2009 Steelers Draft and Mel Kiper Sucks Thread

Everyone is writing off John Clay, not me. I think he has some thump and special teams value, his first NFL carry was a TD, me thinks there is more to come.
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I hear ya NY - But the biggest knock on Clay is his speed - lack there of...   Jerome Bettis for a big back posted a 4.48 40....  Clay - is almost a half a second behind at 4.84... I dont want to write this kid off, but he surely is a long shot at this point - Dwyer is alittle faster (not by much) but is attending Tommy Shaw's training this summer and I got a feeling the kid finally gets it.. We'll see....  Redman - Dwyer..  then ?  a third down back - Rainey?  I doubt we keep more then 3-4 on the active roster - Clay may make it early  - Once Mendenhall comes off the PUP list...   He's probably a candidate to go back on the PS....  I'm not saying he cant make it - need to see what he does thru camp and pre-season.. but he'll be long shot...

enjoy,

bb

bb,

Probably why Clay went undrafted, his 40 time. But as far as I can see he hits the hole and goes, no happy feet, and looks like he holds onto the ball. Johnathon Dwyer has this opportunity in front of him, aka Wally Pipp Syndrome. Take Advantage young man and show us you can play at a high level and stay healthy. The reason he slipped is the meds he is on showed up on the drug screen, but he did not hide it. That and if I remember his hands are small, which some teams evaluate as fumbling potential. But sometimes you need speed and production, Willie Parker had the speed, but little to no production at the College level.

They can measure arms for reach, weight for bulk, bench press for strength, dashes for burst and speed, cones for agility and quickness. They interview the mind for Football IQ and then the Wonderlick for general intellegence. But they never measure the heart. Every great player gave everything he had and devoted his heart to football. You find a way to measure that and all the Kipers & McShays will be out of work faster than Chris Berman eating a breakfast burrito.

ny

Probably why Clay went undrafted, his 40 time. But as far as I can see he hits the hole and goes, no happy feet, and looks like he holds onto the ball.

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And CLay is going to get YAC... going to go forward after hits - unlike - Gene gene the dancing machine..   I'm pulling for the young man.. as with Dwyer - maybe between the 2 of them and redman...  we can have a potent running attack...  It is going to be interesting to see who rises to the top... maybe RB via committee...

Great point re heart - See Rocky Blier

enjoy,

bb

Two guys I whiffed on at RB,. Frank Summers and Chad Spann. Summers looked lost and Spann never had a chance. Both productive in College, something was missing and they did not cut it.

I hope I am wrong on Chris Raieny as well...... just don't like Lillputians.

Two guys I whiffed on at RB,. Frank Summers and Chad Spann.

Honestly it was Summers's inability to block for either the run or the pass that doomed him, methinks. We were trying to groom him as a FB if I recall, which is a hard position to become anyway in Arians's offense, and Summers just came nowhere near impressing. I think we saved ourselves later by picking David Johnson. In the NFL, the 7th rounder can beat out the 5th rounder anytime. Plus, Johnson can fake being a TE. We know how Arians loves those blocking TEs.

Spann never had a chance, and the selection of Chris Rainey was the equivalent of us giving him his pink slip. I think Rainey's more talented and much more versatile anyway, so I'm not mad.

I've said it before, but I'm super excited over Jonathan Dwyer and the potential he brings to the table. I don't know why, but I have a massively good feeling about him in particular going into the season. With Mendenhall hurt he's our best overall RB, better than fan favorite Redman. Dwyer has superior explosion, and with this new offensive line, imagine the possibilities.

We had Dontay Moch on our radar, Colbert did not perhaps. Just got a 4 game susension. I am telling you that is why scream about character so much until you guys get annoyed.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/e
ye-on-football/19103074/report-beng
als-lb-dontay-moch-suspended-four-g
ames-for-banned-substance

Another Bengal suspended, arrested, blah blah blah..... obviously Character issues are looked at with blinders in Cincinatti.

The jury is still out on Mike Adams. He said he wanted to be a Steeler his whole life..... now act like you meant it. I wonder if he told Jim Tressel he wanted to be a Buckeye his whole life too.... 

Another Bengal suspended, arrested, blah blah blah..... obviously Character issues are looked at with blinders in Cincinatti.

No kidding. Dre Kirkpatrick is not as great a pick as the media wants us to believe, and he's another character with baggage. Hey though, he was a flashy name! That seems to be Cinci's top priority in the draft and it's why the media is kissing their furry, fecal asses. Orson Charles too. I was high on him until he screwed up right before the draft. It's not even a position of need for the Bengals, but the media loves it because he was a talented contributor from an SEC team. Even Dan Herron, who isn't even talented enough to be an NFL back, has an impossibly checkered recent history. Why the firetruck did the Bengals pick that turd?

The picks who will contribute most for the Bengals are Marvin Jones and Brandon Thompson. Possibly George Iloka. Otherwise, I won't hold my breath for anything more than decent contributors and several busts.

NY said the first part of my last post, and I was responding to it. My bad.

I mentioned this offseason that the Steelers could be in a position to draft a QB surprisingly early next year. Ben has two older, subpar backups right now who are living on one-year contracts. The QB position lives and dies with Ben. Besides, he'll be 31 next March and who knows how long his shelf life will be. With a young offense now in place, perhaps the time will be upon us to seek young, real talent and future starting material at QB. I mentioned Landry Jones as a possibility. WalterFootball released a scouting report on him today.

http://walterfootball.com/scoutingr
eport2013ljones.php

My fear is that Jones may be another Philip Rivers - all the talent and production in the world combined with total inability to motivate his team in crunch time and win big games. He'll be worth watching this season, that's for sure.

I also mentioned junior Zach Mettenberger from LSU as a possibility, who will officially start for the Tigers this season and who has a very high ceiling. His size and skillset remind me very much of Big Ben.

If you haven't found an alternate position to take over, NY, I can do QBs this season. I'm very intrigued to see how these two guys play out anyway. 

Demo,

you know I'm all about the smaller schools kids...  Here's a name to keep an eye on..  Alex Carder QB Western Michigan - IF he was 2 inches taller would even be higher on my list - 6'2" 224lbs runs a 4.61   40...  Good athlete...   another MAC kid...  Had some real good games vs Div 1 schools...  Looking forward to seeing the kid play in the fall..  Will be someone I will be watching....  I also do not know what system they run at Western Mich  - will have weight How much I like him come the draft no doubt...

Enjoy,

bb

Keep an eye on this kid: LINK.

He has a real nose for the end zone.   

I'm a big fan of Logan Thomas from VT at QB.
He is a red-shirt Junior this year. He seems to continually get better with every game. I see quite a bit of Virginia and NC teams living in ACC land.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Logan_
Thomas

RE: I mentioned Landry Jones as a possibility. WalterFootball released a scouting report on him today.

Landry will be a first round draft pick but I do agree the Steelers need backup QB's and with a new offensive system now would have been a good time to teach.
 I dont know why they insist on Qb's that will never be better than camp arms, ( Byron Leftwich, Jerrod Johnson,Troy Smith, Dennis Dixon ).

I see quite a bit of Virginia and NC teams living in ACC land.

Bratwurst,

Keep your eye on David Amerson for us, should be a top pick, but stranger things have happenned. Never thought in a Million years David DeCastro would be on the board at 24.  Mid round QB talent in NC State is Mike Glennon. Kevin Reddick ILB , NC, is somone to watch. From the ACC I am interested in Xavier Rhodes, if FSU plays either of those NC teams. He is a physical corner, not sure about his speed. His stock right now falls into range, but a lot can happen in 11 months.

nyb

Demo,

you know I'm all about the smaller schools kids...  Here's a name to keep an eye on..  Alex Carder QB Western Michigan

I'll definitely monitor his progress over the course of the season BB.

bratworst, there are things I like and don't like about Thomas. One thing I do like is the fact that he looks like Daunte Culpepper in his prime. Because of that alone, I feel like he'll be overdrafted. After all, you can coach proper passer mindset and mechanics but not 6'6", 262 pound mobility. He's somewhat else I'll watch this season.

breed, I'm saying that we've solidified the roster enough that now QB is set to be one of this team's primary needs going into 2013. I'm not counting on this by any stretch, but suppose Ben is obviously abrasive toward the new playbook going well into the season. As I mentioned earlier, he'll be 31 next March. If this happens, one incentive we would have toward taking a QB early would be to avoid another Alan Faneca situation. Of course, Ben could also love his new playbook and his new offensive line could add 5 years to his shelf life.

I almost hate to say it, but Ben reminds me an awful lot of Brett Favre. Favre had early career struggles as a mobile passer before settling in as a veteran and doing what he did best, and he was as solid as reinforced titanium. Perhaps that's the kind of future we will see for Ben. I'm just planning in case that won't be the case.

RE:  I'm saying that we've solidified the roster enough that now QB is set to be one of this team's primary needs going into 2013.

Understood and dont disagree with you. BPA next season will be a luxary instead of a need and if there is a QB worthy I wouldnt object to it. The backup QB's they have on the roster are not pocket passers they are HB-option QB's.
I also think OLB is going to be an option. Worlids is hurt again and missing OTA's.Behind him I dont much of anyone C.Carter has a great 1st step but that's where it ends, as of right now anyway.
 There are a few good OLB prospects(on paper) in next years draft,Barkevious Mingo LSU,Jarvis Jones Georgia,Jackson Jeffcoat, DE/OLB, Texas,Sam Montgomery, DE/OLB, LSU.

I also think OLB is going to be an option.

I think OLB is always an option for this defense.  You can never have too many good OLBs on your roster when Dick Lebeau is your DC in my opinion.  I have high hopes for Worilds because when he was on the field he was in the QBs face.  He didn't finish many of those plays, but another year in the weight room and working on his game and I'd expect him to get there a bit more.

Carter is a bit tougher.  We didn't see much from him last year, which isn't unusual for a rookie.  This summer will be huge for him.  He has to show the ability to hold the point of attack.

That said, even if both turn into good players I can see them drafting a guy early next year at that position.  Harrison is getting old and even if Worilds is being groomed to replace him, you want to have quality depth and players in development at those positions.  They are the guys that make this defense special, as we saw last year.  Without Harrison and Woodley in top form, this defense didn't give up many yards, but they didn't scare anybody either.  When those guys wreak havoc in the backfield, the splash plays ensue.

Worilds hurt again.....

Buster II.

NY,

Do you know the extent of the injury?  I heard he had his hand wrapped..  Not sure how that keeps you from playing in shorts? 



enjoy,

bb

Do you know the extent of the injury?  I heard he had his hand wrapped..  Not sure how that keeps you from playing in shorts? 

The hand will prevent him from filling Gatorade cups....  HUGE LOSS RIGHT THERE !