Armchair GM – v1

THE LOCKOUT! And 2011 Draft Review

The NFL Owners and Player’s Association seem hell-bent on lawyer-ing us out of a 2011 season. Yes, the Lockout is back in effect. What about compromise? I really feel at this time that both Rodger Goodell (Dark Lord Chancellor God-El) and Player’s rep DeMaurice Smith should be relieved of their duties.

They both seem like they’re in way over their heads. God-El can go hug football players on his own time and Smith can go back to doing… doing… well, whatever the hell he was doing before.

I really can’t take the rhetoric from either of them any more. No more lawyers. No more lawsuits. No more appeals.

FIX IT! Or get out of the way and let someone else do it.

Steelers 2011 Draft

I matched the first 3 rounds by position in my Little Big Board. I had OT, CB and DE and the the Steelers went DE, OT and CB. Can I get a witness that maybe I should be like… Kevin Colbert’s Assistant Director of Football Operations??? No…? Head of Scouting? No…? Buehler???

https://www.pittsburgh-blitz.com/blog/2011/04/19/steelers-armchair-gm-nfl-draft-big-board/

After the 3rd Round things went a little screwy. My analysis below:

Rd 1 – Cameron Hayward DE – All of the elite Left Tackles were off the board so this is a solid pick in a position of need. CB Aaron Williams would have been good as well. The Son of Ironhead loves the Steelers and it appears the Steelers Brass love him. He played DE and DT at The Ohio State University. Hayward posted 13.5 TFL and 3.5 sacks in his Senior year. He projects as a 3-4 Defensive End as the Steelers prepare for the post Aaron Smith era. Grade B+

Rd 2 – Marcus Gilbert OT – We couldn’t get Mike for Maurkice so the Steelers select the best available Offensive Tackle and former Pouncey teamate in the versatile Gator Marcus Gilbert. Projected as a Right Tackle, Gilbert has played every position on the line except Center. This pick was essential because RT Willie Colon is coming off Achilles Tendon surgery and will be a free agent. LT Max Starx will be coming back from neck surgery. And they have never been the solution to our offensive line problems anyway. Grade B+

Rd 3 – Curtis Brown CB – The Steelers go to Aaron Williams’ Texas teammate, Curtis Brown. Brown has been a strong cover corner for the Longhorns with 32 career passes broke up (PBU). He has good size at 5’-11 ½ and is a secure tackler. Another position of need. Grade B+

Rd 4 – Cortez Allen CB – Who from where? There is precious little on this small school player from Citadel. The NFL analysts likened him to Ike Taylor. Hey I’ve got news. We’ve already got an Ike Taylor type. His Name is Ike Taylor! Give him the money he wants (free agency) and let’s move on. We really could have used some more O-line help or a safety and there were plenty of good prospects left. Safety Ryan Mundy has never panned out and William Allen is only an average back-up at best. Grade F

Rd 5 – Chris Carter LB – I swear Linebacker value picks are the Steelers version of the ‘Shiny Object’. Harrison, Farrior, Timmons, Woodley, Foote, Fox and Sylvester are not enough? Again O-line, Safety or maybe a Defensive Tackle would have been good at this point. Carter had 38 TFL and 19.5 career sacks but he wasn’t exactly playing against SEC competition at Fresno State. He was projected by most sites as a 3rd Round pick. So maybe… Grade D

Rd 6 – Keith Williams OG – Well, at least we are back to a position of need. This Nebraska lineman has the size at 6’-4 ½, 312 pounds and skills to be an immediate contributor on the O-line. In the film I watched he showed a good anchor and ability to push off the line. His pulling looked solid as did his pass blocking. His work ethic has been questioned, but he could become a starter under the Steelers tutelage. Grade B+

Rd 7 – Baron Batch RB – Auburn’s OT Lee Ziemba was still on the board, but we went with the change of pace back that we also need. The 5-9’-1/2” Batch was a real burner until Achilles and ankle problems. He is still a good burst runner and has good hands out of the backfield. The Giants in the 1st Round get a Prince, we get a Baron in the 7th. Grade C

Overall Draft Grade

Well, averaging all that together I can’t find anything higher than 75% or a C to C+ Grade for this draft. For poor draft selection and not concentrating sufficiently on need, I’ll knock it down. Overall Grade C

Free Agency

Well, there won’t be any until after the Lockout ends. Then…

If the draft is all about potential, college free agency is all about the potential of potential. Some players of interest:

C/G Alex Linnenkohl – Wrestler and tough guy. Under-sized at 6’-2”, 300 lbs.
LB – Mark Herzlich – Cancer survivor, good player with great character.
OG Ray Dominguez – Former TE with good feet. Big as a house at 6’-4, 335 lbs.
OG Zach Hurd – 6’- 6”, can play Guard or Tackle.
OT Rich Lapham – Big (6’-8”) Boston tough guy. Suspect footwork.
OT Carl Johnson – Ginormous (6’-6”, 360 lbs) another Gator to console Maurkice.
OT Josh Davis – Another 6’-6” guy. Good feet. Developmental prospect.
PK Kai Forbath – To bring an end to the Shaun Suisham era?
PK Dan Bailey – See above.
QB – Pat Devlin – Could be a solid game manager. Maybe more.
QB – Scott Tolzien – See above.
RB – Noel Devine – In case Baron Batch doesn’t work out.
RB – Mario Fannin – See Above.
S – Joe Legefed – More DB help and plays Special Teams.
TE – Weslye Saunders – Big (6’-5”), soft hands. Weird name spelling.
TE-WR Schuylar Oordt – Because everyone discovered Robert Housler. More weird name spelling.
WR – Terrance Toliver – The big target Ben craves. (6’-3”) with good hands and leaping ability. Gets knocked by some sites, but all the game footage I’ve seen looks good.

People I am Already Sick of

Cam Newton.

Things to do with While There’s No NFL (other than College Football)

Arena Football League

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kfgKRKjp9w

Canadian Football League

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiHa0puc6F4&NR=1&feature=fvwp

Australian Rules Football

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qh5hNY83UA4&NR=1&feature=fvwp

NFL? What NFL?

Go Stillers!