At some point Pitt DBs are going to start going higher. They often seem to be day 3 picks and after 2-3 years develop into solid starters in the NFL.
A lot still to be written between now and next April. But CB, ILB, and C all seem like bigger needs. I’d think they address at least one of those in the first three rounds.
Agree about C and CB. Cole is ok at C. But I'd like to see them get a future pro-bowler there. And Patrick Petersen is probably not playing more than 2 more seasons.
The decision to draft Najee and Kendrick Green as a center, as opposed to Creed Humphrey or Landon Dickerson and almost any other RB was a bad one. They could have locked down center for the next decade with either guy. I agree Cole is okay short term, but their backups are awful.
Taking Harris was so painfully obvious to be bad to anyone who knows the sport, but it’s been solidly entertaining to have to hear the Pgh media struggle to defend it because they are so afraid of offending the Rooneys and Tomlin. Going as far as calling the guy an elite back. The emperor truly has no clothes in this town.
Totally agree. Dickerson seems to have carved a nice spot at Guard in Philly, and may become one of the leagues best guards in a couple years. Passing on Creed Humphrey was an all-time dumb mistake.
Dickerson has done well at guard, but he played center his last year at Alabama and can probably move there once Kelce retires. Passing on those two right after Pouncey retired and left a gaping hole at the position was mind boggling then, and continues to look worse. Could’ve taken either one, drafted Muth and still had Rhamondre Stevenson or Elijah Mitchell.
I wonder how much influence Tomlin has on that. Certainly Kevin Colbert understood the importance of an OL given that he hit on a couple really good ones in Pouncey and DeCastro. I also thought Travis Etienne was the best back in that class, taking Harris was really dumb.
I remember reading a scouting report on Abanakanda that complimented his elite break away speed, but also knocked him for his inability to break tackles at the LOS. I went back and watched, boy were they right. His yards after contact was really bad. Boom or bust RB’s have a place in the league until you lose a step, and then you’re like everyone else.
Totally agree with you here. If he does improve his receiving and refines his pass-blocking, he could provide great value as a 3rd down back.
I think it remains to be seen if this last draft is indicative of things to come but you nailed it with the way they've ignored OL. People tend to forget that OL is nearly half of your offense. You need to address the position constantly in order to not leave yourself short at some point. Yes, you can build through free agency but that's not going to give you more than a couple of years of service from someone. Yes, you need to get lucky once in a while on a late rounder and you're not getting a first round OL-man most years if you're a playoff team. But you sure better be working on that position and take advantage of deeper drafts when they come around.
I look at Detroit's draft this year, they got a bunch of good players, but awful value. RB, ILB, TE, S with their first four picks are arguably the four least valuable positions in the NFL outside of specialists.
Taking Harris was dumb because he isn't a difference maker and he plays RB. If your taking a RB in round 1 he better be something special. Harris is just ok.
If Troy Polamalu or Ed Reed was available in 2023, you’re not taking them in round 1? I am. And I also disagree with ILB being unimportant. More often than not, those guys call the defense and are critical to run defense.
Obviously there is leeway based on team needs, talent level of prospects, etc. But if you're talking about drafting Peyton Manning, Rod Woodson, J.J. Watt, or Ed Reed, then Reed goes fourth every time. QB is the most important position and then in today's game a defense would either want an elite pass rusher or cover corner.
I guess it’s a different philosophy, and where you think the game is. Using your example, I’m taking Ed Reed and Troy over Woodson. And let’s add a name, Brian Urlacher or Ray Lewis. I’m taking either of them over JJ Watt. When Troy and Ed were at their peak, offenses had to know where they were because if you didn’t, mistakes were bound to happen. I feel like you can scheme any WR to get open no matter the CB. I agree QB’s are far and away the most important position in sports, but if you add a Ray Lewis, Troy or Reed….the attitude of your defense changes.
They might not be equal value to cover corners, but versatile safeties have garnered more value as defenses moved to 40-50% snaps in nickel and dime packages. Having a guy that can lineup two-deep or drop down as a big nickel to cover the slot gives a coordinator a lot of flexibility. That’s why I would’ve liked Branch at 32, but I get the JPJr pick.
You'd also be different philosophically than where most NFL defenses would go today. All you need to do is follow the first-round draft picks and follow the money. By no means are safeties not valuable, just a shutdown corner may be the toughest position to find on defense today. Also, I think it's tough when we are just throwing around Hall of Famers. Troy and Ed are two players who may never come around again. Troy did things few NFL players ever have and Reed wall a ballhawk like no other.
So we are on the same page with Branch/Porter. I think if the Steelers had a good, young CB already in place or if Patrick Peterson was going to be 27 or 28 this season, then Branch would've had more consideration. Instead, they were looking for a future CB1.
In his defense, the offensive line sucked. It will be interesting to see how he does with an improved line this year
There are other running backs who played behind equal or worse offensive lines with a better YPC than Harris. His production so far in his career has been a product of volume more than anything else.
I get your point, I really do. But look at the Super Bowl winners the last few years.
No, you need a franchise QB and generally a good coach. It's a fun discussion either way.
