Bell is back!

[steelsnis]

Yeah, congrats to Bell. I am encouraged that the Steelers are starting to see some of their young talent develop.

Agreed. But isn't that the nature of YOUNG talent? It needs time to grow and develop. These days, fan bases (esp. ours) seems to think that simply stepping on an NFL field is going to automatically make a player great. It takes time, opportunity, experience hard work and skill for that to happen.

Now let's make sure we can hold onto that young talent.

[hawaiiansteel]

James C Wexell @jimwexell:

Walter Payton's rookie season: 196-679-7.

Le'Veon Bell's rookie season: 198-646-6.

[URL]https://twitter.com/jimwexell[/URL]

[papillon]

Wouldn't that be nice to see a few holes created by the OL. It amazes me that we have so many all of a sudden believing that the OL is good enough to justify spending yet more premium draft picks on the defense in 2014. IMO that would be a huge mistake.

No matter how much everyone believes that outscoring your opponent is the way to win football games in the NFL, it really isn't. It might be during the regular season, but once you get into a one and done tournament relying on your offense to click on all cylinders for 3 or 4 games and possibly in nasty weather is a recipe for a loss and exit from the tournament. Having an above average to great defense and an average offense is a better recipe IMO.

DeCastro, Pouncey and Foster are a good inside trio, Gilbert has been showing flashes at RT, LT is really the only question mark and Adams may still develop into that role before it's all said and done. The OL isn't in shambles, IMO.

That being said, if one of the elite LTs (I'm not talking late 1st or early second, I mean a plug and play LT) is available when we draft I'd take him, otherwise, I'm going FS or CB in the first round. Clark is probably done and Allen and Golden aren't the answer. Taylor almost has to take a severe pay cut to be a Steeler next year, a play making corner in the first would be sweet. If a CB and FS are not there in the first, try and move back a few spots and then take Nix.

For me, Elite LT, FS or CB, move back and take Nix, and finally, if all of the above fail then ILB, is how I'd approach the Steelers first round pick in that order.

Pappy

[thor75]

For me, Elite LT, FS or CB, move back and take Nix, and finally, if all of the above fail then ILB, is how I'd approach the Steelers first round pick in that order.

Pappy

I can live with that, but I may replace a TE with Nix if a worthy TE is available. But truly TE and ILB are even on my list as desirables.

[Ernie]

If a franchise LT is there you take him.. if not, LT is Beacham's to lose. He has shown more than Adams and Gilbert combined at this point. If we take a LT in round 1, Beacham goes to RT and Adams/Gilbert fight it out for a roster spot.

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin says choosing Le'Veon Bell over Eddie Lacy was an 'easy choice'

By Neal Coolong on Dec 17 2013

Supportive puffery or legitimate evaluation? Either way, Steelers coach Mike Tomlin fired a shot or two at the Green Bay Packers at his press conference Tuesday when he mentioned the ease of taking Le'Veon Bell over Eddie Lacy in the 2013 NFL Draft.

The Packers selected Alabama running back Eddie Lacy in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft - after Cincinnati selected Giovani Bernard, Denver took Montee Ball and Pittsburgh took Le'Veon Bell.

Lacy beat all of them to the 1,000 yard mark, rushing for 141 yards in a huge comeback win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 15. Not that the quartet of second-round backs have performed poorly at all - all four have been at least solid, if not spectacular, this year.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin stands by his choice.

"It was an easy decision for me," Tomlin said. "Obviously, Lacy's a top-quality back, but probably it's a matter of preference, just like I'm sure Cincinnati went through the same discussions and thoughts when they took Giovani Bernard in front of both of them."

Lacy has been a big reason why the Packers have managed to stay in contention for both the NFC North title as well as the playoffs in the absence of quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The Packers' offense has struggled, but, like they showed in the second half against Dallas, Lacy is capable of exploding.

That doesn't change Tomlin's mind, but it better concern him as far as his defense is concerned. The Steelers held Cincinnati to 57 rushing yards - 60 yards below their season average. Lacy's power and vision are obvious in film, and he'll be a handful for the Steelers in Week 16.

[URL]http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2013/12/17/5221638/steelers-coach-mike-tomlin-comments-2013-nfl-draft-eddie-lacy-leveon-bell[/URL]