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Bulaga is on my list of I won't be happy with the pick, but not angry enough to throw things. I think he will be a solid RT in the pros, but I have my doubts about him ever being elite. I don't think he is not an upgrade over the current tackles and I doubt he is a starter in the near future in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh real need on the OL is in the middle.
Bulaga can definitely play guard, though... in fact, I think he'd be a better G than tackle, at least right away.Drunken Cowboy said:
Not sure about Jarron Gilbert, but the Duke Robinson comparison comes to mind. First round guard in many mocks this time of year....falls like a rock come April.In Iupati's defense, 6 6" 330 pounds with arms like vines that will run cones like a very large gazelle doesn't grow on trees.I think the determining factor will be if teams believe he can kick to tackle with a couple of years coaching. He's got the physical attributes, but looked really bad at that spot Senior Bowl week.I'd definitely favor both Earl Thomas and Maurkice Pouncey as realistic options at 18.
This part I strongly agree with. In the first round, especially in the Top 20, teams should be darfting tackles. Slide them into guard if they can't hold te edge.And yes, help is needed in the interior. That's where Colon would be a big improvement.
Thomas would be great. I can't see Pouncey unless they trade down. If it is too early to take a G at 18, how it is not too early to take a C?treat88 said:
I disagree entirely. This is the spot in the draft where people reach for OT's who should be drafted in the 2nd round. It is far from a given that somebody who can't make it at T will be a great G. They need a guy with probowl potential here.Barry Jive and The Uptown Five said:
Which is why Pouncey may make sense despite traditional valuations.He's not just a C.
He's absolutely a better prospect than Mack. Mangold...it's prolly close, but I think you can make an argument.For the purposes of this draft though, IMO he's better than Iupati and that's all that matters. As you mention, he can play any other the three IOL spots, and can probably do it the day after he was drafted. I think Pouncey's the clear 'best interior lineman' in this draft(and it burns me to say that. I hate, hate, HATE that Gators).That said, I won't be happy if the Steelers select Pouncey without a trade down either, but I'd feel better about him than I would about Mike if they burnt the 18 on one of them. The way I look at it, We KNOW that Pouncey's elite. A lot of folks WANT Mike to be elite. We've got to see Pouncey perform at a high level vs. SEC competition for several years. We've got to see Iupati look good in post-season practices after rumbling over powerhouses like Utah State, Hawaii and the mighty Nevada for several years.Look, I'm not saying Iupati blows. I'm saying he's clearly a guard, and likely only a guard, and those shouldn't be selected inside the top 20(maybe not the top 25 either, unless you think the kid's the next Faneca/Shields). Neither should Cs. If the Steelers want Mike or Maurkice, I hope they trade down.
I've been a fan of Worilds for a while now, as a guy who can switch to OLB. For a defensive end, he just looks like he gets it when he's been asked to do stuff in space. Pretty good at using his hands to get off blocks too.I haven't got to see him do anything at the combine yet. Thought I was going to catch him doing the 3-cone today, but apparently the NFL Network wags decided they'd rather talk about/show Dan Williams' a#$%# for 5 minutes.Let me quicly add 3 things:
1. I love the fact that, somehow, NFL.com Combine streaming video is not blocked by the work IT-nazi's
2. Watching the DL group 8 run their 40s: Jason Worilds just became my favorite OLB34. The dud just looks like a Steeler OLB.
3. Jeff Owens, DT UGA is my new favorite DT34 in the RD3-5 range.
NFL.com Combine coverage is just off the charts.
I am of the belief that you have to draft starting quality players in the 1st 2 rounds regardless of playing position and draft position. If this guy can anchor our OL for the next 10 yrs who cares where he was drafted. If you trade down trying to be cute he could get snatched up.
And using last years draft (using the most recent one to keep into account the growing prominence of the 3-4) as a barometer, we could of traded down no more than 2 spots to #20, or we would of lost out on the top rated center prospect. If we trade down, it better be a damned good package. We should get a good player @ 18 this year, Earl Thomas, Witherspoon, or Pouncey would all be excellent picks, and all should be there when we pick, in addition to that Dan Williams, Rolondo McClain, or one of the top OT's could drop to us......but it is my belief that the drop off in talent between the top prospect at center and the rest of that group is greater than just about any other position.I am of the belief that you have to draft starting quality players in the 1st 2 rounds regardless of playing position and draft position. If this guy can anchor our OL for the next 10 yrs who cares where he was drafted. If you trade down trying to be cute he could get snatched up.
Too early to know obviously.I will say I don't want a 4th consecutive rook who needs a red-shirt season.I want a kid that can compete for time right out of the gate. Impact time.It may not be the Steeler way traditionally, but that needs to change this season according to both myself and Rooney II.
I can understand anyone feeling this way.That said, it would probably require a trade up, getting lucky enough to have someone fall who shouldn't, or they "reach" for Pouncey at 18.I'm not villifying, or championing, any of those options. It's just saying that's what I think would have to happen if they want 'a day one starter' from this first round. Haden could probably do it, McClain could probably do it and Pouncey could certainly do it. Dan Williams maybe could do it, if they truly believe he can be a pure NG, but he wouldn't with Hampton around. All four could be options with pick 18, in different scenarios, if things break a certain number of ways. Outside of those guys though, anyone else from this class that you could chalk up as "likely starting from day one" probably isn't going to be anywhere near that 18th pick.
Hmm....I think there at least 3 CB's that beat Gay out of camp.I think 3 safeties compete with ?Clark?/Mundy out of camp.I'm guessing 4 of those 6 last to 18.Otherwise I agree.
Maybe, but now you're talking about taking guys in the top 20 who probably don't deserve to get taken in the first at all, in my mind.I only see on S and one CB that is worthy of a first rounder. The safety won't be anyplace near the 18 pick. If Haden runs well at his pro day, the CB probably won't either.I'm really, really getting close to just embracing them taking Pouncey at 18 and starting to hope for it. He's elite, likely one of the most NFL ready prospects in the entire draft, and plays a position that can certainly use an upgrade(with the fallback of likely being able to play G out of the gate too). Sexy? No. Worth the pick? I'm starting to lean more and more toward the 'yes' side of that argument.Unless a McClain or Haden drop, I'm inching toward boarding the Pouncey train.
My guess is that Hamp behaves himself the first and possibly second year but after that figures $333k isn't enough to keep him from enjoying the food he loves. He'll weigh 500 lbs when he reports in 2012.
I would be rather shocked if he plays the third year in the burgh.My guess is that Hamp behaves himself the first and possibly second year but after that figures $333k isn't enough to keep him from enjoying the food he loves. He'll weigh 500 lbs when he reports in 2012.
He can't stack/shed. He's not a great run defender with 2 DTs in front of him, I doubt he'd get better with one less.I think he'd be totally miscast as an interior 3-4 LB.
He's a NT, not a DB, they are all tubby dudes.
He play is declining a bit, but even as a tub with an annual weight problem he's still arguably one of the top 5 NTs. I have no issues with this contract or it's terms.
I don't think that's even arguable.Outside of Wilfork, there's not a 3-4 NT that is clearly superior. I only classify Wilfork as such because he is younger.
I agree for the most part, but why reward him with an extra million to keep his weight down? He's a professional athlete, and is already getting paid handsomely to stay in shape. They should take away a million if his weight goes up. Thats my only issue with the contract.
Taylor is not a speed guy but he would be a nice upgrade over Mewelde Moore. My guess is he'll be out of the Steelers price range though.
I like Taylor, but I think MeMo is just fine as a relief pitcher. Maybe get a closer on the cheap.
I'm a huge Leigh Bodden fan - have been since his Cleveland days. He's #1 on my FA wish list.
He's still a great man-to-man CB, and an upgrade over Gay, period. He looked pretty terrible in Detroit playing a lot of zone though, and the Steelers run a lot of those in the def. backfield too. You'd think LeBeau would be too smart to ask him to do stuff he wasn't that great at very often if he was signed. I've always thought he's more of a 'go stick to that guy and watch for the ball' guy than he is a 'sit back, read the QB and react' guy. Not saying that's a bad thing, just wondering if he'd be able to excel in Pitty.
That's what I'm thinking, and why Bodden is my top FA want. With Taylor and Bodden, they'd have two guys they could theoretically "leave on an island" more frequently, which would enable more blitzing and a better pass rush than we saw last year (a healthy Troy would go a looooong way in that dept. as well.) Unless they get a guy like Haden at #18, I don't think there's a rookie out there that could step in day 1 and be more effective than Bodden. That means CB and NT become more long-term goals and they can focus on the O-line early in this draft.
Yawn. Dude sucks. This must mean Sweed is not going to pan out, unless Battle is going to be WR5.Also saw Chester Taylor (along with J. Peppers) signed with Chicago, so forget him.
Battle is easily better than Sweed, probably better than Wallace but as an across-the-middle-possession-type more than a down-the-field-stretching-speed guy. How they would use him would probably come out to a split in plays with Wallace. The bonus with him, is he plays outside very well too and would make a better fill-in for Hines or Santonio than Wallace really would. He is also a very willing and capable blocker.That's you west coast intel brief.
What are you lacing your cookies with Cookiemonster? Battle is a scrub.Battle is easily better than Sweed, probably better than Wallace but as an across-the-middle-possession-type more than a down-the-field-stretching-speed guy. How they would use him would probably come out to a split in plays with Wallace. The bonus with him, is he plays outside very well too and would make a better fill-in for Hines or Santonio than Wallace really would. He is also a very willing and capable blocker.That's you west coast intel brief.
As for my earlier thoughts on Rolle... now I see why there was no interest. I wonder what Sharper will command in salary. What would be the going rate on a guy like him?
