Part 1&2 QB, WR, RB
Part 3 Lineman
Part 4 Secondary
Part 5: Outside Linebackers and Inside Linebackers
By Thomas Cooper (TMC)
The Steelers have invested pretty heavily on the linebacker position in recent drafts, but they still have looming issues. The inside linebacker position was one of weakness a few short seasons ago, but has now developed into a position where they have ample bodies, talent, and youth. Lawrence Timmons is the unquestioned leader of the group with 2014 draft choice Ryan Shazier potentially being the most athletic and talented. Vince Williams has exceeded expectations and provides excellent depth. Sean Spence has battled back from a significant rookie injury to also provide quality minutes. The Steelers also have hopefuls Terrance Garvin, Roosevelt Nix, and Shayon Green. It is extremely unlikely they spend a first or second day pick on the position, but if a player they feel is talented enough falls into range in the later rounds, the Steelers could look to bolster the position with the expectation that Sean Spence may leave via free agency in 2016. The key would be finding a candidate with the overall talent to via for a roster spot in 2015 while having the upside to develop into more.
Ben Heeney of Kansas is a guy that could interest the Steelers as high as the 5th round. Heeney is not the biggest inside linebacker, only coming in at 6002, 231 pounds, but he plays bigger than he measures. He does not show the power of other linebackers, only benching 19 reps at the combine, and he does not play with great power. Heeney is very athletic though, showing solid change of direction and speed to the sidelines. He is willing to fill the interior rush lanes, takes on blockers willingly and works to hold his ground. He can play off blocks and get to the football. He is not a big hitter but he does a solid job of staying with the runner until he rides him to the ground. Where Heeney has value is in his overall athleticism and feel for the game. He reads plays well and attacks the run. He gets good depth in his drops and shows the ability to close on plays in front of him. He is a guy that could slide in the draft due to his size limitations, but with his overall athleticism and feel for the game, he could develop into a starting linebacker in the NFL.
Hayes Pullard of Southern Cal is a player that is more athletic than his workout numbers show. He is 6004, 240 pounds. He ran a 4.66 forty at his pro day and shows solid change of direction skill. Pullard does not show great power in his game and can struggle to hold his ground in the run game. He does not shed well. He takes some false steps and will get out of position, almost giving the feel of needing more snaps at the position, even though he started for a great number of games. Where Pullard has value is in his ability to handle different coverages. He can run with receivers and tight ends in man coverage, getting into their hip pocket and knocking passes away. He has a solid feel for zone and recognizes receivers coming into his area, stepping forward and closing passing lanes. He has a lot to like in this area. Also, he is a see them, get them type of linebacker, meaning when he sees the football, he does a solid job of closing ground. He is often around the football. If he could improve his power at the point of attack, work on shedding blockers and being more decisive in his reads, he has some potential to be a strong contributing player.
Reshard Cliett of South Florida spent much of his career as an off-the-line linebacker, but in 2014, he moved into a more traditional 3-4 outside linebacker role. He generated more pressure off the edge in 2014 and delivered more sacks, but he was not as effective in other areas. Cliett is 6021, 222 pounds. He has surprising power at the point of attack given his limited size. He runs well, turning a 4.51 forty at his pro day, but he does not always translate that speed to the field. He can be an explosive player, but again, those plays are few and far between. Cliett is a high cut linebacker and does not change direction well, but he is a physical guy that is willing to mix it up. He does not shy away from contact, wraps up well, and does a solid job of putting runners on the ground. He gets good depth on his drops in coverage, recognizes receivers coming into his zone, and closes down passing lanes. He will need to add some size and work on translating his athleticism to the field. He has the feel of former Steeler Stevenson Sylvester.
Mike Hull of Penn State has been climbing up draft boards due to the athleticism he has shown at the combine and his pro day, but his film is that of a guy that should be drafted in the later rounds. Hull is shorter than ideal. He runs well in shorts and shows some of that speed sideline to sideline, but he does not have great explosion out of his cuts and this limits his change of direction ability. He is a physical player that is willing to get into the fray and support the run, but he can get engulfed and moved at the point of attack. He will take some false steps forward and get out of position. He gets caught in the wash sometimes and fails to locate the football. When he sees the football, he goes to the football and is more than willing to drop his pads and finish. He shows some feel in zone coverage and has a solid understanding of drops and depth. He can be a liability in man coverages though. He is a smaller framed inside linebacker that appears to be a career backup, but he has special teams value and great intangibles.
The outside linebacker position is in stark contrast to the quality and depth found inside. The Steelers invested a first round pick on Jarvis Jones, and while he flashed potential prior to getting injured, they are still waiting on him to arrive. The Steelers retained Arthur Moats and he should get the first shot at securing the left outside linebacker spot. James Harrison, the ageless wonder, returns and there should be little doubt that he will compete, and compete hard, for playing time. Howard Jones and Jordan Zumwalt are second year players that the Steelers hope will elevate their game to become contributors. They also signed Shawn Lemon from the CFL to add competition. The biggest issue is not bodies. There are plenty of bodies at the outside linebacker position. The problem is quality and the Steelers must look to add one, potentially two, quality players at the position. The 2015 NFL draft is flushed with quality and depth at outside linebacker. While I would love to get straight into the prospects, I have to state that the key position the Steelers will look to address will be the left or strong side position. The Steelers have to hold out hope that Jarvis Jones can develop into a quality player and this makes it increasingly unlikely they address the weak side. That belief will limit the field, eliminating or reducing the odds that the Steelers chase an outside linebacker early that lacks the power to hold the point of attack. There are several players that will likely be selected prior to the Steelers sending in the card and they are Vic Beasley, Dante Fowler, Randy Gregory, Shane Ray, and Bud Dupree. Of those five, only Beasley and Fowler seem to be holding in the top 10 across the board with others having the potential to slide.
Shane Ray of Missouri may be out of the Steelers reach in the first round. Ray checked in at 6025, 245 pounds and is coming off a foot injury. At his pro day, he ran a 4.68, which has been rumored to have hurt his draft stock. That time is solid, but he plays faster on film. His KEI was an average 64. Those numbers are disappointing and could be a reason for Ray to slide, but his film is pretty good. He is not the strongest player at the point of attack and can get pushed around at times. He needs to work on his hand usage and learn to stack and shed, making him tougher at the point of attack. His core power could be an issue here and that may need to be developed as well. What he does bring is a ton of off the snap explosion and speed around the edge. He can be tough for the better offensive tackles to shut down because of his raw speed. Aside from Vic Beasley, he may be the best outside linebacker prospect at running the arc. He will keep space from the offensive tackle and will swat away hands to redirect and get pressure. He is active, energetic, and plays hard snap after snap. He has the raw tools to become a solid player, but Ray will need to work on adding a variety of pass rush moves, overall hand usage, and his technique to become a special player at the next level. He has shown some ability to drop into zones and will try to run with receivers, but he lacks the change of direction to stick with them deep into routes. His KEI numbers do raise some red flags and any team drafting him will have to love his tape.
Randy Gregory of Nebraska is not believed to free fall in the draft due to his failure of a drug test at the combine. While failing the drug test was bad, his comments to explain the situation were even worse, stating that last season was his worst season ever in terms of how much marijuana he smoked and he believed the failed test was due to residual THC in his system from December. It is difficult to comprehend THC being in someone’s system for over 30 days unless they were heavy users. The upside, he faced this issue and answered questions to the press. He was candid and forthcoming, willing to talk about failed tests in the past and how he approached things. It will all depend on if a team desires to take a chance on this talented player. It is his biggest issue. As a player, Gregory checks in at 6047, 235 pounds. At his pro day, he was up to 242 pounds and attributes his size at the combine due to illness. He ran a 4.64 forty and showed excellent change of direction skills. He has a KEI of 72. The first thing that jumps out to me about Gregory is his arm length. He extends his arms well and makes contact, once he engages; he shows the ability to use his hands well, snatching offensive linemen off balance or jarring them with a stiff hand strike. He shows a nice arm over to disengage. Against the run, Gregory does a solid job of holding his ground. He is able to get his hands to the chest of the blocker, stand them up, and keep outside containment. He does not get pushed around at the point as easily as one might expect. He could work on shedding the block faster and making more tackles against the run, but his ability to hold his ground is a strong start. As a pass rusher, he shows good burst off the snap and does an excellent job of pressing the offensive tackle deep. He does not blaze around the arc like you see with Beasley or Ray, but he is quick enough to get the attention of the tackle and will often have them oversetting to stop his edge pressure. When this happens, Gregory is really good at shooting his inside hand out, striking the blocker, and using an arm over to slide inside. It is his signature move. He is also strong and pretty active with his hands. As he develops a bigger arsenal of pass rush moves, he has the potential to become an elite player at the next level. He also shows solid tendencies in coverage, including the ability to drop and play zone as well as run with some tight ends and runningbacks. All in all, he has a solid overall game that could further develop at the next level, but his off the field issues still loom large. Gregory is a scary player to draft though, as he carries big boom or bust potential.
Alvin “Bud” Dupree of Kentucky has the look of an NFL linebacker coming off the bus. He is 6040, 269 pounds and ran a 4.56 forty at the combine. He added a vertical jump of 42” and a broad jump of 11’06”. He has solid change of direction numbers. He has yet to bench and that could be due to a pectoral issue. On film, Dupree is less inspiring. He can struggle to hold his ground against the run game, being very hot and cold. In some games, he does well, using his hands to shed blockers and his quickness to play into gaps. In other games, he gets engulfed and moved around far too easily. He is often blocked by tight ends. Against Florida, they used the tight end often and on power runs, they did not shy away from running directly at Dupree. He appears to have the physical ability, he just does not put it on tape enough. As a pass rusher, again, he can be hot or cold. When he is on, he uses his speed to press the edge and will swat away the blockers hands to create lanes. He does a nice job of powering through the openings and getting pressure. When he is off, he can become non-existent. There are long stretches of games where Dupree is just a guy. His best asset may be his ability to drop and play in coverage. Dupree runs well and shows some change of direction. He can run with most tight ends and runningbacks. He has a lot of raw traits that help him in coverage. At this point, he looks like he has the physical attributes to become a truly elite player, but for some reason, he did not dominate at the collegiate level and his film leaves you wanting more. I think Dupree carries a big “Buyer Beware” tag. He is the type of draft selection that either makes a General Manager look brilliant or has them looking for other employment.
Owamagbe Odighizuwa of UCLA really has a lot to like, both in raw physical numbers and in his overall game film. Odighizuwa is 6034, 2697 pounds and ran the forty in 4.62. He has excellent change of direction numbers for a bigger player and his short shuttle is actually as strong as Trae Waynes, who re-ran to get his time lower, and the lower time matches Odighizuwa. Odighizuwa’s KEI score is 75, which is strong. The issue with scouting Odighizuwa is, UCLA rarely played him as an outside linebacker and his time as a 4-3 defensive end was pretty rare as well. UCLA ran a lot of 3-man fronts and would often shift Odighizuwa down as a defensive end, capping his shoulder with a stand up outside linebacker. Simply put, they were vastly undersized and needed Odighizuwa as a defensive end because he was one of their bigger defensive linemen. The UCLA outside linebackers were less than 225 pounds. This creates the issue of deciding whether or not he can make the transition. Odighizuwa is strong at the point of attack and uses his arm length and power well. He gets good extension against offensive linemen and shows the ability to hold the point of attack. He played both the left and right side, also moved down to defensive tackle on passing situations, and held his ground in each position. He shows the ability to create distance with a single arm while keeping his outside hand free and can come off the block to make tackles. Against the run, he is simply stout. He also shows the ability to beat blockers in passing situations. He does not often get to work in space and will face double teams. He battles. He does not show great pass rush technique and will need to refine his overall abilities, but he has the power, hand fighting, and overall burst to potentially become very good in this area. He is not a player asked to drop into coverage often, but does show some ability to get depth in his zone drops and has the overall athleticism to potentially develop in this area. With his ability to hold his ground and play the run, he is likely to get on the field sooner and this could help him develop his overall game quicker. He really has a lot to like and his overall athleticism could lend to him becoming a true gem.
Preston Smith of Mississippi State played most of his snaps as a down defensive end and that really looks like his best fit. He is 6047, 271 pounds and has good overall athleticism. He ran a 4.74 forty, had 24 reps on the bench, and had good explosion and change of direction numbers. On film, he looks really comfortable as a down lineman and is at his best moving forward. He uses his hands well and can strike the blocker to knock him off balance, often moving forward and resetting the line of scrimmage. He is rarely driven backwards and even on plays where he will face a double team, he can be tough to get moved. He is a disruptive guy against the run. As a pass rusher, he does not show a great array of pass rush moves and relies on driving his man backwards with a bull rush. He can often stay engaged and does not shed well enough to get consistent pressure. He has the ability to play inside and is better at getting pressure where he can play into the gaps a little quicker. He will, on some occasions, drop into coverage, but he is more of a zone coverage player that needs to have the space he is covering limited, as he really does not possess the elite change of direction skills to turn and run with guys in space. His best fit will be a scheme where he can move forward, likely as a 4-3 strong side defensive end where his stout play at the point of attack would be more useful.
Danielle Hunter of LSU is a guy that has the look of an NFL linebacker coming off the bus, but the love affair ends there. He is 6051, 252 pounds and ran a 4.57 forty. He had an excellent 10-yard split. His KEI was 73 and he shows good athleticism and change of direction. The problems with Hunter appear when you turn on the field, he is widely inconsistent. There are often plays where he uses his hands well, works hard, gets pressure, and can finish plays. Then, the next play, a blocker will approach and he turns his shoulder and attempts to throw his body into the blocker instead of taking him on strong and holding his ground. Against the run, the biggest question is if he can handle stacking and shedding at the point on a consistent basis. He flashes that ability, but again, too often he will lunge at blockers, sometimes missing completely and just flailing to the ground. As a pass rusher, he appears much more comfortable working the edge in space, attacking the blocker, and shows the ability to beat blockers with speed and active hands. His power or bull rush is a question, but his overall athleticism is often on display when he can work in space. He appears to have the speed to run with some runningbacks and tight ends, although he has better straight-line speed than he does change of direction and will need to fully develop as a coverage linebacker. While many have Hunter ranked as a first or second round selection, this has to be on his size and athletic attributes. His real value would come in the 4th or later, where a team can afford to bring him along a little slower and develop his overall game.
Nate Orchard of Utah played primarily as a defensive end and will have to show he can handle playing in a standing position. He does not show the overall athleticism a lot of teams want in an edge pass rusher. He is 6032, 250 pounds and ran a 4.80 forty at the combine. He does not show great change of direction and his KEI was 65. On film, Orchard competes. He shows some strength at the point of attack and does not get pushed around, but he has to work on getting off blocks to get more involved. He is at his best when he plays into gaps or pushes the outside edge. He will make the play on the runner and does a nice job of getting guys on the ground. As a pass rusher, he does not have great burst off the edge and does not display great pass rush moves. He does a nice job of mixing up his pass rush, pushing the edges, diving inside, using speed and power, in an effort to keep the offensive tackle off balance. He does not drop into coverage often and will have to develop that skill at the next level. Orchard has a chance to become a solid starter at the next level, but it is unlikely he will ever be a star. I see a lot of similarities between Orchard and former Steeler Clark Haggans, neither being an elite athlete, but both playing at a higher level on the field.
Trey Flowers of Arkansas is another guy that does not look like much on paper, but his film shows a pretty good football player. Flowers is 6021, 266 pounds. He ran a 4.85 forty at his pro day. He does not show great change of direction skills and on film, he lacks speed over distance. Flowers has a KEI of 76. He is the type of player that can be extremely good in confined space. He has the ability to hold his ground at the point of attack and can be difficult for blockers to keep blocked. He is slippery and active. He slides off blockers, sheds well, uses a variety of moves to come free, and just keeps working to the football. He is a player that keeps his head up and does a nice job of not getting out of position. He locates the ball and tracks it well. He will often turn plays back inside and get involved in tackles. As a pass rusher, he does not have elite burst but he will defeat blockers and get pressure. He will work the outside edge and is a tenacious guy that just keeps coming. He moves inside and gets into gaps, uses his arm length to keep the blocker off his body, and shows a variety of moves to shed the blocker. While he is not a guy that jumps off the film as an elite pass rusher, he is the type of guy that pushes the pocket, pressures the quarterback, gets his hands up, and just can be a disruptive force. He does not show much in coverage and is the type of player that needs to be moving forward. Flowers really gets value on the 3rd day of the draft, although his film may get him drafted sooner.
Eli Harold of Virginia is a player that many are linking to the Steelers. He is 6031, 247 pounds. He ran a 4.60 forty at the combine with excellent change of direction skills. His KEI number was 70. Against the run, Harold needs to work on being stronger at the point of attack. He will often play into gaps and dip his shoulder into the blocker, allowing the blocker to engulf him and take him out of the play. He needs to work on being stronger with his hands, using the length of his arms to keep separation, and working to shed blocks at the point. It is really an area of concern and something he will have to work to develop. As a pass rusher, he has a limited arsenal. He relies on his athleticism and speed. He shows some speed around the edge and can get pressure running the arc. He has some quickness into the gaps. He does not engage and shed well, although he can press through some blocks. He is not often asked to drop in coverage, but he shows the overall athleticism to potentially be really good in this area. He reminds me a lot of 2014 rookie Anthony Barr and his best fit may be the same as Barr, which was as a 4-3 will linebacker. If a team drafts Harold as a 3-4 outside linebacker, they need to show some patience as he works to improve his pass rush and strength at the point of attack. He is rated as a first or second rounder by some, but like Hunter, his value really comes in the 3rd or 4th round, where a team can afford to develop him before they expect production.
Hau’oli Kikaha of Washington really disappointed at his pro day. Kikaha checked in at 6023, 253 pounds. His best forty time was listed at 4.90 with a 10-yard split of 1.71 seconds. While Kikaha was expected to have numbers below average, this was an eye opener. In addition, he did not show elite change of direction, explosion, or power. This combined with several knee injuries could cause a slide in the draft for Kikaha. That may not be a bad thing because Kikaha’s film is very good. Kikaha is a player that uses his hands well. He is a former competitive Judo practitioner that translates those skills to the field. He has a strong hand strike, uses his balance well, and shows the ability to use leverage to shed blocker. He plays stout at the point of attack, comes off blockers, and can stuff the run. As a pass rusher, he is not explosive off the snap, but he does a nice job of contacting the offensive lineman and using the blockers momentum against him. He works free quickly and shows a nice burst to the football. He will need to prove he can handle coverages but has looked better in football drills than he did in his athletic tests. He was not asked to cover often in college, playing more as an up-the-field guy, but he has flashed a feel for coverage where he will get into passing lanes. One other positive on Kikaha is he is well liked by his teammates, a soft spoken player that seems to flip a switch on the field. Kikaha is a guy that could slide into the middle rounds of the draft and his value really begins in the late 3rd through the 4th round. He is one player that teams should keep an eye on because his game film is vastly better than his workout numbers would indicate.
Lorenzo Mauldin of Louisville is the type of player fans will learn to love. Mauldin came from a tough childhood. He bounced from foster home to foster home, mother and father were incarcerated, victim of over signing at South Carolina, ended up at Louisville. Louisville embraced him, made him a home, and he thrived. Mauldin is a humble guy, likeable, hard worker, and just has those intangibles that fans embrace. He is 6035, 259 pounds. His workout numbers are average, running a poor 4.85 forty. He has a KEI of 65 and shows average change of direction skills. On film, he lines up all over the place. He plays inside and outside, left and right, up as a linebacker and down as a defensive end. Mauldin is a very versatile player. He is stout at the point, uses his hands well and shows the ability to shed blockers quickly. He is active and makes a lot of plays on the other side of the line. As a pass rusher, he shows a solid closing burst, plays with his head up, and when he cannot get to the quarterback, he does a solid job of getting his hands up to tip passes. He does not possess a great pass rush arsenal and does not jump off the film as an elite pass rusher. He is a grinder that will get most of his sacks by playing with a great motor and outworking the blocker. He does show some ability to drop into coverage, although his limited athleticism will be an issue at the next level. He can be effective in zone coverages. Mauldin is a guy that is just steady and consistent, plays hard and works hard, and has the feel for the type of character player the Steelers once coveted.
Davis Tull of Tennessee-Chattanooga is an interesting prospect coming from a smaller school. He is 6023, 246 pounds. He was very limited at the combine and his pro day due to a hamstring injury. He ran a 4.57 forty with a 1.52 10-yard split, which is excellent. His KEI is a massive 80. He is an explosive athlete and it shows on tape. Tull can take a series or two to get warmed up, but once he gets there, he competes hard. He shows solid hand usage although he could continue to refine his technique. He is active, mixes up his rushes well, challenging the inside and outside, while throwing in a variety of pass rush moves. He will sometimes telegraph those moves by hard steps and how he positions his hands, but he gets enough wins just on his sheer athleticism and determination. If he can develop further and begin to put those techniques to work with his overall athleticism, Tull could be something special. Against the run, he is a solid tackling edge player that is not afraid to crash down inside. He is well built, powerful, does not get pushed around by double teams, and often was a guy the offense paid extra attention to via a tight end or runningback. As a pass rusher, he does a nice job of getting separation and shedding the blocker. He shows the ability to get around the arc and will press hard to the edge and dive inside. He has some tools that could be refined into a solid pass rusher. He also has the necessary athletic attributes that is needed in coverage, although he was rarely asked to drop. All in all, he is just a very interesting prospect that just has the feel of the type of player that could take a massive leap in a season or two.
Kyle Emanuel of North Dakota State is a really interesting small school player. He is 6032, 255 pounds and ran a 4.77 forty at the combine. He shows better than average change of direction skills and his KEI was 71. It needs to be stated that all of the film watched came against a lower level of competition, but Emanuel is a force. He shows good quickness off the snap, has quick feet and hands, and can just be hard for blockers to handle. He uses his arm length well and shows a stout hand strike he uses to keep separation from blockers. He will shift inside in some instances and does not get pushed around easily by interior offensive linemen, holding his ground and working to come off blockers to make plays. As a pass rusher, he has good burst to the edge and shows some speed around the corner. He has a smooth and quick arm over he uses to defeat blockers and can consistently bring pressure. In many instances, offenses would slide protection over to give the left tackle help against him. He also dropped in coverage in some instances, but was rarely asked to play man coverages. In zone coverage, he gets good depth to his drops, gets his head up and reads the quarterback, sliding into passing lanes and creating tight windows. If he can bring a similar effectiveness to the next level, Emanuel has a chance to become a late round gem.
Tavarus Dantzler of Bethune Cookman jumped onto the Steelers radar at the regional combine when he ran a 4.60 forty, did 21 reps on the bench, and posted a vertical jump of 35.5 inches, all above average numbers for an outside linebacker. Dantzler has the feel of a priority free agent. At Bethune Cookman, he played more of a hybrid safety/linebacker, almost a spur, where he found himself in coverage more than he did playing tight to the line of scrimmage. He shows very good coverage skills for a potential linebacker, often matched up against tight ends and slot receivers in college. He has the ability to run with receivers down the field and will often find himself 20 or more yards off the line running with a receiver. He is willing in run support and will sacrifice his body, but he is not strong at the point of attack and will need to add bulk and power to find a home there in the NFL. He is an aggressive player that will attack the ball but can get caught by blockers and washed out. He closes well and has a great see-ball, get-ball mentality. As a raw player, he has some things to like, but he should not be viewed as anything more than a project.
Part 3 Lineman
Part 4 Secondary
Part 5: Outside Linebackers and Inside Linebackers
By Thomas Cooper (TMC)
The Steelers have invested pretty heavily on the linebacker position in recent drafts, but they still have looming issues. The inside linebacker position was one of weakness a few short seasons ago, but has now developed into a position where they have ample bodies, talent, and youth. Lawrence Timmons is the unquestioned leader of the group with 2014 draft choice Ryan Shazier potentially being the most athletic and talented. Vince Williams has exceeded expectations and provides excellent depth. Sean Spence has battled back from a significant rookie injury to also provide quality minutes. The Steelers also have hopefuls Terrance Garvin, Roosevelt Nix, and Shayon Green. It is extremely unlikely they spend a first or second day pick on the position, but if a player they feel is talented enough falls into range in the later rounds, the Steelers could look to bolster the position with the expectation that Sean Spence may leave via free agency in 2016. The key would be finding a candidate with the overall talent to via for a roster spot in 2015 while having the upside to develop into more.
Ben Heeney of Kansas is a guy that could interest the Steelers as high as the 5th round. Heeney is not the biggest inside linebacker, only coming in at 6002, 231 pounds, but he plays bigger than he measures. He does not show the power of other linebackers, only benching 19 reps at the combine, and he does not play with great power. Heeney is very athletic though, showing solid change of direction and speed to the sidelines. He is willing to fill the interior rush lanes, takes on blockers willingly and works to hold his ground. He can play off blocks and get to the football. He is not a big hitter but he does a solid job of staying with the runner until he rides him to the ground. Where Heeney has value is in his overall athleticism and feel for the game. He reads plays well and attacks the run. He gets good depth in his drops and shows the ability to close on plays in front of him. He is a guy that could slide in the draft due to his size limitations, but with his overall athleticism and feel for the game, he could develop into a starting linebacker in the NFL.
Hayes Pullard of Southern Cal is a player that is more athletic than his workout numbers show. He is 6004, 240 pounds. He ran a 4.66 forty at his pro day and shows solid change of direction skill. Pullard does not show great power in his game and can struggle to hold his ground in the run game. He does not shed well. He takes some false steps and will get out of position, almost giving the feel of needing more snaps at the position, even though he started for a great number of games. Where Pullard has value is in his ability to handle different coverages. He can run with receivers and tight ends in man coverage, getting into their hip pocket and knocking passes away. He has a solid feel for zone and recognizes receivers coming into his area, stepping forward and closing passing lanes. He has a lot to like in this area. Also, he is a see them, get them type of linebacker, meaning when he sees the football, he does a solid job of closing ground. He is often around the football. If he could improve his power at the point of attack, work on shedding blockers and being more decisive in his reads, he has some potential to be a strong contributing player.
Reshard Cliett of South Florida spent much of his career as an off-the-line linebacker, but in 2014, he moved into a more traditional 3-4 outside linebacker role. He generated more pressure off the edge in 2014 and delivered more sacks, but he was not as effective in other areas. Cliett is 6021, 222 pounds. He has surprising power at the point of attack given his limited size. He runs well, turning a 4.51 forty at his pro day, but he does not always translate that speed to the field. He can be an explosive player, but again, those plays are few and far between. Cliett is a high cut linebacker and does not change direction well, but he is a physical guy that is willing to mix it up. He does not shy away from contact, wraps up well, and does a solid job of putting runners on the ground. He gets good depth on his drops in coverage, recognizes receivers coming into his zone, and closes down passing lanes. He will need to add some size and work on translating his athleticism to the field. He has the feel of former Steeler Stevenson Sylvester.
Mike Hull of Penn State has been climbing up draft boards due to the athleticism he has shown at the combine and his pro day, but his film is that of a guy that should be drafted in the later rounds. Hull is shorter than ideal. He runs well in shorts and shows some of that speed sideline to sideline, but he does not have great explosion out of his cuts and this limits his change of direction ability. He is a physical player that is willing to get into the fray and support the run, but he can get engulfed and moved at the point of attack. He will take some false steps forward and get out of position. He gets caught in the wash sometimes and fails to locate the football. When he sees the football, he goes to the football and is more than willing to drop his pads and finish. He shows some feel in zone coverage and has a solid understanding of drops and depth. He can be a liability in man coverages though. He is a smaller framed inside linebacker that appears to be a career backup, but he has special teams value and great intangibles.
The outside linebacker position is in stark contrast to the quality and depth found inside. The Steelers invested a first round pick on Jarvis Jones, and while he flashed potential prior to getting injured, they are still waiting on him to arrive. The Steelers retained Arthur Moats and he should get the first shot at securing the left outside linebacker spot. James Harrison, the ageless wonder, returns and there should be little doubt that he will compete, and compete hard, for playing time. Howard Jones and Jordan Zumwalt are second year players that the Steelers hope will elevate their game to become contributors. They also signed Shawn Lemon from the CFL to add competition. The biggest issue is not bodies. There are plenty of bodies at the outside linebacker position. The problem is quality and the Steelers must look to add one, potentially two, quality players at the position. The 2015 NFL draft is flushed with quality and depth at outside linebacker. While I would love to get straight into the prospects, I have to state that the key position the Steelers will look to address will be the left or strong side position. The Steelers have to hold out hope that Jarvis Jones can develop into a quality player and this makes it increasingly unlikely they address the weak side. That belief will limit the field, eliminating or reducing the odds that the Steelers chase an outside linebacker early that lacks the power to hold the point of attack. There are several players that will likely be selected prior to the Steelers sending in the card and they are Vic Beasley, Dante Fowler, Randy Gregory, Shane Ray, and Bud Dupree. Of those five, only Beasley and Fowler seem to be holding in the top 10 across the board with others having the potential to slide.
Shane Ray of Missouri may be out of the Steelers reach in the first round. Ray checked in at 6025, 245 pounds and is coming off a foot injury. At his pro day, he ran a 4.68, which has been rumored to have hurt his draft stock. That time is solid, but he plays faster on film. His KEI was an average 64. Those numbers are disappointing and could be a reason for Ray to slide, but his film is pretty good. He is not the strongest player at the point of attack and can get pushed around at times. He needs to work on his hand usage and learn to stack and shed, making him tougher at the point of attack. His core power could be an issue here and that may need to be developed as well. What he does bring is a ton of off the snap explosion and speed around the edge. He can be tough for the better offensive tackles to shut down because of his raw speed. Aside from Vic Beasley, he may be the best outside linebacker prospect at running the arc. He will keep space from the offensive tackle and will swat away hands to redirect and get pressure. He is active, energetic, and plays hard snap after snap. He has the raw tools to become a solid player, but Ray will need to work on adding a variety of pass rush moves, overall hand usage, and his technique to become a special player at the next level. He has shown some ability to drop into zones and will try to run with receivers, but he lacks the change of direction to stick with them deep into routes. His KEI numbers do raise some red flags and any team drafting him will have to love his tape.
Randy Gregory of Nebraska is not believed to free fall in the draft due to his failure of a drug test at the combine. While failing the drug test was bad, his comments to explain the situation were even worse, stating that last season was his worst season ever in terms of how much marijuana he smoked and he believed the failed test was due to residual THC in his system from December. It is difficult to comprehend THC being in someone’s system for over 30 days unless they were heavy users. The upside, he faced this issue and answered questions to the press. He was candid and forthcoming, willing to talk about failed tests in the past and how he approached things. It will all depend on if a team desires to take a chance on this talented player. It is his biggest issue. As a player, Gregory checks in at 6047, 235 pounds. At his pro day, he was up to 242 pounds and attributes his size at the combine due to illness. He ran a 4.64 forty and showed excellent change of direction skills. He has a KEI of 72. The first thing that jumps out to me about Gregory is his arm length. He extends his arms well and makes contact, once he engages; he shows the ability to use his hands well, snatching offensive linemen off balance or jarring them with a stiff hand strike. He shows a nice arm over to disengage. Against the run, Gregory does a solid job of holding his ground. He is able to get his hands to the chest of the blocker, stand them up, and keep outside containment. He does not get pushed around at the point as easily as one might expect. He could work on shedding the block faster and making more tackles against the run, but his ability to hold his ground is a strong start. As a pass rusher, he shows good burst off the snap and does an excellent job of pressing the offensive tackle deep. He does not blaze around the arc like you see with Beasley or Ray, but he is quick enough to get the attention of the tackle and will often have them oversetting to stop his edge pressure. When this happens, Gregory is really good at shooting his inside hand out, striking the blocker, and using an arm over to slide inside. It is his signature move. He is also strong and pretty active with his hands. As he develops a bigger arsenal of pass rush moves, he has the potential to become an elite player at the next level. He also shows solid tendencies in coverage, including the ability to drop and play zone as well as run with some tight ends and runningbacks. All in all, he has a solid overall game that could further develop at the next level, but his off the field issues still loom large. Gregory is a scary player to draft though, as he carries big boom or bust potential.
Alvin “Bud” Dupree of Kentucky has the look of an NFL linebacker coming off the bus. He is 6040, 269 pounds and ran a 4.56 forty at the combine. He added a vertical jump of 42” and a broad jump of 11’06”. He has solid change of direction numbers. He has yet to bench and that could be due to a pectoral issue. On film, Dupree is less inspiring. He can struggle to hold his ground against the run game, being very hot and cold. In some games, he does well, using his hands to shed blockers and his quickness to play into gaps. In other games, he gets engulfed and moved around far too easily. He is often blocked by tight ends. Against Florida, they used the tight end often and on power runs, they did not shy away from running directly at Dupree. He appears to have the physical ability, he just does not put it on tape enough. As a pass rusher, again, he can be hot or cold. When he is on, he uses his speed to press the edge and will swat away the blockers hands to create lanes. He does a nice job of powering through the openings and getting pressure. When he is off, he can become non-existent. There are long stretches of games where Dupree is just a guy. His best asset may be his ability to drop and play in coverage. Dupree runs well and shows some change of direction. He can run with most tight ends and runningbacks. He has a lot of raw traits that help him in coverage. At this point, he looks like he has the physical attributes to become a truly elite player, but for some reason, he did not dominate at the collegiate level and his film leaves you wanting more. I think Dupree carries a big “Buyer Beware” tag. He is the type of draft selection that either makes a General Manager look brilliant or has them looking for other employment.
Owamagbe Odighizuwa of UCLA really has a lot to like, both in raw physical numbers and in his overall game film. Odighizuwa is 6034, 2697 pounds and ran the forty in 4.62. He has excellent change of direction numbers for a bigger player and his short shuttle is actually as strong as Trae Waynes, who re-ran to get his time lower, and the lower time matches Odighizuwa. Odighizuwa’s KEI score is 75, which is strong. The issue with scouting Odighizuwa is, UCLA rarely played him as an outside linebacker and his time as a 4-3 defensive end was pretty rare as well. UCLA ran a lot of 3-man fronts and would often shift Odighizuwa down as a defensive end, capping his shoulder with a stand up outside linebacker. Simply put, they were vastly undersized and needed Odighizuwa as a defensive end because he was one of their bigger defensive linemen. The UCLA outside linebackers were less than 225 pounds. This creates the issue of deciding whether or not he can make the transition. Odighizuwa is strong at the point of attack and uses his arm length and power well. He gets good extension against offensive linemen and shows the ability to hold the point of attack. He played both the left and right side, also moved down to defensive tackle on passing situations, and held his ground in each position. He shows the ability to create distance with a single arm while keeping his outside hand free and can come off the block to make tackles. Against the run, he is simply stout. He also shows the ability to beat blockers in passing situations. He does not often get to work in space and will face double teams. He battles. He does not show great pass rush technique and will need to refine his overall abilities, but he has the power, hand fighting, and overall burst to potentially become very good in this area. He is not a player asked to drop into coverage often, but does show some ability to get depth in his zone drops and has the overall athleticism to potentially develop in this area. With his ability to hold his ground and play the run, he is likely to get on the field sooner and this could help him develop his overall game quicker. He really has a lot to like and his overall athleticism could lend to him becoming a true gem.
Preston Smith of Mississippi State played most of his snaps as a down defensive end and that really looks like his best fit. He is 6047, 271 pounds and has good overall athleticism. He ran a 4.74 forty, had 24 reps on the bench, and had good explosion and change of direction numbers. On film, he looks really comfortable as a down lineman and is at his best moving forward. He uses his hands well and can strike the blocker to knock him off balance, often moving forward and resetting the line of scrimmage. He is rarely driven backwards and even on plays where he will face a double team, he can be tough to get moved. He is a disruptive guy against the run. As a pass rusher, he does not show a great array of pass rush moves and relies on driving his man backwards with a bull rush. He can often stay engaged and does not shed well enough to get consistent pressure. He has the ability to play inside and is better at getting pressure where he can play into the gaps a little quicker. He will, on some occasions, drop into coverage, but he is more of a zone coverage player that needs to have the space he is covering limited, as he really does not possess the elite change of direction skills to turn and run with guys in space. His best fit will be a scheme where he can move forward, likely as a 4-3 strong side defensive end where his stout play at the point of attack would be more useful.
Danielle Hunter of LSU is a guy that has the look of an NFL linebacker coming off the bus, but the love affair ends there. He is 6051, 252 pounds and ran a 4.57 forty. He had an excellent 10-yard split. His KEI was 73 and he shows good athleticism and change of direction. The problems with Hunter appear when you turn on the field, he is widely inconsistent. There are often plays where he uses his hands well, works hard, gets pressure, and can finish plays. Then, the next play, a blocker will approach and he turns his shoulder and attempts to throw his body into the blocker instead of taking him on strong and holding his ground. Against the run, the biggest question is if he can handle stacking and shedding at the point on a consistent basis. He flashes that ability, but again, too often he will lunge at blockers, sometimes missing completely and just flailing to the ground. As a pass rusher, he appears much more comfortable working the edge in space, attacking the blocker, and shows the ability to beat blockers with speed and active hands. His power or bull rush is a question, but his overall athleticism is often on display when he can work in space. He appears to have the speed to run with some runningbacks and tight ends, although he has better straight-line speed than he does change of direction and will need to fully develop as a coverage linebacker. While many have Hunter ranked as a first or second round selection, this has to be on his size and athletic attributes. His real value would come in the 4th or later, where a team can afford to bring him along a little slower and develop his overall game.
Nate Orchard of Utah played primarily as a defensive end and will have to show he can handle playing in a standing position. He does not show the overall athleticism a lot of teams want in an edge pass rusher. He is 6032, 250 pounds and ran a 4.80 forty at the combine. He does not show great change of direction and his KEI was 65. On film, Orchard competes. He shows some strength at the point of attack and does not get pushed around, but he has to work on getting off blocks to get more involved. He is at his best when he plays into gaps or pushes the outside edge. He will make the play on the runner and does a nice job of getting guys on the ground. As a pass rusher, he does not have great burst off the edge and does not display great pass rush moves. He does a nice job of mixing up his pass rush, pushing the edges, diving inside, using speed and power, in an effort to keep the offensive tackle off balance. He does not drop into coverage often and will have to develop that skill at the next level. Orchard has a chance to become a solid starter at the next level, but it is unlikely he will ever be a star. I see a lot of similarities between Orchard and former Steeler Clark Haggans, neither being an elite athlete, but both playing at a higher level on the field.
Trey Flowers of Arkansas is another guy that does not look like much on paper, but his film shows a pretty good football player. Flowers is 6021, 266 pounds. He ran a 4.85 forty at his pro day. He does not show great change of direction skills and on film, he lacks speed over distance. Flowers has a KEI of 76. He is the type of player that can be extremely good in confined space. He has the ability to hold his ground at the point of attack and can be difficult for blockers to keep blocked. He is slippery and active. He slides off blockers, sheds well, uses a variety of moves to come free, and just keeps working to the football. He is a player that keeps his head up and does a nice job of not getting out of position. He locates the ball and tracks it well. He will often turn plays back inside and get involved in tackles. As a pass rusher, he does not have elite burst but he will defeat blockers and get pressure. He will work the outside edge and is a tenacious guy that just keeps coming. He moves inside and gets into gaps, uses his arm length to keep the blocker off his body, and shows a variety of moves to shed the blocker. While he is not a guy that jumps off the film as an elite pass rusher, he is the type of guy that pushes the pocket, pressures the quarterback, gets his hands up, and just can be a disruptive force. He does not show much in coverage and is the type of player that needs to be moving forward. Flowers really gets value on the 3rd day of the draft, although his film may get him drafted sooner.
Eli Harold of Virginia is a player that many are linking to the Steelers. He is 6031, 247 pounds. He ran a 4.60 forty at the combine with excellent change of direction skills. His KEI number was 70. Against the run, Harold needs to work on being stronger at the point of attack. He will often play into gaps and dip his shoulder into the blocker, allowing the blocker to engulf him and take him out of the play. He needs to work on being stronger with his hands, using the length of his arms to keep separation, and working to shed blocks at the point. It is really an area of concern and something he will have to work to develop. As a pass rusher, he has a limited arsenal. He relies on his athleticism and speed. He shows some speed around the edge and can get pressure running the arc. He has some quickness into the gaps. He does not engage and shed well, although he can press through some blocks. He is not often asked to drop in coverage, but he shows the overall athleticism to potentially be really good in this area. He reminds me a lot of 2014 rookie Anthony Barr and his best fit may be the same as Barr, which was as a 4-3 will linebacker. If a team drafts Harold as a 3-4 outside linebacker, they need to show some patience as he works to improve his pass rush and strength at the point of attack. He is rated as a first or second rounder by some, but like Hunter, his value really comes in the 3rd or 4th round, where a team can afford to develop him before they expect production.
Hau’oli Kikaha of Washington really disappointed at his pro day. Kikaha checked in at 6023, 253 pounds. His best forty time was listed at 4.90 with a 10-yard split of 1.71 seconds. While Kikaha was expected to have numbers below average, this was an eye opener. In addition, he did not show elite change of direction, explosion, or power. This combined with several knee injuries could cause a slide in the draft for Kikaha. That may not be a bad thing because Kikaha’s film is very good. Kikaha is a player that uses his hands well. He is a former competitive Judo practitioner that translates those skills to the field. He has a strong hand strike, uses his balance well, and shows the ability to use leverage to shed blocker. He plays stout at the point of attack, comes off blockers, and can stuff the run. As a pass rusher, he is not explosive off the snap, but he does a nice job of contacting the offensive lineman and using the blockers momentum against him. He works free quickly and shows a nice burst to the football. He will need to prove he can handle coverages but has looked better in football drills than he did in his athletic tests. He was not asked to cover often in college, playing more as an up-the-field guy, but he has flashed a feel for coverage where he will get into passing lanes. One other positive on Kikaha is he is well liked by his teammates, a soft spoken player that seems to flip a switch on the field. Kikaha is a guy that could slide into the middle rounds of the draft and his value really begins in the late 3rd through the 4th round. He is one player that teams should keep an eye on because his game film is vastly better than his workout numbers would indicate.
Lorenzo Mauldin of Louisville is the type of player fans will learn to love. Mauldin came from a tough childhood. He bounced from foster home to foster home, mother and father were incarcerated, victim of over signing at South Carolina, ended up at Louisville. Louisville embraced him, made him a home, and he thrived. Mauldin is a humble guy, likeable, hard worker, and just has those intangibles that fans embrace. He is 6035, 259 pounds. His workout numbers are average, running a poor 4.85 forty. He has a KEI of 65 and shows average change of direction skills. On film, he lines up all over the place. He plays inside and outside, left and right, up as a linebacker and down as a defensive end. Mauldin is a very versatile player. He is stout at the point, uses his hands well and shows the ability to shed blockers quickly. He is active and makes a lot of plays on the other side of the line. As a pass rusher, he shows a solid closing burst, plays with his head up, and when he cannot get to the quarterback, he does a solid job of getting his hands up to tip passes. He does not possess a great pass rush arsenal and does not jump off the film as an elite pass rusher. He is a grinder that will get most of his sacks by playing with a great motor and outworking the blocker. He does show some ability to drop into coverage, although his limited athleticism will be an issue at the next level. He can be effective in zone coverages. Mauldin is a guy that is just steady and consistent, plays hard and works hard, and has the feel for the type of character player the Steelers once coveted.
Davis Tull of Tennessee-Chattanooga is an interesting prospect coming from a smaller school. He is 6023, 246 pounds. He was very limited at the combine and his pro day due to a hamstring injury. He ran a 4.57 forty with a 1.52 10-yard split, which is excellent. His KEI is a massive 80. He is an explosive athlete and it shows on tape. Tull can take a series or two to get warmed up, but once he gets there, he competes hard. He shows solid hand usage although he could continue to refine his technique. He is active, mixes up his rushes well, challenging the inside and outside, while throwing in a variety of pass rush moves. He will sometimes telegraph those moves by hard steps and how he positions his hands, but he gets enough wins just on his sheer athleticism and determination. If he can develop further and begin to put those techniques to work with his overall athleticism, Tull could be something special. Against the run, he is a solid tackling edge player that is not afraid to crash down inside. He is well built, powerful, does not get pushed around by double teams, and often was a guy the offense paid extra attention to via a tight end or runningback. As a pass rusher, he does a nice job of getting separation and shedding the blocker. He shows the ability to get around the arc and will press hard to the edge and dive inside. He has some tools that could be refined into a solid pass rusher. He also has the necessary athletic attributes that is needed in coverage, although he was rarely asked to drop. All in all, he is just a very interesting prospect that just has the feel of the type of player that could take a massive leap in a season or two.
Kyle Emanuel of North Dakota State is a really interesting small school player. He is 6032, 255 pounds and ran a 4.77 forty at the combine. He shows better than average change of direction skills and his KEI was 71. It needs to be stated that all of the film watched came against a lower level of competition, but Emanuel is a force. He shows good quickness off the snap, has quick feet and hands, and can just be hard for blockers to handle. He uses his arm length well and shows a stout hand strike he uses to keep separation from blockers. He will shift inside in some instances and does not get pushed around easily by interior offensive linemen, holding his ground and working to come off blockers to make plays. As a pass rusher, he has good burst to the edge and shows some speed around the corner. He has a smooth and quick arm over he uses to defeat blockers and can consistently bring pressure. In many instances, offenses would slide protection over to give the left tackle help against him. He also dropped in coverage in some instances, but was rarely asked to play man coverages. In zone coverage, he gets good depth to his drops, gets his head up and reads the quarterback, sliding into passing lanes and creating tight windows. If he can bring a similar effectiveness to the next level, Emanuel has a chance to become a late round gem.
Tavarus Dantzler of Bethune Cookman jumped onto the Steelers radar at the regional combine when he ran a 4.60 forty, did 21 reps on the bench, and posted a vertical jump of 35.5 inches, all above average numbers for an outside linebacker. Dantzler has the feel of a priority free agent. At Bethune Cookman, he played more of a hybrid safety/linebacker, almost a spur, where he found himself in coverage more than he did playing tight to the line of scrimmage. He shows very good coverage skills for a potential linebacker, often matched up against tight ends and slot receivers in college. He has the ability to run with receivers down the field and will often find himself 20 or more yards off the line running with a receiver. He is willing in run support and will sacrifice his body, but he is not strong at the point of attack and will need to add bulk and power to find a home there in the NFL. He is an aggressive player that will attack the ball but can get caught by blockers and washed out. He closes well and has a great see-ball, get-ball mentality. As a raw player, he has some things to like, but he should not be viewed as anything more than a project.
