Those that think Steelers go NT before round 4

[feltdizz]

True but Steelers can get these fat boys in later rounds. No need to spend Rd 1 picks on DE or NT to hold on blockers. Steelers have already spent 2 Rd 1 picks on DE position.

Not sure about that... the NT is the anchor of the 3-4 and if we can get Nix in round one he starts for the next 8 years on day one. We went DE early the last few years and Cam is a beast who should have been in front of Hood. Every pick doesnt pan ot

[Shawn]

True but Steelers can get these fat boys in later rounds. No need to spend Rd 1 picks on DE or NT to hold on blockers. Steelers have already spent 2 Rd 1 picks on DE position.

We have big boys who can't break the starting line up. How many truly great NTs are found in later rounds?

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

The NT position is a thankless position....often when you are doing it right...your stats will be poor. Its because other teams are having to put 2 guys on him.

Exactly...If you are looking for a NT to put up 9 sacks and 4 FFs, that would be the same numbers that Casey had...for his entire 12 year career!!

[Oviedo]

we need fat guys to hold the LOS so the LB's can get penetration... you aren't going to win ANY games in this league with a "cover CB" and no pressure. This is why teams like Carolina are 12-4 with a ton of INT's by a shoddy secondary. Pressure is much more important than cover CB's IMO.

Pressure is everything but the problem is our Def Line is not asked to pressure the QB, they are asked to "occupy blockers." The two-gap used by LeBeau minimizes the contribution that the DL can make so everything is on the LBs. Unfortunately our OLBs are "rotted Wood(ley)", Jarvis "one sack" Jones, Jason "may be outta town" Worilds, no one else really. So if you aren't going to use your DL to get the QB and you only have Worilds who can sack the QB how do we expect to get pressure?

And so many are advocating not for someone who wouldn't get more pressure on QB but someone who might help run defense. Does that logic make sense to anyone who hasn't been brainwashed into drinking LeBeau's "kool aid?"

[feltdizz]

Pressure is everything but the problem is our Def Line is not asked to pressure the QB, they are asked to "occupy blockers." The two-gap used by LeBeau minimizes the contribution that the DL can make so everything is on the LBs. Unfortunately our OLBs are "rotted Wood(ley)", Jarvis "one sack" Jones, Jason "may be outta town" Worilds, no one else really. So if you aren't going to use your DL to get the QB and you only have Worilds who can sack the QB how do we expect to get pressure?

And so many are advocating not for someone who wouldn't get more pressure on QB but someone who might help run defense. Does that logic make sense to anyone who hasn't been brainwashed into drinking LeBeau's "kool aid?"

Nix would collapse the pocket in the middle and occupy 2 guys which makes it easier for Timmons or the other ILB to get pressure. Not sure why you can't understand this but I think it's because you don't want to... lol.

[ikestops85]

Nix would collapse the pocket in the middle and occupy 2 guys which makes it easier for Timmons or the other ILB to get pressure. Not sure why you can't understand this but I think it's because you don't want to... lol.

If Nix is that good then he should be considered top 5. I'm not saying he's not that good but with the number of teams playing the 3-4 a NT with that ability will go off the board quickly IMO.

[grotonsteel]

We have big boys who can't break the starting line up. How many truly great NTs are found in later rounds?

Its true for all position. Skill players are more difficult to find in later rounds. Bigger Question though, Is NIX better than Casey Hampton to warrant 15th pick of the draft? IIRC Casey was drafted 21st.

[grotonsteel]

Not sure about that... the NT is the anchor of the 3-4 and if we can get Nix in round one he starts for the next 8 years on day one. We went DE early the last few years and Cam is a beast who should have been in front of Hood. Every pick doesnt pan ot

NT is the anchor in 3-4 Defense but going by Steelers philosophy they don't seem to value that position much. If that was the case they would have drafted an NT in Rd 1 few years back itself. But they preferred to draft 2 DE in Rd 1 twice in 3 years.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Nix would collapse the pocket in the middle and occupy 2 guys which makes it easier for Timmons or the other ILB to get pressure. Not sure why you can't understand this but I think it's because you don't want to... lol.

Exactly. This season, Jones and Worilds could beat their man around the edge, but the QB could simply step up in the pocket to avoid the sack and deliver the ball to his receivers.

With Casey at his peak, the QB could not step up, so Harrison and Woodley would get more sacks. With Steed at his peak, the QB could not step up, so Lloyd and Greene would get more sacks.

Oviedo uses "occupy blockers" in quotes like its some sort of insult like a QB who is a "game manager." A nose tackle who can occupy multiple blockers is absolute gold both in the run game to free up our ILB's to make tackles in the box as well as in the run game to prevent the QB from being able to step up in the pocket, and thereby being more susceptible to sacks from our OLB's. It is not dying relic of the old NFL that is no longer valuable in today's high-flying passing days. The Carolina example (although they run a 4-3) is interesting, because they spent multiple early round picks on DT's last year (Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short), and that extra beef in the middle has paid off immediately for them.

[feltdizz]

NT is the anchor in 3-4 Defense but going by Steelers philosophy they don't seem to value that position much. If that was the case they would have drafted an NT in Rd 1 few years back itself. But they preferred to draft 2 DE in Rd 1 twice in 3 years.

DE was a bigger need a few years back. We made attempts to find a solid NT the last year or 2 but they didn't pan out.

[feltdizz]

Exactly. This season, Jones and Worilds could beat their man around the edge, but the QB could simply step up in the pocket to avoid the sack and deliver the ball to his receivers.

With Casey at his peak, the QB could not step up, so Harrison and Woodley would get more sacks. With Steed at his peak, the QB could not step up, so Lloyd and Greene would get more sacks.

Oviedo uses "occupy blockers" in quotes like its some sort of insult like a QB who is a "game manager." A nose tackle who can occupy multiple blockers is absolute gold both in the run game to free up our ILB's to make tackles in the box as well as in the run game to prevent the QB from being able to step up in the pocket, and thereby being more susceptible to sacks from our OLB's. It is not dying relic of the old NFL that is no longer valuable in today's high-flying passing days. The Carolina example (although they run a 4-3) is interesting, because they spent multiple early round picks on DT's last year (Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short), and that extra beef in the middle has paid off immediately for them.

yep... I live in Charlotte and have this debate all the time with fans who beyotched about going DL in the first 2 rounds. The DB's are average but play much better and have tons of confidence because they RARELY get tested due to the pressure up front. The LB's stay clean... Keuchly and Davis are having monster years.

All those high flying offenses have flown pretty low for most of the year vs this Carolina D. They have Gettleman who was in the Giants FO and he is using the EXACT model the Giants used to win a few championships.

[Dee Dub]

Exactly. This season, Jones and Worilds could beat their man around the edge, but the QB could simply step up in the pocket to avoid the sack and deliver the ball to his receivers.

With Casey at his peak, the QB could not step up, so Harrison and Woodley would get more sacks. With Steed at his peak, the QB could not step up, so Lloyd and Greene would get more sacks.

Oviedo uses "occupy blockers" in quotes like its some sort of insult like a QB who is a "game manager." A nose tackle who can occupy multiple blockers is absolute gold both in the run game to free up our ILB's to make tackles in the box as well as in the run game to prevent the QB from being able to step up in the pocket, and thereby being more susceptible to sacks from our OLB's. It is not dying relic of the old NFL that is no longer valuable in today's high-flying passing days. The Carolina example (although they run a 4-3) is interesting, because they spent multiple early round picks on DT's last year (Star Lotulelei and Kawann Short), and that extra beef in the middle has paid off immediately for them.

This is an excellent post!! Ruthless you nailed it.

[Dee Dub]

If Nix is that good then he should be considered top 5. I'm not saying he's not that good but with the number of teams playing the 3-4 a NT with that ability will go off the board quickly IMO.

I think had he not had the injuries this year he could have been a top 5. I think he still has a chance to go top 12.

[feltdizz]

I don't think Nix is available due to how many teams run the 3-4 and someone probably views him as an upgrade over who they have right now. Hopefully he is available.

[Oviedo]

Nix would collapse the pocket in the middle and occupy 2 guys which makes it easier for Timmons or the other ILB to get pressure. Not sure why you can't understand this but I think it's because you don't want to... lol.

But Nix CAN'T occupy two blockers and won't demand two blockers going after him. He isn't that good. Watch a couple of his games this past season. He isn't in the same league as Hampton, Ngata, Atkins, etc.