PlanetSteelers 2012 Board Mock Draft Official Selection Thread

[Steelersrock151]

With the 53rd pick of the draft, the Cincinnati Bengals continue to guarentee the success of Andy Dalton by supplying him with as many weapons as possible. First a guard to protect him, then the biggest outside threat in the draft to compliment A.J. Green. Now they choose the #2 running back in the draft, Doug Martin, RB, Boise State, who combined with the recently signed Law Firm, Ben-Jarvis Green-Ellis, will give the Bengals a two headed running attack that will strike fear into the hearts of opposing defenses.
Doug+Martin+Boise+State+v+Virginia+Tech+5AuVSANC3yvl.jpg

[RuthlessBurgher]

The Lions really wanted to draft an OT here, because although they resigned Jeff Backus to start for his 12th straight season for them at LT (he actually started all 16 games for them in his first 11 years in the league, all with Detroit, which is remarkable for position that entails such a physical pounding on one's body), they could use some insurance behind him at his age (and also potentially someone who could be better than Gosder Cherilus has been for them at RT).

However, the Lions see better value elsewhere. They are stocked at DT with Ndamukong Suh, Corey Williams, Nick Fairley, Sammie Lee Hill, and Andre Fluellen. However, at DE, they have the aging Kyle Vanden Bosch starting opposite Cliff Avril, who was franchised this offseason. They brought in a couple of high DE picks from other teams (Lawrence Jackson and Everette Brown), but those guys flamed out with their original teams for a reason...they only provide depth at this point. They could use a legit pass-rushing DE as an heir apparent to Vanden Bosch (and a possible replacement for Avril in the future if they are not able to work out a long term deal following this season under the franchise tag). The Lions go B.P.A. here with a disruptive pass rusher.



The Detroit Lions select Marshall DE Vinny Curry.

[RuthlessBurgher]

The Atlanta Falcons could really use an upgrade at LT to replace the ineffective Sam Baker. However, when your first pick in the draft is not until the latter half of the 2^nd round (because of trading away a boatload of picks last year to get Julio Jones), you aren’t going to find a plug-and-play LT who can start from day one (the tackles still on the board at this point are more developmental types, and the Falcons want more of an immediate impact from their top selection). Looking elsewhere for value, they note that only one TE has come off the board so far, and they have no one of note behind the 36 year old Tony Gonzalez. The Falcons will use this pick to take the future heir apparent to Gonzalez and in the mean time, they would have a decent 1-2 punch at TE (and New England has already laid out the blueprint for how to effectively use multiple TE’s as weapons).



The Atlanta Falcons select Clemson TE Dwayne Allen.

[pfelix73]

It's 1:01 PM and the Broncos rush to the podium to select RB from Va Tech- David Wilson.... McGahee isn't getting any younger...We now have our rb of the future and who can catch balls out of the backfield ala Marshall Faulk... welcome..

[RuthlessBurgher]

The Pittsburgh Steelers look at their board and see multiple quality players available at positions of need for them.

They need an heir apparent to Casey Hampton…Alameda Ta’Amu and Brandon Thompson are both still on the board.

Rashard Mendenhall blew out a knee at the end of last year and will be a free agent after this season, leaving only Isaac Redman and a bunch of guys with little-to-no experience backing him up…David Wilson and Lamar Miller are both still on the board.

Although we drafted LT Jonathan Martin in round one (thereby moving Willie Colon inside to fill one of the guard spots since Gilbert will remain at RT), we still could upgrade the other guard spot as well (Doug Legursky and Ramon Foster are valuable backup types, but they are both merely adequate as starters)…Kelechi Osemele and Brandon Brooks are both still on the board.

Regarding the RB’s, I think the front office holds Mendenhall in much higher regard than many on this board. They will likely draft a RB in this draft, but not this early. They likely expect Rashard back and contributing this season (even if he has to spend the first 6 weeks on PUP), and in the mean time, Redman and some combination of a mid-round pick, Barron Batch, Jon Dwyer, John Clay, Chad Spann fighting it out for backup roster spots should be enough to get us through this year. If the team didn’t expect to be able to extend Mendenhall on a reasonable deal beyond this year, they might go RB this early, but I think Rocket Rashard is still in their future plans.

Among the DT’s, Thompson is more of a penetrator while Ta’Amu is more of the classic space eater that we are used to. Since their space eater Hampton is likely nearing the end, while their penetrating type McLendon (taking over for the retired Hoke) is just beginning, the team would probably prefer Ta’Amu if choosing between the two. But do they absolutely need to use a high pick on a NT here? If the team was not confident in Hampton’s recovery, him and his large salary would likely have been dumped in the recent salary purge. With Hampton, McLendon, and Ziggy Hood as a fallback option at NT, should the team spend its 2^nd round pick on a two-down player who would not play much at all as a rookie? If all that they are looking for at this point is a rotational backup NT type right now, they might until later in the draft for a Hebron Fangupo, Nicolas Jean-Baptiste, or Akiem Hicks type with a later pick.

That leaves me with another OL pick (which I know will not go over well with some on the board, but so be it). Since we drafted an OT in round 1, I think I would prefer the pure guard in Brooks as opposed to another OT/OG hybrid type in Osemele (even if Osemele might be expected to start sooner in his NFL career than Brooks). Brooks is rising up draft boards because of his high upside. He tips the scales at nearly 350 lbs. but does not appear to have an ounce of fat on his body, carrying that weight as well as one could imagine (especially considering the spare tire guts that we have seen on many of our o-linemen recently). He’s able to move remarkably well for someone of his considerable weight, and he is a nasty mauler with a mean streak in the running game. He may not be able to start from day one (we may have to continue to use Ramon Foster in the starting lineup for a little while, while Brooks adjusts from Miami of Ohio to the NFL game), but eventually, a starting OL of Martin-Brooks-Pouncey-Colon-Gilbert turns what has been our most visible weakness for the last several seasons into a potential strength.



The Pittsburgh Steelers select Miami (OH) guard Brandon Brooks.

[pfelix73]

With the next pick in this years draft, the Houston Texans select NG Alameda Ta'Amu from the Univ. of Washington. We needed a big body in our new defense and we got our man. We were even looking at selecting him in the 1st round, so we believe we are getting excellent value here....

[RuthlessBurgher]

The Packers got their pass rusher opposite of Clay Matthews when they traded up for Courtney Upshaw in round 1. They have a need at safety because of Nick Collins' neck injury, but as mentioned earlier, the depth at safety in this draft kinda sucks. At RB, Ryan Grant is a free agent. James Starks is scheduled to be a starter, but he has had problems staying healthy going back to college. Behind him is Brandon Saine and Alex Green (as well as FB John Kuhn in a pinch). They could use someone dynamic at RB to put this already explosive offense over the top. There is a breakaway runner still on the board who also has soft hands and good ball skills as a pass catcher as well.



The Green Bay Packers select Miami RB Lamar Miller.

[NottinghamForest_UK]

I was tempted to add another running back (James) to the corps, I mean who'd rely on Flako to throw the ball, not I! However, Rice alone can carry the load on the ground. Therefore, with the Second Round pick the Rat Birds decide to add another deep threat to their ranks. An intelligent, hard working, polished route runner in the name of WR, CHRIS GIVENS. This giving them two outside speed weapons and another big play threat.

[RuthlessBurgher]

The 49ers, after using their first round pick on Ohio State OT Mike Adams (before realizing he was busted for smoking pot at the Combine...D'Oh!), is looking to fill in depth on their defensive front. Justin Smith was an animal last year (best season for a 3-4 DE since Aaron Smith was in his prime), but he is entering his 12th season in the league and will be turning 33 during the first month of the season. There is no real solid depth behind Justin Smith and Ray McDonald at DE in the Niners' 3-4 defense, so they are looking to add who can rotate in with Smith and McDonald and keep them fresh (and may eventually replace Smith in the starting lineup in a few years).



The San Francisco 49ers select Nebraska DE Jared Crick.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Squidkid PM'ed me his pick for New England.



The New England Cheetahs select Iowa State guard Kelechi Osemele.

[Discipline of Steel]

Cornerback isnt the biggest need on the Giants roster but its a position in flux and they get incredible value here by selecting

Jayron Hosley

Virginia Tech has been a factory for defensive backs in the NFL. Hosley is fast with excellent instincts and hands. If he can develop his body more, he could be a top notch NFL corner. Stick him in the weight room for a year and watch him blossom.

[RuthlessBurgher]

The Colts need help virtually everywhere, so they can literally pick the best player available, and he will likely fill a need for them as well. They've already addressed QB and CB in rounds 1 and 2, now it is time to addresses the trenches. While Indy has always had a solid edge rush with Freeney and Mathis, they've never been able to generate a consistent push up the middle from the DT spot. It seems like they have been trying to fill this spot for years (bringing in guys like Corey Simon and Booger McFarland, etc.) to no avail. To kick off the 3rd round, the Colts will go after a guy they can't believe didn't get selected in the first two rounds of this draft.



The Indianapolis Colts select Clemson DT Brandon Thompson.

[RuthlessBurgher]

The Rams have had a great draft so far, trading down with the Redskins for a TON of picks, still getting the weapon they so desperately needed for Sam Bradford in WR Justin Blackmon at #6 (when that's likely who they would have taken at #2 anyway), having a beast like DT Michael Brockers fall into their laps at the top of the second round, and then grabbing LB Lavonte David, whose talent matches their scheme nearly perfectly. The main thing that they have not addressed is o-line. Former #2 overall pick Jason Smith looks like a bust, but they may try to salvage him by moving him inside to guard (which worked in the past for guys like Leonard Davis and Robert Gallery). Meanwhile, Roger Saffold looks like he would be more comfortable at right tackle as opposed to being in charge of protecting Bradford's blind side. The Rams are looking for someone who could replace Smith at RT right away, and possibly swap sides with Saffold in the future.



The St. Louis Rams select Florida State OT Zebrie Sanders.

[RuthlessBurgher]

The Vikings filled major needs in the first two rounds with a franchise LT in Matt Kalil, and a major upgrade at safety in Harrison Smith (when Mistral Raymond and Jamarca Sanford...who?...are your projected starters at safety, that's the definition of a major need). Now, however, they need weapons on offense, because they are one Percy Harvin migraine headache away from having diddly poo at receiver (unless Michael Jenkins and Devin Aromashodu excite you...didn't think so). To pair with the quick and nifty 5'11" 184 lbs. Harvin, they'll go for a big bodied 6'4" 220 lbs. target for Christian Ponder.



The Minnesota Vikings select Appalachian State WR Brian Quick.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Squidkid PM'ed his 3rd round pick for Cleveland...they've already added a trio of players from offensive skill positions in RB Trent Richardson, WR Kendall Wright, and QB Brandon Weeden. Time to build up the defense now? Nope. Fortify that o-line. Wrong again. Considering how poor Cleveland's offensive weapons have been of late, they are adding yet another offensive weapon to their arsenal as they totally re-make their offensive identity in one draft, adding a big bodied target (6'3" 224 lbs.) to go with the shiftier Wright (5'10" 196 lbs.).



The Cleveland Browns select Arizona WR Juron Criner.