TE
and FB:
This is the third in a series of articles focusing on prospects at those units identified within the twin Overviews (Jan. 2003) as positions of need (PON).� The Combine is over but many prospects did not compete there; that so, those results will be posted as available but otherwise we�ll have to rely on the information available at draftbook.com unless, or until Pro Day results become available.� This feature, along with the preceding D-backs and D-line, will be updated as data presents, or as the FO addresses PON in FA.� Ultimately, results will be compiled into some putative board to include FA as well.
Tight
Ends:
By signing Jerame Tuman and Matt Cushing, the FO has retained those veterans who finished last season as #1 and #2 on the depth chart.� Of course, Mark Breuner has occupied the starting spot for years; however, that player�s inability to stay healthy coupled with his considerable cap hit plus the Steelers� 2004 issues with Bell and Burress, not to mention their young OT, converge towards Breuner�s inevitable termination.� That so, the Steelers must either draft a starter at TE (since no quality vet would consider signing with a team that doesn�t actually use TE) or ride on with Tuman, Cushing and, presumably, some developmental rookie.� Considering the class of 2003:
�Note:� (numbers in parentheses) are from draftbook.com; otherwise, those are Combine results reported at ESPN.� A height of, say, 6042, means 6�-4 ��; this is a Combine measurement; others shown are estimates, or flack product.� Weight accompanying Combine-format height figures is Combine weight; otherwise this is a draftbook.com estimate.� Remarks are condensed from draftbook.com.
|
Player |
School |
Height |
Weight |
40 |
Remarks |
|
Jason Witten |
Tennessee |
6055 |
264 |
DNP (4.68) |
Did 25 reps at Combine but
DNR.� Best all around TE available
this year; good mobility, good hands, tenacious run blocker. |
|
Dallas Clark |
Iowa |
6033 |
257 |
DNP (4.85) |
No Combine results
found.� Tough player, as you�d expect
from a former LB.� Excellent hands and runs
precise routes; gives excellent effort blocking but size limits results. |
Teyo Johnson |
Stanford |
6-6 |
255 |
DNP (4.60) |
No Combine results
found.� Has never played TE and
therefore will not fit in a power running system.� However, could redefine the position in the passing game. |
|
Robert Johnson |
Auburn |
6055 |
278 |
4.93 |
Did just 18 reps, slow and
not especially strong.� �Lumbering
target� who is a tackle-eligible type. |
Benny Joppru |
Michigan |
6042 |
272 |
DNP (4.88) |
19 reps, DNR.� Struggled to run block this past season
and doesn�t pass block either. Said to be a better receiver than blocker; on the
plus side, is steadily getting bigger and stronger. |
Mike Pinkard |
Arizona State |
6047 |
259 |
DNP (4.69) |
No Combine results
found.� Said to be a skilled and
tenacious blocker but is a poor route runner with questionable hands.� Still, has some upside and did impress at
Senior Bowl. |
|
Aaron Walker |
Florida |
6055 |
252 |
4.72 |
24 reps, demonstrated
excellent athleticism at Combine; good size and speed but has that Club
Florida attitude. |
|
George Wrighster John L Williams type FB? |
Oregon |
6021 |
249 |
DNP (4.78) |
16 reps, DNR.� H-back type who is said to be a seam
threat; is a great leaper who played FB at Oregon for a couple of years.� However, is raw and, likely, too small to function
at TE in the Steeler system, as constituted. |
|
Mike Seidman |
UCLA |
6044 |
261 |
DNP (x.xx) |
20 reps, DNR.� Good size, big school late round type. |
LJ Smith |
Rutgers |
6032 |
258 |
4.65 |
26 reps at Combine where he
demonstrated excellent all around athleticism. |
|
Trent Smith |
Oklahoma |
6051 |
243 |
4.81 |
16 reps, plays slower than
he times and doesn�t time fast; doesn�t block either.� DND. |
Donald Lee |
Miss. State |
6032 |
249 |
4.78 |
26 reps at Combine; very
strong and is regarded as the best blocker of the small TE though pass
protection exceeds run blocking. |
|
Doug Zeigler |
Mississippi |
6035 |
257 |
DNP (4.68) |
DNR; Broken leg limited senior
season; prior to that was a top 5 prospect at the position. |
|
Spencer Nead |
BYU |
6044 |
259 |
4.88 |
Excellent hands and size
but slow and doesn�t block effectively.�
DND. |
Zach Hilton |
N. Carolina |
6076 |
262 |
4.81 |
24 reps, huge and showed
some movement ability at Combine.��
Late day tackle-eligible type. |
|
Kevin Ware |
Washington |
6027 |
256 |
4.75 |
22 reps, FA type. |
Dan Curley
|
East Washington |
6040 |
254 |
4.64 |
17 reps aren�t great but this
player has good size and speed.� FA
type. |
|
Visante Shiancoe |
Morgan State |
6043 |
251 |
4.62 |
Strong, did 28 reps; if he
doesn�t make it at TE, this player has ideal measurables to develop as a rush
DE. |
Parsing the TE by round and role with slotting borrowed from the Huddle Report (12 spot drops permitted):
|
Slot |
All-around TE |
Receiver type |
Blocker type |
Remarks |
|
1.27 |
Jason Witten (30) |
|
|
Witten would probably be
BPA @ 27. |
|
2.59 |
|
Teyo Johnson (63)
Dallas Clark (49) |
Robert Johnson (72) |
|
|
3.92-4.125 |
|
Bennie Joppru (98)
George Wrighster (101) Aaron Walker (120) LJ Smith (139) |
Mike Pinkard (80) |
Joppru is unlikely to be
available @ 92.� Pinkard probably will
be but may be off by 125. Visante Shiancoe (93) converted to a D-side, ST player? |
|
5.158-6.191 |
|
|
Mike Seidman (219) |
Lee and Smith have very
similar measurables; however, neither seem to fit the tackle-eligible mode. |
|
7th or FA |
|
Donald Lee (231) Doug Zeigler (243) Kevin Ware (264) Dan Curley (NR) |
Zach Hilton (246)
|
|
Fullbacks:
While George Wrighster may be leading the Reincarnation-of-John-L.-Williams Derby, he worked out as a TE, not a FB.� Those players who did work at the latter position are tabulated in the following.� Only 9/32 RB at the Combine ran; that so, flack obtains, as does the note or key information applied to the TE:
|
Player |
School |
Height |
Weight |
40 |
Remarks |
Justin Griffin |
Miss. State |
5112 |
232 |
4.59 |
29 reps; ran about as well
as those few RB who did participate. |
|
Ovie Mughelli |
Wake Forest |
6011 |
255 |
DNP (4.6) |
Generally regarded as the
top FB but DNP at Combine. |
|
Andrew Pinnock |
S. Carolina |
5-10 |
265 |
DNP (4.72) |
Played RB in college. |
|
BJ Askew |
Michigan |
6024 |
241 |
4.6 |
Played TB in junior year
but is said to lack the speed to do so in the show; however, has shown as a
quality receiver out of the backfield.�
Suffered broken hand and so DNP at Combine. |
|
Chris Davis |
Syracuse |
5114 |
235 |
4.51 |
Very good speed and did 21
reps.. |
|
Steven Costa |
UNLV |
6-1 |
223 |
DNP (4.45) |
Great athlete and high try guy
but, so far, athleticism hasn�t translated to field. |
|
Brandon Drumm |
Colorado |
6013 |
223 |
4.72 |
Average athlete who did 21
reps. |
|
Jerami Johnson |
West. Kentucky |
5114 |
260 |
4.90 |
Short, fat and slow. |
Casey Moore |
Stanford |
6017 |
240 |
4.65 |
Smart, hard-nosed player;
22 reps. |
|
Josh Rue |
Duquesne |
6-2 |
240 |
4.60 |
KFFL has reported that this
man ran 4.6 in on-campus workouts. |
Mughelli may be available at 92 but would be a dubious value at the spot for the Steelers. �Askew and Pinnock have experience at RB and, off that, could fit the Barry Foster model (college FB converted to power RB); however, neither have shown either Foster type quickness or lateral ability.� Justin Griffin may fit that mold too; Griffin is very clearly the best athlete in this group.� Casey Moore is said to be an intelligent player and a solid blocker; of the prospects listed here, he may be most likely to fill a Kreider-type function as lead blocker and outlet receiver.��
Summary:
From Witten on, I�d expect the Steelers to draft O-side types on a BPA type basis, using these spots if, but only if, quality D-side value wasn�t available.� That is, while the priority is defense, if the good fits are off the board then Witten or Teyo Johnson would be quality early day pick-ups; in the later going, Pinkard may fit the TE mode here with Wrighster or Askew, Smith or Lee, Moore, Hilton and Shiancoe presenting as the situation warrants.� Justin Griffin has the measurables to factor as a wildcard power RB.