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Official 2016 Pittsburgh Steelers Thread (1 Viewer)

No way they're going to bank everything on Bryant not ever hitting the herb a single time for the rest of his career, or that Sammie Coates magically begins tracking the ball like Antonio Brown, so I'd say it's nearly a guarantee they're taking another WR sometime in the first 4 picks again this year.  Could see them taking a shine to a guy like Carroo.

Hell, if they had the cash(and I realize they don't) this would have been a decent year to go after an older, yet still useful, veteran who was after a shot at a ring on a one year deal at WR.  Boldin, et al.

 
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5-ish Finkle said:
No way they're going to bank everything on Bryant not ever hitting the herb a single time for the rest of his career, or that Sammie Coates magically begins tracking the ball like Antonio Brown, so I'd say it's nearly a guarantee they're taking another WR sometime in the first 4 picks again this year.

Hell, if they had the cash(and I realize they don't) this would have been a decent year to go after an older, yet still useful, veteran who was after a shot at a ring on a one year deal at WR.  Boldin, et al.
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Didn't see any particularly good Vet WRs that were worth the money this year, and Boldin is too old.  We should trade a 4th round pick for Gordon!  (kidding, mostly)

 
Boldin at 35, for a year only, would still be a very useful player to have.  He can still ball.

It's irrelevant though, because they won't be signing him or any other WR of note.

 
5-ish Finkle said:
No way they're going to bank everything on Bryant not ever hitting the herb a single time for the rest of his career, or that Sammie Coates magically begins tracking the ball like Antonio Brown, so I'd say it's nearly a guarantee they're taking another WR sometime in the first 4 picks again this year.  Could see them taking a shine to a guy like Carroo.

Hell, if they had the cash(and I realize they don't) this would have been a decent year to go after an older, yet still useful, veteran who was after a shot at a ring on a one year deal at WR.  Boldin, et al.
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As a Rutgers grad/fan - I wouldn't mind if they spent a pick on Carroo.  I'm still not 100% sure what kind of pro he'll be because he doesn't have elite timed speed and he's also reportedly something of a knucklehead, but the guy just produces.  The Rutgers offense was an ENTIRELY different animal when he was in the lineup, to the tune of  29.0 ppg in the 7 games he played against FBS competition (33.3 ppg in 8 games overall) and 14.0 ppg in the 4 games he didn't.  Yes, he was stymied somewhat in some big games when opponents schemed to stop him, but he also produced big in some others (7-138-3 against Michigan St for example.)

All he really lacks is elite athleticism.  He's strong, he has fantastic hands, he's a great route runner.  I think he's a guy with All-Pro upside and quality 3rd/4th receiver floor.  Unless he's another Martavis, that is.

 
Evilgrin 72 said:
All he really lacks is elite athleticism.  He's strong, he has fantastic hands, he's a great route runner.  I think he's a guy with All-Pro upside and quality 3rd/4th receiver floor.
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He's also a total b@$ch blocking for the run.  Has some similar qualities to Ward, honestly(knuckleheadedness aside, of course.  Though the domestic charges got dropped, IIRC):  Built like a RB more than a WR, not the top of the pinnacle as an athlete, not fast but is quick twitch, etc, etc.  Reading from a lot of services that he was a pretty strong voice in the locker room too, aside from being held out a game for missing a meeting, FWTW.  Guy was pretty much all Rutgers had, was typically hyper focused on by defenses and still produced.  His hands are fantastic and he is probably one the better guys in this class at tracking the ball(important with a QB like Ben who extends plays/throws from weird platforms at times due to being mauled).

Not saying I really am championing him to become a Steeler, but I could see them becoming enamored with the total package if he interviewed well with them(if they bothered to interview him, I did not check that).

 
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From ESPN:

Steelers signed DL Ricardo Mathews, the team announced. Mathews, a former seventh-rounder, played the last two seasons for the San Diego Chargers, starting nine of 28 games and recording 2 1/2 sacks. The Steelers evaluated several defensive linemen for depth purposes.

 
Wheezer34 said:
From ESPN:

Steelers signed DL Ricardo Mathews, the team announced. Mathews, a former seventh-rounder, played the last two seasons for the San Diego Chargers, starting nine of 28 games and recording 2 1/2 sacks. The Steelers evaluated several defensive linemen for depth purposes.
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Cheap Depth, not sure he'll even be paid enough to really count against the cap.

 
Wheezer34 said:
From ESPN:

Steelers signed DL Ricardo Mathews, the team announced. Mathews, a former seventh-rounder, played the last two seasons for the San Diego Chargers, starting nine of 28 games and recording 2 1/2 sacks. The Steelers evaluated several defensive linemen for depth purposes.
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So one former charger guy to replace another (Cam Thomas) as depth.

 
Is Cam Thomas gone?    After a horrific 2014 I actually thought he was much improved last year.  

Not great, but no longer anger-inducing as a backup.  

 
Visits have been a good indication of players they may draft or sign as free agents. According to steelersdepot these are the currently scheduled visits:

Reportedly Scheduled Or Visited
WR Tyler Boyd – Pittsburgh – Speculated (LOCAL VISIT) – March 16th
TE J.P. Holtz – Speculated (LOCAL VISIT) – March 16th
T Jerald Hawkins – LSU – Scheduled for March 31st
S Jayron Kearse – Clemson – Scheduled for unknown date
CB Tavon Young – Temple – Scheduled for unknown date
CB Ryan Smith – North Carolina Central – Scheduled for unknown date
CB Jonathan Jones – Auburn –Scheduled for unknown date
S Darian Thompson – Boise State – Scheduled for unknown date
S Jeremy Cash – Duke – Scheduled for April 1st
LB Jatavis Brown – Akron – Scheduled for April 6th

Cash is one they're showing quite a bit of interest in. Hopefully he's there at their second pick. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT9t2qdY6YY

Here's who came in today: The Steelers began the process of playing host to college prospects today when Duke safety Jeremy Cash, Miami (Fla.) safety Deon Bush, LSU offensive lineman Jerald Hawkins and Georgia Tech cornerback David White visited the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex to meet with coaches and other staff members.

 
Thats a ton of DB looks. 

Even Jatavis Brown is a super smallschool 5'11" 220# sneak ### prospect.

Has run a 4.47 and a bit higher at the camps.

 
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BigSteelThrill said:
Thats a ton of DB looks. 

Even Jatavis Brown is a super smallschool 5'11" 220# sneak ### prospect.

Has run a 4.47 and a bit higher at the camps.
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Pretty much has to be ST/Safety/LB hybrid. The link has his pro day results. Even better than a 4.47.

 
BigSteelThrill said:
Ive been thinking that with the NFL overriding downgrade of WRs this draft... that he Steelers may actually be sneaky and trust their own evaluations and buck the trend as value present itself.  WR in the first 3 rounds wouldn't surprise me at all at this point.  I dont think its all about 40 times for us.  Many other facets are just as valuable.
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While it may not be all about speed, Pittsburgh definitely values speed extremely highly in their evaluations.  Look at the WR's we've drafted over the last 10 years:

Sammie Coates- 4.43

Dri Archer- 4.26

Martavis Bryant- 4.42

Markus Wheaton- 4.45

Justin Brooks- 4.60

Toney Clemons- 4.36

Emmanuel Sanders- 4.41

Antonio Brown- 4.47

Mike Wallace- 4.33

Limas Sweed- 4.48

Dallas Baker- 4.53

Santonio Holmes- 4.36

Willie Reed- 4.34

Fred Gibson- 4.55

So you have to go back 10 years to find a guy taken in the top 5 rounds that wasn't a sub 4.5 guy.  Based off history, there really look to be very few Steeler type players in this draft who they would consider in the first 3 rounds.  Someone like Shepard in the 3rd is a possibility.  I think it more likely they look at the 4th or later to grab a Cooper/Mitchell/Listenbee type.

 
Draft I would love:

  1. Mack Alexander, CB, Clemson
  2. Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
  3. Deion Jones, ILB, LSU OR Karl Joseph, SS, WVU
  4. Sean Davis, FS/CB, MD
It's defense-heavy, but lots of talent and has great players falling to us in each round.  Most likely, none of these players will be available in these rounds but I'd still love for this to happen.

 
what is the cap number? Any chance we add Jason Jones? I know he visited but haven't heard anything lately...he would be a nice fit.

 
However, per Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com, the Steelers are still searching for some free agents, but this time on the defensive side of the football. Per Fowler, the team is taking a long look at former Detroit Lions defensive end Jason Jones.


 



"Steelers are exploring pass rush help - they've expressed interest in Lions DEJason Jones, according to sources. He's an edge rusher with size to slide inside if necessary. Steelers like hybrid options. Jones (6-foot-5, 275 pounds) started 15 games for Detroit last season with 31 tackles and 4.5 sacks."



Jones certainly has the versatility and size the Steelers covet in a pass rusher, but many fans might be scratching their head wondering why they would be looking at a 4-3 defensive end? After all, the team plays a 3-4 defense...yes, the same 3-4 defense **** LeBeau turned into a household name during his tenure with the team.

However, for those who pay close attention, the team has slowly been transitioning out of the base 3-4 defense and into 4-3 defense, or more specifically a 4-2-5 team. The Steelers deployed 4 down linemen more often than not in 2015, and the transition will require versatile defensive linemen, like Cameron Heyward and Stephon Tuitt -- and even Jason Jones.

Although this might be a culture shock for many, even GM Kevin Colbert hinted at the transition to a 4-3 defense, or a hybrid variety of the 4-3, in his recent meeting with local reporters. The times they are a changin', and if the Steelers could add Jason Jones to their depth chart, it could aid their interior pass rush within their sub packages.

http://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/2016-pittsburgh-steelers-free-agency-news-rumors/2016/3/11/11200120/report-pittsburgh-steelers-rumored-to-be-interested-in-lions-de-jason

 
The Steelers apparently had Robert Nkemdiche, Cyrus Jones, Karl Joseph, Sean Davis, and Pharoh Cooper in for visits.

I think Sean Davis might be a good prospect if he develops further, but as a MD grad I'm suspect about players coming out of Edsall's schemes.

 
27 official (non-local) visitors to Pittsburgh and 24 of them have been defensive players, many of which were DB's. No shock there I suppose.

 
So, what if Dallas (or San Fran) is trying to trade back into the back end of the first round to grab Paxton Lynch/Connor Cook?  Using draftsite for approximate draft value for players.

That would give us picks:

  • 34 - Jaylon Smith, ILB, Notre Dame (Timmons is in the final year of his contract and if Smith checks out he's a top 5 overall pick in value)
  • 34 ALT - Kendall Fuller, CB, V Tech (if Jaylon doesn't check out medically)
  • 58 - Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
  • 67 - Sterling Shepard, WR, Oklahoma (Very strong, good routes, good pass catcher.  Should go higher but fell in this mock)
  • 89 - Jalen Mills, S, LSU
  • 123 - Kenyan Drake, RB, Alabama (RB isn't really a position of need, but there's value here and we could use a strong pass catching back behind Bell/Williams)
  • 220 - Sean Davis, S/CB, MD (Doubt he falls this far, but he did in this mock so I'll take it! Quality player who can step in at either position)
  • 232 - Jonathan Jones, CB, Auburn (Because why not triple down, and Davis is more of a S anyways)
  • 249 - Moritz Boehringer, WR, Germany (So that people have something to talk about all offseason other than Bryant) (and also to try him out as a safety for s***s and giggles)
 
Does anyone else just sit back and watch the Browns draft situation year after year and sort of go "wonder how they'll do it this time"?

 
BigSteelThrill said:
I like the schedule.

Not sure I ever say that.
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Sep. 12, at Washington Redskins (Mon), 7:10 PM, ESPN

Sep. 18, Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 PM, CBS

Sep. 25, at Philadelphia Eagles, 1:00 PM, CBS

Oct. 2, Kansas City Chiefs, 8:30 PM, NBC

Oct. 9, New York Jets, 1:00 PM, CBS

Oct. 16, at Miami Dolphins, 1:00 PM, CBS

Oct. 23, New England Patriots, 4:25 PM, CBS

BYE 

Nov. 6, at Baltimore Ravens, 1:00 PM, CBS

Nov. 13, Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 PM FOX

Nov. 20, at Cleveland Browns, 1:00 PM, CBS

Nov. 24, at Indianapolis Colts (Thu), 8:30 PM, NBC

Dec. 4, New York Giants, 4:25 PM, FOX

Dec. 11, at Buffalo Bills, 1:00 PM, CBS

Dec. 18, at Cincinnati Bengals *, 8:30 PM, NBC

Dec. 25, Baltimore Ravens, 4:30 PM, NFLN

Jan. 1, Cleveland Browns, 1:00 PM, CBS

Very doable.  Mid-season bye week (and hopefully a 1st round bye as well).  With the exception of Miami, all of our road games would be doable by bus.  But hey, last season would have looked one hell of a lot better had the team EVER been whole and even close to healthy.

 
We don't have a single game that will be as tough as our first game last season, BUT we always lose to several teams that are horrible and that we should crush (see Ravens 2015) so I'm a little worried.

Sep. 12, at Washington Redskins (Mon), 7:10 PM, ESPN, I'm going to this game so we have a 90% chance of losing...

Sep. 18, Cincinnati Bengals, 1:00 PM, CBS, Hell yes, we get them before they get Burfict back.  This feels like a nod from the NFL like, hey, sorry AB was out last year during the playoffs.

Sep. 25, at Philadelphia Eagles, 1:00 PM, CBS, Got a bad feeling about this one.

Oct. 2, Kansas City Chiefs, 8:30 PM, NBC

Oct. 9, New York Jets, 1:00 PM, CBS

Oct. 16, at Miami Dolphins, 1:00 PM, CBS

Oct. 23, New England Patriots, 4:25 PM, CBS, Finally going to overcome?

BYE 

Nov. 6, at Baltimore Ravens, 1:00 PM, CBS, We SHOULD win, which means we probably won't.

Nov. 13, Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 PM FOX

Nov. 20, at Cleveland Browns, 1:00 PM, CBS

Nov. 24, at Indianapolis Colts (Thu), 8:30 PM, NBC

Dec. 4, New York Giants, 4:25 PM, FOX

Dec. 11, at Buffalo Bills, 1:00 PM, CBS

Dec. 18, at Cincinnati Bengals *, 8:30 PM, NBC, Please, Please, Please, don't let anyone get hurt.

Dec. 25, Baltimore Ravens, 4:30 PM, NFLN, DITTO.

Jan. 1, Cleveland Browns, 1:00 PM, CBS, If we lose this and miss the playoffs because of it I'm going to freak out.

Predicted final record: 12 - 4 (Losses to KC, NE, Cincy, Baltimore, 2nd Seed in Playoffs)

 
I like the Indy game to be key.

Sunday on the road in Cleveland and then 4 days later on the road in Indy. While Indy has a bye then home vs Ten and home vs Pit.

Find a way to win that game against those odds while almost ever other daunting team/game is at Heinz and you may be able to get HFA.

 
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BigSteelThrill said:
I like the Indy game to be key.

Sunday on the road in Cleveland and then 4 days later on the road in Indy. While Indy has a bye then home vs Ten and home vs Pit.

Find a way to win that game against those odds while almost ever other daunting team/game is at Heinz and you may be able to get HFA.
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That game and the NE and KC games I see as having the biggest playoff seeding impacts (assuming we make the playoffs as the winner of the AFC North).

We could honestly be playing all 5 other playoff teams in the regular season (NE, KC, Indy, Cincy or Baltimore, and Bills or Jets).

 
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Wow, they play on Thanksgiving, Christmas and NYD? Bet the players love that.

 
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I'm saying 11-5 with the losses coming on the road at Wash, Cincy, and Indy, and losses at home to NE and KC. Both Cincy and Baltimore feel like middle of the pack teams next year (7-9, 8-8, or 9-7) and Cleveland is a joke so 11-5 wins us the division. No postseason pick from me, depends on the health of the team, mostly Ben, Bell and Brown.

 
Cortez Allen cut.  No shock there.  Only question is - is it a pre-June 1st cut (which I believe saves $1.7M in cap room) or a post-June 1, which they usually do.  I think the latter would free up about $4M but would dump a few million in dead money on next year's cap.

 
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Don't forget to sign up for a chance to announce a Steelers draft pick here.  They will throw in a gift card and 2 free night hotel stay downtown.

http://www.steelersnationunite.com/

Also tried my first "you be the GM" mock draft at Fanspeak.com, only did 4 rounds.  I'd be ecstatic with this outcome.


25: R1P25
 


CB WILLIAM JACKSON III
HOUSTON




58: R2P27
 


S VONN BELL
OHIO STATE




89: R3P26
 


DT CHRIS JONES
MISS. STATE




123: R4P25

QB CHRISTIAN HACKENBERG
PENN STATE


 
Is anyone else worried about William Jackson III?  I've watched some of his game tape and while I think he is talented and worth a pick in the top 2 rounds, I think he's overrated based on the combine.  He's got great measurables, but he's definitely stiff and didn't go up against the best WRs in college football.  I'm wondering why everyone loves him now, is it just because it's been reported on ESPN that the Steelers like him and because post-combine some analysts all of a sudden changed their minds to upgrade him?  I'm always wary when people get vastly upgraded post-combine.  Sometimes it's worth it (Dontari Poe) but other times it's not (Justin Gilbert).

Personally I like Mackensie Alexander more, and most mock drafts now have him falling all the way out of the first.  After the end of the season he was going as high as #8, now for no apparent reason he's worse than #31.  Watching his tape you can see a shutdown corner who QBs are scared to even target most of the time. 

Here is an interesting article about Alexander and his work ethic: http://www.campusrush.com/mackensie-alexander-clemson-tigers-national-title-game-1546553020.html

Here's a key quote about Alexander's play in 2015: "In 2015, opponents threw at Alexander's man just 47 times; only 12 passes were completed, none of which went for a touchdown."

That's almost 25% completions allowed and 0 TDs, that's pretty incredible.  And as someone who likes game tape more than "measurables", I hope that he's still on the board when we pick and that we run up there to pick him.

 
Leeroy Jenkins said:
Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day?  Really nfl?  Such a joke. 
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I don't mind Thanksgiving too much being that is a road game at night.  Eat turkey with the fam during the day, have buddies over for the game at night, off the next day.  

Having back-to-back home games on Christmas and New Years Day really sucks though.   I'll probably sell the tickets for both games though it pains me to miss the Ravens game.

 
People are making a big deal of this, but don't almost all the teams play on Christmas and New Years since they're both Sundays?

 
steelers1080 said:
People are making a big deal of this, but don't almost all the teams play on Christmas and New Years since they're both Sundays?
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I could be wrong, but I thought I'd read that the NFL was moving most of the Sunday slate to Saturday on Christmas weekend.  Only a few teams were going to play on Christmas Day, much like Thanksgiving.  I haven't looked to see if that's accurate or not.

 
only two games on Christmas...12 on Christmas eve

Since Christmas falls on a Sunday in 2016, the NFL altered its schedule this year so that 28 of the league's 32 teams would have the day off. The league revealed Thursday that there will only be a total of two games played on Sunday, Dec. 25, and those games shouldn't interfere with anyone who's opening gifts that morning.

The Steelers will host the Ravens in a game that will kick off at 4:30 p.m. ET on NFL Network. That game will be followed by the Broncos playing in Kansas City against theChiefs in a game that will kick off at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC.

This season will mark the first time in 10 years that the NFL has held two regular-season games on Christmas Day. The league also held a Christmas Day doubleheader from 2004-06. The Steelers are the only one of the four teams that has never played on Christmas.

Anyway, just because the other 28 teams aren't playing on Christmas doesn't mean they'll be getting a bye though. The NFL will hold a total of 12 games on Christmas Eve (Saturday, Dec. 24), a slate that includes a prime-time game between the Bengals and Texans.
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