Recent history says B. Albert is the pick?
 

i know this is a simplistic look, but hear me out.

the steelers are rarely in position to draft the #1 rated qb, rb, cb, ot cause they are always drafting mid to late round. i dont think they will take the 3rd highest rated cb or de with #23 pick.

recent history says if they are drafting late, they like to take the highest ranked (best) player at their respective position (and not afraid to move up to do so).

s. holmes - 1st wr off the board
t. polamalu - 1st safety off the board
h. miller - 1st te off the board
even d. sepulveda was the best (and 1st) punter taken

it helps explain why they felt compelled to take spaeth with a 3rd round pick if they felt he was the #1 or #2 te on their board.

faneca was the 2nd guard taken in the draft. looking at the scrub taken before him, i have to assume faneca was the #1 guard on their board.

just like plaxico burress. being that the bungles took peter warrick before him (#4), we have to assume the steelers thought of plex as the best wr in the draft. (unfortunately they passed on the #1 lb - urlacher).

casey hampton was the 4th dt chosen in a year the steelers coveted marcus stroud, however he was the #1 pure nose tackle.

we really dont know if big ben was the 2, or 3 qb in the steelers eyes. all we knew is he was too much value to pass up. but what if the browns or cardinals had selected him? we wouldve taken the #1 running back off the board (k. jones or s. jackson) or more likely the #1 ot (s. andrews). r. gallery was chosen before him but that it was by the raiders tells me andrews was #1 in the steelers eyes (see p. warrick).

and what happens when we reach for the 3rd or 4th best (highest ranked) player at their respective position with a high pick? we end up with t. edwards, r. colclough, or a. jackson.

therefore i cant see the steelers spending the #23 pick on the third best wr, ot, or wr if the consensus #1 guard is sitting there staring them in the face. we may even swap picks with dallas to do it.

Re: Recent history says B. Albert is the pick?
 

Nice read tony what could have been if we would have taken urlacher.

Re: Recent history says B. Albert is the pick?
 

Excellent stats Tony!!!!

Sepulveda was the 2nd punter taken ..after Podlesh...but that takes nothing away from your point since Sepulveda was ranked as the #1 punter on virtually everyones board.

The closer I get to the draft I have to agree that we will take Albert if he is there...but I am thinking that the "big three" OT's will be gone by #15..and I worry that Albert may be gone by #23...if not...I think you are right on the money!

Re: Recent history says B. Albert is the pick?
 

you done your homework, but the steelers took the 3rd best qb, Roetlisberger when they could of had the # 1 LB in johnathan vilma or we even could of had Steven Jackson.... good information though..you do make a point

Re: Recent history says B. Albert is the pick?
 

a simple rule of thumb, especially if its an area of need, is that you do not pass on a franchise qb. we learned that passing on marino.

there is no such thing as franchise LB or franchise RB. not only was ben a "need" pick, but he was probably the best player remaining on many boards at 11. but i did note how ben was one of the rare exceptions that worked recently, and the steelers probably woulda taken the #1 OT or RB had he been gone.

Re: Recent history says B. Albert is the pick?
 

Sounds like there can really only be three possible options using that rational Tony.

OG Albert
ILB Connor
FS Phillips (trade down if he is the only one left??)

I like Albert and feel he is the logical choice and definetely would take Connor if he was the second option. Not entirely sold on Phillips.

Good Stats.

Re: Recent history says B. Albert is the pick?
 

Tony... amazing point. I never thought about that until I saw it written down. Thats really put in to perspectivw why teams often draft the best players available rather than a subpar rated pick to fill a need.

Re: Recent history says B. Albert is the pick?
 

Well lets hope he's still there, great thinking Tony keep it up.

Re: Recent history says B. Albert is the pick?
 

just to hammer this point home, i bet sweed and rashard were atleast the 2nd highest ranked player (at their respective position) on the steelers board.

kinda glad to see them not reach for the 7th best lineman in the draft.

Re: Recent history says B. Albert is the pick?
 

From what I have read and heard, Sweed may have been the #1 WR on the Steelers draft board.