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More on Billings

  • Thread starter Thread starter POP
  • Start date Start date
Personally, I think the Steelers are more interested in Xavien Howard the CB.
 
I'm leaning toward Billings as my top choice. Starting NT and able to rotate in as a DE in 2DL sets. That would be a coup!

Strength in the middle of the line will help the entire defense.
 
Cope said:
I'm leaning toward Billings as my top choice. Starting NT and able to rotate in as a DE in 2DL sets. That would be a coup!

Strength in the middle of the line will help the entire defense.
Click to expand...

With the departure of McClendon, and DL depth being thin, the odds of Billings being our #1 pick if he's still on the board went way up.

I still like Cornerback Jackson III a bit better.

The game has changed, and the Steelers need to build up the DL, and pick better edge rushers. They also need to stop drafting DB's best known for hitting and pick taller players to defend the edge.

A draft that hits all three spots would be Awesome!

1 ) CB Jackson
2 ) OLB/DE Nassib
3 ) DT/NT Ridgeway.

BOOM.
 
I honestly believe the Steelers will prioritize DT more than CB in the first. Especially if Billings is still there. Not saying they won't take CB. They will. But with Gay, Quez, and Cockrell already there, CB will not be emphasized in the first. Now if Hargreaves somehow, some way falls to their pick, all bets are off.:playful:
 
We won't take him. So much sub package football.
 
Tomlin talking up Goulson was an indicator they may deprioritize the position in the first round... but there are some good guys that will be available in the 2nd and third that wont be far off what is there in the 1st when we pick
 
Cope said:
I'm leaning toward Billings as my top choice. Starting NT and able to rotate in as a DE in 2DL sets. That would be a coup!

Strength in the middle of the line will help the entire defense.
Click to expand...

Unless the people are right (that everyone spreads out so often, and we run less and less of a traditional 3-4) I agree. If you have a force in the middle, it should open up lot of opportunities of the De's and OLB's. I like the fact that Billings has a non-stop motor. You can't really teach that. He seems like a Tazmanian Devil out there, and we could use that.

I like what I see.

 
We don't use the NT like we did when Big Snack was here, but it is the one position on defense where a rookie could start from day 1, and maybe we'll use 3DL some more on passing downs.
 
Even with the emphasis on sub-package football, Billings would still be an upgrade. It looks like he can push the pocket and apply pressure up the middle pretty well. Best way to disrupt the likes of a certain QB we all hate.
 
1st- It looks like Houston is in love with him also, and I highly doubt he will be there at 1.25

2nd- Being that we are in 'win now' mode, do we want to spend a 1st rounder on a NT? As a rookie NT, He may see 20-25% of snaps at most.

I get it, he can also play DE. But how often do you want to take Heyward or Tuitt off the field?

It seems like his greater asset is that he can be a substitute, but is that worth a 1st round pick?
 
Bigappleyinzer said:
1st- It looks like Houston is in love with him also, and I highly doubt he will be there at 1.25

2nd- Being that we are in 'win now' mode, do we want to spend a 1st rounder on a NT? As a rookie NT, He may see 20-25% of snaps at most.

I get it, he can also play DE. But how often do you want to take Heyward or Tuitt off the field?

It seems like his greater asset is that he can be a substitute, but is that worth a 1st round pick?
Click to expand...

Hampton played mostly full time as a rookie; so would this kid.
 
I think we can get a NT in rds 3-4. I think we will go cb, s in the first two rounds. Cb really drops off after rd 2.
 
Bigappleyinzer said:
1st- It looks like Houston is in love with him also, and I highly doubt he will be there at 1.25

2nd- Being that we are in 'win now' mode, do we want to spend a 1st rounder on a NT? As a rookie NT, He may see 20-25% of snaps at most.

I get it, he can also play DE. But how often do you want to take Heyward or Tuitt off the field?

It seems like his greater asset is that he can be a substitute, but is that worth a 1st round pick?
Click to expand...

I'd agree, but it looks like he can also play some 3 tech and spell Tuitt or Heyward to up his percentage of plays to closer to 40-50%
 
Bigappleyinzer said:
1st- It looks like Houston is in love with him also, and I highly doubt he will be there at 1.25

2nd- Being that we are in 'win now' mode, do we want to spend a 1st rounder on a NT? As a rookie NT, He may see 20-25% of snaps at most.

I get it, he can also play DE. But how often do you want to take Heyward or Tuitt off the field?

It seems like his greater asset is that he can be a substitute, but is that worth a 1st round pick?
Click to expand...

We would be looking at a solid rotation for the three maybe four if we also draft a 3-4 DE who can also slide inside in our sub packages.Billings would be a 3-4 NT who could play DT in our Sub packages. That would give us 4 lineman who can rotate in and out keeping everyone fresh.. also providing depth in case of injuries.
 
Yes there is a drop off at CB after round two. But not at safety. I believe you win up front. You can dictate with a dominant front. I've played WR and DB I've coached WR and DB but still believe you are as only as good as your trenches. You can dictate when you're dominant up front. You don't dictate anything from the secondary just react. Especially in today's game.
 
Also I believe it would help us against teams like NE and others who have dominant TEs. Not in the passing game but in the run game. NE trots out their 2TE sets and we have to go nickle cause our LBs can't stick Gronk. What does NE do gash us in the run game and then play action to Gronk. Can't do that if they can't run against our sub package. The Bengals and Ravens do this Alot. Get us in our sub packages and then run the ball
 
I honestly believe this is a smoke screen. I remember when everyone thought we were interested in Shaun Rogers coming out of the university of Texas. We went to texas pro day, had one-on-one meetings, and everything pointed at Rogers. Low and behold draft day comes about and we take Casey Hampton. I was actually pissed because I wanted Drew Brees but the Steelers took Hampton. Now I don't know if we would have won more or less super bowls with Brees but I do know Hampton was still a fabulous pick.

Now watching Billings I see him on the ground... a lot. He reminds me more of Warren Sapp than Casey Hampton. The guy I feel is most like Hampton is Nile Lawrence-Stample and he can be had in the 6th most likely.

If we are looking for a guy who can play on both running and passing downs and certain sub packages Vernon Butler is your guy.
 
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I like Vernon Butler too Alot
 
FordFairLane said:
Personally, I think the Steelers are more interested in Xavien Howard the CB.
Click to expand...

I really like Howard, too. However, I think he is there for us in the second round.


As far as Billings goes... there is a lot to like (pun intended). :)

Yet, he would be a NT that is able to play DE. I think they might prefer a DE that can play NT. However, I don't think I see that guy early in the draft.

.
 
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antdrewjosh said:
I like Vernon Butler too Alot
Click to expand...

With luck, we pick him in round two. Round one for Butler would be a mild reach.

I would be okay in Butler if we traded down from round one, but picked up say pick 5-15 in rounds 2, 3 and 5.

The Draft such a trade could look like this.

2 ) NT/DT Butler
2 ) OLB/DE Nassib
3 ) CB Burns
3 ) S Carson-Houston
4 ) QB Hogan
5 ) RT/G Shell
 
Yea- I think I prefer Butler if we are making the "sub-package" argument.

While Butler would probably play fewer snaps than Billings, he gives you both run stuffing AND a pass rush.

I get a feeling that Billings would essentially become a McClendon - a solid NT, but really really average when used in sub packages.
 
I don't think they're very concerned about the NT position. McClendon only played 30% of the snaps. A third CB will play 80% of the snaps.
 
steelpastor said:
I really like Howard, too. However, I think he is there for us in the second round.


As far as Billings goes... there is a lot to like (pun intended). :)

Yet, he would be a NT that is able to play DE. I think they might prefer a DE that can play NT. However, I don't think I see that guy early in the draft.

.
Click to expand...

You haven't seen my updated mock. I have the Steelers taking Howard round 2 and Butler round 1.
 
Coach said:
With luck, we pick him in round two. Round one for Butler would be a mild reach.

I would be okay in Butler if we traded down from round one, but picked up say pick 5-15 in rounds 2, 3 and 5.

The Draft such a trade could look like this.

2 ) NT/DT Butler
2 ) OLB/DE Nassib
3 ) CB Burns
3 ) S Carson-Houston
4 ) QB Hogan
5 ) RT/G Shell
Click to expand...

I have seen mocks with butler going in the early 20s or even higher, his stock is definitely going up
 
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