Sean Davis over Vonn Bell?

[phillyesq]

1. I'll disagree. Davis isn't the better safety. He is the more athlete safety with more upside. Bell did nothing but make plays for the Buckeyes. He was an impressive safety. He is more technically sound and more NFL ready IMO. With that said, Bell is closer to his peak. Davis has barely scratched his and that's why he was the right pick. Bell is smallish, not as athletic. I think the Steelers made the right pick but I do believe Bell was the better college safety by a long shot.

To clarify, I meant that Davis played better at safety than he did at corner - not saying that he was a better college safety than Vonn Bell.

I heard some of the post draft commentary from the local media, and they said that the size difference - Davis is 3-4" taller - was a big factor. They prefer a big safety like that to match up with guys like Gronk and Eifert, and that is a valid point. You can't teach size.

[Shawn]

To clarify, I meant that Davis played better at safety than he did at corner - not saying that he was a better college safety than Vonn Bell.

I heard some of the post draft commentary from the local media, and they said that the size difference - Davis is 3-4" taller - was a big factor. They prefer a big safety like that to match up with guys like Gronk and Eifert, and that is a valid point. You can't teach size.

Ah I got ya. Yeah I agree. You can't teach Davis' speed and size. You need guys who can match up with those big athletic TEs and I agree Bell isn't that guy. It's why I wasn't upset that the Steelers passed on Bell.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

The Steelers have been going in this direction on D for a few years now. They are placing a ton of value on speed and athleticism. Ovi will insist that this is because of Jarvis Jones , but as it happens, he might have been the last D draft pick who was not the "faster, more athletic" alternative.

Shazier over Mosely
Dupree last year
Burns
Davis
Hargrave

There is a pattern here. The team is going away from the big thumper and towards the fast athlete, who usually needs time to develop.

[Iron City Inc.]

To me, Davis is the same player as Mike Mitchell. Not sure that he solves the need for a deep cover safety/backfield signal caller. Maybe the Steelers are not really figuring Davis so much to start opposite Mitchell as to replace him in 2017.

I see Mitchell continuing as our fs and remain in single high often. Davis to me will be closer to the los and get walked out into coverage and that is where he will earn his keep. If he can cover te's and some wr's as well as fire off slot coverage he will do everything we asked Thomas to do but didn't get the results we were looking for. He'll be a cat at camp I'll keep an eye on and we'll just have to see how quick he grasps defensive concepts.

[Captain Lemming]

The Steelers have been going in this direction on D for a few years now. They are placing a ton of value on speed and athleticism. Ovi will insist that this is because of Jarvis Jones , but as it happens, he might have been the last D draft pick who was not the "faster, more athletic" alternative.

Shazier over Mosely
Dupree last year
Burns
Davis
Hargrave

There is a pattern here. The team is going away from the big thumper and towards the fast athlete, who usually needs time to develop.

I started a thread on this months ago. We have been having great success with raw but athletic for years. From fast Willie, to Ike, Timmons, to to Wallace, to Bryant, to Shazier, to Dupree. Alejandro at LT was RIDICULOUSLY raw but athletic. I have no doubt that this success leads to more focus on athletes with upside over all-American college stars who have peaked.