6 Combine Studs Pittsburgh Steelers Must Have on Their Short List
The 2015 NFL Scouting Combine is football in shorts at its finest, as the top collegiate prospects undergo numerous workouts under the watchful eyes of NFL head coaches and general managers. That includes those from the Pittsburgh Steelers, who will use the combine results to continue to build their draft board.
Workouts are a significant part of this process, as the Steelers brass can look at the results to either confirm their feelings on a player or go back and examine film. Possibly more important than the workout results is the ability to discover any medical red flags and gain insight on prospects through the interview process.
As important as the latter two aspects of the combine are, the workout results can open the eyes of a team or be a cause for concern. With two days of drills now in the books, here are six players—from lowest to highest rated on Matt Miller’s pre-combine big board—whom the Steelers must have on their draft board.
Chris Conley, WR, Georgia
1 of 6
Height/Weight: 6'2", 213 pounds
Ranking: No. 32 Wide Receiver (No. 214 Overall)
Chris Conley was not a name that expected to come up on combine weekend. Prior to his workout, he was known best for the Star Wars: Retribution trailer that he produced. That is not the case anymore after the impressive 40-yard dash that he put up on Saturday.
Conley had the third-best time at the combine so far, with a 4.35 40-yard dash—and was one of the top-performing wide receivers on the bench press. His 45" vertical leap and 11'7" broad jump both were "recent bests" at the combine. His numbers caught the attention of many and supported the idea that he may be drafted higher than his ranking indicates.
"Someone here in Indy told me a few days ago Chris Conley will get drafted higher than we think. Good numbers today.
— Dan Kadar (@MockingTheDraft) February 21, 2015
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During his four years at the University of Georgia, the 6’2”, 213-pound receiver never put up huge statistics. He finished his career with 117 receptions for 1,938 yards and 20 touchdowns, but his ability as a big-play wide receiver stands out. He averaged nearly 16.6 yards per reception, including 18.3 yards per reception as a senior.
The lack of production is the result of playing in a run-heavy offense in college. Conley will have to continue to develop as a route-runner, but he has good hands and all of the physical tools that a team could ask for in a receiver.
Although the Steelers have three young, talented wide receivers on the roster, adding a fourth would not be a bad idea. Conley’s combination of size, speed and strength makes him a good option on Day 3 of the draft.
Jesse James, TE, Penn State
2 of 6
Height/Weight: 6’7”, 261 pounds
Ranking: No. 10 Tight End (No. 174 Overall)
The Steelers have a need at tight end, and Jesse James is a potential option. He told Scott Brown of ESPN.com that he interviewed with the team this week.
James has excellent height (6’7”) and room on his frame to continue to add weight. With his size, he has shown that he is a capable receiver and blocker but is not outstanding at either skill.
In three seasons at Penn State, James had 78 receptions for 1,005 yards and 11 touchdowns. While his reception totals increased in each season (15, 28, 38), his yards per reception fell from 18.4 in 2012 to only 10.4 yards per reception last season.
However, in a weak tight end draft class, James’ workout numbers stood out and could have him rising up the draft boards. His 4.83 seconds in the 40-yard dash did not pop, but he was excellent in virtually every other test and ranked as a top performer among the tight ends in the bench press (26 reps), vertical jump (37.5 inches) and 60-yard shuttle (12.15 seconds).
James’ most impressive test was the broad jump, which was measured at 10'1". Not only was he the top-performing tight end this year, but his showing was better than that of Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham, via Mike Gross of Lancaster Online.
Given the weak nature of this year’s tight end class, James’ workout numbers stood out. They may not transfer to the NFL, but if they do, the Steelers could find a solid option at tight end on Day 3.
Jeremy Langford, RB, Michigan State
3 of 6
Height/Weight: 6’0”, 208 pounds
Ranking: No. 14 Running Back (No. 166 Overall)
Two years ago, the Steelers looked to Michigan State to draft their running back of the future. It turned out well, as Le’Veon Bell has quickly developed into one of the best backs in the NFL. Now they should look back to Michigan State to draft a backup.
Jeremy Langford is rated as a third- or fourth-round prospect by CBSSports.com, and that is the earliest in the draft that Pittsburgh should be looking at selecting a running back. He did himself some favors on Saturday with an impressive showing in the 40-yard dash.
Langford was the top running back with a time of 4.42 seconds. His speed was evident at Michigan State as he ranked fifth in the Big Ten with 22 carries of 15 yards or more, according to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com.
Over his last two years as the Spartans’ starting running back, Langford carried the ball 568 times for 2,944 yards and 40 touchdowns. He added another 39 receptions for 219 yards. His production combined with an impressive showing at the combine has NFL Media analyst Charles Davis confident in Langford’s ability to succeed in the NFL.
"RB that's under the radar, but I happen to like is Jeremy Langford of Michigan State. Ran fast, very productive in last 2 yrs. Has a chance
— Charles Davis (@CFD22) February 21, 2015 "
Langford is a potential Day 3 prospect who has the ability to succeed in spot duty running the ball, but he also should develop into a solid third-down back with his ability as a blocker and receiver. He is a perfect developmental prospect for the Steelers if he slips until the fourth round or later.
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Ali Marpet, OL, Hobart & William Smith
4 of 6
Height/Weight: 6’4”, 307 pounds
Ranking: No. 4 Offensive Guard (No. 119 Overall)
Division III Ali Marpet is a name that was not on many radars prior to the offseason. He capitalized on an invite to the Senior Bowl with a strong performance and carried it over to the combine.
Marpet is a mobile prospect, which was evident with his 4.98-second 40—best among offensive linemen. He followed this up with a 4.47-second performance in the 20-yard shuttle and had a three-cone drill time of 7.33 seconds, ranking only behind Jake Fischer in each of these categories.
Marpet has impressive strength as well. His 30 reps in the 225-pound bench press ranked fifth among offensive linemen. His speed and strength were evident in college, where he put together an impressive resume.
In four years at Hobart, Marpet started 37 games, earned numerous Division III All-American honors and was named the Liberty League Co-Offensive Player of the Year after not allowing a sack in 2014. Although he has vast experience at left tackle, he will shift inside in the NFL where he can play guard or center. With Ramon Foster a free agent in 2016, Marpet could potentially take over as a starter in Pittsburgh.
Combined with Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro, Marpet would allow the Steelers to have one of the most athletic interiors in the entire league. He will just need time to develop and adjust to playing against better competition.
However, he has a long list of believers, including Charles Davis of NFL Media, via Mike Huguenin of NFL.com: "He definitely belongs," Davis said during NFL Network coverage Friday.
Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota
5 of 6
Height/Weight: 6’4”, 249 pounds
Ranking: No. 1 Tight End (No. 27 Overall)
Defense is the priority for the Steelers during the offseason, but one area they must address on offense is tight end. Heath Miller is the only experienced player under contract and is nearing the end of his career at 32 years old.
This year’s crop of tight ends is not strong, which will make it difficult for the Steelers to find their tight end of the future, but one option they must consider is Maxx Williams. Although his numbers at the combine were not spectacular, his performance in position drills was impressive.
Williams had standout performances among tight ends in the 40-yard dash (4.78 seconds), vertical jump (34.5 inches), board jump (117 inches) and 20-yard shuttle (4.37 seconds). Although he established himself as the top tight end in the class, not everyone was impressed:
"Maxx Williams just ran himself out of the first round. Going to have to run a lot better on his 2nd try and at his pro day
— Greg Gabriel (@greggabe) February 20, 2015
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Williams’ 40 time has some concerned and for good reason. Given the NFL's emphasis on athletic tight ends, he did not stand out. Instead, he compares to a tight end like Miller, which the Steelers would be just fine drafting.
Unlike other teams, the Steelers like tight ends who can stay in and block in addition to contributing as a receiver. Williams is still a work in progress as a blocker but proved he is a capable receiver with 61 receptions for 986 yards and 13 touchdowns in two years at Minnesota.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com noted that “Williams led all college tight ends with nine explosive catches (25-plus yards)” and that “82 percent of his catches were either for a first down or touchdown.” So while Williams’ speed did not impress, his production in games speaks for itself.
Williams displayed his ability as a receiver in drills, where he stood out among his competitors. Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Media took note:
"Maxx Williams has very soft hands. Catches everything easy.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) February 20, 2015
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Williams may not have blown up the combine with his numbers, but he still solidified himself as the top tight end in this year’s class. He is the type of tight end that the Steelers like on their roster and is a potential option in the first round.
Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida
6 of 6
Height/Weight: 6’3”, 261 pounds
Ranking: No. 3 Defensive End (No. 11 Overall)
Not everyone needed to work out to make an impression at the combine. That was the case for Dante Fowler Jr., one of the top edge defenders in the draft and a potential top-10 selection.
It is unlikely that Fowler slips all the way to No. 22 and the Steelers, but if he does, they will surely run to the podium to make the selection. Even without working out, his size had to leave the scouts drooling. At 6’3”, 261 pounds, he has ideal size to play left outside linebacker in Pittsburgh’s scheme.
At Florida, Fowler played at different spots on the defense, which makes him a scheme-versatile player. He has the explosive ability to rush the quarterback and the size to defend against the run. He demonstrated this in college, with 140 tackles, 33.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in three years, according to Sports-Reference.com.
When speaking with the media, Fowler acknowledged that he could cause issues for opposing offensive coordinators, via Chris Burke of SI.com: "I create a lot of problems for the offense and really just stressing offensive coordinators out," Fowler said. "It’s an advantage [to have played DE and LB]. ... I was versatile and fortunate enough to be able to play both."
Besides his ability on the field, Fowler excels in front of the podium. Bryan Fischer of NFL.com called him a winner from the Day 3 media session: “This former Gators stud was the star of the show on Friday as he held court from the podium to discuss everything from his position at the next level to growing up in St. Petersburg. He was captivating, and several media members asked him if he was always this loose in such a setting.”
Fowler is an ideal prospect for the Steelers and will be near the top of their draft board come the end of April. He may not fall to them in the draft, but if he begins to slip, Fowler is the type of prospect that they may try to move up and get.
Note: Unless otherwise noted, all stats are courtesy of ESPN.com. All combine results are courtesy of the NFL.com combine tracker. All draft rankings are courtesy of Matt Miller of Bleacher Report. All salary information is courtesy of Spotrac.com, and all roster information is courtesy of Steelers.com.
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