Wow, look at what Mitchell says about Hargrave. I have no doubt we liked him over....

[Captain Lemming]

.........ANY possible NT option.

Do NOT believe we had any interest in Reed we take Hargrave over him OR ANY OTHER TACKLE. Easily our best choice based on what we wanted and needed from the position.

Amazingly we shored up our defensive backfield AND got him in the third.

[url]http://www.steelers.com/videos/videos/John_Mitchell_on_DT_Javon_Hargrave/2c88cbd3-cae4-409b-a64a-f87b14cc73ef[/url]

[SS Laser]

I really like the pick also cap! The post DL defense is going to a more Tomlin type D with pressure coming from the inside out IMO. Which is fine with me. All the talking heads in the draft have talked about QB's hate pressure up the middle the most. And if the D line can do it and not blitz that leaves more in coverage! As I am not good knowing how past defenses are someone here will know if say Dupree and even JJ are more Tampa 2 style LB's that can still play in a base 3-4? Is this hybrid D going more Tampa 2 style is my question?

[Oviedo]

I really like the pick also cap! The post DL defense is going to a more Tomlin type D with pressure coming from the inside out IMO. Which is fine with me. All the talking heads in the draft have talked about QB's hate pressure up the middle the most. And if the D line can do it and not blitz that leaves more in coverage! As I am not good knowing how past defenses are someone here will know if say Dupree and even JJ are more Tampa 2 style LB's that can still play in a base 3-4? Is this hybrid D going more Tampa 2 style is my question?

I think there are deliberate decisions being made to go away from what LeBeau did to a combination of things that Tomlin and Butler used in the past. I think the whole league is adjusting which is why teams aren't looking for a Casey Hampton, 2-down player in the first couple of rounds anymore.

Tomlin has always wanted "run and hit" guys and since he doesn't have LeBeau around anymore I think qwe are seeing a transition to probably what he wanted to all along. The player picks are reflecting that.

[Slapstick]

As far as LBs go, Dupree and Jarvis Jones are not Tampa 2 fits...however, Lawrence Timmons and Ryan Shazier are...

As Ovi pointed out, Butler and Tomlin are adapting LeBeau's Zone Blitz to the current NFL and doing so by adding the things they feel comfortable coaching...

[RuthlessBurgher]

To get that type of praise from rookie-averse curmudgeon John Mitchell is certainly promising. I like the kid. I can see Big Dan getting the early down and short yardage snaps at NT this year, with Hargrave providing breathers for Heyward and Tuitt in nickel and dime defenses. In the future, he should be more than that as he develops, but this year, he'll be a situational interior rusher that keeps 97 & 91 fresh.

[Eddie Spaghetti]

love this pick

[flippy]

I agree with Mitchell. I thought he was the best DT in the draft and love the pick and it matched my mock

Heard Lake allude to Sean Davis being at the top of his personal board although it didn't sound like he was the top S on the Steelers board.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Heard Lake allude to Sean Davis being at the top of his personal board although it didn't sound like he was the top S on the Steelers board.

Not with Jalen Ramsey, Karl Joseph, and Keanu Neal as draft prospects this year...but all of those guys were gone before our first pick, so it didn't matter.

[Shoe]

Its a bit curious... If you look at descriptions and numbers, he compares favorably to Sheldon Rankins. The main difference is the level of competition.

I'm amazed that he lasted that long, considering Rankins went Top 15.

[SteelDecipher]

I agree with Mitchell. I thought he was the best DT in the draft and love the pick and it matched my mock

Heard Lake allude to Sean Davis being at the top of his personal board although it didn't sound like he was the top S on the Steelers board.

I think they were hoping for TJ Green. Well, at least I was.

[Captain Lemming]

I think they were hoping for TJ Green. Well, at least I was.

Yeah, just knowing how the team is valuing elite athleticism, I would be shocked if Green wasnt our pick had he not just gotten snapped up

[RuthlessBurgher]

Yeah, just knowing how the team is valuing elite athleticism, I would be shocked if Green wasnt our pick had he not just gotten snapped up

Guys taken one spot ahead of the Steelers in each round so far:
1.24 CB William Jackson III
2.57 S T.J. Green
3.88 OLB Kyler Fackrell
4.122 NT Andrew Billings

[Captain Lemming]

Guys taken one spot ahead of the Steelers in each round so far:
1.24 CB William Jackson III
2.57 S T.J. Green
3.88 OLB Kyler Fackrell
4.122 NT Andrew Billings

Yeah, our draft board was sold to 31 teams.