View topic - Too early to talk draft?

[Teegre Profile]

This is mostly a reply/post to McLovin, but others feel free to pipe in.

JORDAN GROSS
I agree: it is extremely unlikely that the Steelers actually go after Gross.

That said, and as you mentioned, the Steelers need a premier LT.

But, at #32, the Steelers will have no shot at Britton nor Oher (who I do not like, because of his character issues). In fact, if the past few years are any indicator, the LTs go early & often (i.e. inside of the top 20 picks). Trading up might be a scenario that could occur, but considering that the Steelers could possibly lose four O-linemen to free agency (and Colon & Hartwig being UFAs after the 2009 season), the Steelers might need to keep all of those picks, just to fill all of the holes.

Summation:
Colbert neglected (and/or drafted poorly) for three years, when it came ot the O-line. And, since there will not be a LT at #32, I could see the Steelers making a run at Gross, simply because Colbert HAS to.

Maybe Teegre is delusional. Maybe Teegre is overly optimistic. Then again, wouldn't it be awesome if Teegre is right.

OTHER UFAs
Bringing in an average FA (e.g. Stinchcomb) will indeed improve the OL (because, as you said, Colon is garbage).
But, Stinchcomb will not help the left side...which we agree is the top priority

DEFENSIVE LINE
B.J. Raji will obviously be gone. As would Peria Jerry (Note: Jerry would be a 25 year old rookie...yikes!!). Those are easily the top two DTs.
But, I am do not see Fili Moala as a NT; he is a DE.

Fili played NT/DT this year, out of sheer need. He unselfishly took on blockers, so that the LBs could make plays. Do not let his senior year fool you: his sack numbers were way down, but his ability is still there.

Think about it this way:
After his junior season, Fili was a top ten pick. The Trojans asked him to play DT (as opposed to DE). His sack numbers went way down...as did his draft stock (to late R2). Yet, Fili never complained. [Note: Fili played well at the Senior Bowl...raising his stock to 30-40ish.]
In other words, he is the type of DE that the Steelers need: an unselfish player. And, again, he has a ton of ability.

OFFENSIVE LINE
OC: I had hoped that Woods would drop to the third round. Alas...you are likely correct. Still, there are quite a few OCs in this draft.

LT: I believe Meredith can blossom into a solid (although, not premier) LT. Heck, he can not be any worse than Max Starks. Plus, even if Meredith can not play LT, he could always switch to RT...because, he is already better than Colon.

OG: There are a ton of guards in this draft. I could see one early round quasi-starter, and a late round "developmental project" being added.

INSIDE LINEBACKER
I love Brinkley. Plain & simple.

[McLovin Profile]

This is mostly a reply/post to McLovin, but others feel free to pipe in.

JORDAN GROSS
I agree: it is extremely unlikely that the Steelers actually go after Gross.

That said, and as you mentioned, the Steelers need a premier LT.

But, at #32, the Steelers will have no shot at Britton nor Oher (who I do not like, because of his character issues). In fact, if the past few years are any indicator, the LTs go early & often (i.e. inside of the top 20 picks). Trading up might be a scenario that could occur, but considering that the Steelers could possibly lose four O-linemen to free agency (and Colon & Hartwig being UFAs after the 2009 season), the Steelers might need to keep all of those picks, just to fill all of the holes.

Summation:
Colbert neglected (and/or drafted poorly) for three years, when it came ot the O-line. And, since there will not be a LT at #32, I could see the Steelers making a run at Gross, simply because Colbert HAS to.

Maybe Teegre is delusional. Maybe Teegre is overly optimistic. Then again, wouldn't it be awesome if Teegre is right.

OTHER UFAs
Bringing in an average FA (e.g. Stinchcomb) will indeed improve the OL (because, as you said, Colon is garbage).
But, Stinchcomb will not help the left side...which we agree is the top priority

DEFENSIVE LINE
B.J. Raji will obviously be gone. As would Peria Jerry (Note: Jerry would be a 25 year old rookie...yikes!!). Those are easily the top two DTs.
But, I am do not see Fili Moala as a NT; he is a DE.

Fili played NT/DT this year, out of sheer need. He unselfishly took on blockers, so that the LBs could make plays. Do not let his senior year fool you: his sack numbers were way down, but his ability is still there.

Think about it this way:
After his junior season, Fili was a top ten pick. The Trojans asked him to play DT (as opposed to DE). His sack numbers went way down...as did his draft stock (to late R2). Yet, Fili never complained. [Note: Fili played well at the Senior Bowl...raising his stock to 30-40ish.]
In other words, he is the type of DE that the Steelers need: an unselfish player. And, again, he has a ton of ability.

OFFENSIVE LINE
OC: I had hoped that Woods would drop to the third round. Alas...you are likely correct. Still, there are quite a few OCs in this draft.

LT: I believe Meredith can blossom into a solid (although, not premier) LT. Heck, he can not be any worse than Max Starks. Plus, even if Meredith can not play LT, he could always switch to RT...because, he is already better than Colon.

OG: There are a ton of guards in this draft. I could see one early round quasi-starter, and a late round "developmental project" being added.

INSIDE LINEBACKER
I love Brinkley. Plain & simple.

Mr. Teegre we seem to think a lot alike. We see the OL as the greatest area of need. McLovin would LOVE for Colbert to think out of his little box and sign a premeire player like Jordan Gross, but we all know that he simply for whatever his reasons will NOT. The difference in our thinking is that the Steelers cannot afford to wait on a LT to develop like Jamon Meredith or Beatty from UCONN. They are quality prospects, but they are projects at least 2 years away. Steelers looking to repeat as champs remember? They are not elite LTs in the mold of Oher and Britton. Teegre also correct in that those two LT's won't be there in round 1. Oher could be top 15 and too far to trade up for. In order to repeat as super bowl champs an instant starter is needed at LT. The urgency wasn't there to trade up in last year OT heavy draft with Marvel coming back. This year there is far greater urgency and Colbert has more picks to work with to jump up and get said elite LT. Unfortunately for the Steelers that LT won't be an immediate franchise LT like Gross.

The center position is much deeper with at least 6 slated to go in first 3 rounds. Take best one left in the 2nd and get back to having stability at that key position. Wood just happened to stand out to McLovin at the Senior Bowl. Mack and Unger had their hands full with BJ RAJI and Peria Jerry the top two DT prospects. McLovin advocates the FA signing of 6'7 DE Chris Canty from Dallas to add youth and depth to the DL without using a draft pick. Teegre correct that Filli Maola would be nice pick for the DL, but not at the cost at fixing the WORST OL in football. Brinkley, McKillop, Beckwith etc all nice MLB prospects to groom behind Farrior. McLovin thinks we agree fundamentally Teegre. We want Colbert to fix the OL...question is how will he go about doing it? We can only speculate

[Teegre Profile]

Yes, McLovin, we seem to agree quite a bit.

RE: Fili Moala
You have to realize, that growing up, I wanted to be Marcus Allen. Ergo, I have a slight bias towards USC defenders.
[Note: I think that USC's offensive players are paper tigers...and total divas. Whereas, their defenders are second to none.]
Hence, Fili is sort of a Homer pick....well...not "sort of"...Fili is totally a Homer pick.

Trading up into the middle of R1, for a LT, might be the answer...
...but, also, as you mentioned in another thread, Khalif Barnes might be a good stop-gap (until Meredith or some rookie LT can develop).

[McLovin Profile]

Yes, McLovin, we seem to agree quite a bit.

RE: Fili Moala
You have to realize, that growing up, I wanted to be Marcus Allen. Ergo, I have a slight bias towards USC defenders.
[Note: I think that USC's offensive players are paper tigers...and total divas. Whereas, their defenders are second to none.]
Hence, Fili is sort of a Homer pick....well...not "sort of"...Fili is totally a Homer pick.

Trading up into the middle of R1, for a LT, might be the answer...
...but, also, as you mentioned in another thread, Khalif Barnes might be a good stop-gap (until Meredith or some rookie LT can develop).

If Colbert stays with the BPA plan he used last year in selecting Mendenhall and Sweed rather than reaching for OL you could get your wish and see Moala selected with that 32nd pick. That said with the potential mass losses in FA across the OL McLovin nearly certain Colbert is going to draft heavy on the OL this year as he simply doesn't have the luxury of taking BPA this year. Look for tackles like Britton, Beatty, and Meredith and centers like Unger, Mack, and Wood to be selected in first two rounds. RT less likely to be drafted but McLovin sure the Steelers will have an interest in RT projects like Loadholt from OU and Herman Johnson who also played guard from LSU.

[Teegre Profile]

.
I agree 100%: the O-line has to be the top priority.

And, since at #32, the LTs will likely be gone, that leaves two options:
a) signing a lesser-tiered LT (the aforementioned Barnes).
b) trading up.

I am for Option A. Then, the Steelers could go BAP...and draft Fili Moala.
[This would be Teegre eating his cake & having it, too.]

To clarify, I would not complian about drafting three OL before any other position is addressed (even if it meant that the Steelers would not draft Fili). That said, the D-line is aging quickly (33, 30, & 32 are the ages of the starters)...hence, DE is not exactly a "luxary" pick: it is indeed a need (although nowhere the need that O-line is).

[Steel Holiday Profile]

Not to drain tally in anyone's breakfast bowl, but Pgh used its 4th rounder on a LT last draft. Tony Hills was highly recruited out of high school, and spent 4 years at a major college. These are several things to consider before falling in love with the idea that the Steelers would take a blind side protector if the opportunity presented itself.

If Kemo walks then an interior lineman is likely a top priority. If the Kemo-monster is re-upped then I like the kid from USC, or a RT! Trading back into rd 2 and acquiring a 3rd wouldn't be a bad option either.

[thesteelhammer Profile]

Tony Hills had that injury that made him a different player than the one recruited out of high school. Not sure he'll ever be the player he could have been. Not being able to make the active squad isn't a good sign for him.