Draft Preview

It's that time of year again. A time to talk shit on a bunch of kids that have never done anything to me personally and a time to talk about how a bunch of other kids that have never played a down of professional football in their lives are going to help the Steelers get back to the Super Bowl.

Ah, Draft Day. As most of you probably know, I get really into the draft. And, as most of you have probably noticed, the draft starts in about 15 hours and I still haven't posted anything about who the Steelers should pick.

Well, blow me. I've been busy. Besides, I'm sure that all of you already have your boards together and have successfully evaluated what the team needs and who will be available to meet those needs in what rounds. You just need me to confirm your suspicions, right? Right?

Riiiiiiight. At any rate, here's what I got.

Before I get started, repeat after me:

The Steelers are not going to trade Alan Faneca.

Go ahead.

The Steelers are not... okay, you got it.

I'm not saying it's impossible. All things are possible through Christ, but come on. Unless Detroit offers Kevin Colbert their first round pick and Jesus in exchange for Faneca, it ain't gonna happen.

Plus which, all the teams that want to piss away $60 million for a guard already have done so. We'll have to wait until next off-season for some more to surface.

And finally, saying that Alan Faneca is one of the best linemen in the league and is irreplaceable is nonsense and utter bullshit and generally untrue. That's like saying Danika Patrick is one of the best drivers in NASCAR. She isn't. She's just a great driver... for a woman.

Faneca's a great lineman... for a guard. It's one of the most replaceable positions in the league.

That having been said, it's going to be very difficult to replace him this year. So they should make him play out his contract at the very least.

Now, if we lose Marvell Smith, that's a different story. Even if he did kinda suck balls last season.

Overall:

Remember when I said that the Steelers had plenty of young talent along the offensive line? Not so much anymore. Remember when they were 5 or 6 guys deep at linebacker and Mike Vrabel had to leave because they didn't have a spot for him? Remember how Porter (and Gildon before him) had to sit on the bench for two years because the guy in front of him was better? Not so much anymore.

We got nine picks and we gotta make them count. Two offensive linemen, two linebackers, a wide receiver, two defensive backs (preferably a safety and a corner), a defensive lineman (preferably an end), and a fullback or a quarterback. That's what they need come the last bell on Sunday.

But who? And when? And how?

Round 1:

I have to admit that I've done a lot more research on the first round guys than anyone else. There are four dudes that we should target:

Darrelle Revis, CB, Pitt

Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska

Joe Staley, OT, Central Michigan

Anthony Spencer, DE/OLB, Purdue

Revis is really a shutdown corner. I know that no such thing exists in the wide, wonderful world of the NFL anymore, but he's pretty damn close. I think he was only targeted 15 times all last season and he intercepted two of those. If you watched the Backyard Brawl this year, you saw we he can do in the return game. He brings a lot of things to the roster and could be pretty damn dangerous if we get him. So no, this isn't a hometwon pick.

Carriker's a good pick because he's a big white kid that hustles. He's basically Aaron Smith, but faster, younger, and stronger. And with better pass rushing skills. He's 6'6", goes about 290, and looks like he could pack on another 30 pounds or so and not have it affect him. He can play end in the 3-4, end in the 4-3, and tackle in the 4-3. Whichever defense Tomlin eventually decides on, Carriker will be able to contribute.

Staley is basically the second best tackle in the draft. I don't want to hear about Levi Brown. Brown's a hell of a tackle, but he's more of a run blocker than he is a pass blocker. Staley's both. Joe Thomas is #1, hands down. Staley's 2a and Brown is 2b. There's just something about Brown that makes me think that he'll be a disappointment and labelled a bust if he gets taken in the top 15. If he makes it to the bottom half of the round, the pressure will be off, and he'll have the time to work on his pass blocking skills. Staley already has the temperment, the footwork, and the technique to be a great tackle. He just needs to be in the right situation (good coach, good supporting cast, not a losing atmosphere). Bad for a crappy team that's used to losing. He's used to losing having played at Central Michigan. In order to progress, he needs to know what it feels like to play for a winner. And that's just what the Steelers will help him do.

If these three guys are taken, trade down and take Spencer. Spencer's more of 3-4 linebacker, but he could put on enough weight to be a 4-3 end. Two players at the Combine (Brown and some dude from Notre Dame) said that Spencer was the best pass rusher they had ever faced. He hustles, he's a hell of an intense player, and he just seems to know how to get to the ball carrier. Reminds me a lot of Joey Porter actually.

Round 2:

If they don't take Spencer in Round 1, they need to get a linebacker in Round 2. They need to grab one in the first day, one in the second day. 3-4 linebackers and especially linebackers that can switch back and forth between the 3-4 and 4-3 don't grow on trees anymore. You can't get a guy like Joey Porter in the third round anymore. You can't get a guy like Aaron Smith in the sixth round. If the Steelers want to get a starter, they need to take him in this round.

Stewart Bradley, another Nebraska guy is a very active middle linebacker and could either replace James Farrior in a couple of years or be the guy that runs 15 or 20 yards down the field in Tomlin's defense. You remember all the ground that Brian Urlacher covered in the playoffs last year? Well, Bradley can't do that. But, he's about as fast, about as smart, and about as sure a tackler as Urlacher. Or, at least close enough that he'll seem like a bargain in the second round.

In Round 2, given that they've already taken Spencer, they should go with an offensive lineman like possibly Ryan Kalil of Southern Cal or Arron Sears of Tennessee. It's possible that those two guys might not be there, given that there's a new emphasis on drafting quality centers and guards (another reason why Faneca may not get a huge contract). If they're there, I prefer Sears. That guy just seems awesome. He looks like a guard. I have no trouble at all imagining him in a Steelers uniform. I think he'll be great.

Round 3:

Presuming that the draft goes Carriker, Bradley, then they should go offensive lineman. Either tackle or guard. Day One they need a linebacker and an offensive lineman. Day Two, they need a linebacker and an offensive lineman.

Spencer and an offensive lineman, preferably Sears, then probably a defensive back like UNLV's Eric Wright. Or, there's the possibility of a running back (I know it's not on the list), like Brian Leonard (a lot of guys with two first names in this draft) of Rutgers.

Round 4:

I'm feeling some Brian St. Pierre shit here. Doug Free, T, Northern Illinois.

This dude is huge. He's the guy I talked about at the Combine that the Steelers should keep in a cage before games and feed him a baby lamb as a sacrifice every hour. He looks like he could crush people with his shadow.

He's perfect to play right tackle, presuming Max Starks tanks this year and needs to be replaced.

For the compensatory selection, I think it's entirely possible that either linebacker Zak DeOssie of Brown (Sean Morey's alma mater) or wide receiver David Clowney of Virginia Tech. Both excelled on special teams, run like the wind, and are prepared to do whatever they can to make a team and contribute.

Round 5:

We've got our Day Two offensive lineman, it's time for the Day Two linebacker. Two guys I really like are Timothy Shaw, Penn State, and Brandon Siler of Florida. Shaw's fast as hell and might be the better of the two Penn State linebackers in this draft. Siler is another guy like Stewart that has excellent instincts, covers a lot of ground, and is one of those guys that always seems to "be around the football."

Both could be excellent replacements for Farrior, because he ain't gettin' any younger.

For the compensatory selection, Derek Landri of Notre Dame will be a good fit. He could work as an end in either the 4-3 or the 3-4. He's got some speed, got some bulk, and has a proven track record getting to the quarterback.

Rounds 6 and 7:

I thought about splitting this up, but I'm not sure what the point is, really. Guys taken in rounds 6 and 7 usually don't stay on the roster. The last three years, it's been a black hole. So, they should grab a fullback and maybe take a chance on a defensive lineman. If neither guy makes the roster, we should be okay.

However, they can't take their second linebacker or their second offensive linemen in these rounds. They need warm bodies if nothing else. The lower they draft that warm body, the more it hurts the team.

Best to draft them early.