2009 Steelers Draft and Mel Kiper Sucks Thread

Four overall picks in the 4th round...I say get us some big uglies and let 'em fight it out in camp. Wasn't Keisel a 7th-rounder (maybe 6th)? I'm sure we could find a DE that sticks in the 7th.

Reckless, I really think that we have a lot of 5 Tech guys on our roster right now.

Well well well..   yep the Steelers received 3 round 7 comp picks!!    There was speculation that we would only get one pick..

Gotta say, with the great overall success the Steelers have had in the (late) 7th round and / or a whole gaggle of 7th round picks to dangle out there for possible trade ups ... I think this is great news !



MoS

Gotta say, with the great overall success the Steelers have had in the (late) 7th round and / or a whole gaggle of 7th round picks to dangle out there for possible trade ups ... I think this is great news !

MoS,

(In my best Beachbum impersonation) 

You can't trade comp picks.  Use 'em or lose 'em.

You can't trade comp picks.  Use 'em or lose 'em. ... bummer, I thought that was a nice incentive for use ....   still though, the Steelers have come up with some great players in the late rounds and I've heard nothing if not  how deep this 2012 draft is, so maybe they do some good regardless.



MoS

The Steelers should draft a kicker with one of those 7th round picks

The Ravens picked up 4th and 5th round compensatory picks. Ozzie usually does well with those.

Quick Question, Colbert does not draft for need, however if he does not take and ILB I will be shocked.

who is on HIS board, think solid production, athletic-quick twitch, football players first, athletes second.

Luke Kuechly
Mychal Kendricks
Jerry Franklin
Bobby Wagner
Sean Loiseau

then I cannot imagine them NOT looking at OLB with 10 picks,but it depends on who falls where.

Courtney Upshaw
Shea McClellan
Vinny Curry
Cam Johnson
Kyle Wilbur
Tank Carder
Julian Miller

and you all know my 3 sleeper picks by now: Cordaro Law, Ronnie Thorton, Max Halloway.

I am not SOLD 100% on Dont'a Hightower, Andre Branch, Zach Brown  to name a few. The more I read the less I like the match to LeBeau.  I hate to pigeon hole guys, but the taller DE conversions to OLB are less likely under Tomlin, his 3 stars at LB are 6-0,6-1, and 6-2. It's not set in cement, but it is worth noting there are not any 6-3,6-4, or 6-5 LB's on the roster.  Cris Carter, Larry Foote, and Morty Ivy are all 6-1, Stevenson Sylvester is 6-2. Just throwing that into the equation when you look at prototypical LB's under Mike Tomlin.

Charlie Campbell mock draft...

Mike Adams
Lamar Miller
Brandon Brooks
Bruce Irvin
Kheeston Robinson



Excuse me while I look for something to strike him with.

10 picks for the Steelers? Anyone else think they may make a trade or two?

1. Donta Hightower
2. Keleche Osemele
3. Josh Chapman
4. Robert Turbin
5. Matt Reynolds
6. Shaun Prater
7. Cordaro Law
7. Jordan White WR WMU
7. Charles Mitchell S Miss St
7. Chandler Harnish 

1. Donta Hightower I think we locked onto this pick and should rethink it. The Eagles just signed DeMico Ryans, they were locked onto
                                      Luke Kuechly.

2. Keleche Osemele I am not so sure he lasts, I like Bobby Wagner here, and Shea McClellean as well. The guy I hope they take as
                               an OG is Amini Silatolu, another guy that could go earlier than expected.  Late round sleeper OG is Ron Leary-                               Memphis.

3. Josh Chapman  It's the right spot to get  Hampton's understudy. BUt if OG has not been taken, then Brandon Brooks is my man here

4. Robert Turbin  do we need another power back, other backs I like are Pead, Gray, Ballard.

5. Matt Reynolds I think he got man handled in the all star practices and he had a hand injury. I like bb's choice later on, Jeff Adans 
                         out of Coloumbia. . Aikeem Hicks could be in the mix in this spot, if not then round 6.

6. Shaun Prater  tough kid, football smart, but he is not as fast as you would like your cb's. In this range, if he lasts, I like the kid out of LSU a bit better, Ron Brooks. And even better I think Coty Sensabaugh would be a steal in this spot.

7. Cordaro Law  no argument here, but will he be here in the 7th.

7. Jordan White WR WMU   then there is that kid out of South Dakota State, Dale Moss, good spot for him. 


7. Charles Mitchell S Miss St  terrible Safety class, Aaron Henry is a solid ball player, he can be had late.

7. Chandler Harnish   camp fodder, Dixon is looking for a job, Colbert came out and said Letfwich, Starks, Batch are not out of the picture yet.

The Steelers are allowed 30 pre-draft visits from players - this does not include local kids (Pitt as an example)

The Steelers have had viists from:

Mike Adams OT Ohio State - Projected 1st round OT

Derek Wolfe DE University of Cincinnati - Projected mid round pick

T.Y. Hilton WR Florida International - Mid to late round pick

THey have also hosted players from University of Pittsburgh

Scheduled to visit:

Akiem Hicks DT Regina College (Cananda) - Projected 3rd day pick



enjoy,

bb

If Kuechly is at 24 he should be the pick, I just wonder if he will. It makes sense for him to fall, but I can see a team straying away from need to grab him. Same with Glenn, but I think he can be penciled in as a Bengal.

Colbert recently said Sly will be given a chance to win the starting ILB spot. Could be hand tipping or just addressing who they currently have? 

Pittsburgh Steelers: Dont'a Hightower, ILB, Alabama
The Steelers usually take the top player on their board, and it would be hard to imagine that it wouldn't be Dont'a Hightower in this case. Pittsburgh just cut James Farrior, so the Alabama product would be a great long-term solution next to Lawrence Timmons. Hightower seems like he was made to play for the Steelers.

*** OTHER 2012 NFL DRAFT POSSIBILITIES: ***

1. Cordy Glenn, G - The Steelers stay true to their draft board and take the best player available. That could be Glenn, who would fill a big need at guard.

2. Coby Fleener, TE - E-mailer Kevin B. brought up this suggestion to me, and I like it. Fleener now fits this range in the wake of his great Pro Day performance. The injury-prone Heath Miller has been a big disappointment. Fleener would be a great intermediate option for Ben Roethlisberger.
-----------------
WTF**** is Walter talking about?  Heath Miller a big disappointment?  This dude is clueless sometimes...

Walter's updated Steeler picks from his latest mock:

1) #24  Dont'a Hightower ILB Alalbama - OK I can buy this one - good solid pick

2) #56 Kelechi Osemele OG Iowa State -  LOVE this pick - I dont think he will be on the board at #56 - put great pick here...

3) #86 Robert Turbin RB Utah State - Luke warm on this one - Still think its too early for a RB and there are several players I like better on the board at this point..

4)  #119 Ryan Steed CB Furman - I dont like Walters explaination on this pick - "Haven't added a DB yet".. yeah so we reach? again players on the board I'd rather have..

5) #159 Jeff Fuller WR Texas A&M - Really?  Has he been paying attention at all?  No thanks....


in the end - it's as good as guess as any...   I guess...   but sheez...

enjoy,

bb

Trying this again after looking at what the Steelers are doing closer.

1. Dre Kirkpatrick- Right now I'm having a hard time with this. Someone will snag Kuechly, Cox, Glenn, and maybe Gilmore. I would be all for Gilmore but if that article is correct then they won't go corner unless it is Dre Kirkpatrick and right now it seems like a toss up between Gilmore or Kirkpatrick for Cincy along with Glenn. They're paying attention to Alabama and I'm assuming it's him and Hightower and I'm also assuming Dre is higher on their board, unless they think Hightower can be a three down backer. I'd guess it's between Hightower and whichever of Gilmore and Kirkpatrick Cincy falls and this pick becomes Cox, Martin, Glenn, or Kuechly if one somehow falls.

2. Amini Silatolu-I'm on the bandwagon with him, and hearing Colbert talk it sounds like they are going with Foote and Sly this year, even if they get Hightower, so that could take out Wagner, whom I think will be gone by now. Plus they like the guard class in this range.

3. Josh Chapman-Not much of an explanation needed, they're watching him a lot at Bama and he could be a steal here. Seems like a natural fit.

4. Vick Ballard-They go RB here, he's a speed back and he still beat opposing defenses being Mississippi St.'s only weapon.

5. Derek Wolfe-I think they're looking closely at him, had him in for a visit and I think Pro Day. Add him to the depth of Corbin Bryant and Al Woods as future DE backups.

6. Chase Ford-Signing Wes Lyons and Will Johnson tells me they are looking at a TE and Ford is a good 6'6" option with upside.

7. Cordaro Law-We all know about this now.

7. Austin Davis-Leftwich will probably be back and I feel like they will get at least a camp arm to compete with Troy Smith and maybe Batch. Patrick Witt undrafted could be nice.

7. Jordan White-I still like him late, especially if Cotchery comes back. If he or Wallace leaves than WR moves up in need. I see him as a sleeper.

7. Danny Hrapmann-Probably grab a kicker late for competition for Suisham. Great leg, which would be good for kickoffs, really a toss up on which kicker though. 

Officially the Steelers have ...

#24
#56
#86
#119
#159
#193
#231
#240
#246
#248

Let the mocks begin ...

Personally I would prefer Luke K over Hightower, but it would take him getting by quite a few people for that to happen. I am already calling a huge run on DE's and that may help our chances. The biggest potential snags to the Steelers grabbing him would be the Seahawks passing him up in favor of a lineman or WR and that Titans grabbing him. If he gets passed those guys, I think he can be had by Pittsburgh. Crazier things have happened and trades will make things even more interesting.

I've been all over the map but like NY I keep coming back to Cordy Glenn. Maybe he doesn't make it to #24 and that's been the pattern whenever we zero in on an offensive linemen but until I see him off the board he's my guy.

Beach, yep Glenn makes so much sense @ 24. He starts from day 1 at LG. He is position flexible and can play RG or RT,Tomlin is high on that. Quietly Stephon Gilmore is flying up the boards, hightower is falling and Konz isn't even a 1st rounder anymore. Did we buy the report that says Zeitler was high on their tiers, I am starting to wonder. I also think Ta'Mau is gone by 45 now. Just a gut. Nick Perry looks stiff in zone, Shea McClellan looks smoooooth, I think we should give more push for the OLB that looked good in cone and backpedal drills . Will Haley be looking for a. Athletic OT one that can get out in space? How far does John Martin fall now a d does Mike Adams come off before him. Think Derek Sherrod last year. I see a similarity.

#24 Luke Kuechly ILB Boston College

#56 Amini Silatolu OG MIdwestern State

#86 Isiah Pead, RB, Cincinatti

#119 James Hanna, TE, Okalahoma

#159  Ron Leary, OG/OT, Memphis

#193 Coty Sensabaugh, CB, Clemson

#231 Cordaro Law, OLB, S. Mississippi

#240 Aikem Hicks, DT, Regina

#246 Shawn Liseau, LB, Merrimack

#248 Dale Moss, WR, South Dakota State

Undrafted:  Marcus Hyde, RB, William & Mary

Undrafted: Ronnie Thorton, OLB. S. Mississippi

Undrafted: Bruce Figgins, FB, Georgia

Undrafted: Marcus Kuhn, DT, North Carolina State

Undrafted: Phillip THomas, FS, Syracuse




Guys I wanted but could not fit: Mychal Kendricks, Derek Wolfe, Julian Miller, Mitchell Schwartz because where they project I found a better prospect that could be available and have a shot to make the team.

Guys I wanted but could not fit: Mychal Kendricks, Derek Wolfe, Julian Miller, Mitchell Schwartz because where they project I found a better prospect that could be available and have a shot to make the team.

* forgot Jerry Franklin, Tank Carder. They just seem like Tomlin guys.  But with 10 picks I see two LB's, maybe three.  Also like the kid Jeff Adams out of Columbia, projects to the 7th Undrafted, maybe I can remove somebody. I keep looking for a safety and I forget Damon Cromartie-Smith is on the roster. Ryan Mundy is still a solid backup, noting flashy but fits the scheme. Colbert came right out and said this was a weak TE class, but that was before James Hanna blazed down the field. Copycat league, everyone else has a speedy TE, why not us? 

That FB out of Georgia is a MONSTER, 6-3 272, put him in motion and have him put a hat on someone. Don't forget though with Bruce NoBrains he had a weapon on the PS that I really like, Jamie McCoy. He is a hyrbrid TE/FB if used propperly can be a siimilar threat like Aaron Hernandez. But again our fomer OC had the imagination of a one colored box of crayons.

I keep looking for a safety
---------------------------

The kid from Duke can be had late or as a UFA - he is raw but has the physicals to play..  speed and size.. 


enjoy,

bb

Bites, I like Isaih Pead.  Not many outside the BE know about this kid.  Most of the Steelers current RB's are more the power type back.  Pead would be a nice change of pace, kind of a Mewelde, only with more speed and more shake.

Bites, I like Isaih Pead.  Not many outside the BE know about this kid.  Most of the Steelers current RB's are more the power type back.  Pead would be a nice change of pace, kind of a Mewelde, only with more speed and more shake.
----------------

SMURGH,

And as he showed in the one bowl game (senior or shrine - cant remember) he can be used as a returner..  take some heat off A.Brown

enjoy,

bb

I see you guys are talking RBs. They are up in the War Room.

re: Better than Turbin

Reminds me of James Starks who also had injury concerns and the Pack got him as a UDFA.

Beach,

The problem with Turbin is he is another prototypical power back, without the moves that Mendenhall has. Pittsburgh has a lot of 5-10 to 6-0 backs that are 220-240 lbs, need a change of pace back or a differnet style of back.  I watched Utah State play and was actually more impressed with Turbin's teammate Michael Smith. Go back a few hundred posts I had him as RB sleeper pick, tough little shifty sumbich without a lot of mileage, which Turbin was the work horse.

Here is the write up on Smith's profile, pertaining to the pro day.

03/09/2012 - Utah State football had 11 former student-athletes work out in front of National Football League (NFL) scouts on Thursday in USU's annual "Pro Day." Scouts evaluated a handful of former Aggies who are draft eligible for the upcoming NFL Draft. Participating in this year's Pro Day event included offensive guard Funaki Asisi, defensive back Alfred Bowden, linebacker Kyle Gallagher, offensive guard Phillip Gapelu, defensive back Chris Harris, tight end Tarren Llyod, wide receiver Xavier Martin, defensive back Walter McClenton, wide receiver Stanley Morrison, running back Michael Smith and running back Robert Turbin. Performance tests were held in the Laub Indoor Practice Facility where players had their height, weight and wing span measured. The participants then preformed tests including vertical jump, broad jump, bench press, shuttle run, three-cone pro agility run and the 40-yard dash. Highlighting Thursday's action was Smith who ran a 4.35 in the 40-yard dash, while Martin posted a 4.49 and Morrison close behind with a 4.52. Smith once again excelled in the broad jump, clearing 10'6", with Lloyd right behind him with a 10'3" jump. Smith would shine once again in the vertical jump recording a 40.5, which was the best jump of the day. Gapelu posted 30 reps in the 225-pound bench press, followed closely by Asisi who mustered 27, while Smith checked in with 23. It was a great experience. A lot of scouts came out to look at Robert Turbin and me, and all the other athletes like Stanley Morrison. It was great," Smith said. "I did really well from what they are telling me, I don't know my numbers yet. I was just focused on doing everything well and to just keep working hard each and every day." There were 15 NFL scouts on hand for Pro Day. Following the test and drills, some scouts put several players through separate drills, such as Smith and Turbin running routes and catching passes. - Utah State football

nyb

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CaRJqAB9HQ


Beach - no love for my sleeper at RB?

enjoy,

bb

Lennon Creer, yep, PO-tential.

back to MIchael Smith.

Here is some speed and strength...... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3s4mAG9h2lA


Okay anyone can run 4.35 and bench 4 plates with a verticle over 40" but can they play footbalL?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FOs4cr3P34

FF to 3:30 watch him drag defenders.  I like this tape, he has some plays where he does not do jack, but credit the Ohio Defense, not a lot of room.  Is he an every down back, not really, does he have breakaway speed, you betcha.

I looked at Creer but dropped him after I read this ...

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Has battled several injuries the past two seasons, including an ankle issue that plagued him through his senior year and caused him to miss the final two games of the 2011 regular season (didn't even practice). Has had maturity and coachability issues at both Tennessee and Louisiana Tech -- questionable passion and work ethic to make it as a pro. Allowed himself to be academically ineligible for the 2011 bowl game and his final game in college.