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1) C/G Maurkice Pouncey
2) OLB Jason Worilds
3) WR Emmanuel Sanders
4) OLB Thaddeus Gibson
5a) OL Chris Scott
5b) CB Crezdon Butler
5c) ILB Stevenson Sylvester
6a) C Jonathan Dwyer
6b) WR Antonio Brown
7) DE Doug Worthington
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The Steelers came into this Draft with big needs to fill at Cornerback and Interior Offensive line where they needed to find new starters. Whether this goal was met depends on whether you think former Second round pick Bryant McFadden is a starting corner in the NFL. The team re-acquired McFadden from the Arizonal Cardinals in a draft day deal basically taking him for nothing.
The team also needed to add depth at Linebacker, Wideout and Running back. The team accomplished this by getting 3 linebackers, 2 receivers and 1 Running back to fill out the depth chart.
However, after Pouncey, the teams's first round selection, there won't be much immediate help for the offense or defense in 2010. The Special Teams coverage units so scarred the team in 2009 that the Linebacker picks were made to simply improve coverage units. If those players eventually become starters, it would seem to be a bonus rather than an expectation.
"First and foremost, I hope they are capable of [being] kickoff coverage unit men," head coach Mike Tomlin said of his rookie linebackers. "That would be the first job description that they have. If they can do an adequate job of that, then we'll get to see if they are capable of rushing the passer."
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Center/Guard, Florida, 6'4", 305#
Draft Day Impressions: The Steelers indeed did "pounce" on the Rimmington winner from Florida. The team has been looking to draft a top Center for several years now. They missed taking Nick Mangold and Alex Mack in years past and that disappointment surely made this pick easier to make even though better football talent may have been found in the form of WR Dez Bryant.
I didn't watch Pouncey enough during his career to gauge whether he will be better than Mangold or Mack, but Mel Kiper thinks so, for what that's worth (nothing?). Also, he played on 2 national championship teams in the ultra-competitive SEC giving Pouncey a better pedigree.
What makes this pick nice is that Pouncey can come in right away and play Right Guard, a position he played as a Freshman. By 2011, he should be the starting Center and enjoy a long, fine career for the Steelers.
Draft Grade: B+, Predicted Grade after 3 years: B+ |
Other players the Steelers could have drafted instead in round #1: WR Dez Bryant (Dallas), QB Tim Tebow, (Denver), OT, Bryan Bulaga , (Packers), DT Dan Williams, (Cardinals) |
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Outside LB, VA Tech, 6'2", 260
Draft Day Impressions: I am disappointed in this selection. This player surely could have been taken in the 3rd or even the 4th round. I would have preferred to see more value from this pick by selecting a higher rated player like WR Golden Tate or ILB Sean Lee. But when the Steelers get sweet on a player, they tend to get hooked.
Another reason I don't like this pick is that linebackers coming out of Va Tech don't do well in the Pros and particularly for the Steelers. In 2004, the team took LB Nathaniel Adibi who had a similar build to Worilds. That player looked awful from Day 1 in a Steelers uniform. He couldn't rush the passer or get any penetration.
Finally, it seems that the Steelers took this player solely for his ability to cover Kicks and punts. After the horrendous coverage units from 2009, I can understand the team's concerns, but giving up a 2nd round pick to fix the situation is going overboard. With Pro Bowlers James Harrison and LaMar Woodley ahead of him, Worilds MUST be able to play special teams.
Draft Grade: C-, Predicted Grade after 3 years: B- |
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Wide Receiver, SMU, 5'11", 185#
Draft Day Impressions: Sanders is slight but very quick and fast (4.41-40). He played in a run-and-shoot style offense that featured lots of quick passes. Do the Steelers play this type of Offense? Somewhat with the recent trend of bubble screens in the flat.
Sanders is supposedly great as an open field runner and can make people miss. But most receivers of this stature can't last a full 16 games in the NFL -- it's just too tough. Santonio Holmes had lots of trouble staying healthy for a full season and he was bigger than Sanders coming from Ohio St.. So that means Sanders is destined to be a punt returner and 3rd or 4th wideout. Not my idea of a great value in the 3rd round.
Draft Grade: B-, Predicted Grade after 3 years: B+ |
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Outside LB, Ohio St., 6'2", 245#
Draft Day Impressions: Another linebacker? Gibson looks to have lots of potential and comes from a good college program, but can he cover kicks? Because if he can't, he'll be gone faster than former 3rd round choice Bruce Davis.
Draft Grade: B, Predicted Grade after 3 years: B |
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Offensive Line, Tennessee, 6'4", 320#
Draft Day Impressions: The team liked 2009 free agent O-lineman Ramon Foster so much that they brought in hisformer teammate at Tennessee. Scott played Left Tackle in college which shows he has very good feet and quickness. However, in the Pro game he will have to switch to the right side side and play Right Tackle or Right Guard.
Grade: C, Predicted Grade after 3 years: C |
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Cornerback, Clemson, 6'0", 190#
Draft Day Impressions: This kid is fast (4.4-40) and has nice size, but lacks ball skills (sound familiar Ike Taylor fans?). He will immediately be thrown into the mix and compete with 2009 draft picks Joe Burnett and Keenan Lewis for a DB spot. One of these 3 DB's will NOT make the team in 2010, but may land on the practice squad.
Grade: C-, Predicted Grade after 3 years: B- |
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Inside LB, Utah 6'2", 230#
Draft Day Impressions: A Larry Foote type of player who gets the most out of his athletic ability. A very instinctive, productive player with a high motor if not a fast 40 time. Played outside LB at Utah but will play inside in the Steelers' 3-4 and hopefully add depth, if he can cover kicks.
Grade: C, Predicted Grade after 3 years: C- |
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, Running Back, GA Tech, 5'11" 230#
Draft Day Impressions: The highlight of the draft in terms of value. Dwyer was advised to enter the Draft as a Junior and was told he would be a 2nd round pick. He has great size, good speed (4.55 -40) and was very productive in college carrying for 1,395 yards the last two years consistently battling for extra yards. He also excelled in goal line and short yardage situations, an area of the game where the Steelers have struggled mightily ever since Jerome Bettis retired. Dwyer scored 35 rushng td's in college!
Where Dwyer will also have to learn is in the reads a back has to make at the Pro level. In the offense at Ga Tech, he lined up in a 3-point stance, was told where to run the ball and didn't have many options. With the Steelers, we will line up in in the "I", a 2-point stance, and be forced to read the defense before and as he takes a handoff.
Overall, Dwyer looks to be an excellent understudy (and insurance policy?) to Rashaard Mendenhall. This back needs to do better at picking up blitzes if he wants to see the field, but with his size and violent running style, that should be easy for him to learn.
Grade: A, Predicted Grade after 3 years: B+ |
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, Wide Receiver, Central Michigan, 5'10" 185#
Draft Day Impressions: Another smallish receiver from a smallish college program. The nightmare of Troy Edwards still keeps me up at night. On the plus side, he caught over 300 balls in just 3 seasons.
Grade: D-, Predicted Grade after 3 years: F |
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, Defensive End, Ohio St., 6'5" 295#
Draft Day Impressions: A real sleeper pick. Worthington has great size and good feet to eventually replace another former 7th round Defensive End, Bret Keisel, if he works hard and keeps his nose to the grindstone.
Grade: B+, Predicted Grade after 3 years: B |
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