Favorite Draft Prospects

Mr. Goosemahn · 02-02-2009, 08:10 PM

Who are your favorite draft prospects for the Steelers according to round? Think realistically, picking last in every round, and also think of a player's availability.

Here's my list for our first five picks:

Round 1
1. Victor Harris - CB/FS - Virginia Tech
2. Percy Harvin - WR - Florida
3. Tyson Jackson - DE - LSU
4. Hakeem Nicks - WR - North Carolina
5. Larry English - DE/OLB - Northern Illinois

Round 2
1. Duke Robinson - OG - Oklahoma
2. Eric Wood - C/OG - Louisville
3. Ron Brace - NT - Boston College
4. Andy Levitre - OG - Oregon
5. Evander Hood - DT/DE - Missouri

Round 3 (two picks in a span of no more than four picks)
1. Tyronne Green - OG - Auburn
2. Lawrence Sidbury, Jr. - DE/OLB - Richmond
3. Antoine Caldwell - C - Alabama
4. Jasper Brinkley - ILB - South Carolina
5. Fenuki Tupou - OT - Oregon

Round 4
1. Kyle Moore - DE - USC
2. Ramses Barden - WR - Cal Poly
3. Quinn Johnson - FB - LSU
4. Jason Watkins - OT - Florida
5. Herman Johnson - OG - LSU

DeathbyStat · 02-03-2009, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Goosemahn

Who are your favorite draft prospects for the Steelers according to round? Think realistically, picking last in every round, and also think of a player's availability.

Here's my list for our first five picks:

Round 1
1. Victor Harris - CB/FS - Virginia Tech
2. Percy Harvin - WR - Florida
3. Tyson Jackson - DE - LSU
4. Hakeem Nicks - WR - North Carolina
5. Larry English - DE/OLB - Northern Illinois

Round 2
1. Duke Robinson - OG - Oklahoma
2. Eric Wood - C/OG - Louisville
3. Ron Brace - NT - Boston College
4. Andy Levitre - OG - Oregon
5. Evander Hood - DT/DE - Missouri

Round 3 (two picks in a span of no more than four picks)
1. Tyronne Green - OG - Auburn
2. Lawrence Sidbury, Jr. - DE/OLB - Richmond
3. Antoine Caldwell - C - Alabama
4. Jasper Brinkley - ILB - South Carolina
5. Fenuki Tupou - OT - Oregon

Round 4
1. Kyle Moore - DE - USC
2. Ramses Barden - WR - Cal Poly
3. Quinn Johnson - FB - LSU
4. Jason Watkins - OT - Florida
5. Herman Johnson - OG - LSU

Good list I'm hoping we can snag Harvin

CDub · 02-04-2009, 04:41 PM

I'm not sure that either Harvin or Jackson will still be there at the end of the 1st. Harvin is getting a lot of hype for his speed and return abilities and with the packers switching to a 3-4 that's just one more team ahead of us looking for that type of DE.

AgentM · 02-04-2009, 07:24 PM

No O-lineman grade out as a first for you? If that's the case I'm guessing we trade up or down to draft one after ignoring it last year. That said it's a quality list and I'd love to see Harris in a Steelers uni next year.

As for Harvin his speed and moves with the ball is sick but he's still a Gator WR and that scares me LOL

Mr. Goosemahn · 02-04-2009, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AgentM

No O-lineman grade out as a first for you? If that's the case I'm guessing we trade up or down to draft one after ignoring it last year.

I'd love to trade up or down, and judging by how many picks we have this year (at least 9), I'd say it's more likely we trade up.

However, if we stay put, I simply don't see a guy that would be both a need and value pick (on the O-line). The top four tackles will be gone (Andre Smith, Eugene Monroe, Michael Oher, Jason Smith) and I don't see either William Beatty or Eben Britton as great fits for our offense. And since we have more trouble with our guards than with our tackles, then I say we address the inside of the O-line first. The only tackle that I might consider taking would be Phil Loadholt and have him switch Colon to the inside.

Taking a guard would be too much of a reach, as would be Alex Mack. Therefore, we take a CB, which we'll desperately need if McFadden leaves, or a WR to further improve our offense. Then we get one or two O-line guys in the next three picks. If we go Harris, Wood, Sidbury, and Green, we cover most needs with good players. We replace both guards, get a quality CB that's a perfect fit for our scheme, and an OLB that gives us depth and allows Timmons to become the starter.

Then we only need DE depth, WR depth, and a MLB, and we've got five picks to find them.

SCSteeler · 02-04-2009, 09:35 PM

any chance we could get Harris, Wood, and Brace in this draft?

Mr. Goosemahn · 02-04-2009, 10:30 PM

Trading down from our first, yes, going Harris, Wood, Brace.

Otherwise...it might be hard.

THav916 · 02-05-2009, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Goosemahn

I'd love to trade up or down, and judging by how many picks we have this year (at least 9), I'd say it's more likely we trade up.

However, if we stay put, I simply don't see a guy that would be both a need and value pick (on the O-line). The top four tackles will be gone (Andre Smith, Eugene Monroe, Michael Oher, Jason Smith) and I don't see either William Beatty or Eben Britton as great fits for our offense. And since we have more trouble with our guards than with our tackles, then I say we address the inside of the O-line first. The only tackle that I might consider taking would be Phil Loadholt and have him switch Colon to the inside.

Taking a guard would be too much of a reach, as would be Alex Mack. Therefore, we take a CB, which we'll desperately need if McFadden leaves, or a WR to further improve our offense. Then we get one or two O-line guys in the next three picks. If we go Harris, Wood, Sidbury, and Green, we cover most needs with good players. We replace both guards, get a quality CB that's a perfect fit for our scheme, and an OLB that gives us depth and allows Timmons to become the starter.

Then we only need DE depth, WR depth, and a MLB, and we've got five picks to find them.

Looks like I'm gonna have a lot of disagreements on here about Alex Mack being a great first round pick.

I especially don't understand how anyone can say something would be too much of a reach, as if you have any idea how the Steelers are ranking players. It actually reminds me of last year when I thought Sam Baker would be a solid first round choice...people complained it'd be too much of a reach...and then he was off the board long before we even selected. My point is you never know what's going to happen. I suppose I can live with people having their personal thoughts on who they like and don't like. But I like Alex Mack first round.

AgentM · 02-05-2009, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by THav916

Looks like I'm gonna have a lot of disagreements on here about Alex Mack being a great first round pick.

I especially don't understand how anyone can say something would be too much of a reach, as if you have any idea how the Steelers are ranking players. It actually reminds me of last year when I thought Sam Baker would be a solid first round choice...people complained it'd be too much of a reach...and then he was off the board long before we even selected. My point is you never know what's going to happen. I suppose I can live with people having their personal thoughts on who they like and don't like. But I like Alex Mack first round.

You also don't know how much the rankings of all of these players will change after the combine. Or how other teams rate these players relative to how the Steelers rate them. But I guess trying to figure all of this out is part of the fun of mock drafts!

One of my favorite things about mock drafts (and the comments from others on them) is how much they change from December through April. What is ridiculed one day is praised a few weeks later. After the combine some of the guys that are currently thought of as 1st rounders will drop into the 2nd or worse and vice versa.

And I'm not saying that anyone here is jumping to conclusions or misevaluating anyone, its just how this works. I'm very appreciative of everyone here for putting their evaluations of players on here as it helps me round out opinions for myself :)

lance uppercut · 02-05-2009, 09:11 AM

just a few names I could see for us:

Round 1:
Eben Britton OT
Alex Mack OC

Round 2 early (via trade-down or trade-up):
William Beatty OT (like him more than most)
Ziggy Hood DE

Round 2:
Ron Brace NT
Jamon Meredith OT/OG
Troy Kropog OT

Round 3:
Antoine Caldwell OC
Jarron Gilbert DE
Trevor Canfield OG
Tyronne Greene OG
Kyle Moore DE
Alex Magee DE

Round 4:
Chris Baker DE
Gerald Cadogan OT

Mr. Stiller · 02-05-2009, 02:44 PM

Round 1: (No paticular order)

Percy Harvin
Phil Loadholt
Sean Smith
Hakeem Nicks
Larry English
DJ Moore
Alphonso Smith

Round 2:

Jarron Gilbert
Jonathon Luigs
Victor Harris
Ron Brace
Fili Moala

captainjack27 · 02-05-2009, 02:46 PM

Loadholt in the first for me...Harvin would be nice I guess...but I think we need a tackle so Colon can be effective again at the RG.

THav916 · 02-05-2009, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AgentM

You also don't know how much the rankings of all of these players will change after the combine. Or how other teams rate these players relative to how the Steelers rate them. But I guess trying to figure all of this out is part of the fun of mock drafts!

One of my favorite things about mock drafts (and the comments from others on them) is how much they change from December through April. What is ridiculed one day is praised a few weeks later. After the combine some of the guys that are currently thought of as 1st rounders will drop into the 2nd or worse and vice versa.

And I'm not saying that anyone here is jumping to conclusions or misevaluating anyone, its just how this works. I'm very appreciative of everyone here for putting their evaluations of players on here as it helps me round out opinions for myself :)

Not only how much different the mock drafts are from December to April but how different the actual draft is from people's mock drafts even right before the draft. No one ever knows exactly how it will pan out, which is why I try to stay away from saying someone will be a reach. I guess it's also why we can dream with hoping players fall to us, as I don't think any mock draft had Limas Sweed still available where we picked in round 2. In addition to player's stocks going up and down, it's really tough to get an accurate mock draft for the Steelers free agency roles around.

SteelCzar76 · 02-05-2009, 03:18 PM

As i said before in another thread a few weeks ago, i'm not in favor of drafting any o-lineman in the first. And as such, i'll stick with the players i called for then,....

Trade up for Rey Maualuga if he were to fall into a decent range, (though i know it's not likely at all) or,.. Percy Harvin.(Hines isn't getting any younger and Nate Washington is ridiculously inconsistent IMO. And the idea of having Harvin on the field with Holmes would present a great deal of mismatches for opposing defenses)

I could also live with Victor Harris, Evander Hood, or Fili Moala at 32.

mikehop05 · 02-06-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelCzar76

As i said before in another thread a few weeks ago, i'm not in favor of drafting any o-lineman in the first. And as such, i'll stick with the players i called for then,....

Trade up for Rey Maualuga if he were to fall into a decent range, (though i know it's not likely at all) or,.. Percy Harvin.(Hines isn't getting any younger and Nate Washington is ridiculously inconsistent IMO. And the idea of having Harvin on the field with Holmes would present a great deal of mismatches for opposing defenses)

I could also live with Victor Harris, Evander Hood, or Fili Moala at 32.

I'd take Hood at 32... not the others.

SteelCzar76 · 02-06-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikehop05

I'd take Hood at 32... not the others.

Let's say the board is clear and we're still at 32,....you wouldn't take Harris over an overrated O-lineman ? (With maybe the exception of Duke Robinson),.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCQwDW66yCY

mikehop05 · 02-06-2009, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteelCzar76

Let's say the board is clear and we're still at 32,....you wouldn't take Harris over an overrated O-lineman ? (With maybe the exception of Duke Robinson),.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCQwDW66yCY

sittin at 32 if it were between harris, duke.. id take harris

but if hood is there too id take him over the other two..

its still too early to tell, id like to wait til after the combine to make final assesments...

hood just seems like a steeler player to me

Mr. Stiller · 02-06-2009, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikehop05

I'd take Hood at 32... not the others.

Of those 3 I'd take Fili Moala.

Harris doesn't have first round speed, or the ability to play man coverage. He also struggled a lot with pro-schemes in senior bowl week.

Evander hood is going to be a decent DT but I'm not really a fan of him in the 3-4.

mikehop05 · 02-06-2009, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Stiller

Of those 3 I'd take Fili Moala.

Harris doesn't have first round speed, or the ability to play man coverage. He also struggled a lot with pro-schemes in senior bowl week.

Evander hood is going to be a decent DT but I'm not really a fan of him in the 3-4.

hood reminds me of aaron smith... not the best physical skills but he is a great technician and always gives it everything hes got

SteelCzar76 · 02-07-2009, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Stiller

Of those 3 I'd take Fili Moala.

Harris doesn't have first round speed, or the ability to play man coverage. He also struggled a lot with pro-schemes in senior bowl week.

Evander hood is going to be a decent DT but I'm not really a fan of him in the 3-4.

I like Fili a just bit more than Hood though i'am impressed with Hood's motor and ability to hold his gaps. I give the slight edge to Fili because of his height and wingspan. He also reminds me of Kimo with a little more explosiveness.

My only concern would be whether or not he (Fili) would be less "streaky" than he was at SC ?

As far as Harris,...i'm aware of his lack of top end speed, but the kid is a "football player" and even as a rookie would be an upgrade over William G and Townsend, and a better corner than McFadden within 2 seasons. He may struggle a bit in man coverage, but he has exceptional ball skills and we run mostly zone anyway. Think young Ronde Barber, with return skills.

SteelCzar76 · 02-07-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikehop05

sittin at 32 if it were between harris, duke.. id take harris

but if hood is there too id take him over the other two..

its still too early to tell, id like to wait til after the combine to make final assesments...

hood just seems like a steeler player to me

I'm with you there man,.in terms of waiting until after the combine to issue "final grades". I just like brainstorming so to speak,..especially considering how late in the first we're selecting.(Almost as if it's a high 2nd round pick)

SCSteeler · 02-07-2009, 08:44 PM

i won't even try a mock, I don't know how you guys do it? I'm in awe of it all, I just know the players I really want to see in BlackandGold next year and they are:

Ron Brace
Macho Harris
Eric Wood

...each seem to have the toughness and nastiness to make it in this league, and would be able to help out immediately!

steelersfan43 · 02-07-2009, 09:04 PM

I want percy, but ya that gators wr thing is kinda scary.

Mr. Stiller · 02-08-2009, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelersfan43

I want percy, but ya that gators wr thing is kinda scary.

Percy isn't a WR.

He's a weapon.

HellonEarth84 · 02-09-2009, 01:51 AM

Steelers are set at QB, RB, WR, S, NT, TE

Team Needs: OT, OG, OC, DE, possibly LB and CB in the later rounds.

Fenuki Tupou - Run Blocking OT. Huge guy. Could be what the Steelers need for goal line situations.

Chris Baker - NT/DE - Rotational guy, could possibly start in a couple years. Experienced in the 3-4. Insurance for Hampton, and could also give the big guy some much needed time to breathe on the bench.

Cody Brown - OLB - Harrison is 30 years old. Take a shot on Brown in round 3 if he's still around, let him sit and learn for a couple years, and could eventually be a starter opposite of Woodley.