RuthlessBurgher's Initial Offseason Mock Draft 1.0 prior to the Senior Bowl

[Iron City Inc.]

[QUOTE=phillyesq;666211

If you do draft offense in the first, I think you almost have to look defense on the next 3 picks. The defense needs help at every level (with the exception of ILB), both now and in the future.

If faced with, say, Henry, Jarron Reed and Fuller, I'd probably lean towards the defense player at 25.[/QUOTE]

I'm not so sure we don't draft D in 2,3,4 even if we go D in round 1. I agree at each level we need to improve.
Fuller or Apple in the first would be difficult to pass up. Lets hope that choice is ours on draft day. Both could be #1 corners imho.

[Oviedo]

Anyone got a link to the reports from Senior Bowl practices?

[Oviedo]

I'm not so sure we don't draft D in 2,3,4 even if we go D in round 1. I agree at each level we need to improve.
Fuller or Apple in the first would be difficult to pass up. Lets hope that choice is ours on draft day. Both could be #1 corners imho.

We won't sell out for defense in this draft. That would make no sense given we need offensive line and TE depth.

[Oviedo]

"Senior Bowl Practice Studs and Duds"...found the following

[url]http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25466171/senior-bowl-five-studs-and-duds-from-the-week-of-practice[/url]

The DT Butler from La Tech sound interesting

[Iron City Inc.]

We won't sell out for defense in this draft. That would make no sense given we need offensive line and TE depth.

Though we could use depth at OL n TE we need starters on D at every level. Don't see drafting depth there over starters on D. That makes no sense at all.

[SteelerMaine83]

I may be in minority, but I think a little more time to get comfortable in the offense, Jesse James can be our next Heath Miller. I liked what little I saw of him this year and I saw him in on a few tussles while blocking. For that reason, I wouldn't be going TE (Henry being the clear #1), but would look for either Fuller (first)or Apple at that spot. If neither is there or not that high on our charts, a DL or OL looks attractive, depending on the best available. I think Heyward and Tuitt make a great pair of ends, but a third to rotate in a give both of them a breather (say 30+ snaps per game, if the DE's get 120 per game, for example). A guy like Jarran Reed could even do both NT and DE. OL is also attractive because of both the short term (I think do something about that before Foster and Beachum just walk this year) and long term (both will be gone) future on the left side, and someone that could play guard and do some time at swing-tackle would be great, not to mention there is some depth at OL in the draft and good players will be available at 25. So, that said, the Steelers bolster their DL and S positions through FA (with Damon Harrison and Eric Weddle), re-sign Foster for 2-3 years, Beachum (coming off injury) for a one year prove-it contract (w/ AV as the starting LT), let the Allen's, Blake, Boykin and Thomas' all walk, and draft like so:

1 K. Fuller, CB--NFL pedigree; tough cover guy and tackler. With Butler as DC, he'll see the field immediately (and hopefully learn as he goes)

2 L. Clark-OL--From what I have been reading lately, everyone is raving about Le'raven. He apparently consistently gets very low in his stance (a good thing), and he has unbelievably long arms (36+). Future starting LG, but with arms and skills he has, can do in a pinch at either tackle position as your swing backup.

3 D.Houston-Carter S--Safety to learn under Weddle, and get time in sub-packages immediately

4 M. Ioannidis-DE--Big-time motor with nice size and strength. Will be the guy to spell Heyward and Tuitt without a lot of drop off.

7 L. Carrington, CB--Battles with the bunch for a place as a ST, 4th or 5th CB.
7 D.Braverman, WR--We will lose Wheaton in a year or two, so we need another shorter underneath route runner to do the dirty work (and help out AB). Think Edelmann/Amendola.

Of course, it's early. Only 1.0, you know.

[Slapstick]

I like Jesse James....

But, again, the question is whether or not Henry is special...

If he is a Greg Olsen or Heath Miller type of player, that could alleviate a lot of red zone problems...

If he isn't, then there is no debate...

[SteelerMaine83]

I like Jesse James....

But, again, the question is whether or not Henry is special...

If he is a Greg Olsen or Heath Miller type of player, that could alleviate a lot of red zone problems...

If he isn't, then there is no debate...

I absolutely believe a good TE (doesn't even have to be special)can alleviate red zone problems, but in our case, I think we have plenty of red zone weapons. I personally think our red zone problem is more about play-calling (and I'm not saying get rid of Haley or I should be OC) or scheme in the red zone. To me, the red zone is a compressed part of the field with 3 boundaries (not two) where the 5 wide sets often dictate a defensive reaction that leaves you with lots of high risk, low percentage options. 5 receivers and 7 defenders covering them (with a 4 man rush) leaves a lot of traffic in a small area. New England (ugh, I know, but it's where I live so I see a lot of their games) seldom does a 5 wide, leaving the defense guessing a little more. When we were playing Denver, I wanted to see us line up with 2 WR's, an RB, and two TEs in the red zone, and have James (not Heath--everyone knows Heath is a Ben favorite down there) fake a block and go out and Ben play-action and look for James. Instead, we run on first down (for little) and then go to the 5 wide with a "bunch". To me, I saw that too many times this year with too little success, and I don't think it is a personnel problem. So, I guess TE is down the list for me, when I look at how D has been the key in the playoffs so far and how we need a few key pieces on D.

[Shoe]

But, if the TE is "special" and the defenders are not, do you draft simply to fill holes? Or, do you take the special player?

NO--take the special player every time!
This kid sounds very interesting to me. I've said that Heath is at the end of the line for a couple years now, but I like Jesse James potential (to become a Spaeth/Miller hybrid). But this guy sounds impressive. If he is as complete a TE as described on his NFL.com profile, I would be stoked at getting him.

I think the new NFL is in creating mistmatches... one of the areas where teams can take advantage of mismatches, is in the run game. I think the league has swayed toward passing, so defenses have turned that way too. So if you can trot out a roster of versatile guys, you create a nightmare scenario for defenses. We have Le'veon, who can catch the ball very well. We also have Nix, a legitimate star as a blocking FB. If you team that with a run/pass TE like this guy, your run game would be so strong (thereby setting up an already deadly pass)!

If he is a Witten (as compared), I don't see him making it to 24 though.

[Slapstick]

He may drop because his production wasn't "Madden-esque" and his highlight reel may not be filled with circus catches...

If he isn't there, Nick Vannett from tOSU would also be a good option after the first day...another complete TE, which seems to be what the Steelers covet...

[RuthlessBurgher]

Surprisingly, I'm not making any real fundamental changes from my original pre-Senior Bowl mock to my current pre-Combine mock (other than adding a 7th round comp pick to the end). Adding it to my sig for the first time this offseason.

Sign FS Eric Weddle
1. TE Hunter Henry, Arkansas, 6'5" 253
2. OG Cody Whitehair, Kansas State, 6'4" 300
3. CB Harlan Miller, Southeastern Louisiana, 6'0" 182
4. DT Hassan Ridgeway, Texas, 6'3" 320
7. OLB Yannick Ngakoue, Maryland, 6'2" 250
7. CB KeiVarae Russell, Notre Dame, 5'11" 196
7. FS Jordan Lomax, Iowa, 5'10" 204

[NJ-STEELER]

I still don't think we need to use a premium pick on TE. Unless of course they think he can be a gronk, Olsen, Diderot type.
There's still only 1 football to go around for guys like AB, tave, Wheaton, and bell.

Heck, we couldn't find room for Coates to play at the end of the year. In the Denver game he showed he could be a really good player.
Ideally I'd love to sign Dwayne Allen but he might cost too much and I'd like to use any money available on the defense

Worse comes to worse, I could role with James/Spaeth and draft another TE in the 4th/5th round range like Rodgers in Green Bay.
Plenty of good TEs are drafted 3rd round or later

[Slapstick]

With the Rams cutting their big money veterans and the move to LA, I could see Ruthless' Rams trade as more of a possibility now...

Making two picks on day one could excite a new fan base...

[RuthlessBurgher]

With the Rams cutting their big money veterans and the move to LA, I could see Ruthless' Rams trade as more of a possibility now...

Making two picks on day one could excite a new fan base...

Speaking of the Rams cuts, I could definitely see New England going after Chris Long (a dominant d-lineman when healthy) at a steep discount since he hasn't produced for the last 2 years due to injury, and also signing Laurinaitis as a replacement for the retired Mayo. Matt Forte would also be an interesting signing for them, since they tend to have a primary rushing RB and a primary receiving RB (Blount to run & Lewis to catch or Ridley to run & Vereen to catch or Green-Ellis to run & Woodhead to catch, etc.) But they haven't really had a total package type of back that can do both like we have with Le'Veon, and Forte could be that guy for the last few Brady years.

[steeler_george]

Heatthhhh! ok I had to get that out of my system....

With losing Miller, our #2 reception leader in 2015, it makes drafting a TE one of the top priorities, rd 1-3, even if J. James vastly improves.

The stars are lining up now in following the Colbert draft strategy, rotate #1 picks between "O" and "D", and underclass player. In addtion, he is the #1 ranked prospect at position.

Now, where does HH fall? Best case scenario, trade back and select him with more draft picks is a steal!