A Positive View of they Draft

[Oviedo]

I know it is an anathema to several posters on this board but lets try to take a positive view of the draft and assume our leadership knows what they are doing. To that point:

Round 1: Guaranteed Pro Bowl Safety. Yes guaranteed because MF made it already
Round 2: A WR like no one we have ever had. Clearly giving Ben every possible weapon for the stretch run of his career. Guy will be a match up nightmare. Great pick
Round 3: Pass rusher oozing potential. Also need given Chickilo left and Bud may be a one year rental. Highsmith will push Bud who is in another contract prove it year to prove 2019 wasn't a fluke. Highsmith caused fits for the National Championship players at Clemson. He has the goods. Excellent pick.
Round 4: McFarland. A RB like no one else we have. Combinations of speed, burst and power in a small package. I watched what he did against the NFL caliber players on the Ohio State defense and he ate them up behind a off line that wasn't that good. Love this pick
Round 4b: Dotson. An offensive lineman who is probably more talented than the guy who just retired after holding that position for 10 years. Big and mean. Don't be surprised if he pushes for playing time this year and starts in year 2. Very good pick.
Round 6: Brooks. A Safety drafted to be depth and third man in not a starter. Hits hard. Not great in coverage but not terrible and keep in mind he is the third guy. Above average pick.
Round 7: Davis. Big body in the middle of the DL. Not brought in to be a starter but depth as part of a rotation. Time will tell pick

Overall, I give this draft a B+ because we already have a Pro Bowl Safety out of it. I also think Claypool will be special. Highsmith and Dotson will be starters eventually.

Not all the players I wanted but the ones who are now Steelers so I choose to be behind them 100% as some will want them to fail to make a point.

[whatever]

Agreed.
I just can't figure out how every one of our drafts are great, but we can't win anything.
Throw in our awesome FA moves, incredible trades and superior HC, and it really doesn't make any sense.
AND all the other teams trades, drafts, FAs, coaches and front offices are jokes.

[steeler_george]

I love this draft and I am not even including Fitz... they got they wanted out of this draft

playmaker touchdown makers

depth

[NJ-STEELER]

Actually. 1st team all pro safety in 2019.
much bigger accomplishment then pro bowl

[Oviedo]

Actually. 1st team all pro safety in 2019.
much bigger accomplishment then pro bowl

Just confirms it was well played by the team

[pfelix73]

I still think that Highsmith will end up at ILB. He can back up VW as well.

We'll se what transpires this summer and at camp

[Iron City Inc.]

I still think that Highsmith will end up at ILB. He can back up VW as well.

We'll se what transpires this summer and at camp

I saw him play with his hand on the ground at DE and in 2 pt stance olb but I didn't see him used inside. Was he doing that as well ? Not saying he can't just that he has such a good first step I want him as an olb.
One thing I'll say he'll need to set the edge better. In the Clemson game , and he played well there , he wasn't stout in setting the edge well enough. So he'll need to get better in that aspect.

[whatever]

I still think that Highsmith will end up at ILB. He can back up VW as well.

We'll se what transpires this summer and at camp

I read an article yesterday where Tomlin was quoted telling highsmith that they liked his pass rush stuff and basically that he would be developed for that position.
Not one hint that he would be moved.
Highsmith gave an honest interview and he never seemed to think he might be tried out elsewhere. He never said that he is willing to switch positions.
It really doesn't make any sense to only draft 1 olb type with the intentions on moving him to ilb without having a plan when bud leaves.
It seems like it is definitely a security plan at ilb. Even if bud doesn't leave.
There also was several true ilb available to draft that could help this year and not have to learn the position.

[NorthCoast]

Not sure what you guys are seeing from Highsmith here.... looks like Jarvis2.0:

[steelerkeylargo]

Ovie I agree with that write up whole heartedly. I thinks Brooks ends up more of a backer than S. This draft had a different feel to it to me than past drafts. Not sure if it was the lack of picks or what. I think Tomlin had more input on this draft than normal. I think Colbert is weaning himself off as his tenure is directly related to Ben's. Past years I'd say it was probably 65% Colbert and 35% Tomlin. I think that may have flipped this year.

[Disco1981]

I know it is an anathema to several posters on this board but lets try to take a positive view of the draft and assume our leadership knows what they are doing. To that point:

Round 1: Guaranteed Pro Bowl Safety. Yes guaranteed because MF made it already
Round 2: A WR like no one we have ever had. Clearly giving Ben every possible weapon for the stretch run of his career. Guy will be a match up nightmare. Great pick
Round 3: Pass rusher oozing potential. Also need given Chickilo left and Bud may be a one year rental. Highsmith will push Bud who is in another contract prove it year to prove 2019 wasn't a fluke. Highsmith caused fits for the National Championship players at Clemson. He has the goods. Excellent pick.
Round 4: McFarland. A RB like no one else we have. Combinations of speed, burst and power in a small package. I watched what he did against the NFL caliber players on the Ohio State defense and he ate them up behind a off line that wasn't that good. Love this pick
Round 4b: Dotson. An offensive lineman who is probably more talented than the guy who just retired after holding that position for 10 years. Big and mean. Don't be surprised if he pushes for playing time this year and starts in year 2. Very good pick.
Round 6: Brooks. A Safety drafted to be depth and third man in not a starter. Hits hard. Not great in coverage but not terrible and keep in mind he is the third guy. Above average pick.
Round 7: Davis. Big body in the middle of the DL. Not brought in to be a starter but depth as part of a rotation. Time will tell pick

Overall, I give this draft a B+ because we already have a Pro Bowl Safety out of it. I also think Claypool will be special. Highsmith and Dotson will be starters eventually.

Not all the players I wanted but the ones who are now Steelers so I choose to be behind them 100% as some will want them to fail to make a point.

Thinks Brooks is gonna be use more like a dime backer...Said he hits like a truck, and loves to hit

[Steel Maniac]

I read an article yesterday where Tomlin was quoted telling highsmith that they liked his pass rush stuff and basically that he would be developed for that position.
Not one hint that he would be moved.
Highsmith gave an honest interview and he never seemed to think he might be tried out elsewhere. He never said that he is willing to switch positions.
It really doesn't make any sense to only draft 1 olb type with the intentions on moving him to ilb without having a plan when bud leaves.
It seems like it is definitely a security plan at ilb. Even if bud doesn't leave.
There also was several true ilb available to draft that could help this year and not have to learn the position.

Look at how many lb's they signed as undrafted free agents. 4...they are looking to improve at that position but at an inexpensive way.

[Iron City Inc.]

Not sure what you guys are seeing from Highsmith here.... looks like Jarvis2.0:

Do you know who Jackson Carmen is?
Before we get into that I'll tell you about a draft story a few years back when I was high on a prospect tackle named Taylor Lewan. Thought for sure he would be a mid1st rounder and a very smart member of this board and a respected member pulls up tape of him getting smoked off the edge in a particular game. The cherry on top of that was the player that was toasting Lewan was only a freshman! A freshman toasting Lewan means Lewan cant be a first rounder right? Well we know that's not how it played out Lewan went in the top 20 n is a mauler n top left tackle. As the story goes the freshman DE I pointed out to the poster was going to be a top pick in their own right one day so you need to see who guys are playing against and in multiple games not just any one game. That freshman was Joey Bosa by the way and he made a lot of guys struggle.
So here Highsmith matches up with Jackson Carmen 6 5 345 and serious talent at LT. He handled a bunch of DE's last year and won more then he lost. Sports writer Shaun Spencer wrote an article about a month back that he thought Carmen would be a 1st rounder in the 2021 draft.
So in summary Highsmith wins with his first step when he's not in 2 gap. So he uses his hands ok and can bend the edge but he is not a finished product.Hand fighting will need to improve. Lets blocks get into his body a bit to easy.He'll also need a counter to just turning the arc.
Excellent motor but far from finished product that's why he was still on the board after 101 selections.

[steeler_george]

Nice post Iron, you can't just see the negatives, need to question the negatives...

But he did look like Jarvis.. on some of those runs, on other side of field, it look like he just gave up not even follow up to prevent cut backs... anyways I am not an expert or have the true knowledge to disect the reason why.

[SidSmythe]

Not sure what you guys are seeing from Highsmith here.... looks like Jarvis Jones 2.0

Big difference between a top 20 pick of a guy with skinny arms and a late 3rd round comp pick.

I see a lot of holes in this kids game but I have far more hope for him than I ever did JJ.