Nevertheless, I do hope both coordinators are replaced after the season, and while Id prefer they both get canned now and simply promote Kirby and Butler in the interim, we both know the Rooneys wont do that. Stubborn.
The last 2 weeks have shown me that the primary concerns for the Steelers is... everything? Just about. Leading the way is our need for a true LT. Check this blog and youll see why Adams would never fit, and how I called that DURING the college season. Furthermore our defense has been horrible from top to bottom. Woodley has been playing ok, as is Da Beard, Timmons and even newly starting LDE Heyward. But after that the "above the line" players drops off. And in some cases it drops dramatically.
I revamped a mock a did 2 weeks ago after we had 2 wins in a row. Whoo hoo? Nah. What was clouded then and is clearer now is that our oline is unstable, our defense is shit, and our depth across the board is- NONEXISTENT. So changes needed to be made. The first thing I did was cut the Punter. (See what I did there? Hating Tomlin more and more each week) Then I reassessed the immediate needs vs whats GOING TO BE on the roster in 2014. Hopefully Tomlin does more than his 2011 "unleash hell" and even more than the recent "lets play rotate the Punter. Again". And while I said "going to be" on the roster this, once again, is my interpretation as to who SHOULD be left on the roster. IE after eliminating quite a few people. Side note- my buddy Ed Bouchette tweeted yesterday "what could the Steelers do with the two mid round pciks they gave up in the 2013 draft". The loss of the 3rd rounder sent to the Browns for a midget safety that cant cover and a 4th rounder on a 3rd string QB that is junk with no black and gold future. Not to mention the 3rd rounder the Pats were ok with giving us then for Sanders. Now we have to wait till 2015 for that conditional pick. But thats in the past, hopefully along with the pink slips given to Tomlin (yep, Im ready to move on), LeBeau, Haley and Colbert among others.
And yes, Im still interested in the GM job.
With all of that said, with the SIXTH pick in the 2014 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers can only hope and pray to select...
6 Jake Matthews, LT Texas A&M- Adams cant do it, Beachum can but only at an average ability, and Tomlin wont let Gilbert do it? So, much like how we always hope the Steelers draft a high round CB, here is our franchise Left Tackle. Jake has the experience in the ZBS, the pedigree, the ability, and yes, even the bloodlines. Just like in 2004 when we finally drafted a franchise QB, here is that refreshing feeling all over again.
38 DaQuan Jones, DT Penn State- 2 years ago there was a 1 tech stud DT by the name of Mike Martin. The Steelers, Pats and Titans were the only teams to work him out, and during that draft he was falling right into our laps. But just as I thought the Titans jumped ahead of us and grabbed him 4 picks ahead of us. Now is the time to get a second chance. Or at least I think so. Jones is bigger, both in height and weight, and hopefully stronger than Martin. At the 1 tech he demands the attention of the center and guard most of the time, and if not double teamed he has the athleticism to get inside them and make the play. While listed at 6'3 325 looks a little tall, Im betting hes closer to 6'2. Either way, he is a modern age DT and could easily play the 0 tech. I also feel he could stay on the field in passing downs as he does have the burst to get up field.
93 (3rd rd comp 1) Jaylen Watkins, DB Florida- Yes, it is typical for me to draft a Gator, but while we ignored the school last year, it showed that may have been a mistake. Heres what I figure, the Gators have 3 very viable options at CB in this draft, and all of them can play outside or inside at the nickel/dime. While Jaylen will need to size up some to 190ish pounds, he is a dynamic CB that plays the run and the ball very well. Not to mention that he was signed to the Gators initially to play cornerback, and has done just that until this year. With Elam and Evans now in the NFL (and Elam not being drafted 31 by the Steelers as I recommended, now settling for a slow, unproductive OLB) Jaylen was asked to move safety. Since then he has played well but it shows he can be more dominant in the CB spot.
94 (3rd rd comp 2) Terrence Brooks, DB Florida State comp 2)- A few years ago we drafted Curtis Brown and Cortez Allen back to back. While Curtis showed junk on game tape he did well at the Combine. Tez on the other hand was my man crush from day 1. So here we are again. Having lost Keenan Allen, kept old and expensive Ike Taylor, and will not let Clark walk we are low in the 2ndary. Enter the 2nd of our back to back DBs, however this one is an exact flip of Jaylen. Brooks is a hands down safety. Its what he lives, what he does. Yes he can move into the nickel spot at times, but playing the top of the umbrella is what he does best. It also helps that his hometown is not located on the Yellow Brick Road.
112 Xavier Grimble, TE USC-
146 Josh Hush, WR Oregon-
168 (5th rd comp 1) Jonathan Brown, LB Illinois-
169 (5th rd comp 2) JaWaun James, OL Tennessee-
188 Roderick McDowell, RB Clemson- Yup, 2 WRs. Rainey, Rainey, Rainey... how you left a door wide open for a scat back with return ability to finally step in. Some say "Hot Rod" is a tougher CJ Spiller. I think hes a mix of Spiller and what Rainey could have been. Rod could easily spell downs for Bell, maybe in a thunder and lightning role, but more so as a 3rd down threat. He keeps Tajh Boyd safe with his cut blocks, but also gets free in the flat for a deadly screen or check down. And I havent even gotten to the kickoff and punt return ability. Rod could finally allow AB to solely focus on the WR role and not worry about getting plastered when returning punts
212 Chaz Sutton, DE South Carolina-
First, a couple things. The last pick of the 3rd round is pick #96 (nobody missing picks this year for bountygate or Supplemental draft). So, comp picks start at 97. Wallace will definitely get you a 3rd, but I don't think you'll have another 3rd. I don't know if a team has ever gotten 2 3's. Lewis will get you a 5th, maybe a 4th if you're lucky. And I'm thinking 2 7ths. For the combo of Mendenhall, Starks, etc. James Harrison was cut and Hampton never signed, so that's a couple you missed out on.
ReplyDeleteAs for the draft, love Matthews, but he's probably going in the 3-5 range. If the Giants pick ahead of you, they'll move Pugh to OG and Beatty to RT. Lewan is not a bad consolation prize though. Like Jones too, but not really a Mike Martin type. He played like that before but has really been penetrating this year. Looks to be a little smaller this year too. Love the 3rd round additions for you (though, will only have 1 pick there as mentioned). You guys could really use that speed in the back half. Very good pickups. Grimble and Huff are guys I have my eye on. You guys could use that 2nd TE and transition from Heath in the future. Huff is a good fit for you guys, though I'm surprised no WR earlier. Probably losing Sanders, and Wheaton (is he healthy?) hasn't stepped up to take that starting spot for next year.
Jon Brown is a good, solid playmaker. Bad in 2012, but was good in the other years. Good fit inside of a 3-4. Could go as high as 3rd round, but LBs tend to fall. But I do think you'd need to take him before the end of the 5th. McDowell is another guy I like. I don't think he's Spiller/Rainey fast, but is definitely a speedy guy. Very good receiver out of the backfield. Sutton and James are solid SEC picks. James could develop into a starting RT. Sutton is interesting for you guys. Too small for 3-4 DE, and I don't know if he's athletic enough for OLB, though I'd guess he could play there on run downs.