Now that April is finally here, it's time to start doing some mock drafts. Here's the first of what will be at least three that I do before the draft.
1. Indianapolis - Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
2. Washington (from St. Louis) - Robert Griffin, Baylor
3. Minnesota - Matt Kalil, OT, USC
4. Cleveland - Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
5. Tampa Bay - Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
6. St. Louis (from Washington) – Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
7. Jacksonville – Quinton Couples, DE, North Carolina
8. Miami – Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M
9. Carolina - Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
10. Buffalo - Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
11. Kansas City – Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis
12. Seattle - David Decastro, G, Stanford
13. Arizona – Melvin Ingram, LB, South Carolina
14. Dallas – Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
15. Philadelphia – Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
16. N.Y. Jets – Courtney Upshaw, LB, Alabama
17. Cincinnati (from Oakland) – Cordy Glenn, OT/G, Georgia
18. San Diego – Fletcher Cox, DE, Mississippi State
19. Chicago – Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois
20. Tennessee – Michael Floyd, WR, Notre Dame
21. Cincinnati – Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
22. Cleveland (from Atlanta) – Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State
23. Detroit – Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
24. Pittsburgh - Donta’ Hightower, LB, Alabama
25. Denver – Devon Still, DT, Penn State
26. Houston – Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
27. New England (from New Orleans) – Nick Perry, DE/OLB, USC
28. Green Bay – Shea McClellin, OLB, Boise State
29. Baltimore – Mark Barron, SS, Alabama
30. San Francisco – Pete Konz, C, Wisconsin
31. New England - Kendall Reyes, DE, Connecticut
32. N.Y. Giants – Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
Dont see Tampa taking Blackmon when they have M. Williams and V. Jackson
ReplyDeleteYeah, you're probably right about that. Thise is the first (rough) draft, where I iron things out.
ReplyDeleteI'll probably flip their pick with St. Louis'
ReplyDeleteYou are probably right about Hightower but I hope he isn't the pick. I don't think he will be a bad player...it's just I don't see him being a very good one.
ReplyDeleteSo claiborne had a wonderlic score of 4. Which steeler is closest to that, Dale
ReplyDeleteI also think Michael Floyd, if available at #19, won't be passed by the Bears.
ReplyDeleteKemoeatu was probably the closest, but he's not a Steeler any longer.
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised Luke Kuechly dropped to 23 in your mock draft. If (big if) he gets down to the Steelers do you think they still take Hightower?
ReplyDeleteI think the Steelers will stay where they are and allow the board to play out.
ReplyDeleteI think steve-o was asking whether, given the choice, would the steelers pick kuechly over hightower or vice versa.
ReplyDeleteI think hightower would be a solid pick, one that I would be very happy with. That woould be a very formidable group at LB and we all know that nothing helps the secondary like pressure on the QB. Hightower would fit nicely along side timmons. He is a sfe solid pick with plenty of film and stats to back up a first round grade. Picks with "huge upside" always scare me and thankfully they seam to scare the front office as well. a player like poe will go way higher than they should due to a combine work out when the tape does not warrent it (see vernon golston) Anyway, I have faith in the draft process and the Steelers draft board, can't wait for April 26!
ReplyDeleteThe Steelers need a DL before another LB. If Still is there, he's a better choice plus he's got that Steeler connection being related to Levon Kirkland.
ReplyDeleteThe Steelers need a NG. Devon Still isn't going to be playing NG in a 3-4, for Pittsburgh or anyone else.
ReplyDeleteI think the most interesting thing about your mock is how far The Keek falls in it, Dale. I personally don't see that happening(especially now that Seattle seems to have jettisoned just about every ILB on their roster). I know Carroll has said something nuts like "Oh, there's 25 ILBs that can play in this draft", but they would be hard pressed to pass on Kuechly.
Hightower seems to be the guy they're bound to end up with. I'm fine with it, but getting to watch a ton of his games down here I really don't see him as a difference maker. And he's almost certainly going to be a 2 down player. Coverage issues will keep him from dropping in the nickle package, and while he can sometimes do some damage as a rusher, who would he supplant on third downs to do that? Harrison? Woodley? Timmons? Unlikely.
Still, he's a "Steeler type pick." Lots of PT at a big program. Intangibles are there. Not a headcase, etc.
If he and Kuechly were somehow both on the board though....they better be sprinting that card with The Keek's name on it to the podium.
Im sure Tomlin would talk them out of drafting Kuechly if faced with the decision between him and Hightower. Similar to the Sean Lee/Jason Worilds debacle.
ReplyDeleteI do not disagree that DL (NG) is not a bigger need, I just do not see the value there at 24, if Kuechly is there it is a no brainer, but that is highly doubtful. It is hard to say who might drop, but we all know the Steelers will stay there at 24 and get the highest value at a need position, so we are looking at ILB, DL, or OL.
ReplyDeleteI could see a scenario where we get a Mike Adams type player, and I would not be upset by that either, but I think we are looking at a ILB-Hightower or OL-Adams-Glenn if he falls as more likely than a DL.
Interesting that Barron and Konz are left on the board at our pick and no one is talking about them as viable picks for us. Seems that Barron would be a good choice given our Safety situation. Also, Konz offers experience at both guard positions and could back up Pouncey at C. No love for either of them it seems. Am I missing something? Konz and Zeitler would make me awfully happy.
ReplyDeleteI am with you anonymous. I live in the midwest and have seen Konz and Zeitler play for years. Both are exactly what you want in a Guard. Dont hold your breath though.
ReplyDeleteif Kuechly falls that far, Steelers should trade up a couple spots and get him
ReplyDeleteI think that pick is going to be Jerel Worthy.
ReplyDeletebthey need a NT not another DE.
ReplyDeletePoe ,Tammau, Chapman
as i've said in other posts, the steelers first round picks have been very good in recent history. it's hard to argue with their process and whoever they pick will most likely be a very good player for the team.
ReplyDeleteHere's my Steelers mock:
ReplyDelete1 – LB Luke Kuechly, Boston College
2 – G/T Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State
3 - NT Mike Martin, Michigan
4 – G, Brandon Brooks, Miami of Ohio
5 - FS Trent Robinson, Michigan State
6 – CB Asa Jackson, Cal Poly
7 – DT/DE Akiem Hicks, Regina
7 – K Carson Wiggs,
7 – RB Michael Smith, Utah State
7 – G/T Jeff Adams, Columbia
I would take that in a heartbeat if you threw a QB(Harnish,Keenum or Witt) You can always get kickers as udfas.
ReplyDeleteWhat's with all the Kuechly love? From all the posts on here you would think he's the second coming. Another 2 down inside linebacker?
ReplyDeletealexkirby, watch the tape from last year's BC vs. Miami Hurricanes game and tell me if you still think this guy is a 2-down LB? He's the best LB in the draft and the face of the franchise for a defense for the next 10 years.
ReplyDeleteOk well I'm not above admitting when I'm wrong. That was some pretty impressive coverage. And his ability to diagnose a play was crazy. You'd think he was in the other team's freaking huddle.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZdule1wqBI
alexkirby, I had questions about him myself until I saw this tape and saw his performance at the combine. I think he is worth trading up to get. Whatever the Steelers traded to get Troy P., I'd trade the same thing to get this guy. I think he is a difference-maker. If he drops to no. 24, the Steelers would sprint to the podium. I haven't seen anything to make me think that Hightower will be an asset in pass coverage. You can rush him on 3rd down, but that means that Woodley and Harrison will be in coverage. I'd rather have both of those beasts rushing the passer. The Steelers have to have ILB's that can cover Ray Rice and those athletic tight ends.
ReplyDeleteDale,
ReplyDeleteDo you think Hightower will be a ILB that can play all 3 downs and if he isn't, is he still worth a first round draft pick for this team? If DL Mike Brockers fall to the Steelers pick, I think he'd be a good fit. He can play the 3 and 5-technique as well as some NT.
The mock draft I listed before is what I'd like to see the Steelers do. However, this is how I think they could go:
ReplyDelete1 – ILB Dont’a Hightower, Alabama
2 – G Brandon Brooks, Miami of Ohio
3 - NT Mike Martin, Michigan
4 – T Brandon Mosley, Auburn
5 - FS Trent Robinson, Michigan State
6 – CB Chris Greenwood, Albion
7 – DT/DE Akiem Hicks, Regina
7 – WR, Michael Calvin, California
7 – RB Michael Smith, Utah State
7 – K Carson Wiggs, Purdue
I like Kuechly a lot as well. But I don't know if he would play on third down over Timmons - at least not right away.
ReplyDeleteAs for Hightower, he could line up and rush the passer from the outside on third downs if you had injuries there - ala. last season. He wouldn't look like a fish out of water like Timmmons did.
I'm not against taking a "two-down" player in the first if they help you get to third-and-long.
Hell, in reality, Mendenhall has been a two-down player for much of his career. Nobody had a problem taking him in the first round.
In 2001, they took two "two-down" players - Hampton and Bell - with their first two picks and completely turned the defense around.
That's what I was thinking. In 3rd down situations, it would be Timmons on the field anyway. I think Timmons is the natural replacement for Farrior, and Hightower would compete with Foote for the other inside spot that was previously occupied by Timmons.
ReplyDeleteDale, why would Kuechly replace Timmons on third down anyway? Why would anyone replace Timmons? Farrior and Timmons both remained in the game on 3rd down. Are they changing out of their 2-4-5???
ReplyDelete(that means two linemen, four linebackers, and 5 defensive backs, or "DBs")
They often do not play four linebackers on third down.
ReplyDeleteTimmons and Hampton would come off in favor of extra DBs.
Now, it will be Foote - or Sylvester, at this point - coming off with the NT.
Who sets the D then? Timmons? How does that work? Hand signals? They're in the nickel more than base anymore. Only one green dot on the field at a time. Who gets it?
ReplyDeleteFrom what Colbert and Tomlin said this offseason, Timmons is not in the mix at buck. The guy struggles just lining his own lone self up. Forget all 11. Steelers didn't play a lot of dime last year, so I don't know how 'often' the Steelers employed less than 4 LBs.
The Steelers have to find a buck this offseason. Foote is shrinking in size and ability. Like Farrior, keeps sacrificing size to make up for diminishing ability. Unlike Farrior, Foote never had any to spare. And his prime ability was never more than a 2 down player. I doubt he's ever played much more than 500 snaps a season in his Steeler career.
Ideally Timmons would slide over. But after 5 seasons I see no evidence above the neck that he can QB the D. Sly isn't built for it, and intelligence unknown. Worilds and Carter are built for it, and both are probably smart enough. But Worilds has old lady shoulders, and Carter would basically have the same chance as a rookie. FAs are out of reach.
Leaves the draft. Thankfully there are a handful of guys in the front 100 or so who are decent buck candidates. Really need to come out of this draft with one of them. However, Hightower isn't one of them. If he can't cover, he's useless to them.
Looks like Larry Foote will play the Buck no matter what - since Timmons is not in the mix and the draft won't make any difference this year. I wonder who Foote's backup will be since it would be amazing if he can play every down. I also wonder if Lebeau might show a little flexibility. Can't they use Timmons and bring in another back on 3rd down since Timmons is the best in coverage?
ReplyDelete