can we stop blaming poor drafting

[Oviedo]

I agree with assessment except the sentence about Jones being a monster in college. I watched each and every sack he had his last season. On only one play did he have to actually beat a guy and that was a running back. All others he came off clean. He was an average talent but superstar numbers based on the scheme at Georgia, and some good luck. We swung and whiffed.

Exactly what i havecsaid since he got drafted. Just a bad panic pick to get a replacement for Harrison. Maybe thecworst Roundv1 pick of the Colbert/Tomlin era. Counted on for so much and delivered so little

[SteelerOfDeVille]

I don't pretend to know more than the Steelers professional scouts (although I may actually know more than the Browns' professional scouts).

Sometimes I get excited about a player during the pre-draft process (e.g. Ben Roethlisberger, David DeCastro), and we draft the guy and it turns out I was correct to be excited by the pick.

Sometimes I get excited about a player during the pre-draft process (e.g. Rashard Mendenhall, Limas Sweed), and we draft the guy, but it turns out that I would be ultimately disappointed.

Sometimes I question a pick the Steelers make (e.g. Troy Edwards, Ziggy Hood), and the player is as disappointing as I worried he might be.

Sometimes I question a pick the Steelers make (e.g. Maurkice Pouncey, Ryan Shazier), and the player ultimately surprises me in a positive manner.

I realize that I don't have nearly the amount of information available to me as the pros do, so it's not surprising that my draft day opinions are pretty scattershot across the board, but once a guy becomes a Steeler, I root for him regardless of what my earlier opinion of him might have been.

darned right on that last part... i WANT Shazier to be significantly better than Moseley. Why? Cuz he's a steeler. I wanna be wrong on all the ones that I say, "why'd they take that guy?"

The problem I have is i won't *fall in love* with a player if i haven't watched them and actually formed an opinion. Most of the guys they draft I take a wait and see approach because I haven't seen them. But, I certainly watch youtube highlights (and games, when I know a player is playing).

The only thing I've learned over the years with my own scouting - I KNOW RBs. Very well. I've played the position (and coached them). Heck, I trust my scouting there better than I actually trust the Steelers scouting dept.

Example: I would've passed on Mendenhall. I thought Ray Rice (second round) was the best back in that draft, followed by Jonathan Stewart (gone before we selected). Wife beating aside, I was right on the scouting. Yes, I had both ahead of Darren McFadden, then Mendy and Felix Jones wrapped up my top 5 (had never seen CJ2k, so that was a miss).

i look forward to seeing this year's crop. lol

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Exactly what i havecsaid since he got drafted. Just a bad panic pick to get a replacement for Harrison. Maybe thecworst Roundv1 pick of the Colbert/Tomlin era. Counted on for so much and delivered so little

i don't think they panicked at all. i think they saw SEC defensive player of the year, who played a position of need. Early mocks had him as a potential top 5 player (until he ran).

I honestly think they team felt they got a steal. I hadn't watched him, but, his production alone in THAT conference -- I hadn't watched him (not MY job) but, felt like it must've been a solid get. Turns out it was a bad draft for pass rushers...

[Shoe]

pretty sure Mendenhall and Limas were considered a great draft by most posters here...

When it comes to talent evaluation, nothing personal, but, I put little weight into most of y'alls opinions.

You know what is true, from a guy watching Steeler drafts for a long time... It is the fact that in recent years, the Steelers have tended toward guys who were projected to be drafted higher, and the Steelers end up getting them. It is somewhat subtle, but I think telling to a flaw in drafting.

(Now I might be imagining things... These things, the draft is such big business and their is so much coverage of it, very few guys are under the radar.)

Anyway, I think this is the type of drafting that loser teams of the past (e.g. Cincinnati) used to always do. Teams like CIN, ARI, used to always get "A" for their draft, drafting guys like above--guys who fall in the lap of the team. While it occasionally works out (e.g. Warren Sapp), it seems to be a recipe for mediocrity.

This is why I liked Artie Burns when we took him, because it was someone they seemed to have thought more highly of than other experts. I don't like when a guy like Mendenhall or Jarvis fall in our laps. (I lulled myself in believing in those guys.) These are old Cincinnati Bengal-like draft picks.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

You know what is true, from a guy watching Steeler drafts for a long time... It is the fact that in recent years, the Steelers have tended toward guys who were projected to be drafted higher, and the Steelers end up getting them. It is somewhat subtle, but I think telling to a flaw in drafting.

(Now I might be imagining things... These things, the draft is such big business and their is so much coverage of it, very few guys are under the radar.)

Anyway, I think this is the type of drafting that loser teams of the past (e.g. Cincinnati) used to always do. Teams like CIN, ARI, used to always get "A" for their draft, drafting guys like above--guys who fall in the lap of the team. While it occasionally works out (e.g. Warren Sapp), it seems to be a recipe for mediocrity.

This is why I liked Artie Burns when we took him, because it was someone they seemed to have thought more highly of than other experts. I don't like when a guy like Mendenhall or Jarvis fall in our laps. (I lulled myself in believing in those guys.) These are old Cincinnati Bengal-like draft picks.

throw Mike Adams in there, too. and it's a very good observation.

[NorthCoast]

You know what is true, from a guy watching Steeler drafts for a long time... It is the fact that in recent years, the Steelers have tended toward guys who were projected to be drafted higher, and the Steelers end up getting them. It is somewhat subtle, but I think telling to a flaw in drafting.

(Now I might be imagining things... These things, the draft is such big business and their is so much coverage of it, very few guys are under the radar.)

Anyway, I think this is the type of drafting that loser teams of the past (e.g. Cincinnati) used to always do. Teams like CIN, ARI, used to always get "A" for their draft, drafting guys like above--guys who fall in the lap of the team. While it occasionally works out (e.g. Warren Sapp), it seems to be a recipe for mediocrity.

This is why I liked Artie Burns when we took him, because it was someone they seemed to have thought more highly of than other experts. I don't like when a guy like Mendenhall or Jarvis fall in our laps. (I lulled myself in believing in those guys.) These are old Cincinnati Bengal-like draft picks.

What you are referring to is lazy scouting. Evaluators falling in love with numbers rather than looking at mountains of tape to see what a player is really doing. As posted by Shawn, watching the tape JJones rarely had to beat his man outright. Somehow scouts thought he would be able to just blow by the tackles in the pros but didn't consider what would happen if he actually had to engage the man.

[feltdizz]

You know what is true, from a guy watching Steeler drafts for a long time... It is the fact that in recent years, the Steelers have tended toward guys who were projected to be drafted higher, and the Steelers end up getting them. It is somewhat subtle, but I think telling to a flaw in drafting.

(Now I might be imagining things... These things, the draft is such big business and their is so much coverage of it, very few guys are under the radar.)

Anyway, I think this is the type of drafting that loser teams of the past (e.g. Cincinnati) used to always do. Teams like CIN, ARI, used to always get "A" for their draft, drafting guys like above--guys who fall in the lap of the team. While it occasionally works out (e.g. Warren Sapp), it seems to be a recipe for mediocrity.

This is why I liked Artie Burns when we took him, because it was someone they seemed to have thought more highly of than other experts. I don't like when a guy like Mendenhall or Jarvis fall in our laps. (I lulled myself in believing in those guys.) These are old Cincinnati Bengal-like draft picks.

spot on...

this is is something I noticed as well and even questioned on a few picks.

Guys falling to us that people thought would never be available. Of course the board was in love with them and they are steals (most draft scouts would agree)... but you have to wonder why these guys fell. Is it luck of the draft or something else?

all that being said... if we passed on all these guys and they played well for other teams we would whine about passing them up.

[pittpete]

Like Tomlin said, "the stats are the stats"

[Shoe]

spot on...

this is is something I noticed as well and even questioned on a few picks.

Guys falling to us that people thought would never be available. Of course the board was in love with them and they are steals (most draft scouts would agree)... but you have to wonder why these guys fell. Is it luck of the draft or something else?

all that being said... if we passed on all these guys and they played well for other teams we would whine about passing them up.

You're right about that last comment, that's why this observation is so subtle. For almost every Mendenhall or Sweed or Jarvis or Brady Quinn, there is an Aaron Rodgers or Honey Badger or Burfict.

[NorthCoast]

all that being said... if we passed on all these guys and they played well for other teams we would whine about passing them up.

I bet you wouldn't hear a peep if the guy the Steelers did pick turned out to be a PLAYA!!

[squidkid]

I bet you wouldn't hear a peep if the guy the Steelers did pick turned out to be a PLAYA!!

when that happens we will find out

[SteelerOfDeVille]

when that happens we will find out

Had we picked Moseley, we'd be laughing at Shazier's inability to stay on the field for the Cowboys... right next to Sean Lee who seems to have the same problem

[RuthlessBurgher]

when that happens we will find out

Yeah, Kevin Colbert obviously never made a single good draft pick.

[bostonsteeler]

You know what is true, from a guy watching Steeler drafts for a long time... It is the fact that in recent years, the Steelers have tended toward guys who were projected to be drafted higher, and the Steelers end up getting them. It is somewhat subtle, but I think telling to a flaw in drafting.

(Now I might be imagining things... These things, the draft is such big business and their is so much coverage of it, very few guys are under the radar.)

Anyway, I think this is the type of drafting that loser teams of the past (e.g. Cincinnati) used to always do. Teams like CIN, ARI, used to always get "A" for their draft, drafting guys like above--guys who fall in the lap of the team. While it occasionally works out (e.g. Warren Sapp), it seems to be a recipe for mediocrity.

This is why I liked Artie Burns when we took him, because it was someone they seemed to have thought more highly of than other experts. I don't like when a guy like Mendenhall or Jarvis fall in our laps. (I lulled myself in believing in those guys.) These are old Cincinnati Bengal-like draft picks.

Ben fell to us and we drafted him (in spite of Cowher's objections according to some).
Its not always a bad thing.