View topic - Interesting takes on our new Steelers

[thesteelhammer Profile]

I've been reviewing all the information on the web that I can find on our new Steelers.

Below are a few quotes that stood out for on reason or another, good or bad.

1. Evander Hood - DT - Missouri
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2009/draft/players/44127.html

BIOGRAPHY: Three-year starter awarded all-Conference honors since his junior season. Senior totals included 62/7/5 after 49/8/5 as a junior.

POSITIVES: Athletic defensive lineman swiftly moving up draft boards. Plays with terrific explosion, quick off the snap, and fluid changing direction. Holds the point of attack, resilient, and flies around the field trying to make positive plays. Displays an array of moves getting off blocks, possesses a burst of closing speed, and makes plays in every direction on the field. Moves well for a big man, and works hard until the whistle blows.

NEGATIVES: Stands to improve the strength in his lower body. Not a big or bulky lineman.

ANALYSIS: Hood is an athletic defensive tackle who has the physical skills to be used in a variety of positions at the next level, and he offers starting potential. He played well as a senior, and he really watched his game take off in the post-season. Hood could be a surprise selection in the late part of round one, based on his performance in the past six months.

PROJECTION: First/Second Round

3A. Kraig Urbik - OL - Wisconsin
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2009/draft/players/11394.html

BIOGRAPHY: Four-year starter awarded all-Conference honors the past two seasons. Started his career at tackle before moving to guard as a sophomore.

POSITIVES: Large, versatile blocker with a solid game. Strong at the point, stays square, and jolts defenders with good hand punch. Powerful, knocks opponents off the line, and works blocks hard. Keeps his feet moving, anchors in pass protection, and plays with a nasty attitude. Displays good vision and works well with line-mates. Breaks down well, and to his credit, consistently plays with good knee bend. Can slide laterally in a small area.

NEGATIVES: Slow if asked to pull across the line of scrimmage or block in motion. Must improve his blocking balance.

ANALYSIS: Urbik has been tremendously durable and productive for Wisconsin, and he is a blocker with the ability to play several different positions on the offensive line. He lacks the great upside, yet he possesses enough skill to have a long NFL career.

PROJECTION: Fourth/Fifth Round

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2009/profiles/kraig-urbik?id=71495

When Urbik's streak of 45 consecutive starts came to an end when he injured his knee vs. Penn State in 2008, the Badgers' midseason struggles began. Without their offensive leader, Wisconsin lost five of six contests before a fully recovered Urbik, the right offensive guard, guided the team to a 3-1 record to close out the season......

3B. Mike Wallace - WR -Missippi
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2009/draft/players/60277.html

4.33 40 time

BIOGRAPHY: Three-year starter who posted receiving totals of 39/784/7 as a senior, averaging 20.1 yards per reception. Also averaged 24.6 yards on 35 kick returns, adding another score. Junior year receiving numbers included 38/716/6 with a 23-yard average on 21 kick returns.

POSITIVES: Game breaking receiver that consistently makes big plays from the line of scrimmage. Quickly gets into pass routes, displays a burst of speed and runs away from defenders in the open field. Nicely makes the reception running full speed and looks the pass into his hands. Gets vertical, grabs the ball from the air and returns to the field on balance then continues running after the reception. Solid athlete who nicely adjusts to the errant throw and makes the catch in stride.

NEGATIVES: Not a physically strong receiver. Limited in the types of routes he can run.

ANALYSIS: Wallace has been an underrated receiver for most of his career and was not rated by NFL scouting services coming into his senior season. He has big play ability as both a receiver and return specialist and Wallace is the type of prospect who will only get better the more experience he receives.

PROJECTION: Third Round

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2009/profiles/mike-wallace?id=81877

Few attributes attract NFL scouts more than pure speed. Wallace certainly has that. Despite starting three years for the Rebels, he didn't establish himself as one capable of taking advantage of his speed until he averaged 18.9 yards on 38 receptions as a junior. A year later, Wallace's speed was even more lethal, as he averaged 20.1 yards per reception and scored a career-high seven touchdowns.



Wallace is still a work in progress as a route-runner, but his ability to stretch defenses deep as an outside receiver and special teams wide on kickoff returns could land him a second-day draft selection from an NFL team looking to catch lightning in a bottle. Had an arm span of 31 3/8 inches and a hand span of 9 inches at the combine.

3C. Keenan Lewis - CB - Oregon State
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2009/draft/players/8755.html

Ht., Wt.:
6-1, 208
40 Time:
4.44
BIOGRAPHY: Four-year starter who totaled 35/4/9 as a senior after 15/3/2 the prior season when he struggled with a knee injury.

POSITIVES: Nice-sized cornerback who displayed a lot of improvement in his game over the past two seasons. Fluid pedaling in reverse, quick flipping his hips in transition, and does a nice job positioning himself against opponents in man coverage. Runs downfield with receivers, shows a burst to the action and good hands for the interception. Fights with receivers throughout the action, and rarely challenged by opposing quarterbacks.

NEGATIVES: Despite his size, does not present himself as a strong or sturdy cornerback. Gives a large number of underneath receptions. Shows hesitation to his game.
ANALYSIS: Lewis possesses the size, speed, and skill to develop into a starter at the next level. He must be quicker thinking on his feet, and start to play to his size on an every- down basis to be anything other than a nickel or dime back.

PROJECTION: Third/Fourth Round

5A. Joe Burnett - CB - UCF
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2009/draft/players/17727.html

Ht., Wt.:
5-9.5, 192
40 Time:
4.58
BIOGRAPHY: Four-year starter awarded all-Conference honors at both cornerback and return specialist since his freshman season. Defensive totals last year included 44/4/11 when he also averaged 28.7 yards on 26 kick returns with two scores and a 14.5 yard average on 26 punt returns. Junior defensive totals included 64/6/12 with 50/1/3 as a sophomore.

POSITIVES: Solid cover cornerback who brings the element of a return specialist to his game. Physical, aggressively comes up the field to defend the run or mixes it up with opponents out of routes. Displays good awareness, has a burst of closing speed, and possesses good ball skills. Quickly breaks to the pass, and he is a hard hitter who lays his body on the line to stop opponents.

NEGATIVES: Not fluid pedaling in reverse, and does not possess the top-end speed. Coming off a disappointing senior campaign.
ANALYSIS: Burnett has been very productive on the college level and nicely projects to the NFL as a sixth or seventh defensive back that will be used to return punts or kicks. He lacks the great upside, yet he has enough skill to be a productive player for an NFL team.

PROJECTION: Sixth Round

5B. Frank Summers - RB -UNLV
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2009/draft/players/33379.html

40 Time:
4.65
BIOGRAPHY: Two-year starter who led UNLV in rushing the past two seasons, posting 183/740/8 as a senior, while also adding 13/150/2 as a pass catcher.

POSITIVES: Explosive, well-built ball carrier best running north-south. Patient back who waits for blocks to develop and finds the running lanes. Runs with an aggressive style, turns his shoulders up the field, and drives through the hole, running over opponents. Keeps the play in bounds working to pick up as much yardage as possible and a punishing runner on the inside. Follows blocks everywhere on the field, and displays a good amount of quickness. Powerful in his lower body, breaks arm tackles to pick up yardage off initial contact, or falls forward when tackled. Nifty for a 240-pound back.

NEGATIVES: Not an elusive ball carrier who creates yardage. Loses a lot of momentum when he must change direction. Lacks the speed and agility to turn the corner.

ANALYSIS: Summers has been a productive ball carrier at UNLV, yet he was out of place in their spread offense last season. He offers potential as a short-yardage ball carrier or blocking back who can be placed on the field during third-down situations.

PROJECTION: Free Agent

http://warroom.sportingnews.com/nfl/draft/2009/players/8751.html

Frank Summers
FB, UNLV
War Room analysis
Full evaluation coming soon.

BUT
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2009/profiles/frank-summers?id=238445

...."The guys that I've talked to -- the other running back coaches -- have all said he might be one of the more difficult guys to tackle that they've seen on film this year," Steelers running backs coach Kirby Wilson told the Las Vegas Review-Journal following Summer's pro day in early March. "You don't see that (good receiving ability) of a big man much."...

6. Ra'Shon Harris - DT - Oregon
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2009/draft/players/12019.html

BIOGRAPHY: First-year starter who finished with 47/9/3 as a senior. Junior totals included 15 tackles.

POSITIVES: Powerful interior lineman who clogs the middle of the field. Breaks down well, plays with good pad level and easily holds the point of attack. Constantly doubled in the middle of the line, flashes the ability to bull rush opponents off the ball, and chases hard to get involved in the action.

NEGATIVES: Must develop more moves with his hands and become quicker disengaging from blocks. Shows minimal quickness and explosion in his game. Marginally productive on the college level.

ANALYSIS: Harris is a developing prospect with a large degree of upside to his game. He comes off a terrific senior campaign after sitting on the bench most of his Oregon career, and his best football is ahead of him.

PROJECTION: Sixth Round

7A. A.Q. Shipley - C - PSU
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2009/draft/players/14273.html

BIOGRAPHY: Three-year starter at center awarded all-Conference honors the past two seasons and All-American mention after his senior campaign. Began his college career on the defensive line before moving to center prior to his sophomore season.

POSITIVES: Explosive and hard-working lineman who plays smart football. Built low to the ground, bends his knees and gets leverage on opponents. Moves well on his feet, and effective blocking in motion. Fights with his hands, extends them into defenders and adjusts to ride opponents from their angle of attack. Good jolt and pop at the point of attack. Quickly gets into blocks, stays with the action, and shows ability as a position blocker.

NEGATIVES: Gets minimal movement run blocking, and does not open up the middle of the field. Short, and is overwhelmed by large defenders.

ANALYSIS: Shipley has been a durable, effective lineman at Penn State, and he comes off a terrific senior campaign. He gets the most from his abilities, and he has possibilities in a zone-blocking system as a backup.

PROJECTION: Fifth/Sixth Round

7B. David Johnson TE - Arkansas State
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2009/draft/players/15855.html

BIOGRAPHY: Three-year starter awarded all-Conference honors the past two seasons. Receiving totals last year included 22/356/5, with a 16.2-yard average per catch. Junior totals included 10/24/3.

POSITIVES: Relatively athletic tight end who flashes skill on the field. Breaks down well playing with good knee bend, quickly releases off the line into pass routes, and effectively uses his hands to get off jams, then separates from opponents. Adjusts to the errant throw, gets vertical in midair for the difficult reception, and extends to make some outstanding receptions. Solid position blocker with above-average strength at the point. Turns opponents off the ball, and effective when he stays with assignments.

NEGATIVES: Not overly involved in the offense. Lacks the soft, natural pass catching hands. Does not consistently work to finish blocks.

ANALYSIS: Johnson lacks classic tight end height, yet he has enough size and speed to play the position. He is best in a system that consistently puts him in motion in the backfield or uses his skills at the H-back position. Johnson could end up as a team's third tight end if he shows well in camp this summer.

PROJECTION: Seventh Round/Free Agent

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2009/profiles/david-johnson?id=79589

He's a good fit for what Pittsburgh tries to do on offense. Johnson's statistics did not put him on any All-American teams, but his 22 receptions in 2008 went for 356 yards (an excellent 16.2-yard average) .... Had an arm span of 33 3/4 inches and a hand span of 10 3/4 inches at the combine.

[thesteelhammer Profile]

Pretty Optimistic on this one
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDraft/Draft+Day/2009/Round7Picks.htm

Most seventh-rounders will not make rosters, but at the same time, some always develop into NFL starters. The two that stand out the most in this year's final round for having potential starting ability are centers Blake Schlueter of TCU, who could compete readily in Denver; and Penn State's A.Q. Shipley, who will look to follow in a long line of Hall of Fame-caliber centers in Pittsburgh, including another former Nittany Lion Jeff Hartings. Neither has great size, but they are both quick to the block point, understand angles and play very hard.

A bit more realistic here
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDraft/Draft+Day/2009/Round5Picks.htm

Some solid value was still left to be found at the CB position, with Cincinnati's DeAngelo Smith going to Dallas, Virginia Tech's Macho Harris going to Philadelphia and Central Florida's Joe Burnett going to Pittsburgh. Each has return ability and the potential to develop into No. 3 cornerbacks.

and here
http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDraft/Draft+Day/2009/Round3Picks.htm

After failing to land the interior offensive linemen they were seeking in the first round, the Steelers found more help with their second pick, adding versatile Wisconsin OG-OT Kraig Urbik to shore up the offensive line. He played better outside as a junior than he did inside as a senior and may allow Willie Colon to kick inside to maximize the efficiency of the line.
...
Oregon State CB Keenan Lewis has great size to match up with receivers in a short area and fits well what the Steelers do, with corners not needing to cover long with how aggressively Dick LeBeau is able to bring pressure.

[thesteelhammer Profile]

Named a "good fit" by PFW
http://nflblogs.profootballweekly.com/NFLdraft/2009/04/good_fits_third_round.html

OL Kraig Urbik (Steelers, No. 79 overall): Super Bowl champs were in desperate need of o-line help and Urbik, a traditional Wisconsin lineman with size, anchor strength and power, offers versatility to play guard or tackle

[Steel Holiday Profile]

3 four year starters, 4 three year starters, a Tank, and a Dl that has his best years ahead of him. What's more is that they were able to address areas of need with these players. People may soon find it hard to complain that the young guys aren't being given a chance to play early...Maybe these guys are not can't miss "splash" players, but they are definitely football players. With a Super Bowl roster generally in tact, this was a good draft.