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Pre-season rookie draft grades.

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Coach

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Pre-season rookie draft grades. I'm not saying anyone is going to be a star or bust on 3 pre-season games, but I will give a grade for each rookie in the pre-season.


1 ) Burns. Burns had a rough start to camp, then got injured. One thing I read that was slightly alarming was the Burns had trouble covering the quicker players. I don't think he's close to NFL ready, but with our depth at corner, he'll need to be ready. Hopefully, he can shine on special teams.

Grade Incomplete


2 ) Davis. Davis didn't shine in the pre-season games. He missed tackles and was responsible for a play in coverage that resulted in a touchdown. In another game, he made very few tackles. Due to lack of depth, Davis might play a bit as a rookie early. I think he'll be targeted and exposed. Tackling and coverage skills need improvment. Davis I hear is a smart guy.

Grade C-


Hargrave. Hargrave proved to be disruptive as a pass rusher, pressuring the QB and getting a sack. He's very active vs the run, not necessarily a pure 2 gap Nose tackle, but not a guy that was easy to push around either. I like what I saw and think he will be a plus in our 4 man fronts. Hargrave has the inside track to rookie of the year.

Grade A



4 ) Hawkins. When I watched Hawkins I wasn't either impressed or disappointed. I think he gave up a sack and was beaten a few times, but he did move rather well. He has some untapped upside. I wondered if the Steelers could carry four tackles on their 53 man roster. Hawkins has been moved to IR, and this could prove to be a good situation for the Steelers when they make up their 53 man roster as he was not very likely to play at all this year even if healthy.

Grade C+


5 ) Feeney. The knock on Feeney was numerous injury issues. He got hurt in camp. In his debut vs the Eagles, he had just 1 tackle in 40 snaps. In the Saints game he had 1 assisted tackle. That's it. I think he might have special teams potential, but can he stay healthy?

Grade D-


6 ) Ayers. Ayers has not stood out as a receiver and was outplayed by Rogers as a receiver and return man. His value appears to be limited. Likely cut and moved to the practice squad.

Grade C-


7 ) Tyler Matakevich. Matakevich has had his moments in camp and the pre-season games vs the run and in coverage. The players and coaches seem to like their " Dirty Red ". I think he needs to get a little stronger, but his play has been decent.

Grade B
 
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Rogers has not shown anything more than Ayers in the return game. Hell last game he let one bounce and go past him to be easily downed inside the 5...luckily for him a penalty moved it out to the 20. Ayers has shown the ability to make the first man miss on punt returns, unfortunately for him against the Saints there were always guys 2, 3 and 4 there ready to make a play on him.....his best return was in the first preseason game but it was negated on a penalty

Rogers entered camp ahead of him as a receiver since he has been in the offense and playing with the scrub QBs, Ayers has only had 2 pass thrown his way which he caught...he has looked good on his two end around plays though....
 
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CoolieMan said:
Rogers has not shown anything more than Ayers in the return game. Hell last game he let one bounce and go past him to be easily downed inside the 5...luckily for him a penalty moved it out to the 20. Ayers has shown the ability to make the first man miss on punt returns, unfortunately for him against the Saints there were always guys 2, 3 and 4 there ready to make a play on him.....his best return was in the first preseason game but it was negated on a penalty

Rogers entered camp ahead of him as a receiver since he has been in the offense and playing with the scrub QBs, Ayers has only had 2 pass thrown his way which he caught...he has looked good on his two end around plays though....
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So what's your grade on him Coolie? A B?
 
I want Ayers to succeed for team benefit but also for Coolie's satisfaction. Alas though, I only see him making practice squad at best. I hope to be proven wrong, BIG time.


Salute the nation
 
I wouldn't be so quick to dispatch Robert Ayers just yet to the PS. In the limited times he's touched the ball I like what I've seen of the ex Coog and that's coming from an Aggie. I think this kid can play at this level and I hope he gets a shot as a return man on punts and kickoffs. I agree with Coolie! Eli hasn't exactly distinguished himself as a stellar return man.
 
steelhurt said:
I wouldn't be so quick to dispatch Robert Ayers just yet to the PS. In the limited times he's touched the ball I like what I've seen of the ex Coog and that's coming from an Aggie. I think this kid can play at this level and I hope he gets a shot as a return man on punts and kickoffs. I agree with Coolie! Eli hasn't exactly distinguished himself as a stellar return man.
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Rogers was able to shine with backup QB's. He's clearly the better receiver. And he's a little bigger, quicker, and faster with the ball in his hands. You could easily argue Rodgers is better than Coates at this point.

I would not say Rogers looks like a good punt return man, but he looks a little better than Ayers in the role.

I think the Steelers will keep five wide receivers, and Ayers won't be one of them. If Ayers was standing out as a return man, you could make a case for him, but that has not happened.

There is nothing wrong with a 7th round pick going to the practice squad.
 
Coach said:
There is nothing wrong with a 7th round pick going to the practice squad.
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and you have to think about who would you put on the PS instead. Which of those two are likely to be there if you need them later. I'd like to see Ayers get more opportunities, but with only having a few, maybe he is less likely to get picked up if he is shinier when given the chance.
 
Cope said:
So what's your grade on him Coolie? A B?
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I find it hard to grade him based on the limited touches he has received. From all reports he did a fine job catching pretty much everything thrown his way in drills. Reports also show he did not get a lot of touches in team drills, which sadly is to be expected of a 7th round pick with the talent already on this team. Rogers has shown in games that he is a lot like Ayers. Quick rather than fast and not afraid of going across the middle to make a catch. Rogers has had the luxury of 1st team reps and playing with the better back up QBs rather than Vaughn or Renner....I would have more faith in either Rogers or Ayers to make a tough catch than I would Hayward-Bey....

I don't think either Ayers or Rogers has shown enough in games to take the punt return duties away from Brown. So baring some magic in the last preseason game, I expect the Steelers to start the year with Brown back there on punts and Ayers will likely end up on the practice squad.

Ayers has seemed more fearless in the return game, catching balls and trying to make a play rather than calling for a fair catch or allowing the ball to bounce past him.....
 
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I'd give Davis a B. They obviously see the potential in him as they have him practicing at 2 positions during each practice and he has seen that time on the field also. He will see the field early this season and probably in game 1. He could be even better already if they had him focus on one position instead of 2 during each practice. For that, I have to give him better than a C-.
 
Ayers is the 3rd leading rusher on the team in the preseason.....with easily the best yards per rush at 14.5 that alone should improve his grade
 
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CoolieMan said:
Ayers is the 3rd leading rusher on the team in the preseason.....with easily the best yards per rush at 14.5 that alone should improve his grade
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Ayers best chance to make the team was a return man.

He's not beating out Eli Rodgers as the 5th WR. Rodgers has been a revelation. He's not just savvy route runner, he's got good hands and RAC ability. Both Tomlin and Roethlisberger love him.

As a return man, Rogers did not rate on kickoffs.

Ayers did return 5 punts for 2.8 yards per return. Rodgers? He returned 3 punts averaging 13 yards per return.

Sorry Coolie, he's going to the practice squad. Not a bad thing for a 7th round pick. I think the players on the practice squad clear over 6k a week for checks. If one of the top 5 WR's goes down, Ayers will get his chance.

http://www.steelers.com/team/statistics.html

http://www.Invalid Link - Check SN ...ontinues-praise-steelers-young-wr-eli-rogers/
 
Coach said:
Ayers best chance to make the team was a return man.

He's not beating out Eli Rodgers as the 5th WR. Rodgers has been a revelation. He's not just savvy route runner, he's got good hands and RAC ability. Both Tomlin and Roethlisberger love him.

As a return man, Rogers did not rate on kickoffs.

Ayers did return 5 punts for 2.8 yards per return. Rodgers? He returned 3 punts averaging 13 yards per return.

Sorry Coolie, he's going to the practice squad. Not a bad thing for a 7th round pick. I think the players on the practice squad clear over 6k a week for checks. If one of the top 5 WR's goes down, Ayers will get his chance.

http://www.steelers.com/team/statistics.html

http://www.Invalid Link - Check SN ...ontinues-praise-steelers-young-wr-eli-rogers/
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Rogers has more experience in this offense...give Ayers time with Ben and Ben would love him also....

Ayers best punt return was negated by a penalty or his average would be right there with Rogers....Ayers has not yet let a ball he should have caught bounce past him and be downed inside the 5.....

I have already said he is likely headed to the practice squad...
 
I am very interested to see what we get from Burns. If he is healthy I see no reason not to play him every defensive snap the last preseason game. At this point I highly doubt he is active anytime soon on Sunday so lets get him as much playing time as possible now.

Davis to me has improved every preseason game. The first one was pretty bad but the last two have been much improved. At this point if he can play special teams I feel he is active on Sundays.

Hargrave have been the best of the bunch. He is as advertised and I feel from day one he comes in on any and all passing downs and gives us that interior presence and pass rush we have been missing. I still feel McCullers stays in on our base 34 but right now we play that 1/4 the time and sub packages the rest so I feel Hargrave ends up with more snaps by far than McCullers this year.

Hakwins has been up and down and I have hopes he "redshirts" this year and comes back ready to play next year. Maybe our Swing tackle or push Villanueva at LT.

Feeney I had some high hopes for but right now he is at best going to make the PS. I am not even sure he makes it there unless he has made some plays in practice that we don't have the privilege to see.

Ayers is a lock for the PS and has an outside chance to make the 53 IMO. I think he could be that guy they let make the 53 man then cut for another player who is a final cut and a more needed position like CB or QB.

Dirty Red has earned a 53 man spot IMO. He has improved all camp and preseason and has shown the ability and willingness to play special teams. The problem is Timmons, Shazier, and Williams are locks and that only leaves one spot left. He also is fighting that out with Steven Johnson and Fort whom I don't believe either are PS eligible. So I feel they will try to stash Dirty Red on the PS and he ends up leaving when someone else gets an injury at MLB and need a depth move.
 
how about we wait at least until the final pre-season game before grading them?

Obviously Hawkins grade is an Incomplete given his injury. What he could show gives us hope that he can become a serviceable player for the team, if he keeps improving he might inherit Gilbert's spot down the road
 
also I'd like to see Burns, Davis, Feeney, Ayers and Matak play most of the game. Throw them to the wolves.
Hargraves showed what he's capable of, give him 4 series and let him prepare for the opener
 
Grades from preseason? On Rookies? Where is the grades for the coaching, assistants, front office, TV/Radio broadcasts....the weather as well. What was the grades on some important players of the past? Totally useless topic unless to pad post numbers....
 
Drink IRON City said:
I want Ayers to succeed for team benefit but also for Coolie's satisfaction. Alas though, I only see him making practice squad at best. I hope to be proven wrong, BIG time.


Salute the nation
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Unless someone gets hurt, Ayers won't make the 53. It doesn't mean he won't make the 53 next year though. I think Wheaton walks after this year so he might fill a WR spot in 2017.
 
paperclip said:
hope you got a chuckle out of that one. but I do love a good "here's my agenda and I'm going to post the **** out of it" thread from coach.

grading rookies DURING preseason. lol.
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Well, it's less absurd than grading the draft right after the draft, and tons of people do that. If it's acceptable to grade a draft right after the draft, how is that less of a joke than grading rookies during preseason games?
 
paperclip said:
I'd say they're equal on the joke scale. but maybe you disagree.
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I find nothing wrong with grading drafts right after the draft. They are making predictions, and you just know them for what they are: predictions.

That's part of the fun. That is mostly what message boards are about: opinions.

Opinions are fun. Debate is fun. Who ever said anything stated has to be facts only? That is preposterous.
 
paperclip said:
I'd say they're equal on the joke scale. but maybe you disagree.
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And your grades for performance from the rookies to this point are?

I don't see much disagreement here on what I wrote, outside of one poster who really likes Ayers.
 
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