Draft Speculating

[anpsteel]

Because I don't feel like working... and it's about that time

Of course we all see the myriad of mock drafts published by, seemingly every person that has ever watched a nfl game; and most of them have no real grasp of reality... so

When I run the various simulators, the top 2 - 3 corners are off the board- so it makes the choice fairly easy.

Also, I don't think the Steelers value corners nearly as much as most of the league-

But the position that is most important to their Defensive scheme is that 3 down LB. The 2 guys they picked up will be a significant improvement, particularly against the run, but that doesn't solve the long term issue


1.17 Trenton Simpson LB Clemson
Speed, size, athleticism. He's as close to Shazier as you can find
I know this is a stretch- but he's been available in over 90% of the mocks

2.32 Anton Harrison OT Oklahoma
Seemingly a perfect fit at LT. Good size, feet and lateral movement.

2.49 Calijah Kancey or Mazi Smith (whichever is still on the board. both are big body space eaters, with the ability to maintain gap control and penetrate.

3.80 DJ Turner CB or Ronnie Hickman S both bring speed and athleticism to their respected positions, and one of them should still be on the board


I'll follow up with more, but not surprisingly, now that I'm not working, the phone is buzzing away-

[bradshaw2ben]

1.17 LB Nolan Smith is that LB you're seeking. Part Micah Parsons, part Ryan Shazier
1.32 OT whoever is left of Dawand Jones, Darnell Wright, Paris Johnson, Broderick Jones, or Anton Harrison in that order
2.49 CB or SS if none is signed before the draft Make mine DJ Turner (probably gone before this) or Julius Brents.
???

[Ice]

Kancey isn't a big body space eater DT, or (sadly, because I'm an alum, have loved watching him his whole career at Pitt, and think he's a fun, athletic, unique talent in the right scheme) the right fit for the current Steeler defensive scheme.

[ol skool]

Kancey isn't a big body space eater DT, or (sadly, because I'm an alum, have loved watching him his whole career at Pitt, and think he's a fun, athletic, unique talent in the right scheme) the right fit for the current Steeler defensive scheme.

Hybrid of Donald and Twyman. Should have a fine career on a team other than the Steelers.

[Ice]

It's a great comp, Skool. Unfortunately, in the Steelers D, would be a slightly less sand in the pants Ziggy Hood.

[ol skool]

A hearty Fuck You for reminding me of Ziggy Hood.

[Steelperch]

Kancey isn't a big body space eater DT, or (sadly, because I'm an alum, have loved watching him his whole career at Pitt, and think he's a fun, athletic, unique talent in the right scheme) the right fit for the current Steeler defensive scheme.

This. He’s a good player, but he’s also not Aaron Donald and definitely not Mazi Smith. I think he can be a good wave player in the NFL, his career will depend on scheme fit.

[Ice]

A hearty Fuck You for reminding me of Ziggy Hood.

Pabst got me with a Jamain Stephens earlier this week, just keeping the reverse Steeler draft mojo coming

[955876]

None of these are valid if JP Jr. is still on the board.

These turd burglars will trip over themselves to get Jibbs Peezy’s boy.

[Steelperch]

None of these are valid if JP Jr. is still on the board.

These turd burglars will trip over themselves to get Jibbs Peezy’s boy.

He’s a damn good player at a position of need though. You can’t be mad at that.

[SteelerDayTrader]

None of these are valid if JP Jr. is still on the board.

These turd burglars will trip over themselves to get Jibbs Peezy’s boy.

He’s a damn good player at a position of need though. You can’t be mad at that.

[cop1211]

1.DE/DT Brian Bresee
2.ILB Trenton Simpson
2b.CB Clark Phillips
3.S JL Skinner
4.OT

2024
1.LT
2.CB
3.WR
4.OLB

[955876]

None of these are valid if JP Jr. is still on the board.

These turd burglars will trip over themselves to get Jibbs Peezy’s boy.

He’s a damn good player at a position of need though. You can’t be mad at that.

Consider me a wee bit gun shy when it comes to Jibbs and nepotism.


If he ends up being meh then it’ll be hard to convince me he wasn’t picked based on name.

I’m down for adding adding a stud corner if that’s what he turns out to be

[Jobu]

None of these are valid if JP Jr. is still on the board.

These turd burglars will trip over themselves to get Jibbs Peezy’s boy.

He’s a damn good player at a position of need though. You can’t be mad at that.

Consider me a wee bit gun shy when it comes to Jibbs and nepotism.


If he ends up being meh then it’ll be hard to convince me he wasn’t picked based on name.

I’m down for adding adding a stud corner if that’s what he turns out to be

Yeah, that’s me also. I really have no issues with the player, I think he has the potential to be a good one.
But Tomlin has shown over the years that he has blinders on when it comes to familiarity and nepotism…players and coaches. He doesn’t look outside his preferred inner circle. That’s how you end up with a Devin Bush!

[955876]

But Tomlin has shown over the years that he has blinders on when it comes to familiarity and nepotism…players and coaches. He doesn’t look outside his preferred inner circle. That’s how you end up with a Devin Bush!

This all day….

[yygy]

Tomlins big board:

1. Played in Virginia
2. From Virginia
3. Played or from a state next to Virginia
4. Has family in Virginia
5. Can find Virginia on a map
6. All others

[Scunge]

I agree with B2B on Nolan Smith being the best ILB prospect in this draft.

Lately I have been thinking that the way to find ILBs for our defense is to take small edge rushers that have athleticism and covert them to inside linebackers.

I propose a back to the future type of approach. I remember way back when, it always seemed like this was our method of developing ILBs.

James Farrior was an OLB for the JETs. When we drafted Lawrence Timmons, he had been an outside linebacker at Florida St. Chad Brown spent his last two seasons at Colorado as an OLB but the Steelers played him at ILB his first 3 years before finally moving to OLB to replace an injured Lloyd. Wasn't Levon Kirkland a more svelte OLB at one point when he played at Clemson?

You look at Smith, at Nick Herbig, at these smaller 6'2" 235ish type of college edge rushers and I don't see how they can withstand the punishment or have success as OLBs in our defense.

But, maybe they can covert to ILB and be our next Brown, Kirkland, Timmons, Farrior, etc. Smith in particular is very strong against the run, maybe better at that than pass rushing.

I also feel the same way about finding SS, with the loss of Edmunds. There are plenty of these small off ball linebackers that are really just Strong Safeties with a little more size. And often times they are more athletic and better in coverage then your typical box safety.

[bradshaw2ben]

I agree with B2B

Wait… what???

[bradshaw2ben]

I agree with B2B on Nolan Smith being the best ILB prospect in this draft.

Lately I have been thinking that the way to find ILBs for our defense.

I mean, that was college Ryan Shazier. I remember that we thought he was drafted as a 235 lb edge rusher and wondered how that was going to work.

I Thu j Trenton Simpson totally resembles Shazier in college in terms of his play recognition and speed once he triggers. Smith is ahead of where they are/we’re, and is possibly more athletic (although we’ll never know from testing, since smith did fewer times drills than the other two, a trend I sadly see taking over the top prospect landscape).

[jebrick]

I agree with B2B on Nolan Smith being the best ILB prospect in this draft.

Lately I have been thinking that the way to find ILBs for our defense.

I mean, that was college Ryan Shazier. I remember that we thought he was drafted as a 235 lb edge rusher and wondered how that was going to work.

I Thu j Trenton Simpson totally resembles Shazier in college in terms of his play recognition and speed once he triggers. Smith is ahead of where they are/we’re, and is possibly more athletic (although we’ll never know from testing, since smith did fewer times drills than the other two, a trend I sadly see taking over the top prospect landscape).

Shazier played WLB for tOSU. His final season was also one of the most incredible statwise I have ever seen. 102 solo tackles, 144 total tackles, 23.5 TFL. Basically a lot of splash plays.

Nolan Smith is the best athletic copy of Shazier but plays EDGE in the Bulldog's defense. Simpson at least played in kind of a similar role for Clemson.

[bradshaw2ben]

Smith rushed more, but on base downs he played off-ball. He had a read and react role rather than rushing upfield. That was the similarity part.

Shazier made a lot of plays but he was a hot mess in terms of read and react. Smith is about the best I've seen from a player who played OLB and had to read all the college RPOs. and such.

Not downplaying Shazier at all, but he was much more raw.

I think the new NFL prototype for off-ball is changing as the roles and usage of LBs at the college level is changing. Being good at all the levels of play: blitzing, downhill run d/tackling, sideline to sideline, coverage drops/suddenness... this is the new prototype, compared to the defined roles of backers as recently as 5-10 years ago. Cole Holcomb is a great example, and if he's your second-best LB, you are in great shape.

[bradshaw2ben]

https://www.the33rdteam.com/category/nf ... inebacker/

[Smashmouth21]

I don’t think Smith is even available at 1.17.

[bradshaw2ben]

Well, to my mind, my board looks something like this:

Christian Gonzalez
Nolan Smith
Will Anderson
Jalen Carter
Dawaund Jones/Darnell Wright (take your pick)
Paris Johnson
_____________
Trade down
_____________
Skorownski
Broderick Jones
Trenton Simpson
JPJ
Sanders
Harrison
Witherspoon
Branch
Washington
John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmitz
Bergeron
Ika

[jebrick]

I am not a fan of Darnell Wright but YMMV

[bradshaw2ben]

I am not a fan of Darnell Wright but YMMV

I recommend watching the 2021 tape at LT.

But anyway, you can't deny that he is battle-tested and more than held his own in a tough league.

[jebrick]

I am not a fan of Darnell Wright but YMMV

I recommend watching the 2021 tape at LT.

But anyway, you can't deny that he is battle-tested and more than held his own in a tough league.

I watched the Bama game this year and he looked like crap when he was trying to move and block. I think that offense hides some flaws. I think he will end up as a OG in the NFL. It is only my opinion and I am often wrong.

[bradshaw2ben]

@Korey39 is the world’s Wright advocate. Want to weigh in about why you think he’s dreamy?

[SteelerDayTrader]

If I were drafting for the Steelers using our mock draft as a guide and factoring in SOME amount of staying with current Steeler status quo

1/17 Antonio Johnson SS Texas A&M
The Steelers do not currently have ANY SS on the roster. The Steelers take the top rated SS


2/32 Darnell Wright OT Tennessee
The Steelers will put him at LT. If he flops there he has RT possibility as well


2/49 Julius Brents CB Kansas State
Let’s just go with B2Bs idea here as he has proven consistently to be real good evaluating CBs and the Steelers have shown interest in him


3/80 Keondre Coburn NT Texas
The Steelers have nothing at NT. He’s connected to Steelers DL coach John Dunbar. He’s very large but has good quicks and movement for his size and doesn’t take plays off

4/120 DJ Johnson EDGE Oregon
Some obvious flaws but his combine boosts his stock. Last chance for the Steelers to grab an EDGE prospect before the long drop down to 7. Nick Hampton would be a good fit here as well.

7/234 Possession WR
The Steelers follow their formula and draft a good route running good hands guy for the left side in a chain mover role. You tell me who that is in the 7th


7/241 Lonnie Phelps Kansas
The Steelers could do ALOT worse than to grab Phelps in the 7th. Excellent combine numbers. Firey intense player who is naturally thick throughout. He could be a good fit at either SLB or EDGE. At worst he is likely a very solid ST guy

[Korey39]

@Korey39 is the world’s Wright advocate. Want to weigh in about why you think he’s dreamy?

Pass sets look A LOT like Lane Johnsons. Most advanced lineman in terms of pass set variety and the speed at which he gets back that I've seen in the 4 years of actually looking at the draft. Phenomenal hand usage and plays mind games when he throws his hands, single or double punch, chop downs, the works. He's an elite elite pass protector. In the run game, he gets a lot of pancakes on down blocks and punishes 3Ts/4is. Good skip puller which is very helpful in the run game when you have a TE (TE can down block and seal and T pulls around to get a big body on a guy in space). He's 6'6 330 so he's not going to land a ton of clean shots on LBs which is to be expected but rarely did his man make the play because you force the LBs to run the hoop around him. In NFL terms he's probably a slightly above-average run blocker but I am confident he will be an elite pass protector. Another + for him is that he played a full year at LT and looked damn good at it before bumping to right because of Tennessee's young guys not being able to be the ones to flip. He's also only 1 month older than notable "developmental" guy Paris Johnson & 3 months older than Anton Harrison but has many fewer issues.