Steelers 2012 Mock Draft vers 1.0

[devin7558]

Originally Posted by Fire Arians

kendricks is an interesting pick. I think we're gonna go after him if we can't land hightower with the 24th pick.

i prefer glenn in rd 1, we need guard more than anything right now

Glenn is a solid choice but his ability to play both OG and possibly RT in the future adds so much tohis stock after his impressive combine.

i am reallllly high on kendricks, kid can play some ball...

[cbrunn]

Now the first 3 picks would be great , with that said I'm not to sure that any of them would be there with them picks...

martin. tackles are at a premium in this league, i just don't think he falls to us at 24 ... if he did you no doubt select him

The more i watch kendricks the more i love him, I'd rather him over hightower , but again if he falls to our second round that would be an ultimate steal, might reach for him in the first if nobody in the beginning of second round is willing to do a trade

Chapman, i love him also as a NT for the future, but i'm afraid with more teams trying to convert to the 3-4 he might go a lot higher then projected

what ever happened to ILB mario harvey , undrafted free agent from last year, i think if we still have him or if he's not on somebody practice squad , you cut foote and bring him aboard, if anything he can be a great ST player

I'm also high on LB nigel bradham from FSU and OLB bruce irvin from WVU

Moving back from 24 for a extra early second and third i think in this draft is the best thing to do , if you can find a trade...

[devin7558]

i like nigel bradham as well, bruce irvin got arrested the other night so i think he's off the big board for the steelers...

martin could definitely slide, thats the only reason i plug him into our 1st rd slot. his pro day wasnt electric and he was overshadowed by luck, decastro and even chris owusu. scouts are just very quiet about him lately.

i also used a very current big board for all the picks in this mock. i selected most ahead of where they are currently ranked. i believe kendricks may not fall to us is my worry.
i fully expect Chapman to be there in the 3rd

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I think the Kendrick's fascination is mainly a product of the combine. Some say he can cover the pass, but he is much smaller than most TE in the league. The knocks on him are he isn't strong in the run game and at the point of attack, he gets engulfed by O linemen.

So the guy can run sideline to sideline, but doesn't plug the middle well. He can run with TE in the slot, but will get thrown over. I dont think he fits well in a 3-4. Probably a better will LB.

[devin7558]

Im not big on just combine #'s alone. The reason im high on him is he started all 53 games as a true ILB in a zone based 34 defense at Cal in a quality conference and just KILLED the competition. He was the defensive captain for two years, and the pac10 defensive player of the year last season. He earned every bit of it.

I just really dont see it when scout say o-lineman "engulf" him. I must be watching different tape than the rest or something. I think scouts tend to be narrow minded and look at his size on paper and assume bigger OL can handle him on that alone. He rarely if ever allows guards to line him up consistently.

He is at or near the ball on every play and thats a rare skill for LB's these days. To me he looks like the most balanced ILB in this draft by a landslide if youre judging it on an entire skill set.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Originally Posted by devin7558

Im not big on just combine #'s alone. The reason im high on him is he started all 53 games as a true ILB in a zone based 34 defense at Cal in a quality conference and just KILLED the competition. He was the defensive captain for two years, and the pac10 defensive player of the year last season. He earned every bit of it.

I just really dont see it when scout say o-lineman "engulf" him. I must be watching different tape than the rest or something. I think scouts tend to be narrow minded and look at his size on paper and assume bigger OL can handle him on that alone. He rarely if ever allows guards to line him up consistently.

He is at or near the ball on every play and thats a rare skill for LB's these days. To me he looks like the most balanced ILB in this draft by a landslide if youre judging it on an entire skill set.

Did you watch all 53 games or just peel that off some bloggers website?? According to the Official Cal Athletics Website.........he started 29 games-NOT 53 games. He also was a pass rush specialist from the OLB position in 2010.
http://www.calbears.com/sports/m-foo..._mychal00.html

As for being Pac 10 player of the year.......check out Larry Foote's bio. I am sure he was the BIG 10 DPOY his senior year at Michigan, so what does that really equate to in the NFL??

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

In 2011, Kendricks had 107 tackles with 14.5 tackles for a loss, three sacks, two passes broken up and two interceptions. He increased his tackle total dramatically from 2010, but his sack production was nowhere near the same level as he moved to inside linebacker as a senior after being an outside linebacker in 2010. In the NFL, Kendricks should play on the outside as he is undersized to be a middle linebacker.

8/23/11: Mychal Kendricks broke out last season as a rush linebacker for California. He recorded 8.5 sacks with 15 tackles for a loss and 66 tackles. Kendricks could use some more size to play outside linebacker in a NFL 3-4 defense, but has quality blitzing kills and if he has another quality season, should solidify his mid-round status.
http://walterfootball.com/draft2012OLB.php

Most scouting reports on Kendricks prior to the Feb 27th combine performance had him as a mid rounder, but after an impressive 40 time and vertical....he is flavor of the month 2nd rounder.

[devin7558]

my bad, he officially "started" 29 games but played in every game from day one on campus
my point with that is that he played and produced and was durable. he wasnt a 1 year wonder
and he improved every season he was there. and 107 tackles in college is a hefty total.

I did watch the tape of him. (mostly top conference opponents like USC, Stanford, Oregon) and he was all over the field. the only player i ever saw "engulf" him was David DeCastro from Stanford and it was rare. Against USC on one play he rushed the passer and blasted matt kalil backward off the ball into the pocket only to have the ball dumped by the QB to the flat. he disengaged from kalil and chased the RB down from behind...the result was like a 2yd gain.

i do see your point with the dpoy not equating to being a stud at the nfl level but it doesnt hurt the chances either...

[MasterOfPuppets]

ronnell lewis looks interesting...

Ronnell Lewis*, OLB, Oklahoma
Height: 6-2. Weight: 253.
40 Time: 4.69. (ran a 4.65 at pro day) 10-Yd Split: 1.65.
Bench: 36. (holy shit)
Vertical: 31. Broad: 9-4.
Arm: 32 1/2.
Projected Round (2012): 1-2.
3/20/12: Lewis did very well at the Combine, showing serious strength, speed and explosion. Also teams were impressed with how well he interviewed and explained his time in Norman.

Lewis played really very well in 2011, and he excelled at defensive end. His ability to rush the passer off the edge, while playing the run well, illustrates that Lewis could be a good 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. He could fit as an inside linebacker in the 3-4 as well.

In 2011, Lewis only played in 10 games, yet the junior had good production. he totaled 59 tackles with 13 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks, five passes batted, one forced fumble and one interception. Against Texas A&M, the team with the best pair of offensive tackles Lewis faced all season, he had a good game with eight tackles, two tackles for a loss, one interception, one pass batted away and some good pass pressure. Lewis also outplayed the Seminoles and their offensive tackles, Andrew Datko and Zebrie Sanders.

Academic issues made Lewis ineligible for Oklahoma's bowl battle against Iowa. He is a phenomenal athlete who has speed to burn and is built like a truck. On the field, Lewis is an intimidating force who plays with a mean streak. He is an underrated prospect who could be a pick that many teams eventually regret passing on.
http://walterfootball.com/draft2012OLB3-4.php

After upping his 40 time, Lewis looked fast and smooth in position drills, running with tight ends, pivoting with the ball in the air and even snaring interceptions. He looked not unlike that free safety back in eight-man football.

[Dalarin]

Originally Posted by MasterOfPuppets

the ONLY way the steelers would draft a tackle that high is if they planned to move colon to guard.

Anyone who knows Colon's history has been asking for that for years