Who the Steelers like from the Senior Bowl

[PSU_dropout43]

MOBILE, Ala. -- The Steelers' scouts and front-office personnel talked to numerous players particpating in the Senior Bowl.

Here are a few of the names the Steelers are interested in, gathered from talking to scouts, agents and players: RB Ben Tate, Auburn; LB Cameron Sheffield, Troy; DE Brandon Lang, Troy; CB Kyle Wilson, Boise State; G Mike Iupati, Idaho; DL Mike Neal, Purdue; and DB Chris Cook, Virginia.

Now this doesn't mean the Steelers will draft any of these players. Iupati might be gone by the time the Steelers pick middle in the first round. Neal said the Steelers told him at the East-West Shrine game he didn't fit their defensive scheme.

Cook said the Steelers talked to him about playing safety.

"I can play both," Cook said after Wednesday's practice. "I'm a football player. I can play man-to-man and zone defense, but my strength is press man."

Cook can also return kicks, though he won't do it at the Senior Bowl. Cook also talked to the Cowboys, Bears, Panthers and Dolphins.

Some other players the Steelers are looking at are Georgia Tech wide receiver DeMaryius Thomas and South Florida wideout Carlton Mitchell.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Who the Steelers like from the Senior Bowl

Mike Iupati OG in the 1st round and Kyle Wilson CB in the 2nd...sounds good to me.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Re: Who the Steelers like from the Senior Bowl

First, Iupati at #18 was considered to be a reach. Now it's being reported that "Iupati might be gone by the time the Steelers pick middle in the first round."

Wow...dude is a guard who played at Idaho. I usually expect the pre-draft hype machine to talk up QB's, WR's, RB's, etc., not necessarily guards from Idaho. The way he's being pimped now, he'll likely be projected in the top 5 by the time April rolls around.

[feltdizz]

Re: Who the Steelers like from the Senior Bowl

First, Iupati at #18 was considered to be a reach. Now it's being reported that "Iupati might be gone by the time the Steelers pick middle in the first round."

Wow...dude is a guard who played at Idaho. I usually expect the pre-draft hype machine to talk up QB's, WR's, RB's, etc., not necessarily guards from Idaho. The way he's being pimped now, he'll likely be projected in the top 5 by the time April rolls around.

The school name means nothing when you get to the Senior Bowl... if he is man handling top talent then he climbs.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Who the Steelers like from the Senior Bowl

First, Iupati at #18 was considered to be a reach. Now it's being reported that "Iupati might be gone by the time the Steelers pick middle in the first round."

Wow...dude is a guard who played at Idaho. I usually expect the pre-draft hype machine to talk up QB's, WR's, RB's, etc., not necessarily guards from Idaho. The way he's being pimped now, he'll likely be projected in the top 5 by the time April rolls around.

maybe he'll go #3 to the Lions now...



POSTED: JAN. 27, 2010
Idaho LG Mike Iupati catches Lions' Linehan's attention


MOBILE, Ala. -- If you're Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, there's a lot to like about Idaho guard Mike Iupati.

"Obviously, he's the best player in this game," Linehan said Tuesday, after the Lions' coaches led the North in its second practice for Saturday's Senior Bowl.

Linehan laughed as he said that. He was just joking, because he played quarterback at Idaho and began his coaching career there. Got to support the alma mater.

But he wasn't far off, either. Iupati might be the best guard prospect in this game. And he plays left guard, where the Lions happen to have a gaping hole.

"I've heard a lot of good things about him, and it's holding true," Linehan said. "You really notice him. He can do the double teams. He's powerful. But you see him pull."

Iupati is 6-feet-5, 325 pounds. He has the arm length of an offensive tackle -- 35 inches, the longest at the Senior Bowl. He's so athletic that Linehan can see him playing four spots on the line. The Lions have tried Iupati at both guard spots and at left tackle. Iupati said "right guard's just a little bit uncomfortable" and he has no experience at tackle, but coach Jim Schwartz said he wasn't out of place.

"I think the one thing that scouts wanted to see ... is when you step up to this level and you're going against guys who are maybe from bigger conferences, there's not a whole lot of adjustment period," Schwartz said. "I think that's what we saw with Mike in the last couple days. He's right at home playing against these other guys that are the best players in the country."

But will the Lions be in position to draft Iupati? They hold the No. 2 and No. 34 picks. Scouts say Iupati could go mid-to-late first round.

[NJ-STEELER]

Re: Who the Steelers like from the Senior Bowl

i'll take detroit's 2nd and 3rd for them to move up to 18 to take him at a better value.


take pouncey, CB and S help with those 3 in 33 picks

[PSU_dropout43]

Re: Who the Steelers like from the Senior Bowl

remember Brandon Albert?

In 2007, he climbed the draft board to become a top 15 pick.

[Jom112]

Re: Who the Steelers like from the Senior Bowl

RB Ben Tate

Was watching Tate in the Senior Bowl practices yesterday and he looked like a RB that you guys could use.

Powerful back that would be good in short yardage. Plus he was the best blocking RB I saw. He stoned one LB after another in the pass blocking drills. Definitely something that Big Ben could use.

Some other players the Steelers are looking at are Georgia Tech wide receiver DeMaryius Thomas

Stay away...

[Iron Shiek]

Re: Who the Steelers like from the Senior Bowl

[quote=Jom112]

RB Ben Tate

Was watching Tate in the Senior Bowl practices yesterday and he looked like a RB that you guys could use.

Powerful back that would be good in short yardage. Plus he was the best blocking RB I saw. He stoned one LB after another in the pass blocking drills. Definitely something that Big Ben could use.

Some other players the Steelers are looking at are Georgia Tech wide receiver DeMaryius Thomas

Stay away... [/quote:av7f6szh]


Sorry to hijack...but Jom...could you find anyone else in the draft to put in your mock whose last name starts with "Gr" and ends in "ham"?

[Iron Shiek]

Re: Who the Steelers like from the Senior Bowl

First, Iupati at #18 was considered to be a reach. Now it's being reported that "Iupati might be gone by the time the Steelers pick middle in the first round."

Wow...dude is a guard who played at Idaho. I usually expect the pre-draft hype machine to talk up QB's, WR's, RB's, etc., not necessarily guards from Idaho. The way he's being pimped now, he'll likely be projected in the top 5 by the time April rolls around.

The school name means nothing when you get to the Senior Bowl... if he is man handling top talent then he climbs.

Interesting, this cat is getting a ton of pub...he's been a beast as many have read/posted about. Movin the Chains are having Faneca on today, and Kirwan and Ryan basically led the show raving about Iupati and how the Jets would do themselves a good service by trying to get him, but subsequently mentioned they pick too late.

But just the fact that this kid was the only one they talked about in the opening segment, still says alot about the impression he left with everyone. Its not like he was a workout warrior, he did it on the field against his peers, so I will buy into the hype.

But again, an OG climbing really high would be a head scratcher.

[Jom112]

Re: Who the Steelers like from the Senior Bowl

Sorry to hijack...but Jom...could you find anyone else in the draft to put in your mock whose last name starts with "Gr" and ends in "ham"?

After my latest updates, I'm down to just one...

[PSU_dropout43]

Re: Who the Steelers like from the Senior Bowl

The Senior Bowl preparations are under way, and players are trying to make their impressions on NFL coaches, including the Steelers.

"Practice was a little bit better today, certainly compared to yesterday," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. " I thought we had a good day out there and got better in certain areas. Guys are excited about it and that's all we can ask right now. They are doing a nice job with the installation [of the game plan] and have gotten better each day,"

Already, according to two sources at the bowl, the Steelers have held meetings with two players. The first being Idaho guard Mike Iupati.

The 6-5, 325 pound Iupati earned consensus All-American honors this season after being named to the first team by the Associated Press, Walter Camp, American Football Coaches Association and the Football Writers Association of America.

An Outland Trophy finalist and first team All-WAC selection, Iupati helped the Vandals claim just the second bowl victory in program history—a 43-42 win over Bowling Green in the Humanitarian Bowl. He didn’t allow a single sack all season and graded out at 90 percent or better in all 13 games.

The team also met with Michigan State kicker Brett Swenson. The 5-7 kicker,is MSU’S all time leader in field goals (70) points scored (370) and extra points. He is also known for kicking it deep into the endzone.

Swenson has kicked in poor weather environments, and considering his accuracy if the Steelers decide to bring him in, the status of Jeff Reed could be in question.

5'7" kicker? Good grief.

[PSU_dropout43]

Re: Who the Steelers like from the Senior Bowl

[url="http://blogs.nfl.com/2010/01/27/lebeau-steelers-scouring-for-that-next-great-defender/"]http://blogs.nfl.com/2010/01/27/lebeau- ... -defender/[/url]

LeBeau, Steelers scouring for that next great defender

MOBILE Ala. — Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau is considered one of the best coaches of all time, and is earning Hall of Fame consideration for his outstanding play as a defensive back with the Detroit Lions.

He has presided over top-ranked defenses throughout his career, and his unit led Pittsburgh to a victories in Super Bowl XL and XLIII.

This past season, however, the Steelers were not quite as formidable defensively as they have been in seasons past. They still ranked fifth overall, and second in sacks, but they gave up crucial fourth-quarter touchdowns at key points throughout the year.

LeBeau, however, seemed undaunted when I spoke with him here at the Senior Bowl.

“We had some games in the fourth quarter that we just didn’t execute the way we should have, and gotten off the field the way we have in the past,” LeBeau said. “We’re looking to improve those situations, and that’s one of the reasons we’re down here looking at the players here in the Senior Bowl, and looking at some good young talent coming out.”

LeBeau added that there is a strong core already in place, and expects the Steelers to be right in the mix next season.

“I think we’ll be a very competitive defense, and I think our team is going to be very competitive,” LeBeau said.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin was also here at the Senior Bowl standing on the sidelines intently watching the action. With LeBeau’s experience, and Tomlin’s passion, it figures Pittsburgh will find a future standout here at the Senior Bowl who will help the Steelers become a contender again in no time.

– Jason Feller

[Shoe]

Re: Who the Steelers like from the Senior Bowl

Brian Price.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: Who the Steelers like from the Senior Bowl

The Senior Bowl preparations are under way, and players are trying to make their impressions on NFL coaches, including the Steelers.

"Practice was a little bit better today, certainly compared to yesterday," Dolphins coach Tony Sparano said. " I thought we had a good day out there and got better in certain areas. Guys are excited about it and that's all we can ask right now. They are doing a nice job with the installation [of the game plan] and have gotten better each day,"

Already, according to two sources at the bowl, the Steelers have held meetings with two players. The first being Idaho guard Mike Iupati.

The 6-5, 325 pound Iupati earned consensus All-American honors this season after being named to the first team by the Associated Press, Walter Camp, American Football Coaches Association and the Football Writers Association of America.

An Outland Trophy finalist and first team All-WAC selection, Iupati helped the Vandals claim just the second bowl victory in program history—a 43-42 win over Bowling Green in the Humanitarian Bowl. He didn’t allow a single sack all season and graded out at 90 percent or better in all 13 games.

The team also met with Michigan State kicker Brett Swenson. The 5-7 kicker,is MSU’S all time leader in field goals (70) points scored (370) and extra points. He is also known for kicking it deep into the endzone.

Swenson has kicked in poor weather environments, and considering his accuracy if the Steelers decide to bring him in, the status of Jeff Reed could be in question.

5'7" kicker? Good grief.

This pick actually makes sense, I think the Steelers are tired of Reed's act and tendency to embarrass the organization and I'm personally tired of his short kickoffs.

In what round would it make sense to draft Swenson in? I looked him up and he's rated very highly amongst all senior PKers.