I still would draft T'eo and Minter!!

[Dee Dub]

That isn't how it works. It's the one game where he played against the big boys of the SEC who are the closest thing to NFL talent. IMO he should have played in the Senior Bowl....

The thing that cracks me up is we talk about how bad he played in the Championship game (and I admit he didnt play great), but he still had 10 tackles (total), in that game. And that get's lost because he was under so much scrutiny. He had to dominate or he was going to be criticized. If him getting 10 tackles is the result of him having a poor performance, then the NFL is in for a treat should he put it all together at the next level.

[Captain Lemming]

If they drafted Minter, they'd get big Foote this year.

The way you put it flippy, I say draft him. I'd love to have this beast manning the middle:

ana-bigfoot2.jpg

[feltdizz]

The thing that cracks me up is we talk about how bad he played in the Championship game (and I admit he didnt play great), but he still had 10 tackles (total), in that game. And that get's lost because he was under so much scrutiny. He had to dominate or he was going to be criticized. If him getting 10 tackles is the result of him having a poor performance, then the NFL is in for a treat should he put it all together at the next level.

He had 3 solo tackles... and it was the tackles he didn't make that made him look so bad.

He missed tackles that extended drives which gave him more chances to jump on the pile and get an assist.

I'm not an expert on ILB stats but he had 8 games with 3 or less SOLO tackles. Is that a cause for concern? Who knows...

He also said the combine was exhausting and it's why he didn't run in the 4.5- 4.6 like he usually does. Not a good answer IMO.

[Shawn]

Dont agree. I actually watched it. Other than his 40 T'eo was very solid in his drills. Had a better 20 yard shuttle and a 3 cone drill cone than your boy Alec Ogletree. And again for me that is a better barometer for and ILB than a 40 yard dash is.

Most analysts disagree with you. He has been marked a clear loser and has likely hurt his draft stock significantly. I wouldn't be shocked if he fell to us in the second.

[Dee Dub]

Most analysts disagree with you. He has been marked a clear loser and has likely hurt his draft stock significantly. I wouldn't be shocked if he fell to us in the second.

..and Shawn post some of those concerns. Most are basing that on one thing...his 40 time. Everything else says differently. A 4.27 20 shuttle is pretty good (better than Ogletree, Dion Jordan, Ansah, Mingo, and Sio Moore). And his 3 cone and 60 yard shuttle were above average as well.

But I get it, it's just like one game. People will judge based on one game and one 40 yard dash.

[Dee Dub]

Most analysts disagree with you. He has been marked a clear loser and has likely hurt his draft stock significantly. I wouldn't be shocked if he fell to us in the second.

...and I dont know about most analysts but the two who were on the field yesterday (Mike Mayock and Willie McGinnest), both said they thought he did well in his drills.

[BigRob]

I am almost willing to guarantee we will not be taking an ILB at pick 17.

[Dee Dub]

I am almost willing to guarantee we will not be taking an ILB at pick 17.

You are probably right. I am not saying the Steelers are going to do this. I am saying I would have no problem drafting T'eo and Minter at 17.

[feltdizz]

The problem with Manti is timing... his last game was awful, didnt play in the senior bowl, had the hoax and then had a sub par 40. Most peole would like to see something positive.

We are talking about a guy who won all these awards and finished second in the Heisman. Since that day its been all down hill. Not sure why a person shouldnt be skeptical given how things are playing out. Most guys who finish second in voting and have all this press show a little more than Manti has thus far.

[Chadman]

The problem with Manti is timing... his last game was awful, didnt play in the senior bowl, had the hoax and then had a sub par 40. Most peole would like to see something positive.

We are talking about a guy who won all these awards and finished second in the Heisman. Since that day its been all down hill. Not sure why a person shouldnt be skeptical given how things are playing out. Most guys who finish second in voting and have all this press show a little more than Manti has thus far.

This is an amazingly accurate & valid observation. Cuts right to the heart of what people are worried about concerning Te'o.

It's not that he can't play. But right now, it's like all the cracks are being exposed.

[Dee Dub]

This is an amazingly accurate & valid observation. Cuts right to the heart of what people are worried about concerning Te'o.

It's not that he can't play. But right now, it's like all the cracks are being exposed.

I look at it differently. I see a possible cause and affect here. I see something that happened to him that hurt him deeply and then embarrassed him. I see that this may have caused him to under-perform. He is human after-all. No player that I know of has ever had to do with what he had to deal with. Yesterdays press conference had the largest media contingent in the history of the combine.

Charles Davis of the NFL Network said yesterday that even though T'eo wont admit to it, the story affected his play in the Championship game. After-all it has been reported that the fake girlfriend threatened to show up at the team hotel the day of the game.

[feltdizz]

This is an amazingly accurate & valid observation. Cuts right to the heart of what people are worried about concerning Te'o.

It's not that he can't play. But right now, it's like all the cracks are being exposed.

If he came in ripped... or ran a 4.5... or did 30 reps.. or had a nice senior bowl... just do something that makes people believe this isnt all media and ND hype.

Right now its Te'o fans telling us he is legit but he isnt showing us. IMO not playing in the senior bowl hurt him

[feltdizz]

I look at it differently. I see a possible cause and affect here. I see something that happened to him that hurt him deeply and then embarrassed him. I see that this may have caused him to under-perform. He is human after-all. No player that I know of has ever had to do with what he had to deal with. Yesterdays press conference had the largest media contingent in the history of the combine.

Charles Davis of the NFL Network said yesterday that even though T'eo wont admit to it, the story affected his play in the Championship game. After-all it has been reported that the fake girlfriend threatened to show up at the team hotel the day of the game.

Thats not a good excuse.... he pretty much brought this on himself. Some ND players said he never talked about this girl as anything more than a friend but once the media caught wind she turned into the love of his life.

He had more than enough time to regroup and play in the Senior Bowl...

[Dee Dub]

Thats not a good excuse.... he pretty much brought this on himself. Some ND players said he never talked about this girl as anything more than a friend but once the media caught wind she turned into the love of his life.

He had more than enough time to regroup and play in the Senior Bowl...

That's the difference between you and I. I think it very well could be a viable excuse especially when you look at his performance prior to this event. He played at a very high level and then there was a substantial drop off. But you are who you are and I am who I am. We see things differently. You are quick to judge and condemn and I am not.

[Chadman]

Thats not a good excuse.... he pretty much brought this on himself. Some ND players said he never talked about this girl as anything more than a friend but once the media caught wind she turned into the love of his life.

He had more than enough time to regroup and play in the Senior Bowl...

Again, Chadman is agreeing. Dee Dub is right too, though. It's not like Te'o suddenly became a terrible footballer. He's a talented guy. And he's being put through some extraordinary circumstances- regardless of who is at fault for it.

While Te'o suffering from the pressure is certainly understandable, it would look 'better' for him if he then used this pressure to bring out more focus in him, make him produce something to show that he can overcome. Right now, everything he's giving us is negative. It'll hurt his draft stock, regardless of how right or wrong people are in diagnosing his ability.

His Pro Day has suddenly become HUGE for him, but given the recent 'fall', Chadman is not sure just how much his Pro Day can salvage his pre-Draft stock.

Right now... if he was available at #17, Chadman would try to find greater 'guarenteed value'. If he was there when the Steelers pick in the 2nd... he'd be very tempting.