2009 Steelers Draft and Mel Kiper Sucks Thread

Delvin Johnson out of Marshall is probably the most elite pass rusher of the NTs in draft.

Yeah I can't say I was watching DJ that close either.  It's one thing to crush people in C-USA.  It's another to do it in the NFL.  The combine should be interesting.

 Delvin Johnson, NT, Marshall 
Height: 6-3. Weight: 312. 
Projected 40 Time: 5.20. 
Projected Round (2012): 4-6. 
12/16/11: After a quiet junior season, Johnson has made a big improvement as a senior with 42 tackles, 10.5 tackles for a loss and two sacks. He took advantage of offenses being focused on teammate Vinny Curry. Johnson barely played in 2008 and 2009 before making a modest contribution in 2010.

walter has him as the 5th NT in the draft, projected 4th-6th round

Marshall may actually have TWO players drafted.  Could be worth inviting to Pittsburgh for a closer look. 

Half-assed mock II

1. Cordy Glenn Georgia OG/RT
2. Bobby Wagner Utah St. ILB
3. George Iloka- Boise St.  OLB
4. Joe Adams Arkansas WR/KR
5. Brandon Brooks Miami (Ohio) OG
6. Delvin Johnson, Marshall, NT
7. Julian Miller W. Virginnia, OLB
7. Christian Thompson S. C. State FS
7. Coty Sensabaugh Clemson CB
U. Cordaro Law S. Mississippi OLB
U. Taylor Thompson S. Methodist, DE
U. Max Halloway, BC OLB


why so many LB's? Because they have Kevin Butler coaching them in 2012.

3. George Iloka, Boise St. OLB Safety.

fixed it.

Check this player out ny. I was watching himin the Senior Bowl. He has played enter and Tackle in college and OG in the SB. Trai Essex junior might be worth picking late in the 3rd round.

<span style="color: #bf0824; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> Blake, Philip
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> School: Baylor
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> Position: OL
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> Height: 6'2" 3/8
<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> Weight: 312

---

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> • 2011 first-team All-Big 12
• 2012 Senior Bowl
• Two-time Rimington Trophy watch list member
• 2011 CFL Canadian Draftee
Senior first-team All-Big 12 center started all 38 games in three-year Baylor career… Native Canadian transferred to Baylor from Tyler Junior College… Earned 2011 first-team All-Big 12 honors from league coaches, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Waco Tribune-Herald… Invited to participate in 2012 Senior Bowl… Named to 2011 preseason Rimington Trophy watch list... Selected 23rd overall in 2011 CFL Canadian Draft by Montreal Alouettes… Squatted 635 pounds... Graduated from Baylor in August 2011 with degree in sociology… Moved to center during 2010 spring drills after starting all 12 games at right tackle in 2009.
2011 (Senior): Starting center in all 13 games, one of nine players to start every game… Named first-team All-Big 12 by league coaches, Fort Worth Star-Telegram and Waco Tribune-Herald and second-team All-Big 12 by multiple media outlets (AP, Dallas Morning News, Yahoo!/Rivals.com, Kansas City Star, San Antonio Express-News, Phil Steele)… Named to Yahoo! Sports’ All-Bowl team and ESPN.com’s All-Bowls team following performance in Alamo Bowl win… Anchored o-line that ranked second nationally in total offense (587.1), fourth in passing offense (351.5), fourth in scoring offense (45.3) and 10th in rushing offense (235.6)… Totaled team-best 96 knockdowns on season and received coach’s grade of 82 percent or higher in 11 of 13 games… Graded out at team-best 85.8 percent in 13 games…Had at least seven knockdowns and graded out at 86 percent or higher in each of first three games… Earned top grade of 91 percent in two games, both wins, vs. Stephen F. Austin (eight knockdowns) and vs. Texas (season-high 10 knockdowns)… Graded out at 88 percent with eight knockdowns in Homecoming win vs. Missouri, 88 percent with seven knockdowns in game 10 win vs. No. 5 Oklahoma, and 88 percent with nine knockdowns in game 11 win vs. Texas Tech… Coach’s grade (91 percent) and knockdowns (10) vs. Texas in game 12 win both season highs for any Baylor offensive lineman… Earned 88 percent grade and had 10 knockdowns in win over Washington in Alamo Bowl… Preseason All-Big 12 selection by Blue Ribbon, Rivals.com, Sports Illustrated, Lindy’s, Phil Steele and Athlon Sports... Named first-team All-Texas in Dave Campbell’s Texas Football preseason publication.
2010 (Junior): Starting center in all 13 games, one of eight players to start every game… Named honorable-mention All-Big 12 by league coaches and Associated Press (earned third-team midseason All-Big 12 honors from Phil Steele)… Anchored o-line that ranked third in Big 12 and 24th nationally in rushing (194.6 ypg) and fourth in conference in sacks against (1.54 per game)… Totaled 82 knockdowns on season and received coach’s grade of 81 percent or higher in 11 of 13 games… Had season-high nine knockdowns and earned 85 percent grade in win over Buffalo in second game… Earned top grade of 88 percent in three games, all wins, at Kansas (eight knockdowns) in fifth game, at Colorado (season-high nine knockdowns) in seventh and vs. K-State (eight knockdowns) in eighth… Moved to center from right tackle during spring drills.
2009 (Sophomore): Starter at right tackle for all 12 games during sophomore season in 2009, earned first letter… One of 11 Bears to start all 12 games in 2009… Earned coach’s grade of 82 percent on season… Totaled 76 knockdowns in 12 games.
2008 (True Freshman – Tyler Junior College): Played freshman season in 2008 at Tyler (Texas) Junior College under head coach Danny Palmer… Earned second-team All-SWJCFC honors on offensive line.
High School: Played prep ball at Champlain Regional College in Lennoxville, Quebec… Teammate at Champlain of former Baylor linebacker Fred Plesius… Graduated from Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School in Etobicoke, Ontario in 2005.
Personal: Son of the late Llewellyn Blake and Patricia Blake… Full name is Philip Anthony Blake… Born Nov. 27, 1985, in Toronto... Graduated from Baylor in August 2011 with a degree in sociology.

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/0
1/2012-steelers-mock-draft-version-
1-0-post-senior-bowl/

That's the Steelers Depot post senior bowl mock - a good one but I can honestly say I do not know a Player - Micah Pellerin CB Hampton on the list...  Any insight?

enjoy,

bb

Here's a quick mock I did from this morning:

1)  Dont'a Hightower ILB  Alabama
2)  Alameda Ta'amu NT University of Washington
3)  Josh Norman CB Coastal Carolina
4)  Tony Bergston OG/OT Utah
5)  Kyle Wilber OLB Wake Forest
6)  Aikem Hicks DT Regina
7)  Devon Wylie WR Fresno State

enjoy,

bb

Here's a couple 7th round supp's and/or Undrafted's I'd like to see also:

James Brown OT/OG Troy
Shawn Loiseau ILB Merrimack
Emil Igwinegu FB/TE UMass
Jeff Adams OT Columbia
Case Keenum QB Houston

enjoy,

bb

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/0
1/steelers-sign-safety-myron-rolle-
to-futures-contract


That's an article re the signing of MyronRolle S FLorida State - Interesting person to say the least and one I will be cheering for.

enjoy,

bb

1)  Dont'a Hightower ILB  Alabama
2)  Alameda Ta'amu NT University of Washington
3)  Lucas Nix OG Pitt
4)  Marvin McNutt WR Iowa
5)  Alex Hurst OT LSU
6)  Robert Turbin RB USU
7)  Austin Davis QB Southern Miss
7)  Daron Rose OT Northern Alabama
7)  Mitch Pellerin CB Hampton           

4. Micah Pellerin-CB-Hampton, 6-0 195 4.49

Another small school corner who has been a lights out player at his level. He's a D-I transfer (from Southern Miss), and put up 4 interceptions this year to go along with 15 PBU's, which marked back to back years of 14+ pass break-ups. This year he stepped up his game in run support, chipping in 4.5 tackles for loss as well. Pellerin's clear potential and skill set are unlikely to go unnoticed, especially when coupled with the fact that he has NFL size and speed at 6-0 195 and expectations of clocking in the 4.4's. At the East-West Shrine game, he showcased good speed and in practices was often step for step with receivers who struggled to separate from him. Pellerin needs only minor fundamental development, and his strong All-Star week confirmed his starting NFL potential, boosting him from a late-round developmental guy, to a 4th-round guy who is expected to eventually start in the NFL.

http://www.49erswebzone.com/forum/n
fl-draft/163161-otcs-post-all-star-
mock-13012/

4Jared,

Thanks for posting that!  much appreciated..  I love these kids coming out of the smaller schools..

thanks again,

bb

Here's a quick mock I did from this morning:

1)  Dont'a Hightower ILB  Alabama

BB - Did you base that on C. Glenn not being available at that spot or Steelers passing on Glenn to take Hightower?


   

Some of the comments on Steeler Depot are true, but they are so sold on Poe they are overlooking several factors.

Poe can do one thing, play NT, and he was second team Conference USA, he is not explosive. They have a Young guy they like, and lots of DL players to develop. Don't rule out Ziggy Hood as the NT of the future, a full season of OTA's will help him. There are 3-4 more players that could come in and compete for a NT job, Ta'mau looked good in the Senior Bowl but I saw him taking games plays off during the season, and he tired easily.

Cordy Glenn is big and fat, is sort of a misnomer, they can certainly add a weight clause into his contract. He is a 4 year starter in the SEC and is position flexible.  I am not a fan of Keleche Osemele, I think he is over-rated. Glenn was dominant in the Senior bowl, that tells me he will step up when asked to compete against better athletes.

They may not take CB because they have Taylor, Brown, Allen, and Lewis is also false. Kevin Colbert will take the BPA other than K, P, QB. I think Chase Minnefield is a second rounder, but Janoris Jenkins they might really like. THrow out the pot-head and the guy who left Mobile with his tail behind his legs after being timed with a sun dial. (Kirpatrick and Dennard).

Don't count out Fletcher Cox just because we drafted ZIggy and Heyward, they may take a guy who was the SEC Defensive LIneman of the week 4 times in 2011, and only a Junior.

No mention of Jerel Worthy either, interesting stuff, I think they he is in the mix as well. NObody can be certain of where Michael Brockers or Davon Still will go, how far they will fall. I think we can assume that  the first DL player off the board will be Quinton Couples.

Steeler Depot also did not consider Nick Perry, who could fall to 24. Again don't assume Colbert won't take OLB, the Steelers pass rush last year was sub-par. I don't like Mark Barron, I think he rank is too high only because the Safey class of 2012 goes bloats. The year to draft your safety was 2010.  Keenan Lewis may end up being Ryan Clark's replacement, again Colbert, Tomlin, and LeBeau have plans the fans are not privy to.

Some of their other picks were not bad, but I am curious as to why they did not look at Audie Cole as an alternative, he can cover in space, Farrior may not survive camp, he has become a liability in coverrage. Instead of Ta'mau in round two, why not Bobby Wagner, again taking the best available need is not the way Colbert will draft. Burghball is right, this kid just makes plays and if they teach Timmons the Buck, then you have Wagner to take Timmon's vacated spot.

I would not rule out RB in rounds 4-7 either, it seems everyone is doing that. If you can improve your roster, you pound the table and take a RB who is explosive like Isaiah Pead. And why not look at Joe Adams, make him the 5th WR and keep Brown from getting injured on ST. The Team doctor knows more about Emanuel Sanders than we do, maybe we need to cut him some slack. I am more worried about the amount of injuries to Baron Batch, and the ACL of Mendenhall and Hampton right now.

When doing Steeler mocks, think explosion, good characeter, durability,  then if the team needs him or not. Tomlin will cut no bones about cutting someone if a younger player comes in and beats him out of a job. Is Cordy Glenn going to do a better job than Doug Legursky at LG, I think so, what do you guys think? He is a good kid, 4 year starter, and they need OL help. Hightower is rated pretty high, but he appears a little stiff to me, nothing like his team-mate Upshaw.

I really need to get back to work on this thread.


Anyway, the Steelers signed Myron Rolle to a futures contract today. I remember many of us liked him coming out.  

Don't rule out Ziggy Hood as the NT of the future

I've been saying this since Big Zig was drafted, I think he would excell as the NT.
Depending on what Cleveland does with its second pick the Steelers might not get the chance to draft Hightower and I don't believe Colbert will draft an OL in the first round.

Zach Brown?

QB ratings done. Just a prelim and open for suggestions.

http://steelers-war-board.groups.cb
ssports.com/mcc/groups/post/1375465
4/34650113

Doesn't Cleveland run the 4-3 with D'Qwell Jackson inside though?

Doesn't Cleveland run the 4-3 with D'Qwell Jackson inside though?

Sure do SB, but Hightower is the type of player that could make the transition into OLB and I believe the Browns have a huge need in that respect.

It wouldn't be a stretch to have an OLB his size, Parcells loved bigger LBs on the outside.

I'm not getting much response on the Zach Brown thing, I'm wondering if everyone thinks its a stretch at 24 or if he wouldn't fit what the Steelers do.

To be honest I could see him possibly going to the Browns on their second pick, the kid is a rare athletic freak that if he's coached well could be a very special player IMO.

I'm not getting much response on the Zach Brown thing, I'm wondering if everyone thinks its a stretch at 24 or if he wouldn't fit what the Steelers do.

Zach Brown has some maturity issues, and his stock has been sliding since news of that broke. Granted, we have some of the best defensive coaches in the NFL, but if I were in Colbert's position, everyone else on my board at that point would have to be gone. Of course, that would depend on interviews. If Brown even does a decent job with the interviews, I would have to reconsider given that, as you say, he has rare talent, which if harnessed would be a terrific boon to this two TE offense we see between the two AFC Championship participants this year.

BB - Did you base that on C. Glenn not being available at that spot or Steelers passing on Glenn to take Hightower?
-----------------

ajmtan,

No - I just wanted to throw up something different than Cordy Glenn...    He may or may not be there at #24 - I think he will - in fact - I'm not sure he is a first round draft pick..  You want to get the best value at the sopt you draft and at #24 - I think Hightower is a better value than Glenn  - Me - I'd rather sit till the 3rd/4th round and look at other players - I dont see a whole lot of difference between some of the OG's in this draft.. where HIghtower is probably the best ILB in the draft..   Glenn wont be the best OG coming off the boards...  David Decastro from Stanford will be ..  so I figured if you can get the best player coming out at (BPA) a position of need, you do it...  hence Hightower....

Also - if you look at my mock - a lot of small school kids...  there is hunger there...  a desire to prove the major colleges wrong....  etc...

I also have another thought and when we are looking at Olinemen - should we consider what offenses they come out of?  A pass oriented vs run oriented?  IF we are going to a passing Offense...  doesn't make sense to draft Olinemen that are great at pass protection?    You look at Kemo - very good run blocker..  can pull from the LG spot extremely well, BUT - He cant pass block for Sheet...  I dont think Pouncey is all that great at it either (my opinion..) but better than Kemo....  Just conisder that when we are thinking Olinemen to draft...    I have not gone through the list yet to see who the guys are that have come from more passing oriented offenses...    stay tuned...

enjoy,

bb

Another kid that needs to be considered at #24 is Mike Adams OT Ohio State.... 

enjoy,

bb

BB,

I am not sold on Mike Adams for 3  reasons.

1. INconsistent, reminds me of Starks. First game back he stones everyone, next game he is a pylon.
2. Tatoo-Gate might mean something to Colbert, as does the problems at "The U" for all their violations nad misconduct.
3. He is the 4th best OT in the draft, whereas Hightower is the best ILB. (Kuechly is way over-rated, watch the Hybrid TE's blowing right by him in the following years to come)

I can buy Adams for three other reasons.

1. Ohio State is a Steeler farm system and the ties with LeBeau are strong.
2. Is Cordy Glenn really 3-4 rounds better than Brandon Brooks? Brooks also has a fellow Redhawk on the roster.
3. The value of OT over OG is ginormous. And KUgler might have Adams rated over Martin and Reiff, who knows.


Just because "we the fans" think they are going OL, ILB, NT in the first 3 rouns means jack squat. COlbert goes in with a board, looking for ways to upgrade the team. If it's an OLB, a FS, or a TE, he is going to take that player. Also, maybe the Eagles front office is smarter than their ghetto QB, they could have Hightower rated over Kuechly also. The kid they drafted last year, Casey Matthews  was getting blown out of the middle, he cannot take on blocks, reminds me of Shane Conlan, with the chicken legs. WHy would you draft another 230 lb. LB, when there is a 260 lb. stud from Alabama who is used to winning.

NY

BB,

I am not sold on Mike Adams for 3  reasons.

1. INconsistent, reminds me of Starks. First game back he stones everyone, next game he is a pylon.
2. Tatoo-Gate might mean something to Colbert, as does the problems at "The U" for all their violations nad misconduct.
3. He is the 4th best OT in the draft, whereas Hightower is the best ILB. (Kuechly is way over-rated, watch the Hybrid TE's blowing right by him in the following years to come)

I can buy Adams for three other reasons.

1. Ohio State is a Steeler farm system and the ties with LeBeau are strong.
2. Is Cordy Glenn really 3-4 rounds better than Brandon Brooks? Brooks also has a fellow Redhawk on the roster.
3. The value of OT over OG is ginormous. And KUgler might have Adams rated over Martin and Reiff, who knows.
---------------------------

NY,
good points - I just threw his name out there as one to be "considered"...  as the #24..  Hadn't seen anyone mention him.. and I think he belongs in the conversation...  as in the 1st round mock group of guys we are likely to consider...

And yeah - KC is going BPA - we've had so much success with that  - why change?  

enjoy,

bb