Feeling down about Max?

[ibbg]

That's what you get when you're picking at #21.

Wrong. Theres past drafts where we picked lower than 21 and I was happy.

 

[ibbg]

I'm calmer today and happier. Still don't love the pick but feeling much better now that we drafted Germie.

 

[DesertSteel]

Wrong. Theres past drafts where we picked lower than 21 and I was happy.

Right. But I said #21, not lower.

 

[Steeltime]

I don't hate the pick. It's that I don't love the pick. It's that I got the 7th picked tackle in round 1 when I think we had other needs that we could have taken with better value.

The only player who might give more upside due to his athleticism and ball awareness is Thieneman. I would not have minded nabbing him at 21, at all.

However, a couple points. First, Iheanachor is not the 7th best OT in the draft. The two guys I liked better were Fano and Freeling, both RT's like Max. Max is bigger and quicker than Fano but those two guys are good tackles. No doubt.

But if you watch Caleb Lomu, you will see him do two things every pass play - retreat way too far and turn his pads parallel to the sideline. Those habits are ingrained in him at this point and will get his QB hit since the edge rusher is only 6' from the QB when Lomu finally sets and the rusher can beat him inside since Lomu does not have his pads square to the rusher.

As to Proctor, he relies waaaaaaay too much on his power. He stands flat-footed waiting for pass rushers and does a good job handling power rush but speed rush gives him a lot more trouble. Guess what the NFL features? Yep, speed rushers who will beat him to the edge. He is also not very good blocking in space. I think he becomes a really good NFL guard, but good guards can be found in the 3rd round, as we will learn.

Blake Miller is very good and experienced but his ceiling is nowhere near Iheanachor's. I read in this forum that the Steelers need to add star players, All-Pros, not good players or "Pro Bowl" guys. I say, "Agreed." So the Steelers went for just that with Max. He is going to be an anchor on the OL for years, where his floor is very good and his ceiling is All-Pro.

Finally, Mauigoa, another RT, is also a darn good OT. No doubt I would be thrilled if he was available at 21. I would also be thrilled if I went to bed tonight and found Sydney Sweeney in my bed. Unfortunately, neither was possible. *sigh* Mauigoa has size, footwork and quickness to be a good tackle, but several NFL analysts believe he is better suited to be a guard and teams can find a good guard in the 3rd round.

So Iheanachor is the 3rd best pure OT in the draft, behind Fano and Freeling, where Mauigoa is very possibly better at guard, and Max and is arguably the best OT likely to handle LT.