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I saw a story earlier today that the team WILL NOT go o-linemen with 2 consecutive selections.
Not sure how much truth there is to it, but it sounds like they're determined to go WR in the 2nd. So, if ya get Mims, don't count on Frazier - instead, expect SVP2013 MNF Executive Champion!Comment
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It would be overdrafting if we got him in the 1st....but....he'd still be a good pick at #20.
Sometimes prospect rankings & player actual values are not the same. He's a day 1 starter. And we need a starter.The people that are trying to make the world worse never take a day off, why should I?
Light up the darkness.Comment
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Good point Chadman. He won't make it to the 2nd round pick. But maybe a small trade down in Rd1 and then grab him?
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I like the idea of trading down.Good point Chadman. He won't make it to the 2nd round pick. But maybe a small trade down in Rd1 and then grab him?
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2pG4UvL][/url][url=https://flic.kr/p/2pG4UvL]capture2[/url] by [url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/191750946@N04/]R W[/url], on Flickr
Probably wouldn't work out like this, but the draft value chart says that we can swap our 1st and 2nd with ARI (late first early 2nd) for basically the same value.
I think that kind of trade would be really good for us (either as one move or stacked trades with different teams).
Seems like our highest positional needs are C (usually not taken super early) and WR (deep class).Comment
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So there was an NFL analyst on FSR yesterday making the case that teams are badly undervaluing TEs and slot WRs, and overvaluing outside receivers.
Said if you look at the last 10 SB winners you'll see either an elite TE or outstanding slot WR. Said teams don't win SBs with elite outside guys.
Smith loves himself TEs in his offense. Washington was underutilized last season as a receiver. They need to see what he can be this year.Comment
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If OC is the direction with the first pick, there is still this dude to consider if JPJ is off the board. Or maybe as the article suggests, regardless if JPJ is there.
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As a run blocker, Frazier routinely opens holes with strength, and he is very tough and physical at the point of attack. Frazier has a wrestling background, which can be seen with his strong hands, excellent hand placement, and ability to tie up defenders. Thanks to the power in his upper body, Frazier can twist, turn and manipulate defenders at the point of attack. Frazier is a scrapper who has a physical attitude and blocks through the whistle. In the NFL, he should be a plus run blocker at center.
Frazier is good fit for pass blocking in the NFL. He is capable of blocking defensive tackles in one-on-ones with an excellent ability to sustain blocks. Aided by his strong base, Frazier can sink his weight and stall bull rushes to give his quarterback time to get the ball out. Frazier plays with good leverage and is capable of bending at the knee to move with defenders rather than having to reach after him. There are times when Frazier can get overwhelmed by mass and has problems when speed rushers get on his edges. However in pass protection, Frazier is very reliable overall.
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Zach attack
Center is definitely an area of need for the Steelers as the NFL Draft approaches later this month. One candidate at that spot is Zach Frazier of West Virginia. The former Mountaineer is generally rated as the second- or third-best center on most NFL draft boards.
Via SteelersDepot.com, Steelers assistant offensive line coach Issac Williams was at Frazier's workout for the Big 12 pro day over the weekend. He can be seen in a video posted by the WVU Football account on Instagram.
Frazier worked out at the event after being limited in his participation at the NFL Combine. He was recovering from a broken leg incurred during WVU's regular-season finale against Baylor.
The Athletic's Dane Brugler posted Frazier's numbers.
While they may not look like what could have been expected with more recovery time, it was impressive to see Frazier pushing himself to be measured so soon after the injury.
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Why WVU Center Zach Frazier is Favorite to be Picked by Steelers
Last updated 4/6/24
The Pittsburgh Steelers absolutely love Zach Frazier, a source told The Athletic. In a new piece done by Mike DeFabo, he talked to Frazier and sources about Frazier's development and where the Steelers are on him, and it seems that they are extremely high on his prospects.
The Athletic's draft analyst Dane Brugler has already mocked Frazier to the Steelers, doing so in the second round in his latest projection. And in Mobile, one league source said the Steelers absolutely love the center, DeFabo wrote.
The Steelers will likely look to target a center, and Frazier feels like someone they would want to land. Obviously, they could look at Jackson Powers-Johnson, Graham Barton, or Sedrick Van Pran, but Frazier has the proximity to Pittsburgh and the perfect schematic fit to get him.
I can't shake what I've heard for most of the process. The Steelers love Frazier, and he is the most straightforward guy to project into a day-one starting role at center. He could be a ten-year starter on the offensive line, an essential piece to any offensive line. And that love reverberated back at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, again at the NFL Combine, and remains today. My guess is Frazier will be the Steelers starting center in 2024. That's my hunch.
The stout and physical Frazier is perfect for the Steelers diverse run scheme, and his leadership and smarts would fit well on the offensive line. One of the best centers in the country that would help the Steelers solidify their offensive line for whoever would play at quarterback next season.
And Frazier's athleticism and angles on wide zone make him a wonderful fit into this group. And with the talented group showing up to the Senior Bowl, Pittsburgh took advantage of it, watching those lineman close.
And those impressive reps came in front of Pittsburgh, who are looking at tackle and center. Take it for what it's worth, but it sure looks like the team is going to reinforce their offensive line.
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WVU center Zach Frazier, Iowa corner Cooper DeJean visit with Steelers
Friday, April 12, 2024
As the pre-draft visit process enters the home stretch, the Pittsburgh Steelers continue to host college prospects at positions of need.
The Steelers continued their emphasis on evaluating players at center and cornerback Friday. They brought in West Virginia center Zach Frazier and cornerback Beanie Bishop and Iowa corner Cooper DeJean to UPMC Rooney Sports Complex for official visits.
Frazier and Bishop are local prospects and don't count against the 30-player limit. The Steelers have filled 23 of those slots so far. Top-30 visits conclude Wednesday.
Frazier is the second elite center prospect the Steelers have hosted in the past week, following Oregon's Jackson Powers-Johnson. While Powers-Johnson is viewed as a first-round prospect, Frazier is expected to be available in the second round. The question is whether he will still be available when the Steelers use the No. 51 overall pick.
Frazier measured 6-foot-3, 313 pounds at the NFL Combine. He was a three-year starter for the Mountaineers at center, making 37 starts in the pivot. As a freshman, he started nine games at left guard.
As a senior, Frazier was a first-team all-Big 12 selection and a third-team All-American.
Bishop also had a decorated resume in his lone season at West Virginia. The 5-10, 184-pounder led the nation with 20 pass breakups while earning first-team all-conference and second-team All-American honors. Bishop was second in the country with 17 forced incompletions and tied for No. 19 with four interceptions.
Taking advantage of the extra season granted because of the coronavirus pandemic, Bishop enrolled at West Virginia after spending a year at Minnesota. He spent his first four seasons at Western Kentucky. He is viewed as a third-day draft prospect.
DeJean is another top cornerback prospect that the Steelers have hosted, joining Clemson?s Nate Wiggins and Rutgers Max Melton. He is ranked as the No. 25 overall draft prospect by NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah. He was a first-team All-American and the Big Ten defensive back of the year in 2023. He also was a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back.
DeJean measured 6-0, 203 pounds at the NFL Combine. He had two interceptions and five pass breakups last season before missing the end of the year with a broken fibula.
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