A Positive View of they Draft

[Oviedo]

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.

Thanks. Coming from you that means a lot.

I think the team handled this draft very well. They knew they didn't have a lot of ammo and stayed within themselves to get both good players but also balanced with needs.

[whisper]

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.

I used to do that, but as the years passed by, my overly opportunistic opinions of their drafts were proven wrong, time and again. With the Cowher-era drafts, we had less horrid draft classes; with this group, I've realized that just "trusting that they know what they are doing" is often not valid. Now when I see a pick that seems not likely to succeed, they usually do not. I've come to terms with it. I now know Colbert and Tomlin are far from infallible. Now I realize if a pick walks like a duck and squawks like a duck, it is a duck.


Round 1: Guaranteed Pro Bowl Safety. Yes guaranteed because MF made it already

OK, I'll go with that. Fitz is a special talent. He wasn't "drafted" by us, but, the 1st pick was used on him. But he doesn't belong on their "draft record," per sa.

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

I think it's a solid pick, but I wonder if skipping on Dobbins (and Balt. getting him) won't be a decision that we lament for 7 years or so. That being said, Claypool seems solid. He's been on my radar for a while, as his size (6-4, 238 lbs) and speed combination (4.3 is intriguing. And he's not some idiot diva player; he's a solid leader and respected.

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.

I'm gonna disagree a bit on the "oozing potential" claim. I read a piece that said he is already better than Ola. How the F do they know that? I think if Ola got playing time, he'd prove to be a like a James Harrison. Highsmith piled up stats on super weak teams. He has a lot wrong with his game, including on having a thin lower body, which won't cut it as an edge rusher in the NFL. He gets run over when opponents get square on him. He could become good some day, but I in no way thinks it's a given. We had bigger needs at that spot, like RB and NT.

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



Yea, everyone brings up the OSU game, but overall, the guy only had how many touches in 2019? 130? I know he's fast and quick, but he can't pass block a lick and until he does, they won't put him on the field much. And his contact balance is poor. You ca take him down with arm tackles. (Sound like anyone else we drafted, i.e. Dri Archer - I know he's bigger than that smurf, but ...). He might work out, but it's no given. It kills me they could have had one of the steller backs in this draft and did not take one. They're morons if they don't realize Conner will get hurt again.

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.

Nothing I've read on him agrees with the above assertion. Most say he is purely a backup talent. Some says there is a chance he could develop into a starter....just a chance. He reminds me of some of the other below par OG they've drafted like Kendell Simmons, but weaker.

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.

He's not just "not great" in coverage, he's completely inept. If they have to put him on the field, he will get scorched worse than Sharko.

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

Likely won't make the final roster. But I'm not gonna bitch much about a 7th rounder.

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.

It's your prerogative to feel good about it. I used to be exactly like that after every draft. Maybe I'm jaded, but for a reason. I've seen how the draft classes of 2016, 2015, 2012, 2009, etc. turned out.

[Oviedo]

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.

IMO he never looks like Jarvis. Jarvis always looked slow and sluggish and as I pointed out many times, many of Jarvis' sacks were when the QB held the ball too long.

Highsmith will never be Jarvis Jones

[Oviedo]

It's your prerogative to feel good about it. I used to be exactly like that after every draft. Maybe I'm jaded, but for a reason. I've seen how the draft classes of 2016, 2015, 2012, 2009, etc. turned out.

You be you

[whatever]

Thanks. Coming from you that means a lot.

I think the team handled this draft very well. They knew they didn't have a lot of ammo and stayed within themselves to get both good players but also balanced with needs.

How do you know?
You never heard of any of these guys before but now are saying how good they are.
You also say the Steelers always draft bpa and not for need, but now say they addressed needs.

[SteelerMaine83]

Nice thread, Ovi.

I’m sure I wouldn’t have picked it like they did, given who was still on the board, but I do like the players they picked and I’m behind them 100% to prove they were worth it. I’m a draftnik but I’m not going to say I have more knowledge, insight or just plain facts that the guys making the decisions do. Go Steelers!

[Steel Maniac]

We gotta see where guys we drafted as developmental players (like Gentry and Gray for example) are at in their development. We might get some pleasant surprises from these guys.

[whisper]

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

I just hope he doesn't have to cover anyone - he couldn't cover a sloth wearing high heels.

[whisper]

How do you know?
You never heard of any of these guys before but now are saying how good they are.
You also say the Steelers always draft bpa and not for need, but now say they addressed needs.

ANY team that says they only go with BPA is a liar. How was Dobbins not BPA? The dude rocked for over 2000 yards in a COLLEGE season in one of the best conferences there is.

[Northern_Blitz]

It's your prerogative to feel good about it. I used to be exactly like that after every draft. Maybe I'm jaded, but for a reason. I've seen how the draft classes of 2016, 2015, 2012, 2009, etc. turned out.

What did you think about the Juju and Johnson picks? I think both were pretty widely panned around here.

My guess is also that your recollection of the Cower drafts is colored by the conclusion you want to make.

Drafts are a crap shoot. Especially when you don't have a 1st round pick.

Let's let the kids try before we shower them with praise or burry them with criticism.

[Northern_Blitz]

ANY team that says they only go with BPA is a liar. How was Dobbins not BPA? The dude rocked for over 2000 yards in a COLLEGE season in one of the best conferences there is.

I don't watch college ball.

I've heard some say Dobbins was awesome and others say that his Oline was insanely good.

I though I also heard people say he had an issue with fumbles but maybe that was just a product of having so many touches?

[Iron City Inc.]

I don't watch college ball.

I've heard some say Dobbins was awesome and others say that his Oline was insanely good.

I though I also heard people say he had an issue with fumbles but maybe that was just a product of having so many touches?

It was Taylor who had the heavy work load and some fumble issues. But both Dobbins n Taylor imho were , are, excellent. Our rookie back reminds me of Lindsey of Denver. One cut type with a real good burst.

[NorthCoast]

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.

OK IC... you've talked me away from the ledge. I'll have to be patient and see how this pans out by Year 3.

and I'd be ok with grabbing Carmen in next year's draft.

[Terrapin]

Should have taken Fromm when he hung around forever

[Mr.wizard]

ANY team that says they only go with BPA is a liar. How was Dobbins not BPA? The dude rocked for over 2000 yards in a COLLEGE season in one of the best conferences there is.

I don't agree with that, teams aren't looking at stats put up in college, they are looking at measurables and the impact they can have at the NFL level. Dobbins is not going to run through teams like he did in college he won't even get that many carries during a game, not exactly a guy teams will have to plan for or go out of their way to defend. Claypool on the other hand is going to be a matchup nightmare, a redzone target, and will open up opportunities for our passing game as well as our running game.