ESPN Draft Need by Team

[Oviedo]

[url="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft10/insider/news/story?id=4897274"]http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft10/ ... id=4897274[/url]


For the Steelers

Pittsburgh Steelers



Top needs:
1. CB: The Steelers' cornerback play was below par in 2009. The unit had no interceptions until the final week of the season. William Gay played poorly, Deshea Townsend is an unrestricted free agent (and old). The Steelers need a young guy with speed and man-coverage skills to go with Ike Taylor, who is a decent player even though he did not have a great 2009 season.



2. FS: Ryan Clark and Tyrone Carter are UFAs and struggled as starters when SS Troy Polamalu missed 11 games. The Steelers need a range safety and a good tackler to potentially start at FS and serve as insurance for the oft-injured Polamalu.



3. NT/DE: NT Casey Hampton could leave as a UFA, DEs Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel are older than 30 and young DE Ziggy Hood may not be ready. The Steelers' aging defensive front is due for a big makeover, and a two-gap nose tackle or a physical 3-4 defensive end would be a much-needed pickup.



Other needs: OG, C, ILB, OT

[calmkiller]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

Seems about right

[grotonsteel]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

Defensive Backs who can make few INTs is a top priority especially considering Troy's health issues.

[flippy]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

Anyone can cover when you get pressure on the QB. I think DLine and LB are bigger priorities that CB/S.

[phillyesq]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

I agree with this assessment.

Lower priority, but the Steelers need to add a developmental OLB later in the draft, somebody who can contribute on special teams early and, hopefully, develop into a situational pass rusher/reliable backup for Woodley and Harrison.

[NW Steeler]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

I wonder what the Steelers plans are regarding Keenan Lewis? Since he didn't really play do they even know what they have with him? Are their plans to put him at safety? They have NO depth at CB or Safety, so I wonder which direction they will go with him....and I wonder if he will actually be able to contribute this year. Thoughts?

[Lebsteel]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

I wonder what the Steelers plans are regarding Keenan Lewis? Since he didn't really play do they even know what they have with him? Are their plans to put him at safety? They have NO depth at CB or Safety, so I wonder which direction they will go with him....and I wonder if he will actually be able to contribute this year. Thoughts?

Yea, wouldn't we all like to know that. I've been wondering the same thing. Are they really eyeing Earl Thomas or Taylor Mays or do they know that they will resign Clark and they have Lewis nearly ready to play? Are they thinking we really need to improve our aging DL as the top priority? Maybe our top priority is getting a GOOD CB? But, what do they have in Lewis and Burnett? I guess we really won't know for sure until the draft, but we will get a hint when they resign/slap the franchise tag on someone whether it is Reed or Hampton.

[Dee Dub]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

Anyone can cover when you get pressure on the QB. I think DLine and LB are bigger priorities that CB/S.

Flippy...the Steelers were second in the NFL in overall sacks. They had more than enough pressure this past season. Problem was, without Troy in the secondary, the week link that was their CB's were exposed.

[url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/defense/sort/sacks"]http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/ ... sort/sacks[/url]

I personally think the the biggest priority should be the best player at a position of need.

So that would be anyone who plays----CB-ILB-D-line-O-line.

[papillon]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

Anyone can cover when you get pressure on the QB. I think DLine and LB are bigger priorities that CB/S.

Flippy...the Steelers were second in the NFL in overall sacks. They had more than enough pressure this past season. Problem was, without Troy in the secondary, the week link that was their CB's were exposed.

[url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/defense/sort/sacks"]http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/ ... sort/sacks[/url]

I personally think the the biggest priority should be the best player at a position of need.

So that would be anyone who plays----CB-ILB-D-line-O-line.

I question whether the Steelers applied enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Yes, they were second in the league in sacks, but, pressure on a consistent basis throughout the game wasn't there like in 2008. It seemed that the Steelers were feast or famine, they either got the sack or little pressure. Of course, losing Aaron Smith didn't help this fact very much.

That being said, CB, ILB, DL, OL are the positions of greatest need and probably in that order. I would include a safety the caliber of Thomas if he were available in the first.

Pappy

[Lebsteel]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

Anyone can cover when you get pressure on the QB. I think DLine and LB are bigger priorities that CB/S.

Flippy...the Steelers were second in the NFL in overall sacks. They had more than enough pressure this past season. Problem was, without Troy in the secondary, the week link that was their CB's were exposed.

[url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/defense/sort/sacks"]http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/ ... sort/sacks[/url]

I personally think the the biggest priority should be the best player at a position of need.

So that would be anyone who plays----CB-ILB-D-line-O-line.

I question whether the Steelers applied enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Yes, they were second in the league in sacks, but, pressure on a consistent basis throughout the game wasn't there like in 2008. It seemed that the Steelers were feast or famine, they either got the sack or little pressure. Of course, losing Aaron Smith didn't help this fact very much.

That being said, CB, ILB, DL, OL are the positions of greatest need and probably in that order. I would include a safety the caliber of Thomas if he were available in the first.

Pappy

My hope is that we can pick up a high quality CB in Rd. 2 such as Kareem Jackson, Devin McCourty or Kyle Wilson since they all seem to have a very similar grade. With age being a primary factor, I think our position of greatest need is DL.

[Dee Dub]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

Anyone can cover when you get pressure on the QB. I think DLine and LB are bigger priorities that CB/S.

Flippy...the Steelers were second in the NFL in overall sacks. They had more than enough pressure this past season. Problem was, without Troy in the secondary, the week link that was their CB's were exposed.

[url="http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/_/stat/defense/sort/sacks"]http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/ ... sort/sacks[/url]

I personally think the the biggest priority should be the best player at a position of need.

So that would be anyone who plays----CB-ILB-D-line-O-line.

I question whether the Steelers applied enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Yes, they were second in the league in sacks, but, pressure on a consistent basis throughout the game wasn't there like in 2008. It seemed that the Steelers were feast or famine, they either got the sack or little pressure. Of course, losing Aaron Smith didn't help this fact very much.

That being said, CB, ILB, DL, OL are the positions of greatest need and probably in that order. I would include a safety the caliber of Thomas if he were available in the first.

Pappy

Ok I here what you are saying but when you see the the Steelers were amongst the league leaders in fewests INT's and PD's then you have to understand it was more of a cover problem than a pass rush problem.

[papillon]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

[quote=Dee Dub]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/ ... sort/sacks[/url]

I personally think the the biggest priority should be the best player at a position of need.

So that would be anyone who plays----CB-ILB-D-line-O-line.

I question whether the Steelers applied enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Yes, they were second in the league in sacks, but, pressure on a consistent basis throughout the game wasn't there like in 2008. It seemed that the Steelers were feast or famine, they either got the sack or little pressure. Of course, losing Aaron Smith didn't help this fact very much.

That being said, CB, ILB, DL, OL are the positions of greatest need and probably in that order. I would include a safety the caliber of Thomas if he were available in the first.

Pappy

Ok I here what you are saying but when you see the the Steelers were amongst the league leaders in fewests INT's and PD's then you have to understand it was more of a cover problem than a pass rush problem.[/quote:1decjplv]

I wholeheartedly agree with that assessment as well. The cornerbacks made zero plays this year. If the Steelers can draft a cornerback that can make plays I'm all for it. That will also take some pressure off of the defensive line and linebackers from having to apply pressure with regularity. The two go hand-in-hand, but, I know you know that.

Pappy

[Lebsteel]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

[quote=papillon]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/team/ ... sort/sacks[/url]

I personally think the the biggest priority should be the best player at a position of need.

So that would be anyone who plays----CB-ILB-D-line-O-line.

I question whether the Steelers applied enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Yes, they were second in the league in sacks, but, pressure on a consistent basis throughout the game wasn't there like in 2008. It seemed that the Steelers were feast or famine, they either got the sack or little pressure. Of course, losing Aaron Smith didn't help this fact very much.

That being said, CB, ILB, DL, OL are the positions of greatest need and probably in that order. I would include a safety the caliber of Thomas if he were available in the first.

Pappy

Ok I here what you are saying but when you see the the Steelers were amongst the league leaders in fewests INT's and PD's then you have to understand it was more of a cover problem than a pass rush problem.

I wholeheartedly agree with that assessment as well. The cornerbacks made zero plays this year. If the Steelers can draft a cornerback that can make plays I'm all for it. That will also take some pressure off of the defensive line and linebackers from having to apply pressure with regularity. The two go hand-in-hand, but, I know you know that.


Pappy[/quote:2gk3e93p]
And may I add that I know that you know that he knows...that.

[papillon]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

And may I add that I know that you know that he knows...that.

Ducky Leb, just ducky!

Pappy

[birtikidis]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

I agree that corner is an issue, but i'd really like to see how JB and KL work out. I really think more than cb we need a safety, ILB and DL