Maximizing our strengths to minimize our weaknesses on D through a smart draft.

[MicroBioSteel]

There are 2 ways to fashion a dominant defense in this pass happy age of NFL football. Either you:

1) Have a suffocating secondary that denies or intercepts (very difficult given the NFL rule set favoring the receivers down field)
2) Prevent the pass in the first place through overwhelming pressure on the QB.

Clearly, the Steelers face the possibility of many changes in their secondary next year. Clark, Polamalu, Ike could all be gone. I believe we can cover for the loss of all this experience through a strong draft and moves that improve pass rush. In addition to disrupting passing I also believe such a draft would improve our run D as well.

I strongly favor drafting someone like Nix. The NT position in a 3-4 defense is fairly straight forward and Nix would see the field from day 1. His pressure up the middle would move the QB from the pocket and funnel him toward our talented D-ends and outside line backers. I get really excited about the possibility of a D-line consisting of Heyward, Nix, McClendon. McClendon's position could also be Hood, Woods. I feel comfortable with all 3 but think McClendon could be very good there.

Put a more seasoned Jarvis Jones, retained Worilds, Timmons, and Williams behind that D-line and feeding time could be on.

Pressure creates turnovers and defensive turnovers rule in todays NFL.

[Shawn]

I am now in agreement with this thinking. I'm convinced that the only position you can draft in the first round to make a huge day 1 impact is the NT position. This is assuming that Lebeau is back or they hire a 3-4 defensive minded coach.

[SS Laser]

Ok it seems Nix is getting votes early. So what is plan B if he is gone by 15? Say to the Giants or Bears? I think it leaves CB or WR. I would be fine with Nix's at this point. But I will see what is said a few days before the draft.

[Shawn]

Ok it seems Nix is getting votes early. So what is plan B if he is gone by 15? Say to the Giants or Bears? I think it leaves CB or WR. I would be fine with Nix's at this point. But I will see what is said a few days before the draft.

My plan B is CJ Mosley-ILB

[ikestops85]

I'm still on the franchise left tackle but most likely there won't be one still on the board at 15. Then I think we need a ball-hawk secondary guy like Earl Thomas. Get a guy like that and it will make an immediate impact. The inside linebacker is my plan C with Nix being plan D.

Besides, for those Nix fans, it was only a couple of years ago when folks couldn't run on us that many board members didn't care. They just complained that everybody threw against us. Just goes to show you how hard it is to make everybody happy.

[B&GinNC]

I'm still on the franchise left tackle but most likely there won't be one still on the board at 15. Then I think we need a ball-hawk secondary guy like Earl Thomas. Get a guy like that and it will make an immediate impact. The inside linebacker is my plan C with Nix being plan D.

Besides, for those Nix fans, it was only a couple of years ago when folks couldn't run on us that many board members didn't care. They just complained that everybody threw against us. Just goes to show you how hard it is to make everybody happy.

Don't know what you've got... The problem is that stopping the run is a necessary, but not a sufficient, condition, for having a good defense in the NFL. If you can't stop the run, you've got nothing. If you can, you can still be beaten, unless you figure out a way to tighten up the pass D as well. To that end, a NT who can push the pocket effectively could make a big difference. Casey Hampton is out of the league this year, but wasn't really a force in the middle for several years before that.