Defense remains focus for Steelers in NFL draft

[CharlesDavenport]

From - http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/13573655-74/defense-remains-focus-for-steelers-draft

For a team that went 13-3 and earned a first-round playoff bye last season, the Steelers sure have plenty of areas on the roster that need strengthened in 2018.

The 45-42 playoff loss to Jacksonville exposed numerous weakness on the team, most of them on defense, that the Steelers will try to fix over the next three days.

• The December spinal cord injury to Ryan Shazier created a void at inside linebacker that perhaps no one player can fill.

• A revamping of the secondary has created room for a play-making safety and, perhaps, an aggressive cornerback.

• A defensive line that was pushed around in the AFC divisional-round loss to Jacksonville could use some beef in the middle.

• An outside linebacker could create some depth because only three players with NFL experience are on the roster.

• On offense, it's a chance to take proactive measures to fill potential openings for 2019 at guard, running back and wide receiver. And, for some really long-range planning, a chance to find Ben Roethlisberger's successor.

This is what I thinking too, but now we've selected all offense in rounds 2 and 3, and won't get any more picks until rds 5 and 7. Mason was a good value, probably, but no defensive player picked on day two? That's ridiculous.

 

[Tibs]

This is what I thinking too, but now we've selected all offense in rounds 2 and 3, and won't get any more picks until rds 5 and 7. Mason was a good value, probably, but no defensive player picked on day two? That's ridiculous.

This draft it seems the Steelers stuck to their tried and tested M.O. which will result in some seemingly strange picks from time to time. But the draft system they have in place just brought in:

1. highly athletic safety with great speed and intangibles who'll see the field immediately
2. the heir apparent to Ben, a huge value pick in the 3rd
3. the 4th best WR in the draft with toughness and no-frills, hard working attitude who'll play right away
4. the 4th best OT in the draft who could be plugged it at multiple spots on the line..Maybe they plan to use Okarafor at LG to eventually step in for Foster.

That's not a bad haul for the first four rounds.

Taking a step back from what we - as fans, and pundits - think the Steelers need to do, I think this draft proves they stick to their board and went BPA round after round.

As Colbert pointed out pre-draft, their responsibility lies not only with 2018, but strengthening this team for years ahead as well. It looks like that's what they did here, as well as adding some pieces that will help immediately. I'm good with it.

They can still add more pieces today, and can always bring in FA's (at ILB for instance) as teams start culling their rosters.

 

[CharlesDavenport]

BPA will always looks impressive as general talent. We'll see how it feels next season.

 

[TDX27]

The D remains a focus? WTF! It was their glaring weakness and they basically blew it off with 1 pick out of our first 4 and that pick is more of a project until they can figure out how/if he will fit in and where. At best, this draft will be a C, no matter who they get on from the 5th round on.

And, they didn't even go BPA anywhere in the draft other than maybe Rudolph..

 

[Coach]

This draft it seems the Steelers stuck to their tried and tested M.O. which will result in some seemingly strange picks from time to time. But the draft system they have in place just brought in:

1. highly athletic safety with great speed and intangibles who'll see the field immediately
2. the heir apparent to Ben, a huge value pick in the 3rd
3. the 4th best WR in the draft with toughness and no-frills, hard working attitude who'll play right away
4. the 4th best OT in the draft who could be plugged it at multiple spots on the line..Maybe they plan to use Okarafor at LG to eventually step in for Foster.

That's not a bad haul for the first four rounds.

Taking a step back from what we - as fans, and pundits - think the Steelers need to do, I think this draft proves they stick to their board and went BPA round after round.

As Colbert pointed out pre-draft, their responsibility lies not only with 2018, but strengthening this team for years ahead as well. It looks like that's what they did here, as well as adding some pieces that will help immediately. I'm good with it.

They can still add more pieces today, and can always bring in FA's (at ILB for instance) as teams start culling their rosters.

Any links to these ratings?

 

[ark steel]

Any links to these ratings?

Maybe they are his opinions instead of someone else's?

 

[Tibs]

This is all I needed to read about Okorafor. If Munchak's happy, we should be too.

“He’s had, I guess three or four years of playing offensive line,” said offensive line coach Mike Munchak, “so they’ve done a nice job with him and he’s developed nicely. And you see him get better each year, each time out there playing, because it is new to him and that’s kind of exciting for me because you get a guy who doesn’t have a whole lot of bad habits. Chukes got away with things because of his size, his arms, his strength, those type of things which lets you know he’s not even close to being developed the way he can be. So, I’m just real excited about all the upside he has and looking forward to working with him and teaching him our technique, teaching him how we do things. And the group we have in that room will be great for him. They will teach him the game in a lot of ways, how to prepare, how to work, the work ethic. We have great leaders in our room with [Maurkice] Pouncey and those guys, David [DeCastro], Ramon [Foster], who will be great for a young guy like this. I think they are going to really like him, and I think he will just add another element to our room with competition.”