Just looking over the games.. trying to focus in the issues.
Offseason:
Subtractions:
Alan Faneca, OG
Max Starks, OT/OG
Dan Kreider, FB
Brian St. Pierre, QB
Nick Eason, DL
Bob Ligashesky, ST. Coach
Signings:
Patrick Crayton, WR, Dallas
Trai Essex, RFA Tender of 2nd round
Chris Kemoeatu, RFA tender of 1st round
Randy Starks, DT/DE, Tennessee ~ 6'3 305
Tom Osborne, Special Teams/FB&H-Back Coach, ASU
Draft:
1) Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh ~ 6'6 340 5.12
We need to work on OL and really the only OL worth picking in the first round in my opinion is a above all LG or a Franchise LT. With the protection problems, I think we need to add a future LT. I think doing this, while Marvel is still young enough, would allow Otah to slide to RT, allowing him to get acclimated and develop at the RT position before moving to LT in 2-3 years. All this time with Mocks we've been taking two tackles. I think Marvel has 3-6 years left in him and it would be a shame for us not to let him finish his Career as a Steeler. He's done solid as a LT, but I feel that he was a dominant RT and letting him slide over to RT, if he will re-sign and it will strengthen our bookends.
2) Roy Schuening, OG, Oregon State ~ 6'4 318 5.19
Normally I pick Jeff Otah here. However I can't see Otah lasting this far. So I picked him in the first. However, we do need a dominant Interior OG. I think with a weak top crop I think some Juniors (Duke Robinson, Herman Johnson, Jeremy Perry) could come out and knock Schuening down. For teams looking for a pure guard, however, there may not be a better all-around, more reliable prospect in the country than Schuening. A starter in 37 consecutive games entering his senior season, Schuening has a classic build for the position and temperament scouts are looking for. Physical and athletic, Schuening is equally effective driving defenders off the line of scrimmage in the running game or mirroring rushers in pass protection. Not flashy, Schuening is the type who gets drafted a round later than a couple of the tackle hybrids, but ends up starting somewhere for a decade.
3) Titus Brown, DE/OLB, Mississippi State ~ 6'3 248 4.69
IMO you're looking at the SEC's best pass rusher. Some may say Quentin Groves, who is a pure speedrusher, and will run an insane 40 time. Some say Derrick Harvey, who is still great in his own right. However he still benefits from having a very talented team around him in my opinion. Titus Brown, the only returning starter from the 2006 season. Even on a defense devoid of talent he's been making plays. He's also been consistent the last two years. I don't think he has the bulk to play DE full-time. But I think he's seriously a more athletically gifted James Harrison. The kid has great burst off the snap. He has a great speed and strength ratio. I see him sitting behind James Harrison. Frankly though, if there was an injury to James Harrison, We'd have Clark Haggans on the Right side... and that is scary. Titus is a complete DE from what I've seen. Limited drops in coverage, but he does occasionally cover the flat. I think he replaces Haggans and is our #3 OLB.. right or left side. Eventually he'll be Woodleys full-time backup after we draft another OLB in 09.
4) Nick Hayden, LDE, Wisconsin ~ 6'4 315 5.13
Hayden is never going to be a Star. He may follow a similar career path of Aaron Smith. He's coming out of College bigger than Smith. He may crack the DL rotation his rookie season. I don't know how McBean is progressing, but John Mitchell knows how to pick DL. With Randy Starks(NT/SDE), Hayden (SDE/NT), Hoke (NT), Hampton (NT), Smith (SDE/NT), Keisel (RDE) and whoever wins between McBean and Kirschke... We should be able to field a dominant and powerful DL.
I See:
Aaron Smith ~ Casey Hampton ~ Brett Keisel
Nick Hayden ~ Chris Hoke ~ Travis Kirschke/McBean
Randy Starks ~ Randy Starks ~ Ryan McBean/Kirschke
5) Jeremy Leman, ILB, Illinois ~ 6'2 240 4.80
While not running a solid 40, Leman is a football player. I saw 2 Illinois games (OSU and PSU) and Leman is just a beast. I've been watching him the last few weeks, since Felch brough him up. I remember watching the PSU Game, they had Austin Scott was running off LT. Led by a FB, Scott had a good burst towards the left. Leman came flying up from the Mike spot to knock the LT and FB on their ass and assisted on the tackle. That play alone makes him draftworthy. I mean I know it takes more, but Leman is a consistent role player. I think he could potentially take Foote's position. He's got similar speed, but I think he's bigger, plays bigger and is more physical. He's got that Steeler look and demeanor.
6) Rudy Burgess, WR/KR/PR/CB, Arizona State ~ 5'10 190 4.38
This is purely a ST pick here. We bring in Osborne in from ASU and we treat him to someone he'd love to work with. His own Rudy Burgess. Is he a bit of a reach, sure. But Osborne has worked with this kid for 4 years and he's been doing great. Now bringing him in here may make Burgess even more dangerous. Because of this Burgess shouldn't skip a beat and this should upgrade our returns ten fold.
*7th traded for Allen Rossum
UDFA:
Bernard Morris, QB, Marshall ~ 6'4 220 4.76
Adrain Smith, RB, Bethel(TN) ~ 6'0 221 4.52
Mike Cox, FB, Georgia Tech ~ 6'0 254 4.78
Steve Johnson,WR, Kentucky ~ 6'2 205 4.47
Fernando Velasco, OG/C, Georgia ~ 6'3 335 5.28
Brian Stamper, RG/RT, Vanderbilt ~ 6'5 305 5.23
Carl Nicks, OT/OG, Nebraska ~ 6'5 330 5.15
Johny Dingle, RDE, West Virginia ~ 6'4 278 4.82
Curtis Johnson, ROLB, Clark-Atlanta ~ 6'3 245 4.62
Brian Witherspoon, CB, Stillman ~ 5'10 178 4.23
Joe Fields, S, Syracuse ~ 6' 210 4.49
Offseason:
Subtractions:
Alan Faneca, OG
Max Starks, OT/OG
Dan Kreider, FB
Brian St. Pierre, QB
Nick Eason, DL
Bob Ligashesky, ST. Coach
Signings:
Patrick Crayton, WR, Dallas
Trai Essex, RFA Tender of 2nd round
Chris Kemoeatu, RFA tender of 1st round
Randy Starks, DT/DE, Tennessee ~ 6'3 305
Tom Osborne, Special Teams/FB&H-Back Coach, ASU
Draft:
1) Jeff Otah, OT, Pittsburgh ~ 6'6 340 5.12
We need to work on OL and really the only OL worth picking in the first round in my opinion is a above all LG or a Franchise LT. With the protection problems, I think we need to add a future LT. I think doing this, while Marvel is still young enough, would allow Otah to slide to RT, allowing him to get acclimated and develop at the RT position before moving to LT in 2-3 years. All this time with Mocks we've been taking two tackles. I think Marvel has 3-6 years left in him and it would be a shame for us not to let him finish his Career as a Steeler. He's done solid as a LT, but I feel that he was a dominant RT and letting him slide over to RT, if he will re-sign and it will strengthen our bookends.
2) Roy Schuening, OG, Oregon State ~ 6'4 318 5.19
Normally I pick Jeff Otah here. However I can't see Otah lasting this far. So I picked him in the first. However, we do need a dominant Interior OG. I think with a weak top crop I think some Juniors (Duke Robinson, Herman Johnson, Jeremy Perry) could come out and knock Schuening down. For teams looking for a pure guard, however, there may not be a better all-around, more reliable prospect in the country than Schuening. A starter in 37 consecutive games entering his senior season, Schuening has a classic build for the position and temperament scouts are looking for. Physical and athletic, Schuening is equally effective driving defenders off the line of scrimmage in the running game or mirroring rushers in pass protection. Not flashy, Schuening is the type who gets drafted a round later than a couple of the tackle hybrids, but ends up starting somewhere for a decade.
3) Titus Brown, DE/OLB, Mississippi State ~ 6'3 248 4.69
IMO you're looking at the SEC's best pass rusher. Some may say Quentin Groves, who is a pure speedrusher, and will run an insane 40 time. Some say Derrick Harvey, who is still great in his own right. However he still benefits from having a very talented team around him in my opinion. Titus Brown, the only returning starter from the 2006 season. Even on a defense devoid of talent he's been making plays. He's also been consistent the last two years. I don't think he has the bulk to play DE full-time. But I think he's seriously a more athletically gifted James Harrison. The kid has great burst off the snap. He has a great speed and strength ratio. I see him sitting behind James Harrison. Frankly though, if there was an injury to James Harrison, We'd have Clark Haggans on the Right side... and that is scary. Titus is a complete DE from what I've seen. Limited drops in coverage, but he does occasionally cover the flat. I think he replaces Haggans and is our #3 OLB.. right or left side. Eventually he'll be Woodleys full-time backup after we draft another OLB in 09.
4) Nick Hayden, LDE, Wisconsin ~ 6'4 315 5.13
Hayden is never going to be a Star. He may follow a similar career path of Aaron Smith. He's coming out of College bigger than Smith. He may crack the DL rotation his rookie season. I don't know how McBean is progressing, but John Mitchell knows how to pick DL. With Randy Starks(NT/SDE), Hayden (SDE/NT), Hoke (NT), Hampton (NT), Smith (SDE/NT), Keisel (RDE) and whoever wins between McBean and Kirschke... We should be able to field a dominant and powerful DL.
I See:
Aaron Smith ~ Casey Hampton ~ Brett Keisel
Nick Hayden ~ Chris Hoke ~ Travis Kirschke/McBean
Randy Starks ~ Randy Starks ~ Ryan McBean/Kirschke
5) Jeremy Leman, ILB, Illinois ~ 6'2 240 4.80
While not running a solid 40, Leman is a football player. I saw 2 Illinois games (OSU and PSU) and Leman is just a beast. I've been watching him the last few weeks, since Felch brough him up. I remember watching the PSU Game, they had Austin Scott was running off LT. Led by a FB, Scott had a good burst towards the left. Leman came flying up from the Mike spot to knock the LT and FB on their ass and assisted on the tackle. That play alone makes him draftworthy. I mean I know it takes more, but Leman is a consistent role player. I think he could potentially take Foote's position. He's got similar speed, but I think he's bigger, plays bigger and is more physical. He's got that Steeler look and demeanor.
6) Rudy Burgess, WR/KR/PR/CB, Arizona State ~ 5'10 190 4.38
This is purely a ST pick here. We bring in Osborne in from ASU and we treat him to someone he'd love to work with. His own Rudy Burgess. Is he a bit of a reach, sure. But Osborne has worked with this kid for 4 years and he's been doing great. Now bringing him in here may make Burgess even more dangerous. Because of this Burgess shouldn't skip a beat and this should upgrade our returns ten fold.
*7th traded for Allen Rossum
UDFA:
Bernard Morris, QB, Marshall ~ 6'4 220 4.76
Adrain Smith, RB, Bethel(TN) ~ 6'0 221 4.52
Mike Cox, FB, Georgia Tech ~ 6'0 254 4.78
Steve Johnson,WR, Kentucky ~ 6'2 205 4.47
Fernando Velasco, OG/C, Georgia ~ 6'3 335 5.28
Brian Stamper, RG/RT, Vanderbilt ~ 6'5 305 5.23
Carl Nicks, OT/OG, Nebraska ~ 6'5 330 5.15
Johny Dingle, RDE, West Virginia ~ 6'4 278 4.82
Curtis Johnson, ROLB, Clark-Atlanta ~ 6'3 245 4.62
Brian Witherspoon, CB, Stillman ~ 5'10 178 4.23
Joe Fields, S, Syracuse ~ 6' 210 4.49
Comment