With the 102nd overall pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers select OLB Alex Highsmith

[slashsteel]

To me his best traits are:
- he already has pass rush moves
- he is a true OLB, not a tweener, not a guy that has never played standing up and has to be taught from scratch like happened with Dupree
- has the size and athleticism for the position
- could get a hat as a rookie thanks to ST play
- high ceiling, the low floor isn't that bad because there are two surefire starters already on the team.

I think his best attribute is his get off. Usually pass rushers develop well with that skill set, provided they aren't a midget and un-athletic.

 

[steel dino]

What NFL player has been infected? not the coach.

Theres two actually...

Brian Hall...and Von Miller

 

[bermudasteel]

Every year folks rush on here to be the first to take a crap on one, two or all of the draft picks. Hell, I'm guilty of it myself because I really wanted Dobbins and was upset with the Claypool pick. But, I'll back Claypool and hope he becomes an All-Pro. I mean, you don't have to like the pick. But, at least give the kid a chance to actually suck before you say he sucks. lol

This.

I really hated the pick and got blathering drunk - so I missed the Highsmith pick, which, again, was not a favorite of mine.

I've calmed down now and welcome both kids to the team...

 

[Spike]

Theres two actually...

Brian Hall...and Von Miller

Thx, I didn't know, haven't been paying attention, so it's going to be a virtual training camps and offseason programs now?

any word on Ben's elbow?

 

[FordFairLane]

BWAhaha, the Tomlin apologists never cease to amuse, this was a REACH while the rest of the league was gobbling up 40 SEC players.

Pick out one game you KNOW the mighty Clemson team didn't spend a bit of time gameplanning against and hanging your hat on that to end ALL conversation.

"OH what a brilliant draft pick this guy is, the Steelers are NEVER wrong, Tomlin is a GENIUS!"



I bet you apologists don't even know what this tiny school's name is, do you?

THE MIGHTY (7-6) CHARLOTTE 49ERS


2019 Bahamas Bowl Five Things Learned: Buffalo 31, Charlotte 9

Buffalo wins its first bowl game in program history, easily charging past Charlotte in the Bahamas.

Buffalo (8-5) and Charlotte (7-6) both fought for their first bowl win in program history, but the matchup finished with a lopsided 31-9 result in favor of the Bulls.

This bowl game played out very similar to the 2017 Bahamas Bowl. That year, Ohio erased UAB, 41-6, by rushing the ball in a dominant fashion over an inexperienced C-USA team

Buffalo’s o-line will beat the best pass rush

Out of all the bowl games, the Bahamas Bowl featured one of the most intriguing matchups in the trenches. Buffalo’s offensive line only yielded eight sacks and one since the start of October. Meanwhile, Charlotte averaged three sacks per game and featured the nation’s second-ranked leader in the category, Defensive end Alex Highsmith.

Buffalo only passed 17 times, and for the fourth-straight game, zero sacks were recorded on the star-studded offensive line. Still, the line paved generous pathways for Patterson in the running game, allowing the halfback to consistently bolt for double-digit carries on the Charlotte defense despite simple play-calling.

Buffalo’s offensive tackles, Evin Ksiezarczyk and Kayode Awosika, completed the tall task of limiting Highsmith who finished without a single tackle for loss.

No matter how talented an opposing pass rush seems, Buffalo’s offensive line has no issue shutting it down and dominating at the line of scrimmage.

Buffalo never trailed once in the matchup, coasting to an easy victory by out-rushing, out-blitzing, and outplaying the 49ers in nearly every facet.

https://www.hustlebelt.com/2019/12/...-31-charlotte-49ers-9-jaret-patterson-leipold

This isn’t impressive at all. Doesn’t look like they do as well as they stated.


https://twitter.com/houtz/status/1208127822826483712?s=21


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[steel dino]

any word on Ben's elbow?

Its testing negative.

 

[nooneuno]

Wow, Highsmith might be the new Archer! Guys this is a "3rd" (more like 4th) round pick. Looking at the draft last night this is what I think happened. Tanner Muse is our guy and he is just fallling right in our laps and we are happy and then BAM Raiders take him. Steelers panick as always and grab the next guy they wanted at #124 which is Alex Highsmith. He is not that big of a reach. CBS has him ranked #140, thedraftnetwork had him rated #98, Ryan Wilson big board #125, drafttek had him at #123, bleacher report does things differently and ranked him a bottom of the third round pick. SO I guess what I am saying definitely did not get great value but people who think he was lasting to the 6th round need to get a grip as well. We got average value in my opinion.

Here's the film I watched on Highsmith. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnP6iynRTjg&t

He holds his own and has multiple QB pressures, a sack (irnoically one of the better times being blocked), fumble recovery and a tackle for loss. He did not dominate but he showed he deserved to be on the field with the likes of a national champion contender. I feel he will take Chicks place on special teams and backs up both Bud and Watt eventually. I think we won't be happy this year because I don't think he gets a hat on Sunday right away. 2021 is when I feel he starts contributing.

Wait? Didn’t you mock Muse to us in the 6th round? Yet you believe the Steelers were waiting to draft him at the bottom of the 3rd and panicked when he wasn’t there?

 

[Litos]

If the choices were Highsmith or muse I'm glad it was the first

 

[Steel Ballin]

Most of the ratings I saw on the kid has in the 3rd-4th round.

Here is his tape from Clemson:



I actually liked this tape. There are things to work with. Varies his pass rush move. Gets off the snap VERY quick. Pretty good hand use. I mean playing against Clemson is practically playing against the NFL and his tape is okay.

That said, and I'm not bashing the pick, he has limitations. I'm not convinced NFL weight and conditioning training just works on him. His frame/weight look correct. 6'-3" and 250 lbs. seems to fit him. He will get a little stronger but not magically stronger.

I'm fine with the pick. I think he's a solid player. Will definitely stick on the roster this season, play special teams, do NFL training and see what being a pro is all about. Who knows, if we can't sign Dupree maybe he's ready to contribute and hold his own in 16 months. The coaches have to nurture the kid and teach him a lot and he has to WANT to get better. We'll see. For pick #103, at least its not a punter or a Dri Archer.

already posted that video and made the same comments on the page before...

steel dino ain't seeing it....

 

[CorpusDsteelers]

It was the third round *******. Yes it was compensatory but it still was the 3rd so go **** yourself

Tell us how you really feel cooch

 

[stuntmanmike]

The ‘74 draft is one greatest drafts of all time by any team bar none.... the ‘20 draft may go down as the worse draft of all time.. traded picks... traded for guy we don’t know if we can resign, traded up for a 195 lb linebacker truth be told... he sure as **** ain’t 220... so you have no picks.. so what do you you draft picks you have?? You draft practice squad players? We got a tweeter in Claypool maybe great maybe crap, but the rest will only give the practice squad guys a run... that’s it and that’s all. This was team that couldn’t beat the jets with playoffs kinda on the line. Baltimore made playoffs then goes fuking lights out trading, drafting leaving no stone unturned... good god.

 

[Steelworth]

That's it, it's time

 

[stuntmanmike]

Save me some for me! sorry be so negative my sister-n-law from fartamore this just sucks...no matter how u cut it...

 

[CoolieMan]

The ‘74 draft is one greatest drafts of all time by any team bar none.... the ‘20 draft may go down as the worse draft of all time.. traded picks... traded for guy we don’t know if we can resign, traded up for a 195 lb linebacker truth be told... he sure as **** ain’t 220... so you have no picks.. so what do you you draft picks you have?? You draft practice squad players? We got a tweeter in Claypool maybe great maybe crap, but the rest will only give the practice squad guys a run... that’s it and that’s all. This was team that couldn’t beat the jets with playoffs kinda on the line. Baltimore made playoffs then goes fuking lights out trading, drafting leaving no stone unturned... good god.

**** the shitbirds

This class has Fitzpatrick as the 1st round pick....he has already proven to be value pick

 

[Shane Falco]

The more film I watch of Highsmith the more I like this pick. He has some moves and natural ability that Alvin lacked early. This kid has the potential to do some things opposite of Watt in the future. I like him over Chickillo for sure

 

[Omar10213245]

my boys are just like me....personality is a learned trait...and they learned football from me and watching on their own.

and my high schooler and even my boy in middle school would ******* school you in football knowlede

hell coach makes you look stupid...and he is ignorant as hell

SOME of personality is a learned trait. a good bit of IS genetic, though.

 

[Paul G]

That's it, it's time

Do you use a mix ....... or are you a hardcore bleach drinker??

 

[Stryker]

Bleach Boys Baby!!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sumb3GYuAT8" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[steel dino]

already posted that video and made the same comments on the page before...

steel dino ain't seeing it....

still dont...

 

[topseed]

And yet, exactly the same amount of reps as Gross-Matos. Two more than Uche. So, Yetur and Josh must be pretty weak too.

Well, ****, those guys were both second rounders. What were the Steelers waiting for? They should have grabbed Highsmith in the second round. Wait...

Both TJ Watt and Von Miller only did 21 reps, Khalil Mack 23. I’d say they proved they were plenty strong enough from day 1 of their careers, wouldn’t you? ... Anthony Barr 19 reps...

Well ****, three of those guys were top 10 picks, and TJ was also a first rounder. What were the Steelers waiting for? They should have traded their entire draft to grab this monster Highsmith in the first round. What a ******* steal!


It's nice that you boys can find a few examples of players with similar bench pressing numbers, but I'd have to say that those guys might just have some other attributes that could separate them from Alex Highsmith in the drafting process. Just a hunch.

 

[SteelerFan448]

It's nice that you boys can find a few examples of players with similar bench pressing numbers, but I'd have to say that those guys might just have some other attributes that could separate them from Alex Highsmith in the drafting process. Just a hunch.

Which is why they were first-round picks and Highsmith was a third-round pick. What's your point? At this point of the draft you aren't getting a perfect prospect.

 

[topseed]

Forget it, if the guy did 30 reps he'd probably say that they were dummy weights like the cousin did to Doug in "The King of Queens". He first was too embarrassed to bench for the combine apparently (before he did any research about perhaps why he didn't) -- and then when he finds out he does, it's not good enough.

And yeah, just maybe a 22 year-old just entering the NFL needs to fill out and develop some more strength, novel ******* concept.

Holy ****, would you look at this. These are the combine measurements/results for two of our OLBs:

#1

HT: 6'4" WT: 252 LBS
POSITION: OLB
ARM LENGTH: 33 1/8"

40 YARD DASH: 4.69 SEC
BENCH PRESS: 21 REPS
VERTICAL JUMP: 37.0 INCH
BROAD JUMP: 128.0 INCH
3 CONE DRILL: 6.79 SEC
20 YARD SHUTTLE: 4.13 SEC

#2

HT: 6'3" WT: 250 LBS
POSITION: OLB
ARM LENGTH: 33 1/8"

40 YARD DASH: 4.70 SEC
BENCH PRESS: DNP (video sent to teams shows 20 reps)
VERTICAL JUMP: 33.0 INCH
BROAD JUMP: 125.0 INCH
3 CONE DRILL: 7.32 SEC
20 YARD SHUTTLE: 4.31 SEC

#1 is Pro-Bowler and beast TJ Watt. #2 is Alex Highsmith. But OMG he he he's the reincarnation of Sutton Smith! *the sky is falling*

Get the **** outta here.

So you want to compare him to TJ Watt (let's simply ignore the fact that Watt is superior in every single category you listed there except a tie in arm length, including four inches in vertical and more than a full half second better in the 3-cone, which is a huge disparity -- thanks for proving my earlier point) based on bench reps, but yet you admit that he needs to develop more strength?

I can list a bunch of ******* edge rushers who benched 20 reps and were never even drafted, and never played a snap in the NFL...it wouldn't prove ****. Just like your straw man argument. Even your precious draft gurus who thought Highsmith could go in the 3rd or 4th round all agree that he needs to improve his strength, which is exactly what I said.

Maybe Highsmith will magically turn into TJ Watt in three or four years, and you can stroke him off the next time you visit Latrobe in July.

 

[topseed]

Which was the knock on Sutton his size hurt him. His lack of arm length hurt him. Steelers still took a look but the concern was there. The difference between drafting one prospect in the 3rd and one much later. Just a bad comparison not all "tweener' pass rushers are the same that right there was a silly concept.

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Again, never said they were exactly the same. The concern with Highsmith is his strength. He's most likely too slow to play linebacker, and too weak to rush the passer in the NFL. That's why he's in the 'tweener category (and he clearly is not a first or second round talent like those comparisons above), so I would've preferred to have seen him taken in a later round, especially in this short-handed draft. Nothing silly about it.

 

[topseed]

Here are his plays against #1 Clemson. Looks pretty good to me. He has more than one move and VERY GOOD get off at the snap. Seems Clemson went away from his side quit often as well. He let one run get by him and was swallowed up another play but over-all I like what I see.

Would you mind pointing out what looked "pretty good" to you?

He had one nice pressure in the first half, and got his highlight "splash play against Clemson" in the second half on what appeared to be a coverage sack. Looked like he was otherwise easily dominated by both the starter and backup tackles, and was easily blocked by the tight end on one play in space.

I must be missing something, because obviously this guy is the next TJ Watt because he had one less bench press rep.

 

[topseed]

Which is why they were first-round picks and Highsmith was a third-round pick. What's your point? At this point of the draft you aren't getting a perfect prospect.

My original point, which I clearly established way back on page 3 is:

'Tweener DE sack specialists from lower level college competition are a dime-a-dozen. In fact, the Steelers drafted one in the sixth round last year (Sutton Smith), and waived him in August.

There's no reason to waste the second pick of an already abbreviated draft on a player like this.

The third round (and the team's second overall pick) is a bit early for a project player, in my opinion. The kid himself said there was only one other team interested enough in him to arrange a meeting with both the head coach and the GM. I would have taken my chances he would have been there at #135, or almost certainly #124. Hopefully it works out, but unlike others, the Clemson tape doesn't do it for me.

My point in that particular quoted reply is:

Comparing the guy to Miller, Mack, Watt, and others simply because they have similar bench press reps is a stupid argument.