2009 Steelers Draft and Mel Kiper Sucks Thread

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

Lets face it Burghball if walter's latest happens, fire up the caddy and I got shotgun, 1 playmaker does not make a good draft.

I said this since the end of the season, the Steelers need to get pressure on the QB and help get some turnovers. Without trying to lock onto any player in the first round I'm really, really hoping Jarvis Jones falls to us or Ezekiel Ansah. We can use both of these guys as situational pass rushers next season and have them learn behind the vets.

In an ideal world for me the first 4 rounds will go like this

round 1) Jarvis Jones
round 2) Zack Ertz
Round 3) Jordan poyer
Round 4) Montee Ball


Then go ahead and and get your WR and safety depth.

If a really good talent doesn't fall to pick 17, like a Jones, Ansah or Johnson trading back would be a good option. There are some quality players at the back end of round one who can be picked up like

Minter
Ogletree
Te'o
Elam
Cooper
Patterson
Allen

Will be interesting to see if the steelers take a look at Jonathan Cooper now we will be moving to a zone blocking scheme.

Zone blocking - is that the same scheme shanahan has used for years, in which you have to have a patient yet decisive runner?

Yeah, thts why Montee Ball would make a lot of sence. I know he has mileage on the clock but he would give you 5 or 6 good years imo

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.