2009 Steelers Draft and Mel Kiper Sucks Thread

One thing to keep in mind when disccussing team needs as it relates to the draft is that there will be a ton, and I mean a ton of veterans released this offseason. Contracts are designed to increase and this flat cap for a third consecutive year is forcing teams to cut players who still have something left in the tank. There are going to be some nice veteran players available for cheap after the draft.

p.s. There won't be much money to spend league wide either. The blue chippers will get their big deals but anyone with a question mark beside their name will probably have to settle for a lot less than they think.

No doubt IMO that Lewis is their most important free agent. If he goes corner all of a sudden becomes a top need, if he stays they probably will just draft low to develop a guy on the PS.

I think they are set with Taylor, Lewis, Allen, Brown and Victorian.

Call me crazy, but I think Victorian has a nice skillset to work with. He has a nose for the ball, made a lot of plays in the pre-season. The Dallas game he was exposed but keep in mind his first pro game ever he was thrown in to cover a pretty good receiver in Austin and was picked on an ungodly amount of times. That said he never was really out of position. If he can become a better, actually much better, tackler I think they have a keeper. 

Also, if they don't sign a veteran like Matt Moore I hope Batch comes back to help tutor a potential draft.

Lots of thoughts I've been needing to say for the last 3 months. 

First - welcome  back SB!!   Great to see you on the board again.

now - Maybe I missed it..  Where are we going to post our position listings..  starter to pull together the RB's list...   should we do it here?  (I always loose the link to the group thread now that its not available)..  or use the group thread?

enjoy,

bb

NY,

Where you at?  Still diggin out from that Nemo Snow storm?    Do we need to send in the St. Bernards? 

Thinking about you and yours.

enjoy,

bb

Just reading some tidbits regarding some players we could be interested in mid to late rounds over on Draftinsider.net

- Speaking of the Shrine Game, we spoke glowingly of Missouri Western defender David Bass during our [coverage of practice].  Recent word has the 260-pound Bass running the forty in the mid 4.6’s during workouts.  If he runs that fast at the combine his stock will rise as teams will give him consideration as both a 3-4 outside linebacker as well as a 4-3 defensive end.

 Most have questioned the speed of Washington State junior receiver Marquess Wilson, who opted to enter the draft.  According to sources Wilson timed in the low 4.4’s at Wazzu and hopes for a repeat performance at the combine later this month.  Presently the wide out is in Orlando training with Tom Shaw.

^^^^^^^^^
like these 2 a lot Marquess has good tape but is lean, needs to bulk up a bit, but I think this kid could be the steel of the draft in the 5th-6th rounds.

If bass can run that and we can get him mid rounds I'd be happy, I think he needs to work on his hand skills, swim moves etc....

I wouldn't discount OLB in this draft, Harrison's agent said Harrison won't take a pay cut.

I have been shoveling, digging, snow blowing since Friday,. one heckuva storm that swept my state.  Also working extra OT for the month, I will be back on more often once we get past March 1st.

Knowing their history I just have a hard time seeing OLB in the 1st unless they get Jarvis Jones, maybe Ansah.

Right now my gut is telling me they go WR. 

Walter's latest mock:

1. Jarvis Jones
2. Datone Jones
3. Joseph Randle
4. Kenny Stills

I really wonder why Walter hates Cam Heyward.

I have been shoveling, digging, snow blowing since Friday,. one heckuva storm that swept my state.  Also working extra OT for the month, I will be back on more often once we get past March 1st.

Nevermind this mumbo jumbo, the draft is more omportant the shoveling and OT can wait. 

Nevermind this mumbo jumbo, the draft is more omportant the shoveling and OT can wait. 

Nevermind this mumbo jumbo, the draft is more important than shoveling and OT, that stuff can wait. 

=SB, welcome back! I don't know if he's got anything wrong with Heyward but he might have problems with Ziggy Hood, imagine Heyward and Jones lined up on either side of McLendon or whoever our NT will be.

Thanks Roc and it's actually both. He calls Heyward a massive disappointment. 

How does a DE that doesn't get a fair shot to start yet still graded out as one of the best DEs in football become a massive disappointment? That said, I think they can get another year out of Keisel and start Heyward. Then again he did say Adams also struggled, have to take some of these national guys with a grain of salt.

Unless they get a faller I have a hard time seeing them going DE early. Maybe a mid to late round guy or a cheap free to compete with Woods. I still have hope for Ta'amu if he gets his head screwed on straight and Fangupo is intruiging, they may see a future with him. 

I think this draft focuses heavily on offensive skill positions, QB, RB, WR plus the back 7 on defense.

I remember we liked Fangupo as a late round flier, but his age was definately a concern, I believe he was like 27 or something entering the draft last year, and now he's another year older, but didn't have much wear and tear on the body.

I agree about the draft, Ben needs weapons and an O-line that will stay healthy and keep him upright.

Roll Tide!!! Here are 4 criminals.........I mean players to stay away from in future drafts!

Four University of Alabama football players were arrested and charged with second-degree robbery following a pair of incidents early Monday morning.

Linebacker [Tyler Hayes] and defensive lineman [D.J. Pettway] were charged with second-degree robbery while defensive back [Eddie Williams] and running back [Brent Calloway] were charged with second-degree robbery and fraudulent use of a credit card.

Walterfootball is as ignorant of the Steelers, their ways, and their players as just about anyone else who does league-wide draft coverage.

He's okay, but he certainly has his faults. They just annoy me now more than ever, which is why I seldom refer to his site now.

Besides, he's been really off the mark over the last two years, and he makes jokes about his inability to predict games against the spread every week. I used to love him, but I think we have to face the fact that he just isn't that great (anymore). 

The guy has too many of the same old and tiresome jokes and catch phrases too. Not to mention if he never changes his reasoning when a team picks a certain position and will just replace the player name if he changes his mock.

New mock posted over on the Steelers depot site..

not Way D.Moore is there 1st round - no way.

enjoy,

bb

Moore and Lotulelei are gone top 10, top two DL players.

I am not sure if Ansah makes it to 17, but that kid's celing is higher than Obama's tax plan....

Back to Harrison, that is his agent coupled with the Bleacher Report talking, not sure who to take less serious.  Still thought OLB in round one would not be a bad idea. I like Keenan Allen at 17, along with Ansah, Ogletree, Johnson, Vacarro, Richardson.

In other news, Johnny Knox announced his retirement due to a back injury.

 Alvin Bailey*, OT/G, Arkansas 
Height: 6-5. Weight: 319. 
Projected 40 Time: 5.36. 
Projected Round (2013): 2-4.

Gentlemen, any input on Mr. Bailey?

Bailey is not my favorite prospect for where we're going. While he plays great in the phone booth, he seems to lumber; if we're letting Ramon Foster go, I don't see why we'd get Bailey. Maybe Bailey has more potential than Foster, but it's not big enough of a difference to warrant strong consideration IMO.

re Bailey - I haven't seen him play - cant offer too much of an opinion - I do know we are looking for good athlete's that can move - see DeCastro, Pouncey - these 2 aren't Giants phone booth players - both very mobile. 

What we might ought to do  - is pay attention to college teams that run zone blocking (as well as conference  - SEC) and see which Olinemen are coming out of programs running this type of blokcing scheme. I'm not saying that that is the only teams we will draft from, but if a player has been running this type of offense - coule be beneficial. 

Couple of teams that do run zone blocking to some degree - Alabama, ND, Oregon, Florida, Texas A&M....    might want to pay attention to some of these schools for RB's also...

enjoy,

bb

you may want to drop ogletree back a few notches- dui a few days ago. and yes ive been reading and just started ...looking in to this shall we say.

as for walterfootball- he fell in to the same thing most people do when they know a lot about something- becoming pretentious and convoluted, they overthink crap and are influenced by other more established elites...good site, kudos for the work done but recently ( 2-3 years) he has been way way off.

2k