tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post7452633397509671244..comments2024-01-01T18:41:14.457-05:00Comments on NFL from the sidelines: Mock Draft Part IIMoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13612323587459830074noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-38989453743219046182009-04-19T03:04:00.000-04:002009-04-19T03:04:00.000-04:00I'm starting to wonder if Detroit isn't going to t...I'm starting to wonder if Detroit isn't going to try and do what the Browns did a few yrs back... Get the lineman early and hope a QB falls to their 20th pick...<br /><br />I agree with Denver getting Freeman and am surprised that almost zero analysts are predicting this. <br />I don't like the Eagles taking a WR again, and if the Giants grab Braylon Edwards i would imagine they don't draft Nicks.<br /><br />I would love Alex Mack.VCTMbrianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13585167581390709870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-70436660987621456042009-04-19T00:47:00.000-04:002009-04-19T00:47:00.000-04:00If the above question is directed at me (I'm t...If the above question is directed at me (I'm the Gilbert proponent in 2 previous posts), I go with the CB or the OT.<br /><br />By the way, I am assuming the grade is the same because the type of player is the same, without factoring in position. For example, comparing HOF types to each other or Pro Bowl types with each other, etc.<br /><br />But I think Loadholt (who will likely be the best OT left at 1.32) is not a good OT option in the NFL, especially at LT. Think he'll be JaG (just a guy) at best in the NFL. Don't know so much about Beatty and Britton. Most mocks have them gone before 1.32, though it's possible one could fall to 1.32. Quality OT are tough to find, especially LT.<br /><br />I admit that Gilbert could be a bust. But he has the athletic ability (73 KEI) along with the frame to play 3-4 DE in the NFL at a high level. Now whether he'll actually be a plus player in the NFL is up to the Steeler scouts to determine. If he had played against a higher LOC (level of competition) in college, he'd easily be a top 5-10 pick.<br /><br />From most reports, Mack and Wood likely will be plus players in the NFL at their position. It's just that their position isn't as highly valued in the NFL. That's why elite LT go at the top of the draft and IOL like Faneca go towards the end of round 1. I can't even remember when a center has gone high in round 1. (BTW, I doubt Unger is the Steeler pick since I don't think he can anchor against the better 3-4 NT. If the Steelers are going to really go to a ZBS, than maybe. But I don't think the Steelers are really heading that way. But I admit that I've been a little confused with what they're trying to do on the OL over the past two years.)<br /><br />An elite cb would trump all picks, but obviously an elite cb never falls very far. Vontae Davis, BTW, is not an elite cb. He's got good but not great athletic ability athletic ability, questionable character, and never really dominated even at the college level despite being a better athlete than almost every wr he probably covered in college.<br /><br />So to answer your question, I would go CB > LT > 3-4 DL > WR > IOL if they are all the same caliber of player. In other words, I take Rod Woodson/Mel Blount before Anthony Munoz before Bruce Smith before Swann/Stallworth before Mike Webster/Dermontii Dawson. (I could be talked into moving Bruce Smith up on this list.) There were no Steeler HOF type players at LT and 3-4 DE so I had to import HOFers from other franchises.<br /><br />Of the players that may be left at 1.32, I would go with Gilbert (depending on whether the Steeler scouts believe he has passion, good character and work ethic), then Mack (high floor, ie low bust potential, ability to play guard) or even Wood. If none of them are still on the board, I seriously try to trade down or even trade for picks in next year's draft. Davis is probably DND (do not draft) for me due to character concerns. There is no wr at 1.32 that would excite me (unless Heyward-Bey somehow falls and I'm not sure about his catching ability; a wr is of no use if he can't catch the ball, no matter how fast he is), and I probably would rather draft Brandon Tate (ACL/MCL tear) later on (round 3?), assuming that he should eventually return to full health at some point (he's young and ACL/MCL surgeries have such a high success rate now), even if that means that he'll sit most of his rookie year. I thought Tate was clearly better than his teammate Nicks before his injury and Nicks is being projected to go somewhere from late 1 to round 2.<br /><br />Caveat: Not sure if Darius Butler interests the Steelers, and he could possibly be there at 1.32.<br /><br />And I don't want Alphonso Smith at 1.32 either, regardless of his ball skills. If you're 5'9", you better run like Darrell Green, which he clearly doesn't.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-33730576523951887252009-04-18T21:54:00.000-04:002009-04-18T21:54:00.000-04:00Here's a hypothetical scenario for you. Let's say...Here's a hypothetical scenario for you. Let's say at pick 32 there are six players on the board that all have identical grades by the Steelers: a WR, a CB, a NT, a DE, a C/G, and an OT.<br /><br />Who would they pick in that situation? Trading down is not an option.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-67287981725699097412009-04-17T23:33:00.000-04:002009-04-17T23:33:00.000-04:00I posted about Gilbert earlier.
There is so much...I posted about Gilbert earlier. <br /><br />There is so much that we as fans don't know about (character, work ethic, how he looked in private workouts, etc.) that it's really a blind guess on my part.<br /><br />That said, this is why I feel the Steelers may lean towards someone like Gilbert:<br /><br />- I agree that the Steelers typically wait until later in the draft to draft DE, but it hasn't worked out for them lately, and finding some good young DL is fast becoming critical.<br /><br />- I also think that Tomlin may be looking for a different type of 3-4 DE than Cowher did (someone who is more quick twitch, able to shoot gaps). Just a hunch.<br /><br />- I also think that Tomlin may not value OL that highly. Obviously that doesn't mean that he will ignore the position. But I think that he may feel that he would rather strengthen the rest of the team while building an adequate (ie, functional) off line. Kind of like how the Colts devalue lb, the Broncos devalued rb, etc.<br /><br />So if Gilbert somehow is rated equally with Mack/Wood, I think the pick will be Gilbert.<br /><br />Then again, I have read that this year's draft may be somewhat deep in 3-4 DE. So who knows.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-48439882021607104722009-04-17T17:04:00.000-04:002009-04-17T17:04:00.000-04:00I have some character concerns with Davis.
Typical...I have some character concerns with Davis.<br />Typically, they've waited until later rounds to take defensive linemen because they're looking for something a little different than most other teams. Though more teams are going to the 3-4, they still don't play it the same way the Steelers do.<br /><br />Obviously I meant April 24.Dale Lolleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13089003781188560287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-38331819979825501172009-04-17T16:23:00.000-04:002009-04-17T16:23:00.000-04:00I honestly think the Front Office hopes that Vonta...I honestly think the Front Office hopes that Vontae Davis drops to them at 32. I think that is their hope, and I have seen it play out that way in a couple of mocks, but we shall see.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-59114766963545882992009-04-17T13:38:00.000-04:002009-04-17T13:38:00.000-04:00Dale,
Any chance of the Steelers trading up to ge...Dale,<br /><br />Any chance of the Steelers trading up to get CB Darius Bulter from UConn? He could fill a lot of roles on this team, though he doesn't play DL or OL. <br /><br />By the way, Mike Lombardi has the Steelers taking Jarron Gilbert at no. 32 while a lot of people have C/G Eric Woods. I think I'd be satisfied with either one. I do think I like Woods over Alex Mack. Woods seem to have a little more nastiness than Mack.<br /><br />Thoughts?datruth4lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17491881345131204471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-20133648569251225482009-04-17T13:01:00.000-04:002009-04-17T13:01:00.000-04:00Your final mock will be march 24th? Hmmm but you ...Your final mock will be march 24th? Hmmm but you must have a time machine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-41824841255638244512009-04-17T02:28:00.000-04:002009-04-17T02:28:00.000-04:00If Gilbert is on the board, I wouldn't be surprise...If Gilbert is on the board, I wouldn't be surprised if he's the pick. I know he's not a safe pick like Mack, but there will be fewer chances to nab a good 3-4 DE later in the draft, while they should still be able to get a quality IOL after round 1.<br /><br />Now maybe the team feels comfortable taking Sammie Lee Hill or Dorell Scott later in the draft, I don't know.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-26247863416377925752009-04-17T01:36:00.000-04:002009-04-17T01:36:00.000-04:00Wow, that's an unorthodox mock. I haven't seen ma...Wow, that's an unorthodox mock. I haven't seen many of these teams selecting these players on any other mock out there. You might end up looking like a genius, or very crazy!<br /><br />If last year is any indication, I'd expect Britton and Beatty to sneak into round one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-19860606541300606962009-04-17T00:27:00.000-04:002009-04-17T00:27:00.000-04:00My bad. You always worry about making mistakes whe...My bad. You always worry about making mistakes when dealing with so many players and so many schools.<br />I have some concerns about Oher.Dale Lolleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13089003781188560287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-20675918664434615632009-04-17T00:12:00.000-04:002009-04-17T00:12:00.000-04:00harvin is a gator not a Seminole, do not put him w...harvin is a gator not a Seminole, do not put him with FSUAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-91182558144624622052009-04-16T23:26:00.000-04:002009-04-16T23:26:00.000-04:00I think if Oher falls that far:
1) the Eagles wil...I think if Oher falls that far:<br /><br />1) the Eagles will get him.<br />2) if the Eagles don't, the Steelers have to start considering moving up for him.<br /><br />I don't see Oher making it past 20 anyway though. He is regarded as the last of the top shelf Tackles and last year people were trading back into the first round for much less rated tackles. I just don't see it.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10725231979706488599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-44914879373585630432009-04-16T23:00:00.000-04:002009-04-16T23:00:00.000-04:00I do my drafts with different scenarios. The Steel...I do my drafts with different scenarios. The Steelers do several per day in the two weeks leading up to the draft so they can look at all of the possibilities.Dale Lolleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13089003781188560287noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15287012.post-56185506770330214742009-04-16T21:41:00.000-04:002009-04-16T21:41:00.000-04:00Hey Dale, So why the switch? Also, Unger, Woods, a...Hey Dale, So why the switch? Also, Unger, Woods, and Mack are the three players most draft mockers are having the Steelers take. Do you know which other teams are looking at these guys in the first round? It seems like the Steelers could choose from all three.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com