2 More Months Til Draft

[flippy]

Does anyone else love and hate this part of the offseason?

I love watching as many college players as I can this time of year. And I really appreciate all the insight people on this board have for different schools and conferences. I really rely on you guys more than some of the experts. I trust a lot of you more. You guys tell me what you see instead of just repeating the same stuff about every player out there.

But on the flip side, the thing I hate is I get emotionally invested in so many guys that never become Steelers. Come the start of the season, we're only going to have 1 #1 draft choice. And in my mind I've considered close to 50 guys that could be Steelers.

And I know most of you guys are with me here. This stuff is great fun. Best part of the season. I read you guys doing the same things as me - moving Pouncey to G, going with the 2 TE sets, replacing some aging vets.

There's gonna be some initial let down when we don't get 49 of those guys. And we'll move on and get excited about the guys we get. There's probably gonna be a couple draft picks everyone's gonna be puzzled to see us take. But we'll get on board and hope for the best.

I know I'm setting myself up for a bit of a let down. But who cares? This is still the best part of the season. And keep the info coming fellas. Thanks for all of your hard work.

[Dee Dub]

Welcome to my world flippy. You know I love the draft and watching future prospects. I have a long list every year, usually starting as yearly as September, that I would love to have as a Steeler. And that is why I love the draft. It is all about the Steelers. The draft is like Christmas II. We as football fans get new toys. Every year I take the GBNREPORT's top 300 and check them off as they are drafted during the draft. And more times than not I watch almost the entire draft. Yes, I have issues. But like you, I love this time of year. The anticipation drives me crazy. I wish the draft was end of March and they moved up camps a month. That would be cool.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

I have been trying to figure out how the leagues wish to push the draft and free agency until a month or two later will effect my NFL fandom and the development of drafted youngsters and newly acquired free agents.

[Dee Dub]

Wouldn't it be cool if the league started a small developmental league for the un-drafted players? Then held a second draft (maybe end of August), for these players each year? Allow them to play in the league two years max. Maybe a 6 to 8 game schedule for maybe 4-6 teams? Teams can draft them after their first year and hold their rights over a second season in the development league. Expand rosters etc.

[flippy]

Welcome to my world flippy. You know I love the draft and watching future prospects. I have a long list every year, usually starting as yearly as September, that I would love to have as a Steeler. And that is why I love the draft. It is all about the Steelers. The draft is like Christmas II. We as football fans get new toys. Every year I take the GBNREPORT's top 300 and check them off as they are drafted during the draft. And more times than not I watch almost the entire draft. Yes, I have issues. But like you, I love this time of year. The anticipation drives me crazy. I wish the draft was end of March and they moved up camps a month. That would be cool.

You take the whole draft thing to a different level bro. My draft season typical runs from the end of the playoffs thru April. Yours goes year round. So I know you're even more invested in this process than most of us.

A lot of times I get too busy during football season to keep up. But I always write down guys you mention throughout the season to go take a look at on a rainy day. I appreciate all your insight.

It'd be cool if we could get guys on this board to cover all the college teams for us so we don't miss anything. I don't follow a specific school, but get to see a lot of ACC games and I'll watch Pitt, Penn State, or WVU when I can and I'll always watch an SEC game because they tend to have the best talent. But I appreciate the guys that see a specific team week in and week out because y'all can tell us more about a player beyond the highlights.

We should start a thread seeing who watches which college teams regularly.

[flippy]

Wouldn't it be cool if the league started a small developmental league for the un-drafted players? Then held a second draft (maybe end of August), for these players each year? Allow them to play in the league two years max. Maybe a 6 to 8 game schedule for maybe 4-6 teams? Teams can draft them after their first year and hold their rights over a second season in the development league. Expand rosters etc.

That would be great. We've got quite a few minor league teams (baseball, hockey) in NC and going to games is a blast. I know I can't afford to go to pro games very often, but $5 for a minor league game is perfect.

But I suspect the NFL views college football as their minor league. Or NFL Europe. Or the CFL.

[Dee Dub]

Wouldn't it be cool if the league started a small developmental league for the un-drafted players? Then held a second draft (maybe end of August), for these players each year? Allow them to play in the league two years max. Maybe a 6 to 8 game schedule for maybe 4-6 teams? Teams can draft them after their first year and hold their rights over a second season in the development league. Expand rosters etc.

..and one other thing, I think football fans would much rather like this than expanding NFL football overseas and having a team in London.

[pfelix73]

I would like to see a minor league of some kind that would run from right after the SB until the end of April...

They can put all of the practice squad guys on it plus other FA's looking for work. Start teams in NFL cities-not 32 teams obviously, but regional teams would work to start it out of the gates..

^^^something similar to whats above ^^^

[papillon]

I wish the NFL had a minor league or developmental kleague whatever you want to call it and then college football could go back to being an extracurricular activity for those players that enjoy playing, are good enough top play past college, but have no desire or not enough talent to compete in the NFL. The big name guys that think they're going to make a living at football can join the developmental league, hone their craft and then get drafted whenever a team in the NFL sees fit.

I know it will never happen with all the money attached to college football, but that's my dream.

Pappy

[Sugar]

I enjoy reading the posts here regarding all the players. It's hard enough for me to watch the Steelers, let alone amateur football. Because of that, much of the knowledge of these guys that I get comes from this forum.

I also wish that the NFL had a farm system of some kind. The NCAA is a racket, IMO, and I'd love to see their power over football substantially weakened.

[steelblood]

I love the draft. The possibilities this year are seemingly endless. But, before you get to0 invested in players, keep the following in mind...



Defensive playmakers: We did not force many turnovers nor get enough pressure on the QB last year. This will be addressed. Look at athletic pass rushing freaks early and DBs who have instincts, ball skills, and cause turnovers (i.e. lots of college ints and/or FF) throughout the draft. If Ziggy Ansah, Jarvis Jones, or Dion Jordan fall in this draft we will scoop them up, even if we have to trade up a little. I don't believe the Steelers will like Mingo and Damontre Moore as much. Mingo did not produce enough as a pass rusher (even with great talent around him). And Moore did not succeed in the Von Miller (rover) role that is so much like a 3-4 linebacker. Moore only found his way when he was moved to the base end position (and I think he'll put on some weight and play DE in the pros). DB playmakers the Steelers should like include safeties Matt Elam, Cyprien, and Phillip Thomas and cornerbacks Trufant, Amerson, Poyer, Slay, and Jamar Taylor.

OL: We are switching to a straight zone scheme. We will no longer be looking at plodding 330-350 pound offensive linemen. They will be looking for athletic, trimmer guys that can bend, redirect, and run. They will also be looking at smarter, more technique savy guys, I believe. I understand they met with Jonathan Cooper and Lane Johnson at the Combine (per Walter Football). These types of players and guys like Kyle Long, Barrett Jones, and Menelik Watson in round 2 are the new prototype. Later round targets could include Joe Madsen of WVU, Vinston Painter of VA Tech, and Tanner Hawkinson of Kansas.

RB: Again the zone scheme runners will be high on the list. These guys have good vision and anticipation. They are known for making one cut and hitting the hole quickly. We will also be looking for a 3rd down/change of pace guy after losing Rainey. Zone runners will include Eddie Lacy, Mike Gillislee, Montee Ball early. And, Michael Ford, Rex Burkhead, and Cameron Marshall in middle to late rounds. Change of pace runners with good receiving skills and zone running ability include Gio Bernard and Joseph Randle early, then Kerwynn Williams and Kenyon Barner in the middle rounds.

This is a fantastic TE draft. There will be great value in the middle rounds. Eifert, Escobar, and Ertz will all go in the top two rounds. But, some of the other athletic, basketball-type TEs like Fauria, Toilolo, Kelce, and Vance McDonald should be available late on day 2 or early on day 3. This type of player can play inline and out wide and is effective in the red zone and on 3rd down. Furthermore, our new zone scheme could make more use out of these types of weapons than before.

WR-This WR class lacks top end talent. But the class has enough depth that drafting a WR in the middle rounds could provide good/better value. For the life of me, I have no idea what type of WR Todd Haley would like to add to Brown, Cotchery, and Sanders. You'd think he'd like a burner, but he really didn't use Wallace in that role. So, I guess that is not a priority. Look at guys that run great routes and have solid hands like Steadman Bailey, Markus Wheaton, Quinton Patton, Terrance Williams, DeAndre Hopkins, and Ryan Swope. Or, less likely, guys that create after short catches like Austin, Ace Sanders, or Chad Bumphis. I'd love a big physical guy like Patterson or Cobi Hamilton. But, I don't see it happening.

ILB: Timmons' ability to play all three down affords the team the ability to choose a 2 down run stuffer or find someone athletic enough to stay on the field in passing situations as a blitzer or coverage guy. This is a decent ILB draft. There are a lot of 240 pound linebackers who would fit nicely next to Timmons. Minter, Te'o, Khaseem Greene, Gerald Hodges, Jon Bostic, Ty Powell, and Vince Williams are all possiblities. I believe Ogeltree will be off their list after the DUI so close to the draft.