A bright spot is emerging on this team for next year. The offensive line play has really improved. Don't get me wrong they need capital at the position. I still think they should go 1st round, Tackle, but if it really isn't there they have some flexibility. There was a point where I felt it needed to be two of the three top picks needed to be oline. I still think it should be 1 of the first two. But they are starting to gell as a group. That's a pretty good Dline and best linebacking corps in the league that they ran all over last night. I think they can go best available at Tackle, ILB and Corner in round one and if there was an absolute unit at Centre I could live with that too. They can even look for a 3rd or 4th receiver with their 4-5 picks.
More flexibility in draft
- Thread starter SteelerSask2
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The draft has 3 really good CB's and one is very possibly available at 18 or whatever: Kelee Ringo, Joey Porter Jr., and Christian Gonzalez. Cam Smith is good but not as big as the first 3. If any one of the first 3 is there, grab him and pair with Pierre.
Then LT or DT at 33. (Thanks, Bears.) WR or DT at 47. ILB at 79.
Problems solved.
Then LT or DT at 33. (Thanks, Bears.) WR or DT at 47. ILB at 79.
Problems solved.
I know many are going to want Porter because of name, but sounds like he is also a very good player. I want to invest in bigger people with the first two. And they really need an ILB higher than 79. DT at least for next year will be determined by what they do with Cam's contract and their own FAs. Leal looks like a winner and Loudermilk as a rotational player. If they can keep Larry O. I'm ok with no major capital inside defensive line.
I am actually leaning toward Cam over Porter and Ringo. Deeper I dig seems to be some questions about both Porter and Ringo. Maybe early round two is the better option on taking corner... But still some work to do see if my opinion changes down the stretch...
Again have to see what happens in FA with what is on the team. Sutton and Pierre etc. And you have to remember this you have to build around what your team does. So are you going to try to play lock down man (and turn your back on Jackson and Watson) or are you going to continue to play zone, have eyes on and hunt with 4 rushers. If you aren't going to play heavy man there is zero point in taking a lock down corner.
Dan Maoore has a pretty long body frame for guard. Generally those guys look more like Dotson.
I also think if you are building to beat the Bengals you cannot draft enough Corners. They are absolutely loaded at receiver. A better bet is to destroy the QB with 4 man pass rush and a ton of coverage behind it.
Steelers website has Dotson at 6'4 321, and Dan Moore at 6'5 315. Not seeing some world of difference there other than an inch and 6 lbs
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Moore seems like a natural RT, but he's probably the best option they have at LT, taking both running and passing into account.
Don't forget we're getting Calvin Austin back next season, we may be in good shape for WR without drafting another one
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It depends on where that inch & 6 lbs are placed………..
Leg length or torso length is probably what is being referred to by longer body.
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First, I look at the premium positions:
Quarterback
Drafted Pickett in the first round, no need.
Wide Receiver
Quentin Johnson, Jordan Addison.
Johnson is the best prospect, but will likely be gone. Addison is a lean build and doesn't have blazing speed, but is the best route runner in the draft and obviously was Pickett's favorite target at Pitt.
Left Tackle
Peter Skoronski, Paris Johnson, Broderick Jones.
Skoronski is the top prospect, but may lack the desired length which could push him down. Still, a ton of high-level experience at the position. Johnson looks the part and appeared to have a terrific game against Georgia. Jones had a good season at Georgia and has one more game to showcase himself.
EDGE
Not an immediate need, but maybe one of the deepest positions in the draft. I don't think the Steelers go this direction in the first, but may consider grabbing a pass rusher if one falls to the second.
Cornerback
Kelee Ringo, Joey Porter Jr., Christian Gonzalez, Cam Smith
Ringo has the athletic skillset, but has been inconsistent. Porter will garner a lot of attention because of his dad. Great season and performed very well this season. Gonzalez has terrific size and speed, put up big numbers after transferring to Oregon. Smith doesn't have the same physical attributes, but has been a standout for South Carolina.
Other positions:
RB - no need in the first.
TE - no need in the first.
IOL - no 1st-round worthy prospects
IDL - Bryan Bresee could fall, but I'd prefer Siaki Ika in the 2nd or Andrew Billings (UFA).
LB - Trenton Simpson, but I'd prefer not to go this direction in the first.
S - Brian Branch, Antonio Johnson - Branch just feels like he's going to be a good football player. Johnson seems to have the size that he could play the LB/S hybrid role.
Quarterback
Drafted Pickett in the first round, no need.
Wide Receiver
Quentin Johnson, Jordan Addison.
Johnson is the best prospect, but will likely be gone. Addison is a lean build and doesn't have blazing speed, but is the best route runner in the draft and obviously was Pickett's favorite target at Pitt.
Left Tackle
Peter Skoronski, Paris Johnson, Broderick Jones.
Skoronski is the top prospect, but may lack the desired length which could push him down. Still, a ton of high-level experience at the position. Johnson looks the part and appeared to have a terrific game against Georgia. Jones had a good season at Georgia and has one more game to showcase himself.
EDGE
Not an immediate need, but maybe one of the deepest positions in the draft. I don't think the Steelers go this direction in the first, but may consider grabbing a pass rusher if one falls to the second.
Cornerback
Kelee Ringo, Joey Porter Jr., Christian Gonzalez, Cam Smith
Ringo has the athletic skillset, but has been inconsistent. Porter will garner a lot of attention because of his dad. Great season and performed very well this season. Gonzalez has terrific size and speed, put up big numbers after transferring to Oregon. Smith doesn't have the same physical attributes, but has been a standout for South Carolina.
Other positions:
RB - no need in the first.
TE - no need in the first.
IOL - no 1st-round worthy prospects
IDL - Bryan Bresee could fall, but I'd prefer Siaki Ika in the 2nd or Andrew Billings (UFA).
LB - Trenton Simpson, but I'd prefer not to go this direction in the first.
S - Brian Branch, Antonio Johnson - Branch just feels like he's going to be a good football player. Johnson seems to have the size that he could play the LB/S hybrid role.
Ogunjobi is not a long-term solution. Steelers can get a run-stuffing NT in the 2nd or 3rd. The two guys who are huge and athletic are Siaki Ika from Baylor and Mazi Smith from Michigan. Both are a bit more 1-gap right now but have every attribute to turn them into dominant 2-gap guys - wingspan, size, quickness, leverage.
Porter Jr. had 6 passes defensed early on and has slowed down a bit mainly because teams don't go at him much any more. He is big enough to take on Chase 1-on-1 and blow up running plays. Same with Gonzalez and Ringo.
I like Smith, no doubt, but he looks like a Sutton clone - excellent positioning, good ball skills but just not big enough to win 1-on-1 battles with big receivers like Chase and Cooper.
Good write up.
I don't think he is a long term either but good enough to fill other areas for next year. Beauty of a 1-2 tech is they are plug and play. So if it can wait till 2024 why not.
We disagree on the "plug-and-play" theory. Steelers signed Ogunjobi because plugging Loudermilk at the 0 did not play.
Against the good teams with elite Qb and or WR play you have to be able to chess piece in critical situations. You can scheme a certain amount to mask, but not sure that is this teams strong suit. We can't always depend on the pass rush hitting home. Sutton being resigned for me changes nothing. I think we have three number 2 corners. Now if they fix the trenches I would less worried about corner, but I always think of value in the draft. If the value is a CB I think you take it. Because in the end game they need to build a better roster.
Agreed. I don't subscribe to the let's play Madden world of roster building. Oh he is a failed outside LB. Let's just put him inside. Does not work that way at all.
You are talking about a 5th round 6-5 probably 3 tech. I'm talking about a mountain 0-1 Tech. I'm saying if you want you could sign Larry O and push that need back. When you spend capital in the two to three range. Yes he is plug and play.
Ok Slash but you have to draft around scheme. The idea that you are going to grab one great Man cover corner and change the entire philosophy of the defense isn't happening. My point is that you don't need to drop that kinda draft capital on a team thar plays a lot of zone. And that is not changing anytime soon.
I really like Paris' athletic ability. If he is there for me it is a no brainer pick. I think Addison would be a solid addition and would help improve the offense. I think in 1 they should stick to improving the offense if the value is there.
Perhaps that man corner can also upgrade the coverage in zone. Is that an impossible task? If not corner they also can go S because I think the team can still upgrade coverage there as well.
Also remember you want to be scheme flexible. Being able to make adjustments to what is not working in game can help win a game.
Remember none of this is my utmost desire. Trenches and improving the offense is that I am just spit balling scenerios and BPA possibilities.
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