The 2015 NFL draft does not appear to be flushed with blue chip talent. The talent level drops pretty quickly in the first round and teams outside of the top ten picks may find themselves selecting from a pool of players that is not vastly superior to a team’s selection in the top of the second round. While the blue chip talent fades fairly quickly, this draft does offer solid potential well into the third and fourth rounds at certain positions. It has some areas of significant weakness and some areas that present solid depth. The Steelers enter this draft needing help at some key positions including the defensive backfield, pass rushers, and depth at a variety of positions. There are very few positions where the Steelers would pass on blue chip talent if available and they are quarterback, runningback, and inside linebacker. They could use talent upgrades at almost every other position and if you project one season out, the Steelers have potential holes to fill at a variety of spots. The silver lining of this draft is it appears to have solid prospects and depth at both the cornerback position and outside linebacker position, two areas that will be a focal point for the Steeler draft if they desire to fill needs. The following are not my ideal selections for the Steelers in this draft, but merely who I think they will select in each round.
22nd Pick-Kevin Johnson, Cornerback, Wake Forest. As I wrote previously, he is 6002, 188 pounds and ran a 4.52 forty at the combine. He is an excellent leaper with elite change of direction skills. On film, Johnson has a lot to like and if you were looking at a checklist of things the Steelers want in a corner, he checks a lot of boxes. Johnson is willing in run support. He attacks the run game with the mentality of a linebacker. He will take on blockers to force the runner to stay inside, allowing help to come. He will play off some blockers, especially the blocks of wide receivers, and make the tackle. He is one of the better tackling defensive backs in the NFL and does an excellent job of dropping his pads and wrapping up the runner. Johnson also shows the ability to play in a variety of coverages and schemes. He plays press man and has loose hips, allowing him to flip open and run with receivers down the field. He does a solid job of getting his arm and body onto the receiver and rubbing off speed allowing him to maintain control and position down the field. In off coverages, both man and zone, he shows solid feel and the ability to click and close on shorter routes. He has a smooth backpedal and stays low in his stance, flipping his hips open and running with receivers easily. He is an aggressive blitzing defensive back that delivers a hit when he arrives. He also works as a gunner on punt coverage teams. Johnson just does not have many holes in his overall game and simply plays a steady and consistent brand of football.
56th Pick-Nate Orchard, Outside Linebacker, Utah. Nate Orchard of Utah played primarily as a defensive end and will have to show he can handle playing in a standing position. He does not show the overall athleticism a lot of teams want in an edge pass rusher. He is 6032, 250 pounds and ran a 4.80 forty at the combine. He does not show great change of direction and his KEI was 65. On film, Orchard competes. He shows some strength at the point of attack and does not get pushed around, but he has to work on getting off blocks to get more involved. He is at his best when he plays into gaps or pushes the outside edge. He will make the play on the runner and does a nice job of getting guys on the ground. As a pass rusher, he does not have great burst off the edge and does not display great pass rush moves. He does a nice job of mixing up his pass rush, pushing the edges, diving inside, using speed and power, in an effort to keep the offensive tackle off balance. He does not drop into coverage often and will have to develop that skill at the next level. Orchard has a chance to become a solid starter at the next level, but it is unlikely he will ever be a star. I see a lot of similarities between Orchard and former Steeler Clark Haggans, neither being an elite athlete, but both playing at a higher level on the field. There will likely be a run of pass rushers and outside linebackers that could lead to the Steelers over drafting Orchard.
87th Pick-Sammie Coates, Wide Receiver, Auburn. Coates is 6013, 212 pounds and ran a 4.43 forty at the combine. He is an excellent athlete and plays to that timed speed. Coates is an excellent leaper and shows the ability to go up and take the football from defensive backs. He carries good mass in his upper body and can be a physical receiver when the football is in the air. He can be difficult for defensive backs to get on the ground and is more than willing to drop his pads and drive forward for extra yards. He has big play potential and will challenge down the field. In addition, he shows good burst from his breaks, is a solid route runner, and does not shy away from contact in the middle of the field. He has the ability to work to all levels and can be an impact wide receiver at the next level. When Coates catches the football away from his body, he is a natural pass catcher with soft hands. He will allow the ball into his body at times and shows some lapses in concentration that lead to drops. If he were a more consistent wide receiver, he would be in the mix with those considered in the first round, but the massive depth at the wide receiver position and his need to add consistency will cause him to be drafted later than his talent would dictate.
121st Pick-Davis Tull, Outside Linebacker, Tennessee Chattanooga. Tull is an interesting prospect coming from a smaller school. He is 6023, 246 pounds. He was very limited at the combine and his pro day due to a hamstring injury. He ran a 4.57 forty with a 1.52 10-yard split, which is excellent. His KEI is a massive 80. He is an explosive athlete and it shows on tape. Tull can take a series or two to get warmed up, but once he gets there, he competes hard. He shows solid hand usage although he could continue to refine his technique. He is active, mixes up his rushes well, challenging the inside and outside, while throwing in a variety of pass rush moves. He will sometimes telegraph those moves by hard steps and how he positions his hands, but he gets enough wins just on his sheer athleticism and determination. If he can develop further and begin to put those techniques to work with his overall athleticism, Tull could be something special. Against the run, he is a solid tackling edge player that is not afraid to crash down inside. He is well built, powerful, does not get pushed around by double teams, and often was a guy the offense paid extra attention to via a tight end or runningback. As a pass rusher, he does a nice job of getting separation and shedding the blocker. He shows the ability to get around the arc and will press hard to the edge and dive inside. He has some tools that could be refined into a solid pass rusher. He also has the necessary athletic attributes that is needed in coverage, although he was rarely asked to drop. All in all, he is just a very interesting prospect that just has the feel of the type of player that could take a massive leap in a season or two.
160th Pick-C.J. Uzomah, Tight End, Auburn. Uzomah is 6056, 262 pounds and ran an impressive 4.62 forty at his pro day. He is not the quickest tight end in this draft class, but he does show the ability to work as a move tight end and had a lot of snaps split out wide. He shows adequate strength and solid athleticism for the position. He was under-utilized as a receiver and blocker at Auburn and will need work in both areas, but he has shown the ability to be solid in both areas. As an inline blocker, Uzomah is more of a positional blocker that will wall off the defensive player. He does not attack his blocks and does not fire his hands out to gain control, often waiting to be engaged and he can allow the defensive player to shed his block too quickly. When he is aggressive, he is better able to set the pace and control the defensive player. It is an area where Uzomah needs to improve. As a receiver, he has soft hands and is not afraid to make difficult catches in traffic. He is a solid route runner with a large catch radius. He is a big target over the middle and will find open areas in the zone, work his way back towards the quarterback, and secure the ball. He has shown a solid ability to make big plays in the red zone.
199th Pick-Darryl Roberts, Cornerback, Marshall. Roberts is 5110, 187 pounds and ran a blistering 4.38 forty at his pro day. He shows excellent change of direction skills, solid power for a cornerback with 23 reps on the bench, and is simply a well put together cornerback. Roberts is not a guy that attacks the run game and is not physical at the point of attack. He is more than willing to allow his teammates to handle the heavy lifting in this area. He is also not a player that spent a lot of time playing zone coverages, so his ability to handle that aspect of the game is still unknown. What he does well is play press man coverage. He is almost always assigned the best receiver and shows the ability to get a hand on the receiver, although not a great jam, and turn to run with the receiver through the route. He does not show great ball skills and can allow some receptions, but they are often contested and fit into tight windows. He does show the ability to open and run with receivers through a variety of routes, maintaining tight coverage, and challenging them snap after snap. Roberts is considered a late round pick and his blend of man coverage and overall athletic attributes is certainly something a coach can build upon.
212th Pick (Compensatory)-Max Garcia, Center, Florida. Garcia measured 6040, 309 pounds with 33-1/8th inch arms. Garcia did not workout at the combine and he may be limited prior to the draft because of a shoulder injury. He did perform well at the Senior bowl and had a good week facing Danny Shelton, which really put him on a lot of teams’ draft boards. Garcia is a solid run blocker that does not give ground easily. He will sometimes allow defensive players to get under his pads, but he shows enough functional strength to hold his ground. When he gets leverage, he does a nice job of pressing his advantage and creating creases in the defense. He is smooth when asked to double the defensive tackle and slides easily to the linebacker. He has some movement ability and could potentially play at guard. He is a sticky blocker in both the run game and pass protection. He does not fall off blocks and plays to the whistle. In pass protection, he shows some ability to mirror defensive players and does not give ground easily. When he is beaten to an edge, he works to direct the defensive player past his quarterback giving him room to step up or run into the opening. He has the overall look of a starting interior player at the next level.
239th Pick-James Rouse, Defensive End, Marshall. Rouse is 6045, 277 pounds and ran the forty in 4.89 with a blazing 1.69 10-yard split. He had 38 reps on the bench and a total KEI of 77, which is insane. Rouse carries a pretty big medical flag for injury, losing all but 3 games in 2011 to a back injury and losing all of 2012 to an Achilles injury. He spent most of 2013 and 2014 as a defensive tackle. He has played end in 3-man fronts and that looks to be his best fit. He shows good burst off the snap, does a nice job of cutting the blocker in half, and using his power to drive to the football. He can be a disruptive player, showing the ability to power past single blockers, and has the ability to split double teams. He runs to the edges and has the speed to close on the football. He does a solid job with his pad level and simply has the look of a player that could develop into a fine defensive end at the next level. His injury history will likely make him an undrafted player, but he is certainly deserves a chance to show if he can play on the next level and a team would be wise to use a roster spot on his potential alone.
While many will point to the potential to draft players like Shane Ray, Randy Gregory, Jalen Collins, and Marcus Peters, the one area the Steelers have seen a tremendous loss over the past few seasons is in leadership. The Steelers need to ensure that this draft is stocked with players that will be strong locker room presences that will allow them to build a core group of players to carry them through the next decade. With the departure of Polamalu, Taylor, Keisel, and others, the core group of veterans that provided leadership, guidance, consistency, and character are but a fading memory. This is why I believe the Steelers will shy away from potential problem players as they will not want to derail the potential elite talent they have developing in the locker room. In this draft, character should be the first box checked.
22nd Pick-Kevin Johnson, Cornerback, Wake Forest. As I wrote previously, he is 6002, 188 pounds and ran a 4.52 forty at the combine. He is an excellent leaper with elite change of direction skills. On film, Johnson has a lot to like and if you were looking at a checklist of things the Steelers want in a corner, he checks a lot of boxes. Johnson is willing in run support. He attacks the run game with the mentality of a linebacker. He will take on blockers to force the runner to stay inside, allowing help to come. He will play off some blockers, especially the blocks of wide receivers, and make the tackle. He is one of the better tackling defensive backs in the NFL and does an excellent job of dropping his pads and wrapping up the runner. Johnson also shows the ability to play in a variety of coverages and schemes. He plays press man and has loose hips, allowing him to flip open and run with receivers down the field. He does a solid job of getting his arm and body onto the receiver and rubbing off speed allowing him to maintain control and position down the field. In off coverages, both man and zone, he shows solid feel and the ability to click and close on shorter routes. He has a smooth backpedal and stays low in his stance, flipping his hips open and running with receivers easily. He is an aggressive blitzing defensive back that delivers a hit when he arrives. He also works as a gunner on punt coverage teams. Johnson just does not have many holes in his overall game and simply plays a steady and consistent brand of football.
56th Pick-Nate Orchard, Outside Linebacker, Utah. Nate Orchard of Utah played primarily as a defensive end and will have to show he can handle playing in a standing position. He does not show the overall athleticism a lot of teams want in an edge pass rusher. He is 6032, 250 pounds and ran a 4.80 forty at the combine. He does not show great change of direction and his KEI was 65. On film, Orchard competes. He shows some strength at the point of attack and does not get pushed around, but he has to work on getting off blocks to get more involved. He is at his best when he plays into gaps or pushes the outside edge. He will make the play on the runner and does a nice job of getting guys on the ground. As a pass rusher, he does not have great burst off the edge and does not display great pass rush moves. He does a nice job of mixing up his pass rush, pushing the edges, diving inside, using speed and power, in an effort to keep the offensive tackle off balance. He does not drop into coverage often and will have to develop that skill at the next level. Orchard has a chance to become a solid starter at the next level, but it is unlikely he will ever be a star. I see a lot of similarities between Orchard and former Steeler Clark Haggans, neither being an elite athlete, but both playing at a higher level on the field. There will likely be a run of pass rushers and outside linebackers that could lead to the Steelers over drafting Orchard.
87th Pick-Sammie Coates, Wide Receiver, Auburn. Coates is 6013, 212 pounds and ran a 4.43 forty at the combine. He is an excellent athlete and plays to that timed speed. Coates is an excellent leaper and shows the ability to go up and take the football from defensive backs. He carries good mass in his upper body and can be a physical receiver when the football is in the air. He can be difficult for defensive backs to get on the ground and is more than willing to drop his pads and drive forward for extra yards. He has big play potential and will challenge down the field. In addition, he shows good burst from his breaks, is a solid route runner, and does not shy away from contact in the middle of the field. He has the ability to work to all levels and can be an impact wide receiver at the next level. When Coates catches the football away from his body, he is a natural pass catcher with soft hands. He will allow the ball into his body at times and shows some lapses in concentration that lead to drops. If he were a more consistent wide receiver, he would be in the mix with those considered in the first round, but the massive depth at the wide receiver position and his need to add consistency will cause him to be drafted later than his talent would dictate.
121st Pick-Davis Tull, Outside Linebacker, Tennessee Chattanooga. Tull is an interesting prospect coming from a smaller school. He is 6023, 246 pounds. He was very limited at the combine and his pro day due to a hamstring injury. He ran a 4.57 forty with a 1.52 10-yard split, which is excellent. His KEI is a massive 80. He is an explosive athlete and it shows on tape. Tull can take a series or two to get warmed up, but once he gets there, he competes hard. He shows solid hand usage although he could continue to refine his technique. He is active, mixes up his rushes well, challenging the inside and outside, while throwing in a variety of pass rush moves. He will sometimes telegraph those moves by hard steps and how he positions his hands, but he gets enough wins just on his sheer athleticism and determination. If he can develop further and begin to put those techniques to work with his overall athleticism, Tull could be something special. Against the run, he is a solid tackling edge player that is not afraid to crash down inside. He is well built, powerful, does not get pushed around by double teams, and often was a guy the offense paid extra attention to via a tight end or runningback. As a pass rusher, he does a nice job of getting separation and shedding the blocker. He shows the ability to get around the arc and will press hard to the edge and dive inside. He has some tools that could be refined into a solid pass rusher. He also has the necessary athletic attributes that is needed in coverage, although he was rarely asked to drop. All in all, he is just a very interesting prospect that just has the feel of the type of player that could take a massive leap in a season or two.
160th Pick-C.J. Uzomah, Tight End, Auburn. Uzomah is 6056, 262 pounds and ran an impressive 4.62 forty at his pro day. He is not the quickest tight end in this draft class, but he does show the ability to work as a move tight end and had a lot of snaps split out wide. He shows adequate strength and solid athleticism for the position. He was under-utilized as a receiver and blocker at Auburn and will need work in both areas, but he has shown the ability to be solid in both areas. As an inline blocker, Uzomah is more of a positional blocker that will wall off the defensive player. He does not attack his blocks and does not fire his hands out to gain control, often waiting to be engaged and he can allow the defensive player to shed his block too quickly. When he is aggressive, he is better able to set the pace and control the defensive player. It is an area where Uzomah needs to improve. As a receiver, he has soft hands and is not afraid to make difficult catches in traffic. He is a solid route runner with a large catch radius. He is a big target over the middle and will find open areas in the zone, work his way back towards the quarterback, and secure the ball. He has shown a solid ability to make big plays in the red zone.
199th Pick-Darryl Roberts, Cornerback, Marshall. Roberts is 5110, 187 pounds and ran a blistering 4.38 forty at his pro day. He shows excellent change of direction skills, solid power for a cornerback with 23 reps on the bench, and is simply a well put together cornerback. Roberts is not a guy that attacks the run game and is not physical at the point of attack. He is more than willing to allow his teammates to handle the heavy lifting in this area. He is also not a player that spent a lot of time playing zone coverages, so his ability to handle that aspect of the game is still unknown. What he does well is play press man coverage. He is almost always assigned the best receiver and shows the ability to get a hand on the receiver, although not a great jam, and turn to run with the receiver through the route. He does not show great ball skills and can allow some receptions, but they are often contested and fit into tight windows. He does show the ability to open and run with receivers through a variety of routes, maintaining tight coverage, and challenging them snap after snap. Roberts is considered a late round pick and his blend of man coverage and overall athletic attributes is certainly something a coach can build upon.
212th Pick (Compensatory)-Max Garcia, Center, Florida. Garcia measured 6040, 309 pounds with 33-1/8th inch arms. Garcia did not workout at the combine and he may be limited prior to the draft because of a shoulder injury. He did perform well at the Senior bowl and had a good week facing Danny Shelton, which really put him on a lot of teams’ draft boards. Garcia is a solid run blocker that does not give ground easily. He will sometimes allow defensive players to get under his pads, but he shows enough functional strength to hold his ground. When he gets leverage, he does a nice job of pressing his advantage and creating creases in the defense. He is smooth when asked to double the defensive tackle and slides easily to the linebacker. He has some movement ability and could potentially play at guard. He is a sticky blocker in both the run game and pass protection. He does not fall off blocks and plays to the whistle. In pass protection, he shows some ability to mirror defensive players and does not give ground easily. When he is beaten to an edge, he works to direct the defensive player past his quarterback giving him room to step up or run into the opening. He has the overall look of a starting interior player at the next level.
239th Pick-James Rouse, Defensive End, Marshall. Rouse is 6045, 277 pounds and ran the forty in 4.89 with a blazing 1.69 10-yard split. He had 38 reps on the bench and a total KEI of 77, which is insane. Rouse carries a pretty big medical flag for injury, losing all but 3 games in 2011 to a back injury and losing all of 2012 to an Achilles injury. He spent most of 2013 and 2014 as a defensive tackle. He has played end in 3-man fronts and that looks to be his best fit. He shows good burst off the snap, does a nice job of cutting the blocker in half, and using his power to drive to the football. He can be a disruptive player, showing the ability to power past single blockers, and has the ability to split double teams. He runs to the edges and has the speed to close on the football. He does a solid job with his pad level and simply has the look of a player that could develop into a fine defensive end at the next level. His injury history will likely make him an undrafted player, but he is certainly deserves a chance to show if he can play on the next level and a team would be wise to use a roster spot on his potential alone.
While many will point to the potential to draft players like Shane Ray, Randy Gregory, Jalen Collins, and Marcus Peters, the one area the Steelers have seen a tremendous loss over the past few seasons is in leadership. The Steelers need to ensure that this draft is stocked with players that will be strong locker room presences that will allow them to build a core group of players to carry them through the next decade. With the departure of Polamalu, Taylor, Keisel, and others, the core group of veterans that provided leadership, guidance, consistency, and character are but a fading memory. This is why I believe the Steelers will shy away from potential problem players as they will not want to derail the potential elite talent they have developing in the locker room. In this draft, character should be the first box checked.
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