UNREAL.
I'm still in shock that he fell all the way to us at 24th overall.
WOW.
The Steelers got a guy who probably should have gone in the top 15. Best guard in the draft.
Draft Breakdown Player Profile
DeCastro is #52, playing Right Guard.
I'll add more as I find them.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
NFL Draft Live Blog
For the third year in a row, we're teaming up with the guys from Blitzburgh Blog for a live blog of the draft.
2012 Mock Draft
Let me start by saying this: Mock Drafts are crap. Most mock drafts work on the assumption that every team is going to pick from their slot and that there won't be any trades. That's unrealistic. But it's nearly impossible to predict trades. In keeping with tradition around here, I'm going to do my mock with some predicted trades. I'm not going to pretend I'm any kind of expert here, just going through the process of mocking it out for the fun of it. Earlier this week, I did a mock draft with Phil from I Hate JJ Redick where I took the even number picks and he took the odd picks.
Without further ado, here's my last mock draft for this year:
Without further ado, here's my last mock draft for this year:
Andrew Luck (QB-Stanford)
The Colts won the "Suck for Luck" sweepstakes, allowing them to release Peyton Manning and start rebuilding in Indy.
Robert Griffin III (QB-Baylor)
Interestingly enough, last year I predicted the Redskins would trade with the Rams. Of course, that didn't happen last year. But it did this year, and the Redskins land a supremely talented quarterback they hope can turn them into a contender.
Matt Kalil (OT-USC)
The Vikings secondary is terrible so Morris Claiborne could get some consideration, but ultimately I'm going with the Vikings taking a franchise LT to protect last year's first round pick Christian Ponder.
Trent Richardson (RB-Alabama)
Richardson might be the best offensive skill player in the draft. Cleveland has an offense devoid of playmakers, regardless of who their quarterback is. There has been some pressure to pick Ryan Tannehill, but that would be a bad move putting him in an offense with no weapons and a mediocre line.
Morris Claiborne (CB-LSU)
The Bucs get the best defensive player in the draft at #5 as the top 4 all go offense. Really, the Bucs would be happy with any of the 3 (Kalil, Richardson, Claiborne).
[St Louis Trades with Philadelphia]
Fletcher Cox (DT-Mississippi St)
The Eagles are desperate for help up the middle and move up to grab the best Defensive Tackle in the draft before he can get to Jacksonville, Miami, or Carolina.
Justin Blackmon (WR-Oklahoma St)
If the Rams don't trade out of their pick, the Jaguars will be a popular target for teams trying to move up into the Top 10. If anyone wants Ryan Tannehill, they're going to have to get ahead of Miami to nab him, making Jacksonville the ideal candidate for a trade. In this case, the value of Blackmon still being on the board is too much for the Jags to pass up.
Ryan Tannehill (QB-Texas A&M)
There might not be a player in the draft as divisive as Tannehill. Some people love him and say he's a Top 10 prospect and others say he shouldn't go in the first round. Miami is desperate for a franchise QB after whiffing on um...everyone.
Melvin Ingram (DE-South Carolina)
Ingram played all over the field for the Gamecocks, and for a team that desperately needs playmakers on defense, he will be a huge asset for the Panthers. I was tempted to slate Dontari Poe here, but with pass rushers at a premium in this draft, I think Carolina takes a shot at Ingram who can slide inside on 3rd downs.
Malcolm Floyd (WR-Notre Dame)
Having addressed the defense in Free Agency, the Bills add another weapon for Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Dontari Poe (DT-Memphis)
The Chiefs have never shied away from drafting for need, and they need a big body in the middle of their 3-4 defense. Poe is an athletic freak that can clog up the middle and get pressure on the quarterback from the nose tackle spot.
[Cincinnati Trades With Seattle]
Stephen Gilmore (CB-South Carolina)
The Bengals need a corner opposite Leon Hall to replace Jonathan Joseph. With 2 first round picks, the Bengals are willing to part with one of their later picks to move up and take Gilmore.
David DeCastro (OG-Stanford)
The Whiz and Russ Grimm land a fantastic guard in the mold of Alan Faneca. Maybe the Cards will finally have a running game.
Mark Barron (S-Alabama)
It's no secret that Dallas needs help on the back end. Barron provides that.
[Philly to St Louis to move up to #6]
Kendall Wright (WR-Baylor)
St Louis adds more picks later in the draft and still gets a play-making wide receiver for Sam Bradford in the first round.
Courtney Upshaw (OLB-Alabama)
It's no secret that Rex Ryan loves Upshaw. The Jets need pass rushers and may try to trade up to get Ingram.
[Oakland to Cincy for Carson Palmer]
[Cincy to Seattle to move up to #12]
Luke Kuechly (LB-Boston College)
An ideal scenario for the Seahawks. They trade back and pick of more selections later in the draft and are still able to get Kuechly, the top inside linebacker in the draft.
Quentin Coples (DE-North Carolina)
No one seems to know where Coples fits best in the NFL. Is he a 3-4 DE? Is he a 4-3 DE? Is he a 3-4 OLB? Any way you slice it, San Diego needs pass rushers.
Riley Reiff (OT-Iowa)
Even though the Bears drafted a tackle last year, they add Reiff this year to give Jay Cutler even more protection up front.
Michael Brockers (DT-LSU)
Brockers is a boom-or-bust prospect that if developed properly, could help fill some gaps in the Titans defensive front that has lost a plethora of players over the last few years.
Cordy Glenn (OG-Georgia)
Glenn is a versatile lineman capable of playing both guard and tackle. The Bengals add another big body in front of Andy Dalton.
Alshon Jeffrey (WR-South Carolina)
As I said earlier, the Browns need playmakers. Jeffrey raised some eyebrows with his weight at the combine, but had a much better Pro Day. He's capable of being a top flight receiver if he puts the work in, but could also be a total bust. Typical Browns pick.
Dre Kirkpatrick (CB-Alabama)
The Lions need help on the back end and Kirkpatrick is probably the top zone corner in the draft.
Dont'a Hightower (LB-Alabama)
As if I was going to predict anyone else.
Devon Still (DT-Penn St)
After adding Peyton Manning in free agency to bolster the offense, Denver looks to fix a hole in the middle of their defensive line.
Jonathan Martin (OT-Stanford)
The third tackle off the board, Martin adds a solid player to an already decent Houston line.
Whitney Mercilus (DE-Illinois)
Mercilus led the nation in sacks last year and New England lost their top two pass rushers in free agency. Seems like a match made in heaven.
Shea McLellin (OLB-Boise St)
The Packers add another pass rusher to plug in opposite Clay Matthews. This could be one of the most dynamic duos in the league in a few years.
Peter Konz (C-Wisconsin)
The Ravens have lost a lot from their O-line in free agency. Konz will help solidify things up the middle for them.
Kevin Zeitler (OG-Wisconsin)
Two guys from Wisconsin go back-to-back. The 49ers add more beef to their line. They may also consider Amini Silatolu (OG-Midwestern St) who has been a fast riser in the last week before the draft.
[New England trades with Dallas]
Doug Martin (RB-Boise St)
Of course I have to include a New England trade somewhere. The Cowboys running backs can't stay healthy. Martin is a solid all-around back that can be a 3-down player once Felix Jones inevitably gets hurt again.
Coby Fleener (TE-Stanford)
The fourth Stanford player selected in the first round. Fleener will add a dangerous weapon down the seam for the defending champs.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
2012 Steelers Draft Preview: Special Teams
It's getting late and the Draft is less than 24 hours away. This time tomorrow we'll know who the newest member of the Pittsburgh Steelers is.
For reference, here's some of our favorite draft sites from around the web:
Draft Breakdown - best video gallery out there. If you're looking for tape on a prospect, chances are that they have it.
ScarDraft - best rankings that we've found. Breaks down rankings by scheme (3-4 NT, 4-3 DT, 4-3 DE, 3-4 OLB, etc).
Optimum Scouting - these guys have one of the best scouting staffs on the web. They personally went to all of the collegiate all-star games and combine. You can get a free 120-page scouting report by e-mailing their webmaster.
Mocking the Draft - some of the best scouting reports on the web. Really in-depth work.
We also put together a twitter list of our favorite NFL Draft folks. Some just talk draft, some offer scouting insights. Some throw around rumors. This time of year, rumors are all over the place and you can't put too much stock in them, but we'll leave it up to you as to how much you want to believe. You don't need a twitter account to follow the list, it will automatically update itself.
While Specialists don't often get drafted, the Steelers did use a 4th round pick on punter Daniel Sepulveda a few years ago, so we figured we should at least touch on it briefly.
Kicker
On Roster: Shaun Suisham
The Steelers might decide to take a look at drafting a kicker on the 3rd day of the draft after the year Suisham had last year. Suisham finished an appalling 32nd in the league last year in field goal percentage at 74%. The only kicker in the league that had at least 15 field goal attempts and was worse than Suisham was Dave Rayner. It wasn't like he was asked to kick a lot of long field goals either - he had only 2 attempts from over 50 yards. Suisham's faults came in the 40-49 yard range where he was only 6 for 11 on the year, which prompted hesitation from the coaching staff at key moments in games (specifically, the Baltimore game where Tomlin took a delay of game rather than attempting a 46-yard field goal. As you know, we punted back to the Ravens and they drove 90 yards to win the game in the final seconds).
Likelihood of the Steelers Drafting a Kicker: Moderate
Players Who Fit What the Steelers Need: Blair Walsh (Georgia)
Punter
On Roster: Jeremy Kapinos
After Daniel Sepulveda suffered another season-ending injury last year, the Steelers turned once again to Jeremy Kapinos. Kapinos had a solid season, averaging 45 yards per punt. It's highly unlikely that the Steelers will draft a punter as Kapinos is a known commodity and they probably won't want to spend two draft picks on kickers. If they're going to draft a specialist, it will be a place kicker to challenge Suisham. Kapinos should enter the season as the starting punter.
Likelihood of the Steelers Drafting a Punter: Almost Zero
Long Snapper
On Roster: Greg Warren
Greg Warren all day every day. We haven't had a bobbled snap on a kick in ages. You don't know how good he is until you see other teams mess up kicks. No way he goes anywhere.
Likelihood the Steelers Draft a Long Snapper: Yeah right
2012 Steelers Draft Preview: Defense
The last week in April brings many things in Pittsburgh. This year it has brought us some not-so-typical occurrences like snow and the Penguins exiting from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But to find the silver lining on the cloud, there is still the NFL Draft Extravaganza this weekend. What used to be a two-day event has turned into a three-day television hooplah that will inevitably crown the next Super Bowl champion by the end of the day on Saturday.
By now, you've probably had your fill of Mel Kiper and Todd McShay telling you who they think are the best players in the draft. If you're really a draft junkie, here's some of our favorite sites from around the web:
Draft Breakdown - best video gallery out there. If you're looking for tape on a prospect, chances are that they have it.
ScarDraft - best rankings that we've found. Breaks down rankings by scheme (3-4 NT, 4-3 DT, 4-3 DE, 3-4 OLB, etc).
Optimum Scouting - these guys have one of the best scouting staffs on the web. They personally went to all of the collegiate all-star games and combine. You can get a free 120-page scouting report by e-mailing their webmaster.
Mocking the Draft - some of the best scouting reports on the web. Really in-depth work.
We also put together a twitter list of our favorite NFL Draft folks. Some just talk draft, some offer scouting insights. Some throw around rumors. This time of year, rumors are all over the place and you can't put too much stock in them, but we'll leave it up to you as to how much you want to believe. You don't need a twitter account to follow the list, it will automatically update itself.
Today we're going to take a look at the Steelers defensive needs heading into the draft.
Defensive End
On Roster: Brett Keisel, Ziggy Hood, Cam Heyward, Al Woods, Corbin Bryant
The Steelers parted ways with Aaron Smith this offseason but were well-prepared for this eventuality, having drafted Ziggy and Cam with first round picks in 2 of the last 3 years. Nevertheless, the Steelers could still use more depth along the defensive front as Brett Keisel is on the wrong side of 30. Depending on how the draft board falls, the Steelers could look to add a DE as early as the 2nd or 3rd round where a guy like Cincinnati's Derek Wolfe would fit their mold. They also may wait and address more pressing needs early and snatch up a 5-technique DE towards the end of the draft where a project player like Akiem Hicks (Regina, Canada) could wind up being one of the steals of the draft.
Likelihood of the Steelers Drafting a Defensive End: Moderate
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: Derek Wolfe (Cincinnati), Jared Crick (Nebraska), Akiem Hicks (Regina)
Nose Tackle
On Roster: Casey Hampton, Steve McLendon, Cade Weston
The retirement of Chris Hoke and Hampton's ACL injury makes us very, very thin at nose tackle. While the Steelers definitely have the need for depth here, drafting one in the first round might not be the best course of action. I know what you're thinking, but bear with me and listen to my logic. With the amount of 3- and 4-WR sets that teams run now, the Steelers are in their nickel defense more often than we ever have been before. At most, a NT is a 2-down player that comes out on 3rd down. Assuming there are about 60 defensive plays per game, you're lucky if your NT plays 30 of those (2 downs on normal series + not at all in last 2 min of half or much in the 4th Quarter if the other team is trying to come back). For a guy who, if you're lucky, will only play half the snaps in a game (not counting the rotation with Hampton & McLendon, so maybe...15-20 total?), I'd be willing to wait until the 3rd or 4th round for that.
Likelihood of the Steelers Drafting a Nose Tackle: High
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: Dontari Poe (Memphis), Alameda Ta'amu (Washington), Josh Chapman (Alabama)
Outside Linebacker
On Roster: James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley, Jason Worlids, Chris Carter
The Steelers have two Pro Bowl-caliber outside linebackers, arguably two of the best sack artists in the franchise's history. So do they need another one? Well, that all depends on what you think of Jason Worlids. After starting the year in Tomlin's doghouse for showing up out of shape for camp, Worlids came on strong and started a handful of games when Harrison and Woodley were out with injury. He wasn't great, but wasn't awful either. The Steelers did bring in a few 3-4 OLBs that might be candidates to get picked towards the end of the first round (USC's Nick Perry and Clemson's Andre Branch) for pre-draft visits. This isn't an indication that the Steelers will draft an outside linebacker, but with Harrison well over 30, if the Steelers don't believe Worlids is the answer they may look to draft a future replacement for Harrison this year.
Likelihood of the Steelers Drafting an Outside Linebacker: Moderate
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: Vinny Curry (Marshall), Nick Perry (USC), Andre Branch (Clemson), Shea McClellin (Boise St), Ronnell Lewis (Oklahoma)
Inside Linebacker
On Roster: Lawrence Timmons, Larry Foote, Stevenson Sylvester, Brandon Hicks, Mortty Ivy, Marshall McFadden
The Steelers cut ties with James Farrior this offseason, leaving a void of leadership on the defense. While Farrior had lost a step, particularly in pass coverage, he was the captain of the defense who got everyone lined up properly. Dick LeBeau even called Farrior an extension of himself on the field. While Lawrence Timmons and Larry Foote will be able to handle the on-field duties of the starting inside linebackers, what the Steelers need to replace is the leadership that Farrior brought to the defense. This is why there is a lot of buzz around drafting an inside linebacker in one of the first few rounds of the draft. Larry Foote is 31 and probably has a few decent years left, but drafting an inside linebacker now would give the Steelers the flexibility to cut Foote next year if his $3 million salary doesn't fit under the cap.
Likelihood of the Steelers Drafting an Inside Linebacker: Very High
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: Dont'a Hightower (Alabama), Luke Kuechly (Boston College), Bobby Wagner (Utah St), Mychal Kendricks (California), James-Michael Johnson (Nevada)
Cornerback
On Roster: Ike Taylor, Keenan Lewis, Cortez Allen, Curtis Brown, Walter McFadden, Antonio Smith
The biggest loss the Steelers suffered in Free Agency was the departure of William Gay to Arizona. Keenan Lewis is the presumptive starter opposite Ike Taylor after Lewis had a breakout year last season. Lewis was the 3rd corner for much of the season and played on the outside in the nickel package with Gay sliding in to cover the slot. The biggest question will be who will become the slot corner. Last year's 3rd round pick Curtis Brown seems best suited for the role, but Cortez Allen showed some great potential playing tough man-to-man in dime packages last year. The top four on the depth chart are set here, but the Steelers could look to add another corner later in the draft to add more depth to the unit and to play special teams.
Likelihood of the Steelers Drafting a Cornerback: Moderate
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: Dre Kirkpatrick (Alabama), Brandon Boynkin (Georgia), Trumaine Johnson (Montana), Donnie Fletcher (Boston College), Leonard Johnson (Iowa St)
Safety
On Roster: Troy Polamalu, Ryan Clark, Ryan Mundy, Will Allen, Damon Cromartie-Smith, Myron Rolle
The top three on the roster are entrenched, but Will Allen is making over a million dollars to essentially be a special teams player. A younger safety would be cheaper (which is good for a team like the Steelers that is right up against the cap) and would provide some more depth behind Troy, Clark, and Mundy. Troy and Ryan Clark are both over 30 and while they're playing some of the best football of their career, now might be the time to look to the future and add some more youth and depth to this unit. One of the most exciting off-season signings (for me anyways) was safety Myron Rolle. Rolle was a standout safety at Florida State but decided to pursue a Rhodes Scholarship in Medical Anthropology at Oxford for a year before entering the NFL Draft. He was picked in the 6th round by Tennessee but didn't make the team out of camp last year. The Steelers picked him up in the offseason and he could be a sleeper to make the team out of camp. I had a massive draft crush on him back in 2010.
Likelihood of the Steelers Drafting a Safety: Low-to-Moderate
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: Mark Barron (Alabama), George Iloka (Boise St), Harrison Smith (Notre Dame), Brandon Hardin (Oregon St), Brandon Taylor (LSU)
2012 Steelers Draft Preview: Offense
The last week in April brings many things in Pittsburgh. This year it has brought us some not-so-typical occurrences like snow and the Penguins exiting from the Stanley Cup Playoffs. But to find the silver lining on the cloud, there is still the NFL Draft Extravaganza this weekend. What used to be a two-day event has turned into a three-day television hooplah that will inevitably crown the next Super Bowl champion by the end of the day on Saturday.
By now, you've probably had your fill of Mel Kiper and Todd McShay telling you who they think are the best players in the draft. If you're really a draft junkie, here's some of our favorite sites from around the web:
Draft Breakdown - best video gallery out there. If you're looking for tape on a prospect, chances are that they have it.
ScarDraft - best rankings that we've found. Breaks down rankings by scheme (3-4 NT, 4-3 DT, 4-3 DE, 3-4 OLB, etc).
Optimum Scouting - these guys have one of the best scouting staffs on the web. They personally went to all of the collegiate all-star games and combine. You can get a free 120-page scouting report by e-mailing their webmaster.
Mocking the Draft - some of the best scouting reports on the web. Really in-depth work.
We also put together a twitter list of our favorite NFL Draft folks. Some just talk draft, some offer scouting insights. Some throw around rumors. This time of year, rumors are all over the place and you can't put too much stock in them, but we'll leave it up to you as to how much you want to believe. You don't need a twitter account to follow the list, it will automatically update itself.
Today we're going to take a look at the Steelers offensive needs heading into the draft.
Under Contract: Ben Roethlisberger, Charlie Batch, Troy Smith, Jerrod Johnson
Free Agents: Byron Leftwich (UFA), Dennis Dixon (UFA)
The Steelers offense will have to make an adjustment this year under a new offensive coordinator, but with Ben at the helm you still have to feel pretty good about things. When he's healthy, he's one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Batch was signed as the back-up for this year but the Steelers still lack a long-term plan for the #2 spot. Kevin Colbert has been known to draft "project" quarterbacks in the 5th round (Omar Jacobs, Dennis Dixon) in the hopes that one could develop into the #2 down the line but none have panned out. Look for the Steelers to pick up a quarterback late in the draft to compete with Troy Smith to be the #3 QB in camp and possibly be the "project QB" of the future.
Likelihood of Drafting a Quarterback: Moderate
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: Kirk Cousins (Michigan State), Russell Wilson (Wisconsin), Ryan Lindley (San Diego St)
Under Contract: Rashard Mendenhall, Isaac Redman, Baron Batch, Jonathan Dwyer, John Clay, Chad Spann, Will Johnson (FB)
Free Agents: Mewelde Moore (UFA)
With Mendenhall working his way back from a torn ACL, the Steelers will likely look to add another running back to the stable in the draft. Isaac Redman proved last year that he can be a feature back in this league and handle a bigger workload. Baron Batch was a 7th round pick last year who many thought could compete for the 3rd down back job before he tore his ACL in camp. Jonathan Dwyer put up 100 yards against Tennessee then missed most of the rest of the year with a foot injury. John Clay, a former Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, scored a touchdown and made some bruising runs toward the end of the year. Nevertheless, this group lacks superstar talent if Mendenhall can't go, and could use some more depth. Reportedly, the Steelers are very high on Cincinnati's Isaiah Pead.
Likelihood of Drafting a Running Back: High
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: Lamar Miller (Miami), Isaiah Pead (Cincinnati), Chris Polk (Washington)
Under Contract: Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Jerricho Cotchery, Derrick Williams, Tyler Beller, David Gilraeth, Juamorris Stewart, Jimmy Young
Free Agents: Mike Wallace (RFA)
The fear-mongers would have you believe that the Mike Wallace situation is still up-in-the-air. It's not. The Steelers have his rights and he needs to play at least 6 games for us to accrue a "league year" and be eligible for Free Agency next year. He didn't get any offers from any other teams during the restricted free agency period, so now he can only play for the Steelers unless they trade him. Behind Wallace, Antonio Brown is an emerging star and was the team's MVP last season. Emmanuel Sanders is a solid #3 receiver and Jerricho Cotchery came on strong at the end of last year. The one of the most intriguing of the "extra roster players"the Steelers added during the offseason (when roster limits expand to 85) was WR Derrick Williams who was the nation's top recruit out of high school and had a stellar career at Penn State leading them back from the Dark Days. Williams could compete for the #5 spot, but don't be shocked if the Steelers draft another receiver in the mid-to-late rounds to also compete for the #5 job or to see some time as a kick returner so AB doesn't take as many hits.
Likelihood of Drafting a Wide Receiver: Moderate
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma), Stephen Hill (Georgia Tech), Brian Quick (Appalachian St), TY Hilton (FIU), Derek Moye (Penn St)
Under Contract: Heath Miller, Weslye Saunders, Leonard Pope, David Johnson, Wes Lyons, Jamie McCoy
The Steelers seemingly have a solid group of tight ends heading into the season as they brought in Todd Haley-favorite Leonard Pope to add more size and physicality to the group. Weslye Saunders, who showed some flashes as a rookie last year (including a big-time TD against Kansas City), will be suspended for the first 4 games of the season, and might be a long shot to make the roster. David Johnson has been inconsistent - at times he looks like a devastating blocker and at others he totally whiffs on guys and drops passes in the open field. The Steelers may pick a tight end/H-back type late in the draft to compete with Johnson for the 3rd tight end position.
Likelihood of Drafting a Tight End: Low-to-Moderate
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: Michael Egnew (Missouri), Evan Rodriguez (Temple), Emil Igwenagu (UMass)
Under Contract: Willie Colon, Marcus Gilbert, Jonathan Scott, Trevis Turner
Free Agents: Max Starks (UFA)
With Max Starks still recovering from off-season surgery, the Steelers enter the season with Willie Colon the likely starter at right tackle and Marcus Gilbert the presumed left tackle. Jonathan Scott will be the first backup who can play either tackle position. Depth is very, very thin here and it wouldn't be surprising to see the Steelers pick a tackle towards the front half of the draft. Lots of rumors have swirled around the Steelers potential interest in Ohio St OT Mike Adams, but reports have surfaced that he tested positive for marijuana at the Combine. In all likelihood, the Steelers will be looking for players capable of playing multiple positions (both tackle and guard) given the high turnover they've seen on their line recently.
Likelihood of Drafting an Offensive Tackle: High
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: Cordy Glenn (Georgia), Bobby Massie (Ole Miss), Mike Adams (Ohio St), Jeff Allen (Illinois)
Under Contract: Doug Legursky, Ramon Foster, Trai Essex, Chris Scott, John Malecki
The Steelers finally cut ties with Chris Kemoeatu, who became more of a liability than an asset at LG. Doug Legursky is the presumed starter at LG with Ramon Foster returning at RG. Trai Essex is a swing man along the line, capable of playing all 5 positions. Chris Scott saw some time at RG during camp last year and will likely have one last chance to compete for a roster spot. Nevertheless, guard is the weak spot on the offense right now. We need guards, and we need them badly. The Steelers got crushed on stunts last year when a DE looped behind the tackle and came up the middle. A road-grading LG in the mold of Alan Faneca would help pave the way for the rushing game and not be a revolving door in front of Ben is what the Steelers need. Expect them to target a guard early in the draft (or at least a swing player that could play tackle or guard).
Likelihood of Drafting an Offensive Guard: Very High
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: David DeCastro (Stanford), Cordy Glenn (Georgia), Kevin Zeitler (Wisconsin), Brandon Brooks (Miami-OH), Brandon Washington (Miami)
Under Contract: Maurkice Pouncey
Oddly enough, the Steelers have 3 capable centers on their roster. The problem is, one of them is starting at LG (Legursky) and the other one is capable of backing up other positions as well (Essex). I know what you're thinking, but don't knock Trai Essex. He came in last year and played very well at center when Pouncey and Legursky were injured. Due to this, it seems highly unlikely that the Steelers will draft another center this year. The plan should be to stick with Legursky and Essex as the back-ups if something should happen to Pouncey, who is an All-Pro caliber center in his own right.
Likelihood of Drafting a Center: Low
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: Quentin Saulsberry (Mississippi St)
By now, you've probably had your fill of Mel Kiper and Todd McShay telling you who they think are the best players in the draft. If you're really a draft junkie, here's some of our favorite sites from around the web:
Draft Breakdown - best video gallery out there. If you're looking for tape on a prospect, chances are that they have it.
ScarDraft - best rankings that we've found. Breaks down rankings by scheme (3-4 NT, 4-3 DT, 4-3 DE, 3-4 OLB, etc).
Optimum Scouting - these guys have one of the best scouting staffs on the web. They personally went to all of the collegiate all-star games and combine. You can get a free 120-page scouting report by e-mailing their webmaster.
Mocking the Draft - some of the best scouting reports on the web. Really in-depth work.
We also put together a twitter list of our favorite NFL Draft folks. Some just talk draft, some offer scouting insights. Some throw around rumors. This time of year, rumors are all over the place and you can't put too much stock in them, but we'll leave it up to you as to how much you want to believe. You don't need a twitter account to follow the list, it will automatically update itself.
Today we're going to take a look at the Steelers offensive needs heading into the draft.
Quarterback
Under Contract: Ben Roethlisberger, Charlie Batch, Troy Smith, Jerrod Johnson
Free Agents: Byron Leftwich (UFA), Dennis Dixon (UFA)
The Steelers offense will have to make an adjustment this year under a new offensive coordinator, but with Ben at the helm you still have to feel pretty good about things. When he's healthy, he's one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Batch was signed as the back-up for this year but the Steelers still lack a long-term plan for the #2 spot. Kevin Colbert has been known to draft "project" quarterbacks in the 5th round (Omar Jacobs, Dennis Dixon) in the hopes that one could develop into the #2 down the line but none have panned out. Look for the Steelers to pick up a quarterback late in the draft to compete with Troy Smith to be the #3 QB in camp and possibly be the "project QB" of the future.
Likelihood of Drafting a Quarterback: Moderate
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: Kirk Cousins (Michigan State), Russell Wilson (Wisconsin), Ryan Lindley (San Diego St)
Running Back
Under Contract: Rashard Mendenhall, Isaac Redman, Baron Batch, Jonathan Dwyer, John Clay, Chad Spann, Will Johnson (FB)
Free Agents: Mewelde Moore (UFA)
With Mendenhall working his way back from a torn ACL, the Steelers will likely look to add another running back to the stable in the draft. Isaac Redman proved last year that he can be a feature back in this league and handle a bigger workload. Baron Batch was a 7th round pick last year who many thought could compete for the 3rd down back job before he tore his ACL in camp. Jonathan Dwyer put up 100 yards against Tennessee then missed most of the rest of the year with a foot injury. John Clay, a former Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, scored a touchdown and made some bruising runs toward the end of the year. Nevertheless, this group lacks superstar talent if Mendenhall can't go, and could use some more depth. Reportedly, the Steelers are very high on Cincinnati's Isaiah Pead.
Likelihood of Drafting a Running Back: High
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: Lamar Miller (Miami), Isaiah Pead (Cincinnati), Chris Polk (Washington)
Wide Receiver
Under Contract: Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Jerricho Cotchery, Derrick Williams, Tyler Beller, David Gilraeth, Juamorris Stewart, Jimmy Young
Free Agents: Mike Wallace (RFA)
The fear-mongers would have you believe that the Mike Wallace situation is still up-in-the-air. It's not. The Steelers have his rights and he needs to play at least 6 games for us to accrue a "league year" and be eligible for Free Agency next year. He didn't get any offers from any other teams during the restricted free agency period, so now he can only play for the Steelers unless they trade him. Behind Wallace, Antonio Brown is an emerging star and was the team's MVP last season. Emmanuel Sanders is a solid #3 receiver and Jerricho Cotchery came on strong at the end of last year. The one of the most intriguing of the "extra roster players"the Steelers added during the offseason (when roster limits expand to 85) was WR Derrick Williams who was the nation's top recruit out of high school and had a stellar career at Penn State leading them back from the Dark Days. Williams could compete for the #5 spot, but don't be shocked if the Steelers draft another receiver in the mid-to-late rounds to also compete for the #5 job or to see some time as a kick returner so AB doesn't take as many hits.
Likelihood of Drafting a Wide Receiver: Moderate
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma), Stephen Hill (Georgia Tech), Brian Quick (Appalachian St), TY Hilton (FIU), Derek Moye (Penn St)
Tight End
Under Contract: Heath Miller, Weslye Saunders, Leonard Pope, David Johnson, Wes Lyons, Jamie McCoy
The Steelers seemingly have a solid group of tight ends heading into the season as they brought in Todd Haley-favorite Leonard Pope to add more size and physicality to the group. Weslye Saunders, who showed some flashes as a rookie last year (including a big-time TD against Kansas City), will be suspended for the first 4 games of the season, and might be a long shot to make the roster. David Johnson has been inconsistent - at times he looks like a devastating blocker and at others he totally whiffs on guys and drops passes in the open field. The Steelers may pick a tight end/H-back type late in the draft to compete with Johnson for the 3rd tight end position.
Likelihood of Drafting a Tight End: Low-to-Moderate
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: Michael Egnew (Missouri), Evan Rodriguez (Temple), Emil Igwenagu (UMass)
Offensive Tackle
Under Contract: Willie Colon, Marcus Gilbert, Jonathan Scott, Trevis Turner
Free Agents: Max Starks (UFA)
With Max Starks still recovering from off-season surgery, the Steelers enter the season with Willie Colon the likely starter at right tackle and Marcus Gilbert the presumed left tackle. Jonathan Scott will be the first backup who can play either tackle position. Depth is very, very thin here and it wouldn't be surprising to see the Steelers pick a tackle towards the front half of the draft. Lots of rumors have swirled around the Steelers potential interest in Ohio St OT Mike Adams, but reports have surfaced that he tested positive for marijuana at the Combine. In all likelihood, the Steelers will be looking for players capable of playing multiple positions (both tackle and guard) given the high turnover they've seen on their line recently.
Likelihood of Drafting an Offensive Tackle: High
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: Cordy Glenn (Georgia), Bobby Massie (Ole Miss), Mike Adams (Ohio St), Jeff Allen (Illinois)
Offensive Guard
Under Contract: Doug Legursky, Ramon Foster, Trai Essex, Chris Scott, John Malecki
The Steelers finally cut ties with Chris Kemoeatu, who became more of a liability than an asset at LG. Doug Legursky is the presumed starter at LG with Ramon Foster returning at RG. Trai Essex is a swing man along the line, capable of playing all 5 positions. Chris Scott saw some time at RG during camp last year and will likely have one last chance to compete for a roster spot. Nevertheless, guard is the weak spot on the offense right now. We need guards, and we need them badly. The Steelers got crushed on stunts last year when a DE looped behind the tackle and came up the middle. A road-grading LG in the mold of Alan Faneca would help pave the way for the rushing game and not be a revolving door in front of Ben is what the Steelers need. Expect them to target a guard early in the draft (or at least a swing player that could play tackle or guard).
Likelihood of Drafting an Offensive Guard: Very High
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: David DeCastro (Stanford), Cordy Glenn (Georgia), Kevin Zeitler (Wisconsin), Brandon Brooks (Miami-OH), Brandon Washington (Miami)
Center
Under Contract: Maurkice Pouncey
Oddly enough, the Steelers have 3 capable centers on their roster. The problem is, one of them is starting at LG (Legursky) and the other one is capable of backing up other positions as well (Essex). I know what you're thinking, but don't knock Trai Essex. He came in last year and played very well at center when Pouncey and Legursky were injured. Due to this, it seems highly unlikely that the Steelers will draft another center this year. The plan should be to stick with Legursky and Essex as the back-ups if something should happen to Pouncey, who is an All-Pro caliber center in his own right.
Likelihood of Drafting a Center: Low
Good Fits for What the Steelers Need: Quentin Saulsberry (Mississippi St)
Monday, April 23, 2012
2012 Draft Preview: AFC North
With Free Agency pretty much wrapped up, the NFL Draft is quickly approaching once again. As we have done in the past, we're going to take a quick look at the other teams in the league and preview their team needs and how they will likely approach the Draft. Today we take a look at the rest of the AFC North. Previews for the Steelers will be coming over the next couple of days.
For reference, we compiled the draft picks each team currently has. Compensatory picks are listed in parentheses.
2011 Record: 12-4
AFC North Champions, Lost to New England in AFC Championship Game
Draft Picks: 29, 60, 91, (130), 164, (169), 198, 236
Recommended Blogs/Twitter:
The Ravens were a field goal away from the Super Bowl. Or a dropped pass by Lee Evans. Whichever way you want to look at it, they were close. They lost some key pieces, both from their defense and offensive line, in free agency. They put the franchise tag on Ray Rice and are still working on a long-term deal with their star RB. The Ravens have the talent to make another run at the division title, and as far as we're concerned it's their division until we take it back from them. The Ravens have never been shy about making trades during the draft, and are willing to move up or down to get the player they want.
2011 Record: 9-7
Wild Card, Lost to Houston in Wild Card Round
Draft Picks: 17, 21, 53, 83, 116, 156, 166, 191
The Bengals surprised everyone last year by going from the bottom of the division to making the playoffs. Marvin Lewis was probably smiling from ear to ear after all the ego departed from his locker room as the Bengals thankfully parted ways with Ochostinko and TO. Carson Palmer caused a bit of a kerfluffle, but the Bengals replaced him with Andy Dalton and WR AJ Green, who has all the makings of being a superstar. The Bengals have two first round picks this year and should be able to add two more caliber players to their team. This team has the makings of one that could be a competitor but could also be due to take a step back after their big jump forward last year.
2011 Record: 4-12
Draft Picks: 4, 22, 37, 67, 100, 118, 139, 160, (204), (205), 211, (245), (247)
There has been a lot of discussion about what the Browns should do with the #4 pick in the draft. A lot of how the rest of the draft will fall will be determined by who the Browns pick. Regardless of what they think about Colt McCoy, he or any other quarterback won't be able to function in an offense with no weapons. The Browns need to add offensive playmakers. Drafting Ryan Tannehill won't do them any good if their line is mediocre and they don't have receivers that can catch the ball. Trent Richardson is the smart pick here at #4, but the Browns could choose to go for Justin Blackmon or Mo Claiborne. Best case scenario for Cleveland is to get Richardson at 4, hope Kendall Wright falls to them at 22, then take Brandon Weeden at the top of the 2nd round.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
2012 Draft Preview: AFC East
With Free Agency pretty much wrapped up, the NFL Draft is quickly approaching once again. As we have done in the past, we're going to take a quick look at the other teams in the league and preview their team needs and how they will likely approach the Draft. Today we take a look at the AFC East.
For reference, we compiled the draft picks each team currently has. Compensatory picks are listed in parentheses.
2011 Record: 13-3
AFC East Champion, Lost Super Bowl XLVI to New York Giants
Draft Picks: 27, 31, 48, 62, 93, 126
Recommended Blogs:
Another year, another slew of draft picks for the Patriots. New England might be better than anyone else in the league and making draft-day trades to acquire more high draft picks the next season. New England has 4 picks in the first two rounds this year but none after the 4th round. Due to this, they might be looking to trade back out of their picks in order to acquire some more later round picks. It's no secret the Pats need some help on defense, particularly in the pass rushing department where they lost the team-leader in sacks Mark Anderson to Buffalo and free agent Andre Carter remains unsigned.
2011 Record: 8-8
Draft Picks: 16, 47, 77, 154, 187, (202), (203), 232, (242), (244)
After Mark Sanchez regressed to a high school quarterback throughout the season, the Jets went out and traded for the only QB who was worse than Sanchez - Tim Tebow. Maybe their logic is that two guys who can complete about 50% of their passes means they will get 100% completions because 50 + 50 = 100. No clue what's going on here. Antonio Cromartie just had his 10th kid or something. That's enough for a full game of pick-up basketball. Santonio Holmes is running his mouth. This team is a mess. Rex Ryan, if you can believe anything he says, has stated that he loves Courtney Upshaw (LB-Alabama). It's a pretty safe bet to predict that the Jets will either take someone from Alabama (Upshaw or Mark Barron) or another pass-rushing OLB/DE.
2011 Record: 6-10
Draft Picks: 10, 41, 71, 105, 124, 144, 147, 178, 217, (251)
Recommended Blogs/Twitter:
2011 Record: 6-10
Draft Picks: 8, 42, 72, 73, 103, 145, 196, 215
Recommended Blogs/Twitter:
The Dolphins have tried and failed at landing every major free agent quarterback in recent memory. They did sign David Garrard, who could very well be the starter come opening day. Or at least, he'll battle Matt Moore. Um...what? The Dolphins running game is Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas, who missed much of his rookie year due to injury. The Fins traded away their best receiver, Brandon Marshall. On defense, they are pretty good up front, ranking 3rd against the run and 13th in sacks. But the Fins were dreadful in the secondary, finishing 25th in the league in pass defense. They will probably draft Ryan Tannehill (QB-Texas A&M), lest the fan base riot, but this is a team that has a lot of needs and might be in the "Blow for Barkley" race next year anyways.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
2012 Draft Preview: AFC South
With Free Agency pretty much wrapped up, the NFL Draft is quickly approaching once again. As we have done in the past, we're going to take a quick look at the other teams in the league and preview their team needs and how they will likely approach the Draft. Today we take a look at the AFC South.
For reference, we compiled the draft picks each team currently has. Compensatory picks are listed in parentheses.
2011 Record: 10-6
AFC South Champions, Lost to Baltimore in Divisional Round
Draft Picks: 26, 58, 76, 99, 121, 161, 195, 233
Recommended Blogs:
It finally happened. The Texans finally broke through and took the reigns of the AFC South. Even with a rookie 3rd-string quarterback leading the way, Houston (mainly on the strength of Arian Foster and a revitalized defense) won the South. The renovation on defense continued this offseason as former defensive leader Mario Williams was let loose in free agency and Demeco Ryans was traded to Philadelphia. Under Wade Phillips, the Texans evolved into a 3-4 and OLB Connor Barwin exploded with 11.5 sacks. While Andre Johnson is one of the best receivers in the league, Houston needs somebody else that can be a reliable target and draw the attention of the defense. Addressing some holes along the offensive line should also be in the cards, along with adding scheme-specific players for their 3-4 look as they enter the 2nd year with Phillips as Defensive Coordinator.
2011 Record: 9-7
Draft Picks: 20, 52, 82, 115, 155, 190, 227
Recommended Blogs:
The Titans had an up-and-down year, barely missing the playoffs on a head-to-head tiebreaker with the Bengals. Even though Matt Hasselbeck started all 16 games, last year's first round pick Jake Locker showed promise when he got in games. The Titans made two big moves in free agency, adding OG Steve Hutchinson from Minnesota and DE Kamerion Wimbley from Oakland. Tennessee still needs help on defense - on the line to replace DT Jason Jones, at linebacker to replace all the guys they have lost the past few years, and in the secondary to replace CB Courtland Finnegan. It's a pretty safe bet Tennessee will draft defensive players early and often this year.
2011 Record: 5-11
Draft Picks: 7, 38, 70, 101, 142, 176, 228
Recommended Blogs/Twitter:
The Jaguars shuffled through quarterbacks last year before finally settling on rookie first round pick Blaine Gabbert who was thoroughly unimpressive. Gabbert will enter this season as the starter and with a full offseason under his belt. As long as MJD doesn't hold out for a contract extension, this team will have its offensive work-horse and not have to put the ball in Gabbert's hands. The Jags went out and added some weapons (WRs Laurent Robinson and Lee Evans) along with a backup QB (Chad Henne) in free agency. The Jags still need help, particularly in the pass rushing department where they ranked 25th in sacks. The addition of Robinson should help their league-worst passing offense, but adding more weapons at receiver is a must.
2011 Record: 2-14
Draft Picks: 1, 34, 64, 97, 136, (170), (206), 208, 214, (253)
Recommended Blogs/Twitter:
In all honesty, the Colts should feel like they won the lottery. Sure, they had to suffer through a year without Peyton Manning where it seemed unlikely they would win at all for much of the year. But now, a new era begins with Chuck Pagano as head coach and Andrew Luck under center. Luck played in a power running offense in college, so we'll see how well he can translate into Bruce Arians' school-yard offense.
Friday, April 20, 2012
2012 Draft Preview: AFC West
With Free Agency pretty much wrapped up, the NFL Draft is quickly approaching once again. As we have done in the past, we're going to take a quick look at the other teams in the league and preview their team needs and how they will likely approach the Draft. Today we take a look at the AFC West.
For reference, we compiled the draft picks each team currently has. Compensatory picks are listed in parentheses.
2011 Record: 8-8
AFC West Champions, Lost to New England in Divisional Round
Draft Picks: 25, 57, 87, 108, 120, 137, 188
Denver won the Peyton Manning sweepstakes and turned around and traded the Tim Tebow Show to the Jets. Good move for the Broncos, but it's not a long-term plan. They have the defense to keep them in games and Manning, even if he's not 100%, will still make their offense better. They have young WRs that can make plays, but adding more weapons for Manning will be a priority. The Broncos will also look at addressing a leaky interior O-Line and a void at DT. Their secondary isn't getting any younger so defensive backs will also be a priority. The Broncos have plenty of picks and have the foundation for being a contender once again in the AFC West. Look for them to go after a project QB of the future in the middle rounds of the draft, just in case Manning doesn't work out.
2011 Record: 8-8
Draft Picks: (95), (129), 148, (168), 189
Even though Al Davis is gone, his management style is still prevalent in the Raiders organization. The Raiders won't pick until the very end of the 3rd round thanks to a compensatory pick they got. They are without their first, second, and third round picks after the Carson Palmer trade, a draft-day trade with New England last year, and the selection of Terrelle Pryor in the supplemental draft. Oakland lost Michael Bush in free agency but for the most part will be the same team. The key for the Raiders will be staying healthy and trying to jettison some of the absolutely awful contracts Al Davis handed out.
2011 Record: 8-8
Draft Picks: 18, 49, 78, 110, 149, 183, 226, (250)
No one really knows what to make of this team. On paper, they look like they should be the class of the division. But Philip Rivers did his best LeBron impression last year, performing his absolute worst in clutch situations. Rivers is a good quarterback but is prone to mental mistakes and turnovers. The loss of Vincent Jackson in free agency will hurt a little but the addition of former 1st round pick Robert Meachem will help. The Chargers could add another receiver, but Rivers has never really needed all-stars around him to throw the ball all over the place. The Chargers could use some help in the trenches, where they finished 24th in sacks and 20th in run defense.
2011 Record: 7-9
Draft Picks: 11, 44, 74, 107, 146, 182, 218, 238
A year after winning the division and making the playoffs, the Chiefs saw every key contributor in their lineup suffer some form of injury. Star RB Jamaal Charles went down with a torn ACL, safety Eric Berry had a season-ending injury. QB Matt Cassel missed time. When everyone is healthy, this is a team that plays stout defense and is capable of competing for the division title. The Chiefs are in an advantageous position in the draft sitting just outside the top 10 and should be able to land a high caliber player that can step in and start right away. Names being tossed around are Luke Kuechly (LB-Boston College), Michael Brockers (DT-LSU), Dontari Poe (DT-Memphis), David DeCastro (OG-Stanford) or Ryan Tannehill if he somehow makes it past Miami.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
2012 Draft Preview: NFC East
With Free Agency pretty much wrapped up, the NFL Draft is quickly approaching once again. As we have done in the past, we're going to take a quick look at the other teams in the league and preview their team needs and how they will likely approach the Draft. Today we take a look at the NFC East.
For reference, we compiled the draft picks each team currently has. Compensatory picks are listed in parentheses.
From a statistical perspective, the Giants had a very unimpressive 2011 season. They were 19th in run defense, 29th in pass defense, and 32nd in rushing offense. However, the only thing that really mattered is that this team ended the season hoisting the Lombardi Trophy. Eli Manning is an elite quarterback and the Giants defensive front is the best 4-3 front in the game. The Giants aren't without needs, specifically in front of Eli Manning to provide a bit more protection and keep him from getting slaughtered while delivering passes. A lot of mocks have the Giants looking at tight ends, specifically Stanford's Coby Fleener, who is easily the best TE in the class. He would provide Eli another yet weapon on offense and help draw the eyes of the safeties down the middle, taking some pressure off Nicks and Cruz.
On paper, this looks like a team that should be competing in the playoffs. But injuries and late-game collapses have been the Achilles Heel of "America's Team" for the better part of this decade. Tony Romo has a plethora of weapons on offense with Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, and Jason Witten. They were in the top 10 in the league in both run defense and sacks, led by OLB DeMarcus Ware. However, their secondary is downright awful, which has led many to speculate that the Cowboys will target Alabama safety Mark Barron. The Cowboys could also look to address their offensive line with Stanford guard David DeCastro or tackle Jonathan Martin. The Cowboys will have a lot of options with their first round pick and might even hear some offers from teams looking to move up ahead of Philly and the Jets.
What was supposed to be the "Dream Team" came crashing down to earth almost before the season started. The Steelers torched them in the preseason on the strength of a strong interior rushing game. While usually you can't put too much stock in what happens in the preseason, the Eagles weakness in the middle of the defense was apparent from the start and carried over into the regular season. Their offense is explosive and has playmakers all over the field, as long as Michael Vick stays healthy. The Eagles need help on the interior of their defense. Luckily, the first round is stacked with talent all the way down the middle. There are 5 DT's capable of being taken in the first round (Fletcher Cox, Dontari Poe, Devon Still, Michael Brockers, and Jerel Worthy), 2 ILBs (Luke Kuechly, Dont'a Hightower), and 1 safety (Mark Barron). The Eagles should be able to find someone to help improve their run defense.
For reference, we compiled the draft picks each team currently has. Compensatory picks are listed in parentheses.
2011 Record: 9-7
NFC East Champion, Super Bowl XLVI Champion
Draft Picks: 32, 63, 94, 127, (131), 167, 201, 239
Recommended Blogs:
2011 Record: 8-8
Draft Picks: 14, 45, 81, 113, (135), 152, 186, 222
Recommended Blogs:
On paper, this looks like a team that should be competing in the playoffs. But injuries and late-game collapses have been the Achilles Heel of "America's Team" for the better part of this decade. Tony Romo has a plethora of weapons on offense with Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, and Jason Witten. They were in the top 10 in the league in both run defense and sacks, led by OLB DeMarcus Ware. However, their secondary is downright awful, which has led many to speculate that the Cowboys will target Alabama safety Mark Barron. The Cowboys could also look to address their offensive line with Stanford guard David DeCastro or tackle Jonathan Martin. The Cowboys will have a lot of options with their first round pick and might even hear some offers from teams looking to move up ahead of Philly and the Jets.
2011 Record: 8-8
Draft Picks: 15, 46, 51, 88, 114, 153, 172, 194, 200
Recommended Blogs/Twitter:
What was supposed to be the "Dream Team" came crashing down to earth almost before the season started. The Steelers torched them in the preseason on the strength of a strong interior rushing game. While usually you can't put too much stock in what happens in the preseason, the Eagles weakness in the middle of the defense was apparent from the start and carried over into the regular season. Their offense is explosive and has playmakers all over the field, as long as Michael Vick stays healthy. The Eagles need help on the interior of their defense. Luckily, the first round is stacked with talent all the way down the middle. There are 5 DT's capable of being taken in the first round (Fletcher Cox, Dontari Poe, Devon Still, Michael Brockers, and Jerel Worthy), 2 ILBs (Luke Kuechly, Dont'a Hightower), and 1 safety (Mark Barron). The Eagles should be able to find someone to help improve their run defense.
2011 Record: 5-11
Draft Picks: 2, 69, 102, 109, 141, 173, 213
Recommended Blogs:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
