Colbert drafts. What do you guys think?

[joeyssteelcurtain]

I took a look back at the Colbert drafts, and realized that he has done a really good job.The past couple drafts will def help us for the next few years, especially with the uncertainy of the salary cap. I feel to have a great draft you need 1 stud, 2 total starters and 1 role players, to have a "successful" draft you want 1 starter and 2 role players. I also belive that you always take the best player avaliable, despite position. When you reach for need you get Jamain Stephens instead of Brian Dawkins or Troy Edwards instead of Jevon Kearse.

The jury is still out on 2008 but let's look anyway

1 Rashard Mendenhall Illinois

2 Limas Sweed Texas

3 Bruce Davis UCLA

4 Tony Hills Texas

5 Dennis Dixon Oregon

6 Mike Humpal Iowa

6 Ryan Mundy West Virginia

I know a lot of people wanted us to get OL help, but there simply wasn't any to take... the 2 guys we really had a chance at were Sam Baker and Duane Brown. I saw where Duane Brown was 31st for LT's allowing sacks.. now he may get better but he wasn't the BPA that was Mendenhall and he will break 1000 yds this year. Sweed had his drops, but he got open, and thats the hard part. I hope it doesn't come to it but Bruce Davis may be the heir to Harrison if negotiations go south. Tony Hills was projected as a first round talent but had the injury... He may be our future LT and I have said he may start this year on the right side moving Colon to the inside. Dixon was also a first round talent but once again the injury dropped him, and he may be our back QB very soon. Humpal released and Mundy will probably make the team this year with Smith being let go, probably would have made it last year if not for the ankle sprain. I am calling 3 of the top 4 guys will give big contibutions to the defending champs this year... Draft Grade TBD


2007

1 Lawrence Timmons Florida State

2 LaMarr Woodley Michigan

3 Matt Spaeth Minnesota

4 Daniel Sepulveda Baylor

4 Ryan McBean Oklahoma State

5 Cameron Stephenson Rutgers

5 William Gay Louisville

7 Dallas Baker Florida

Timmons is on a the path to be a superstar and Woodley is already there. Spaeth has had some really nice monets, though his blocking is def questionable. I think we saw how important Sepulveda really was with our struggles this year. McBean and Stephenson, well I don't think I need to say anything. With Mcfadden leaving, Gay becomes a starter and did really well last year, I saw a stat that said that he gave up the fewest yards per passed against in the league, pretty impressive for a second year player and with Washington heading down south Baker is going to get another shot at the roster, the fact that being a 7th rd pick and sticking around the team this long says something about the guy. I know we will never, ever have another '74 draft, but I think this is the best since then, simply because we got 2 studs, 4 toltal starters and 2 more role players... A+++

2006

1 Santonio Holmes Ohio State

3 Anthony Smith Syracuse

3 Willie Reid Florida State

4 Willie Colon Hofstra

4 Orien Harris Miami (FL)

5 Omar Jacobs Bowling Green

5 Charles Davis Purdue

6 Marvin Philip California

7 Cedric Humes Virginia Tech

Holmes had some issues earlier this year but boy did he step up when it counted... our future #1 wr and has immense talent may be stud worthy... Smith and Reid, the talent was there and I'm not as down on smith as some of you guys, but both just couldn't pull it together here. I am calling it here Smith will be a good player for the Pack. Colon, a solid starter just playing the wrong position, kick him in to guard where he belongs and you got an above average offensive linemen, he has heart and is tough. Harris has been bouncing around the league, that is part of the problem, we are pretty deep there and it hard to hold a spot on a veteran team. The rest of the guys... ummm who? C

2005

1 Heath Miller Virginia

2 Bryant McFadden Florida State

3 Trai Essex Northwestern

4 Fred Gibson Georgia

5 Rian Wallace Temple

6 Chris Kemoeatu Utah

7 Shaun Nua Brigham Young

7 Noah Herron Northwestern

Heath Miller is a stud.. bottom line not as heralded as some other TE but def the most complete. Mcfadden was a good player.. hate to see him go but that is part of the buisness.. while he was here he was a good player... a little injury prone but still good. Essex is a nice back up who can play guard or tackle, the type of guy you need in todays NFL.. multiple spots out of one player. Gibson was a disappointment... I remeber being excited about him but he wouldn't go to the PS for us, otherwise who knows. Wallace was a backup for a few years, nothing spectacular, but did his job, last I knew he was playing for Washignton. I like Kemo and think he will only get better.. he is also out of position and needs kicked to RG where he doesn't have to worry about pulling just mauling. Nua, eh.. Herron went to Green Bay for a little while, he did alright but I think the most noteworthy thing he did was knock a robber out with a bedpost in his house. Grade B

2004

1 Ben Roethlisberger Miami (OH)

2 Ricardo Colclough Tusculum

3 Max Starks Florida

5 Nathaniel Adibi Virginia Tech

6 Bo Lacy Arkansas

6 Matt Kranchick Penn State

6 Drew Caylor Stanford

7 Eric Taylor Memphis

Amazing how 1 pick can change the grade of a draft. I won't even get into what Roethlisberger has accomplished, I'll just let it speak for itself. Despite what some peopel think Starks is very serviceable, the reason LT is the second hardest position to fill is because there aren't that many. We got a franchise QB and a starting LT who is middle of the road. Not to mention this is the year we got the reigning DPOY , James Harrison and Willie Parker as UDFA Grade A+++

2003

1 Troy Polamalu USC

2 Alonzo Jackson Florida State

4 Ivan Taylor Louisiana-Lafayette

5 Brian St. Pierre Boston College

7 J.T. Wall Georgia

See for Ben about Troy, same deal... And Ike, while he can't catch a cold he constantly shadows the other teams #1 wr. St Pierre stuck around as a back up for a while, let's just agree never to mention Jackson's name again. This draft is hurt because of it's lack of picks but still a B

2002

1 Kendall Simmons Auburn

2 Antwaan Randle El Indiana

3 Chris Hope Florida State

4 Larry Foote Michigan

5 Verron Haynes Georgia

6 Lee Mays Texas-El Paso

7 LaVar Glover Cincinnati

7 Brett Keisel Brigham Young

This is a draft with no studs but had a lot of contributors and is the type of draft that keeps a franchise competitive. Before the diabetes Simmons was on pace to be a really good linemen, I respect him for hanging on as long as he did, the acl and then the achilles, I appreciate what he did for us and was a proffesional. El was a nice find and our return game has suffered without him, but you can't throw the money that snyder did at him and expect to keep a guy like Hines. Hope was one of my favorites, and I hated to see him go, but with a contract extension coming up for troy they had to chose their man, I think they chose right, even though Hope has had success since he left. Mr. Foote, a solid player who does ntohing spectacular but doesn't make mistakes. We are quick to try and get rid of him, but why? I know Timmons is ready to bust loose, but we run a 3-4, you can never have enough linebackers. Haynes was a great role player... he just couldn't stay healthy. He ran with power, caught the ball well and was good on the blitz pickup pluse he played special team. Mays was one of those players that always did enough to stick around, but nothing more then depth. Who was LaVar Glover? Keisel is one of those picks that make good franchises great... when you get as much out of a 7th round pick as we have from him. I grade this draft as an A+ no studs but from top to bottom you got production.

2001

1 Casey Hampton Texas

2 Kendrell Bell Georgia

4 Mathias Nkwenti Temple

5 Chukky Okabi Purdue

6 Rodney Bailey Ohio State

6 Roger Knight Wisconsin

7 Chris Taylor Texas A&M

Casey's career is winding down, but was a stud. I remeber in his younger days when he chased Eddie George down in a playoff game gave him a concussion and forced a fumble. He can still be a force when he wants to be but Much like Joel Steed, he will disappear overnight. Wow, what happened to Bell.. defensive Rookie of the year, looked like he would be a HOF and then boom... Okabi was a back up that probably ended up leading to the Mahan disaster... looked like we had an heir apparent to hartings, but the it turned out we didn't, if that mnakes sense. Bailey was a nice role player but nothing great. Grade C-... if Bell had stuck around would have been at least a B

2000

1 Plaxico Burress Michigan State

2 Marvel Smith Arizona State

3 Kendrick Clancy Mississippi

3 Hank Poteat Pittsburgh

4 Danny Farmer UCLA

5 Clark Haggans Colorado State

5 Tee Martin Tennessee

6 Chris Combs Duke

6 Jason Gavadza Kent State

This was an alright draft... Plax didn't blossom till late and we realize now he was a big knucklehead, glad we chose Ward over him, could have very easily corrupted Ben. Marvel was a great LT and even started as rookie at RT, great 2nd round pick. Clancey was Chris Hoke before Chris Hoke finally beat him out, played well when we needed him to. Poteat was a nice returner and if I remeber actually played in coverage ok, he is still hanging around the league making contributions. I liked Danny Farmer and if we hadn't drafted Edwards the year before he would have stuck with us... He had a great preseason but there was just no room for him. Haggans was a steady unspectacular player, much like Foote... He came to work and did his job, not bad for a 5th rounder the rest of the guys really had no impact. Grade: B

[tony hipchest]

2000

1 Plaxico Burress Michigan State

2 Marvel Smith Arizona State

3 Kendrick Clancy Mississippi

3 Hank Poteat Pittsburgh

4 Danny Farmer UCLA

5 Clark Haggans Colorado State

5 Tee Martin Tennessee

6 Chris Combs Duke

6 Jason Gavadza Kent State

This was an alright draft... Plax didn't blossom till late and we realize now he was a big knucklehead, glad we chose Ward over him, could have very easily corrupted Ben. Marvel was a great LT and even started as rookie at RT, great 2nd round pick. Clancey was Chris Hoke before Chris Hoke finally beat him out, played well when we needed him to. Poteat was a nice returner and if I remeber actually played in coverage ok, he is still hanging around the league making contributions. I liked Danny Farmer and if we hadn't drafted Edwards the year before he would have stuck with us... He had a great preseason but there was just no room for him. Haggans was a steady unspectacular player, much like Foote... He came to work and did his job, not bad for a 5th rounder the rest of the guys really had no impact. Grade: B
the next qb taken after tee was tom brady in round 6. just think, we coulda kept tom off the patriots bench and he coulda been winning championships for the rhein fire.

[joeyssteelcurtain]

Yea that would of been nice

[revefsreleets]

I'd say pretty good. Sure there have been some busts, but what team doesn't have them. Also, I see we have a nice mix of starters still playing that were drafted, and it's really nice to see that we have some late rounders who really panned out.

[KeiselPower99]

the next qb taken after tee was tom brady in round 6. just think, we coulda kept tom off the patriots bench and he coulda been winning championships for the rhein fire.

Wierd how fate works for everyone. Hell think of it this way he could have beat Kordell and Kent Graham out as a rookie. Im suprised Tee didnt get closer to the field. It is amazing though when you look at all this drafts the amount of non contributers we have. Cowhers last draft I remember being all excited for Jacobs and Humes. That went rally far huh? Trai Essex was a 3rd rounder and never blossumed but guys like Keisel(7th) and Kemoeatu(6th) did. Wow. thanks for posting this. So I think we can all agree we hit on about 50% of our picks.

[tyler289]

Colbert has made the most of his first round picks. You don't see any busts in the 1st round there. Not one is even close.

[Curtain_of_Steel]

i think the guy has done quite well. I bet if not the best of outcomes in the NFL he is in the top 5.
Also you should add undrafted pickups etc.

Parker and Harrison, both probowlers.

[scsteeler]

Colbert in my opinion has been really good at making great picks, And he has nailed it almost every year with the one that counts and that is the #1 pick. I think from 2008 we may see 3 players turn out to be be studs.

[The Definiti0n]

Colbert in my opinion has been really good at making great picks, And he has nailed it almost every year with the one that counts and that is the #1 pick. I think from 2008 we may see 3 players turn out to be be studs.

Yup! Mendy, Sweed, Davis. I still have hope for Mundy.

Dont forget about Timmons, Woodley and Gay in 07

[tyler289]

Timmons, Woodley, and Gay could be his best draft of the last 10 years. Timmons should continue to grow into a stud and Woodley is already an absolute beast. Gay will have his chance at starting and may become our #1 in 2-3 years.

Not to mention Sepulveda and Spaeth. He very well could have 2 pro bowlers (Timmons, Woodley), a #1 CB (Gay), an above average punter (Sepulveda), and a #2 TE (Spaeth).

Can't get much better than that.

[Curtain_of_Steel]

2007 draft could not have been any better. You have 5 starters 3 years later.

Woodley and Timmons just studs.

[fansince'76]

I think Colbert has done a great job. :thumbsup:

[Vincent]

Maybe a little off the draft subject, but inclusive to the overall Colbert story. I think this guy has been a very good fit for the team considering he was brought in to get along with one William Laird Cowher. That in itself earns him high marks in my book. And by all appearances, he has transitioned smoothly to the new administration. More high marks. And the last 2 drafts may turn out to be the best to date.

He has added proportionaly more quality through free agent acquisitions (Batch, Hartings, Farrior, Lefty, Clark, Fox, McHugh, I probably forgot somebody v Mahan), while keeping the core of our own FAs together. AND doing it all "the Steeler way". More high marks.

During the 9 year Colbert administration we have won the division 5 times. Been to 3 AFCCGs, and won 2 SBs. Under 2 coaches.

Colbert is a very low key player. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?id=3913422&section=nfl The Rooneys get all the press, and that's fine.

What's the measure of a GM? To a CEO it is share price. So to Colbert it's what, Lombardis?

[scsteeler]

Yes he was brought in to work more with Cowher and what he wanted in players and I think he is doing the same with Tomlin finding out what the coach needs to be successful.


Can't wait until this years draft.

[OneForTheToe]

Thanks for the post. I think three things demostrate the success of the Colbert era.

Firstly, he hasn't busted with the first a round pick. There have been some that dissapointed, but no busts. That is big when the draft, unlike with Snyder's Skins, is your main source of access to the world class talent level. This is especially important when you are drafting near the end of rounds because you won't have many chances at "sure things."

Secondly, he never get any F's on his drafts . Even his weak drafts find some serviceable players. When you are losing players in free agency, you won't always be able to replace that player with the exact same talent, but by at least finding that serviceable player, the team doesn't fall too far behind in talent and can catch back up with low level free agents, or in the next draft, all the while remaining competative.

Finally, his ability to find the an UDFA gem every couple of years where no one else thought to look. Willie and James impacts on the team, in particular, can hardly be overstated. But even lesser UDFA players like Nate ended up making a contribution.

Of course, he has had mistakes. Being a GM might be akin to being a hitter in baseball. If you are successful a third of the time over your career, you are likely in the Hall. I'd also note that the Steelers don't just say to Kevin,"you are the GM now it's all on you." There is imput from the Rooney's, other FO people and the coaches.

I hope we retain Kevin when his contract is up. He might be more important that James Harrison. If we lose Harrison, Colbert might be able to find a suitble replacement. While I admire "Silverback's" football skills on the field, I question his ability at evaluating GM talent.:chuckle:

[Vincent]

I question his ability at evaluating GM talent.:chuckle:

:rofl: Yes, it is highly suspect.

[Steely McSmash]

..., to have a "successful" draft you want 1 starter and 2 role players. ...

I think you set the bar way too low here. Considering the team builds through the draft and the average career of an NFL player is 4 years (for Steelers more like 7), then you need to be replenishing at a rate of much more than 3 per year. Since we build through the draft and we're successful, we must be good at it.

I would say 5/7 making the team in year 1 makes a draft class good.
if 4/7 are still playing with 2/7 starting in year 3 it's great.

2005, 2007 were great years. I'd still give 04 a C overall.

...,
When you reach for need you get Jamain Stephens instead of Brian Dawkins or Troy Edwards instead of Jevon Kearse.

Not buying this at all. You can look back at the draft and do this all day to prove whatever point you want. Hindsight is 20/20.

The problem is that talent evaluation is about 30% effective. If Stephens, Dawkins, Edwards and Kearse were evaluated with full foresight then I'm sure the duds would not be drafted in the first round. If Tom Brady was drafted in the first round, people would have panned it as a horrible mistake and a a reach etc on draft day. What would they say today?

The problem is with talent evaluation not reaching. In my opinion, this tells you even more so that it's ok to reach a little since your evaluation is approximate anyway and you really can't put sucha fine tip on this stuff on draft day. Since that's the case you should make sure you get more than one guy for a position of need since one might be a bust in the long run.

[GeneralRobinson]

I wish Colbert would mine the lower divisions a little more. Only 3 out of 69 draft picks from !-AA (FCS) or lower:

Willie Colon, Ricardo Coclough, and Ike Taylor

The knock on Colbert has been finding lower round quality. Maybe instead of drafting the middle of the road I-A talent, we could target the higher rated lower division prospects with more success.

[BKAnthem]

I still think the Steelers need better talent on the O line...and i'm praying Colbert realizes that too...

[Steely McSmash]

To be clear, I think Colbert does a great job overall.

One other thing he's good at is managing the FA period to minimize positions of need. We almost never draft a guy and he's going to have to start in year 1.

[steelerdave1969]

I like Colbert and the way he drafts for the Steelers. The guy is always looking to the future with some of the picks and he never goes Too Far Out A Limb taking players at certain positions just because thats what everyone thinks he should do. I bet there is no other GM in the league that has done much better at all considering where the Steelers have pretty much been drafting while he has been calling the shots and I cant believe there is no other team in the league that hasnt tried to lure him away from the Steelers.

[BlastFurnace]

I like his UDFA's better than his picks from rounds 4 through 7.

He's been pretty solid in the 1-3 round range. His #1's really have been good.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I dont think the draft is all on Colbert. So I really dont think he deserves all the credit, nor deserves the blame for :

-Ricardo Colclough instead of Bob Sanders
-Max Starks instead of Travelle Wharton
-Fred Gibson instead of Chris Canty
-Mathias Nkwenti instead of Pork Chop Womak
-Alonzo Jackson instead of Lance Briggs
-Trai Essex instead of Nick Kazur

Its a team effort by the scouting staff and coaching staff.........so they all have to share in the kudos and blame.

[lilyoder6]

I dont think the draft is all on Colbert. So I really dont think he deserves all the credit, nor deserves the blame for :

-Ricardo Colclough instead of Bob Sanders
-Max Starks instead of Travelle Wharton
-Fred Gibson instead of Chris Canty
-Mathias Nkwenti instead of Pork Chop Womak
-Alonzo Jackson instead of Lance Briggs
-Trai Essex instead of Nick Kazur

Its a team effort by the scouting staff and coaching staff.........so they all have to share in the kudos and blame.

i cry b/c of that... i absolutly love bob sanders.. the man is awesome

[BlastFurnace]

I dont think the draft is all on Colbert. So I really dont think he deserves all the credit, nor deserves the blame for :

-Ricardo Colclough instead of Bob Sanders
-Max Starks instead of Travelle Wharton
-Fred Gibson instead of Chris Canty
-Mathias Nkwenti instead of Pork Chop Womak
-Alonzo Jackson instead of Lance Briggs
-Trai Essex instead of Nick Kazur

Its a team effort by the scouting staff and coaching staff.........so they all have to share in the kudos and blame.

You forgot Tee Martin instead of Tom Brady

Honestly though, couldn't every GM make up a list like that?

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

You forgot Tee Martin instead of Tom Brady

Honestly though, couldn't every GM make up a list like that?

True, but the maddening thing is that maybe its just on Steelers boards that I have seen this in the past, but there are a lot of educated Steeler fans that called for many of these guys like :

Chris Canty, Jake Grove, Brandon Jacobs, Bob Sanders, Lance Briggs, Carl Nicks, Tony Ugoh, Floyd Womack, Ben Grubbs........and instead professional football men take chances on guys like Colclough, Jackson, Nkwenti, Essex, Gibson, etc.

The draft is always a gamble, but the guys that do well are the ones that don't bet on the longshots. It is why the Lions will not draft Stafford, but instead will go safe with a lineman. How are Jamarcus Russell and Daren McFadden doing for the raiders? :coffee:

[Galax Steeler]

i cry b/c of that... i absolutly love bob sanders.. the man is awesome

I hate that we missed him also he is one hell of a player.

[FredScott]

Yea we have missed some players over the years but I have complete faith in what we do and always will. Take Parker for example, the guy was not even drafted yet they realized this guy was going to be a star with some mentoring from the Bus as an example. To be honest I'm glad we passed up on Brady cause I'd rather have Big Ben any day. You could probably go on and on about who we should have drafted but as long as we keep winning and brining more super bowls to the berg then I'll be happy non the less.

[WeegiesWarriors]

I didn't like the hire originally. Didn't understand why we would want a guy who studied in the Lions "system" to run our football team. Wow I was off on that one. He must have applied what not to do.

Poor Lions can't catch a break... instead of Kevin Colbert they get a decade of Matt Millen.

[Florida_Steelers_Fan]

i think he's done a fine job, but i would not rate his draft grades as high as the OP. he needs to draft better in rounds 3 and 4...most draft experts say that a great GM is made in those 2 rounds. if you look at the list provided here, this is a failing of colbert.

it doesn't hit you right away, but tends to catch up with you over time because you have to start signing guys (more costly) due to draft failures.

the beauty of this year's draft is that we're basically getting 2 extra picks...meaning: mendenhall and sweed weren't really needed much last year. so adding those 2 players (hopefully mendenhall comes back healthy and sweed is more mentally tough) is like extra picks.

overall, i would give colbert a B- for his drafts. he's hit on many, but his rounds 2-4 must improve due to the way the rooney's manage this team financially. the steelers are aging on the D-line, need depth at CB, and will have 2 starting offensive tackles that will be FA's following the 2010 season...and harrison's contract will be an important negotiation for the future of the defense.

[MasterOfPuppets]

i've posted this before.....


2000 - 2007 ......25 out of 60 picks stuck (contributed).......41.6% .....i guess some may add chucky okolbi, lee mays,kendrick clancy,colclough,and trai essex, but i consider them failures, and have listed only players that didn't totally suck..


rd 1 8 / 8 ..... 100%
timmons
holmes
miller
roethlisberger
polamalu
simmons
hampton
burress

rd2 5 / 7 ..... 71%
woodley
mcfadden
randel el
bell
m. smith

rd3 3 / 8..... 37.5%
spaeth
starks
hope


rd 4 4 / 8 ..... 50%
sepulvada
colon
taylor
foote

rd 5 3 / 10 ..... 30%
gay
haynes
haggans

rd 6 1 / 10 ..... 10%
kemoautu

rd 7 1 / 9 ..... 11%
keisel
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