View topic - Early Steelers Mock Draft

[anthonyc20 Profile]

Here is a way too early mock draft of who the Steelers could/should take at the upcoming NFL draft

Round 1: Alameda Ta'amu NT Washington
Height: 6-3. Weight: 330.
Projected 40 Time: 5.42.
Projected Round (2012): 1-2.

Huge load as a NT, where the Steelers were extremely weak all season. Ate up double teams all year and got into the backfield with 3.5 sacks and 7 tackles for loss. Was a leader on defense and was able to impact games even though tames keyed on him. Would have been the top NT last year but after going back to school has developed into a bigger force.

Round 2: Kevin Zeitler OG Wisconsin
Height: 6-4. Weight: 312.
Projected 40 Time: 5.21.
Projected Round (2012): 2.

Leader of the most dominant o-line in college football. Not only great at pass protection but athletic enough to get to the second level on pulls and screens. Shut down Devon Still against Penn State and shut down another first round prospect Jerel Worthy twice for the Badgers.

Round 3: DeQuan Menzie CB Alabama
Height: 6-0. Weight: 195.
Projected 40 Time: 4.52.
Projected Round (2012): 3.

An underrated prospect as the second corner on the National Championship team. Not only a good pass defender with 11 passes broken up but also had 3 tackles for loss. Physical corner who can jam receivers on the line, but not great at playing the ball (only 1 interception in 2011).

Round 4: Tank Carder ILB TCU
Height: 6-2. Weight: 237.
Projected 40 Time: 4.65.
Projected Round (2012): 3-4.

Didn't have a big year in 2011 but a hard working player who is a perfect fit for the inside of a 3-4. Has great tackling technique and consistently the best linebacker in the mountain west over the past couple years. Would need to add bulk to be a starter in the NFL. One way or another, the Steelers must draft a player for the inside as Farrior is in steep decline and Timmons had a sub-par season.

Round 5: Brandon Weeden QB Oklahoma State
Height: 6-4. Weight: 220.
Projected 40 Time: 4.90.
Projected Round (2012): 4-5.

Why would Brandon Weeden fall to the Steelers? Well for starters, he is 28 after spending 4 years in minor league baseball. He also played in an aerial attack offense in college. However, his maturity and work ethic would make for a perfect backup to Ben Roethlisberger, something the Steelers desperately need, and would come at a good value. The lack of an adequate backup this year doomed the Steelers, and they need to find a new NFL-ready backup in the draft. Weeden fits that description.

Round 6: Bradley Sowell OT Ole Miss
Height: 6-7. Weight: 315.
Projected 40 Time: 5.25.
Projected Round (2012): 6-FA.

He was inconsistent in college, but played for a lame duck coach on a lame duck team. Showed flashes of athleticism vs Alabama and was a second team SEC selection last year. Ole Miss also had the least sacks allowed in the SEC in 2010, which is surprising given their lack of an effective offense. A decent backup, the Steelers should look for a project on the o-line at this point.

Round 7: Jeffrey Demps RB/KR Florida
Height: 5-8. Weight: 190.
Projected 40 Time: 4.25.
Projected Round (2012): 7-FA.

An injury risk at Florida, Demps would provide the Steelers with a sproles like threat out of the backfield, which would go very far in helping keep pressure off of Roethlisberger. Also, Redman might be the only solid back at the beginning of next year with Mendenhall's knee and Clay and Dwyer's weight problems. Could also relieve Antonio Brown on punts and kickoff duty, as he will now enter the season as the Stillers #1 receiver.

[steelwest Profile]

Nice analysis. I think you hit most of the needs well with some interesting players and commentary. I was thinking Weedon would be a great pick for the same reasons you cite. Not sure we will be taking any OL from Wisconsin again anytime soon. Perhaps speed at safety would be a nice thought. If they lose Cotchery, they may need to go WR again (which would be a shame). As to O-Line, my guess is they are finally somewhat happy with Gilbert, Pouncey, Foster and Legurski, thereby making this position (if Colon can ever stay healthy) less of a complete need and more of a "if the right guy falls to us." They can always pick up a veteran to swing as a backup/occasional starter depending on injuries. It really is a shame that they have wasted so many OL picks over the years. As to CB, I think they may need to take one in the 2nd round. Maybe Allen and Brown can step up, but would you bet on it?
Again, thanks for the analysis.

[anthonyc20 Profile]

Urbik (the last wisconsin o-lineman we chose) is actually a solid starter for the Bills, shows our inability to develop some of our early o-lineman picks. Team gave up on him way too quickly.

[steelwest Profile]

Saw that. But if we pick a lineman in the first, second or third rounds, we want him to play that year or at worst the next year. Urbik did neither -- and in terms our our system, he was not close. We probably do not want to go the same route with Wisconsin guys as that may be the way all transitions become from the Wisconsin system to ours. The same goes for other positions where guys may have trouble making the jump. For example, we need to follow how Kareem Jackson from Alabama is doing at corner. He was supposed to be an immediate stud by struggled mightily on the transition (not for us) which may say something about Alabama corners. You never know.
Anyway, it seems to me that if we could ever stay healthy then we do not technically need to draft anyone on offense (depending on FA pickups) and we could spend all seven picks on D if we really wanted to. Might be interesting.

[No l Gravity l Profile]

We can't waste another first round pick on a defensive lineman. We need players who can make splash plays; which were too few and far between this season. ILB Vontaze Burfict will fit our defense perfectly. The kid is an animal.

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/81 ... hvont.jpg/

[anthonyc20 Profile]

Spending a first rounder on an ILB with character concerns and only 60 tackles in a weak pac 12 would not be wise at this point.