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

[Chadman]

ROUND 4


KEITH TANDY CB/FS
WEST VIRGINIA
5'10" 202lbs

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Why Tandy here? Well, the Steelers need a FS of the future- fast. Ryan Clark is 32, and he can't play in Denver. We start our season in Denver. Not suggesting Tandy starts Day 1, but the fact that this means Ryan Mundy will be starting game 1 shows the need for some quality young depth coming through to take the position down the line. Tandy was a CB in college, but Chadman suggests he might prove to be a good FS. This is possibly a round early for Tandy- but with that said, pretty sure he's visited all 32 NFL teams this off season...at least, it seems that way everytime Chadman goes to KFFL.com & sees updates with Keith Tandy every day..


Positives: Best fit is in a zone scheme and lacks the vertical speed to shadow elite receivers. Keeps the ball and man in front of him in zone and might be a candidate to convert to safety. Thickly built for a corner and closes with intent, chasing laterally and is effective bringing down bigger targets. Negatives: Zone-specific prospect who is likely only a fit in nickel or dime packages with predominantly man-to-man teams. Not consistent with his footwork, is a bit choppy in transition and is slow to find the ball on deep routes.

[Chadman]

ROUND 5


TONEY CLEMONS WR
COLORADO
6'2" 210lbs

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The Steelers have a very promising WR group, but they lack 1 thing- a physical, 'big' WR. This is where Clemons fits. A big, fast guy that can get open, he wouldn't be expected to see much playing time right away, but with contracts running out in the next 2 years for our 3 stud young WR's- Wallace, Brown & Sanders- it can't hurt to have a guy backing them up that can play the role when required. Wasn't the last Colorado WR we got Charles Johnson? If he could be half the player Johnson was in this round, he's a bargain.

Pro days can lead to pay days in the NFL. One head-turning performance by a college standout can draw that fine line between the beginnings of a pro career and selling insurance for a living. Valley grad Toney Clemons had one of those attention-grabbing pro days earlier this month in Boulder, Colo., and it could have unlocked a door into the NFL. "It came down to 80 yards," said Clemons, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound wide receiver who wasn't invited to the NFL Scouting Combine but played in a senior all-star game in Arkansas. "Two 40 (-yard dashes). I had a quiet confidence and was ready to compete that day." The Colorado grad blistered the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds -- the fastest 40 time in the former track star's career. "Officially, it's the fastest," said Clemons, 23. "You have some great athletes running the 10 split in 1.50 or 1.49. I did it in 1.47. You want to be able to perform when it counts most." "I have the draftable grades," Clemons said. "To be picked would be a great thing. I feel I have done what I needed to do. It's incredible to be in a position where I once saw myself getting to."

[Chadman]

ROUND 6


KELVIN BEACHUM OT/OG
SOUTHERN METHODIST
6'3" 302lbs

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Beachum comes from the same school as Manny Sanders, and has been a productive player for a number of years at LT for SMU. He probably doesn't have the skills to stay at LT, but he could be our next "Trai Essex" and be able to play a number of positions- a valuabe guy to have dressed on gameday.

Beachum is an undersized offensive tackle from SMU who started every game in his career after redshirting as a freshman. He is undersized for the position in the NFL, but he improved steadily throughout his career and displays the level of athletic ability, body control and footwork to be drafted in the late rounds of the draft. Beachum has significant strength deficiencies which are constantly evident in his play. His ability to physically develop within an NFL program in his first year will likely be the driving force of his football future.
Analysis

Strengths

Beachum is very quick off the ball and has an obvious sense of urgency to his play. He has a good first step to get out in front and gain position. When working up field, he has very impressive short area quickness and footwork. He is able to throttle down his weight instantly to fit on moving linebackers, and he really impressed in the limited exposure he had working in space while playing tackle. Beachum shows smooth, controlled lateral agility when engaging his pass set. Weaknesses

Beachum is a soft prospect after putting four years on film. Although he comes off the ball and moves quickly, he is a non-explosive type who struggles to generate push on his man off the snap. He struggles in the run blocking game, which doesn't bode well for his development and projected move inside to guard. He didn't get many opportunities to showcase classic run blocking within SMU's scheme, and for NFL teams it will be somewhat of a crap shoot in terms of projecting his ability to effectively move to guard. Kelvin is a mirror and patty cake blocker who was effective and productive at SMU, but he has questionable NFL-transferable skills.

[Chadman]

ROUND 7

A)
JERRELL HARRIS OLB
ALABAMA
6'2" 239lbs

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B)
AKIEM HICKS DE
REGINA
6'5" 318lbs

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C)
RYAN VAN BERGEN DE
MICHIGAN
6'5" 290lbs

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D)
BRODERICK BINNS OLB
IOWA
6'0" 258lbs

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[Oviedo]

Chadman--great effort. You focus on the OL first which is what we need to do instead of continuing to invest in defense and then complaining about the offense. Your selections are well balanced between the offense and defense.

The one problem is that you got the wrong Wisconsin OL. Zeitler is more of a sure thing. Konz has had far more injury issues in college than Zeitler. I keep hearing that he is a Round 2 pick...BS. He will be the highest rated Guard available when we draft at #24. We need to improve both OG positions significantly. He should be the pick.

In a perfect world we trade down some and get additional picks and still get Zeitler, but Zeitler is the right answer for us if guys like Martin and Glenn are gone.

[Chadman]

Chadman--great effort. You focus on the OL first which is what we need to do instead of continuing to invest in defense and then complaining about the offense. Your selections are well balanced between the offense and defense.

The one problem is that you got the wrong Wisconsin OL. Zeitler is more of a sure thing. Konz has had far more injury issues in college than Zeitler. I keep hearing that he is a Round 2 pick...BS. He will be the highest rated Guard available when we draft at #24. We need to improve both OG positions significantly. He should be the pick.

In a perfect world we trade down some and get additional picks and still get Zeitler, but Zeitler is the right answer for us if guys like Martin and Glenn are gone.

As you know Ovi, Chadman has no problem with Zeitler as the pick- but curious- why do rate Zeitler ahead of Konz? Every report is very positive on Konz- and unlike Zeitler, he is generally referred to as a 1st round quality player. The big selling point for Chadman (that he now realises he left out) is that Konz is a junior- and we know that Tomlin & Colbert value juniors coming out of college.

Also- in the Defense/Offense 1st round pick rotation, it's the Offenses turn this year. Another reason Chadman forgot to add.

Oh- and position flexibility...we know the Steelers like that too...geez- Chadman's memory is playing up...