One thing to understand...the Steelers don't draft on sentimentality

[recruitsreadtheseboards]

They draft on what they perceive as value and the best player at that slot. This ain't some 7th round pick, this was a 3rd round pick. The Steelers showed in Rd 2 when there is someone they see of great value to them, they jump at it.

So they believe James Conner is a great football player besides a great person.

 

[CaptainSidneyReilly]

They draft on what they perceive as value and the best player at that slot. This ain't some 7th round pick, this was a 3rd round pick. The Steelers showed in Rd 2 when there is someone they see of great value to them, they jump at it.

So they believe James Conner is a great football player besides a great person.

PENS TOO!

Good call too ahead of ESPN.....
ESPN: LINK:
Steelers make clear James Conner is not a sentimental pick. "The tape told me what he was," RBs coach James Saxon said. "He runs the football downhill, he can bend, he can catch the football, he's tough, he's smart, he's a guy who can come here and work every day."

Jeremy Fowler, ESPN Staff WriterLINK:
http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft/news

 

[oldpantherfan]

Agreed.
And they could easily make him the starting fullback and have him and bell in the field at the same tune

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

They had Bell and very little else in the backfield. And Bell has ... missed some time ... on occasion. (Injuries! Injuries is what I'm getting at there). So whether they took Conner, or Cook, or Mixon, or anyone else... taking a back there was not a reach

 

[Slick Manager of Champs]

actually Rocky Bleier was a sentimental pick.....chosen in the last round since he was an ND grad and the big Catholic connection with the rooney's. But he did okay for himself

But you are correct in the modern era there are no sentimental picks especially this early in the draft.

 

[9nationalchampionships]

Right but wasn't he picked in like the 12th round? They are free agents at this selection today.

actually Rocky Bleier was a sentimental pick.....chosen in the last round since he was an ND grad and the big Catholic connection with the rooney's. But he did okay for himself

But you are correct in the modern era there are no sentimental picks especially this early in the draft.

 

[ameoba defense]

actually Rocky Bleier was a sentimental pick.....chosen in the last round since he was an ND grad and the big Catholic connection with the rooney's. But he did okay for himself

But you are correct in the modern era there are no sentimental picks especially this early in the draft.

Keep in mind that Rocky didn't go to Nam and get wounded until after the Steelers drafted him.

 

[Pittx9]

James fit in perfectly with this team, and it didn't hurt that with all these guys having character issues, a kid that has none whatsoever and is actually perceived as one of the biggest humanitarians in college sports. It was the mixture of talent and character IMO.

 

[Revenge Of The Noise]

James fit in perfectly with this team, and it didn't hurt that with all these guys having character issues, a kid that has none whatsoever and is actually perceived as one of the biggest humanitarians in college sports. It was the mixture of talent and character IMO.

Whether bunk or truth or in the middle of both, they definitely passed up guys gurus generally regarded as 'better' at their positions that were still available, but had a bit of baggage, in both the Watt and Conner picks.

But I wouldn't say the talent differences were so different that it was the predominant factor in either. Conner might just be the better choice for the Steelers than the others still in the board at the time because he's a better change of pace to Bell. Or maybe they regarded Watt the better all around , ie against the run as well, than the other pass rusher types. Who really knows, except their own guys...

 

[Pittx9]

Whether bunk or truth or in the middle of both, they definitely passed up guys gurus generally regarded as 'better' at their positions that were still available, in both the Watt and Conner picks.

Yes, that is a fact that is undeniable. But also those guy's boards are way different than the gm's boards. Peterman has been the highest rated qb remaining since the middle of the first round. The steelers and other teams said they really liked kizer. In watt and Conner I think the steelers mostly went for guys that fit into what they do the most. Got a pass rusher that most think will be pretty good, although he's always gonna be compared to his superhuman brother. Also got a power back to compliment bell's finesse and athletic style.

Put another team in the steelers' spots that needed a pass rusher in the first and a solid backup rb in the late third and that team may make two different picks. As radio hosts have been saying all week, the NFL draft is maybe the most inexact science there is. You just gotta evaluate these kids, figure out what you need for your team, and hope they all pan out.

 

[Cavalier Panther]

Agree that they may have had a shot at him in the 4th or eve 5th round but I guess they didn't want to risk it. It's curious though, right? This is a team that's very disciplined in their contracts and drafting. It's also the NFL team with the most information on Conner, so maybe they're just ahead of the curve.

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

Agree that they may have had a shot at him in the 4th or eve 5th round but I guess they didn't want to risk it.

I don't think they would have. As I was watching it last night my thought was that if the Stillers were going to get Conner it was going to have to be with that pick at the end of the 3rd round, because they weren't going to get a chance at the end of the 4th.

 

[thebadby2]

They draft on what they perceive as value and the best player at that slot. This ain't some 7th round pick, this was a 3rd round pick. The Steelers showed in Rd 2 when there is someone they see of great value to them, they jump at it.

So they believe James Conner is a great football player besides a great person.

Here's another thing to understand-neither does any other NFL,team.