2009 Steelers Draft and Mel Kiper Sucks Thread

7th round players: 1) Rodney Smith WR FSU. 2) Terron Armstead OT Arkansas Pine-Bluff. 3) Rod Sweetng CB Georgia Tech. 4) Luke Willson TE Rice. 5) Vance McDonald TE Rice 6) Greg Blair ILB Cinncinatti

Ok guys here I go, I will post what I think in around about way a group of players I think the <span style="color: #0000ff; text-decoration: underline;"> Steelers will be picking from in each round. Feel free to comment. I am posting this from my IPad so of course paragraphs don't exist. This will be in no particular order.

What I did Roc was to copy and paste all 7 rounds, to address each post would be much more difficult. I will highlight the players I like, BOLD the ones I like the best, and cross out the ones I don't care for. If I do nothing then I am on the fence or undecided, Datone Jones for example. If I have a comment, I will put that in itallics.

Round one players:

1) Kevin Minter ILB LSU 2) Alec Ogletree ILB Georgia 3) Kenny Vacarro SS Texas 4) Jonathan Jenkins NT Georgia 5) CHANCE WARMACK OG Alabama 6) Cordarrelle Patterson WR Tennessee 7) Datone Jones DE UCLA Question for you guys, In your minds Has Datone really done that much to vault himself into the middle to late first round? He doesn't have a lot of great tape but played great in the Senior Bowl. Datone Jones, I need to see more tape, see him at the combine in the drills.  I did not capital Patterson because at 17 I don't think he is the best player in round one.  You are also missing Jesse Williams. In fact I like Williams  over Jenkins and Hankins, but at 17 that may be reaching. Pat Kirwin thinks he make break the combine Bench press record.   

Players Round 2:

1) Alex okafor OLB Texas 2) Robert Woods WR USC 3) Eric Reid FS LSU 4) Matt Elam SS Florida 5) Eddie Lacy RB Alabama. 6) LARRY WARFORD OG Kentucky. 7) Justin Hunter WR Tennessee. 8) Quinton Patton WR Louisianna Tech. 9) Stepfan Taylor RB Stanford too early for Taylor, he is a late third rounder IMHO.  

Round 3 players

: 1) Jonathan Cyprien FS FIU. 2) Robert Alford CB Southeastern Louisianna. 3) Leon McFadden CB San Diego St. 4) da'Rick Rogers WR Tennessee Tech 5) Corey Lemonier OLB Auburn. 6) Brandon Jenkins OLB FSU. 7) Bacarri Rambo FS Georgia. 8) Montee Ball RB Wisconsin Ball has a lot of miles on him already, his odomoter has been turned over already, Rambo is a good player, but he has to come clean about his supension, the same applies to Ogletree which I forgot to point out. Lemonier I like but later, his stock is dropping, I don't think he is as polished as I originally thought. D'arick Rodgers was thrown off of Teenesee, NO THANKS!  

4th round players:

1) Markus Wheaton WR Oregon State. 2) Robert Lester SS Alabama. 3) Brandon Williams NT Missouri Southern. 4) Chris Harper WR Kansas State. 5) TRAVIS KELCE TE Cinncinatti. 6) Blidi Wreh Wilson CB Connecticut. 7) Christine Michael RB Texas A&M 8) B.W. Webb CB William & Mary. Have 2 players I'm not sure about Jamie Collins OLB and DEVIN TAYLOR DE, what do you guys think about these two? I like both, Taylor was a force in the Shrine Game.  I still like Wilson, but he does not mirror the WR as well as some of the other cb's. Two RB I do not see, but I am trying to go throgh all of this quickly, Jonathon Franklin and Mike Gillislee.  

5th round players:

1) SPENCER NEALY DE Texas A&M 2) David Bass OLB Missouri Western St. 3) D.J. Swearinger FS South Carolina. 4) Stansly Maponga OLB TLC. 5) MICHAEL WILLIAMS TE Alabama 6) JJ WILCOX SS Georgia Southern. 7) Marquise Goodwin WR Texas. 8) Micah Hyde CB Iowa. 9) EJ Manuel QB FSU don't think Manuel lasts past the third, if that, don't know jack about Maponga, Williams and Nealy are two guys I would love to see in Black and Gold. Wilcox, yeah I love his versatility, hopefully so won't Colbert.  

6th round players

: 1) Brian Winters OT Kent St. 2) Joe Kruger DE Utah. 3) Kyle long OG Oregon. 4) Terrance Brown CB Stanford. 5) Gerald Hodges ILB/OLB Penn St. 6) Marquess Wilson WR WSU. 7) Duke Williams SS Nevada Duke Willams is a hitter, can he cover, the one Nevada game I watched on Ironman's endorsement, I did not come away impressed, maybe I was looking for another Ryan Clark.  

7th round players

: 1) Rodney Smith WR FSU. 2) TERRON ARMSTEAD OT Arkansas Pine-Bluff. 3) Rod Sweetng CB Georgia Tech. 4) Luke Willson TE Rice. 5) Vance McDonald TE Rice 6) Greg Blair ILB Cinncinatti don't like the bobbles from McDonald, plays his brother Ronald.  I am a huge fan of Armstead as a project, he has will and desire, needs to hit the weight room and be coached up, but the clay is there, he is MOBILE and will fit in with the new zone scheme.

NY,
I know I'm not a member of the Steelers fan club, but I always follow you during draft season, because you study this closer than I do, anyway I had a few questions.

Do you think Vacarro has any shot of being available when the steelers pick? 
Do you have Patterson above Allen?   

If you are a big fan of Armstead, you might want to move him up three rounds, because I've been reading a lot about him and he will be a mid round pick.

St Thomas. post here anytime. Vacation at 17 may be gone, I try not to lock onto one player. Both Harrison Smith and Mark Barron went very early, but both were worth the selection. 19 safeties taken out of 253 players, conversely 33 LB taken, IOW much harder to find safety talent, smaller pool to draw from.So a team needing safety help, may snap him up. I like Patterson a lot. But Allen had the longer resume. Patterson will immediately help in the return game, more initial impact. However a team that can wait on Allen, if he checks out medically, is getting the best WR in the draft. Iike both of those WR , I saw more SEC than PAC12 this year. Armstead is raw, but a tough kid, hard worker, and I agree will go before round 7. I will be interested to see his bench, he's got long arms, works against him. However I am confident he is working hard to put up a respectible number in Indy. My gut tells me he will run a 4.89 and wow a few people.

I surprised you dont have Poyer in there somewhere.

Good point on Jordan Poyer, the D needs playmakers.

If Pitt gets M. Elam in round 2....thats the steal of the draft....I would consider him at #17 he is that good.  I really dont think he will get by Balt in round 1 if hes still available since they need to eventually replace Reed.  I do not think Warmack fits in w the new scheme of zone blocking coming from a power run game of Bama so I dont think they take him, Minter would b an excellent pick....hes a tackling machine from a tough hard nose conf.  The next position I look at is RB...I like Bernard from UNC....great RB that had 47 catches this past season and can return punts if u need a big play...see NC St game.  So right now...

Round 1 Minter/Elam
Round 2 Bernard/Lacy
Round 3 Jesse Williams/Robert Woods

Round 1 Minter/Elam
Round 2 Bernard/Lacy
Round 3 Jesse Williams/Robert Woods

1-Timmons
2-Woodley

1-DeCastro
2-Adams

1-Vaccaro
2-Elam      is the formula 
3-Nico Johnson
4-B.Williams NT
5-C. Williams TE
6-Gillislee
7-Kollins 

st66.

 

If they pass on Elam......0% chance he last until their next pick

If they pass on Elam......0% chance he last until their next pick

Elam at 48 is the right range. If somone takes him in the 20's or 30's, that just pushes a good player back further.  Nobody thought DeCastro would be there at 24...... Mendenhall at 23....... Ray Rice went the end of round two, nothing is guaranteed other than Mel Kiper and ESPN suck azz.

NY, I think the closer they get to the draft....this kid moves up the draft boards....hes a playmaker and aggressive which will make WRs and TEs think twice about coming over the middle.  He will knock ur block off at any given time.

Showstopper,

You may be right on Elam, but at 17 I like Vacarro better at this point. Elam does not make it out of the first round, I can buy that.  The guy who started to fall was Jarvis JOnes, just saw a mock with him going to the Steelers at 17 with  Dane Bugphuccer. Rang is lost in space giving us John Jenkins. FIrst off Jesse Williams has a better motor and has more quickness, I am trying to not look at the guys size so much. Remember a few drafts ago Mount Cody was the greatest thing since Cheese in a spray can? He got shoved out of the way bythe OL of SF when Haloti Ngata went out.

Regardless, they need playmakers with the first piks. I like Minter, but is Ogletree going to make more spalsh plays?  Vacarro is more like Ryan Clark, Elam more like Polamalu, so if Colbert has Elam ahad of Vacarro then I can see why.  Jarvis Jones, it all hinges on his medical, with the Steelers going 8-8 and not hitting home runs in the first round as of late, is he worth the risk? Playmakers in the first:  Elam, Patterson, Ogletree, Jones, that is how I see it. As we saw last night, not having the resume (as many starts) puts plars at a disadvantage, Patterson and Keenan Allen is whare I am  going compared to Kaepernick and Flacco. Both have talent, who will have the better career, who has more upside.  Patterson is a JUCO transfer, you have to put all the information into a basket. Sometimes it means nothing more than the kid is a late bloomer, Robert Griffen comes to mind. 

Truth79 and others brought up something interesting, OL that can move with the new Zonb Blocking.  what about Lane Johnson huge

upside, and a LT than can really move.  I have to admit, I am tired of Marcus Gilbert and the hottub. As beach has suggested, maybe Kelvin Beachum to LG, he really has quick feet. Willie Colon, great guy, but just too expensive and cannot remain on the field. 

nyb

I know I've been against drafting OLBs in the first round, but the more I learn about Ezekiel Ansah, the more I like. This kid is a playmaker on defense and his ceiling is sky-high. Despite his size I also noticed his quick twitch that draws Tomlin and Colbert like a moth to the flame. In fact, I would say he's the quickest pass rusher in the draft next to Damontre Moore.

Jarvis Jones is being talked about right now as a major slide, but I don't see it. I feel like a player of his caliber will show scouts and coaches at the Combine and Pro Day that he means business and is worthy of a top 10 pick. A team like the Browns who desperately need experienced 3-4 pass rushers could snatch him up early.

It's also looking like there'll be a rush for OTs. Luke Joeckel at #4, Eric Fisher at #7, and Lane Johnson at #11 seems very plausible to me. The Eagles, Cardinals, and Chargers are all in desperate need for tackles and those players fit the bill (though for the Chargers it's a reach for a player that may not pan out). 

I like Minter a lot better than Ogletree....he is a pure LB while Ogletree was a SS who became a LB....I know Urlacher did the same, but Minter is a tackling machine.  Vaccaro is solid, but I just think Elam is exactly like Troy....plays on pure instincts.  There is still a lot of time and we will see what happens w Jones, but if he falls to 17 and checks out clean in the health category....u take him w/out a doubt.

 the more I learn about Ezekiel Ansah, the more I like. This kid is a playmaker on defense and his ceiling is sky-high. Despite his size I also noticed his quick twitch that draws Tomlin and Colbert like a moth to the flame. In fact, I would say he's the quickest pass rusher in the draft next to Damontre Moore.

I would love to see the Steelers grab him.  He could be a bigger and stronger version of DeMarcus Ware.  I watched him play 4-5 times this season and was impressed every time.  He is raw but how often do the Steelers start defensive players right out of the gate?  If he performs as I think he will at the combine I don't see him being there when the Steelers pick at 17. 

On Anshah, we pick right ahead of the Giants, Bears, and Cowboys, 3 teams drooling over him.

If they keep Harrison another year, they could just develop him, I think he would be a force, needs NFL coaching. One thing you cannot coach is his upside, it's unlimited. If someone took the time, I guarantee he could learn to drop into zone, or shed blocks, he is cat-like quick.

also on Anah a lot of mocks have him in the top 10-15, 17 might be pie in the sky.... but looking at how the Cowboys, Bears, and Giants line up in the first round, one team might want to ask Pittsburgh to drop 2-3 spots so they could jump Jenny Jones and the  Cowpokes for someone they covet that Colbert does not have as high on his board.  We have traded with the Giants and Bears recently. Pittsburgh has a good relationship with those NFC teams.

I wouldn't mind dropping back at all in the first to add a pick and move up in another round, that would be sweet!

Hey guys just found the pro day schedule, here's a link to it: http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/0ap1
000000136391/article/2013-pro-days-
schedule

Walter's latest Mock has us taking:

1)  Javis Jones OLB/DE Georgia - Great pick

2)  Margus Hunt DE/DT SMU - HATE this pick - should nothing during the senior bowl week - (maybe that should be weak)  awful pick

3)  Mike Gillislee RB Florida - Nice pick - was impressed with Gillislee and low milage

4)  Kenny Stills WR Okla - Kelce, Armstead, Z.Gooden and G.Hodges still on the board?  na...  I dont go Stills here


enjoy,

bb

1) Javis Jones OLB/DE Georgia - Great pick

2)  Margus Hunt DE/DT SMU - HATE this pick - should nothing during the senior bowl week - (maybe that should be weak)  awful pick

3)  Mike Gillislee RB Florida - Nice pick - was impressed with Gillislee and low milage

4)  Kenny Stills WR Okla - Kelce, Armstead, Z.Gooden and G.Hodges still on the board?  na...  I dont go Stills here


Hunt was a beast vs. lesser competition, he took a step back at the Senior Bowl, agreed, horrible pick.  Of the tall DE's I like William Gholston and Devin Taylor. Taylor took over the Shrine game, he stepped up his game and his level of competition in the SEC is going to help him. ANd how in the world is Margus Hunt going the pick before Datone Jones?????

Kenny Stills, not thrilled at all either, didn't see Tavares King come off the board yet, but I rushed through it. His rankings are so old he has Cordarelle Patterson as the 6th best WR, time to update that, IMHO

Elam at 48 is the right range. If somone takes him in the 20's or 30's, that just pushes a good player back further

Not sure some teams dont pass on Elam. He has talent but his size( 5-9 3/4 precombine) is a bit suspect for a safety. I'm sure they're are good ones that size but covering today's TE's I think he would need to be a little taller, IMO.

NFL Combine snubs..

CBS in the NFL Draft thread has a list of players snubbed from the NFL Combine...

Michael Wiiliams TE Bama - Really?  a senior bowl invite that caught a nive over the shoulder TD?  A really good blocking TE?  Dont get this one...  ok - he's not the fastest player - but a really nice #2 TE he will make

Jasper Collins WR Mount Union - He had a good week at the one of the post season all star bowls

Vince Williams ILB Florida State - Another player I enjoyed seeing at the senior bowl

Kyle Juszczyk FB Harvard..  Really?  had an excellent senior bowl week This one really puzzle's me - He will be a ST start as well as a starting FB in the NFL at some point - no doubt about it.


enjoy,

bb

Good morning everyone,

Just thought you would like to see who was invited to the combine:

[http://www.nflcombine.net/players/o
fficial-invite-list]

So I'm not sure if this kid (armonty Bryant) was on anyone's radar or not, but after reading the following I'd stay away, this kid had a really good Texas vs the Nation game. I also saw his name on the combine invite.

[http://blacksportsonline.com/home/2
012/10/ecu-de-armonty-bryant-arrest
ed-for-selling-weed-during-football
-practice/]

SW, that really isn't a rock solid formula, that has happened twice in Tomlin's adminastration, so not saying it couldn't but the chances are very unlikely this year.