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SN draft position breakdown part 1 & 2

Steelerfan81

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QB & RB. PART 1&2
By Thomas Cooper (TMC)

The 2015 NFL draft is less than a month away and the draft needs for the Steelers are pretty clear. *They need a lot. *There are very few positions on this team that can be ruled out as potential early picks and the Steelers have shown the mentality that, even though they do not have a great need at a position, they will take talent if it falls to them. *It will make for a very interesting early couple rounds as the talent level at some positions could entice them to move away from needs. *Of course, there are also some talented prospects that fit need categories for the Steelers that could be available. *With this in mind, the only way to project what the Steelers may do is to look at players that fit the skill set the Steelers desire and have value in rounds where they may make those selections. *This list is not meant to be a comprehensive list, merely an idea of areas where talent may fit value and presents itself in an area where the Steelers could potentially pull the trigger on those players. *I will go position by position and wrap it up with a value board showing the players, positions, and rounds where the value could fit the Steelers selections. **

Part 1: Quarterbacks and Runningbacks. *
The first area to discuss is the Steelers backfield, including the quarterback and runningback situation. *The Steelers extended Ben Roethlisberger through the 2019 season making him one of the higher paid quarterbacks in the NFL. *They are not in the market for a franchise quarterback. *They also are returning Gradkowski and Jones, the #2 and #3 quarterbacks on roster. *In the off season, Tajh Boyd was added, likely as a camp arm, but he does have the opportunity to challenge Jones for the #3 quarterback position. *The Steelers are unlikely to spend a first or second day draft pick on a quarterback, but there is a chance they spend a later round pick on a developmental player if the right guy falls to them. *With this quarterback class lacking great depth and quality, it is unlikely the Steelers pull the trigger on a quarterback. *The most likely course of action would be to sign an undrafted free agent. *There are several quarterbacks that could draw interest from the Steelers after the draft. *

Chris Bonner of Colorado State-Pueblo has elite size at 6067-231 pounds. *He has a quick throwing motion and gets good velocity on his passes. *He played in an offense that utilized a lot of 3-step and 5-step drops as well as the shotgun formation. *He will need to continue to improve his footwork. *He throws a live ball that jumps from his hand and he shows the ability to chase the football down the field with velocity. *He will force the issue at times and needs to show he can handle moving through his progressions quickly. *He appears to lack the touch needed at times and his fastball is his main pitch. *He has to improve in this area as it causes him to miss some receivers. *He has the physical tools to play at the next level but will need to take steps to round out his game. *

Bryan Bennett of Southeastern Louisiana University could have been much more well-known had he won the starting quarterback battle at Oregon. *He lost that job to Marcus Mariota and later transferred to Southeastern Louisiana University where he put together a solid collegiate career. **He measured 6022-211 pounds at the combine. *He is an athletic quarterback that shows some ability to break containment and gain yards with his legs. *He has a strong arm and shows the ability to throw down the field with accuracy. *He does a nice job of hitting his receivers in stride allowing them to gain extra yards. *He has a compact throwing motion and a quick release. *Bennett does need to continue to improve his mechanics including his footwork. *He can lose accuracy at times and this is an area where he can improve greatly. *He needs to show more patience in the pocket and work through his progression instead of tucking the football and running when pressured. *Bennett is another player with the raw tools to develop at the next level, but he will need some time and coaching.

While there are several others, Bonner and Bennett have the physical traits that most teams want at the quarterback position and both could use coaching to refine their skills and potentially hang onto a roster spot or make a practice squad. *Again, this draft does not provide much hope for potential backup quarterbacks and is fairly weak throughout at the position. *

The Steelers have one of the best runningbacks in the NFL in Le’Veon Bell. *He is, without question, the engine that will drive the running attack and the offense. *They added veteran De’Angelo Williams and he should provide quality touches when the Steelers want to rest Bell. *They return Josh Harris and Dri Archer to round out the runningback position and also have Will Johnson as the main fullback. *Both Archer and Harris are young and the Steelers have to be hopeful they can develop, but it may not preclude them from adding a runningback in a draft that is very deep at the position. *It is doubtful the Steelers spend a high pick on the position and the likely starting point for the Steelers obtaining a runningback would be the third round. *This would take the out of contention for players like Melvin Gordon, Todd Gurley, Ameer Abdullah, Jay Ajayi, and Duke Johnson. *The Steelers will also want to look for runningbacks that can help them in various areas, not only as a runner, but also as a receiver from the backfield. *There are several players in this draft that can fill that role. *

Tevin Coleman from Indiana has the size and look of an NFL runningback. *He is similar in build to former Steeler Willie Parker and shows a similar running style. *He runs somewhat upright but does show the ability to drop his pads at contact and run through or bounce off of tacklers. *He is a one-cut runner that does not have elite wiggle but he runs to daylight well. *He does not show the elite speed that Willie Parker possessed, but he also shows potential as a receiver. *Coleman has nice hands and does a solid job catching the ball out of the backfield. *He needs to work on his pass protection to become a more effective third down back, but he has the physical attributes to become a solid contributor. *

Jeremy Langford of Michigan State should draw strong consideration. *He was 5115-208 pounds and was timed at a 4.42 in the forty yard dash. *He has solid quickness and shows a little wiggle. *He can make guys miss and runs through arm tackles. *He shows a quick stiff arm that he uses to keep the defensive player off his body to gain extra yards. *He could refine that stiff arm and it could become a weapon. *He is a willing pass blocker that will step up and take on blitzers. *He has soft hands out of the backfield and is a solid route runner for a collegiate runningback. *He does not have the receiving statistics of some other runningbacks, but the skills are there. *

T.J. Yeldon of Alabama might draw some consideration, but the Steelers tend to shy away from Alabama players due to injury concerns. *While Yeldon is not a player that carries a long list of injuries, the wear and tear most Alabama players have once leaving is a concern. *Yeldon is 6012-226 pounds and has the frame and build of a power back, although he does not blow through as many tackles as one would expect. *He is a guy that does not go down easy and can run through some arm tackles, but he is not a player that is going to grind yards between the tackles. *Yeldon does a nice job of sliding to creases and once he sees daylight, he has a burst to the open field that is not shown on a stopwatch. *He does not offer as much as a receiver as some of the other backs, but he is a solid pass blocking back. *That could draw some interest for the Steelers if his slides deep enough in the draft that his talent outweighs the perceived risks. *

David Cobb of Minnesota is an interesting prospect. *He is coming off a quad injury and ran a poor 4.81 forty at the combine. *He did not finish his workout and this will give some teams a reason to doubt his ability. *Cobb is 5107-229 pounds. *He has a running style similar to Ray Rice. *He does an excellent job of sliding to the opening and getting downhill. *He has some elusiveness in the open field and can make guys miss. *He is a solid receiver out of the backfield. *He has the bulk to be a solid pass blocker but will need some time to fully develop in this area. *He is an exciting player that could develop into a starter at the next level. *He certainly should be able to fill in as a third down back early in his career.

Mike Davis of South Carolina is another player that has battled through some injury issues. *He is 5091-217 pounds and although he ran a 4.61 forty at the combine, he plays faster on the field. *His change of direction is excellent for a bigger back and he shows some power between the tackles. *Davis is the type of grinding back the Steelers have desired in the past. *He wants to wear teams down, although he can get nicked up at times and this is an issue he has to overcome. *He is a willing pass blocker and an excellent receiver out of the backfield. *He has a lot to like about his game and is another player that could help a team early in his career as a third down back. *

Those five runningback appear to be the best mid-round fits for what the Steelers desire. *Most of the runningbacks on the list are solid receivers and have the potential to be starter capable runningbacks in the NFL. *With the Steelers having a franchise runningback in Le’Veon Bell and a former starter in De’Angelo Williams, they could use a potential developmental back and the players listed above have the necessary traits. *

Part 2: *Wide Receivers and Tight Ends. *
 
Part 2: *Wide Receivers and Tight Ends. *

The Steelers have one of the better starting tight ends in the NFL. *Heath Miller is a stalwart at tight end and he still shows the ability to handle all aspects of the game. *Matt Spaeth was re-signed as the #2 tight end along with developmental players Michael Agnew and Rob Blanchflower. *While the Steelers have plenty of bodies at the position, they could look to add a player to develop as a future starter since Heath Miller is 32-years old. *This is not a deep draft at the tight end position with only one potential first round pick and a very thin crop through all seven rounds. *The Steelers are not in a position where they must draft a tight end and this presents the opportunity to show some patience and hope a talented player falls to a point where it presents value. *The tight ends that should interest the Steelers include;

Maxx Williams of Minnesota is the highest rated tight end in this draft. *While he is a little shorter than ideal coming in at 6037-249 pounds and lacks the overall speed desired at tight end, he is a solid competitor with great bloodlines. *Williams is not an elite athlete. *He was clocked at 4.78 in the forty yard dash with average change of direction skills. *He had 17 reps of 225-pounds. *In essence, his numbers are just average for a tight end. *His production as a receiver is solid. *He shows good hands and is a solid route runner. *He can be elusive after the catch but is not a runner with a lot of wiggle. *He runs to daylight and is not afraid to drop his pads on contact. *He is a functional blocker that does a decent job of walling off defensive players, but while some portray him as an elite blocker, he is not there yet. *He is not going to move players and open running lanes with power and can struggle to stay on blocks, even on linebackers, which leads one to believe he could have some growing pains if asked to block defensive ends at the next level. *While Williams is being slotted in the first round, his value is in the second.

Clive Walford of Miami came in at 6040-251 pounds. *He ran a 4.79 forty time with slightly worse change of direction numbers than Williams, but better explosion numbers. *He had a better bench than Williams at 20 reps. *Walford is not a finished product and lacks the overall polish of a player like Maxx Williams. *He has big, soft hands and does a good job catching the football when he keeps it off his body. *In traffic, he will allow the ball to get into his body and when this happens, he can struggle securing the catch. *He appears to be a fluid athlete that can find openings in the defense. *He presents a big target with a large catch radius. *As a former basketball player, he has the ability to make adjustments to the ball in the air and the potential he presents as a receiver is strong. *He can play inline or split out wide. *He is a solid blocker and does a solid job of maintaining his blocks. *He could improve his functional power and technique, but he is aggressive and shows the right mentality in attacking the defensive player. *Walford is a work in progress with a lot of upside potential. *

Jeff Heuerman of Ohio State is the closest of the early prospects to having the prototypical size desired in a tight end. *He is 6051-254 pounds. *In addition, Heuerman had 26 reps on the bench, so he shows some power. *At his pro day, he had a timed range of 4.72 to 4.76 in the 40 yard dash while adding a vertical jump of 34.5”. *On film, Heuerman appears more like a move tight end. *He can line up in various spots and shows the ability to attack the deeper seams. *He has nice burst out of his breaks and plays a little faster than his times. *He has a big catch radius and appears to be a solid weapon in the passing game. *He does not offer as much as a blocker. *He is a positional blocker that does not translate the weight room power to the field. *He could improve his overall technique in this area and develop a more aggressive mindset. *He has the raw skills to develop into a fine blocker, he is just not a finished product in this area. *I can see Heuerman going as high as the third round, but he really begins to get value in the 4th*round.

Ben Koyack of Notre Dame may be the most complete tight end in this draft. *He has the prototypical size desired for the position, measuring 6047-255 pounds. *He did not work out at the combine and his pro day numbers are not available yet, so any numbers presented have to be gleaned from prior workout reports. *In 2011, as a prospect coming to Notre Dame, Koyack was timed as quickly as 4.59 in the forty yard dash with solid change of direction numbers. *He was considered a big tight end at the time and has grown into a solid tight end. *While his bench press numbers are unknown, he may need to add some functional strength to handle the inline blocking duties at the next level, but he shows the ability, physicality, and mentality to attack the defensive player and stay with the block through the echo of the whistle. *He may be one of the most tenacious inline blockers of any of the top rated tight ends in this draft. *He has longer arms and big, soft hands as a receiver. *He has some ability to get separation down the field although he does not appear to play to the previously mentioned forty time. *He has nice burst out of his cuts and does a solid job of presenting a big target to his quarterback. *He has some ability to run after the catch and can show enough burst to run away from some linebackers. *He has value in the third round but, like Heuerman, he really becomes an attractive option in the 4th*round. *

Jesse James of Penn State is the final prospect on this list. *He is 6070-261 pounds, which is huge for a tight end. *He does not have elite speed, but his 4.83 forty is more than adequate for a player his size. *He also had 26 reps on the bench, which is excellent strength for a longer player. *His explosion numbers are elite but he lacks great change of direction numbers. *While James is not the athlete that some others in this class are, he shows an excellent ability to create separation. *He is not explosive out of his breaks, but he does a solid job of chopping his steps in order to turn his body and present his numbers to the quarterback. *When he challenges down the field, he presents a big body and finds holes. *He has big, soft hands and secures the ball well. *He will split out in some instances, but his best role is as an inline tight end where he can create mismatches on smaller defensive backs or linebackers. *He is a willing blocker that does a nice job of sealing the edges, although he does not drive many players off the ball. *James’ height certainly does not help him as a blocker and he can lose leverage to smaller players, but he does a solid job of keeping defensive players out of his body and moving his feet to maintain position. *If he can learn to drop his pad level as a blocker and translate that weight room power to the field, he could become a special player. *His athleticism may prevent him from ever becoming an elite tight end at the next level, but he certainly could have a long productive career.

Filling the tight end position with a development player for the future is certainly a priority for the Steelers, it must also be stated that this draft is strong at the wide receiver position and, even though the Steelers have a quality group of players at that position, they could continue to make it a position of elite strength. *Antonio Brown is the unquestioned stud of this group. *He has developed into an elite player even though he lacks the traditional size or speed usually attached to a number one wide receiver. Marcus Wheaton has settled in as the second wide receiver in this group and he also became the top kickoff return man last season. *Wheaton has two more seasons under contract and he will certainly work to improve his total value as he approaches a new contract. *He is a player with all the raw tools to become another elite player, if he can continue to round out his game. *The Steelers continue to boast a bounty at the position with Martavis Bryant, who is coming off an excellent rookie season. *If Bryant continues to improve his game, he could challenge Wheaton for the starting position. *The key will be for Bryant to continue to improve his game as he will certainly draw more attention heading into his second season. *Behind the top three wide receivers, the Steelers have a mixed bag of youth and journeymen. *While the team would certainly welcome one of the journeymen securing the 4th*spot or a young player developing into a 4th*option, the water remains muddy in this area and opens the door for a potential draft pick. *The biggest question becomes, how much do the Steelers want to spend on a player that may be a 4th*receiver in his rookie season, challenge for time in his second season, before potentially working into the top 3 spots as current players near contract decisions. *For the Steelers to spend a pick in the first three rounds, it has to be an elite talent that the Steelers simply fall in love with, and in that aspect, there is only one player I see fitting the criteria. *From the 4th*round down, there are a host of wide receivers that could come in as developmental players. *It begins with the elite prospect, which is DeVante Parker, and then lists several players that could potentially fit the mold.
 
DeVante Parker of Louisville could be the surprise pick for the Steelers at 22. *Parker is the prototypical #1 wide receiver that teams covet. *He has good size at 6025-209 pounds. *He ran a 4.45 forty at the combine even though he was unable to participate fully due to a foot issue. *He has been clocked as low as 4.39 in the forty yard dash. *He had a vertical jump of 36.5” and a broad jump over 10’. *His 17 reps on the bench are excellent for a wide receiver and he does a solid job of using that power to keep defensive players at bay when blocking and fighting for footballs in traffic. *Parker shows good burst out of his cuts. *He will round some routes and has room to improve in this area, but his length and speed usually provided him with cushions that allowed him to get away with this issue. *At the next level, he needs to become a more refined route runner. *Parker has big hands and does an excellent job plucking the ball from the sky. *He is deceptive and even when teams recognize that he was the main weapon on offense for Louisville, he still found ways of creating space and making plays. *Parker does a great job challenging for the ball in the air and even when he is covered, he is open. *It is highly unlikely that Parker falls to the Steelers at #22, but if he does, he will certainly draw some consideration.

Tre McBride of William and Mary makes the list because the Steelers have interviewed him and he hails from Mike Tomlin’s alma mater. *While those reasons get him on the list, his athleticism and overall skills should put him on the list without the Steeler connections. *McBride is 6002-210 pounds. *He consistently ran 4.41 forties at the combine and showcased excellent leaping ability. *His 4.02 short shuttle is a strong indicator of his ability to explode out of breaks and that is further backed up by his game film. McBride lines up all over the formation and does some of his best work from the slot. *He is not afraid to work inside as a blocker and will mix it up with linebackers to seal the edge, although he needs to improve his technique. *He is a scrappy, but not polished, blocker that gives effort to the whistle. *As a receiver, he runs crisp routes and his combination of length and speed can force cushions that he is more than willing to exploit on shorter routes. *He does an excellent job of catching the ball away from his body and has a large catch radius, showing the ability to make acrobatic catches above his head while getting down to snatch lower throws off the turf. *He is a tough runner after the catch and was often used as a kickoff returner, which further enhances his value. *McBride has a lot of things to like about his game and the biggest question he faces is if he can perform as well against a higher level of competition. *He is well worth the risk of a mid to late round selection and he has excellent value from the fourth round down. *

Chris Conley of Georgia should probably come ahead of McBride as he is more talented as a receiver, but the Steeler ties of McBride were just too much to ignore. *Conley is 6017-213 pounds and ran a 4.35 forty at the combine. *That is an outstanding number for a bigger wide receiver, but Conley just kept piling on the outstanding numbers. *He had a vertical jump of 45” with a broad jump of 11’7”. *Conley lined up mainly on the edge in college and he does not show great explosion out of his breaks, which may limit his potential to move inside in the slot. *Conley has strong hands and is not afraid to work the inside, but he is better when working crossing routes from the edges where he is not forced to run hard corners. *Conley is strong on slants and deeper routes showing off his leaping ability and toughness. *He has an immense catch radius and often gets to throws that just appear to be out of his reach. *He will make the catch, secure the ball, and take big hits. *Conley has the look of a potential starting edge wide receiver, which is a nice thing to find the later rounds, but he may not provide help on special teams or as a slot receiver. *He poses an interesting question, do you go for a potential dynamic edge playmaker or find a guy that can play multiple roles.

Darren Waller of Georgia Tech is a player that may not be on the radar of many NFL teams due to the limited production of Georgia Tech wide receivers, but Waller has a lot of things to like about his overall game. *He is 6061, 238 pounds, which is elite size for a wide receiver. *He ran a 4.46 forty at the combine and added a 37” vertical jump. *He also added a 4.25 short shuttle and that is a very good time for a bigger wide receiver. *The first thing that jumps out about Waller is his willingness to block. *He was asked to block often at Georgia Tech and is solid in this area. *He is not an overpowering blocker, but he uses excellent position and plays to the whistle. *He does a solid job of maintaining contact and working the defensive player down the field. *It is the first thing you see in his film. *Waller normally lines up on the edge, but he has worked from the slot or tight to the line as a tight end. *He has big, soft hands and does a solid job of catching the ball away from his body. *He is a big target down the field and high points the football well. *He uses his length and leaping ability to sky over defensive backs to make plays. *He is still a work in progress as a receiver due to his limited targets in college and the fact that he was the second option behind DeAndre Smelter. *Waller will need time and coaching to reach his full potential, but he has the physical attributes, hands, and down the field skills to make him an interesting prospect. *With a team searching for red zone production, Waller could be an interesting player to watch. *

DeAndre Smelter of Georgia Tech is another Rambling Wreck player to watch. *Smelter is 6020-226 pounds and a former MLB prospect until a shoulder injury derailed his baseball future. *Smelter moved to football and instantly became the starting wide receiver at Georgia Tech. *The biggest issue with Smelter is injury. *After leaving baseball because of a shoulder injury, he ended last season with a torn ACL. *He will be unable to work out prior to the draft, but Smelter was not going to wow many NFL teams in shorts anyway. *His forty time should come in between a 4.50 to a 4.60, with the middle of that range likely being where he resides. *Smelter is not a great leaper, but where his skills lie makes him dangerous nonetheless. *Smelter is a smart player, crafty, and able to use his route running and after the catch skills to shed defensive players while racking up yards. *As any Georgia Tech wide receiver, he shows strong ability as a blocker. *He is a solid receiver down the field and able to high point passes, physically taking the football from defensive backs. *He has the ability to line up anywhere in the formation and is effective. *He is quicker than he is fast and does the little things that help him defeat coverage. *He has excellent hands and plucks the ball from the sky, has run after the catch ability, and his all-around game is better than his teammate Waller, even though he lacks the raw physical attributes. ******

Mario Alford of West Virginia rounds out the list. *While all the other players on the list have solid size with the potential to develop into a starting edge receiver, Alford brings a completely different skill set to the field. *He is only 5084, 180 pounds and ran a 4.41 forty at the combine and this sent a lot of scouts back to the film on Alford, because he appears to play much faster. *At his pro day, he relieved those fears by running in the 4.25 to 4.27 range. *Alford has longer arms and bigger hands for a smaller receiver. *He is a solid leaper with excellent change of direction skills. *He can be dangerous with the football in his hands and has the feel for an electric slot receiver. *He is one of the most dangerous kickoff return men in college football, although he does not translate those abilities to punt returns. *He is a solid route runner and does a nice job of attacking the football in the air. *While he is not a great leaper, he does a nice job of using his body to wall off defenders and make catches that a receiver of his size probably should not make. *He has excellent body control, tracks the football well in the air, and shows an elite burst after the catch allowing him to find a crease and burn the defense. *He is, in a word, dangerous. *With his special teams’ ability and physical attributes, he presents the type of player the Steelers have chased in the past and he could be available in the later rounds. *

While the list of potential wide receivers could easily grow to as many as fifteen players in a draft class that presents a lot of bigger targets, the players listed above all present, in their own way, a unique trait that the Steelers have shown to covet in past drafts. *This is another deep receiver draft and it is likely that the Steelers look to continue to add young, quality depth behind a rising group of potentially elite receivers. *
**
 
So did TMC write this up for you guys? And if so, why doesn't he just come on back?
 
I wouldn't be mad at all if we took koyack in the 3rd rd, I think he's gonna be a very good TE in the NFL
 
While it is the common train of thought that we need to go D heavy in this draft, there is the counterpoint (that few here hold, I know) that you overload on your strength and try to make do with average free agents at your weakness... in that case taking Offense high, especially something like a premium Te or a higher than planned RB, or even another stud WR might not be as nuts as one thinks... in this day and age, offense with a mediocre D can win a superbowl...

That being said Id rather go DB, OLB, DB, but still its something to think about... BPA is BPA....
 
Thanks Steelerfan81 for bringing this to us and if you are out there TMC...I thank you also. :)
 
Indeed he did. And because he doesn't want to.. baby steps. Hopefully one of these days

tell him slash says thank you, and that one of the ones who went on his nerves is band... maybe that will give him a incentive to return

besides the obvious we are even a better board with his presence....
 
So did TMC write this up for you guys? And if so, why doesn't he just come on back?

I remember TMC. Good guy. We had a debate a while back on Phillip Rivers. He felt Rivers would bust. I thought he would be a very good QB.
 
Great to get another read from TMC. His knowledge and study of collegiate players is unmatched. How many people do you know that do their own research on 300 prospects each year? As an amateur analyst that does all his work in his spare time, he sure has the insight and work ethic to match most professionals in the business.

We miss you TMC!
 
I shall ridicule and mock TMC via his Facebook wall and private messages.
 
I shall ridicule and mock TMC via his Facebook wall and private messages.

Just tell him I'm back and want to debate him that FSU's Winston will bust :)

By the way, what ever happened to John " Juiceman " in Arizona?
 
tell him slash says thank you, and that one of the ones who went on his nerves is band... maybe that will give him a incentive to return

besides the obvious we are even a better board with his presence....

It wasn't idioteque who made him leave. He didn't like the dri pick either.
Anyway, thanks to TMC I really missed his writing

And of course thanks to steelerfan81 for reaching out to him. You are doing a great job here
 
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Juiceman has long been gone.

I miss Juiceman. We used to go back and forth on Kordell being the long term solution. I said no way, he said way.
 
Yeah where is TMC? I kind of miss his posts. Especially come draft time.
 
(Urban-legend) If yinz look in the mirror and say TMC three times.................................
 
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