2010 draft needs

[zulater]

I'm going guard- center in the early rounds, and OT depth in the 3rd or 4th. Hartwig and Essex have to be replaced sooner rather than later. ( Essex is a nice depth guy though) I can live with our starting tackles, but I think we need to find a good young player with starter potential to keep Max Starks motivated.

Zu, how do you think the NT situation is going to play out?

I think Hampton stays, I really don't think the market is going to be that great for him elsewhere.

[STEELCURTIN55]

I'm going guard- center in the early rounds, and OT depth in the 3rd or 4th. Hartwig and Essex have to be replaced sooner rather than later. ( Essex is a nice depth guy though) I can live with our starting tackles, but I think we need to find a good young player with starter potential to keep Max Starks motivated.

Zu, how do you think the NT situation is going to play out?

I think Hampton stays, I really don't think the market is going to be that great for him elsewhere.

Tagged or new deal? I've already expressed that I'd hate to see him tagged. I know it's unlike them to work out a deal during the season, but if he makes it to the end of this season with no new contract, he's either gone or tagged, and I don't know which is worse.

Whether they manage to keep him here or not, I don't think they can afford to go OL heavy early in the draft and not address the NT position. Hampton and Hoke are the only 2 true NT's on the roster and they'll be 33 & 34 respectively at the start of next season. I want Terrence Cody to be holding up that #1 Steelers jersey in April.

I really hope they don't allow NT to become the next Center in Pittsburgh, if ya know what i mean...

[mojouw]

I'm going guard- center in the early rounds, and OT depth in the 3rd or 4th. Hartwig and Essex have to be replaced sooner rather than later. ( Essex is a nice depth guy though) I can live with our starting tackles, but I think we need to find a good young player with starter potential to keep Max Starks motivated.

Zu, how do you think the NT situation is going to play out?

I think Hampton stays, I really don't think the market is going to be that great for him elsewhere.

Really? With all the teams that are running a 3-4 and lack a true nose tackle? Plus if Cowher comes back to the league he will want to implement his schemes...so there is another one. Rough count of teams that need a nose:

Chargers - J. Williams doesn't get back from injury
Cardinals - Hampton is still better than the guys they have
Broncos - really lack the guys upfront to run the 3-4
Jets - could use a NT
Dolphins - Parcells likes big guys
Chiefs - they need help all over

That's not counting the Steelers and the Pats (wilfork is a FA). So how do you not see much of a market for Hampton? Because he is old? How many other guys his size are floating around out there? It's a combination of the "planet theory" and the rise of the 3-4. Someone will pay Casey a ton of money. It won't be the Steelers, so they better darn well draft his replacement.

[zulater]

I'm going guard- center in the early rounds, and OT depth in the 3rd or 4th. Hartwig and Essex have to be replaced sooner rather than later. ( Essex is a nice depth guy though) I can live with our starting tackles, but I think we need to find a good young player with starter potential to keep Max Starks motivated.

Zu, how do you think the NT situation is going to play out?

I think Hampton stays, I really don't think the market is going to be that great for him elsewhere.

Really? With all the teams that are running a 3-4 and lack a true nose tackle? Plus if Cowher comes back to the league he will want to implement his schemes...so there is another one. Rough count of teams that need a nose:

Chargers - J. Williams doesn't get back from injury
Cardinals - Hampton is still better than the guys they have
Broncos - really lack the guys upfront to run the 3-4
Jets - could use a NT
Dolphins - Parcells likes big guys
Chiefs - they need help all over

That's not counting the Steelers and the Pats (wilfork is a FA). So how do you not see much of a market for Hampton? Because he is old? How many other guys his size are floating around out there? It's a combination of the "planet theory" and the rise of the 3-4. Someone will pay Casey a ton of money. It won't be the Steelers, so they better darn well draft his replacement.

Maybe, but he's old and fat, I don't see anyone gambling a long term contract on Casey.

[Master Blaster]

I think Hampton stays, I really don't think the market is going to be that great for him elsewhere.

On the contrary. With more teams now using a base 3-4 defense the demand for his services will be high.

[zulater]

You'd have to be one brave s.o.b. to give Casey Hampton anything more than a 2 year contract imo.

[mojouw]

You'd have to be one brave s.o.b. to give Casey Hampton anything more than a 2 year contract imo.

I agree with you there. But I just really think that someone will.

[DSH_97]

I think they keep him, that's the Colbert way after all. He's done it for lesser players on that roster, that's for sure. What they should do however, is find his replacement in this draft. My vote is in for Suh.....

[Jball]

I want Terrence Cody to be holding up that #1 Steelers jersey in April.

Unless we lose out, good luck with that. I hear ya though but...

[zulater]

We better find out if our rookie corners can play, because Gay sure as hell can't.

[Jball]

We better find out if our rookie corners can play, because Gay sure as hell can't.

Nope, Gay is getting burnt like a pop-tart on a weekly basis. He would probably make a nice nickleback but he's not getting it done as a corner.

[SteelHack]

Id like to say Eric Berry...but I feel he will be long gone...as well as Suh...either of them might be #1 overall.

To me its Taylor Mays

HACK

[mojouw]

Suh would be ideal. But what about Ghee (CB Wake Forest)? I think that he is more ready to impact now than Mays. If Mays is so good why does he disappear in big games? Another playmaker in the secondary really would help this team out.

[ubudog]

ok, i really doubt that the steelers would be able to land a top-notch NT with where they will be picking unless the continue this collapse and lose the rest of the games this season. since i doubt that will happen, although with the way things are going it is possible, i want to see them go after a quality safety. preferably one that can play both safety positions.

clark and polamalu are injuries waiting to happen. carter seems to be able to fill in for clark ok, but in no way does he fill the shoes vacated by polamalu when he is out. carter is not the long term answer there, and since we have not seen much of mundy, i am not sure he is the answer either. if carter is getting on the field before mundy either mundy isn't ready or he isn't what they expected him to be...

i really thought keenan lewis might fit the bill as a safety??? he seems to have the size and speed to be a factor.

[SteelHack]

Suh would be ideal. But what about Ghee (CB Wake Forest)? I think that he is more ready to impact now than Mays. If Mays is so good why does he disappear in big games? Another playmaker in the secondary really would help this team out.

I think Mays can be so good...I don't think he is so good....No way do I see him as the top 10 pick many do.....If Mays was 6 foot...200 lbs...everyone would look at him as a late first round to late 2nd round pick.

but the fact that he is 6'4 230lbs...and can run...changes things. I think his workout might get him drafted earlier than he should be...but to me that puts him in the late teens.

In my mock I have the Steelers drafting Mays in the first...and Kurt Coleman SS from OSU in the 4th to backup the often injured Troy.

Mays and Polamalu

HACK

[DSH_97]

...might be too idea for them to perceive. But I'm all for it, if they can pull it off.
I happen to like a few DBs in the upcoming draft, particularly Nate Allen.

[DarthSpartans20]

T
CB
DL
OG
MLB
CB again

[zulater]

Here's a better way to look at it. What don't the Steelers need in the draft in order of current strength.

1. QB
2. RB
3. TE
4. WR
5. OLB

Actually I think all 5 of these areas are of near equal strength and should be considered a huge assett going foward. An early draft pick on any of these positions would be a waste considering the overwhelming need elsewhere.

Next tier.

6. OT. Believe it or not I don't think the tackles are a concern at the moment. Need is much greater elsewhere.
7. OG. Kemo's really coming on. Essex is acceptable and between Urbik and Foster you can find depth. I'd like them to adress this area in the offseason, but not with an early draft pick. Maybe there will be a veteran free agent that can be signed?
8. ILB. Obviously Farrior's getting up there, but Timmons ( if he can stay healthy) is still an ascending player. And you can always find a Larry Foote, Keraron Fox type out there to play along side of him. For the next 2 to 3 seasons you can figure 3 out of the Steelers 4 linebackers to be playmakers.
9.Center. Hartwig is servicable and should still have another good season or two left.
10. DE. Ziggy looks like he's going to be a real good one soon. But Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel have a lot of wear on the tread and you've got to keep a good rotation.


I wouldn't use a first day draft pick on any of the 5 positions above unless someone just absolutley fell to us.

Next tier.

10. CB. Ike Taylor had his worst game in several seasons last week. I still think he's solid for a few more years. But he has been around for awhile and I'd love to see the Steelers get a true number one CB and see Ike slide to number 2 man. . Gay looks to be no better than a nickle back. Townsend's too old. To date Lewis and Burnett have shown little.

11. S. Troy is injury prone, and the rest of our safeties are nothing better than depth players. None are legitimate NFL starters.

12.NT. Casey is probably gone after this season and if they want to continue to run a 3-4 it's essential that they get a top notch NT. Personally I think the Steelers should tag Casey for one year and draft his replacement early.

[zulater]

I've changed my mind again.

Cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback.

And sign the best safety free ganecy has to offer.

[Dwinsgames]

I've changed my mind again.

Cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback cornerback.

And sign the best safety free ganecy has to offer.

CB, FS ( or SS whatever offers best play maker on the board ) ( Troy always has been more of a SS in play style anyways ) 0- Line the rest of the way with perhaps one D-Lineman sprinkled in for good measure

[Creeping Death]

I still say TE. If that's our set 44% of the time might as well trade off Wallace, Sweed and Parker and get some TE's.

[Dwinsgames]

I still say TE. If that's our set 44% of the time might as well trade off Wallace, Sweed and Parker and get some TE's.

to bad we can't draft a O-Coord with some play calling imagination to go along with all those TE's

esp if they can stretch the field

[DSH_97]

If there's one thing that's evident and another that's just as obvious, this secondary is one of the weakest overall in the league. It's also one of the smallest in the league, with an average height of about 5'10. They have 2 rookie corners, Joe Burnett and Keenan Lewis. Being that they're rookies and haven't played very much if at all, we can't just say they won't help here. Troy and Ryan have their health issues, Carter is so-so as their backup. Mundy hasn't stepped up yet. Talk about painting yourself into a corner. Perhaps they should move Mundy to backup Polalmalu, and draft a talented FS to back up Clark? The one question I have this year, as far as the secondary is concern is, has anyone heard from Townsend this season? He's been more invisible than anyone else in that secondary.

My solution would be to draft Nate Allen and sign a veteran corner with about 4-7 years in... They don't need more rookies at corner, they need a corner that can hold his own without making rookie like mistakes. Losing McFadden shouldn't have caused this kind of situation for this secondary. While he was a good part of the secondary and half of a promising duo, finding his replacement shouldn't have been that difficult to over come. As for Gay, move him to nickle and keep him there. That experiment is over.

[BigCurt]

I had Ras-I Dowling in my latest mock I did a couple weeks ago, as a player who could start at CB or FS. I'll stick with that, unless the Steelers do poorly enough to move up high enough to get a guy like Earl Thomas.


Oh, and as for Cody, I think we may be shocked how late in the first he goes. With Suh and McCoy for sure ahead of him, and possibly Arthur Jones as well, he could end up a bargain.

As for Taylor Mays, there may be no player in this draft no named Tim Tebow more overrated than Mays. He's Roy Williams part 2, but with a little more beef. He should start working out at linebacker now, because he's a better fit there.

A couple of NT prospects to keep in mind. One early and the other late. Early, Dan Williams from Tennessee, and later Kade Weston, Georgia.

[mojouw]

I want Terrence Cody to be holding up that #1 Steelers jersey in April.

Unless we lose out, good luck with that. I hear ya though but...

Jball the Prophet?

In all seriousness, I really hope they don't draft Taylor Mays. Curt makes an apt comparison with Roy Williams. Mays is in the exact same system that produced Polamalu, but makes much fewer plays. Mays is highly overated. I was convinced earlier in the season that NT was the position. Now I am convinced that it has to be an impact player for the secondary. I mean someone who can challenge for a spot from day one.

Imagine a secondary (if every one could stay healthy) of Clark, Polamalu, Taylor, and a CB with hands, with Gay off the bench followed by Burnett, Mundy, and Lewis. Maybe add either another draft pick or a younger vet FA to that mix. That doesn't look too bad on paper.