Recapping Steelers Draft - Day 2

The Steelers used their two 3rd round draft picks from the Denver trade to help bolster their offensive line with Wisconsin guard Kraig Urbik. They then drafted Ole Miss WR Mike Wallace to help fill the shoes of departed free agent Nate Washington.

Urbik is rated as the 4th best guard in this years class. He is a big mauler (6'5 330lbs) who will hopefully help the run game. Urbik started 50 games in college for the Badgers and allowed only three sacks over his final two seasons, including only one his senior year. Urbik was a two time Second Team Big 10 selection.

Mike Wallace is a pick that definitely excites me. Wallace is an absolute burner, running a 4.33 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine in February. That was the 2nd fastest time behind only Maryland WR Darrius Heyward-Bey (7th overall pick to Oakland). Wallace is 6'1 180lbs and should immediately contribute on special teams. He has had a kick return touchdown in each of his final two season at Ole Miss and holds the single game, season, and career records for kick return yards. I believe Wallace will be able to step into that slot role as Washington previously was in. Wallace probably has better speed than Washington and I believe better hands. If he can get on the same page with Big Ben early I think he will be very productive early if he gets the chance to be.

The Steelers final 3rd round pick is used to add depth to the defensive backfield with Cornerback Keenan Lewis. Lewis is 6'1 210lbs out of Oregon State, he was honorable mention All-Pac 10. Seven career interceptions with one returned for a touchdown. At his best in press, bump-and-run coverage. I like that the Steelers went Cornerback but with DJ Moore from Vanderbilt and Victor Harris from Virginia Tech still available I wish we would have went with one of them.

Pittsburgh's 4th round pick was traded to Denver earlier so no pick there. Two picks in the 5th round back to back though had the Steelers select cornerback Joe Burnett from Central Florida and running back Frank Summers out of UNLV. Burnett (5'9 190lbs) is the 32nd ranked cornerback. Burnett was named as a First Team All-American this past season. He had 4.5 tackles for loss, 4 interceptions and blocked a kick. He is also a special teams gem with two kick returns for touchdowns this season. In addition to being First Team All-American he was also only the second player to ever be named First Team All-Conference at three different positions (CB, KR, PR).

As for UNLV product Frank Summer, he'll bring a lot of girth to the Steeler backfield being 5'9 245lbs. As a Junior, Summers was the first player in UNLV history to lead the team in rushing touchdowns (6) and receiving touchdowns (4) in the same season. He finished his junior campaign with 930 yards rushing as well as 23 receptions for 250 yards receiving. A bit less productive in his senior season, Summers still managed to rush for 740 yards and 8 touchdowns while catching 13 passes for 150 yards and 2 touchdowns. I'm not sure how the Steelers will use him as it seems he could project as either a full back or a short-yardage back.

After 5 rounds I have to say I am pretty pleased with the selections and think nearly all of them will be able to produce for us.

Steelers 6th round pick is used on Oregon defensive tackle Ra'Shon Harris. Harris made all 13 of his career starts this past season. The 6'4 300 pounder posted 47 tackles, 9 for a loss, 3 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. It'll be interesting to see how the Steelers use Harris as he seems to have similar quickness to 1st round pick Ziggy Hood. With Hampton, Hoke, Hood, and Harris all at the DT position the Steelers will undoubtedly have to make some moves because I doubt they'll keep four DT on their roster. Watch for Harris to be a possible practice squad player initially unless the Steelers make a roster move or he has a big camp.

The Steelers used their first of two 7th round picks on Penn State Center AQ Shipley, a local product from Moon High School. Shipley was a three year starter on the Penn State offensive line and widely considered one of the best Centers in America. With the rush of Centers going in earlier rounds I think it's extremely fortunate the Steelers were able to get a Center of this quality (rated as the 6th best Center in the draft) in the middle of the 7th round, especially since Center was one of the major team needs. Shipley may sit for a year but he will be inserted as the starting Center in the very near future.

Pittsburgh used its final pick in the 2009 NFL Draft on Tight End David Johnson from Arkansas State. I'm not too sure about this guy or this pick as the Steelers seem to have the position filled with young TE's Heath Miller and Matt Spaeth. Perhaps since Spaeth is more of a blocker than pass catcher if something were to happen to Heath then Johnson could play some in pass catching situations.

All in all I felt this was a solid draft for Pittsburgh. Not outstanding or spectacular but we made some very nice picks and filled some of the major holes we had to fill. I look forward to seeing how these rookies progress as well as next season.

Recapping Steelers Draft - Day 1

The first two rounds of the 2009 NFL Draft are in the books. As I had hoped, the Steelers were able to get, what I feel, is much needed depth at defensive tackle. As stated in an earlier post about the Draft, Evander "Ziggy" Hood is a big (6'3 300lbs), quick (4.8 40 yd dash) interior lineman who can come in to spell Casey Hampton. The thing I feel will be most beneficial with this pick is that Hood has a very good ability to get into the backfield as well as rush the passer, he's not just a space eater in the middle. Since Hampton comes out on 3rd down passing downs I think that is where Hood will be able to come in and apply pressure on the quarterback. I also think Hood has the quickness to play 3-4 defensive end. Being able to play, atleast I think, all 3 defensive line positions in the 3-4 is going to be a huge attribute for an already sterling defensive unit.

Pittsburgh's 2nd round selection (32, 64 overall) was traded to the Denver Broncos for two 3rd round picks (15 and 20, 79 and 84 overall). The Broncos also received the Steelers 4th round pick. I really like this trade, I don't feel there was much value at their original spot for the positions needed. This trade now gives the Steelers 8 draft picks tomorrow (three in 3rd round, two in 5th round, one in 6th, and two in 7th). Needing to upgrade and/or get depth at offensive line, defensive back, and possibly wide receiver, having 8 picks will be very beneficial to us tomorrow.

As a Steeler fan I can say that I am quite pleased with getting Hood and look forward to our fantastic front office to continue to get after it tomorrow and improve our team.

Lions Ink Stafford, 1st Pick in the Books

Late Friday night, the Detroit Lions were able to sign QB Matthew Stafford, from Georgia, to a 6-year deal worth potentially 78 million dollars. The trend of having to pay top draft picks ridiculous amount of money guaranteed continues as Stafford will receive $41.7 million for sure.

Stafford, who has been widely considered the top pick for some time now, said he was out to dinner with friends in family in Manhattan when he stepped outside to take a call from his agent. Amongst the millions of people in New York City, the young quarterback stood on the sidewalk as he received the news he would be the first overall pick and make 40 million dollars. Not too bad for a 21 year old.

It has been a tradition for the team with the first pick to strike a deal the night before the draft starts. So now that the Lions have done so, it puts St. Louis on the clock with the #2 pick. Many experts expect the Rams to select an offensive lineman, the dispute has been over which one. Offensive tackles Jason Smith, Baylor, and Eugene Monroe, Virginia, are the two who the Rams have their eye on.

If the Rams stick to the plan and select one of these players, chaos should ensue shortly after with the Chiefs #3 pick as many teams have been rumored to want to move up to select USC QB Mark Sanchez.

The NFL Draft brings drama and excitement year after year. I don't see this weekend being any different from the others. I look forward to seeing how teams make moves and try to improve their roster for the 2009-2010 campaign.

Rounds 1 and 2 of the Draft will be televised on Saturday on ESPN beginning at 4pm. Rounds 3-7 will be televised on ESPN2 on Sunday at 10am.

2009 Big Cat Sport's Writer's Top 15 Mock Draft

The Big Cat
1. Detroit - QB Matthew Stafford, Georgia*
2. St. Louis - OT Jason Smith, Baylor
3. Kansas City - TRADE to New York Jets - QB Mark Sanchez, USC
4. Seattle - WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
5. Cleveland - LB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
6. Cincinnati - DT BJ Raji, Boston College
7. Oakland - WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri
8. Jacksonville - OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia
9. Green Bay - TRADE to New England - OT Andre Smith
10. San Francisco - DE/LB Brian Orakpo, Texas
11. Buffalo - OT Michael Oher, Mississippi
12. Denver - DE Tyson Jackson, LSU
13. Washington - DE Aaron Maybin, Penn State
14. New Orleans - CB/S Malcolm Jenkins - Ohio State
15. Houston - LB Clay Matthews, USC

RandallRecker

1. Detroit - QB Matthew Stafford, Georgia*
2. St. Louis - OT Jason Smith, Baylor

3. Kansas City - DE Tyson Jackson, LSU

4. Seattle - QB Mark Sanchez, USC
5. Cleveland - LB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
6. Cincinnati - OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia
7. Oakland - WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri
8. Jacksonville - WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech

9. Green Bay - DT BJ Raji, Boston College

10. San Francisco - DE/LB Brian Orakpo

11. Buffalo - OT Andre Smith, Alabama
12. Denver - DE Robert Ayers, Tennessee
13. Washington - DE Aaron Maybin, Penn State
14. New Orleans - RB Knowshon Moreno, Georgia
15. Houston - CB/S Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State

Doug E. Fresh
1. Detroit - QB Matthew Stafford, Georgia*
2. St. Louis - OT Jason Smith, Baylor
3. Kansas City - LB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
4. Seattle - QB Mark Sanchez, USC
5. Cleveland - DE Tyson Jackson, LSU
6. Cincinnati - OT Andre Smith, Alabama
7. Oakland - WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
8. Jacksonville - OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia
9. Green Bay - DT BJ Raji, Boston College
10. San Francisco - DE/LB Brian Orakpo, Texas
11. Buffalo - LB Brian Cushing, USC
12. Denver - DE Robert Ayers, Tennessee
13. Washington - DE Aaron Maybin, Penn State
14. New Orleans - CB/S Malcolm Jenkins
15. Houston - RB Chris Wells, Ohio State

Bill Shady
1. Detroit - QB Matthew Stafford, Georgia*
2. St. Louis - OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia
3. Kansas City - OT Jason Smith, Baylor
4. Seattle - QB Mark Sanchez, USC
5. Cleveland - LB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
6. Cincinnati - DT BJ Raji, Boston College
7. Oakland - WR Jeremy Maclin, Missouri
8. Jacksonville - WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
9. Green Bay - DE Tyson Jackson, LSU
10. San Francisco - DE/LB Brian Orakpo
11. Buffalo - OT Andre Smith
12. Denver - DE Robert Ayers, Tennessee
13. Washington - DE Aaron Maybin, Penn State
14. New Olreans - CB/S Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
15. Houston - LB Clay Matthews, USC

Statman
1. Detroit - QB Matt Stafford, Georgia*
2. St. Louis - OT Jason Smith, Baylor
3. Kansas City - LB Aaron Curry, Wake Forest
4. Seattle - WR Michael Crabtree, Texas Tech
5. Cleveland - DE/LB Brian Orakpo, Texas
6. Cincinnati - OT Andre Smith, Alabama
7. Oakland - WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, Maryland
8. Jacksonville - QB Mark Sanchez, USC
9. Green Bay - DE Tyson Jackson, LSU
10. San Francisco - OT Eugene Monroe, Virginia
11. Buffalo - OT Michael Oher, Mississippi
12. Denver - DT BJ Raji, Boston College
13. Washington - LB Brian Cushing, USC
14. New Orleans - CB/S Malcolm Jenkins, Ohio State
15. Houston - LB Clay Matthews, USC

* Denotes Pick is official as of Friday, April 24th