Ezekiel Ansah Youtube clip

[Dee Dub]

What's amazing is to think what an NFL strength and conditioning program is going to do for him. When he runs in the high 4.5's to low 4.6 teams are going to go crazy over him. I see him being gone between pick 8 to 14. Imagine what Rex Ryan could do with him.

Exactly. And also how having more experience will help him as well. Some good coaching up. And you are probably right. He probably wont be there at 17.

[Dee Dub]

At this point to me its like gazing at a bag of some of the most bad*ss clay you have ever seen. You gotta mold that clay to get an awesome work of art out of it. How has Keith Butler/ Lebeau been with molding the plethora of LB's we have taken over the years? That's the real question. Do we have the artist on staff to do the molding? Timmons has grown. Woodley has regressed. And we had to go out into free agency to get Foote back due to our inability to have anyone else ready to go.

The Steelers have never taken the quick fix approach where their DE/OLB tweeners. If you go back all of them have taken at least a year and in most cases a couple of years to be where they need to be.

[Oviedo]

The Steelers have never taken the quick fix approach where their DE/OLB tweeners. If you go back all of them have taken at least a year and in most cases a couple of years to be where they need to be.

And we are paying the price now with two consecutive substandard seasons from our OLBs. It takes too long to "convert" the players meaning we don't have the depth we need ready to play when we need them. However, IMO Worilds seems to be more ready than Woodley.

[phillyesq]

And we are paying the price now with two consecutive substandard seasons from our OLBs. It takes too long to "convert" the players meaning we don't have the depth we need ready to play when we need them. However, IMO Worilds seems to be more ready than Woodley.

So Woodley's decline in play in the middle of his career is a result of playing DE in college?

[Mister Pittsburgh]

How much did Woodley benefit from having Harrison on the other side? You have a monster one one side, the other side can dominate.

[hawaiiansteel]

So Woodley's decline in play in the middle of his career is a result of playing DE in college?

I believe Woodley's decline in play in the middle of his career is a result of him not being in the proper physical condition which has led to his hamstring pulls...

[hawaiiansteel]

Desmond Trufant's draft stock soaring; Ezekiel Ansah too raw?

By Daniel Jeremiah
Analyst, NFL.com and NFL Network
Published: Jan. 24, 2013

MOBILE, Ala. -- Now that we are through three full days of Senior Bowl practices, it's time to single out a few players who have seen their draft stock rise or fall here:

Risers

Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington: Trufant has been the top cornerback in Mobile. He has shown outstanding foot quickness, agility and ball skills. Most teams that I spoke with prior to the Senior Bowl had Trufant pegged as a middle-of-the-second-round-type player. Following three days of practice, nearly every personnel executive I spoke with considers him a likely first-round pick.

Brandon Williams, DT, Missouri Southern: Williams quickly garnered the attention of NFL personnel during the weigh-ins, checking in at a whopping 341 pounds. He hasn't had any trouble using his size and strength to overpower opposing linemen in one-on-one pass-rush drills. However, his surprisingly nimble footwork is what has been most impressive. He is being talked about as a likely second-round pick.

Marquise Goodwin, WR, Texas: Every time Goodwin lines up for a repetition in one-on-ones, there is a hush in the crowd. NFL evaluators have been intoxicated by his explosiveness off the line of scrimmage and ability to find another gear when the ball is in the air. He has been caught up in press coverage a few times this week, but his overall performance has left quite an impression on clubs in need of a home-run hitter at receiver.

Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech and Markus Wheaton, WR, Oregon State: I couldn't include one of these players without adding the other. Both Patton and Wheaton have been outstanding the entire week of practice. Patton is a little bit stronger than Wheaton, but they are both natural route-runners with incredible quickness. Both guys have made impressive catches on 50-50 balls, defeating cornerbacks with equal opportunities to make a play. Patton and Wheaton can play either inside or outside and should immediately contribute to the teams that draft them. These are plug-and-play-type talents.

Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma: Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher has put together a dominant week of practice, but that was expected by most NFL evaluators. Johnson, on the other hand, didn't show up in Mobile with quite the same reputation. Through the first three days of practice, there aren't many NFL personnel men who consider Johnson anything other than a first-round talent. He's played both left and right tackle and handled opposing pass rushers with ease during the one-on-one pass-rush drills. He also has shown a nasty side in the run game.

Sliders

Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah, DE, BYU: Ansah is one of the most physically gifted players in this draft class, but he showed this week that he still has a lot of developing to do. During pass-rush periods, he repeatedly tried to work through the numbers of the offensive tackle, but his bull rush was rarely effective. He flashed one inside-spin move, but otherwise was predictable and unsuccessful in his pass-rushing attempts. Some teams are concerned with what transpired this week, while others are still bullish on the incredible upside of the BYU defender.

[URL]http://www.nfl.com/seniorbowl/story/0ap1000000130606/article/desmond-trufants-draft-stock-soaring-ezekiel-ansah-too-raw[/URL]

[Dee Dub]

Desmond Trufant's draft stock soaring; Ezekiel Ansah too raw?

By Daniel Jeremiah
Analyst, NFL.com and NFL Network
Published: Jan. 24, 2013

MOBILE, Ala. -- Now that we are through three full days of Senior Bowl practices, it's time to single out a few players who have seen their draft stock rise or fall here:

Risers

Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington: Trufant has been the top cornerback in Mobile. He has shown outstanding foot quickness, agility and ball skills. Most teams that I spoke with prior to the Senior Bowl had Trufant pegged as a middle-of-the-second-round-type player. Following three days of practice, nearly every personnel executive I spoke with considers him a likely first-round pick.

Brandon Williams, DT, Missouri Southern: Williams quickly garnered the attention of NFL personnel during the weigh-ins, checking in at a whopping 341 pounds. He hasn't had any trouble using his size and strength to overpower opposing linemen in one-on-one pass-rush drills. However, his surprisingly nimble footwork is what has been most impressive. He is being talked about as a likely second-round pick.

Marquise Goodwin, WR, Texas: Every time Goodwin lines up for a repetition in one-on-ones, there is a hush in the crowd. NFL evaluators have been intoxicated by his explosiveness off the line of scrimmage and ability to find another gear when the ball is in the air. He has been caught up in press coverage a few times this week, but his overall performance has left quite an impression on clubs in need of a home-run hitter at receiver.

Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech and Markus Wheaton, WR, Oregon State: I couldn't include one of these players without adding the other. Both Patton and Wheaton have been outstanding the entire week of practice. Patton is a little bit stronger than Wheaton, but they are both natural route-runners with incredible quickness. Both guys have made impressive catches on 50-50 balls, defeating cornerbacks with equal opportunities to make a play. Patton and Wheaton can play either inside or outside and should immediately contribute to the teams that draft them. These are plug-and-play-type talents.

Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma: Central Michigan offensive tackle Eric Fisher has put together a dominant week of practice, but that was expected by most NFL evaluators. Johnson, on the other hand, didn't show up in Mobile with quite the same reputation. Through the first three days of practice, there aren't many NFL personnel men who consider Johnson anything other than a first-round talent. He's played both left and right tackle and handled opposing pass rushers with ease during the one-on-one pass-rush drills. He also has shown a nasty side in the run game.

Sliders

Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah, DE, BYU: Ansah is one of the most physically gifted players in this draft class, but he showed this week that he still has a lot of developing to do. During pass-rush periods, he repeatedly tried to work through the numbers of the offensive tackle, but his bull rush was rarely effective. He flashed one inside-spin move, but otherwise was predictable and unsuccessful in his pass-rushing attempts. Some teams are concerned with what transpired this week, while others are still bullish on the incredible upside of the BYU defender.

[URL]http://www.nfl.com/seniorbowl/story/0ap1000000130606/article/desmond-trufants-draft-stock-soaring-ezekiel-ansah-too-raw[/URL]

This is not a revelation. He's only played football for 3 years in his entire life. These things shouldn't be a surprise but should be expected. And you don't have to be an ex-NFL scout Mr. Jeremiah to know this.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Sorry, but you just don't drop the 17th pick in the draft on such a project..especially when you have a lot of other needs. Projects are for the 3rd round on.

[Dee Dub]

Sorry, but you just don't drop the 17th pick in the draft on such a project..especially when you have a lot of other needs. Projects are for the 3rd round on.

I disagree. When he is this talented you do. His upside could make him the best defensive in this entire draft. A dominating force. And because of the progress he made in just over a year from his junior year to senior year I see a player who is on the fast track.

Mister Pittsburgh..he runs a 10.91 100 meters. He's 272 lbs. Quick as a cat and very strong. If we dont somebody else will and you and I will be here on PS talking/screaming about why the Steelers didn't draft him.

[BigRob]

I will be here on PS talking/screaming about why the Steelers didn't draft him.

This, always this, how many times do we do this now? We're never on here screaming about people we wanted the Steelers to draft when they didn't pan out in the NFL.

Ansah is worth the risk. His upside is higher than that of almost any other first round pass rusher. He is a bit more boom/bust than I would like, but he would be worth it.

[Oviedo]

This, always this, how many times do we do this now? However we're never on here screaming about people we wanted the Steelers to draft and don't pan out in the NFL.

Ansah is worth the risk. His upside is higher than that of almost any other first round pass rusher. He is a bit more boom/bust than I would like, but he would be worth it.

Ansah is totally worth and it and I'll say Dion Jordan is too. They are hybrids who I think can help the pass rush and still be effective in coverage. I like the fact that if we get smart and go to the 4-3 they also project well as DE in that formation.

[Dee Dub]

Ansah is totally worth and it and I'll say Dion Jordan is too. They are hybrids who I think can help the pass rush and still be effective in coverage. I like the fact that if we get smart and go to the 4-3 they also project well as DE in that formation.

So far he is doing very well in this Senior Bowl game. I think he is the type of player you don't focus so much on how he does in individual drills but more so how he does in a game.

[SS Laser]

Ansah is totally worth and it and I'll say Dion Jordan is too. They are hybrids who I think can help the pass rush and still be effective in coverage. I like the fact that if we get smart and go to the 4-3 they also project well as DE in that formation.

It is interesting you keep beating the 4-3 drum. When more teams every year switch to the 3-4. Have heard but not confirm the Browns and Saints might/are going 3-4. Must be a reason in todays NFL to run a 3-4.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

It is interesting you keep beating the 4-3 drum. When more teams every year switch to the 3-4. Have heard but not confirm the Browns and Saints might/are going 3-4. Must be a reason in todays NFL to run a 3-4.

I don't mind we run the 3-4. I do mind our 3-4 takes multiple seasons to either learn, or earn a shot to take the field in Lebeau's eyes.