ESPN Draft Need by Team

[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

and i agree wtih DeeDub that you take the best player available at a position of need.

[hawaiiansteel]

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

and i agree wtih DeeDub that you take the best player available at a position of need.

and I agree with birtikidis who agrees with DeeDub that you take the best player available at a position of need...and we have plenty of them this year, more than any year that I can remember for a long time.

take your pick...

1) CB - there will be a lot of good CBs available in Rounds 2 and 3, I personally hope that we draft one there to add some competition to the likes of William Gay, Joe Burnett, Keenan Lewis, Trae Williams, David Pittman and Anthony Madison. I don't think any of those names strike fear in the hearts of our opponents.

2) FS - the degree of need depends on whether we re-sign Ryan Clark or acquire a veteran FA, if not this will be a major need. even if we do, Ryan Mundy has shown very little so far to inspire anyone with confidence.

3) SS - Troy's style of play makes him susceptible to injury, we need someone who can step in if/when he is injured again. and that person's name better not be Tyrone Carter or I will have to throw up.

4) ILB - James Farrior is 35 years old and he has definitely lost a step, especially when he's in pass coverage. opposing offenses have noticed and are exploiting that fact.

5) NT - again, depends on whether we franchise Casey Hampton, which I suspect we will. Chris Hoke is a serviceable backup but we need to get younger here at some point in the near future.

6) DE - we may be losing Travis Kirschke and Tony Eason, a young DE needs to be added here for depth. plus, Aaron Smith is getting older and has also been susceptible to injuries the last few years.

7) C - Justin Hartwig is the weak link in our OL and has one year left on his contract, not sure that Doug Legursky, Darnell Stapleton or Kraig Urbik are the answer to replacing him.

OT - Willie Colon is a RFA, we'll probably be able to keep him two more years but what happens if he or Starks get hurt? Do you want to see Trai Essex starting there or God forbid Tony Hills?

9) RB - Willie Parker is most likely gone, someone has to replace him and be able to back up Mendenhall. Mewelde Moore is okay, but I'm not sold on Frank Summers, Justin Vincent or Isaac Redman.

10) OLB - Woodley and Harrison are terrific, but who is behind them, Andre Frazier? A young OLB needs to be developed here since the Bruce Davis experiment turned out to be a disaster.

you can also add a TE and 3rd QB to this list as well...

[NJ-STEELER]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

someone needs to ask bouchette in his chats or another insider where the steelers envision lewis playing? FS or CB


i think its a big key as to what we do in the draft

[birtikidis]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

someone needs to ask bouchette in his chats or another insider where the steelers envision lewis playing? FS or CB


i think its a big key as to what we do in the draft

good point. did he ever play safety before?

[NJ-STEELER]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

i dont think so, but seen it suggested through out the year that he may end up there.

so, the question is did he get reps at the FS position? or was it mainly CB. i'd figure reporters covering practices would know this

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

someone needs to ask bouchette in his chats or another insider where the steelers envision lewis playing? FS or CB


i think its a big key as to what we do in the draft

this is an excerpt from Ed Bouchette's latest chat transcript...

JMF1177: What player do you think will improve the most this season from last season?

Ed Bouchette: Naturally, it would have to be a young player and one with the largest area to improve. I think Rashard Mendenhall could take another big step, as can Mike Wallace and Ramon Foster. On defense, I look for Keenan Lewis to improve a lot; he had back issues early-on that held him down.

it's hard to infer anything from this but to me it sounds like he will stay at CB. I've heard the Lewis to FS rumors, but that may be as accurate as the Willie Colon to OG rumors that circulate every so often.

Keenan played CB in college, I suspect that's where he'll stay.

[Chadman]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

Chadman disagrees with all of you.


Just because he can.

[Chadman]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

That being said....

The Steelers have made a habit of grabbing young players to develop behind starters for a year or two since Mike Tomlin has been onboard- Timmons, Mendenhall, Hood. None were asked to start right away, all were deemed talented young guys, and all fit a 'position of need'...down the track.

Chances are, the Steelers will go a similar route this season- ILB to learn behind Farrior, OC to learn behind Hartwig, OLB to learn behind Harrison, DE to learn behind Smith.

Where does this put the Steelers in regards to FS & CB? Who knows? Chadman is pulling this stuff out of his ear anyway.

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: ESPN Draft Need by Team

That being said....

The Steelers have made a habit of grabbing young players to develop behind starters for a year or two since Mike Tomlin has been onboard- Timmons, Mendenhall, Hood. None were asked to start right away, all were deemed talented young guys, and all fit a 'position of need'...down the track.

Chances are, the Steelers will go a similar route this season- ILB to learn behind Farrior, OC to learn behind Hartwig, OLB to learn behind Harrison, DE to learn behind Smith.

Where does this put the Steelers in regards to FS & CB? Who knows? Chadman is pulling this stuff out of his ear anyway.

we have a lot of needs this year and really could go in a number of directions. we won't be able to fill all of them in this year's draft, somewhere along the line we will need to fill a few of our needs in free agency also.

[RuthlessBurgher]

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

and i agree wtih DeeDub that you take the best player available at a position of need.

and I agree with birtikidis who agrees with DeeDub that you take the best player available at a position of need...and we have plenty of them this year, more than any year that I can remember for a long time.

take your pick...

1) CB - there will be a lot of good CBs available in Rounds 2 and 3, I personally hope that we draft one there to add some competition to the likes of William Gay, Joe Burnett, Keenan Lewis, Trae Williams, David Pittman and Anthony Madison. I don't think any of those names strike fear in the hearts of our opponents.

2) FS - the degree of need depends on whether we re-sign Ryan Clark or acquire a veteran FA, if not this will be a major need. even if we do, Ryan Mundy has shown very little so far to inspire anyone with confidence.

3) SS - Troy's style of play makes him susceptible to injury, we need someone who can step in if/when he is injured again. and that person's name better not be Tyrone Carter or I will have to throw up.

4) ILB - James Farrior is 35 years old and he has definitely lost a step, especially when he's in pass coverage. opposing offenses have noticed and are exploiting that fact.

5) NT - again, depends on whether we franchise Casey Hampton, which I suspect we will. Chris Hoke is a serviceable backup but we need to get younger here at some point in the near future.

6) DE - we may be losing Travis Kirschke and Tony Eason, a young DE needs to be added here for depth. plus, Aaron Smith is getting older and has also been susceptible to injuries the last few years.

7) C - Justin Hartwig is the weak link in our OL and has one year left on his contract, not sure that Doug Legursky, Darnell Stapleton or Kraig Urbik are the answer to replacing him.

OT - Willie Colon is a RFA, we'll probably be able to keep him two more years but what happens if he or Starks get hurt? Do you want to see Trai Essex starting there or God forbid Tony Hills?

9) RB - Willie Parker is most likely gone, someone has to replace him and be able to back up Mendenhall. Mewelde Moore is okay, but I'm not sold on Frank Summers, Justin Vincent or Isaac Redman.

10) OLB - Woodley and Harrison are terrific, but who is behind them, Andre Frazier? A young OLB needs to be developed here since the Bruce Davis experiment turned out to be a disaster.

you can also add a TE and 3rd QB to this list as well...