2012 NFL Mock Draft: Why Vontaze Burfict's Draft Slide Could Be Steelers' Gain

The draft stock of Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burfict went from sliding heading into the NFL scouting combine to in absolute free fall afterward, as the 6'1", 248-pound Burfict followed up a rough day of interviews with a poor showing in workouts.

Burfict, who had 69 tackles, five sacks and an interception for the Sun Devils a year ago, first deflected much of the blame for his sub-par, penalty-marred 2011 campaign onto teammates and officials, telling the Tucson Citizen:

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I played average. I could’ve played better. That’s what hurt me at times. The coaches kind of messed me up. I didn’t know if I would start a game or be benched. It hurt me, but I tried to fight through it.

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In bad need of a good showing in workouts after tanking in interviews, the mercurial linebacker then proceeded to do even worse in drills, running a 5.08-second 40-yard dash time that was bettered by Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe (who weighs 346 pounds). He then placing last at his position in the broad jump and next to last in the vertical jump.

Burfict's lousy showing at the combine is already causing his draft stock to plummet, and as one scout told CBS Sports over the weekend, some teams have removed Burfict from their draft boards altogether:

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I wouldn't touch him. He does have some talent, but he is so undisciplined on and off the field. The guy is completely out of control. There's no way you could trust him. I can't believe they (ASU coaching staff) didn't cut him loose.

You just scratch your head at some of the knucklehead things he does on tape. It was the same thing over and over and over again with him. He seemed to personify why that team always seemed to underachieve.

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However, while a draft day slide may cause Burfict a great degree of indigestion and could potentially cost him millions of dollars, the Pittsburgh Steelers might be in a good position to reap the rewards of drafting Burfict later. There's likely no team in the National Football League with a better shot at getting Burfict to realize his considerable potential and focus on football.

The Steelers have a need at inside linebacker next to Lawrence Timmons with starter James Farrior and reserve Larry Foote both well on the wrong side of 30. That veteran experience, as well as that shared by outside linebacker James Harrison (who is highly unlikely to take any guff from a rookie), provides the Steelers with a linebacker corps that is well equipped to keep Burfict's head on straight.

Add in a no-nonsense head coach in Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers would seem to have a support system in place to keep Burfict's energy focused on opposing ball-carriers and not on racking up personal fouls.

The fact remains that when is Burfict is on his game, he can be dominant, as he not surprisingly told the Citizen, “I just love to hit. I hate to lose.”

If Burfict's poor outing in Indy does call the proverbial bottom to drop out on draft day as some are predicting, then the Pittsburgh Steelers would be advised to consider the ASU standout in the draft's third round. Sometimes one team's trash can turn out to be another squad's treasure.