Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Preview

jimmy jemmerMar 16, 2008

I know who the Steelers will select in the first round of the draft. + Other rounds too!

1. They will select Brandon Albert if he is there. 100%.

2. If Albert is not there they will select a WR: Hardy, Sweed or Kelly. 100%

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3. If options 1 and 2 are gone they will select Antoine Cason. 100%

4. In the chances that 1,2,3 are gone The Steelers will draft Quentin Groves OLB / DE a player who provides the Steelers with a Hybrid D. WDE / ROLB. Harrison Buck in 09?

5. In the unlikelihood that 1,2,3,4 are all gone they will select Kentwan Balmer.

6. If 1,2,3,4 and 5 are not there they will trade down to the early second and select Mike Pollack - C. Trade down to get an extra 2,3,5th picks.

So in order of preference The Steelers will draft:

1. Brandon Albert LG / LT

2. Hardy or Kelly Big WR 6-4+

3. Antoine Cason Ballhawking CB /FS.

4. Quentin Groves OLB / DE

5. Kentwan Balmer RDE / DT

6. Mike Pollack - C.

Either coming to visit the Steelers, interviewed at the combine, or Steelers went to their Pro Days:

OLB - Cliff Avril (Purdue) & Quentin Groves (Auburn)

WR - Limas Sweed (Texas), James Hardy (Indiana), Keenan Burton (Kentucky)

OL - Mike Pollack (Arizona State), Jeremy Zuttah (Rutgers), James Blair(W. Mich), Branden Albert (VA)

S - Jamie Silva (Boston College)

DL - Carlton Powell (Va Tech)

Now a Final Mock Draft from Me! Yes already.

1. Brandon Albert LG / LT

2. Cliff Avril OLB / DE

3. Keenan Burton WR

4. Carlton Powell DT / RDE

5. Jeremy Zuttah T/G/C

6. Jamie Silva . *** You heard it here first. FS / This guy is the best Special Teams player I have ever seen.

Feel free to give your opinions and hopefully some insight as well.

Keep safe to all!

The steelers must announce another 3 players signed from Free Agency. BE THE GM OF THE STEELERS – CHOSEN UP UNTIL our pick (23) – SHOW YOUR ABILITIES!

1. Hadnot C

2. Chris Crocker FS / CB

3. Landon Johnson WLB in a 4-3.

I have a couple mock drafts here after the combine. Take a look and see what you think. They include TRADES as well as the Steelers full draft (2 with trades and one without) Mock 1 with 1st round Trades all teams 1. Dolphins- TRADED to DALLAS for Dallas' (22, 28, 2nd round, as well as Patrick Crayton and Chris Carpenter) DALLAS selects: DARREN MCFADDEN 2. Rams: Chris Long-DE 3. Falcons: Matt Ryan-QB 4. Raiders: Sedrick Ellis-DT 5. Chiefs: Jake Long-OT 6. Jets: Vernon Gholston-DE 7. Cheaters*: Leodis McKelvin-CB 8. Ravens: Brian Brohm-QB 9. Bengals: Glenn Dorsey-DT 10. Saints: Derrick Harvey-DE 11. Bills: Keith Rivers-OLB 12. Broncos: Phillip Merling-DE 13. Panthers: Ryan Clady-OT 14. Bears: Jeff Otah-OT 15. Lions: Rashard Mendenhall-RB 16. Cards: Kentwan Balmer DT 17. Vikings: DeSean Jackson-WR 18. Texans: Jonathan Stewart-RB 19. Eagles: Malcolm Kelly-WR 20. Buccaneers: Calais Campbell-DE 21. Redskins: Kenny Phillips-DS 22. From DALLAS Dolphins: Chris Williams-OT 23. TRADED to BILLS for the (2,3,and 4th) BILLS: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie- CB 24. Titans: Limas Sweed-WR 25. Seahawks: Felix Jones-RB 26. Jaguars: Mario Manningham-WR 27. Chargers: Reggie Smith-CB/DS 28. TRADED DOLPHINS: Aquib Talib-CB 29. 49'ers: Andre Caldwell-WR 30. Packers: Mike Jenkins-CB 31. NYG: Dan Connor: LB 2nd Round: 32. Dolphins: Pat Sims-DT 33. Rams: Sam Baker- OT 34. Raiders: Early Doucet-WR 35. Chiefs: Brandon Flowers-CB 36. Jets: Gosder Cherilus-OT 37. Falcons: Fred Davis-TE 38. Ravens: Tracy Porter-CB 39. 49'ers: Tracy Porter-CB 40. Saints: Curtis Lofton-OLB STEELERS: 2. Trevor Laws-DE 2. Anthony Collins-OT 3. Mike Pollak-OC 3. Tyvon Branch-CB 4. Tashard Choice-RB 4. William Franklin-WR 5. Jeremy Zuttah-OG 6. J. Lehman-LB FA: Madieu Williams-DS Randy Starks-DT UDFA: Jehuu Caulcrick Ben Moffitt Darien Williams Brian Witherspoon Ernie Wheelwright

I have a couple mock drafts here after the combine. Take a look and see what you think. They include TRADES as well as the Steelers full draft (2 with trades and one without)
Mock 1 with 1st round Trades all teams
1. Dolphins- TRADED to DALLAS for Dallas' (22, 28, 2nd round, as well as Patrick Crayton and Chris Carpenter)
DALLAS selects: DARREN MCFADDEN
2. Rams: Chris Long-DE
3. Falcons: Matt Ryan-QB
4. Raiders: Sedrick Ellis-DT
5. Chiefs: Jake Long-OT
6. Jets: Vernon Gholston-DE
7. Cheaters*: Leodis McKelvin-CB
8. Ravens: Brian Brohm-QB
9. Bengals: Glenn Dorsey-DT
10. Saints: Derrick Harvey-DE
11. Bills: Keith Rivers-OLB
12. Broncos: Phillip Merling-DE
13. Panthers: Ryan Clady-OT
14. Bears: Jeff Otah-OT
15. Lions: Rashard Mendenhall-RB
16. Cards: Kentwan Balmer DT
17. Vikings: DeSean Jackson-WR
18. Texans: Jonathan Stewart-RB
19. Eagles: Malcolm Kelly-WR
20. Buccaneers: Calais Campbell-DE
21. Redskins: Kenny Phillips-DS
22. From DALLAS
Dolphins: Chris Williams-OT
23. TRADED to BILLS for the (2,3,and 4th)
BILLS: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie- CB
24. Titans: Limas Sweed-WR
25. Seahawks: Felix Jones-RB
26. Jaguars: Mario Manningham-WR
27. Chargers: Reggie Smith-CB/DS
28. TRADED
DOLPHINS: Aquib Talib-CB
29. 49'ers: Andre Caldwell-WR
30. Packers: Mike Jenkins-CB
31. NYG: Dan Connor: LB

2nd Round:
32. Dolphins: Pat Sims-DT
33. Rams: Sam Baker- OT
34. Raiders: Early Doucet-WR
35. Chiefs: Brandon Flowers-CB
36. Jets: Gosder Cherilus-OT
37. Falcons: Fred Davis-TE
38. Ravens: Tracy Porter-CB
39. 49'ers: Tracy Porter-CB
40. Saints: Curtis Lofton-OLB

STEELERS:
2. Trevor Laws-DE
2. Anthony Collins-OT
3. Mike Pollak-OC
3. Tyvon Branch-CB
4. Tashard Choice-RB
4. William Franklin-WR
5. Jeremy Zuttah-OG
6. J. Lehman-LB

FA:
Madieu Williams-DS
Randy Starks-DT

UDFA:
Jehuu Caulcrick
Ben Moffitt
Darien Williams
Brian Witherspoon
Ernie Wheelwright

2nd Mock Without other teams Trades
1. Chris Long
2. Sedrick Ellis
3. Darren McFadden
4. Vernon Gholston
5. Jake Long
6. Derrick Harvey
7. Leodis McKelvin
8. Matt Ryan
9. Glenn Dorsey
10. Phillip Merling
11. Keith Rivers
12. Calais Campbell
13. Ryan Clady
14. Jeff Otah
15. Aquib Talib
16. Kentwan Balmer
17. DeSean Jackson
18. Rashard Mendenhall
19. Malcolm Kelly
20. Chris Williams
21. Kenny Phillips
22. Jonathan Stewart
23. TRADED BILLS: Rodgers-Cromartie
24. Titans: Limas Sweed
25. Felix Jones
26. Mario Manningham
27. Reggie Smith
28. Aquib Talib
29. Andre Caldwell
30. Mike Jenkins
31. Dan Connor

STEELERS:
2. Trevor Laws
2. Antoine Cason CB
3. Pollak OC
3. Smith RB
4. Duane Brown OL
4. William Franklin
5. Jeremy Zuttah OL
6. J Leman

NO TRADES:
1. Rodgers-Cromartie CB
2. Anthony Collins OT
3. Kevin Smith RB
4. Dre Moore DT
5. William Franklin WR
6. J Leman

CED Wilson, Tyrone Carter / Willie Reid / Davenport cut.

I Love quarter / s defense: So with all our CB’s / S’s we are set.

Are there any ‘specialist pass’ rushers in this draft. Not Howard 6’0. Men who run 4.5 and are 6-4 250-260 and could be had in 5th or 6th round or UFA’s? Would love for people to give me some names.

At present we would need a couple of Running backs with only Parker, Russell as actives. A couple of 6-2: 230’s with a 4.6 / 4.7 should be available after draft – as this draft is pretty deep at RB. But with Ben, an improved Oline and good- to very good WR’s / TE’s; why not throw it 56 – 44 anyway?

2 mocks for steeler heaven.

1st mock: Trades. Trade with Washington – they need edge rushers / WR’s. Our first for their 2,3,4. This mock has to do with belief that Brandon Albert will not cut it as a LT. All other LT’s have gone.

With FS it would be Madieu Williams / Clark starting. However Williams / Townsend / Gay could play the slot; leaving BMAC to be another FS possibility. I think BMAC has a big year next year.

2. Carl Nicks T

2. Dre Moore DL

3. Eddie Royal WR / K/PR

4. Phillip Wheeler MLB

4. Silva FS / SS – special teams

5. Duane Brown T

6. Ben Moffit MLB – special teams

2nd Mock: Brandon Albert is the pick and are confident he will be a LT. No trades.

1. Brandon Albert LT

2. Charles Godfrey CB

3. Eddie Royal WR / P.K / R.

4. Bryan Smith OLB – Pass rush specialist.

5. Silva FS / SS

6. Arman Shields WR.

Personally I lean towards the first mock. Or the trade down. It all depends on Albert. If the Steelers see him as a LT he is a lock in my opinion. (If he is there) He is more a ‘hybrid’ Oliner than Williams and Baker (For example).

Carl Nicks will be very good too. I like having extra picks; and with only 6 picks in the draft before (a trade) it is best to trade down.

If we were to trade down and Nicks and Albert were both there you take Albert. However I would feel strongly about giving up our 2nd and 4th picks to get Nicks as well. They would be our LT / RT teams for 8-10 yrs I believe.

Give us your thoughts.

INSIDE INFO: source says coaching staff and front office at odds over Starks and Draft Options

Some VERY interesting stuff, that if true, really shows that the Steelers Front Office and Coaching Staff (namely Bruce Arians) are not on the same page.

Someone very close to the Steelers provided the following info:

... the front office just shoved Max Starks down Bruce Arians's throat as the Steelers close in on a long-term deal for a guy Arians had benched. "If they match any contract for him," the source said, "and then he's standing on the sideline during the game, the guys who have the same name around here are going to demand answers." The source also pointed out that a long-term deal -- and the tenure that would go with it -- will force the staff -- which always has questionable tenure -- to look at Starks with more respect than the Starks who had only one year left on his contract.

... the coaches who "had to have Mahan" are now backpedaling and saying, "oh, hey, man, we knew he was just a backup." The source doesn't appreciate the lack of accountability, "and I'm including Tomlin in that, too."

... a center is a strong draft possibility, but then the source slipped into disgust. "We're going to draft a center, we're going to draft a guard, we're going to draft a tackle, draft, draft, draft. Hey, we only have six picks. That won't fix all the problems."

... Corey Williams was a Steelers target in free agency, but the Green Bay defensive end was recently franchised. Asked if the Steelers are interested in Justin Smith, who was Dick LeBeau's first draft pick back with the Bengals. "Nope," my source said. "They think he's strictly a 4-3 end."

... Ryan McBean will help next season, "at least on special teams as one of those Keisel-type wedge-busters because he's big and he can run." But so could Shaun Nua. And so could Lee Vickers. "That's what I said, so I asked if he'd turn his shoulder at contact and I was told that he won't, that he has the necessary lack of intelligence at the point of contact." The source also said that McBean works out at the facility every day and impressed the coaching staff with the way he finished the season.

... Clark Haggans could return. It's being written by some that Haggans definitely won't return, as if he's disliked by the organization, but that's far from the truth. "It could turn out the way Deshea turned out," the source said. "Remember? They didn't think he'd be back, but they scooped him up once the price was right." It's the same scenario with Haggans, he said, but that LaMarr Woodley is held in higher regard now than Townsend's expected successor Bryant McFadden was back then.

... the running back situation could remain intact, and this nugget also raised my source's ire. "The OC is really big on Gary Russell, thinks he'll be the new guy we all want to see back there." When I responded that I, too, like Russell, and that Najeh Davenport needs replaced as the No. 2, The source agreed: "Right. If Russell has anything, let him show us as the No. 3, because he still hasn't shown enough to warrant that much optimism."

What's obvious here is that the front office and the coaching staff are not in sync on personnel. It's clear that Arians has way too much input and clearly has Mike Tomlin's ear. Does anyone think that's a good thing? When Cowher was the coach, the FO couldn't bigfoot him and shove moves down his throat like they did to Tomlin with the Starks transition tag. Cowher was too large a figure to have that done to him, but it's clear the FO doesn't feel the same way about Tomlin/Arians.

At the same time, it's clear the coaches and FO disagree about the needs in the upcoming draft. I think the front office will take control of this draft so if anyone thinks we're drafting 3 offensive linemen, they had better be prepared for a surprise come draft day. I think the Steelers draft one OLmen fairly high, but that's it because drafting more than one just doesn't make any sense if Starks and Essex and Kemo are still on the team next year. The part about the running backs is also very distressing. If they have such confidence in Russell, why didn't he even dress for almost the whole year? I wouldn't be counting on a guy who flunked out of school and sat around a year allowing himself to get woefully out of shape.

If the front office runs this draft, a DE and a RB will be taken high. If the coaches get their way (like they did last year with Spaeth and Sepulveda), then count on several OLmen

I always thought:

The coaches coach and pick players they want:

The F.O do administration.

It staggers me why NFL clubs / Steelers do not comply with the following.

A right handed quarterback will predominatly throw to the right side of the field. So in a 3-4 Defense your LDE / LCB / LOLB must be able to stop the run (with the normal TE with the RT) and play in space well.

LDE if not sacking the quarterback must jump to bat balls down - When was the last time you saw Aaron Smith bat one down?

The left side of the field against the Right handed QB is the most important part of Defense.

So you need a LDE to have a good vertical jump, to bat down balls, you need a LOLB with ability in space and a good vertical jump and a great LCB who can play in a deep zone (Cover 3) in a 3-4 which is Lebeau's defense.

I want Antoine Cason in the draft - a ballhawk who may not be quick 4.45 Forty - but like Asante Samuel can play off somewhat. If a QB throws a dump he can anticipate = 6. LCB. Is Woodley good in space? If not play him at ROLB (The blindside. Can our new draft picks on the Dline vertical jump to bat down balls if not sacking the quarterback?

The right side of the field is not nearly as important as the Left - but you still need players to fit the scheme.

I would play zone on the Left of the field to confuse, and as it is harder for a Right handed QB to throw to his left - I would play bump and run to his left (Our right of the field). Taylor and BMAC are good at BUMP and Run. Timmons MLB 2 this year can get the slot to the right of the field on occasions - Press coverage.

I think we need a ballhawking FS too. To play centre field - or to come up to the the line of scrimmage to get the Slot reciever on the Right side of the field.

Easy to get these players yeah? It should be with the analysis and scouting reports we get today.

Ideally Carriker is going to be a superb player, wish we traded up last year = LDE.

Starks is the best LDE - with a vertical jump in the FA's = LDE.

Corey Williams would play RDE in my scheme - not the vertical jump but quicker / acceleration to beat LT's so Woodley / Harrison come free.

A New 3-4 DLINE? / Base Defense

RDE - Corey Williams

NT - Hampton / Issac Sopoaga V good vertical leap to bat balls directed to middle field.

LDE - Randy Starks

ROLB - Woodley - Blindside

MLB 1 (Sharing duties) If run = Farrior / If pass = Foote.

MLB2 = Timmons

LOLB Harrison stronger / better in Vertical leap / space than Woodley?

LCB = Antoine Cason

RCB = Taylor

FS = Ballhawk?

SS POL.

The Draft: If we sign players aforementioned DEF: Williams / Starks / Sopoaga. OFF: Smiley (49's Guard)

May need to release Wilson / some other hacks to find funds = worth it.

Cason / Talib - need a ballhawk LCB as explained earlier

Brandon Albert LT / LG

Jordy Nelson Big WR - KR / PR

Phillip Wheeler / MLB - rotate Farrior / Foote / Wheeler in set schemes.

Duane Brown / John Sullivan OT / OC

Jamie Silva More FS - has good hands (Probably not quick enough) - This bloke is the best special teams player I have ever seen. + Keisel = better special teams already. Captain of the special teams will be Silva in 2 yrs.

If the players are gone - go for the next best player in that position.

I want.

LT / LG

Big WR / KR / PR

MLB for 3-4 / 4-3

OT / OC

Special Team's ACE.

Players who come cheap (FA's) can assist us these are:

Marcus Demps(CB/S) and Donnell Washington (LDE / DT): Washington is still young, has a good vertical leap = LDE.

Substitute Williams RDE, Washington LDE, (Keisel = bad VL = RDE) Smith Now a better RDE,( I am against Justin Smith now (He would be a ROLB) here, Hampton, Hoke, McBean RDE (Poor VL) on the DLINE, according to other teams SETS on Offense.

Even Woodley can play LDE in some passing downs in a 3-3-5 Defense.

I love a player for the JAGS named Senseborough (Or something similar in spelling) He would be the ballhawking FS I am after.

We get these parts = SB in 08.

Thanks for reading.

A couple of Questions if I may.

Is Woodley a SDE or WDE in a 4-3?

Can Keisel or Smith play as undertackles in a 4-3?

Are there a couple of players who are known as specialist rushers - as in a Roderick Green or a John Alston to grab late in the draft? I like Roderick Green as a DE in passing situations.

I like a couple of extra pass rushers in a squad to give a spell to Harrison and Woodley in Nickels and Dimes / Quarter packages.

Can Flowers bump and run or play deep zone - ala cover 3 = Lebeau's scheme?

Is McBean stronger than Keisel in 2 gap work?

Why can't the steelers do this? On offense or defense?

On offense if the opponent is 3-4 you pass spread em out.

On offense if the opponent is 4-3 you run

On Offense if your opponent is 46 - spread em out pass Delayed runs.

On Defense if your opponent is a pass team - 4-3 /4-3 cover 2

On Defense if your opponent is a run happy team - 3-4.

A hybrid at all times?

Can you explain where the UT and DT play in a 4-3. Position wise. On the line.

Why hasn't McFadden come on? Can he play bump and run?

Tell me about William Gay - can he play bump and run? Cover 3 - deep zone?

Are the corners this year better than Darrelle Revis?

Who is the best kick reurner / Punts?

Who is the best WDE in the draft coming up?

Does a tall / Burress type WR have to play on the left side of the field? Why Why not?

Why doesn't on the O Line (Against the 3-4) - the LT take the ROLB always, the LG take the RDE, the C the NT, the RG the LDE and the RT take the LOLB. With fullbacks / HB e.t.c taking the extra blitzer why do we get so many sacks against Big Ben?

On Offense why don't our TE's and Fullbacks / Half backs chip more? Chip and then get downfield for a possible completed pass? (protect Oline)?

Can Polamalu play LCB - the most important corner position (as described before by the poster)? then we could get 2 'tackling' and efficent cover safeties and our secondary would rock.

Who will be a first round bust in the draft coming up?

Who is overrated? Who is underrated?

Why do our corners play off all the time? - always easy completions if a Qb just throws it quickly.

Dan Rooney should show that he has balls - Like Art (Who canned that Cowher loser - pity 8 seasons too late) And investigate this further.

We were robbed in at least 1 AFCC title game it seems.

Dan seems to care more about his image in the NFL than wanting a 'super power' Steelers football team.

Get tough Dan - or piss off and let Art take over.

Art is ruthless - Dan Rooney's title as 'head honcho' has been poor in winning Superbowls.

A somewhat lucky win, and having a coach who still can't win the big one. Big Ben and the players won in spite of Cowher - Cowher to me is still a loser and always will be. Tell me how a coach who has sole rights on 3-4 OLBS (DE's) for a decade can't win a superbowl. Running with 11 men in the box don't work in playoffs. Thanks Bettis! (most overrated Steeler ever - is fat Jerome)

Hopefully Art cans people's asses quickly if they aren't performing. Coaches and players alike.

You listening Larry Foote and Brett Keisel. Both are poor in stopping the run.

Keisel in a turnstile at RDE He ain't no 2 gapper; and Foote talks too much. Timmons is quicker and has more cunte than Foote.

Dan Rooney and Cowher will go down in Steeler folklore as LOSERS. Dick Lebeau is becoming one of the 2 aforementioned losers. 1 more year dick and its Tomlin's team outright.

Lebeau has 1 SB victory in 50 yrs playing and coaching. It says alot that stat. A leader and innovative player / coach should have at least 6 in that time frame, even if the side he represents is poor in certain areas.

I am on to Dick Lebeau and his 'overrated' defenses.

Throw Slants, sideways, WR screens, Bubble screens and you will always beat Lebeau. His defense is based on a QB throwing the ball downfield - if they don't Dick Lebeau's defense is toast.

From the likes of the NYT article today, it looks like they might be downplaying it because they were involved in the cover-up.

If it turns out to be true that Dan Rooney--the boss of our favorite team--knew from Goodell that the Steelers were being taped multiple times and he advised Goodell to cover it up, who exactly IS on our side as Steeler fans? As Steeler fans that demand that our favorite team's games be played fairly. Not the Rooneys, that's for sure.

Now, if it turns out that Goodell almost fully misled Rooney about the content of the tapes, then that's a different story.

Now for some football buzz. James Hardy, the 6-6, 220 lb WR from Indiana, has said that the Steelers have been one of several teams that have "shown interest" in him. I know everyone things we're going OL in the first round, but I wouldn't be shocked if the Steelers got Ben the big WR he wants (even if he now denies he wants one, we all know he really does). I can just imagine Hines' reaction if we did draft Hardy in round 1.

Art Rooney is also writing a book. Art has been writing for longer than Dan... But Dan got in first.

Art's will be a beauty. Art is a winner.

But more and more, I don't see how the latter can be true. The evidence is made public that the Steelers were taped multiple times over the past 6 years, and the Rooneys release a press statement saying "no big deal."

I'll follow the story until all the evidence presents itself, but if at the end of the day it's true that Rooney is so unconcerned about the desire for Steelers fans to have their favorite team compete on an even playing field, and if the other owners in the league are also in cahoots and therefore unconcerned about the desire for their fans to see their favorite teams compete on an even playing field, then I think I may just give up on watching the NFL completely.

Salt in wound: Rewatching the Jillsonville game. No doom and gloom.

1. Foote / Keisel / Haggans = stink.

2. Woodley will be only be a 6-9 sack a year man. As Haggans was so bad - Woodley looked great. He ain't that good folks. He ain’t no pass rushing menace to be sure.

3. Ike Taylor can not play zone defense

4. Hampton was good. V. Good.

5. Harrison and Ward / Miller are our best players.

6. Big Ben caused 4 of the 6 sacks himself - by holding the ball for too long and not throwing it away.

7. Why was Holmes moved from the left side of the field - He had taken Mathis away from the action, when he moved right = 2 picks. Don't throw it in Mathis's direction.

8. Ben lost this game - noone, noone else.

9. The defense was good actually v. good. Ben give em points and field position.

10. On Jones - Drew's catching TD it was Farrior and not woodley with the brain cramp. Woodley did his job by chipping Drew but Farrior directing traffic ran a red light himself.

11. Woodley started at UT in a couple of series. Keisel = LDE Harrison RDE Hampton = DT and Woodley 3 technique - UT. No pressure though.

12. Eason and Dline members was on Special teams = no.

13. Davenport / Wilson are scared of contact. = Cowards.

14. How we missed a return man.

15. Townsend is just about done. Need a LCB = Cason? RCB = IKE.

16. Polamalu plays better deep than he does at the line of scrimmage.

17. Holding or not... Foote and Keisel were killed on Garrard's last QB sneak.

Feel free to add more. Keep the season alive. It is good to write / talk about 'scarring' I am told.

Taylor, Cason, BMAC, Gay, Pol, Smith, Clark sounds good doesn't it.

Cason is a ballhawk. He actually catches the ball - and if given space = 6.

The NFL is now a passing league. If you don't stop the pass you are finished.

**********Think about the first JAGS game. They had 39 mins of possession. 250 yds on the ground and won by 7.

Brady has 50 pass attempts throws for 400 yds we get smashed.

You need to stop the pass more than the run in todays NFL. Cowher never really understood that.

I like the 3-3-5 defense. On running downs

LDE = Smith

RDE = Hoke

NT = Hampton

ROLB Foote

MLB = Farrior

LOLB = Harrison

On passing downs:

LDE = Woodley

RDE = Keisel

NT / DT = Smith / McBean

ROLB Timmons

MLB Farrior

LOLB Harrison

The 3 corners will be Ike, Cason (hopefully) and BMAC / Deshea.

Mix and match personnel for different schemes opposition use.

The 3-3-5 can stop the run. Using different personnel.

You can bring POL up to the line of scrimmage or play him deep. You can play him as an OLB near the line of scrimmage.

Hopefully Tomlebeau creats this packages - as all our CB's can tackle - it is very effective.

Another Defense??

Tomlin and Lebeau should play cover 2 and blitz 5 guys everydown with 2 deep. What 5 and what 2 play deep?

Tomlin's 3-4 zoneblitz cover 2

Cover 3 is used when you have 4 wideouts who can play deep. Cover 3 is used when you score points.

When you play cover 3 at the start of games there is 1 player free for Brady to complete short passes. Make Brady beat you deep / with Maroney.

4 wides = cover 3

3 and less = cover 2.

Tomlin has improved our Corners - especially Ike Taylor + all defense formations especially their abilities in a 3-4 defense.

Watching the Jags game again (doh) Ike Taylor has improved. I think he is a top (5) corner in the league. Great bump and run corner now.

Tomlin will assist our charge as in a 3-4 you need great corners. He has one. Imagine a Revis too. (Doh).

I hope BMAC can play bump and run too. If he can play like Taylor we are set here.

Draft: RDE (3-4 D) Keisel is not strong enough - he fell down on Garrayd's run on 4th down. Not strong enough.

Big WR on the left side.

Oline LT and C.

We are not far away.

Hampton is our only Dlineman who plays 2 gap, even though Hampton probably plays 1 gap more than 50% of the time + Our Ends in a 1 gap means:

That We are playing the 3-4 like a 4-3 with all of our Dlineman playing 1 gap. Tomlin like Wade Phillips / Ted Cottrell play a 1 gap 3-4 defense where the ends penetrate more.

Keisel and Smith had poor seasons - really - when they had a right to get after the quarterback and got no sacks really.

The only teams who play a true 3-4 2 gap front are the JETS and Patriots.

As the Pats have huge D lineman they can play the 2 gap front:

The Jets should play a 1 gap 3-4 with their roster.

Keisel is not strong enough to shed one blocker - comparing him to a 2 gap 3-4 End is stupid.

Tomlin plays the 3-4 1 gap scheme. It is like a 4-3 really. With only Hampton not being a 1 gapper all the time. Even then Hampton has the scheme called for him to rush the quarterback more than 50% of the time.

Keisel and and our back up ends are putrid - considering that they had the chance under Tomlin to get after the quarterback in our 3-4 base 1 gap scheme.

Hence the ' quote' we need big quick men' on Lines from Tomlin in his last presser. = DE's will be different here next year.

Tomlin plays the 3-4 like a 4-3 where Hampton only plays the 2 gap / and even then Hampton tries to get after the quarterback as well.

In Chuck Noll's first draft as the Steelers' coach, the team picked Joe Greene on the first round. Greene was the foundation for the program Noll built to turn the Steelers from lovable losers into a team that won four Super Bowls during a six-season span of the 1970s. Greene was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1987.

In Bill Cowher's first draft as the Steelers' coach, the team picked Leon Searcy, Levon Kirkland and Joel Steed on the first day. Searcy replaced Tunch Ilkin as the starting right tackle in his second season; Kirkland played in two Pro Bowls and was a two-time team MVP; and Steed was voted to one Pro Bowl. All three were starters for the team when the Steelers faced Dallas in Super Bowl XXX.

Mike Tomlin's first draft as the Steelers coach starts today. History certainly has set the bar high.

"I do (have some butterflies)," Tomlin admitted about participating in his first NFL Draft as a head coach. "I like that feeling though. I have gotten that feeling a lot of ways, regarding a lot of things the last few months. The draft is one of them. You love those challenges and have to look forward to embracing them."

For a team such as the Steelers that sees the draft as its primary method of acquiring talent, every one is both a challenge and an opportunity. This draft's challenge comes in replenishing a roster that is dangerously thin in more than a couple of areas, with the opportunity being that if the Steelers can add some quality players over the weekend they still have the core of the roster intact that helped them win Super Bowl XL.

The Steelers go into the weekend with nine picks - one in each of the seven rounds plus compensatory choices in the fourth and fifth. That's as many picks as they've had in any of the seven previous drafts under Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert, and making trades down in a round to accumulate even more choices is not out of the question.

The most common spot for trading down is the first round, where the Steelers currently have the 15th overall selection. During Colbert's time here, the Steelers have traded down in the first round once - in 2001 when the team picked Casey Hampton - and traded up twice - in 2003 when the team picked Troy Polamalu and in 2006 when it chose Santonio Holmes.

"We are picking No. 15 as everybody knows," said Colbert. "As we always do, we will call all of the teams and touch base as far as trading up or trading down. It's less likely that we are going to go up from the 15th position, because it is very expensive to get up in that top echelon.

"Trading down could be an option for us. We already have nine draft picks because we picked up an extra fourth and fifth as compensatory picks, but this is probably a good draft where more picks midway through is a good thing because there are a lot of good players who are going to be available in those three, four round areas. That could be interesting to us."

Another point of interest for the Steelers is that it seems as though the bulk of the guys being talked about at the top of the first round play offense, which is good for a team looking for help on defense. The more teams among the top 14 that pick offense give the Steelers a better chance at the top players on defense. Getting the consensus best player at a position, as the Steelers did in 2003 when they chose Polamalu and again in 2005 when they picked tight end Heath Miller, usually is a solid recipe for success.

"If you look back on our draft history, or at least since I have been involved with it," said Colbert, "we have always alternated offense-defense (with the No. 1 pick) until the last three years, when we have picked offense each time. It doesn't mean you will take a defensive player this year, but it does mean that you probably got a little older on defense from a depth standpoint than you would like to be."

The situation Colbert describes seems to be most acute at linebacker and defensive line. At each of those areas, the starters are proven players, but the depth, with the exception of Chris Hoke at nose tackle, is not what it needs to be for a team hoping to make another run at a championship.

"Defensively, I think (the talent) is good at all levels," said Colbert. "I think that's something that is interesting to us because we could use help at any level of our defense -- not necessarily coming in and starting right away, but if we can add depth at any point at any level of our defense, we will be helping our team."

As for the actual process of picking players, things aren't likely to change much. When Commissioner Roger Goodell kicks things off around noon today, the Steelers will have all of the players on their draft board ranked, and they will have gone through a number of mock draft scenarios to prepare themselves for any eventuality.

The Steelers pick is always a consensus, and even though Tomlin is a rookie when it comes to the role he'll be playing this weekend he did prepare himself for this day when he was an assistant coach.

"I received great advice as a young coach. I approached it very similar to how I approach it now," said Tomlin. "As a position coach, I studied everybody in the draft. We had an open door policy in Tampa in terms of the coaches being able to be part of the process whether your position was being discussed or not. I took advantage of that. I am a personnel enthusiast by nature. I think if you want to excel in this business, you better have an interest in personnel. Mentally, I have been through the process before, probably not officially, but it is not unlike what I have done in the past."

And while the cliché of "picking the best player available" was something that began with Noll in 1969, it's still what the Steelers believe in today. They'll be picking players to make their team better, instead of looking for specific guys to fit a particular scheme.

"Talent does defy scheme," said Tomlin. "The great ones, they can play regardless of what the specific Xs and Os are. In today's NFL, the lines are really starting to get a little blurry, specifically when you start talking about the 3-4 versus the 4-3. The issue now is whether it is a one-gap front or a two-gap front. There are some 3-4 teams that are a one-gap front and there are some 3-4 teams that are a two-gap front. The 3-4 teams that are a one-gap front play very similar to the 4-3 teams. It is becoming gray, and I think football players are football players, and guys who can make plays will make plays."

We play more 1 gap now!

Keisel was an absolute disgrace when he was able to get after it compared to playing a 2 gap containment role.

The RESULT yesterday was inspired by THE GHOSTS OF THE LOSER BILL COWHER himself: Why we lost against the Jags in Wildcard round:

It is real simple: DICK LEBEAU AND

Again we started to run the ball when we did not need to. We moved it perfectly down the field on the first drive by passing. When we started to run - we got into 2 and 3rd and longs. Defenses know it is a pass = Int's.

We need an Oline who pass blocks. Simple. 62 / 38 pass to run ratio. It is far too easy to stop the run. We need 3-4 new starters on OLINE. PASS BLOCKERS ONLY.

Lebeau - is overrated. Retire him. We need to employ Rob RYAN - not REX. Rob was the OUTSIDE linebackers coach in 2 of NEW England's SUPERBOWLS.

These players are finished in PITTSburgh:

Haggans, Faneca, Starks, Carter, M. Smith, Keisel, Foote, Farrior, Townsend. All overrated or too old / slow.

Mike Tomlin and Bruce Arians must be given credit. The players left are still 'Loser Bill Cowher' players. Weed em out. Get Tomlin's imprimatur on this side.

Arians has the right idea of how the NFL is moving; the pass. However do not run it for the sake of it. No need. Only gets you in trouble.

When you spread out the opponents Defense - 3 / 4 wides it is much easier for the QB to know who is blitzing.

Mike Tomlin is a winner. I like him - he must be given credit for entering and giving Cowher's staff one last shot. They had it and ruined it. THIS IS NOW SOLELY MIKE TOMLIN'S JOB.

Woodley, Timmons are going to be beauties. Trust me on that.

Poor Sep - The Punter had to actually save the ST's by punting short. THE SPECIAL TEAMS COACH MUST BE FIRED. SPECIAL TEAMS IS NOT HARD. THIS STILL HAD COWHER'S GHOSTS ON IT.

Cowher left Tomlin with no Oline depth and no Dline depth. Football is played in the trenches.

I would seriously think about trading BIG ben.

IF you could get Trent Edwards + 1 and 2 pick for Ben I would do it in a heart beat.

Do not give BIG BEN - BIG MONEY. WASTE. SPEND ON FREE AGENTS AND OLINE IF NECESSARY - NOT BIG BEN.

THE 3-4 IS FINISHED. OUR 3-4 TEAM ARE OLD AND WORN OUT. FOOTE, HAGGANS, FARRIOR, KEISEL ARE APPAULING Carter / Smith.

I am proud of Tomlin and if you give him 'his team' he will excel. If you give Mike 15+ yrs in the Job - he comes home with more than 1 Lombardi trophy.

4-3 Cover 2 is the way to go. YOU NEED TO STOP THE PASS - AND YOU DO IT BY SIMPLY RUSHING 4 PLAYERS. NO MORE NO LESS.

RDE = draft

UT = McBean / keisel / aaron Smith

NT = Hampton / draft

LDE = Woodley / Keisel/

ROLB = Timmons

MLB = draft

LOLB = Harrison

CB 1 = Taylor

CB 2 = BMAC

SS = POL

FS = draft pick. NEED A COVERAGE FS SAFETY / SURE TACKLER. QUICK 4-3 / 4.4 SPEED.