Well, the Patriots defeated
the Rams in
a less than thrilling Super Bowl,
and all 32 teams are now in the business of building for the 2019-2020 season.
With NFL Draft season
now in full effect, I took a pool of questions from my emails and will answer
them here.
There will be one posted every Wednesday in the emails
section, so if you would like to ask me some questions, check that out every
Wednesday.
Let’s get to the questions.....
(Q) Pre-combine, obviously, but do you have any one that
you’d consider is off the radar that could be a viable option for Pittsburgh?
(Regardless of round
(A) Watch out,
especially in Round 2, for Lonnie Johnson from Kentucky. He is a CB that really
had a strong senior bowl and
showed great press coverage that you love to see. He has picked up some real
buzz around the league, and he has the ideal length and playing style for
the Steelers to nab him in Round 2, and it is not a bad thing either.
(Q) Who would you say is ILB #2 at this point behind
Devin White? Testing is obviously important, but based on tape.
(A) What if I
told you Devin White was LB2? Yeah, it’s crazy, but I have serious concerns
about his processing and tackling concerns. I like Mack Wilson a heck of a lot
more. He is not as athletic as White, but he is still above league average
athleticism wise. The dude is an elite coverage LB and while he does have some
issues, I think that he is more pro ready as well. White has the highest
ceiling of any ILB in the draft, but Wilson has a pretty high floor and
ceiling.
(Q) The Steelers have already talked to 2 TEs, is that a
target? Who would look good, to you, in Black & Gold?
(A) Texas State
TE Keenan Brown is my guy. He is a complete TE that will be able to block and
run routes out of the in-line spot at the next level. He moves surprisingly
well, but he is a former WR, so it is to be expected. Dude has high upside, so
I think he is a great candidate to get.
(Q) HAVE YOU WATCHED TRAYVEON WILLIAMS? DO YOU SEE RB AS
A NEED IN THE DRAFT?
(A) I think we
need a late RB to not have a repeat of Stevan Ridley, yes. Trayveon
Williams is a pretty good scat back who gives it his all in pass protection
that is for sure. He is the type of RB I would want. A quicker, dynamic type of
RB that can break a game open. Darwin Thompson is another notable name that
fits that mold. Thompson reminds me a ton of Tarik Cohen, so that
should interest us.
(Q) The Steelers are really good at finding WR value late
in the draft. Any guys that catch your eye? My favorite so far is Anthony
Ratliff-Williams, have you had a chance to look at him yet?
(A) Ratliff-Williams
is a good one. Fantastic at the catch point and a great YAC guy. Raw in his
routes but his tree is diverse, so the transition should be easier than it was
for a guy like James Washington. My guy for the Steelers would be Keesean
Johnson or DaMarkus Lodge. Both are 3rd-4th round guys who will far outplay
their capital. They are deep threats but can also work on the intermediate
plane and make something out of nothing. They would be great picks.
(Q) Is DL a need? If Gary or Wilkins is there at 1.20 are
they an option? Do you have any late round guys you like?
(A) It is a need,
but it is not a Round 1 need unless a guy like Ed Oliver is there. Wait for
later in the draft and get a guy like Daylon Mack or Khalen Saunders. Those
would be terrific value picks.
(Q) How do Devin Bush and Mack Wilson stack up against
each other?
(A) Both are
great players and should be on the Steelers’ radar for a round one pick. Bush
would be a slight reach, but for the need, and for what the player will be in
the future, it is a fine pick. Both of these are high IQ LBs that process
especially well. They can shoot gaps and disrupt plays rather easily. The big
difference is that Bush is much rawer at coverage than Wilson is. Wilson might
be the best coverage ILB in the draft, so he is incredibly alluring. Bush and
Wilson both have some block shedding issues and need to fill out their frames,
but they sift through the trash well. Both are good prospects, but the coverage
aspect is a big separation.
(Q) How far did Terrill Hanks climb up boards after the
Senior Bowl?
(A) Hanks won
himself a lot of fans that week. His processing looked raw on tape, but at the
Senior Bowl, he looked instinctive and sharp. He was a flying missile the
entire time while he was out there. He climbed up 2 rounds likely just from
that and showed off legitimate 4.4 speed. He is a former Safety, so it is to be
expected, but he was amazing in coverage. I think he is this year’s Fred
Warner. I want him on the Steelers badly.
(Q) Who do the Steelers go for at CB if they pass one up
in Round 1?
(A) The Steelers
should be looking right at Rock Ya-Sin. He is a bit raw, but he is more than
ready enough to play right now. He is that long press-man CB that the Steelers
will want and need. Dude is crazy feisty too, I love it. Hamp Cheevers is
another really underrated option. He reminds me a ton of Falcons CB
Robert Alford. He will be a good #2 because he is just so smart at mirroring
receivers. The guy never gets burnt. He is a great 3rd round option.
(Q) What’s your take on Wes Hills?
(A) He is wiry
that is for sure, but I like the kid. He put that Slippery Rock team on his
back this year, and while he was at Delaware he flat out was a beast. He has
better hands than people are telling you right now, too. I think he is a pretty
complete back aside from his pass protection, but he has a great frame to learn
how to do that with. Great contact balance and big play ability makes me
extremely interested in him.
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