It's Monday again and time for me to update my mock draft after watching more tape this past week and fine tuning mostly some of the early round picks. In my last Steelers mock draft I had Sam Acho as the second round selection and admitted that it might be a stretch. After further thought, I just do not see the Steelers going that direction no matter what his value might be at that point in the draft as other needs simply out weigh it. It is no secret the that Steelers need cornerback, offensive line and defensive line help heading into this draft and I like the prospects of them addressing all Read more [...]

Abilene Christian wide receiver Edmond Gates will make a pre draft visit to Pittsburgh early next week according to his draft journal. Gates ran in the low 4.3 range at the NFL Combine back in late February and measured in at 5 foot 11 and 3/4 inches while tipping the scales at 192 pounds. He is considered a raw talent, but can stretch the field. Like most young receivers, Gates needs to polish his route running, on-field awareness and blocking skills. In 2010 Gates had 66 catches for 1182 yards and 13 touchdowns. Gates is currently projected to be drafted in the 3rd or 4th round and will be a Read more [...]

The latest buzz making the circuit on the internet is the stock drop of Alabama running back Mark Ingram. Ingram's drop reportedly is because of the long-term stability of Ingram’s knee and the fear that he may develop degenerative arthritis. The former Heisman Trophy winner underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee late last August after injuring it in practice. Ingram missed just two games following the surgery and went on to rush for 875 yards on 158 carries for the Crimson Tide. He also chipped in 21 catches for another 282 yards and scored 14 touchdowns in the process. Another red Read more [...]

The 2011 NFL Draft will take place just two weeks from today and it looks almost certain that the free agency signing period, if there is one, will take place after the draft. During a normal offseason the signing of the bulk of the higher profile free agent players has already taken place and teams can then fill in their needs and holes on the roster on draft day. This year it looks like the process will be flip-flopped and several teams will be forced to draft blind so to speak, not knowing the status of their own free agents as well as others. The Steelers certainly fall into this area with Read more [...]

Kevin Colbert loves value and especially so with his first round selections. Below is a quick history of the first rounders he has drafted since taking over in 2000 and the positional value those players offered. At the end I offer up a few players that fit the mold as both positional values that also fit perhaps a need. This is an exercise of positional value only, so don’t get too upset. 2000 - WR Plaxico Burress - This was the first draft for Colbert and after they selected Burress 8th overall, head coach Bill Cowher said they drafted him because they needed a playmaker. Burress was a top Read more [...]

Baylor nose tackle Phil Taylor is making his pre draft visit today to Pittsburgh to visit with the Steelers according to Steelers Digest. Taylor measured in at the NFL Combine at 6 foot 3 and 1/4 and weighed 334 pounds. He ran the 40 in the low 5.0 range and benched 225 pounds 31 times. He also recorded a vertical jump of 29 1/2 inches, a broad jump of 8 feet 4 inches and ran the 20 yard shuttle in 4.77 seconds. Taylor is an ideal 3-4 nose tackle and transferred to Baylor from Penn State in 2008 after he was suspended for an off the field campus fight. He is perhaps the top nose tackle prospect Read more [...]

It has been 2 weeks since I put out my 2.0 version of the Steelers 2011 Mock Draft and since then the Steelers have had quite a few pre draft visitors to look over and the Pro Days have also wound down. With the draft just 2 and a half weeks away, now is a great time to put out version 3.0. As you will see, I have made quite a few changes. As much as I like what Derek Sherrod brings to the table, I do not think the Steelers view the tackle position as much as a need to just settle for the 4th or 5th best tackle in the draft now. I also see some scenarios where Sherrod could fall out of the first Read more [...]

We are right about half way home to the 2011 NFL Draft and it is a perfect time to look over the pre draft visitors that the Steelers reportedly have had or will have visit the South Side prior to draft day. The organization has been more tight lipped thus far this offseason about their visitors, so there is a chance that it may include a false report or two, but should be fairly accurate up until this point. In addition, Jim Wexell tweeted not long ago today that they will likely loosen up on the policy soon, so more confirmation should be forthcoming. An early look at the list confirms what Read more [...]

The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that Virginia cornerback Ras-I Dowling and Maryland running back Da'rel Scott both made pre draft visits today to visit with the Steelers. Dowling ran a 4.40 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine, but injured his hamstring on the first run and sat out the rest of the drills. His durability is a concern as he was limited to just five games last season at Virginia due to injuries. Dowling measures in at 6 foot 1 and 3/8 and weighs 198 pounds. He is currently projected as a 2nd round draft pick. Scott started in all 13 games at running back for Maryland Read more [...]

Dale Lolley reported a little while ago that Alabama A&M nose tackle Frank Kearse and Louisville cornerback Johnny Patrick will make pre draft visits with the Steelers if the have not already. The Steelers have been more tight lipped this offseason about the players they bring to the South Side for official visits, but word continues to leak out. Lolley also confirmed earlier reports that Boise State wide receiver Austin Pettis and Utah State cornerback Curtis Marsh are two of the 30 allowed visitors the Steelers will have prior to the draft. Steelers scout Mark Gorscak was present for Read more [...]

It is April and perhaps time for the Steelers to draft yet another wide receiver in the upcoming NFL draft. A quick look at the 2011 pre draft visit list combined with the draft history of the Steelers almost yearly drafting of wide receivers under Kevin Colbert and it does not take a rocket scientist to add two and two together to get to this conclusion, although it took me a little while to accept it. Since Colbert took over as the Director of Football Operations in 2000, the Steelers have drafted 13 receivers and have drafted at least one in all but two drafts dating back to 2000. Just last Read more [...]

Another receiver quite possibly could be headed to the South Side for a pre draft visit with the Steelers as Adam Caplan is also reporting that Tennessee wide receiver Denarius Moore has a scheduled visit with the Steelers this week. Moore measured in at the NFL Combine at 5 foot 11 and a half and weighed 194 pounds. He ran his 40 in the low 4.4 range, recorded a 36 inch vertical jump and a 9 foot 10 inch broad jump. He is currently projected as a 3rd or 4th round draft pick later this month. In his final season with the Volunteers, Moore caught 47 passes for 981 yards and scored 9 touchdowns. Read more [...]

Marshall inside linebacker Mario Harvey is expected to make a pre draft visit to Pittsburgh sometime over the next few week according to Adam Caplan of FoxSports.com. Harvey had a great Pro Day and ran his 40 in the 4.4 range. He also bench pressed 225 pounds 27 times, recorded a 32-inch vertical and 9-5 broad jump and ran a 4.19-second short shuttle and 7.13 three-cone drill. The Steelers also reportedly showed interest in him in mid March as were the Ravens, Patriots and the Bengals. Harvey measured in at 5-foot-10 7/8 and 250 pounds. Harvey is currently viewed as a mid to late round draft pick Read more [...]

Shawn Zobel from DraftHeadquarters.com reported via Twitter that Southern Mississippi defensive tackle Anthony Gray recently worked out for the Steelers and is scheduled to visit the Packers next week as well. It is unclear if the workout was regarded as a pre draft visit at this time. Gray measured in at 5-foot-11 3/4, 330 pounds at his Pro Day on March 11th according to Gil Brandt, of NFL.com. He also reportedly ran the 40-yard dash in 5.19 seconds and 5.17 seconds, the short shuttle in 4.61 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.93 seconds. He registered a 31 1/2-inch vertical jump, a 9-foot-4 Read more [...]

I talked about Texas cornerback Curtis Brown the other day and today wanted to focus in on another Texas cornerback, Aaron Williams, in relation to the Steelers. Back in late December, Williams announced his decision to skip his senior season at Texas to enter the 2011 NFL Draft and since then the biggest questions that surround him is if he is best suited as a corner or free safety at the next level. Williams certainly has the measurables of a coveted first round cornerback outside of his 40 time. At the NFL Combine in February, Williams ran in the low 4.5 range, but recently improved that number Read more [...]

It is always fun reading all the talk about quarterbacks prior to the draft and I always love to read and watch the teachings of the late Bill Walsh in regards to the quarterback position. Although it rarely gets shown on the NFL Network, the "Quarterbacking by Bill Walsh" episode by NFL Films is always a must see, especially in the offseason. Below is the episode broken up into 7 parts that lives on Youtube. If you have not seen it yet, you need to. No one knew quarterbacks and the quarterback position like Walsh did and his teachings live on today through an extensive coaching tree he has spawned. Read more [...]

Boise State wide receiver Austin Pettis is reportedly scheduled to make a pre draft visit to Pittsburgh next week to visit with the Steelers. Pettis left Boise State as the school's all-time leader in receptions with 229 and touchdown catches with 39. He also ranks second on the school's all-time receiving yards list with 2,838 for his career. In 2010, Pettis made 71 catches for 951 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Broncos offense finished ranked second in the nation in scoring offense, averaging 46.67 points a game during the regular season. This past week, the Steelers entertained offensive tackles Read more [...]

Since the 2011 NFL Combine, I have spent hours pouring through draft prospect profiles and game clips on as many top ranked draft hopefuls that match the needs that the Steelers have. My second Steelers mock draft reflects that work, but one player in that mock has caught my eye more than any other. That player is Texas cornerback Curtis Brown. Brown also carries two nicknames, "Turkey" and "Jordan". While at Texas, Brown made 28 starts and played in 52 games while wearing a Longhorn uniform. He intercepted two passes, had 32 pass unofficial pass break ups, forced one fumble and registered 3 thrown Read more [...]

The Steelers are ramping up their pre draft visits today as Florida tackle Marcus Gilbert, Alabama tackle James Carpenter Jr. and South Carolina tackle Jarriel King are all visiting with staff today at the Steelers South Side headquarters. The Steelers are allowed to visit with 30 non-local draft prospects prior to the NFL Draft and have already visited with the local University of Pittsburgh draft eligible players a few weeks ago. PLAYER POS COLLEGE HGT WGT ARMS HANDS 40 TIME 225 REPS VERT JUMP 20 S 3 CONE James Carpenter Jr. OT Alabama 6043 321 34 9 3/4 5.28 23 DNP DNP DNP DNP [flv:http://ll.video.nfl.com/films/s2011/nflcom/offseason/110316_event_combine_carpenter_james_700k.mp4 Read more [...]

I was looking at the top cornerbacks in 2010 according Pro Football Focus and wanted to break down where the top 20 were drafted and have a look at their height, weight, 40 times and vertical jumps from either their combine or pro day. I was looking for any keys to a particular size of a corner drafted early that stands to have success. No such thing really. Let me say that all 40 times are pretty misleading as in my opinion, a player really does not have an official 40 time, they have a range. Ranges meaning he was a 4.3, 4.4 or 4.5 guy. As far as the measurables go, it is doubtful a player Read more [...]