The Sprint To The Podium Conundrum

[Super Dave]

It is not a just a Tombert thing.

Cowbert did it. So did Donahower

I know that it dates back to the Noll era.

I remember watching the NFL Draft on ESPN back in 1987 when Paul Zimmerman would try to add perspective. I remember him comically stating "I am sitting here in stunned disbelief" when the St Louis Cardinals drafted QB Kelly Stouffer when they had a glaring need at CB while a prospect named Rod Woodson sat on top of the draft board.

Woodson went 3 picks later and punched his ticket to the Hall Of Fame. The Steelers sprinted to the podium and rightfully so.

In subsequent years I noticed a disturbing trend, ESPN would always miss the Steelers 1st RD selection. ESPN would break for a commercial, and sure enough when they came back, another team was on the clock. It happened so often that it became predictable. When the Commissioner announced that the Steelers were on the clock I would calmly instruct the television DO NOT GO TO COMMERCIAL! It never listened. ESPN would come back announce the Steelers pick that was missed "while we were gone" and immediately start discussing the team on the clocks needs.

That was what annoyed me, in an era prior to the internet explosion, when obtaining information on the steelers was much more difficult, we relied on ESPN to give us Steeler news, and every year during the draft displaced Steeler Fans outside of western PA would get the short shrift on information and analysis and it was entirely inflicted upon us by the Steelers themselves.

The rush to the podium was the bane of my existence on draft day. I deplored it, but for information and television viewing habits only.

The information age changed all that and then I became annoyed when teams would take too long to select. The best example being in 2002 when the Houston Texans had the 1st pick of the NFL draft and had already SIGNED QB David Carr, and STILL took 13 minutes to pick, They should watch how The Steelers do it, I thought back then.

It wasn't until 2007 when I realized that there is tremendous value in the clock and that rushing the pick in is also slamming the door shut on opportunity. That was the year Brady Quinn was in a free fall and Cleveland was desperate to trade back in to the 1st and gave up the farm to do so.

The Clowns stated later that they frantically called every team except Pittsburgh and Cincinnati because they didn't think that a division rival would trade with them.

What would it hurt to just wait and see if Cleveland is getting ready to launch another steamer?

As Forrest Gump would say "It happens"

 

[antdrewjosh]

I really think these trade calls are done way before the pick. Not while we are on the clock. Yes someone can still call but that isn't the norm. Too much has to be worked out and talked about to be done at the last second. To be honest there isn't much separation between Jackson and Burns. I wanted Billings bad. But I'm cool with Burns, also younger by three years. Similar prospects Burns has more upside. He wasn't going to be there at 58 and while I do like Alexander Burns is bigger and Fuller is has a injury. Maybe we could of went back to 31 but it's no guarantee he was going to be there.. still some quality players left.

 

[nitsuj1225]

The issue isn't whether Burns would be there at 58, it's the fact the Broncos traded with a team immediately following picking Burns. Which means there is a very high chance that same offer was made to the Steelers or at the very least could have been if they gave it some more time or tried to initiate the trade themselves. There's also a very high chance that Burns would have still been there at 31. It SHOULD have been Burns and an extra 3rd rounder and I think we all would be pleased with that result given Jackson went right before.

There is absolutely nothing that can be gained by rushing the pick with time remaining...you don't get bonus points for having the most time left accumulated on the clock at the end of the draft. I wish for just 1 draft, the fans would vote on who the team should pick and that's the pick that has to be made. I would be willing to bet that draft would result in the same average amount of starters and busts as if Tombert were picking which is kind of sad considering the amount of money these guys make and the amount of time they put into it.

 

[Superman]

The issue isn't whether Burns would be there at 58, it's the fact the Broncos traded with a team immediately following picking Burns. Which means there is a very high chance that same offer was made to the Steelers or at the very least could have been if they gave it some more time or tried to initiate the trade themselves. There's also a very high chance that Burns would have still been there at 31. It SHOULD have been Burns and an extra 3rd rounder and I think we all would be pleased with that result given Jackson went right before.

There is absolutely nothing that can be gained by rushing the pick with time remaining...you don't get bonus points for having the most time left accumulated on the clock at the end of the draft. I wish for just 1 draft, the fans would vote on who the team should pick and that's the pick that has to be made. I would be willing to bet that draft would result in the same average amount of starters and busts as if Tombert were picking which is kind of sad considering the amount of money these guys make and the amount of time they put into it.

if we're playing "what if"s, then say we make the trade down to 31, fully expecting Burns to be our pick. What would prevent another team, say Tennessee, from trading back up into the first - say with Carolina - and taking Burns?

 

[antdrewjosh]

And it's not like it's a high third rounder we passed on

 

[ianv2012]

if we're playing "what if"s, then say we make the trade down to 31, fully expecting Burns to be our pick. What would prevent another team, say Tennessee, from trading back up into the first - say with Carolina - and taking Burns?

Also I read (I need to remember where and find it) that the Cardinals and Chiefs were very high on Burns, even to the point that Burns being gone was the supposed reason Kansas City traded out. If the Steelers really want a guy, they won't deal with all these hypothetical outcomes they just take their guy.

 

[nitsuj1225]

if we're playing "what if"s, then say we make the trade down to 31, fully expecting Burns to be our pick. What would prevent another team, say Tennessee, from trading back up into the first - say with Carolina - and taking Burns?

Then take Alexander or Billings or Jack or any of the other dozen guys that were rated higher than Burns as BPA. If it was Billings or Jack, then use the extra 3rd rounder to trade back up to the high 2nd and take one of Alexander or Fuller to still get one of the better corners.

I'm not knocking taking Burns and I'm rooting for the guy, I'm knocking not keeping your options open, rushing to the podium, and theoretically costing the team an extra 3rd round pick to pick a guy who wasn't even rated a 1st rounder. Doing this for DeCastro or Bud is completely different and actually warranted since they were tops at their positions in the draft and fell. It's the same short sidedness that cost us a 3rd rounder when the Pats wanted to take Manny and we let him walk anyway the next season and got nothing. Everyone and their grandma knew the Broncos needed a QB and would look to trade up if Lynch was there in the 20s so to completely dismiss that and on top of that not even take BPA.

 

[Troglodyte]

It's odd, especially this year with Denver trading for the very next pick.

It almost seems obstinate or arrogant to pick immediately year after year, like they're absolutely certain about what they're going to do in what is a highly unpredictable event.

I'd like someone in the Pittsburgh media to pose the question to Colbert.

 

[Bigappleyinzer]

The issue isn't whether Burns would be there at 58, it's the fact the Broncos traded with a team immediately following picking Burns. Which means there is a very high chance that same offer was made to the Steelers or at the very least could have been if they gave it some more time or tried to initiate the trade themselves. There's also a very high chance that Burns would have still been there at 31. It SHOULD have been Burns and an extra 3rd rounder and I think we all would be pleased with that result given Jackson went right before.

There is absolutely nothing that can be gained by rushing the pick with time remaining...you don't get bonus points for having the most time left accumulated on the clock at the end of the draft. I wish for just 1 draft, the fans would vote on who the team should pick and that's the pick that has to be made. I would be willing to bet that draft would result in the same average amount of starters and busts as if Tombert were picking which is kind of sad considering the amount of money these guys make and the amount of time they put into it.

You really think that the Bronco's were equally willing to trade with an AFC team? An AFC that is likely to be their biggest threat next year?

 

[nooneuno]

All these Burns would of been there at 31 calls are ridiculous who here picked Joseph and Neal to be gone by pick 18? I recall numerous people on here calling them reaches at 25.

 

[ianv2012]

You really think that the Bronco's were equally willing to trade with an AFC team? An AFC that is likely to be their biggest threat next year?

Denver knew we weren't going to take Lynch, I don't see why they would feel they had to even contact us, let alone offer a trade.

 

[scstillerfan]

I'm fine with the pick. The fact they continue to shut the door on ANY potential trade suitors is ridiculous. At least wait half the allotted time. Why not? What does it hurt? The Broncos might not have been the only team interested.

Anyway, welcome to Pittsburgh Artie!

 

[Troglodyte]

You really think that the Bronco's were equally willing to trade with an AFC team? An AFC that is likely to be their biggest threat next year?

I don't think that would be a big deterrent if they really wanted Lynch. I want to say the Steelers trade partner when they traded up for Shamarko Thomas was Cleveland.

 

[Troglodyte]

Denver knew we weren't going to take Lynch, I don't see why they would feel they had to even contact us, let alone offer a trade.

Trading up isn't trading for, it's leap-frogging other teams.

 

[antdrewjosh]

Then take Alexander or Billings or Jack or any of the other dozen guys that were rated higher than Burns as BPA. If it was Billings or Jack, then use the extra 3rd rounder to trade back up to the high 2nd and take one of Alexander or Fuller to still get one of the better corners.

I'm not knocking taking Burns and I'm rooting for the guy, I'm knocking not keeping your options open, rushing to the podium, and theoretically costing the team an extra 3rd round pick to pick a guy who wasn't even rated a 1st rounder. Doing this for DeCastro or Bud is completely different and actually warranted since they were tops at their positions in the draft and fell. It's the same short sidedness that cost us a 3rd rounder when the Pats wanted to take Manny and we let him walk anyway the next season and got nothing. Everyone and their grandma knew the Broncos needed a QB and would look to trade up if Lynch was there in the 20s so to completely dismiss that and on top of that not even take BPA.

Rated higher by who??? Us??? Publications??? Espn?? Only board that matters is the Steelers

 

[antdrewjosh]

Trading up isn't trading for, it's leap-frogging other teams.

If they are interested they are calling and touching base way before we are on the clock

 

[oicu8ad]

The issue isn't whether Burns would be there at 58, it's the fact the Broncos traded with a team immediately following picking Burns. Which means there is a very high chance that same offer was made to the Steelers or at the very least could have been if they gave it some more time or tried to initiate the trade themselves. There's also a very high chance that Burns would have still been there at 31. It SHOULD have been Burns and an extra 3rd rounder and I think we all would be pleased with that result given Jackson went right before.

There is absolutely nothing that can be gained by rushing the pick with time remaining...you don't get bonus points for having the most time left accumulated on the clock at the end of the draft. I wish for just 1 draft, the fans would vote on who the team should pick and that's the pick that has to be made. I would be willing to bet that draft would result in the same average amount of starters and busts as if Tombert were picking which is kind of sad considering the amount of money these guys make and the amount of time they put into it.

Couldn't agree more. Hell, even the RAMS used their full time with the FIRST pick. They've been on the clock forever (or since the trade with the ****).

 

[Superman]

Denver knew we weren't going to take Lynch, I don't see why they would feel they had to even contact us, let alone offer a trade.

they also knew Seattle wouldnt take Lynch, but ...

what makes you think we'd trade with Denver? maybe we dont want to help them.

 

[Troglodyte]

If they are interested they are calling and touching base way before we are on the clock

Do we know for a fact, they didn't?

 

[nitsuj1225]

Rated higher by who??? Us??? Publications??? Espn?? Only board that matters is the Steelers

I could be wrong but I don't recall any mock drafts that I saw out of the dozens of different ones over the last month that had Artie Burns in the 1st except maybe 1 if I remember correctly. So yes, rated higher by everyone in the media, draft "experts", this board...everyone except for apparently the Steelers.

Are you telling me Myles Jack is not rated as a higher draft prospect than Burns? Or Billings or Alexander or AShawn Robinson? A LOT of mocks had Alexander going top 20 and almost all of them had Jack going top 5 or a minimum top 10. Again, not just 1 or 2, practically every mock and draft analysis I read had all of these guys rated higher than Burns. And the fact these guys are all still there when we theoretically could have picked up an extra 3rd if we were just patient or willing to trade and STILL grab a player rated higher than Burns IF Burns happened to be gone by 31 is frustrating.

As a Steelers fan, I've accepted the fact the team won't sign high priority free agents and MOST of the time I agree with this. I think I need to add to that list that the Steelers just won't trade down to pick up extra picks because of all the years to do it, this was it.

 

[Troglodyte]

what makes you think we'd trade with Denver? maybe we dont want to help them.

If it helps the Steelers, who cares?

If Cincinnati, right after they picked Jackson, offered their 2nd, 3rd and next years 1st for the Steelers pick, I'd still take the trade.

 

[Superman]

Couldn't agree more. Hell, even the RAMS used their full time with the FIRST pick. They've been on the clock forever (or since the trade with the ****).

and they took Goff instead of Wentz. Maybe they needed another 30 seconds?

 

[Superman]

If it helps the Steelers, who cares?

If Cincinnati, right after they picked Jackson, offered their 2nd, 3rd and next years 1st for the Steelers pick, I'd still take the trade.

and apparently we didnt want to discuss it.

 

[Fiji Mariner]

The Steelers lock into their board and are always amazed their guy is there so they have to sprint to the podium. Maybe our evaluations are slightly off, at any rate we possess zero draft ability to initiate trades and move around to improve our position.

This was definitely a spot to trade back 5-8 spots and add a pick or 2. The trade partners were there. If you never dance though nobody is ever gonna give you a call and say lets boogie. Grabbing the extra 3rd we could have gotten crazy and packaged it with say a 4th/5th next year maybe throw in a 7th this year and we have an early and late 2nd round pick...

 

[USDA#1]

or they mighta got ****.

and that's why they didn't.

anyone got transcripts?