Louis Nix III

[steelsnis]

It was a need & they thought it was addressed later in the draft with Spence. Mosley could be a possibility because he is graded in the Top 20 imo.

Spence truly is the wild card in this years draft process, IMO. If they have any indication that he's not going to be a reliable option this coming season, I think they look for ILB pretty early. Having Williams out there truly hurt this defense after Foote went out early in the season.

[feltdizz]

I can see ILB but I wonder how the FO feel about Williams. He was thrown into the fire and struggled ealy but I thought he improved as the season went on...

[Shawn]

Spence truly is the wild card in this years draft process, IMO. If they have any indication that he's not going to be a reliable option this coming season, I think they look for ILB pretty early. Having Williams out there truly hurt this defense after Foote went out early in the season.

I don't see anyway the Steelers can bank on Spence...coming off a horrific knee injury...not seeing him play...being out for an extended period of time. Spence will be fortunate to be a future back up for the Steelers.

IMO, the Steelers will grab Dennard if there...but I don't think he will be. That leaves Nix and Mosley.

[hawaiiansteel]

I don't see anyway the Steelers can bank on Spence...coming off a horrific knee injury...not seeing him play...being out for an extended period of time. Spence will be fortunate to be a future back up for the Steelers.

IMO, the Steelers will grab Dennard if there...but I don't think he will be. That leaves Nix and Mosley.

I agree with you, either Nix or Mosley would greatly help improve the Steelers' 21st ranked run defense.

[JUST-PLAIN-NASTY]

Unfortunately...They only know about Spence. I would say if they drafted an ILB within the first 3 rounds they don't feel to good about Spence & they feel Williams is just a solid back-up. Although someone like Van Noy could back-up inside & outside...So that may be an option.
No problem with ILB or CB at #15 here...No argument. I wouldn't take Nix. I wouldn't be interested in Nix unless the Steelers traded back.

The Steelers had their NT on the field 375 snaps out of 1,070 and everyone thinks having a True NT would have helped the 21st rank run defense? The Steelers gave up 65% of the rushing yards against nickel & dime. The reason the Steelers were in Nickel & Dime was because the teams forced the Steelers to go to sub with 12 personnel. If they had a secondary that could play cover 0 or even a Safety that could play centerfield in cover 1...They could have stayed in base.

The Steelers have to fix the back end because that dictates what they will do up front with match ups. Because Heyward & one of Keisel-Hood stayed on the field in subs...Nix won't push the DE to the sideline in sub. If Nix was a Ngata or a Poe that wouldn't come off the field...I would feel differently. Ngata & Poe played over 700 & 900 snaps on defense. That's a good investment. Having a true NT like Nix would help us in base & situational football. But I wouldn't be spending #15 on a player who will be spending 65% of the snaps on the sideline. Using those snap numbers...It would be like the Steelers spending a Top 100 pick on a FB. Fix the back end. That will help with the coverage matchups & the pass rush. Then they could worry about getting the next Hampton.

[feltdizz]

interesting stat on the NT snap totals... but I have to wonder if those would change if we had a true NT. What were Hampton's snap totals?

[Shawn]

interesting stat on the NT snap totals... but I have to wonder if those would change if we had a true NT. What were Hampton's snap totals?

I agree...wonder where Hampton sat there. But, I will concede that JPN makes some good points. Something to think about.

[papillon]

Unfortunately...They only know about Spence. I would say if they drafted an ILB within the first 3 rounds they don't feel to good about Spence & they feel Williams is just a solid back-up. Although someone like Van Noy could back-up inside & outside...So that may be an option.
No problem with ILB or CB at #15 here...No argument. I wouldn't take Nix. I wouldn't be interested in Nix unless the Steelers traded back.

The Steelers had their NT on the field 375 snaps out of 1,070 and everyone thinks having a True NT would have helped the 21st rank run defense? The Steelers gave up 65% of the rushing yards against nickel & dime. The reason the Steelers were in Nickel & Dime was because the teams forced the Steelers to go to sub with 12 personnel. If they had a secondary that could play cover 0 or even a Safety that could play centerfield in cover 1...They could have stayed in base.

The Steelers have to fix the back end because that dictates what they will do up front with match ups. Because Heyward & one of Keisel-Hood stayed on the field in subs...Nix won't push the DE to the sideline in sub. If Nix was a Ngata or a Poe that wouldn't come off the field...I would feel differently. Ngata & Poe played over 700 & 900 snaps on defense. That's a good investment. Having a true NT like Nix would help us in base & situational football. But I wouldn't be spending #15 on a player who will be spending 65% of the snaps on the sideline. Using those snap numbers...It would be like the Steelers spending a Top 100 pick on a FB. Fix the back end. That will help with the coverage matchups & the pass rush. Then they could worry about getting the next Hampton.

JPN, I'm curious about your mock with Benjamin in the first. I know he's big, strong and fast, but he didn't even seem like Jameis Winston's go to guy on the FSU team. Winston seemed to look to Green(e) first and then Benjamin, although, they did call his number on the goal line to win the game.

Pappy

[NJ-STEELER]

didnt see what rooney said, but how is WR not one of our biggest needs??

take all 22 starters and who's the weakest? i think we can all agree that sanders wont be back. that leaves cotchery and a relatively untested wheaton as our starters. heck it might be the weakest starting spot with manny back

[NJ-STEELER]

Unfortunately...They only know about Spence. I would say if they drafted an ILB within the first 3 rounds they don't feel to good about Spence & they feel Williams is just a solid back-up. Although someone like Van Noy could back-up inside & outside...So that may be an option.
No problem with ILB or CB at #15 here...No argument. I wouldn't take Nix. I wouldn't be interested in Nix unless the Steelers traded back.

The Steelers had their NT on the field 375 snaps out of 1,070 and everyone thinks having a True NT would have helped the 21st rank run defense? The Steelers gave up 65% of the rushing yards against nickel & dime. The reason the Steelers were in Nickel & Dime was because the teams forced the Steelers to go to sub with 12 personnel. If they had a secondary that could play cover 0 or even a Safety that could play centerfield in cover 1...They could have stayed in base.

The Steelers have to fix the back end because that dictates what they will do up front with match ups. Because Heyward & one of Keisel-Hood stayed on the field in subs...Nix won't push the DE to the sideline in sub. If Nix was a Ngata or a Poe that wouldn't come off the field...I would feel differently. Ngata & Poe played over 700 & 900 snaps on defense. That's a good investment. Having a true NT like Nix would help us in base & situational football. But I wouldn't be spending #15 on a player who will be spending 65% of the snaps on the sideline. Using those snap numbers...It would be like the Steelers spending a Top 100 pick on a FB. Fix the back end. That will help with the coverage matchups & the pass rush. Then they could worry about getting the next Hampton.

$$

i hope NT and ILB are not in consideration in the first round

[Shoe]

[

That was a given. Colbert has expressed in the past drafts players "not" on their board. They have said TE & QB. I agree...The only OL I would draft in the 1st would be Robinson if he fell. No QB or RB. WR & TE are both on the board. Defensively....I would say anything is possible except DE. If they retain Worilds..I would add OLB to that list. Now...As it relates to #15...I would say ILB & CB are possibilities. I don't have Nix that high with the other talent there. So if I am staying true to the board on a BPA...It will be ILB & CB at #15.

I'm fine with a CB or ILB, if there was a Revis or Kuechly sitting there when we pick. The problem is, we have CJ Mosley (Dont'a Hightower Jr, Rolando McLain Jr, Courtney Upshaw Jr) or Dennardd (injury-prone) or a couple other high risks to choose from. First of all, we have to go defense. And saying that, we need a difference-maker. We don't need another Timmons or Ike; we need a Polamalu or Harrison. A guy with the potential to change the complexion of the D.

To me, that means D-line, even though I agree that our biggest need is in the secondary.

[thor75]

To me, that means D-line, even though I agree that our biggest need is in the secondary.

I agree, but the troubling thing about that is the Bears pick directly in front of us. They have as free agents their starting corner, starting safety, a second string corner and second string safety. Not sure of their cap room and if they are able to re-sign them to avoid having a draft need.

[Eddie Spaghetti]

I wouldn't take a CB in the first, doesn't seem to a guy worth that from I read. Same goes for S if you don't like dix(I dont)

if we go DL, I would be very interested in the kid from minnesota, rasheed hageman, at least he wouldn't come off the field for 50% of the snaps like nix might. I've only watched some highlights of him and done quite a bit of reading, but he seems like he could be a special player. May be some bust potential, some of draft guys here know more than me, for sure. Seems like he may realistically be available at 1:15

[thor75]

I wouldn't take a CB in the first, doesn't seem to a guy worth that from I read. Same goes for S if you don't like dix(I dont)

if we go DL, I would be very interested in the kid from minnesota, rasheed hageman, at least he wouldn't come off the field for 50% of the snaps like nix might. I've only watched some highlights of him and done quite a bit of reading, but he seems like he could be a special player. May be some bust potential, some of draft guys here know more than me, for sure. Seems like he may realistically be available at 1:15

I think he might be there at 15 but the idea of another DE in the first would be tough to swallow. I don't think he has the @ss to play NT. Depends though on the FO's stance on the Beard and Hood. If both are gone, then he would be a great option.

[Eddie Spaghetti]

I think he might be there at 15 but the idea of another DE in the first would be tough to swallow. I don't think he has the @ss to play NT. Depends though on the FO's stance on the Beard and Hood. If both are gone, then he would be a great option.

I agree about another DE in the first, just seems to be an intriguing player. There are certainly other areas of need.