Senior Bowl Week and practices thread.

[deljzc]

I'm now done with RB's (25 each), Safeties (13), Offensive Tackles (15) and Edge Defenders (24).

I think this is a good draft for Running Backs. Deep with lots of size and options. Remember 5-year draft average on running backs is 20 taken and 8 in the top-100 picks. This draft should exceed that.

The safeties are decent. Some years you don't have top-end talent. This one does and there are some nice mid-level guys as well. 5-year draft average for safeties is 19 total and 6 in the top-100. I think this year you will match this total. I am still missing a few safeties on my list with no film right now.

I do not like the Offensive Tackle group this year. I think it is very poor as compared to other years, especially in Round 1-2. Historically 20 offensive tackles are drafted with TEN (10) taken in the top-100 picks. I think teams will reach on tackles this year and would not force the issue. I'm glad our tackles seem under contract and we are fairly deep now at that position.

This is one of the best edge defender drafts I can remember. Very good from top-to-bottom. Obviously I say this from only film study and I'm curious about how a lot of the front-7 players test at the combine since I'm a believer in the Kirwin Explosion Index. Tough to say for sure (since some OLB are edge guys and some DE's are inside DT guys) but on average 25-30 edge defenders get taken every draft with about 12 being taken in the top-100 picks. I think you will see that this year and maybe more. This is a good year for the Steelers to get at least one OLB in the first three rounds of this draft.

I am still working on final rankings and will wait until after the combine to put up all my notes, but I thought you guys would be curious what my initial thoughts were as I watch film.

 

[tapeANaspirin2it]

I doubt the steelers will draft OLuntil late unless some great prospect falls to them and he is best player available. I doubt that will happen since OL is weak and positions of need like OLB are much deeper.

It is fortunate that edge rusher is deep. Now they have to actually make sure they get one. Last year DB was deep and the steelers nearly missed out when so many were drafted ahead of them. Burns may have been their last DB with 1st round grade.

A player who could impact this year's draft is a guy who isn't even in it. USC QB Sam Darnold. The QB position is weak this year. Darnold would be the #1 pick if he was eligible this year and teams may be willing to trade away picks this year to stockpile for next year in an attempt to trade up for Darnold.

if i was the Chargers, moving to LA, my main draft strategy this year would be to get the ammo to make sure we get Darnold next year.

 

[Supersteeler]

Isn't it funny that 3 years ago, RB was viewed as almost an obsolete position? Drafting a 1st Round RB was considered a stupid pick league wide because the position wasn't seen as important any more. A few years later with some LeVeon Bell, Melvin Gordon and Zeke Elliot sprinkled in, its all of a sudden a prime money position again.

 

[tapeANaspirin2it]

Isn't it funny that 3 years ago, RB was viewed as almost an obsolete position? Drafting a 1st Round RB was considered a stupid pick league wide because the position wasn't seen as important any more. A few years later with some LeVeon Bell, Melvin Gordon and Zeke Elliot sprinkled in, its all of a sudden a prime money position again.

I think that's a direct result of the currently neutered NFL. It used to be that you had good blocking and then you could have a good run game with almost any RB. A great RB made you better but not a ton better for the money.

now that most teams suck on the OL and run blocking is almost a lost art, the RB is becoming more important because he has to make plays on his own again.

another factor is that with the rule changes to favor passing, many teams got carried away with throwing the ball. Maybe they scored more points but it didn't help them win more games. I think teams are starting to remember that a good run game is more than just scoring points. It helps your defense. It helps you control games. That's how the cowboys won so many games with a rookie QB and a ****** defense.

 

[deljzc]

I scouted Tight Ends this afternoon.

VERY good tight end group this year. One of the best I've seen. I thought TE's were the way of the dinosaur in college football, but there are some very good athletes still playing that position and this year has a wide variety of shapes and sizes and traditional, receiver-type and H-backs.

Historically, 15 tight ends are drafted every year with only 4 taken in the first 100 picks on average. I think you will see more than that this year.

So if the Steelers want to cut bait with Ladarius Green and look to supplement that position with (what they consider) one of their premier picks (top four rounds), they should be able to find a keeper. At least in my opinion.