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With and without Watt: a case for drafting an OLBer.

The Steelers absolutely need help at OLB. The drop off between the starters and backups is precipitous. I actually have more faith in what they have at ILB, if they are able to re-sign Spillane. Robinson has shown flashes of excellence; nobody at OLB besides Watt and Highsmith has shown anything.
 
Coach said:
Well, if I were the GM we don't give Johnson what we did and let him test the market. How's that working out? I also don't pick Pickett is round one and take Devin Lloyd one of the best rookies this year instead. Having said that I was for Pickens! Who I would have taken and what would have done can be found in the archives. Not a hard decision to make. Just like we don't need anther OLB in upcoming draft.
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if you were gm the Steelers would be the browns
 
BLITZ said:
I don't have to look up where Anenih went to school, do I?
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Speaking of the site we can't post links just put up a mock draft which was pretty good attacking the trenches G in 1, DE, CB, NT and went with Coolie's boy in the 7th. The WR standout. I keep wondering if a guy with that decent production goes a little earlier....
 
slashsteel said:
Speaking of the site we can't post links just put up a mock draft which was pretty good attacking the trenches G in 1, DE, CB, NT and went with Coolie's boy in the 7th. The WR standout. I keep wondering if a guy with that decent production goes a little earlier....
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I doubt Tank Dell is around in the 7th

I would say 3rd or 4th would be m ore likely
 
CoolieMan said:
I doubt Tank Dell is around in the 7th

I would say 3rd or 4th would be m ore likely
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In the 7th you Mike Tomlin with a quadruple summersault twist leap frog that arse right on up to the podium huh?
 
slashsteel said:
By that statement it would mean that it is a need. I love tackling the trenches but the value would have to be there.

I think value at corner and WR should be there as teams tend to attack QBs and trenches early.
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We can’t abandon the trenches in favor of skill player, including WR.

TRENCH (both sides each1), one or the other ILB or OLB = first three picks.

Obviously value and BPA comes into play but yes OLB is a need, provided we can sign some of our own back.


Salute the nation
 
madinsomniac said:
Look we keep 4 olbs most years, typically the starters, a vet backup, and a special teams ace.. i hate that… id rather either keep 5 adding a developmental pass rusher so we always have extra depth or just not keep the ace and teach the developmental guy to play special teams… super important position, super shallow depth every year…
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THIS

ST’s coaching hasn’t the ability to teach, evidently.


Salute the nation
 
slashsteel said:
In the 7th you Mike Tomlin with a quadruple summersault twist leap frog that arse right on up to the podium huh?
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I think they would dig up Rodney Dangerfield to make that presentation………….


Salute the nation
 
BLITZ said:
I think we need to go oline dline and cb with 1st 3 picks. I think we need to focus on the trenches more than anything.
I am hoping we fix ILB and safety in free agency. mostly resigning our own safeties.
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With you on re-signing Kazee and/or Edmunds, but since the Steelers have 4 of the first 80 picks, they can and should target an ILB. There are four that fit the bill as guys who can take on a G, cover ground and stuff running plays while also not being a liability in zone coverage:
  • Trent Simpson Clemson 6'3" 240 lbs.
  • Henry To'oto'o Alabam 6'2" 228 lbs.
  • Jack Campbell Iowa 6'5" 248 lbs.
  • Noah Sewell Oregon 6'2" 253 lbs.
The first three would require using a pick commensurate with their ranking - Simpson a 1st, etc. The comments on Sewell are kind of all over the place - some see him as a top-20 player, others a 2nd round guy, others a 3rd round pick. He is a decent run stuffer but blitzed a lot for Oregon because he is not very good in pass coverage.

Good possibility that Campbell is there at pick 80. He plays faster than he times - sideline to sideline. If he runs a 4.6 at the combine, he may not last to pick 80. 265 tackles past 2 years combined, good run defender, not bad in zone. His problem is that he cannot seem to get off a block so he definitely needs the DL to eat up blockers.
 
Steeltime said:
With you on re-signing Kazee and/or Edmunds, but since the Steelers have 4 of the first 80 picks, they can and should target an ILB. There are four that fit the bill as guys who can take on a G, cover ground and stuff running plays while also not being a liability in zone coverage:
  • Trent Simpson Clemson 6'3" 240 lbs.
  • Henry To'oto'o Alabam 6'2" 228 lbs.
  • Jack Campbell Iowa 6'5" 248 lbs.
  • Noah Sewell Oregon 6'2" 253 lbs.
The first three would require using a pick commensurate with their ranking - Simpson a 1st, etc. The comments on Sewell are kind of all over the place - some see him as a top-20 player, others a 2nd round guy, others a 3rd round pick. He is a decent run stuffer but blitzed a lot for Oregon because he is not very good in pass coverage.

Good possibility that Campbell is there at pick 80. He plays faster than he times - sideline to sideline. If he runs a 4.6 at the combine, he may not last to pick 80. 265 tackles past 2 years combined, good run defender, not bad in zone. His problem is that he cannot seem to get off a block so he definitely needs the DL to eat up blockers.
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I would love it if Tootoo from Bama fell to us… and not just because without Juju or alualu we need to fill that naming void.. he fits that ilb position void well
 
SteelerFan448 said:
I would draft an EDGE defender every draft. The position is just too valuable not to, IMO. I also would like to see the Steelers sign Highsmith to a long-term deal this offseason. They've done a great job developing him and he's shown he can be an all-around linebacker.
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If we had a true dominant NT, boy what Watt and another edge guy could do. Hopefully, we can sign Highsmith but I think he priced himself out of our league this year. If they can't sign him, they could tag him but that's 100% huge cap hit. I'd put feelers out for trading him if they can't get a deal done this offseason. Someone may bite.
 
TDX27 said:
If we had a true dominant NT, boy what Watt and another edge guy could do. Hopefully, we can sign Highsmith but I think he priced himself out of our league this year. If they can't sign him, they could tag him but that's 100% huge cap hit. I'd put feelers out for trading him if they can't get a deal done this offseason. Someone may bite.
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They don't have to sign Highsmith this year, they may try to re-sign him, but he's under contract through next year.
 
madinsomniac said:
I would love it if Tootoo from Bama fell to us… and not just because without Juju or alualu we need to fill that naming void.. he fits that ilb position void well
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He will be there at 33(32). He is always around the football. If he were a bit bigger, he might go 1st but because he's not, I think he can fall to 49. If Steelers don't go 33(32) or 49, he is not there at 79. No way.

Problem is that Campbell is likely available at 79, possibly Sewell. So would you rather have Jalin Hyatt and Campbell or To'oto'o and a guy like Jonathan Mingo?
 
Steeltime said:
He will be there at 33(32). He is always around the football. If he were a bit bigger, he might go 1st but because he's not, I think he can fall to 49. If Steelers don't go 33(32) or 49, he is not there at 79. No way.

Problem is that Campbell is likely available at 79, possibly Sewell. So would you rather have Jalin Hyatt and Campbell or To'oto'o and a guy like Jonathan Mingo?
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That was why i was hoping they would finish with a top ten pick and trade down to get another pick in that second round… that would have been ideal
 
Steeltime said:
He will be there at 33(32). He is always around the football. If he were a bit bigger, he might go 1st but because he's not, I think he can fall to 49. If Steelers don't go 33(32) or 49, he is not there at 79. No way.

Problem is that Campbell is likely available at 79, possibly Sewell. So would you rather have Jalin Hyatt and Campbell or To'oto'o and a guy like Jonathan Mingo?
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Sign me up for Hyatt...
 
slashsteel said:


The drop off without Watt screams a lack of OLber depth. With 3 picks in the top 50 how do you attack the draft? Obviously trenches, CB, and WR is in play. I am advocating that OLber should be in play as well. A strong case can be made if Watt wasn't injured the Steelers would have been in the playoffs. A T, a WR, and a OLber would make it that Sutton, Edmunds, and Kaz could be resigned making the secondary a lesser concern if they fortified their pass rush.

BPA of need sure but I think OLBer should be added to the need list.
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Outside of OL or DL an OLB would be great early too

Dead on about depth and playing without Watt

Also Highsmith is playing his way into a large FA contract somewhere else, be nice to give a rookie a year as a rotation piece before taking over for Highsmith…just don’t see the Steelers putting as much coin as would take for Watt and Highsmith
 
Stryker said:
They don't have to sign Highsmith this year, they may try to re-sign him, but he's under contract through next year.
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That being said

Is our SB window open next season?

Unfortunately as of now (predraft/free agency) I’d definitely say not really

I can’t see the Steelers paying as much as it would take to retain Highsmith. Watt simply makes the opposite LB shine from being near his presence and the attention he receives, pricing is out when they become free agents

What could a guy like Highsmith bring back via a trade when an edge like Brian Burns who hadn’t had a 10 sack season was rumored to be offered at least 2 firsts for (along with additional compensation).

I would personally love to see them grab an edge pre pick 80 and shop Alex a bit, if anyone got close to 2 firsts I’d have to pull that trigger.
 
Here is the thing. Unless you are drafting premium talent at edge you are getting depth. You are going to be paying Highsmith. So it's tough to draft premium talent with three two sure starters. Though I get what you are saying there are too many other starters needs.
 
SteelerSask2 said:
Here is the thing. Unless you are drafting premium talent at edge you are getting depth. You are going to be paying Highsmith. So it's tough to draft premium talent with three two sure starters. Though I get what you are saying there are too many other starters needs.
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Cowher religiously spent picks on lbs in the mid to late rounds and then had guys waiting in the wings to take over as the olbs priced their way off the team… guys like jason Gildon, Carlos Emmons, Joey Porter, Mike Vrabel, Clark Haggins… he didn’t draft them when the position was empty… he got them a year or two before he needed them and it often worked perfectly
 
Under Cowe
madinsomniac said:
Cowher religiously spent picks on lbs in the mid to late rounds and then had guys waiting in the wings to take over as the olbs priced their way off the team… guys like jason Gildon, Carlos Emmons, Joey Porter, Mike Vrabel, Clark Haggins… he didn’t draft them when the position was empty… he got them a year or two before he needed them and it often worked perfectly
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Cowher they played the long game and worked towards building a legit contender. Players walked. This FO remortgages players past their prime and Puts bubble gum on the drywall. They don't have the luxury of spending draft capital. They need Oline, wr, DL, ILB. They might pick edge in the later rounds bit that's it.
 
SteelerSask2 said:
Under Cowe
Cowher they played the long game and worked towards building a legit contender. Players walked. This FO remortgages players past their prime and Puts bubble gum on the drywall. They don't have the luxury of spending draft capital. They need Oline, wr, DL, ILB. They might pick edge in the later rounds bit that's it.
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Thats fine.. there are project edge guys who could be great in this draft… but its not their MO to really get those guys and keep them till they are ready… if they aren’t nfl ready asap, we just cut them for a guy who can play special teams better
 
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