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

CorpusDsteelers said:
What did I miss in the last 10 pages?
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A whole lot of nonsense, and I'm a perp. But watching more breakdowns of this guy's game (and thanks for the latest link, Cope), I'm liking the pick more and more.
 
Interesting article that puts Highsmith's journey in context. He was a walk on. Walk ons don't play Freshmen year, he started getting time his sophomore season. Junior year he played ILB and still had 18.5 TFLs! When he moved to OLB he earned 15 sacks!

Perhaps the Steelers drafted Highsmith to back up both OLB and ILB? That's a really interesting dynamic I didn't put together when we drafted him.

https://Invalid Link - Check SN Hom...-of-sacking-the-qb-it-added-fuel-to-the-fire/
 
Cope said:
Interesting article that puts Highsmith's journey in context. He was a walk on. Walk ons don't play Freshmen year, he started getting time his sophomore season. Junior year he played ILB and still had 18.5 TFLs! When he moved to OLB he earned 15 sacks!

Perhaps the Steelers drafted Highsmith to back up both OLB and ILB? That's a really interesting dynamic I didn't put together when we drafted him.

https://Invalid Link - Check SN Hom...-of-sacking-the-qb-it-added-fuel-to-the-fire/
Click to expand...



WoW interesting and that's a helln of a lot of confidence / expectations for a player. But the more we find out the more WE see he is able to pull it off. His old coach says don't underestimate AleX as he is the real deal. I hope we got the steel of the draft.


Salute the nation
 
Went to read a little about Highsmith and unfortunately encountered those asinine, idiotic, ridiculous, stupid articles about who "won" the 2020 draft. Every time I read some ******* article about "who won the 2020 draft," I want to punch a kitten. Who won the ... who the **** knows?!? Jesus Christ, so far COVID has won the 2020 draft.

Hey, who "won" the 2017 NFL draft?? Experts said the Browns, Jags and 49ers, yep, you bet.

https://www.nfl.com/news/which-team...rowns-jags-49ers-lead-the-pa-0ap3000000805536

So the Brownies have the #1 ******* pick in the draft and the #1 ******* pick each round and must have KILLED IT!! Yeah, Jarrett, great, suspended for 10 games a ******* psycho but wow great. Then Peppers and Njoku? Hey, how about their "QB of the future"? You know, Deshone Kizer. Uhh, no.

Well, yeah, but the 49ers got Rueben Foster and Solomon Thomas!! So Foster logged 101 tackles, a domestic violence arrest (we said the guy can HIT), and released after two seasons. And Solomon ******* Thomas? 6 sacks!! In three years, okay, but STILL, six sacks? Wheeee, they won the draft!!

But, but, but, but ... the Jags got Leonard Fournette! I'll give you that one. And they got Cam Robinson. Cam is awesome!! Apart from the pot and weapons arrest in college, I mean. And the 24 penalties in 31 games in the NFL, okay, not great. But, but, but he could be great!

******* Steelers totally lost that draft and got stuck with TJ Watt, an All-Pro, Juju Smith-Schuster, a Pro-bowl player, and James Conner, a Pro-bowl alternative in 2018. What a freaking waste. God, if only the Steelers had selections 20 spots earlier to get great ones like Rueben "Felony" Foster.
 


Entire game film vs. Clemson, a quality opponent, and against Jackson Carman, the LT (at least in the first quarter). Carman pretty much dominated Chase Young in the Fiesta Bowl so he is legit. Charlotte moved Highsmith to the left side as of the 2nd quarter, perhaps because Clemson was running right, right, right with success. This game featured Chase Brice at QB for Clemson rather than Lawrence. I will say that Clemson has an incredible, up-tempo, timing offense that would play in the NFL. QB drops 3 steps, ball is OUT and on target, receiver is RIGHT THERE. Very tough to defend, as Clemson opponents can attest.

The tape shows some very good things, and some ... not so good things. The great: His spin move at 3:48. Ho-lee ****. Also, very good use of his hands to stuff the right tackle and make the stop on one running play his direction, 5:17. He beats a double team to record a sack at 5:42 and in looking at the film, it seems that Clemson definitely made sure they had protection in place to take care of Highsmith. Always a good sign. (By the by, Brice dropped back 86 times in 6 games and this was the only time he was sacked in 2019.)

The not-so-good - Highsmith tends to become enthralled with looking into the backfield. I like that he does not simply charge up field willy-nilly, but his looking into the backfield on occasion almost neutralizes him and he doesn't seem to be able to get to the ball or make a play. Is it scheme? Is he somehow assigned to play zone? Don't think so, but at least 2-3 times, he just sort of stands there with the offensive tackle.
 
LOL, that's all anybody talks about, one game


His team got drubbed when it counted and he got stuffed all game


 
Spike said:
LOL, that's all anybody talks about, one game


His team got drubbed when it counted and he got stuffed all game


Click to expand...
Good thing Steelers don't just focus in on one game. But a whole body of work.

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Steeler Nation mobile app
 
Steeltime said:


Entire game film vs. Clemson, a quality opponent, and against Jackson Carman, the LT (at least in the first quarter). Carman pretty much dominated Chase Young in the Fiesta Bowl so he is legit. Charlotte moved Highsmith to the left side as of the 2nd quarter, perhaps because Clemson was running right, right, right with success. This game featured Chase Brice at QB for Clemson rather than Lawrence. I will say that Clemson has an incredible, up-tempo, timing offense that would play in the NFL. QB drops 3 steps, ball is OUT and on target, receiver is RIGHT THERE. Very tough to defend, as Clemson opponents can attest.

The tape shows some very good things, and some ... not so good things. The great: His spin move at 3:48. Ho-lee ****. Also, very good use of his hands to stuff the right tackle and make the stop on one running play his direction, 5:17. He beats a double team to record a sack at 5:42 and in looking at the film, it seems that Clemson definitely made sure they had protection in place to take care of Highsmith. Always a good sign. (By the by, Brice dropped back 86 times in 6 games and this was the only time he was sacked in 2019.)

The not-so-good - Highsmith tends to become enthralled with looking into the backfield. I like that he does not simply charge up field willy-nilly, but his looking into the backfield on occasion almost neutralizes him and he doesn't seem to be able to get to the ball or make a play. Is it scheme? Is he somehow assigned to play zone? Don't think so, but at least 2-3 times, he just sort of stands there with the offensive tackle.
Click to expand...


I like his explosion off of the snap, and his ability to split double teams on the LOS. I will tell you what i hate about the Clemson footage. If the play gets by him, or is on the other side of the field, he does not pursue at all. He gives up. That needs corrected.
 
Cope said:
I like his explosion off of the snap, and his ability to split double teams on the LOS. I will tell you what i hate about the Clemson footage. If the play gets by him, or is on the other side of the field, he does not pursue at all. He gives up. That needs corrected.
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Yeah, saw that. I will say that you have to be careful not to conclude that the issue is lack of effort. Specifically, freaking Etienne is a vicious cutback runner. You are going hard and even with him, he plants, cuts back, and is GONE. Possibly - possibly, mind you - the Charlotte coaches had the team play a lot more "stay at home" to guard against the cutback.
 
Spike said:
LOL, that's all anybody talks about, one game

His team got drubbed when it counted and he got stuffed all game.
Click to expand...

Uhhh, I picked this game ONLY because it was the first ******* game I found when I searched YouTube. I'm not part of some grand "Highsmith Highlight Conspiracy."

Second, given some of the issues he has, it's amazing he went in the 2nd round. I mean 3rd. 4th?

He went in the seventh ******* round. You think his tape is going to look like Chase Young?!?!
 
Steeltime said:
Yeah, saw that. I will say that you have to be careful not to conclude that the issue is lack of effort. Specifically, freaking Etienne is a vicious cutback runner. You are going hard and even with him, he plants, cuts back, and is GONE. Possibly - possibly, mind you - the Charlotte coaches had the team play a lot more "stay at home" to guard against the cutback.
Click to expand...

At least we have high intensity pursuit players like Watt, Bush, Heyward, Tuitt and Bud to learn from. If he wants to be the best, Watt is the the motor to emulate!
 
Steeltime said:
Uhhh, I picked this game ONLY because it was the first ******* game I found when I searched YouTube. I'm not part of some grand "Highsmith Highlight Conspiracy."

Second, given some of the issues he has, it's amazing he went in the 2nd round. I mean 3rd. 4th?

He went in the seventh ******* round. You think his tape is going to look like Chase Young?!?!
Click to expand...


What kind of monkey gibberish is that?

We took him at #102, in the 3rd rd you dumb ape. Not the 7th

Sit the **** down
 
No need for name calling here, Spike.

And you don't sound like a fan of the pick, but did you watch more than just that **** you put out that was one game?
 
Steelworth said:
No need for name calling here, Spike.

And you don't sound like a fan of the pick, but did you watch more than just that **** you put out that was one game?
Click to expand...



LOL, I don't have to listen to that, ***** starts slobber screaming in my face, you're godammed right I will shut that **** down!

I liked Perine the RB from FL there, he was available, and not a REACH. In fact he was taken at #120 then I think the Steelers panicked again at #124
 
The name calling comment was kind of tongue-in-cheek because of all the **** topseed was talking to me in this thread, and vice versa.

What do you think about that cat they took in the fourth round, RB Anthony McFarland? Cope posted some pretty good videos of him.
 
Oh I know, its all good, this place needs spicing up, lol

I dont know much about him, other than he's from Maryland, and Maryland went 4-8, 5-7 and 3-9 the last 3 years.

Get him in space and see if can run and break some tackles I guess. Its all up to Ben's elbow now.
 
Spike said:
Oh I know, its all good, this place needs spicing up, lol

I dont know much about him, other than he's from Maryland, and Maryland went 4-8, 5-7 and 3-9 the last 3 years.

Get him in space and see if can run and break some tackles I guess. Its all up to Ben's elbow now.
Click to expand...

Can't dwell too much on records there is a lot that plays into that, also that high ankle sprain held him back as well. Zooming in on him he seems to have a little chip on his shoulder between how far he fell in the draft and people talking about his size. If he can stay on the field it could very well be a diamond in the rough.

Sent from my moto g(7) power using Steeler Nation mobile app
 
Spike said:
Oh I know, its all good, this place needs spicing up, lol

I dont know much about him, other than he's from Maryland, and Maryland went 4-8, 5-7 and 3-9 the last 3 years.

Get him in space and see if can run and break some tackles I guess. Its all up to Ben's elbow now.
Click to expand...

Well, they had to rebuild twice after the student died in practice so, tough to win in those circumstances.
 
I think that article summed it up well because the real question with Highsmith is whether he is/can be physically ready for the NFL.

We have run into problems before when we get older prospects with underwhelming explosion characteristics at OLB. Here are some comparisons:

Age on Draft Day: Player 1 (23.7), Player 2 (22.9), Player 3 (22.8)
Height/Weight: Player 1 (6023/245). Player 2 (6031/248), Player 3 (6025/252)
40-Time: Player 1 (4.88), Player 2 (4.70), Player 3 (4.78)
Broad Jump/Long Jump: Player 1 (9'-3", 30.5"), Player 2 (10'-5", 33"), Player 3 (9'-11", 32")
Bench Press: Player 1 (20), Player 2 (??), Player 3 (19)
Arm/Hand: Player 1 (33", 9 1/8"), Player 2 (33 1/8", 9 1/8"), Player 3 (34 1/4", 10 1/8")

The other two guys had good film in college too. In fact, that's mostly why they were drafted as it wasn't like they blew up the combine or anything.

It just is what it is. I think we're all a bit overly optimistic but that's the season we're in.

I would like to think Highsmith, as opposed to the other two guys (who came with more headlines and from bigger schools) is more of a worker and will be a special team contributor. Maybe he's got a chip on his shoulder.

But he is a project. And he's not young. So you don't know how much more athleticism there is to squeeze out of him. And unfortunately, that little bit of athletic "averageness" might be the difference between a career backup/special teamer and someone that might be able to start and give you 600-800 snap counts on defense.




P.S. Player 1 is Jarvis Jones, Player 2 is Alex Hightsmith, Player 3 is Bruce Davis
 
deljzc said:
I think that article summed it up well because the real question with Highsmith is whether he is/can be physically ready for the NFL.

We have run into problems before when we get older prospects with underwhelming explosion characteristics at OLB. Here are some comparisons:

Age on Draft Day: Player 1 (23.7), Player 2 (22.9), Player 3 (22.8)
Height/Weight: Player 1 (6023/245). Player 2 (6031/248), Player 3 (6025/252)
40-Time: Player 1 (4.88), Player 2 (4.70), Player 3 (4.78)
Broad Jump/Long Jump: Player 1 (9'-3", 30.5"), Player 2 (10'-5", 33"), Player 3 (9'-11", 32")
Bench Press: Player 1 (20), Player 2 (??), Player 3 (19)
Arm/Hand: Player 1 (33", 9 1/8"), Player 2 (33 1/8", 9 1/8"), Player 3 (34 1/4", 10 1/8")

The other two guys had good film in college too. In fact, that's mostly why they were drafted as it wasn't like they blew up the combine or anything.

It just is what it is. I think we're all a bit overly optimistic but that's the season we're in.

I would like to think Highsmith, as opposed to the other two guys (who came with more headlines and from bigger schools) is more of a worker and will be a special team contributor. Maybe he's got a chip on his shoulder.

But he is a project. And he's not young. So you don't know how much more athleticism there is to squeeze out of him. And unfortunately, that little bit of athletic "averageness" might be the difference between a career backup/special teamer and someone that might be able to start and give you 600-800 snap counts on defense.




P.S. Player 1 is Jarvis Jones, Player 2 is Alex Hightsmith, Player 3 is Bruce Davis
Click to expand...

thanks for the analysis, that 40 time and broad jump puts him in another level compared to the other two, as others have said here he could even be an emergency backup ILB when all is said and done, he has the speed and strength for it
 
deljzc said:
I think that article summed it up well because the real question with Highsmith is whether he is/can be physically ready for the NFL.

We have run into problems before when we get older prospects with underwhelming explosion characteristics at OLB. Here are some comparisons:

Age on Draft Day: Player 1 (23.7), Player 2 (22.9), Player 3 (22.8)
Height/Weight: Player 1 (6023/245). Player 2 (6031/248), Player 3 (6025/252)
40-Time: Player 1 (4.88), Player 2 (4.70), Player 3 (4.78)
Broad Jump/Long Jump: Player 1 (9'-3", 30.5"), Player 2 (10'-5", 33"), Player 3 (9'-11", 32")
Bench Press: Player 1 (20), Player 2 (??), Player 3 (19)
Arm/Hand: Player 1 (33", 9 1/8"), Player 2 (33 1/8", 9 1/8"), Player 3 (34 1/4", 10 1/8")

The other two guys had good film in college too. In fact, that's mostly why they were drafted as it wasn't like they blew up the combine or anything.

It just is what it is. I think we're all a bit overly optimistic but that's the season we're in.

I would like to think Highsmith, as opposed to the other two guys (who came with more headlines and from bigger schools) is more of a worker and will be a special team contributor. Maybe he's got a chip on his shoulder.

But he is a project. And he's not young. So you don't know how much more athleticism there is to squeeze out of him. And unfortunately, that little bit of athletic "averageness" might be the difference between a career backup/special teamer and someone that might be able to start and give you 600-800 snap counts on defense.




P.S. Player 1 is Jarvis Jones, Player 2 is Alex Hightsmith, Player 3 is Bruce Davis
Click to expand...

By your comparisons Highsmith is more athletic and faster.

I am not overly optimistic or overly pessimistic. I will just take a wait and see approach while realizing on tape there is some things to like.
 
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