G.Stryker
Steelernation.com
I know it usually takes 3 years to completely evaluate a draft class, but this year's class seems uniquely special. I have never seen a draft class where all of the players are on NFL active rosters in their rookie season (minus injury). The Steelers now have 3 rookie starters on the defensive side of the ball. Not due to injuries, but because each of these players were an upgrade over the over the players ahead of them. Not only are these rookies playing well, but they are making plays and becoming strengths on a defense that has been missing playmakers for the past couple years.
Here's a quick look at the Steelers' young rookie class by player.
1 Artie Burns-CB Drafted as a need, and seemed to be a reach by some, Burns had a decent preseason, but was injured. He was behind Cockrell, Gay, and Davis (who was playing slot corner), when the season started. His skill, work ethic, and mental toughness helped him learn the playbook quickly, and he passed Gay and Davis to lock down the RCB spot and is now our team's top cover corner.
2 Sean Davis-SS Another position of need, Davis was also met with mixed reactions. Excellent size to speed metrics, and had experience as a 3 year starter as a safety, and started as a CB his senior year. Though his season as a CB wasn't a success, the steelers had enough tape on him to know they wanted him as a safety. He quickly flashed in training camp and started the season as the team's slot corner, allowing Gay and Cockrell to start outside. The task seemed to be a bit big for the rookie, as mental mistakes took him out of the lineup, and he was behind Golden and Dangerfield as the safety opposite of Mitchell. He didn't fall apart for getting benched. Davis worked harder in practice and was worked back onto the field. Now he he is the starter, and is not only playing well, but he's also allowing Mitchell's game to open up. Mitchell has finally gotten comfortable with his safety partner, and instead of trying to cover for everyone, he is allowed to concentrate on his game. This player is versatile, rangy, and smart. He seems to be getting better each game, which is the most you can ask for a starting rookie.
3 Javon Hargrave-DL/NT Grave Digger came to the Steelers with an odd body shape, long arms, big lower body, and a high motor. His skills quickly improved his snaps in the preseason and was starting quickly in the season. Injuries bounced him around a bit from being able to be productive, but he's shown flashes of pass rushing ability to go along with being a sound player in the run game. He doesn't quit on plays, evidenced by running 20yds down field to make tackles. Now he is firmly entrenched as the starter, and is a strength on this Defensive Line that is seeming to improve as the season goes on. He's not just a one position player stuck in the middle. He has position flexibility and is showing he can play DE just as well as they move him all over the line.
4 Jerald Hawkins-OT A player who was doing very well in the preseason. This team needed a swing tackle with starter potential. Fortunately Hawkins fell to the 4th round and gave the Steelers a bit of a steal. He's from a big school (LSU), he has size (6'6" 305lbs), and he has starting experience as a Right tackle as a freshman/sophomore and Left tackle as a junior. If he stayed as a senior and had another good year as a LT, you're looking at a potential 1st-2nd rounder in 2017. It was fortunate that the steelers got this type of talent so late in the draft. He was playing very well and appeared to lock down the swing tackle position, until he tore his labrum in the final preseason game of the year. As a result, he was placed on season ending IR and had surgery. Hopefully his shoulder will heal completely and he will become a great addition of depth with the potential to be a starter moving forward. Though before his injury, he was a lock to make the active roster.
6a Travis Feeney OLB Great Sparq numbers for a player that is a bit undersized coming into the league. He has the height at 6'4" but his 230 lbs look small on that frame. As a Linebacker he held the best numbers for his position at the 40 (4.5sec) vert (40") broad (130") and 60 shuttle (11.71sec). He's one of those safety/LB hybrid players that the league covets in this new pass heavy NFL. Travis showed some flashes in preseason and was placed on the practice squad. There he remained until the New Orleans Saints added them to their active roster 3 weeks ago. Since that call up, Freeney has been inactive on game day each of those weeks. Keep an eye on him, if he becomes available, the Steelers would look to sign him back.
7a Demarcus Ayers WR Some analysts saw him as undraftable. He had terrible numbers for the 40 (4.7sec) as well as being undersized at 5'9" 182lbs. This seemed to be another Rainey/Archer signing for a quick WR/RB option that can return kicks, except he didn't have the speed of those players, but he did have the weight. What he showed in the preseason, is the Steelers did their homework. He ended up looking a lot faster than his 40 time indicated. His hands looked solid, and he had a good wiggle to make people miss. He had success in college as a punt returner (AAC 1st team 2015), kick returner (AAC 1st team 2014), and WR (AAC 1st team 2015). He was used as both a running back and wide receiver at times, and even threw a TD pass! His numbers as a junior were impressive 98 catches for 1222yds and 6TDs. He also had 25 rushes for 147yds and a TD. Ayres is a diverse threat that was added to the active roster two weeks ago, and got his first game action this past week. I know fans get excited when they hear a player is doing well in practice, but those words were well founded as he appeared sound in is technique, route running, and blocking in his first game action. Look for his snaps to increase and possibly take some return duties moving forward.
7b Tyler Matekevich LB This was a great value pick. Big Red lacks size and speed, but he makes up for it with his Football IQ and awareness. It is rare that you can find a 4 year starter with over 100 tackles each season, 3 time AAC 1st team, and Bronco Negurski award winner in the 7th round of the draft for the NCAA's top defensive player. The Steelers found a diamond in the rough as he quickly moved up the depth chart in the preseason to become the backup inside linebacker to start the season. He has been impactful on special teams, and has even done well in the defensive snaps that he has logged. In his only game with significant defensive action, he led the team in tackles filling in for an injured Ryan Shazier. Very impressive for a 7th rounder to be on the active roster his rookie season, and with more experience, his play should increase.
UDFA Johnny Maxey DT Another rookie was just activated from the practice squad for the Ravens Game, and it was Johnny Maxey. Johnny Who? Check here to read a nice article on our Rookie UDFA. He wasn't activated to sit the bench. He logged 20 snaps on D and 3 on Special Teams. That is 27% of the snaps on D, equal to the veteran Mathews and significantly more than Big Dan. He didn't log a tackle, but our D line sometimes don't get numbers (as Mathews had one tackle with the same amount of snaps). It is impressive that he was given that many snaps in his first NFL start, in the biggest game of the season for our team. It will be interesting to see how he improves moving forward
The practice squad has been used exceptionally well as the Steelers have pulled Ayres, Hamilton, Shabazz, Maxey, Richardson, Feiler. Mihalik was signed from the Lions practice squad. Impressive coaching moves that rarely get noticed this far down the depth chart, but one thing is for certain. If you play for the Steelers and are on the practice squad, you have a chance of making the team if you keep improving.
All I can say is this year has been very impressive for the Steelers rookie class, who are not just here for depth, but filling vital roles to improving this team's chances to go deep into the playoffs. Who says 2016 wasn't a good year?
Steelernation.com
I know it usually takes 3 years to completely evaluate a draft class, but this year's class seems uniquely special. I have never seen a draft class where all of the players are on NFL active rosters in their rookie season (minus injury). The Steelers now have 3 rookie starters on the defensive side of the ball. Not due to injuries, but because each of these players were an upgrade over the over the players ahead of them. Not only are these rookies playing well, but they are making plays and becoming strengths on a defense that has been missing playmakers for the past couple years.
Here's a quick look at the Steelers' young rookie class by player.
1 Artie Burns-CB Drafted as a need, and seemed to be a reach by some, Burns had a decent preseason, but was injured. He was behind Cockrell, Gay, and Davis (who was playing slot corner), when the season started. His skill, work ethic, and mental toughness helped him learn the playbook quickly, and he passed Gay and Davis to lock down the RCB spot and is now our team's top cover corner.
2 Sean Davis-SS Another position of need, Davis was also met with mixed reactions. Excellent size to speed metrics, and had experience as a 3 year starter as a safety, and started as a CB his senior year. Though his season as a CB wasn't a success, the steelers had enough tape on him to know they wanted him as a safety. He quickly flashed in training camp and started the season as the team's slot corner, allowing Gay and Cockrell to start outside. The task seemed to be a bit big for the rookie, as mental mistakes took him out of the lineup, and he was behind Golden and Dangerfield as the safety opposite of Mitchell. He didn't fall apart for getting benched. Davis worked harder in practice and was worked back onto the field. Now he he is the starter, and is not only playing well, but he's also allowing Mitchell's game to open up. Mitchell has finally gotten comfortable with his safety partner, and instead of trying to cover for everyone, he is allowed to concentrate on his game. This player is versatile, rangy, and smart. He seems to be getting better each game, which is the most you can ask for a starting rookie.
3 Javon Hargrave-DL/NT Grave Digger came to the Steelers with an odd body shape, long arms, big lower body, and a high motor. His skills quickly improved his snaps in the preseason and was starting quickly in the season. Injuries bounced him around a bit from being able to be productive, but he's shown flashes of pass rushing ability to go along with being a sound player in the run game. He doesn't quit on plays, evidenced by running 20yds down field to make tackles. Now he is firmly entrenched as the starter, and is a strength on this Defensive Line that is seeming to improve as the season goes on. He's not just a one position player stuck in the middle. He has position flexibility and is showing he can play DE just as well as they move him all over the line.
4 Jerald Hawkins-OT A player who was doing very well in the preseason. This team needed a swing tackle with starter potential. Fortunately Hawkins fell to the 4th round and gave the Steelers a bit of a steal. He's from a big school (LSU), he has size (6'6" 305lbs), and he has starting experience as a Right tackle as a freshman/sophomore and Left tackle as a junior. If he stayed as a senior and had another good year as a LT, you're looking at a potential 1st-2nd rounder in 2017. It was fortunate that the steelers got this type of talent so late in the draft. He was playing very well and appeared to lock down the swing tackle position, until he tore his labrum in the final preseason game of the year. As a result, he was placed on season ending IR and had surgery. Hopefully his shoulder will heal completely and he will become a great addition of depth with the potential to be a starter moving forward. Though before his injury, he was a lock to make the active roster.
6a Travis Feeney OLB Great Sparq numbers for a player that is a bit undersized coming into the league. He has the height at 6'4" but his 230 lbs look small on that frame. As a Linebacker he held the best numbers for his position at the 40 (4.5sec) vert (40") broad (130") and 60 shuttle (11.71sec). He's one of those safety/LB hybrid players that the league covets in this new pass heavy NFL. Travis showed some flashes in preseason and was placed on the practice squad. There he remained until the New Orleans Saints added them to their active roster 3 weeks ago. Since that call up, Freeney has been inactive on game day each of those weeks. Keep an eye on him, if he becomes available, the Steelers would look to sign him back.
7a Demarcus Ayers WR Some analysts saw him as undraftable. He had terrible numbers for the 40 (4.7sec) as well as being undersized at 5'9" 182lbs. This seemed to be another Rainey/Archer signing for a quick WR/RB option that can return kicks, except he didn't have the speed of those players, but he did have the weight. What he showed in the preseason, is the Steelers did their homework. He ended up looking a lot faster than his 40 time indicated. His hands looked solid, and he had a good wiggle to make people miss. He had success in college as a punt returner (AAC 1st team 2015), kick returner (AAC 1st team 2014), and WR (AAC 1st team 2015). He was used as both a running back and wide receiver at times, and even threw a TD pass! His numbers as a junior were impressive 98 catches for 1222yds and 6TDs. He also had 25 rushes for 147yds and a TD. Ayres is a diverse threat that was added to the active roster two weeks ago, and got his first game action this past week. I know fans get excited when they hear a player is doing well in practice, but those words were well founded as he appeared sound in is technique, route running, and blocking in his first game action. Look for his snaps to increase and possibly take some return duties moving forward.
7b Tyler Matekevich LB This was a great value pick. Big Red lacks size and speed, but he makes up for it with his Football IQ and awareness. It is rare that you can find a 4 year starter with over 100 tackles each season, 3 time AAC 1st team, and Bronco Negurski award winner in the 7th round of the draft for the NCAA's top defensive player. The Steelers found a diamond in the rough as he quickly moved up the depth chart in the preseason to become the backup inside linebacker to start the season. He has been impactful on special teams, and has even done well in the defensive snaps that he has logged. In his only game with significant defensive action, he led the team in tackles filling in for an injured Ryan Shazier. Very impressive for a 7th rounder to be on the active roster his rookie season, and with more experience, his play should increase.
UDFA Johnny Maxey DT Another rookie was just activated from the practice squad for the Ravens Game, and it was Johnny Maxey. Johnny Who? Check here to read a nice article on our Rookie UDFA. He wasn't activated to sit the bench. He logged 20 snaps on D and 3 on Special Teams. That is 27% of the snaps on D, equal to the veteran Mathews and significantly more than Big Dan. He didn't log a tackle, but our D line sometimes don't get numbers (as Mathews had one tackle with the same amount of snaps). It is impressive that he was given that many snaps in his first NFL start, in the biggest game of the season for our team. It will be interesting to see how he improves moving forward
The practice squad has been used exceptionally well as the Steelers have pulled Ayres, Hamilton, Shabazz, Maxey, Richardson, Feiler. Mihalik was signed from the Lions practice squad. Impressive coaching moves that rarely get noticed this far down the depth chart, but one thing is for certain. If you play for the Steelers and are on the practice squad, you have a chance of making the team if you keep improving.
All I can say is this year has been very impressive for the Steelers rookie class, who are not just here for depth, but filling vital roles to improving this team's chances to go deep into the playoffs. Who says 2016 wasn't a good year?
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