Post Draft thoughts

[Oviedo]

Is it HUGER than ILB?

for the record, I like the Washington pick.

Yes it is HUGER given the talent difference between Washington and the available Lbs

Do we really have to repeat the Juju versus CB debate from last season when many thought CB was HUGER too

[Slapstick]

Is it HUGER than ILB?

for the record, I like the Washington pick.

I don’t think it matters which one is HUGER...if there are two needs and a more highly rated player, take the more highly rated player...

[feltdizz]

Yes it is HUGER given the talent difference between Washington and the available Lbs

Do we really have to repeat the Juju versus CB debate from last season when many thought CB was HUGER too

but we HAVE JuJu...

and we also have more depth at WR than ILB

[Slapstick]

but we HAVE JuJu...

and we also have more depth at WR than ILB

We do NOW....

[RuthlessBurgher]

but we HAVE JuJu...

and we also have more depth at WR than ILB

At ILB, we had 4 guys with actual NFL regular season game experience (Vince Williams, Jon Bostic, Tyler Matakevich, and L.J. Fort) and 2 guys whose only NFL experience is training camp and/or practice squad (Keith Kelsey and Matt Galambos).

At WR, we had 4 guys with actual NFL regular season game experience (Antonio Brown, Juju Smith-Schuster, Darrius Heyward-Bey, and Justin Hunter) and 4 guys whose only NFL experience is training camp and/or practice squad (Marcus Tucker, Justin Thomas, Trey Griffey, and Tevin Jones).

In today's NFL, we tend to have 3 WR's on the field more often than not, so before we drafted Washington, we would have needed Heyward-Bey or Hunter to be a de facto starter for us (they each touched the ball a grand total of 4 times for us last year...2 catches & 2 rushes for DHB and 4 catches for Hunter).

In today's NFL, we start out with 2 ILB on the field in base, but then typically have only 1 ILB on the field on passing downs. Run-thumping early down LB's tend to get replaced in big nickel and dime sets by hybrid SS/ILB types, and we drafted two of those this weekend. Guys like Mark Barron and Deone Buchanon were safeties in college, but are now essentially starting linebackers for the Rams and Cards, respectively.

[Steel Maniac]

Well, against the Jags, we needed some thumpers in the middle; couldn’t stop the run.

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Well, against the Jags, we needed some thumpers in the middle; couldn’t stop the run.

Can't remember, was Tuitt still injured, Iron Head Jr. too?

[Steel Maniac]

Off the top of my head, I know Tuitt was.

[Slapstick]

As was Shazier...

[pittpete]

Well, against the Jags, we needed some thumpers in the middle; couldn’t stop the run.

IIRC Bortles came out passing and picked us apart in the playoff game.
Spence had no business being on the field after his previous games, but we had no one else.

[Chadman]

Chadman would be ok with Spence as a back-up to Bostic. Have Matekovich back-up Williams. Let LJ Fort & Thomas fight it out for the 3rd ILB spot.

ST’s should have some thumpers with all the Safeties & ILB’s available.

[pittpete]

Spence shoud never ever see a Steelers uniform again.
Never.

[Northern_Blitz]

Chadman would be ok with Spence as a back-up to Bostic. Have Matekovich back-up Williams. Let LJ Fort & Thomas fight it out for the 3rd ILB spot.

ST’s should have some thumpers with all the Safeties & ILB’s available.

If Spence is supposed to be the next man up, I hope he's on the team so that he can stay fit and learn the D.

My guess is that if Bostic goes down, we'll replace him with Big Red on down 1+2 and Edmunds on 3rd and 5 plus or late game situations where we're expecting pass.

[Slapstick]

IIRC Bortles came out passing and picked us apart in the playoff game.
Spence had no business being on the field after his previous games, but we had no one else.

That’s why having injuries after the trade deadline sucks...

[Steel Maniac]

Broncos declined OLB Shane Ray's 2019 team option.

This means Ray will play out the final year of his rookie deal and then become a free agent next March. The former No. 23 overall pick recorded four sacks as a rookie and doubled it to eight in 2016, but Ray then missed half of last season with a wrist injury and managed just one sack in eight games. The Broncos just took EDGE Bradley Chubb at No. 5 overall to pair with All-Pro Von Miller. It's fair to wonder if the Broncos could shop Ray before Week 1.