Where would Decastro have been rated amongst this year's guards?

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

Last season Decastro was the consensus top guard in the draft. The only other guard on the same page was Cordy Glenn who was drafted to play tackle. So, David D dropped all the way to #24 where the Steelers and their fans were thrilled to find him.

This year's draft featured two guards in the top 10, and another drafted at 20. So, my question here is where would our first rounder have been selected if he was available this year? Where would you think he would go?

1. Cooper (7)
2. Warmack (10)
3. Long (20)
4. Warford (65)
5. Winters (72)

[feltdizz]

Last season Decastro was the consensus top guard in the draft. The only other guard on the same page was Cordy Glenn who was drafted to play tackle. So, David D dropped all the way to #24 where the Steelers and their fans were thrilled to find him.

This year's draft featured two guards in the top 10, and another drafted at 20. So, my question here is where would our first rounder have been selected if he was available this year? Where would you think he would go?

1. Cooper (7)
2. Warmack (10)
3. Long (20)
4. Warford (65)
5. Winters (72)

Maybe a little higher due to a bad QB draft but not much higher.

We rated him high.... but obviously the rest of the NFL felt like he was missing something. Players fall all the time but people were on here swearing up and down he wouldn't fall to us.

[ramblinjim]

There was some really o-line hungry teams at the top end of the draft this year so he probably would have gone top 20. Is he has good as Warmack and Cooper?

[phillyesq]

I would put DD behind Cooper and likely behind Warmack, though it is probably close. Warmack is more powerful, but DD is more mobile. I would put DD well ahead of Long.

Now that he has had a year to adjust to the speed of the pro game, I'm optimistic that DD will end up as an above-average OG, if not a pro bowl caliber player.

[flippy]

Not sure where NFL.com comes up with their draft grades, but here's how they graded them before each draft:

DD - 92.5
Cooper - 86.9
Warmack - 93.9
Long - 77

I think DD still goes first even last year because of his ability to move. It likely would have come down to DD vs Cooper going first and the personal interview/character/preference would have probably been the deciding factor.

I think they might have grade Warmack a little higher because of the talent surrounding him. Every Olineman that plays next to other good Olinemen looks better. So I do think Cooper/DD both go ahead of Warmack. The other thing in the power vs athleticim, most guys can work to get stronger, but you're either athletic or not.

[Shoe]

It is an interesting question, because I specifically recall last year hearing how DD was "the best Guard prospect since Hutchinson". Then 1 year later, and two others are on par or beyond DD (depending on who you ask). It is especially interesting because his slide to 24, had me quickly analyzing the teams ahead of us and who were passing him by (to my delight). One of those teams was Tennessee, who had signed Hutchinson to play Guard (I think he has since retired).

But I thought he was sure to get selected there, what with Hutch there, along with Bruce Matthews as his position coach and Mike Munchak as his HC. I was shocked that they would pass on him, and felt it might be a glimpse that maybe he was the supposed prospect that we have been led to believe.

I'm still high on the kid. But it is interesting how, one year later, they do take a Guard (Warmack).

[RuthlessBurgher]

It is an interesting question, because I specifically recall last year hearing how DD was "the best Guard prospect since Hutchinson". Then 1 year later, and two others are on par or beyond DD (depending on who you ask). It is especially interesting because his slide to 24, had me quickly analyzing the teams ahead of us and who were passing him by (to my delight). One of those teams was Tennessee, who had signed Hutchinson to play Guard (I think he has since retired).

But I thought he was sure to get selected there, what with Hutch there, along with Bruce Matthews as his position coach and Mike Munchak as his HC. I was shocked that they would pass on him, and felt it might be a glimpse that maybe he was the supposed prospect that we have been led to believe.

I'm still high on the kid. But it is interesting how, one year later, they do take a Guard (Warmack).

Not to mention also signing former Bills guard Andy Levitre to a six-year, $46.8 million contract this offseason.

[steelsnis]

Maybe a little higher due to a bad QB draft but not much higher.

We rated him high.... but obviously the rest of the NFL felt like he was missing something. Players fall all the time but people were on here swearing up and down he wouldn't fall to us.

I disagree that the rest of the NFL thought he was missing something. He was still the first guard chosen in the 2012 draft.

[SidSmythe]

That's a great class for Guards but I think DeCastro would have been the highest rated for an offense that demands athletic OG's like Haley's Offense

[feltdizz]

I disagree that the rest of the NFL thought he was missing something. He was still the first guard chosen in the 2012 draft.

Not sure that means much... could mean he was the best of a mediocre bunch. Its odd how the draft flipped upside down last year but its a crap shoot. I just found it odd that the best guard fell to 24.

[Slapstick]

I found it more odd that guards were drafted so high in April...

Historically, OG is not a premium position in the first round...I think the higher draft position for guards in 2013 was due to the lack of star power in the first round...

[hawaiiansteel]

Pittsburgh Steelers guard David DeCastro 'is going to be great,' Maurkice Pouncey says



Pittsburgh Steelers guard David DeCastro (66), right, works on blocking drills during NFL football practice on Thursday, May 30, 2013 in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

By Dustin Hockensmith
on June 04, 2013

Pittsburgh Steelers guard David DeCastro's rookie season was derailed before it started. The first-round pick tore his medial collateral ligament at the end of training camp and missed the team's first 12 games.

But he's back healthy this summer as an important part of a young, talented Steelers' offensive line. DeCastro moves well for a 6-5, 315-pounder and has improved his technique going into his second season as a pro.

DeCastro can play power football, as well as get out in space and block downfield, teammate Maurkice Pouncey told Steelers.com yesterday.

"[DeCastro] can really move around and get outside on the edge and block guys and really move them if we've got to run power football," Pouncey said. "It's excellent to have him right next to me."

That versatility will be key under first-year offensive line coach Jack Bicknell Jr., who is implementing a zone blocking scheme. The new scheme will put the Steelers' linemen on the move more often and capitalize on their athleticism.

DeCastro told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review last month that he spent his time off the field studying and observing his teammates' techniques.

“Pouncey has got his technique down, Ramon's got a technique down. So you take bits and pieces and see what you're doing,” DeCastro told the Tribune-Review. “I learned a lot and, to me, it's all instinct now. It's a whole different game, and I think I'm a lot more prepared for this season. ... It's almost like a fresh beginning.”

Pouncey, 23, will again be a key this season, but he'll be joined by three other guys in DeCastro (23), right tackle Mike Adams (23) and left tackle Marcus Gilbert (25) who are 25 or younger. Key reserve Kelvin Beachum turns 24 this weekend. Left guard Ramon Foster, 27, is the veteran of the group.

Pittsburgh struggled in the running game last season, in part because of injuries along the line. The Steelers ranked just 26th in the NFL with 1,537 rushing yards and averaged just 3.7 yards per carry.

The youth movement and fresh approach came at the expense of veteran left tackle Max Starks and reserve center Doug Legursky. But the time had arrived to rely on young linemen after dedicating four first and second-round picks on them in the last three NFL drafts.

The addition of a healthy DeCastro could be an immediate step toward improvement. He's got Pouncey's seal of approval.

"He's going to be a great," Pouncey said.

[URL]http://www.pennlive.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/06/pittsburgh_steelers_guard_davi.html[/URL]

[phillyesq]

Not sure that means much... could mean he was the best of a mediocre bunch. Its odd how the draft flipped upside down last year but its a crap shoot. I just found it odd that the best guard fell to 24.

It's not that odd. Faneca was drafted in roughly the same range.

[feltdizz]

It's not that odd. Faneca was drafted in roughly the same range.

I guess this means Decastro is going to act a fool in a few years.

[Captain Lemming]

I guess this means Decastro is going to act a fool in a few years.

LOL, you know thats right.
But I'll take a decade of probowl Faneca play in exchange for a little "crazy" at the end.