RB Seen as a Mid-Round Option for Steelers in 2012 NFL Draft

[Keyplay1]

Re: RB Seen as a Mid-Round Option for Steelers in 2012 NFL D

Here are some of the RB's mentioned in threads the past week or so.

Neal Coolong [BTSC-Behind the Steel Curtain]

Some prospects I would target are: Cyrus Gray (Texas A&M), Ronnie Hillman (San Diego State), Tauren Poole (Tennessee), and Adonis Thomas (Toledo).

steelerkeylargo:

Names we should be looking at in rounds 3-5

Cyrus Gray-3rd
Tauren Poole-4th
Vick Ballard-4th [Also in skl's mock 4th rd]
Terrance Ganaway-5th
Marc Tyler-5th
Davin Meggett-5th

mainesteel83:

I'd look at Bobby Rainey, Davin Meggert, or Bryce Beall as possibilities.

pfelix73:

Need a dynamic RB with great hands who catch some passes out of the backfield. IE- a Shady McCoy- type. Wilson and and also Martin look pretty damn impressive....

isonator07:

"I'd like to see us grab Pead in the 3rd."

--Actually, a very interesting post-- he said:

"Of our biggest needs (NT, OG, ILB) I think we can afford to wait on ILB the most. I'm hoping one or both of Glenn or Poe are available (If both are gone I would hope that Hightower was available for us). In the second taking the best available at the position passed on in the first. I'd like to see us grab Pead in the 3rd."

"I think Pead would be a nice change of pace to Redman. It's kind of a luxury pick, but I think he could be used like Darren Sproles was in New Orleans."

--Yeah! If the Steelers could somehow get all 4 of the players mentioned in the 1st 3rds I doubt anyone in Steeler nation will complain.

There are a number of fans liking Pead. [He was probably first mentioned in Dee Dub's mock] But now I'm thinking the Steelers will not take him since he will probably not be around 4-7 when they will look at RB's.

All of the above mentioned RB's were in this thread. The following are RB's from some other threads and from mocks.

Steel Life:

Some UDFA's to Consider:

Michael Smith, RB Utah St. - Played behind Robert Turbin, but was very impressive in limited role.

Nate Eachus, RB Colgate - Brian Leonard-style RB...hard runner, good receiver.

steelblood:

Bernard Pierce RB Temple. Underclassmen. Had 27 touchdowns in 2011 and averaged 5.4 yards per carry. Pierce is about 6’ tall and 215 pounds. He is still adding bulk to his frame. Some say that he is a little stiff, lacks an extra gear, and runs a bit upright. However, all agree he is a slippery runner who has done all he can at Temple. Is he a late second round pick or a fifth rounder?

There were a few more mentioned in mocks.

Big Rob:

Round 5: Robert Turbin RB Utah State

A 5'9" 220lb running back that can power run with the best of them. He is better than Clay and the out of shape Georgia Tech running back. Plus he's green.

---That sounds about right. My guess is if the Steelers take a RB it will come from the ones on the following list. And as of now Turbin is in there.

117 Chris Rainey RB 11 Florida rSr 5-08 180 3-4
124 Tauren Poole RB 12 Tennessee Sr 5-10 205 4
138 Dan Herron RB 13 Ohio State rSr 5-10 213 4
151 *Robert Turbin RB 14 Utah State rJr 5-10 222 4-5
152 Vick Ballard RB 15 Mississippi State Sr 5-10 219 4-5
163 Terrance Ganaway RB 16 Baylor rSr 6-0 239 5
177 Davin Meggett RB 17 Maryland Sr 5-08 211 5
182 Bobby Rainey RB 18 Western Kentucky rSr 5-07 208 5-6
196 Brandon Bolden RB 19 Mississippi Sr 5-11 222 5-6
206 Marc Tyler RB 20 Southern California rSr 5-11 219 6
222 *Edwin Baker RB 21 Michigan State Jr 5-08 204 6-7
228 Lennon Creer RB 22 Louisiana Tech rSr 5-11 219 6-7
250 Adonis Thomas RB 23 Toledo rSr 5-10 185 7

About the only reasons I could figure for having any interest in RB's would be the noticeable conditioning factor of the backups mentioned by some fans. [Hard to figure that isn't it?] And/or and I didn't want to mention this but besides the ACL injury it is possible that the twitter incident is more in play than anyone suspects.

Oh well, today is the big day for the LB's and DL's. This is what many fans are reall;y waiting for anyway.

[ikestops85]

Re: RB Seen as a Mid-Round Option for Steelers in 2012 NFL D

I'm not sure why we would need a RB like Pead when we have an untested Barron Batch waiting in the wings. I want to see what Batch can do before I invest another draft pick on that type of back.

[aggiebones]

Re: RB Seen as a Mid-Round Option for Steelers in 2012 NFL D

I don't think we need to draft OR sign a RB because we need to see who we already have. Yea, bring in some random cheap FA competition, but that just takes away opportunities to see what we have. There's always a RB cut late that we could bring in as a 3rd/4th option if we get stuck.

But we need to see:
A) How good can Redman be? I too always loved his fall forward. 2nd and 6 versus 2nd and 8/9 which Mendy gives alot. Though Mendy could bust the big one for long that Redman, both could exploit weaknesses for big gainers, Mendy's just went longer. But in 16 games, not that many 'game winners' Better to have someone eating the extra tough yards all game, all season.

B) Can Clay or Dwyer actually play in the NFL? Clay seems to have something and is physical, but can he play smart, get the blocks down that don't force fumbles on Ben and can he keep the ball himself. Is he mentally tough enough to play stretches. Or is he a 3-4 year 3rd stringer? Same with Dwyer. Great runs..periodically. Is fitness a permanent problem? After a long run, he often rolls into the fetal position for the next couple plays. Is he nothing more than a 2-3 carries a game guy like I suspect? Again, keep him for 2-3 more years and let him go. Can either of these guys develop into a Redman-esque contributor that could become more? Or are they at their peak value?

C) Batch? Will he be the same? What actually was he? Lots of question marks with him. I think everyone would like to see more, but I doubt he'll be 'fully' ready for training camp. So he'll be our 4th guy.


So in the first 6 or so games, we'll learn if Redman truly is a workhorse type back, which I think he is. And you know he'll be physically ready for the challenge. We'll also get a good look at Clay versus Dwyer.
After game 6, I think you'll begin to see some of Batch. And one of the other 2 may drop off the team if Batch looks good, unless someone else gets hurt. Games 1-6 are VERY important to Clay and Dwyer as well as training camp/preseason games obviously. But they will want to see them in real games to test them for sure.
Then Mendy will come back at some later point in the season. I don't think he'll be very good and valuable next year, but he'll begin getting more carries as the season progresses.

The question will be late in the year:
Who will stick on the roster of Redman, Clay, Dwyer, Batch and Mendy? Will we actually carry 4 into the playoffs? Possibly, which means only 1 must go. Or will Mendy go from Pup list to IR unless he really shows he is a value going into the playoffs?

The good thing is, we should REALLY be able to get a true handle on which RBs are valuable and which are stealing paychecks due to lack of needing them on the field.

My bet is that 2013 looks like this, Mendy, Redman and Batch while we draft a young kid late or grab another undrafted RB to stash.

[phillyesq]

Re: RB Seen as a Mid-Round Option for Steelers in 2012 NFL D

Yes, I like Isaiah Pead. He is a very well-rounded back. I think 3rd round is the area that the Steelers could be looking at calling his name.

I've heard his name quite a bit throughout the process, and apparently he has at least shown potential as a return guy. With Sanders being looked at as the #1 KR option right now, a return guy who could also help in the passing game would be a nice compliment.

I like Barron Batch -- very easy kid to root for -- but I think it is tough for the Steelers to count on him to come back from his ACL injury at 100%.