I know that it might be a bit early for some of you readers to even begin to think about the glorious three-day affair in late-April known as “The N.F.L. Draft,” especially considering that the Steelers are still alive in the postseason chase.  But with Pittsburgh “limping to the barn” as we enter December, I figure there is no harm in discussing Draft topics.  Although the college football regular season officially ends today, one extremely important juggernaut match is still on the agenda for 4:00 P.M. this afternoon: The S.E.C. Championship Game between Georgia and Alabama.   Because Pittsburgh is a team with numerous needs on Defense, and because this game will feature many of the 2013 Draft’s most talented Defensive prospects, Alabama vs. Georgia should be an intriguing game to watch.  So, today I thought it would be nice to give a list of which prospects to keep our eyes’ on, and discuss why they might peak Pittsburgh’s interest during the Draft process.

Who to Watch For & Why

(Editor’s Note: Although the Steelers have absolutely zero shot of drafting Georgia OLB Jarvis Jones and Alabama CB DeMarcus Milliner, they should be huge factors in today’s game.  They both are likely Top 10 Picks, and Jones could very well be the #1 Overall selection if a Quarterback is not taken there.  Regardless of the Steelers’ almost non-existent shots of drafting either player, go ahead and watch Jones attack the passer and Milliner try to shut down his half of the field.  You will not be disappointed.).

So which players at which positions should we be on the look out for?  To me there are three important positional groups that I will be watching all game long: Nose Tackles, Inside Linebackers, and Safeties.

Jenkins (6) and Ogletree (9) have been two solid Defenders for the Bulldogs this season. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-US PRESSWIRE

Nose Tackles

Today’s game will feature arguably two of the best Interior Defensive Linemen of the 2013 Draft Class, and one underclassman who has the potential to develop into something solid as well if he declares.

Jesse Williams (6’3″ 320 lbs.) of Alabama is newer to the game of football than most players (started playing at 15, and transferred to Alabama from Arizona Western College in Yuma), as he was born in and grew up in Australia.  But the Tide’s massive Defensive Lineman has been an active force over the last two seasons (57 Tackles, 4.0 Tackles for Loss, 1.5 Sacks) and been one of their key players up front.  Williams also has some versatility to his game because he was utilized as a 5-Technique during his Junior season in 2011 as well.  Although he might be newer to football, Williams could be a solid investment for a Steelers team that needs depth at Defensive End and Nose Tackle.

Not to be outdone by their Conference foe, Georgia features not one, but two enormous space-eaters at Nose Tackle in the molds of Ted Washington/Vince Wilfork:  Senior John Jenkins (6’3” 358 lbs.) and Junior Kwame Geathers (6’5” 355 lbs.).  Although the surprisingly athletic Jenkins is the starter at the Nose, he has been spelled nicely by the underclassman Geathers.  While another season at Georgia would likely sky-rocket his Draft Stock into the 1st Round with Jenkins gone, if Geathers indeed declares, he would be a solid developmental prospect for a team like the Steelers to hedge their bets with if they are uneasy about going forward with Alameda Ta’amu as a primary backup behind Steve McLendon.  I am definitely anxious to see how both players hold up at the point of attack against Alabama’s stout Offensive Line anchored by their potential 1st Round Center, Barrett Jones.

Inside Linebackers

Johnson could be on the Steelers’ radars for Linebacking depth. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE

In addition to their Nose Tackles, Alabama and Georgia have three potential 3-4 Inside Linebackers on their rosters who should all be Day 1 or Day 2 selections.  The two underclassmen, Alec Ogletree (6’3” 234 lbs.) of Georgia and C.J. Mosley (6’2” 232 lbs.) of Alabama, are the most highly touted of the three, and if both of them declare for April’s Draft, each could find themselves taken in the 1st Round.  After missing the first four games of the season due to a suspension (along with two of the Defensive Backs I will discuss later), Ogletree has gone on a tear and put up 88 Tackles, 2.0 Sacks, 1 Interception, and Defended 4 Passes after he started a total of 13 games during his first two seasons in Athens.  Ogletree is a physical player, and is a force to be reckoned with in the middle of the field for any pass-catcher.

Mosley has also been quite the productive Linebacker since his Freshman season in 2010, and has already recorded 92 Tackles, 4.0 Sacks, and 2  Interceptions on the season.  I believe the Steelers will take a long look at Mosley this offseason (and the next if he stays in school), because he has proved to be quite proficient in pass coverage during his career with the Tide.  Mosley has recorded 5 career Interceptions, scored 3 Touchdowns off of them, and is Alabama’s Linebacker when they play in the Nickel Defense.

Nico Johnson of the Tide on the other hand is a bit more of a “thumper” compared to Ogletree and Mosley, and is built more in the “Strongside” mold (6’2” 245 lbs.) of a Dont’a Hightower or Rolando McClain.  Although he might not possess the ability to hold his own in pass-coverage like a Mosley or even an Ogletree, Johnson has the talent and size to mix it up in the run-game with the best in college football (46 Tackles this season).  As I have alluded to many times previously, the Steelers could use some depth at the “Buck” “Strongside” position, and a well-Coached player like Johnson could prove to be a solid backup if not adequate starter at the professional level with some development.

Safeties

Williams taking down Marcus Lattimore this season. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-US PRESSWIRE

Alabama has been a factory for sending Defensive players to the N.F.L. as of late, and has Robert Lester currently manning their Strong Safety position.  Lester has been a 3-year starter for the Tide and anchored the back-end of their Secondary this year.  Over his career, Lester has been quite a ball-hawk and recorded 14 Interceptions, 4 of which came this season.  Although he might not be as light on his feet as a Matt Elam of Florida, Lester is still a  big bodied Safety (6’2″ 212 lbs.) that can help in the run game, and most of all has a nose for the football.

Both of the Bulldogs’ (Free and Strong) starting Safeties will be draft eligible after the season, and both have the potential to be Day 2 picks (2nd to 3rd Round).  Although he might have some off-field concerns, including an “I didn’t know there was pot in the brownie” incident, Bacarri Rambo was a Turnover machine during his first three seasons at Georgia (3 FF’s, 1 FR, 13 INT’s), and has recorded 3 INT’s in only 8 games this year.  Like Clark, Rambo is also physical player in the run game, and put his physicality on display last weekend.

Georgia’s Strong Safety, Shawn Williams, is also a very talented player, and also could be on Pittsburgh’s radar.  Williams has been a two-year starter for the Bulldogs and put up 72 Tackles, 5.0 Tackles for Loss, Forced 1 Fumble, Recovered 2, and Intercepted 4 passes during his first season as a starter.  So far this season, Williams has put up a team-high 78 Tackles, 1.0 Sack, and recorded 4 Passes Defended.  Like Rambo, Williams is a tough and physical player, and even stepped up to play some Linebacker during the 2011 season.

Although he might line up at Cornerback for the Bulldogs,  Georgia does feature one player on their roster who might fit the “mid-Round, developmental, system Defensive Back” mold that the Steelers have constantly tried to add over the years: Sanders Commings.  Tall (6’1”) and physically imposing (216 lbs.), Commings has been a bit of a Swiss-Army-Knife in the Secondary for the Bulldogs during his 4-year career, and has seen substantial time at both Free Safety and Cornerback.  A two and half year starter with Georgia, the Senior has recorded 7 Interceptions, and has shown a knack for support in the run-game (95 Tackles over the last two years).  Although he is a bit overshadowed by his Defensive Back mates, Rambo and Williams, and did have his own run-in with the law like Rambo, Commings could be a mid-Round option who Pittsburgh could take a look at and try to develop as a backup Cornerback or Free Safety.

Final Thoughts

I for one will be excited to watch today’s game, because some of these players might be donning the Black & Gold if the organization deems them worthy to bring in via the 2013 Draft.  And hey, even if the Steelers do not decide to bring in any members of the Tide’s and Bulldogs’ Defense’s through the 2013 Draft (i.e. the character issues might be a turnoff for some), the game itself should prove to be a hard-hitting and physical affair, and something worth watching this afternoon/evening.

Readers:  Are you excited to watch the game?  Are there any players on each side I mentioned that you want the Steelers to Draft?  Should the 2013 Draft be all about Defense for Pittsburgh?  Are there other Defensive prospects on other teams you might like?  Why?  Anything goes in the “Comments” section.

Figures, Stats, and Player Profiles Courtesy of: CBSSports.com, ESPN.com, and Alabama & Georgia Official Team Sites

Saturday was a sad day in Steel Town.  The beauty of football is that every Fall you’re entitled to dream about what future glories might lie ahead for your favorite team.  Of course, those of us in Pittsburgh are entitled to dream a little longer and a little harder than say the unfortunate souls living in Cleveland.  But we all dream, at least until the harsh cold hand of reality smacks us upside the head.

Reality was the word of the day around the ‘Burgh on Saturday as the dream of pigskin glory ended for a great number of people, both fans and players alike.

—-  The Pittsburgh Steelers made their final roster cuts of the preseason.  The most notable of the newly unemployed was WR Willie Reid.  A third round draft choice in 2006, Reid never became the electrifying punt returner he was tabbed as coming out of college.  With the addition of Limas Sweed, it came down to Reid vs. Dallas Baker for the 4th WR slot which Baker evidently won due to his size (6’3) moreso than his ability.  In fact, neither Baker nor Sweed looked particularly capable in the final preseason game (Sweed had 2 really bad drops) so this move is both risky and surprising.

Also on the cut list were DE Ryan McBean, who played some last year but was only notable because his last name is eerily similar to our stupid mascot’s.  It was a bad day for Ryans as S Ryan Mundy, a local Woodland Hills product, was waived due to being injured early on in camp and never showing much of anything.  He might be signed to the practice squad otherwise I’d look for him on Jon Bon Jovi‘s Arena Football team next year.  And in the epic Battle of the Punters, the guy with the dorky sounding name got beat out by the guy with the fruity sounding one.   So prepare yourself Steeler Nation, for this year the mighty Mitch Berger will be booting the ball when Big Ben and the offense sputters.

Finally, QB Charlie Batch’s dream of another year backing up Ben Roethlisberger ended when he was placed on IR, thus ending his season.   Newly svelte Byron Leftwich will be our #2 man this season with exciting rookie Dennis Dixon in the #3 slot.  This works out well for Pittsburgh as if Leftwich shows anything this year, he’ll move along for a potential starting job next year leaving the returning Batch to battle the rapidly improving (and quite impressive) Dixon for the backup job.

—-  The Pitt Panthers also began their college football season yesterday.  And, true to form, whenever head coach Dave Wannestedt is handed a good thing, he finds a way to mess it up.  After 25 years of misery, the University of Pittsburgh had high hopes this year might be something special.  They were ranked anywhere from 19th to 25th in various preseason polls and were coming off a monumental upset of #2 WVU in the Backyard Brawl last season.

So of course first game of the season they go out and lay an egg.  And not a little egg.  I’m talking ostrich egg here.  Wannastache and offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh evidently need a bit of a refresher course in Football 101.   See, when your big name Heisman touted running back is your primary weapon, other teams will do what is known as “stacking the box” against you to prevent him from beating them.   That is when you do something else, some call it “the passing game,” in order to loosen up said defense and allow said running back to eventually find some room.

Much like many Pitt students, the coaches must’ve been to hungover to attend class that day because they clearly did not learn this lesson.  Bowling Green brought 7 and 8 men to the line and basically dared them to throw the ball.  So what did Pitt do?   Ran Lesean McCoy off tackle to the right.  Then they ran him off tackle to the left.  Then, for good measure, ran him right up the gut.  Punt, rinse, repeat and there’s your game.

It also didn’t help that Shady McCoy fumbled the ball on a crucial first half drive and the Pitt offense turned the ball over 4 times, while the Pitt defense played in a semi-prevent looking thing against BG’s spread offense, allowing the recievers 7-8 yard cushions on almost every play.   And perhaps worst of all, Wannastache and his trademark Nad-Free playcalling led to them punting from BG’s 35 yard line, letting time run down and kicking a FG when they could’ve ran at least 2 more plays, and repeatedly throwing short screens and dumps to the flat instead of actually, you know, winging the ball downfield a bit.

I mentioned last year that I don’t watch much college football and when Pitt is your home team, you can understand why.   I actually attended this game live and in person, along with about 45,000 other suckers fans who were equally pissed and horrified at the disaster unfolding before them.  And I’m not just referring to the game break “entertainment.”   Whatever happened to just having cheerleaders?  Now we have cheerleaders, drill team, majorettes, some spirit squad looking goofs with flags, and worst of all a dance team, who seem to be just cheerleaders who were not thin and attractive enough to be real cheerleaders.  I mean, I’m all for letting chunky girls take part in school activities but if they’re not even going to perform in a uniform that says “Pitt” on it or reflects the school colors, what’s the point?

Then again, what was the point of anything that happened Saturday?  What did we expect from Pitt?  Big East title?  National championship?  Yep, they got us.  They know nobody loves football as much as Western PA so they promised us a chance of glory on Saturdays when we should’ve known it’s just the same ‘ol Pitt.  Shame on us.

That’s head coach Mike Tomlin basking in the afterglow of his first two picks in the 2008 NFL Draft. Tomlin and Director of Player Personnel Kevin Colbert have every right to be pleased with their work as the general consensus seems to be the Pittsburgh Steelers had themselves one of the finest hauls in this year’s draft. Scanning the interwebz, it appears many of the so-called “experts” graded our picks quite generously.

Jason Cole (Yahoo Sports) – A
Paul Zimmerman (SI.com’s Dr. Z) – Very Good
Larry Weisman (USA Today) – B+
Mel Kiper (Great Hair) – B
NPC (Me) – A

Wait, I gave our draft an A? Didn’t I say in my draft preview post that taking a running back like Jonathan Stewart would be a luxury pick? Didn’t I say a luxury pick is not something we can afford with so many pressing needs? Have I gone mad?

Not really. See, when you evaluate a team’s draft, you have to do so on a sliding scale. The teams picking early almost always have the “best drafts” because they pick the biggest name players. Of course, if those drafts were really the best, or if those big names always panned out, then the Detroits and Atlantas of the world wouldn’t be picking in the top 10 seemingly every year. As John Steinbeck would say, “…the best laid plans of Mice and Matt Millen…”

Mangling of classic English literature aside, I judge a draft by value. As in, what did pass up, what did you get, and what did you give up in getting what you got? By those criteria, the Steelers did a tremendous job this weekend.

Did the draft address our needs? Well, in a word, no. Our biggest needs were OL, WR, DL, and CB in that order. The Steelers only filled one of those four needs (WR). Looking at it that way, you’d think their draft was a total disaster. But this goes back to what I said about value. We passed up guys who’d fill our needs but didn’t have legit first round ability, we got players who are talented enough that most people think they should’ve went 10 to 15 picks sooner than when we got them, and we gave up nothing in order to draft them.

Pittsburgh could’ve gone a similar route as Carolina. The Panthers also needed help on the OL and when there was a run on linemen, they panicked and traded up to get Jeff Otah. As someone who saw him play in a few Pitt games this season, the idea of using one 1st round pick on Otah is questionable. Otah has raw talent and great measurables but he’ll definitely need a lot of coaching and is far from a complete package. Carolina, however, gave up not only several picks to draft him, but next year’s 1st as well. That’s far far too steep a price.

I’m glad the Steelers didn’t play that game. Gosder Cherilus and Sam Baker are nice players but they’re both 2nd round talent. Taking them in the first would’ve been dubious. Trading future draft picks to MOVE UP to take them would’ve been insane. Especially when legitimate first round talent was there to be had.

I don’t believe in drafting specifically to fill needs. That’s how you end up with Troy Edwards instead of Jevon Kearse. I firmly believe you take the best player available. Obviously, all things being equal, you try to fill your needs first but this year, things were not equal. Every offensive lineman of any ability, projected to go in the first OR second round, was gone by the time the Steelers picked at #23. What was sitting there was a running back who many considered the 2nd best back in the entire draft.

It’s a no-brainer.

Of course, like we learned with Huey Richardson, we’ll truly see how smart the Steelers are when these guys actually put on some pads and take the field.

3rd Round:

Pros: Good athlete with decent speed (4.78 sec in the 40). Outstanding quickness off the blocks and is a great closer. Scary as an edge rusher. Very active with a motor that does not stop. Rangy player who will make plays in pursuit. Has played both DE and OLB so can play from either up or down position. Very much in the mold of James Harrison, except he hasn’t backhanded any women (yet).

Cons: Like Harrison, considered to be undersized. Also a liability against the run as he struggles to hold his ground or get a push when being run blocked. One reason he fell is his strength measured well below average. Considered a one trick pony as a pass rush specialist who only dominates against weak opponents.

4th Round:

Pros: Huge man with ginormous frame and long arms. Considered a terrific athlete as he ran the 40 is 5.3 sec flat. Nifty feet with good balance and agility. Outstanding as a pass blocker. Is mobile and when put in space, is very good at lead blocking. Could possibly play guard. Thought to have quite a bit of upside potential.

Cons: Suffered a catastrophic knee injury in high school that required almost total reconstruction.  Obviously that was a while ago but still raises concerns over long term durability. Combine was disappointing as he didn’t measure very strong and doesn’t play with a lot of power. Seems to lack the killer instinct all top notch OL have. Isn’t stout at the point of attack and doesn’t get a great push so needs work on his run blocking. Plays too upright at times and his technique is a bit rough. Considered an underachiever in college whom the Steelers are no doubt hoping will eventually play up to his potential.

5th Round:

Pros: Outstanding athleticism. Played minor league baseball for the Atlanta Braves. Is probably one of the best pure athletes in the entire draft. Reminded many scouts of another Vince Young, which I guess belongs in the Pros but I leave that up to you. Mobile in the pocket and makes plays with his feet. Decent height with the body to put on some weight. Decent arm strength but a quick release who throws extremely well on the move. Was having an awesome Senior year where he was widely considered the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy when a torn ACL ended his season. The Steelers love converting this type of mobile QB into a WR and that is very likely the plan with Dixon. If it works out, could potentially be their best pick this year.

Cons: Health and durability are obviously a concern. Claims to have his ACL completely rehabbed but that’s a major injury which sometimes needs 2 years to fully heal. Needs to bulk up and add some weight if he wants to survive in the NFL. Didn’t play a pro style offense with the Ducks so there will be a learning curve if they expect him to compete for a backup QB position. Much like another #10 for the Steelers, he has poor mechanics, erratic accuracy, and questionable decision-making skills as a QB. As a WR, will have to learn route-running and technique basically from scratch. Also timed at 4.6 sec in the 40 which is good for a QB but not particularly fast for a wide out (although to be fair, he ran it in 4.46 sec prior to the injury).

6^th Round:

Mike Humpal LB Iowa

Height: 6-2^1/2
Weight: 244

Pros: Good size with a non-stop motor. A real ball-hawk as he’s always where the action is. Sure handed tackler. Plays stronger than his size in shedding blocks while remaining stout at the point of attack. Chad Brown-like in demeanor and playing style.

Cons: Not a great athlete. All his measurables, especially timed speed and quickness, are considered below average. Doesn’t have the best footwork so can be twisted around making him a liability in pass coverage. Will probably be a special teamer and a career backup as he’s a solid worker but doesn’t have much upside potential.

6^th Round:

Ryan Mundy S West Virginia

Height: 6-1
Weight: 205

Pros: Adequate size and weight for a safety. Sure tackler. Not afraid of delivering the big hit. A true playmaker with good hands and will make the pick if given the chance. Very active with a non-stop motor. Despite attending WVU, Mundy is a smart player who is seldom fooled or out of position. Will contribute to the special teams immediately and will probably push Tyrone Carter and Anthony Smith for the backup S position a couple seasons from now. Born and raised in Pittsburgh (Woodland Hills).

Cons: Does not have great timed speed and lacks a burst. If beaten, not fast enough to recover. Also isn’t strong enough to cover tight ends or jostle for position with bigger wide receivers. Does not have great measurables but could be a solid backup while also contributing on special teams. (more…)