The local airwaves are abuzz going over the Steelers' schedule, so I'll leave that to them. The schedule is what it is, after all. And anybody who thinks they can predict what a team's record will be without taking the draft into account is, well, a little short sighted.
With that in mind, we'll continue to focus on the draft.
The Steelers wrapped up their pre-draft visits today with four more defensive players. Here's the final list of who they brought in:
TE Cameron Clear, Texas A&M
WR DeVante Parker, Louisville
LB Shane Ray, Missouri
LB Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State
DL Randy Gregory, Nebraska
QB/WR Devin Gardner, Michigan
CB Darryl Roberts, Marshall
RB Matt Jones, Florida
WR Sammie Coates, Auburn
OLB Eli Harold, Virginia
CB Senquez Golson, Ole Miss
TE C.J. Uzomah, Auburn
DE Nate Orchard, Utah
WR Sammie Coates, Auburn
WR Breshad Perriman, UCF
CB Marcus Peters, Washington
CB Alex Carter, Stanford
LB Max Valles, Virginia
CB Doran Grant, Ohio State
QB Tyler Murphy, Boston College
OL Quinton Spain, WVU
TE Jesse James, Penn State
WR Jaelen Strong, Arizona
TE Kennard Backman, UAB
DT Xavier Cooper, Washington State
TE Jeff Heuerman, Ohio State
TE Wes Saxton, South Alabama
CB Bryce Callahan, Rice
CB Stephen Nelson, Oregon State
S Landon Collins, Alabama
DE Preston Smith, Mississippi State
CB Dexter McDonald, Kansas
LB Davis Tull, Chattanooga
Of course, the Steelers also met with a number of other players at the combine and head coach Mike Tomlin and GM Kevin Colbert attended at least a dozen on-campus workouts - while other assistant coaches and scouts attended dozens of others.
But it's pretty obvious the Steelers are looking at corners, linebackers and tight ends very closely.
What does all of this mean?
Last year, the Steelers brought six of the players they selected in the draft in for private visits. The year before, that number was five, while another of their visitors was signed as an undrafted free agent. And in 2012, four of the players they selected came off their pre-draft visit list.
So there's a good chance that four or five of the 29 players players listed above will be selected by the Steelers in this year's draft.
Max Williams in the 2nd?
ReplyDeleteI don't think so. They have to go defense, defense, defense unless the value is too great to overlook. And I don't think Max makes it to them in the second.
ReplyDeleteI'd rather have a guy like Ben Koyack in the fifth and load up on defensive playmakers.
You really think they'll pass on Maxx williams if he's there in the 2nd? (he will not be, but still)
ReplyDeletePlease no on Max any where b4 the 4th. .Rather have any one of the above in the 6th. There skill set and up side isn't much different
ReplyDeleteUnless I misread this list, I don't see Maxx Williams anywhere on there so this tells me the Steelers don't feel he is worthy of a first or second round grade (if he falls to the third I think we could possibly take him). Seems like the steelers are anticipating either a solid WR or pass rusher falling to them in the 2nd round.
ReplyDeleteAm I right that the 7 guys below are the first round talent in the bunch?
ReplyDeleteLB Shane Ray, Missouri
DL Randy Gregory, Nebraska
OLB Eli Harold, Virginia
WR Breshad Perriman, UCF
CB Marcus Peters, Washington
WR Jaelen Strong, Arizona
S Landon Collins, Alabama
Now all that being said, I want something like this:
Peters
Orchard
Carter
Heuerman
Sorted your list for readability:
ReplyDeleteCB Alex Carter, Stanford
CB Bryce Callahan, Rice
CB Darryl Roberts, Marshall
CB Dexter McDonald, Kansas
CB Doran Grant, Ohio State
CB Marcus Peters, Washington
CB Senquez Golson, Ole Miss
CB Stephen Nelson, Oregon State
DE Nate Orchard, Utah
DE Preston Smith, Mississippi State
DL Randy Gregory, Nebraska
DT Xavier Cooper, Washington State
LB Davis Tull, Chattanooga
LB Kyle Emanuel, North Dakota State
LB Max Valles, Virginia
LB Shane Ray, Missouri
OLB Eli Harold, Virginia
WR Breshad Perriman, UCF
WR DeVante Parker, Louisville
WR Jaelen Strong, Arizona
WR Sammie Coates, Auburn
WR Sammie Coates, Auburn
TE C.J. Uzomah, Auburn
TE Cameron Clear, Texas A&M
TE Jeff Heuerman, Ohio State
TE Jesse James, Penn State
TE Kennard Backman, UAB
TE Wes Saxton, South Alabama
QB Tyler Murphy, Boston College
QB/WR Devin Gardner, Michigan
RB Matt Jones, Florida
S Landon Collins, Alabama
OL Quinton Spain, WVU
Nick
Dale, if Randy Gregory is there in the first will the Steelers take him?
ReplyDeleteI doubt Gregory will be there and haven't heard anything solid one way or the other.
ReplyDeleteMy guy tells me no because of his drug tests and he's a little light and would have to play the weak side - where they already have Jones.
They don't always take the first-round guy off their visit list. Often times, they do on-campus visits with those guys at their workouts.
Dale, you have any sense on if Marcus Peters is off the Steelers board or not? If everything checks out with his background and the Steelers think they have the leaders in the locker room to help this kid, then he might be my pick at no. 22 if he's still there. He seems like he could come in and help right away. Also, since it looks like the Steelers are gonna double dip at CB, who are your favorites in rounds 3 and 4? I like Grant from OSU, Goldson from Ole Miss and Mager from Texas State.
ReplyDeleteDale, you have any sense on if Marcus Peters is off the Steelers board or not? If everything checks out with his background and the Steelers think they have the leaders in the locker room to help this kid, then he might be my pick at no. 22 if he's still there. He seems like he could come in and help right away. Also, since it looks like the Steelers are gonna double dip at CB, who are your favorites in rounds 3 and 4? I like Grant from OSU, Goldson from Ole Miss and Mager from Texas State.
ReplyDeleteGeneral sense to me is that he is off their board. Don't know that for certain.
ReplyDeleteDale, what do you make of the Steelers bringing in so many WRs projected to go in the top 2 rounds? Due diligence in case somebody falls? Did they have wind of the potential (and seemingly overblown) AB contract issue? Would they draft a WR in the first? I'm not saying that they should, but given the visit list, it seems to be a consideration.
ReplyDeleteThere is no AB contract issue. He's not going to hold out.
ReplyDeleteIt's due diligence.
what are your guys thoughts on arik armstead?
ReplyDeleteArmstead looks like a project. Looking at him move i would think he would be better as a 4-3 end.
ReplyDeleteNick
For all that size, Armstead had very little in terms of production. He is, as stated, an intriguing prospect. But not one the Steelers are going to take.
ReplyDeleteHey guys kevin Johnson is the pick at 22 so let's talk about rd 2
ReplyDelete