Now that we have beaten the draft horse although more is still to come

[Wingman]

While waiting for pre-season to start I thought it might make for an interesting discussion to go over the picks and see what everyone thinks about these guys in relation to our present roster. We have draft picks, free agent signings, from the off season and free agents from the draft as well as our roster from last season. Baring injury list the top 70 guys that you think should be on team. I know we can not see them practice or anything else at this point. It might just be interesting to see who, if you were the grand pubah, you would keep out of our players. It is ok to release a player if you think you have an upgrade. Also since Kiesel,and Harrison are still out there if you would bring them back you could you just have to get to 70 guys. We will not get to keep 70 but it could be an interesting way to pass some off season time, especially for you guys that are draft and personnel folks.

I will be working on one as well but will likely not be ready before lots of you guys get yours done. It might be an interesting way to grade this draft instead of in a vacuum like all the folks in the media do.

 

[DeaconKnowledge]

Just an observation I don't know why people want Harrison back.

The word "mentor" is thrown around a lot but I can't say i've ever heard of Harrison taking to mentorship or taking other players under his wing. The closest I guess was reading that he told Worilds not to help the opposing team up after the whistle cause **** them.

The linebacker that would pay dividends as far as mentorship is already on staff.

 

[SteelerAl]

Just an observation I don't know why people want Harrison back.

The word "mentor" is thrown around a lot but I can't say i've ever heard of Harrison taking to mentorship or taking other players under his wing. The closest I guess was reading that he told Worilds not to help the opposing team up after the whistle cause **** them.

The linebacker that would pay dividends as far as mentorship is already on staff.

Wanting Harrison back is a function of having very little depth behind our starters at OLB, who are also unproven and Worilds is injury prone. Chris Carter starting at OLB is a scary thought.

 

[Wingman]

Just an observation I don't know why people want Harrison back.

The word "mentor" is thrown around a lot but I can't say i've ever heard of Harrison taking to mentorship or taking other players under his wing. The closest I guess was reading that he told Worilds not to help the opposing team up after the whistle cause **** them.

The linebacker that would pay dividends as far as mentorship is already on staff.

The thoughts are that an old Harrison might be better in the short term than a young whatever we have now. The only thing I was tossing that out there for was in case someone thought either one or both could be part of the best 70 players.

 

[DeaconKnowledge]

Wanting Harrison back is a function of having very little depth behind our starters at OLB, who are also unproven and Worilds is injury prone. Chris Carter starting at OLB is a scary thought.

No more scary than it was last season. Why bring veterans back to ride the bench? Cut bait and get younger

 

[ZACKB]

Here is what we need:
1. OLB depth (sign Harrison?, trade for a player, wait for cuts, Howard Jones (UDFA?))
2. Third down back. Archer is a weapon and more of a slot receiver. (LSH, grab a guy at cut time?)

Guys we should keep and eye on;

Eric Winston RT. - If Adams can somehow compete, or even win the LT job maybe we look at a good zone RT. Balt is interested in him thanks to Kubiak.
Brandon Graham OLB- Philly was trying to trade him. He isn't amazing, but if cut could provide depth
Michael Roos- Word is that Tenn drafted Lewan to replace this guy. He is a damn solid LT, know the zone read, and certainly knows Munchak well.
Jermichael Finley- Word was during FA that the Steelers had inquired on him. If his neck is healthy he is pretty awesome.

 

[bmoritz]

Roos and Finley (if healthy) would be great pickups. As far as Graham, eh.....I'd rather bring back Harrison, he knows the system. Winston I believe is done.

On a side note, am I the only one concerned that Wheaton may never amount to much? Not saying he won't, and I hope he plays well, but we really haven't seen anything to base that on.

 

[TMC]

Roos is still under contract and he is only 31. I would think that the Titans allow him to play out the deal while they try to bring Lewan up to speed. Now, I would not rule Roos out as a free agent option next season. Would certainly improve the LT position, even though he is older. Maybe they will have it worked out by then.

As for the intent of the OP, here are my top 70....

QB-Roethlisberger, Gradkowski, Jones
RB-Bell, Blount, Archer, Poole
FB-Johnson
TE-Miller, Spaeth, Blanchflower, Paulson
WR-Brown, Moore, Wheaton, Bryant, Darrius Heyward-Bey
OT-Beachum, Gilbert, Adams, Johnson
OG-Foster, DeCastro, Whimper, Embernate
C-Pouncey, Wallace

DE-Heyward, Tuitt, Williams, Arnfelt, Mauro, Philon
NT-McLendon, McCullers
OLB-Worilds, Jones, Moats, Carter, Jones
ILB-Shazier, Timmons, Zumwalt, Spence, Williams
CB-Taylor, Allen, Gay, Richardson, McCain
S-Polamalu, Mitchell, Thomas, Allen
Specialists-Suisham, Warren, Podlesh

I struggled to get to that number, much less to climb to 70. The issue this season might not be cutting guys, it might be stopping.

 

[jsinohio]

Roos is still under contract and he is only 31. I would think that the Titans allow him to play out the deal while they try to bring Lewan up to speed. Now, I would not rule Roos out as a free agent option next season. Would certainly improve the LT position, even though he is older. Maybe they will have it worked out by then.

As for the intent of the OP, here are my top 70....

QB-Roethlisberger, Gradkowski, Jones
RB-Bell, Blount, Archer, Poole
FB-Johnson
TE-Miller, Spaeth, Blanchflower, Paulson
WR-Brown, Moore, Wheaton, Bryant, Darrius Heyward-Bey
OT-Beachum, Gilbert, Adams, Johnson
OG-Foster, DeCastro, Whimper, Embernate
C-Pouncey, Wallace

DE-Heyward, Tuitt, Williams, Arnfelt, Mauro, Philon
NT-McLendon, McCullers
OLB-Worilds, Jones, Moats, Carter, Jones
ILB-Shazier, Timmons, Zumwalt, Spence, Williams
CB-Taylor, Allen, Gay, Richardson, McCain
S-Polamalu, Mitchell, Thomas, Allen
Specialists-Suisham, Warren, Podlesh

I struggled to get to that number, much less to climb to 70. The issue this season might not be cutting guys, it might be stopping.

So, at this point would you consider Velasco an unknown commodity due to the injury and contract status?

 

[bleeds]

Roos is still under contract and he is only 31. I would think that the Titans allow him to play out the deal while they try to bring Lewan up to speed. Now, I would not rule Roos out as a free agent option next season. Would certainly improve the LT position, even though he is older. Maybe they will have it worked out by then.

As for the intent of the OP, here are my top 70....

QB-Roethlisberger, Gradkowski, Jones
RB-Bell, Blount, Archer, Poole
FB-Johnson
TE-Miller, Spaeth, Blanchflower, Paulson
WR-Brown, Moore, Wheaton, Bryant, Darrius Heyward-Bey
OT-Beachum, Gilbert, Adams, Johnson
OG-Foster, DeCastro, Whimper, Embernate
C-Pouncey, Wallace

DE-Heyward, Tuitt, Williams, Arnfelt, Mauro, Philon
NT-McLendon, McCullers
OLB-Worilds, Jones, Moats, Carter, Jones
ILB-Shazier, Timmons, Zumwalt, Spence, Williams
CB-Taylor, Allen, Gay, Richardson, McCain
S-Polamalu, Mitchell, Thomas, Allen
Specialists-Suisham, Warren, Podlesh

I struggled to get to that number, much less to climb to 70. The issue this season might not be cutting guys, it might be stopping.

So we're going to keep 4 TE's?!?

I'm curious - what do you think of Archer?

 

[TMC]

So, at this point would you consider Velasco an unknown commodity due to the injury and contract status?

Velasco is not on roster. So, no need to discuss him until they sign him. Might not be ready for this season anyway, if signed, could go on the PUP or IR. Until he is retained, won't include him.

 

[TMC]

So we're going to keep 4 TE's?!?

I'm curious - what do you think of Archer?

I think they keep 4 TEs. The TEs they have on roster will be better than a 6th WR and they do not have 5 RBs. Usually keep 25 offense and 25 defense. If you keep 9 OL, 4 RB/FB, 5 WRs, and 3 QBs that is only 21 players.

We have discussed Archer in the Archer thread. Not really going to do it here again, but just let me say, I think he has a lot to prove at this level.

 

[bleeds]

I think they keep 4 TEs. The TEs they have on roster will be better than a 6th WR and they do not have 5 RBs. Usually keep 25 offense and 25 defense. If you keep 9 OL, 4 RB/FB, 5 WRs, and 3 QBs that is only 21 players.

We have discussed Archer in the Archer thread. Not really going to do it here again, but just let me say, I think he has a lot to prove at this level.

That's putting it lightly! ;-)


Surely the odds are stacked against him, historically, but this isn't the days of old in the NFL, it's more like arena league these days... likely going to see more of these "slash" types, and surely Haley wants one in his offense. I doubt they run many plays inside the tackles too often, if at all.

It surely will look better splitting him out of the backfield rather than one of our lumpy FB/TE types... you know they weren't getting the ball. At least they are going to actually have to put somebody on him and a LB ain't going to stay in coverage with him long.

Definitely looks like a bit of a luxury pick, but at the END of the 3rd, as a comp. pick I think we got great production to go along with speed - seems to be the trend for this draft - and this is the extent of the excuses for the Haley Offense. Actually I thought it looked pretty good at the end of the year when Ben got used to the short drop/quick passes... by necessity with this line, I will try to look on the bright side.

I'm WAY more concerned on D, and looks like we have at least infused it with some youth, speed, and production. We gave up WAAAAY too many big plays, and our front 7 was mostly to blame.
CB can wait a year IMO. Look for another FA pick up next year is my guess. Not too many starting caliber CB's at 15, and we couldn't address every hole on D in one draft.

PEACE

-BLEEDS

 

[jdell]

QB-Roethlisberger, Gradkowski, Jones
RB-Bell, Blount, Archer, Poole, Maysonet, Alexander
FB-Johnson
TE-Miller, Spaeth, Blanchflower, Paulson, Palmer
WR-Brown, Moore, Wheaton, Bryant, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Moye, the other brown Brown
OT-Beachum, Gilbert, Adams, Johnson
OG-Foster, DeCastro, Whimper, Embernate, Hubbard
C-Pouncey, Wallace

DE-Heyward, Tuitt, Williams, Arnfelt, Thomas, Mauro, Philon
NT-McLendon, McCullers, Fangupo
OLB-Worilds, Jones, Moats, Carter, Jones
ILB-Shazier, Timmons, Zumwalt, Spence, Williams, Garvin, Wilson
CB-Taylor, Allen, Gay, Richardson, McCain, Green
S-Polamalu, Mitchell, Thomas, Allen, Golden
Specialists-Suisham, Warren, Podlesh

 

[Steelbooth]

^Maysonet^ my dark horse