Opinions of the final 2016 draft Class

[FordFairLane]

and that knee could crater and you have just wasted #25 on a guy who might never play or MAYBE survives through his rookie contract.

It could. But the surgery is 80% effective and the biggest reason the 20% fail is because the knee feels fine because the surgery is so non evasive that the person doesn't give the knee the proper 8 week immobility allowing the cartilage to grow back. Also, I took him last pick first round since I'd have made the trade with Denver.

 

[Litos]

Fair analysis but need is an important variable in this equation, 1st rounder on an ILB when we already have a top one in shazier while our cb group lacked the talent of a possible #1
This plus the injury issue

 

[FordFairLane]

That might be a fundamental difference between what I would do and the Steelers actually do. I say go BPA and don't worry so much about needs.

 

[ark steel]

Cockrell was picked with a comp pick in the back *** of the third round a couple of years ago and Buffalo had him stashed on the practice squad. Not sure why it would be hard to believe Burns can't beat him out for an outside LB spot. Maybe they, eventually, go with Cockrell and Burns on the outside while rotating Gay and Golson in the slot? Gay is getting older and could use some rest in the season.

 

[CoolieMan]

Cockrell was picked with a comp pick in the back *** of the third round a couple of years ago and Buffalo had him stashed on the practice squad. Not sure why it would be hard to believe Burns can't beat him out for an outside LB spot. Maybe they, eventually, go with Cockrell and Burns on the outside while rotating Gay and Golson in the slot? Gay is getting older and could use some rest in the season.

I really doubt Burns has the size to be an outside LB............

 

[FordFairLane]

Cockrell was picked with a comp pick in the back *** of the third round a couple of years ago and Buffalo had him stashed on the practice squad. Not sure why it would be hard to believe Burns can't beat him out for an outside LB spot. Maybe they, eventually, go with Cockrell and Burns on the outside while rotating Gay and Golson in the slot? Gay is getting older and could use some rest in the season.

To be honest I am thinking Burns will eventually take Gay's spot at CB. I feel Gay has at least 1 if not 2 more solid seasons. I also feel Cockrell had a very solid season especially considering he was a late addition. I am hoping with a season under his belt and this year a full training camp and preseason he will improve over an already good first year with the Steelers. And at age 24 he is still very young.

 

[Steelerfan]

To be honest I am thinking Burns will eventually take Gay's spot at CB. I feel Gay has at least 1 if not 2 more solid seasons. I also feel Cockrell had a very solid season especially considering he was a late addition. I am hoping with a season under his belt and this year a full training camp and preseason he will improve over an already good first year with the Steelers. And at age 24 he is still very young.

Somehow I think using Gay, ****, and Burns in a sentence wouldn't be to hard. Now if we only had a player named penicillin.......

 

[GRBman]

What I think I liked the most about this draft class is there was nobody going "WHOA...." after a Steelers pick. Very little headlines, solid picks.

This team is very talented and doesn't have a whole lot of holes. There are a few, but not a bunch, so we didn't need to make any "splashy" picks...

 

[ark steel]

I really doubt Burns has the size to be an outside LB............

**** you and your stoopid evaluations. I have him slotted as a LB and he will damn well be a LB. Otherwise, he is a blown pick.

 

[Stryker]

**** you and your stoopid evaluations. I have him slotted as a LB and he will damn well be a LB. Otherwise, he is a blown pick.

Can't we just move Timmons out to OLB where he was drafted to play??....

 

[CoolieMan]

**** you and your stoopid evaluations. I have him slotted as a LB and he will damn well be a LB. Otherwise, he is a blown pick.

okay coachpop

 

[hamster]

Most draft picks look good on paper, and they are all good athletes The failure happens when the players are unable to learn the mental part of the NFL game.

 

[Tibs]

Interesting read at the trib, in particular as the sentiment seems to be we drafted so called 'raw players' with lots of athletic upside. Yet in hindsight, it looks like the Steelers stacked their board with players that combined athletic traits (speed, size, etc.) with on the field production.

For 2nd consecutive draft, Steelers emphasize college production over projection
http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/10400346-74/steelers-draft-nfl

Burns led the ACC with six picks; safety Sean Davis had 305 collegiate tackles, including 115 as a junior; defensive tackle Javon Hargrave had 37 career sacks including 29 1⁄2 over the past two seasons; linebacker Travis Feeney was third in the Pac-12 last year with eight sacks and 17 1⁄2 tackles for losses; and linebacker Tyler Matakevich won the Bednarik and Nagurski awards as a senior at Temple and finished with 493 career tackles.

 

[GRBman]

Interesting read at the trib, in particular as the sentiment seems to be we drafted so called 'raw players' with lots of athletic upside. Yet in hindsight, it looks like the Steelers stacked their board with players that combined athletic traits (speed, size, etc.) with on the field production.

For 2nd consecutive draft, Steelers emphasize college production over projection
http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/10400346-74/steelers-draft-nfl

That's the analytics thing taking over. If you look at who Cleveland took, most of the players have just tremendous production. I think their pick of Cody Kessler is stupid as hell, and Scooby Wright is probably not athletic enough to make it in the League...but you can see the reasoning.

Agree with your assessment, athletic as hell WITH production... good combo

 

[FordFairLane]

That's the analytics thing taking over. If you look at who Cleveland took, most of the players have just tremendous production. I think their pick of Cody Kessler is stupid as hell, and Scooby Wright is probably not athletic enough to make it in the League...but you can see the reasoning.

Agree with your assessment, athletic as hell WITH production... good combo

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1983609/tyler-matakevich
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2083731/scooby-wright-iii

If you look their workout numbers are pert near identical.

http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/tyler-matakevich-1.html
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/scooby-wright-1.html

Stats are harder to compare. Scooby had one of the best seasons I can remember in college football as a Soph with 164 tackles, 31 for loss, 15 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles. Last year he got hurt and even though started off well didn't get to see if he could match his monster season. Personally, I would have taken Wright over Matakevich because of his ability to get pressure. I feel Matakevich has more special teams value but to me having the shot of a starter at ILB vs a special teams guy is worth the risk. And Wright coming off the injury might not be 100% so his workout numbers might be skewed.

 

[GRBman]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1983609/tyler-matakevich
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2083731/scooby-wright-iii

If you look their workout numbers are pert near identical.

http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/tyler-matakevich-1.html
http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/scooby-wright-1.html

Stats are harder to compare. Scooby had one of the best seasons I can remember in college football as a Soph with 164 tackles, 31 for loss, 15 sacks, and 5 forced fumbles. Last year he got hurt and even though started off well didn't get to see if he could match his monster season. Personally, I would have taken Wright over Matakevich because of his ability to get pressure. I feel Matakevich has more special teams value but to me having the shot of a starter at ILB vs a special teams guy is worth the risk. And Wright coming off the injury might not be 100% so his workout numbers might be skewed.

All true...but I don't think the Steelers have any plans on making Matakevich a regular LB in the defense. Timmons still has a few years left. If they took Matakevich on a flyer because he could be a special teams beast...and occasionally give Timmons a break, then great. I wasn't thrilled with the pick, but overall it is probably fine.

 

[POP]

Don't sleep on Matakevich getting on the 53, relentless player that is smart, works hard, and studies like a fiend.

All great traits, but physically very limited. Sometimes, no amount of hard work and effort can overcome physical limitation in the NFL.

We will see, but I am rooting for him.

Play strength is very average. Can be engulfed by linemen on the second level and might not have the frame to carry more functional mass. Struggles to hold his spot in the grass against a good lead block. Gets in a hurry to flow downhill and runs himself into bad angles on the ball when the play spills outside. Needs to do a more consistent job of breaking down in space before attempting to tackle. Shifty runners turn him into an arm tackler. Had 32 missed tackles over the last three seasons. Gets caught up in trash near the line of scrimmage and can’t get free quickly. Play speed is average.

DRAFT PROJECTION Round 7 or priority free agent

SOURCES TELL US "Not big, not fast and not strong. Hard to make it as an NFL linebacker without those elements. With that said, the kid makes a bunch of plays. Production matters and he has it." -- AFC North Executive

 

[antdrewjosh]

Good lord Jesus we discussing 7th round picks now.

 

[ark steel]

Good lord Jesus we discussing 7th round picks now.

The thing about 7th rounders is that, if you don't like the one you have, you are pretty likely to be able to pick up someone else's without a lot of trouble.

 

[Tibs]

I'm still waiting for the comment that we 'reached' for one of our 7th round picks. I know it's coming, just don't know when.

 

[SteelerFan448]

The thing about 7th rounders is that, if you don't like the one you have, you are pretty likely to be able to pick up someone else's without a lot of trouble.

Brett Keisel is offended by this comment. Antonio Brown is almost offended.

 

[CoolieMan]

All great traits, but physically very limited. Sometimes, no amount of hard work and effort can overcome physical limitation in the NFL.

We will see, but I am rooting for him.

from NFL.com draft analysis

Film junkie who understands that maximum preparation is essential to his production and success. Matakevich has outstanding instincts paired with a desire to fill up a stat sheet with as many positive plays as possible. His lack of size and strength may limit him to a 4-*3 WILL linebacker spot only. His work ethic, production and ability to step right in and help on special teams gives him a shot at having a long career as a mid*-level starter in the league.

 

[madinsomniac]

Brett Keisel is offended by this comment. Antonio Brown is almost offended.

7th rounders since the draft dropped to only 7 rounds

FS-Gerod Holliman-2015
TE-Rob Blanchflower-2014
DT-Nick Williams-2013
WR-Toney Clemons-2012
TE-David Paulson-2012
CB-Terrence Frederick-2012
T-Kelvin Beachum-2012
RB-Baron Batch-2011
DE-Doug Worthington-2010
C-A.Q. Shipley-2009
TE-David Johnson-2009
WR-Dallas Baker-2007
RB-Cedric Humes-2006
DE-Shaun Nua-2005
RB-Noah Herron-2005
DT-Eric Taylor-2004
---J.T. Wall-2003
CB-LaVar Glover-2002
DE-Brett Keisel-2002
---Chris Taylor-2001
DT-Antonio Dingle-1999
LB-Chad Kelsay-1999
K-Kris Brown-1999
DE-Angel Rubio-1998


Some of those guys were bit players elsewhere... but the only position players that really did anything for the steelers were kiesel, beachum, and Carlos Emmons... for the most part, a seventh round pick is about as valuable as used TP. Steelers would be better served trading every non supplemental one for a sixth the next year....

 

[CoolieMan]

but this season they picked up their future PR and 5th WR in the seventh and a kid that will be a special teams beast for a decade....

 

[madinsomniac]

Sorry Coolie... let me rephrase that..... They should trade it unless its a supplemental pick or if they are drafting a guy out of Houston Lol