I’ll begin with the offensive tackle possibilites. Russell Okung, Bruce Campbell, Anthony Davis and Bryan Bulaga will all be gone by Pittsburgh’s draft selection. If the 49ers pass on offensive tackle with one of their two first round selections. Trent Williams the right tackle currently projected to get drafted by San Francisco. There is a strong possibility the Steelers select Trent Williams with the 18th pick. If all five of the offensive tackles that I mentioned above are drafted. There is a chance Pittsburgh trades down to keep the Packers from obtaining OT Charles Brown from USC who has excellent footwork, but struggles to maintain contact with defenders on blocks, if Brown can improve in that category he could very well end up being the best offensive tackle in this draft class. I wouldn’t count this possibility out, but I don’t think this scenario is very likely.
Now it’s time for Offensive Guards. Mike Iupati is the best guard in this draft class and also he’s the most likely player to get selected by the Steelers. Unless Iupati screws up at the combine this scenario has a strong chance of going down if he’s available at Pittsburgh’s draft selection.
There are two centers in this draft class Trent Williams is an offensive tackle who can play center and there’s Florida’s Maurkice Pouncey who is the top center prospect in this class. The only way this scenario happens is if Pittsburgh trades down and fails to get Brown. Then they would trade down again to get Pouncey and would have more picks later in the draft. I think this the least likely scenario to occur. Also if Terrrence Cody is available when the Steelers trade down the possiblity of Pouncey getting selected is eliminated. So the only way this works is if the Steelers trade down twice and Terrence Cody is drafted. The Steelers cut AQ Shipley last years 7th round draft selection at center so this could happen, odds are slim to none though.
There are two defensive tackles in this class Dan Williams and Terrence Cody. The Steelers could easily draft either one as a successor to Casey Hampton. I don’t think this is a strong possibility unless the Steelers fail to put a franchise tag on Casey Hampton. If Dan Williams is available at Pittsburgh’s selection the Steelers will draft him. And I mentioned the Terrence Cody scenario before. So I’d say this scenario doesn’t happen. Ziggy Hood played defensive end in a 4-3 scheme at Missouri so he needs to develop at DE in the 3-4 scheme in Pittsburgh.
Next up is the middle linebacker scenario. This could very well happen. The Jaguars are currently projected to draft Defensive End Derrick Morgan at #10, but they drafted Derrick Harvey at #8 in 2008 and Quentin Groves in the 2nd round of the 2008 NFL Draft. In 2009 the Jaguars took two offensive tackles in the first two rounds. The Jaguars have to take Tebow to increase their ticket sales. I don’t think the Jaguars should use their first round selection on him, but if they get a 3rd round selection from Pittsburgh and the two teams swap first round selections. I could see the Jaguars setting themselves up to get Tebow in the second round and I could also see the Steelers drafting Rolando McClain as a successor to James Farrior. I know they took Timmons in 2007, but Keyaron Fox isn’t a solid #2 MLB. The Steelers need four middle linebackers on their depth chart since they run the 3-4 defense but currently only got three middle linebackers at the moment. If the Steelers don’t adress middle linebacker in round 1 look for Pittsburgh to select a middle linebacker like Daryl Washington of TCU or Brandon Spikes who played college at Florida in round 2.
People say the Steelers need to improve in cornerbacks. I don’t think the Steelers should pursue a corner in the first round for a number of reasons. The first reason is the Steelers drafted Keenan Lewis and Joe Burnett in the 2009 NFL Draft. The second reason is their are a lot of good corners available in round 2 Brandon Ghee, Kyle Wilson, Patrick Peterson, Javier Arenas, and Kareem Jackson in round 2. Unless the Browns pass on Joe Haden I don’t think the Steelers take a corner in the first round. If the Browns pass on Haden I believe they must trade up as high as possible to draft him. Oakland might want him to play across Asomugha cause of his 40 time. Jacksonville might want Haden to play across Mathis. So if the Browns pass on Haden trade up to as high as #8 to take him. Plus the Steelers aren’t the type of football team to pay top 10 money to an unproven talent unless they have one of the 10 worst records in the NFL so I don’t see this scenario working out.
Final scenario is the Free Safety scenario. Texas free safety Earl Thomas should be available at #18 when Pittsburgh makes their first round selection, this selection won’t happen if the Steelers resign Ryan Clark and something tells me Clark is coming back to Pittsburgh.
My prediction at this point is that Steelers select Mike Iupati. Just remember come draft day and one of the scenarios I mentioned occurs don’t be shocked. Just remember I was the guy who told you it would occur two months prior to the draft.
About the Author Jim McMillen
The Editor & Chief, the brains so to say, behind Pittsburgh Blitz. Jim is a rabid sports fan who just loves his Stillers, Pens and Buccos. Feel free to contact us at steelerguy26[@]yahoo.com if you have any questions or comments or would like to join our staff and write for Pittsburgh Blitz.
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