2007 pre-Draft wrap:

 

This article follows on 2007 Draft, by the numbers.� There, seven series of tables arrayed a number of prospects, some portion reaching either O-side or D-side (9^th series) boards.� Since then, there has been some minor movement, as traced in the so-called Gosselin Ranks.� All that is exhibited in Tables 1.1 and 1.2.� The high points follow:�

 

Value cluster demographics suggest that the mid-R pool of LB projected here (circa, post-Combine) has all but dried up.� Further, a pair of small/mid school DB, Usama Young and Brannon Condren, once thought to be Day 2 sleepers, now is in or near R3b/c.� So to for WR, where two prospects, Yamon Figurs and Laurent Robinson, formerly considered R4/5 now seem to be securely in R3a/b.� That first is a problem: this is not a good LB class (it�s generally poor across the Front 7) so it is likely that teams needing LB will go early.� The case at DB is similar, if not so acute (especially with respect to S).� On the plus side, this is a superb WR class; teams needing help at that position can wait, possibly even into UDFA.�

 

While there has been little change as to those prospect boards, we�ve seen big changes down at Steeler HQ, all around perennial Pro Bowl LG Alan Faneca.� To be brief: it is highly unlikely that Faneca will be extended beyond 2007.� That is because the OG market has moved beyond all reasonable value.� Last winter, players like: Derrick Dockery, Eric Steinbach and Langston Walker received what may be described as Steve Hutchinson money.� Chris Dielman, a better player than all three, got less, but (relatively) little less. Maybe, as Dielman did San Diego, Faneca may provide the PS a hometown discount.� Either way, this fact remains: Faneca is heading to his third deal but Hutchinson, Dockery, Steinbach, Walker and Dielman inked Contract 2 (C$2).�

 

Then too, while Faneca remains a top-flight run blocking OG, if the PSO evolves (or devolves), as Bruce Arians has suggested, into Big Ben�s Jumbo Aerial Act, then Faneca is, well, not the guy.� There are other OL items.� Faneca is just one of three OL starters entering the final year of their deals.� The others are Kendall Simmons and Max Starks.� We�ve been over it with both; suffice to say that this, along with Hartings� retirement, surely must propel OL to the front of the need parade.�

 

Which is fine because, in the early going, this class is strong on the OL, especially inside.� That is not so at those D-directed points of emphasis, DE and LB.� There the top prospects, by the numbers, just don�t have it.� There is little to nothing in the workouts posted by: Adams, Anderson, Moss, Beason or Timmons suggesting future stardom.� There is little to be had as to track record since, excluding Adams, all of those prospects are underclassmen, some having starting for just a season or so.� Maybe they make it, maybe not; my bet is that this group is exactly as over-hyped as, say, that (so-called) elite set of WR, circa 2005.�

 

That�s my story, and I�m sticking with it.� As mentioned, there�s not much at LB, though value cluster demographics do suggest that some few prospects may remain into the middle frames.� On the plus side, while the DE pool is not great at the top, it is deep.� Whether by the (workout) numbers, or by on-field production, there is little difference between Anthony Spencer, Charles Johnson and Tim Crowder; that is, there is little difference between those DE/LB to be found in, say, R1c, R2c or, hopefully, R3b.� Within that cluster, on a rank-at- the-position basis, lurks LaMarr Woodley, who, uniquely, has both the production and the workout numbers.� Later, well, there�s Brian Robison for one, who has the workout numbers and, contrary to the average Pauline, did bring on-field production not so-such-much-different from his running mate, that low rise denizen of the Pump House, Tim Crowder.

 

All that suggests that the PS go OL early, holding on Front 7 grabs into the mid-frames.� Then there�s this: for good or ill, the PS do have three of four Front 7 edge starters under contract well past 2008.� Those are: Aaron Smith, Brett Keisel and James Harrison.� As noted, they have, at most, 2 of 5 OL starters under contract past this season.� Those are: Marvel Smith and whomsoever gets the nod at OC.� Maybe it�s Sean Mahan, maybe it�s Chukky Okobi but either way, Jeff Hartings will be missed.� The same is so back on the D-side, with respect to Joey Porter.� However, Porter is not now, was not last season and never has been an elite edge rusher.� In fact, the PSD has functioned, fairly effectively, without an elite rusher since Kevin Green blew town, following the �95 season.�� If then, so now; and on we go:���

 

Table 1.1, O-side board:�

 

• Boldface indicates high KEI, except for WR, where it indicates high TEI.� Script key: when used (5/ prospect name, R3/4) indicates #5 in Gosselin�s ranks and R3/4 per NFLdraftscout except that, past 15, NFLdraftscout rankings are used.� Note that these sources sometimes disagree as to any given prospect�s worth.� That�s part of the fun.

 

	Elite	R1	R2	R3	(2) R4	(2) R5	(2) R6/7	UDFA
Pure OT	1/Thomas, R1 2/Brown, R1		6/Free, R2/3		7-10/Bushrod, UDFA	13/Uperesa, R6 11/Bender, R5/6	Otto, R3/4	48/Kraay
OT range 2000-05		2-4	5-6	7-8	7-10	11-15	14-17 21-23
OT/OG		3/Staley, R1 4/Ugoh, R1/2	3/Blalock, R1/2 2/Sears, R1/2					35/Kuresa
Pure OG		1/Grubbs, R1			7/Stephenson, R4/5	10/Bennett, R5/6		14/Studdard 16/Turner 10/M. Jones Others
OG range 2000-05		1	1-4	5	6-9	9-10	9-11 10-13
IOL					4/Datish, R4	8/Fry, R3	9/Mormino 10/Cook	23/Vallos
OC		1/Kalil, R1/2					S/Fenton
OC range 2000-05		0-1	1-3	2-4	3-6	4-7 (10)	5-7 (10) 7-11
�Colston �types�	1/Johnson	1/Olsen, R1					31/Kent 34/Ekwerekwu 17/Jones, TE	37/Fairooz
The Wards �		2/Meachum, R1 4/Bowe, R1	10/Hill, R2	12/Robinson	S/Walker, R3		30/Naanee	51/Payne
Other WR		5/Gonzales, R2		11/Figurs				43/Price 40/Hall
WR range 2000-04		3-7	8-11	12-14	15-19	21-22	26-28 31-37
RB	1/Peterson, R1	2/Lynch, R1	�	7/Leonard, R2	10/K. Smith, R5	15/Battle, R5/6		28/Hairston 32/Banks
RB range 2000-2005		2-3	2-6	5-9	8-(11)-14	9-(12)-15	14-17 15-20
�QB	Doesn�t matter						14/Gutierrez	Zwick

 

Notes:

 

• WR Laurent Robinson and Yamon Figurs went up.� On a BPA basis, either may be the pick at 3.77; if he falls, Jason Hill certainly would be BPA.� However, depth at the position is a factor.� For example, Mike Walker remains in the R3/4 area though, in my view, Walker is the superior prospect.� Additional depth remains well beyond Walker, deep into Day 2 and, possibly, UDFA.� All that suggests that the PS look to equivalent prospects at other positions throughout Day 1.���

 

• OG:� Stephenson went up; a quality developmental prospect, perhaps, but most regard him as two years from contributing.� These 2007 PS seem to have more immediate needs.� OG remains top heavy, after Justin Blalock, say R1c/2a, there is little until Stephenson or Dustin Fry (fair values, R5); after that, UDFA.� Little for a power running team anyway, though OT/OG like Ryan Harris and Allen Barbre fit a ZBS.

 

• OT:� It is a mark of the weakness at this position that non-Combine invitees Jermon Bushrod and Jacob Bender are in or approaching top ten at the spot.� Eight (8) tackles carry Day 1 grades; three figure to be gone in the top 20. On the plus side, value cluster mechanics suggest that the PS will find both Mike Otto and Dane Uperesa available at R5c and, perhaps, R6b.

 

• RB:� Brian Leonard is hard to place.� While this prospect is clearly the best receiver and the best pass pro blocker of all RB in this class, the Gosselin ranks suggest he may be had in R3.� That is explicable if but only if a preponderance of teams have misevaluated him as a FB; otherwise, not so much.�� Setting Leonard aside, there�s Peterson and Lynch early, then nothing until R3.� As noted previously, some Day 2 RB including: Kolby Smith, Jackie Battle and, perhaps, Justise Hairston, have flashed make-it traits.�������

 

• QB: Trent Edwards, Drew Stanton, Kevin Kolb and John Beck constitute an R2a value cluster.� Needless to say, the PS will not be in that market so early (though Matt Gutierrez ought figure late).� It is reasonable to hope that some teams go QB early in R2, sending those OL (rated in the same area) downward to the PS.�����

 

On the face of it, O-side strategy revolves around the acquisition of OL.� There is high quality in the front, and some promising prospects, on athletic, experience and durability vectors, in the back.� It may be said that: Fry, Bennett, Mormino, Uperesa and Cook (among others) backstop Staley, Grubbs, Kalil, Blalock and Sears.� However, as the Steelers have been constituted (run strong, throw long), there is little to nothing in the middle, OL-wise.�

 

The same is so at TE except that there, the numbers are: one, none and one (front, middle and back).� In contrast, WR persist throughout, with Mike Walker as BPA circa R4 and R6/7 an especially attractive cluster.� Finally, running back where, in seeking a complement to Parker, options may include: Lynch, R1; Leonard, R2/3; Smith, R4 or perhaps, Battle R5-comp and on.� Of those, Leonard, having used Lynch to move towards OL value at R1B.� In my view: this PSO needs, at minimum, two OL and two to three skill position players (two if no TE) with a quality RB trumping WR.� They may well draft more heavily on this side.� That is because there�s more O than D.� See:

 

Table 1.2, D-side board:�

 

• Boldface indicates high KEI, except for CB, where it indicates high TEI and S, where it may mean either or both.� Script key: when used (5/prospect name, R3/4) indicates #5 in Gosselin�s ranks and R3/4 per NFLdraftscout except that, past #15, NFLdraftscout rankings are used.�� Note: these sources sometimes disagree as to any given prospect�s worth.� That�s part of the fun. �

 

	Elite	R1	R2	R3	(2) R4	(2) R5	(2) R6/7	UDFA
UT		1/Okoye, R1					S/Anoai, R6 22/Cohen, R7	29/Muir
34 DE	3/Carriker, R1	2/Harrell, R1 3/Branch, R1		11/Alema-Francis, R2				Smith 26/DeVito
DT range 2001-05		3-5	5-7 (8)	7-10 (6) (12)	10-13 (7)	12-15 (8)	15-19 (22) 18-22 (24)
DE range 2001-05		3-4 (6)	6-8 (10)	8-10 (13)	12-14 (10) (16)	12-20 Scatter	20-23 (18) 24-27 (21)
Edge rushers			5/Spencer, R1/2 7/Woodley, R2	9/Johnson, R2 10/Crowder, R2	14/Robison, R4/5
Hybrid LB			4/Bradley, R2 (m). 5/Barnes, R4	9/Shaw, R3	11/DeOssie, R4			61/Beckford
OLB range 2001-05		0-3	6-8	7-11	10-14	11-16	16-19 17-21
Other LB	Willis		6/Black, R3	4/Durant, R2/3		6/Waters, R6/7	16/Muncy, R7/UDFA	22/Shotwell 45/Baldwin 21/Herring 25/Holloway
ILB range 2000-05		1-2	2-3	4-6	6-8	7-9	16-19 17-21
CB	1/Revis, R1 2/Hall, R1		8/J.Wilson, R3	10/Young, R3/4     11/Coe, R3/4	17/Brown, R4		23/ Jackson, R5/6 26/CJ Wilson R6/7 S/31/Bowie	39/Cole 76/Roberson Terry?
CB range 2000-05		3-5	6-8-12	11-13 (18)	16-18	18-21	22-23 25-32
Safeties	1/Landry, R1	3/Griffin, R1		7/Alexander, R6/7	9/Condren, R6 12/Gattis, R2/3	14/Wendling, R4/5 00/Gaddis, R5/6 00/ Stone, R5	00/Shanle, R6       00/Bullitt, R7	Skaggs (KEI) Lofton
S-range 2000-05		1-3	5-6	7-10	9-12	11-14	12-17 16-21

 

• DT:� Harrell (#2 DT) would be over-drafted at 15; he won�t be there at 46.� Similarly, McBride (#4 DT) will be over-drafted in R2. Such is the paucity at the position.� There are some Day 2 suspects to include Walter Thomas and LaRon Harris.� However, both carry character flags.� Not so for Joe Anoai, a quality UT prospect, which is to say: a package player for a (mainly) 34 PS, and a wave player for some future Tampa 2.��

 

• DE/edge rushers:� value cluster demographics suggest that some �quality� DE prospect will approach the PS pick at 3.77.� For that reason (and because, by the numbers, many of the early edge DE look like IOL) Woodley is the sole prospect worth early consideration.��

 

• Hybrid LB: prospects that drilled as LB but possessing some edge rush ability.� Like DT, value cluster demographics tend to run ahead of rating on a prospect-regardless-of-position basis.� That is: some team is likely to reach for a Bradley in R2, perhaps then even Antwan Barnes.� In my view, Bradley is fairly valued in R3 (though durability issues cast a shadow on that) while Barnes and Tim Shaw cluster on the R3c/4a edge, along with undersized DE, hybrid rusher and hyper-athlete Brian Robison.� If we consider those DE noted above as part of this hybrid rush set, then it may be said that rush value begins in R3, and terminates in R4.� One more: there are no elite edge rushers in this class, zero; however, there are numbers.� In that light, the PS would do well to draft two or three such prospects, trending towards those multi-faceted hybrid pressure fronts employed so successfully by, say, the Baltimore Ravens.

 

• Other LB:� Here, the situation is similar to that noted above.� Both Justin Durant and Quincy Black are intriguing prospects.� However, fair value begins in R3 and on, but not before.� On the plus side, their (apparent) elevation presents a scenario within which a big school/bad Combine prospect like Posluszny reaches the PS in R2, or Brandon Siler, R4.� Additionally, all indications suggest that Zak DeOssie and Andre Waters will remain into Day 2, there fairly valued.�

 

�         CB:� the Steelers have substantial need at the spot. However, only Darrelle Revis carries value where the PS will draft in the opening frames.� On the plus side, small/mid school comers such as Usama Young or Courtney Brown may present in the middle and, in the back, there�s CJ Wilson and, possibly, John Bowie.� Additionally: Marquice Cole has some PR value, and DeAndre Jackson has some KR value.������

 

�         S: although two prospects earlier considered sleepers, Gerard Alexander and Brannon Condren, apparently have elevated into the mid-frames, S remains a quality Day 2 cluster.� This corresponds to the PS need to replace Logan, and possibly Carter.� That, along with a clot of big school R2/3 types with dubious athletic credentials, strongly suggests that S is not a Day 1 get.� On the downside, the Steelers are unlikely to find the next Polamalu Day 2.� Then again, past Landry, they are unlikely to find the next Polamalu Day 1.

 

As earlier, in 2007 Draft, by the numbers, prospects presented in diverse tables were winnowed into those O/D-side boards, so too the following.� For example, in R1, the PS would be best served with either an UT or OL and better served with either a TE or RB R1, rather than WR so, on that basis, neither Meachum nor Bowe are shown below.� Further, if the PS FO is able to move down from 1.15, it ought be for OL, or Olsen, not, say, Justin Harrell.� Similarly, it is my opinion that Revis (in the unlikely event that he falls) is 1.15 worthy but Leon Hall is not.� In the same vein, (opinion that is) since Stewart Bradley carries some medical questions, he is a Day 1 risk.� There are numerous other deletions of the sort; all intended without prejudice to any prospect�s prospects, and made without further comment.

 

Table 2.0, 2007 SBBV:�

 

• Prospect name indicates high KEI or high TEI, per position.�

 

• (Prospect name) indicates one whose play grade warrants the pick per spot but due to value cluster mechanics, will probably be off the board.�

 

• Listing per slot is, roughly, order of personal preference.� On a �if they fall basis,� the last row in each column may swing into either the 1^st or 3^rd row in the following column.� One exception: on a fairly valued basis, Black and Barnes ought translate a bit farther.�

 

	Elite, top 10/12	R1.15	R2	R3	(2) R4	(2) R5	(2) R6/7
Offense	Johnson Thomas Peterson	Grubbs, OG Staley, OT/G Lynch, RB	Blalock, OG/T Ugoh, OT/G (Sears, OG/T)	Leonard (Pittman)	Walker, WR Smith, RB	Fry, IOL Stephenson, IOL	Otto, OT Mormino, IOL Uperesa, OT
Value Cluster		OL	�OL	#8-11 DE, as noted WR	Small school DB Fair- valued LB RB (falls)	Safeties IOL brawlers Small school DB	Colstons, as in Table 1.1 & CB.
Defense	Landry Willis Revis Carriker	(Okoye), UT	Woodley, H/DE	(Durant), LB Young, CB	Brown, CB Condren, S Sepulveda, P Gattis, S DeOssie, LB	Wendling, S Gaddis, S Waters, LB Podlesh, P	Anoai, UT CJ Wilson, CB Bowie, CB Baldwin. LB Muncy, LB
Near, if deeper in the frame.�	If they fall�.	Olsen, TE Griffin, S Branch, DL	J. Wilson, CB Black, LB Hill, WR Barnes, H/DE	Robison, DE Shaw, LB Coe, CB	Does not apply	Does not apply	Priority UDFA: Kuresa, OG/T; Price & Payne, WR; Cook, IOL

 

 

R1:� Carriker has passed Branch, who figures to remain on the board into R1c.� On a player-regardless-of-position basis, Okoye is, roughly, value at the spot.� However, as the #1 DT, he�s likely to be off the board and the same is so for Pat Willis, LB. There are no elite DE in this class, in my opinion; consequently none are considered here. Landry will be gone and no other S presents value at 1.15.� As for CB, well, in six of the past ten drafts, the 2^nd CB has been gone by 1.15.� That figures to hold this year; if not, Revis is the sole value at the spot.�

 

On the O-side: RB Marshawn Lynch would be a quality get, though, for these Steelers, he may best be used as trade bait.� WR Robert Meachum (not shown) is value at the spot too.� However, in considering the Steelers� situation (and the depth of talent at the position), WR slips into that trade-down box too. TE Greg Olsen would give the PSO something they don�t presently possess, a TE with genuine open field ability.� It may be noteworthy that in five of the past ten drafts, the first TE was taken prior to 1.15 (and in seven of the past twelve).� On that basis, Olsen may constitute value at the spot.� However, the hard fact is that for these Steelers, with issues on the OL and Front 7, value better matches need (slightly) farther down in this opening frame. A short throw trade, ala 2001 when the PS moved down (3) spots and still got their man, Casey Hampton, ought net either Ben Grubbs or Joe Staley.� Grubbs is a 1-position player, but a good one.� Staley figures immediately in lieu of a blocking TE (6^th OL on those increasingly popular 6 OL fronts) and on ST; he could be a 10-year LT.���

 

To the extent that there is a value cluster around 1.15 that resides with OL.� Of note: in considering the past ten drafts, Shawne Andrews was the top OG selected.� He went 1.16; three years earlier, Steve Hutchinson was taken 1.17.� It then may be said that 1.15 isn�t (enormously) too soon for an OG prospect like Ben Grubbs.� However, a team taking him in this area must be convinced he�s a sure-fire Pro Bowl dominator to be.

 

R2: On a prospect by position basis, the 2.46 slot is past the tail end of the OT/OG pool.� However, over the past 10 drafts, only once has the 3^rd OG been taken as high as 2.46.� That was in 2004 when Justin Smiley went off exactly at this spot.� Justin Blalock is the 3^rd OG in this class; a high KEI 4-year starter with the highest Wonderlic score in this class, Blalock (along with Arron Sears) is a quality pass protector, an attribute recently missing within the PS IOL set.� In short: Justin Blalock would be, indisputably, value here.� In fact, Blalock here, and Grubbs earlier, constitute a historically excellent IOL top end.

 

Tony Ugoh may figure in this too.� Ugoh is generally regarded as the #4 OT and, like Blalock, a R1/2 value.� However, the odds that the 4^th OT will arrive at 2.46 are not great.� That has happened only four times in the past decade (though in each of the past three). Ugoh is a fine run blocker; however, Blalock and Sears (fine run blockers too) are superior in pass pro.� As noted under Table 1.1, it is my own opinion that Brian Leonard constitutes value here; however, if he can be had later so much the better.� Anthony Gonzales too, though it seems that Gonzales has moved the other way, upward into R1c.�

 

At 2.46, there is little value on the D-side.� The DB available here are suspects, not prospects.� The athletes at LB, previously considered R3/4 values, would be over-drafted at 2.46.� There are no defensive tackles (although Turk McBride will go in this area), a feature that will continue thru to R6.� Of the top 10 DE, only four hit the KEI number and, of those, only LaMarr Woodley hit the prime indicator, VJ > 36.5�.� Woodley is the #7 DE, as such, value at the spot.�����

 

Note: several beats have purported that the PS will send Faneca to AZ in exchange for the Cards� R2 pick.� If so, the Steelers may come away with both Blalock and Woodley, not the worst ROI imaginable. While there is little doubt that Faneca will be a better player in 2007 than any OG prospect in this class, well�not-for-long.��

 

R3: As noted previously, in 2007 Draft, by the Numbers, value cluster demographics suggest that one or more highly ranked DE prospects will come to the PS slot in R3.� Those may include: (Woodley), Ray McDonald, Charles Johnson, Tim Crowder or Ikaika Alema-Francis, numbers 8 thru 11 at the position.� By conventional standards, any would be quality picks.� However, the VJ metric tends to eliminate McDonald, Johnson and Crowder, if not, at 280# and 35.5�, Alema-Francis.� The situation is opposite at LB, where value cluster mechanics suggest that R3/4 play grade prospects will be taken far too soon.� Still, the sum of it is that some fairly valued Front 7 player will be available in R3, whether a hybrid rush LB, or DE.�

 

Tim Shaw is the lowest ranked of the quality Combine LB cited previously.� Unlike most of those, Shaw has no LOC issues.� Shaw has been downgraded because he wasn�t very good in LB drills; however, the fact that he started at 3 positions in 3 seasons may figure in that.� Shaw has the athletic traits, and he has the intelligence to succeed.� On that basis, he may figure in this frame; the Gosselin ranks put him far farther down. So too, Brian Robison, whose athletic traits (and collegiate experience) are similar to other R3 DE, Derrick Burgess and Reggie Hayward.

 

Different position, but the comments attaching to Shaw belong with Brian Leonard too.� As noted, sources are split on this prospect; to some (NFLdraftscout) he is the #3 RB in this class; to others, those decision-makers surveyed by Mr. Gosselin, he is #7.� The first rank, #3, is a R1/2 value; the second, R3.� Say, Gosselin trumps so: if the PS could trade down in R1, thus acquiring an additional R3, then draft both Leonard and Shaw, they would have a fine Day 1.� Presuming Leonard is long gone, the choice may come to reaching for LB over-valued by VC mechanics, or selecting fairly valued WR, even when those same VC mechanics suggest some (say, Mike Walker) will be available later.� On a BPA basis, WR, and RB.

 

R4:� There are quality prospects at several positions of Day 1 interest.� That may include LB, should Black, Barnes or Shaw slip in (where they are most fairly valued).� Zak DeOssie figures here too, as may Anthony Waters.� The small/mid school DB set, commencing from Young R3, persists through this frame, and possibly beyond.� On the other side, of the ball, RB Kolby Smith seems to have some traits for success.� However, BPA figures to be Mike Walker who is, in my opinion, vastly under-valued as a R3/4 type, let alone +15 at the position; Walker is R3 worthy even if, as the numbers say, he should last �til R4.� Finally, on a needs-first basis, P Dan Sepulveda seems to be the clear leader.��

 

R5:� There figures to be supreme value at the safety position from here thru Day 2, and even into UDFA with prospects such as David Lofton and, possibly, Will Herring, Andrew Shanle or Jay Skaggs.� Safeties with coverage skills are a prized commodity: (Gattis), Wendling and Gaddis fit the bill.� Those S prospects available later figure, mainly, as ST players for now, as once was so for Mike Logan.� IOL fallers may figure here.

 

R6:� Safeties remain a value and the (so-called) Colstons (Braden Jones, Jordan Kent and Brad Ekwerekwu) come into play.� If the PS FO has not gotten an OL earlier, they may have their pick of Mike Otto, durable big school faller; Dane Uperesa, durable high KEI mid/level pass protector or small school comer Jacob Bender. IOL fallers and Drew Mormino may figure in this area too.

 

R7:� The top cluster figures at CB with John Bowie (Gosselin sleeper pick) or CJ Wilson, a quality zone CB prospect with some size. Matt Gutierrez is a QB sleeper of some note; conceivably, a �Colston� or two may remain.� Small school comers at LB, Johnny Baldwin or Matt Muncy figure too.

 

Summary:

 

First thing: win the division.� Last season was a disappointment in many respects, chiefly those two bone-crushing dis-spiriting losses to the Baltimore Ravens.� In both, the PSO was utterly overmatched.� Since then, the PS O-line has lost its spearhead, and (to mix metaphor) shortly may lose its wheel horse.� Then, on a needs-first basis, O-line and (a quality receiving, pass pro, RZ, aka 3^rd down) RB must figure.� The plus side is that need matches strength in this class.� The downside is that the PS FO rarely has drafted to the strength of any given class; exhibit A, 2006, when they traded 3 ops at quality Front 7 players for one Santonio Holmes. If history is our guide, then this PS FO will reach for Front 7 early this spring, skipping OL, just as last year, in a Front 7 heavy class, they reached for WR, skipping all prospects (but Orien) at the very positions they seek now.�

 

That is all, but��

 

Acknowledgments:

 

• Using his contacts about the League, Rich Gosselin of the Dallas Morning News produces highly accurate position ranks.� From there, value cluster demographics may project where prospects will be taken.� Will be taken is the operative term, best play is something else; in short, it may be said that those ranks are most valuable in predicting drafting errors to follow. That criticism is not directed at Mr. Gosselin, who is the very best at what he does.� Error accrues elsewhere.��

 

• Take numbers, the basis for value cluster and that R x R under Table 2.0, are from the draft history at NFLdotcom.

 

• The archives provided at NFLdraftscout provide the basis for much of this.� By far, that is the best draft site on the net and, as such, worth every bit of ~$25/year.� Needless to say, all errors are my own