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Sunday, April 26, 2009

Draft Day 2 stuff

The Steelers moved to fill a need position with their first pick in the third round, taking Wisconsin guard Craig Urbik, a big, mauler who could push for a starting spot at right guard.

It was a solid pick, if uninspiring. The team wanted to grab a big man for their offensive and defensive fronts and did both with their first two picks.

They added speedy kick returner Mike Wallace with their second pick and should be targeting a CB in the latter part of the round, though Pitt's Scott McKillop is also a possibility.

© I loved the fifth-round selection of UNLV's Frank "The Tank" Summers. This is a guy who's built like former Steelers running back Barry Foster and catches the ball well out of the backfield.

He was one of my favorite players in this draft. Do a search for his highlights on Youtube and enjoy.

© The Steelers are really loading up with corners and defensive linemen. Not a bad idea considering the age issues they have at the two positions.

21 comments:

other_patrick said...

Dale,

DO you think OT is off the radar?

The team didn't bring many OT prospects in to look at this year.

Dale Lolley said...

After the first four or five OTs, the talent level dropped off considerably. Many of the OTs this year projected to G in the NFL, like Urbik

pojo said...

Dale--

Might another OL be on the agenda with Jamon Meredith still out there.

DJ Moore is also still on the table...

What do you think?

pojo said...

I love listening to ESPN lappin' up all the Patriots juice...

Oh by the way, haven't the Steelers won two Super Bowls since the last Pats Bowl victory?

Not one word about the defending Super Bowl Champions picks...

so typical...

Anonymous said...

The problem is the Steelers are a tad boring on draft day. You and I might be poring over the history of Keenan Lewis - But the Pats make moves like Barry Sanders and it gives the talking heads something to yap about.

Dale Lolley said...

Interesting to note that Wallace and Lewis were high school teammates and have been playing football together since they were six years old.

I would expect the Steelers to go best available athlete from here on out. They've filled their needs with the first four picks.

Anonymous said...

I like Frank Summers as well but picking 2 cb's and refusing to add another tackle is terrible.

We added 4 skill position players (wr, 2cb's and a rb) but ZERO tackles, wtf? Are we allergic to having a good running game and a healthy QB?

It won't be until Ben leaves the field on a stretcher and our season is wasted that they finally try to improve our pass pro.

Anonymous said...

Which tackle would you have chosen given the way the draft fell?

I can't say I can see where there was a chance at a difference maker.

Dale Lolley said...

There were four good tackles in this draft, the rest were slop.
And actually, Urbanik has played a lot of right tackle. Can he in the NFL? Probably too slow-footed, but who knows?
They still have Hills from last year and Essex was re-signed as well.

other_patrick said...

They passed on Cadogan to get RaShonn Harris....

Anonymous said...

We could have tried to trade up and get Michael Oher. We traded up to get Troy and Holmes, this guy could have filled an even bigger need.

PS the Pats took a left tackle right after we made both our 5th round picks. I would have much rather had summers and a tackle than ANOTHER low round cb.

Anonymous said...

I hope the Steelers know what they've gotten themselves into by drafting Shipley. The yinzers will riot if he isn't immediately made the starting center and Capizzi the starting LT.

Dale Lolley said...

The Steelers have won two Super Bowls in the past four years. The Patriots haven't won one since 2004.

Anonymous said...

Dale - any word if the Steelers even tried to trade up to get Oher???

Dale Lolley said...

No, they didn't try to move up in the first, but sometimes that kind of info doesn't come out right away.

Anonymous said...

I did hear they were trying to trade up in the 2nd (probably for Unger or LeVitre) but i liked their trade down and I liked the players they took in the 3rd

Hopefully Urbik can step in at RG and improve our line

PSUnGA said...

how did they get the extra pick from the Bucs in the 7th?

Anonymous said...

They got the 7th for Sean Mahan.

Anonymous said...

I had the unprivelage of meeting Oher and be happy that we did not draft him. Problem child waiting to happen. Looks and feels like Mike Tyson Jr., total jerk.

Anonymous said...

He'll fit right in in Baltimore!

Anonymous said...

I know Zierlein worked out Andrew Gardner. He also worked out Tony Hills last year, and that was reported by many to be an unmitigated disaster, yet they still drafted him in the 4th. How is it Gardner wasn't worth a 5th? Was Kirby that in love with Summers that they reached for a big back at a time when RBs were falling? I like Summers, but not there. Especially with the way RBs were falling at the time. I don't get it. Day 2 just had the feel of a grocery list made up the night before.