the ball if its thrown in his area. Finds the first down marker and will bait quarterbacks into making throws to that receiver. Closes on receivers on front of him, does whatever it takes to bring them down immediately after the catch. Lacks elite quickness and change of direction ability to handle NFL slot receivers after initial contact.
Tackling: Chaser with speed to reach either sideline, closing ability to take down ballcarriers behind the line of scrimmage. Owns strength and length to bring down backs in the open field and receivers on bubble screens. Does not blow up targets. Many inside tackles are catch-and-drags, which will be more difficult to make at the next level. Plays upright. Ducks his head and fail to wrap at times. Also leaves his feet too often and shoulders ballcarriers, trying to make the big hit. Inconsistent giving full effort to be the second man in the play.
Pass Rush/Blitz: Not asked to go after the quarterback often in Texas' stack. Has the size and speed to be effective, but must learn to use hands to beat lineman and running back blocks.Intangibles: Plays a bit nasty, sometimes drawing flags for unnecessary roughness. Stepped forward as a leader through his words and action over the past year. Good student in the classroom and the film room. No work ethic or character issues. Brother, Aubrey Smith, played cornerback at NAIA's Missouri Valley College.

[Chadman]

ROUND 4

LUCAS NIX OG
PITTSBURGH
6'5" 317lbs
33.5" Arms
10" Hands

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Big, rough & tough. And plays another position that could use an upgrade. How often have Tomlin/Colbert 'double dipped' on a position in a draft? Put down Adams & Nix as your next 'double dip'. The Steelers could, essentially, sure up the future of the OL with these 2 selections combined with what is currently on the roster.


Pittsburgh's offensive line struggles forced coaches' hand during the 2010 season. Desparate to protect quarterback Tino Sunseri and run future fifth-round pick Dion Lewis more effectively, they shifted Nix from right tackle to right guard and moved 6-7, 315-pound junior Jordan Gibbs into the starting line-up at Nix's old spot. The team won seven of its last 10 games, averaging nearly 28 points a game and topping 200 rushing yards in four contests.
Nix spent his first two years with the Panthers at right tackle, playing six games as a reserve in his true freshman season before moving into the starting line-up in all 13 games in 2009.While Nix could get a chance at tackle at the next level, he may face difficulties against NFL speed on the outside without substantial improvement in his lateral movement. Playing inside allows him take advantage of his strength and toughness at the point of attack and fair mobility to the second level, which will gain him favor among NFL scouts and offensive line coaches alike during the draft season.



Pass blocking: Works hard to keep his quarterback clean but lacks lateral movement to stay outside at the next level. Anchors well when leaning into defenders and uses effort and length to ride defenders around or through the pocket. Bends at the waist, and will overextend at times, due to a lack of upper-body and hip flexibility. Stronger defenders can also get under his pads to push him back. Uses effort and length to recover, but NFL defenders with strong hands will get him off-balance (especially one-on-one in space) easily unless his stance and knee bend improves.
Run blocking: Solid drive-blocker who gets push off the snap and churns his legs to move the pile. Pushes around second-level defenders when his head is up and feet underneath him. Has upper-body strength and tenacity to turn defenders out of the hole. Forward momentum allows him to move on to the next target if his man goes to the ground. Does not latch onto defenders with his hands consistently, they can roll off his block after initial contact to get involved in plays. Struggles to get low in his stance. Generally effective as a cut blocker, though pro tackles could defeat him with their hands more easily.
Pulling/trapping: Possesses the mobility to trap effectively inside and move outside the tackle on occasion. Hit-and-miss connecting and sustaining against targets, though, as he regularly bends at the waist, drops his head and sometimes leaves his feet to make the block. Gets down quickly to put defenders getting into the backfield on the ground. Inconsistent attacking linebackers at the second level, hesitates at times, allowing quicker defenders to elude him.
Initial Quickness: Inconsistent quickness off the snap, sometimes coming up last. Come off low and hard on run plays when in sync with the center. Gets to second level quickly when uncovered, but Has trouble stopping to adjust to quick linebackers and defensive backs because he lacks bend and flexibility.
Downfield: Lacks foot speed to be a major threat as a lead blocker outside, but flashes the ability to reach linebackers and safeties outside the box. Excellent hustle on extended plays, constantly follows the ballcarriers into (or past) the second level to help push them for an extra yard. Effective cut blocker, stays low out of his stance, get down quickly to take out defenders just below the knees. Intangibles: Full-effort player with a team-first attitude. Cited for disorderly conduct in March 2009. Brother, Nate, is a senior defensive end at Pitt.

[Chadman]

ROUND 5

BRANDON TAYLOR SAFETY
5'11" 209lbs
31" Arms
9.5" Hands


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There is no doubt that the Steelers will need depth & youth at both SS & FS in the near future. Both Mike Tomlin & Ryan Clark were at LSU's Pro Day- no doubt they would have cast an eye over Brandon Taylor.

A three-year starter at strong safety … Voted one of five permanent team captains for LSU's SEC Championship and national runner-up team in 2011 … Played in 49 games with 33 starts during his career with the Tigers … Capped career with 160 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 15 pass breakups and four interceptions … One of the newest traditions at LSU is for the player that best represents what it means to be a Tiger - on and off the field - to wear No. 18 … He was selected by Coach Miles and former No. 18s - Matt Mauck, Jacob Hester, Richard Dickson and Richard Murphy - to inherit that number as a senior in 2011 … One of three members of his family to earn a football scholarship to LSU … His brother Curtis played on LSU's national title team in 2007 and was drafted in the 2008 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers … Another brother Jhyryn spent two years at LSU before transferring to a junior college in the spring of 2010.

[Chadman]

ROUND 6

RYAN VAN BERGEN DE
MICHIGAN
6'6" 288lbs


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After losing both Hoke & Smith, there are 2 positions open on the roster. Looking at a late round DE might not be a bad move.

Michigan Pro Day: Despite leading Michigan in both tackles for loss (12.5) and sacks last year (5.5), Ryan Van Bergen didn't receive an invitation to the NFL Combine last month. He bounced between defensive end and defensive tackle over his career as the Wolverines changed schemes and coaches. But regardless of where he lined up on the field, Van Bergen was always moving at full-go and that intensity was on display Thursday during Michigan's Pro Day in Ann Arbor. Van Bergen, who weighed in a 291 pounds, ran a 4.90 40-yard dash and put up 31 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. He suffered a right foot injury in the Sugar Bowl in January and has been feverishly rehabbing to work out for NFL teams. - Dane Brugler, NFLDraftScout.com

[Chadman]

ROUND 7

LENNON CREER RB
LOUISIANA TECH
5'11" 219lbs
31.5" Arms
9" Hands

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Pretty sure the Steelers will look at a RB at some point in this draft- just a matter of who & where. Creer offers low risk in Round 7, but potentially high upside.


Creer was a top-10 running back recruit at the prep level, choosing Tennessee over Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama and several other prominent programs. He saw immediate action in 2007 as a true freshman, recording 214 yards on 36 carries (5.9) and 1 touchdown. Fighting with Arian Foster and Montario Hardesty for playing time, Creer was a back-up in 2008 as a sophomore, finishing second on the team with 388 yards on 73 carries (5.3) and 4 scores. He decided to transfer prior to the 2009 season and chose Louisiana Tech over Baylor, TCU and Rice, sitting out that year due to transfer rules. Creer was a rotational starter in 2010 as a junior with 6 starts, recording a team-best 1,181 yards on 212 carries (5.6) and 10 touchdowns with 25 catches for 181 yards (7.2), earning Second Team All-WAC honors. He was hampered by injuries in 2011 as a senior and wasn?t as productive (10 starts), finishing with 838 yards on 198 attempts (4.2) for 9 scores, adding 18 catches for 93 yards (5.2) and 1 touchdown.Creer is a linear, one-speed runner with good instincts and vision, but struggles to stay balanced through contact and won?t break a lot of tackles. He decided to leave Tennessee after several run-ins with coaches and carries some character and maturity concerns. Creer has good speed for a player his size, but is very average across the board with several durability concerns and will struggle to stick on a roster at the next level ? late round prospect at-best.



Strengths: A quick, smooth athlete with the footwork to make sharp cuts and redirect his momentum in a flash. Shows good vision and patience with natural running instincts. Has good straight-line speed with quick acceleration and a second gear downfield. Has a good-sized frame to add some bulk and get stronger. Has reliable hands out of the backfield with a combined 43 receptions the past two years. Shows very good effort in pass protection, giving up his body and taking on blocks. Has some experience as a return man on kickoffs.Weaknesses: An upright runner with a lean torso and not a lot of bulk on his frame. A one-speed runner and lacks any explosive qualities with tight hips. Has poor balance and has the bad habit of losing coordination when changing directions ? his feet and upper body look to be on two different pages. Goes down too easily upon contact and needs to do a better job staying on his feet and anticipating hits. Needs to be more of a finisher and run with more purpose and determination. Has battled several injuries the past two seasons, including an ankle issue that plagued him through his senior year and caused him to miss the final two games of the 2011 regular season (didn?t even practice). Has had maturity and coachability issues at both Tennessee and Louisiana Tech ? questionable passion and work ethic to make it as a pro. Allowed himself to be academically ineligible for the 2011 bowl game and his final game in college.

[RuthlessBurgher]

To add some fuel to the fire, so to speak, the Steelers had Mike Tomlin, Sean Kugler & Todd Haley at the Ohio St Pro Day

Don't we always show up en masse at OSU? It's a piece-of-cake 3 hour commute on I-70 from Pittsburgh to Columbus, so it is no big deal for those guys to take a quick day trip like this...if all of our big guns were flying across multiple time zones for a Pro Day, then that might shed some light on our intentions. We have drafted several Buckeye in recent seasons, but they have all been toys for OSU alum Dick LeBeau to play with (Cam Heyward, Thaddeus Gibson, Doug Worthington). The last OSU player on offense we took was pre-Tomlin (the trade up for Santonio).

[Chadman]

Don't we always show up en masse at OSU? It's a piece-of-cake 3 hour commute on I-70 from Pittsburgh to Columbus, so it is no big deal for those guys to take a quick day trip like this...if all of our big guns were flying across multiple time zones for a Pro Day, then that might shed some light on our intentions. We have drafted several Buckeye in recent seasons, but they have all been toys for OSU alum Dick LeBeau to play with (Cam Heyward, Thaddeus Gibson, Doug Worthington). The last OSU player on offense we took was pre-Tomlin (the trade up for Santonio).

That's very true. But then, under Tomlin/Colbert the Steeler have drafted from ONLY 4 college conferences within the first 2 rounds- Big 10, Big 12, ACC & SEC. Does that mean they'll only draft from those 4 conferences in the first 2 rounds this year? The Steelers also always send a large contingent of FO types to LSU, Florida State, Texas & Michigan. It could just be that the FO appreciates the big program school prospects more. But using history as a guide Ruthless- you are spot on. Adams won't be 'the guy' if history proves true.

[Chadman]

Been a few days since we visited this site, so Chadman has had some time to think about the direction the Steelers MIGHT go as far as the 1st Round is concerned.

Here's what we KNOW about the Steelers when it comes to the 1st Round-
1. They don't necessarily draft for 'need' so much as value compared to need- ie, Mendenhall's selection- they had a starting RB in place, but when Mendy fell to them, he was simply best value compared to the need for an eventual successor to Parker.
2. Big school, big production is important- possibly vital.
3. Rarely take risks on 1st Round picks- character/injury/consistancy are important factors.
4. Juniors get a favourable look.
5. 1st round picks are generally selected with a view to learning off a vet who is nearing the end of their Steelers career- ie Heyward/Hood behind Smith/Keisel, Timmons behind Foote/Farrior, Mendy behind Parker.
6. Picks will often have been checked out by Colbert or Tomlin- or both at Pro Days, visits.
7. The Steelers appear to prefer to pick players rated as the best or 2nd best at their respective positions in the draft class- the exception being when drafting at #32/#31 where it comes down to BPA (although it can be argued that both Heyward & Hood were within the top 2 3-4 DE's of their class.) Timmons was the 2nd LB drafted, Pouncey the 1st C, Mendy the 2nd RB. This is, of course, in comparison to say, drafting the 4th or 5th OT/DE/DT/WR of their class.

[Chadman]

So, which players are really potential 1st Round selections for the Steelers? Chadman will list the most likely candidates as far as he sees them, in no particular order:

LB Luke Keuchley
LB Donta Hightower
NT Jerrel Worthy
NT Dontari Poe
OG Cordy Glenn
OT Mike Adams
WR Kendall Wright
SS Mark Barron
CB Stephon Gilmore
RB Doug Martin
RB David Wilson
RB Lamar Miller
WR Stephen Hill
OC Peter Konz
TE Coby Fleener

That would be, really, the likely possibilities, at this point in time. Of that group Keuchley, Poe & Stephen Hill are likely to be selected before the Steelers pick. Cordy Glenn is a strong possibility to have gone by #24 as well, but not as certain. Hill might not be considered, even if he was to fall to #24, due to a log-jam of young, talented WR's at the Steelers. That isn't to say he wouldn't be considered, but it's unlikely. Keuchley would get serious consideration if he fell to #24. Poe...is interesting. Physically, he's perfect, but his body of work is average & his level of competition doesn't fit. Chadman would suggest that Poe, even if he fell to #24, might be overlooked by the Steelers regardless. Cordy Glenn, however, would get serious consideration.

Peter Konz, David Wilson & Lamar Miller could be considered 'reaches' at #24, and areunlikely to be selected by the Steelers.

Kendall Wright, while a great player, is similar to Stephen Hill in that he is a value player, but in a position where there might be too much recent investment to seriously consider a 1st round selection.

Mike Adams, as has been mentioned numerous times, has some questionable character issues that might strike him from the board. He would have to do some serious great interviewing to be an actual consideration.

This leaves us with Jerrel Worthy, Mark Barron, Donta Hightower, Stephon Gilmore, Doug Martin & Coby Fleener as the 'most likely' players to be considered by the Steelers at #24.

Worthy would be considered a NT for the Steelers if selected. He's not the prototype 3-4 NT, he's more a highly talented Chris Hoke type of player. The Steelers went en masse to Michigan St, so you would assume that they cast an eye over him while there. He IS a junior, so he ticks that box too.

Barron is the #1 Safety in the draft- a proposition that might prove enticing to the Steelers. Both Polamalu & Clark are aging, and the only real back-up of note is Ryan Mundy who is, realistically, not the long term answer. Barron might be more of a priority than many fans have made him, and with Kevin Colbert having attended all of Alabama's Pro Days (How many have they had? 3?), the Steelers would know a little about him.

Hightower, Barron's Alabama mate, is a board favourite. "Massive Brilliance" fills many needs as far as perception goes. He's a physical, explosive player that has experience as a 3-4 ILB. Very few questions about him, outside of minor concern about his injuries. He 'makes sense' as a selection. That said- there are several ILB's in this draft, many predicted to fall into the Rounds 2-4 range, that, while not as talented as Massive Brilliance, don't offer too much of a significant drop-off in terms of value. That isn't to say he's 'out', just that the need to draft one in Round 1 isn't that pressing. Add to that, Larry Foote will move into the starting role this season, removing the immdiate need for a replacement, as well as the Steelers potential belief that Stevenson Sylvester might be able to assume the ILB role in the future. It would not surprise Chadman if, despite fans view of the pressing need for an ILB, that the Steelers view the need as more of a secondary or even lower need.

Gilmore might be the best player available at #24. He ticks a lot of boxes as far as Steeler CB's in history go. That said, the Steelers invested a 3rd & 4th round pick on CB's last season, as well as a 3rd round pick on Keenan Lewis. Chadman will assume that these guys might reduce the need for a high-round CB selection.

Fleener is the #1 TE on the board, so like Barron, this might prove an attractive lure. He could start at #2 TE almost immediately through default as there is no real competition for that role. While not often considered by fans, this selection might hold more merit than we give it credit for.

Lastly, Doug Martin. Mendenhall will miss significant playing time through his injury this season, leaving the RB stocks at Redman, an UDFA with 2 starts to his name, Dwyer, a 6th round pick with 1 100 yard game to his name, Clay, another UDFA that scored a TD once, and Batch, a 7th round pick that never made it out of Camp. Just how comfortable are the Steelers with the RB situation? Particularly when you think that the memo from the Rooney's a year ago was to improve the running game- a memo that, when 'ignored', cost Arians his job. So enter Todd Haley- a man known to rely on pass catching RB's like Hightower & Charles. With Mendy in his last season in Pittsburgh, and no proven replacement in place- Chadman is going to assume that RB might have a higher priority than originally thought too. The question is though- is Martin the #2 RB? Or Wilson? Or Miller? Which one fits the Steelers best?

[Chadman]

If Chadman had to order the 'likely' selections, it would go:
1. RB Martin
2. SS Barron
3. NT Worthy
4. TE Fleener
5. ILB Hightower

The "Wild Cards" are Keuchley (unlikely) or Glenn (more likely, but questionable) falling to #24. To counteract that- Keuchley is in the same boat as Hightower- potentially more a "Fan Selection" than a Steeler selection while Kevin Colbert has already identified the OG class to be very deep.

[Chadman]

There is....one other player....that Chadman has left off the list, until now.


Did you know that Levon Kirkland's cousin is available in this draft?

And that he has a meeting scheduled (he may have had it already) with the Steelers?

Now, he doesn't seem to fit a 'position of need' unless there is some shuffling of players on the current roster, but one Pittsburgh journo has already alluded to that possibility...

Chadman presents to you, Devon Still.

[URL]http://pit.scout.com/2/1162366.html[/URL]

If he was selected- and he should fall right in about #24, Ziggy Hood could be moved inside to play NT once Casey Hampton moves on. This would give the Steelers 3 very talented DL players moving forward.

In Chadman's opinion, Still is the most disruptive DL in this draft class, and should be considered a potential pick at #24