Grading the Steeler's Draft

1.Maurkice Pouncey C Florida
Grade: 100
GREAT PICK!!!!!! Finally we drafted an offensive lineman in the first round. As I stated in my mock, Pouncey is the perfect fit for our team. He is a center used to picking up complicated SEC blitzes and monstrous nose tackles. Tebow also worked in a mobile pocket, something Ben does 75% of the time. Pouncey will work well in our system, upgrade the interior of our line, and as he is only 20 he will be a starter for the Steelers offensive line for a long time.


2.Jason Worilds OLB/DE Virginia Tech
Grade: 90
Some will say “why a linebacker?” I say “Why not?” It used to be that future linebacker stars for the Steelers would make major impacts on special teams. I can remember James Harrison blocking a punt and running down many returners. I remember Timmons blasting punt returners. Going into the draft, I did not see anyone on our special teams that could take over at any of the four linebacker spots. Drafting solid linebackers with promising futures is a step in the right direction. It will go a long way towards establishing much needed depth in the linebacker corps and reinforcing our special teams’ coverage. Worilds can be that type of linebacker. There is no pressure on Worilds either. If Harrison/Woodley gets hurt Timmons steps in and Foote plays for Timmons. The most he may be asked is to do spot relief pass rushing and that’s a maybe. Worilds can develop into the stellar linebacker that the Steelers demand. PS: Jason…he moves Worlds.

3.Emmanuel Sanders WR SMU
Grade: 85
I like the pick. Sanders is a playmaker who will help the transition to a non Santonio Holmes offense. The only reason for the low grade is that this is really a pick for next year’s draft. With Ward, Wallace, Randle El, Sweed, and Battle the receiver corps is a little crowded. However, a year in Arians system will make Sanders more than ready to take over when one of these receivers leaves. It is a very far reaching pick, but a good one for the Steelers.

4.Thaddeus Gibson OLB/DE Ohio State
Grade: 85
I had given Gibson a much lower rating, until I read the following article:
Why Thaddeus Gibson?
To summarize, Gibson looks to fit in perfectly as a 3-4 OLB. I was in the boat that put Gibson beside Gholston as a potential bust. However, after reading this article I was prompted to do some research on my own. I am sad to say I totally missed his combine stats, they were most impressive. His game tape shows a lot of upside. He knows how to drop into coverage, get off his block and put pressure on a QB quick. However, he is not the greatest tackler in pursuit. Some of the more agile Qbs were able to get away from him. However, where better to learn how to take down a Qb then Pittsburgh? Gibson will be a solid player for the Steelers. I would mark him at 90, but by drafting Gibson we hurt depth at safety and nose tackle.

5.Chris Scott OT Tennessee
Grade: 85
I love seeing an offensive tackle drafted. Even if Scott projects to the right side, he is a welcome addition to a team with lackluster blockers. The big knock against Scott is his recovery against good pass rushers, but that can be taught. Most of the time Scott wins his battle in the trenches and that alone gives him a high grade in my book.

6.Bryant Mcfadden CB Florida State
Grade: 100
Wait…didn’t we do this already? I agreed with the decision of letting McFadden leave via free agency. That was on the understanding that William Gay was ready to be a starting corner…that was maybe a mistake. Gay is solid, but more suited for the nickelback position. McFadden is a solid corner who knows our system. Getting McFadden, who as a rookie stood up to both Reggie Wayne and Marvin Harrison on back to back plays in the playoffs, for a 5th round pick, was a steal. We needed a corner and got a solid, underrated corner.

7.Crezdon Butler CB Clemson
Grade: 70
Butler is a speedy corner. He is good in coverage and has nice ball skills. However, he has a lot to learn about being an NFL corner and will not beat out Ike Taylor, McFadden, Gay, or Burnett/Lewis. However as Gay and Ike may be gone pretty soon, the pick is another future pick and so I like it enough to give it a 70. Plus, he would be a Steeler corner that could catch…that gave him a bonus few points.

8.Stevenson Sylvester LB Utah
Grade: 60
Ok, this was a little ridiculous. A third linebacker? He is not a pass rusher either. Sylvester will be a solid special teamer, but the only chance he has to get on the field in any other capacity is as an eventual replacement for Farrior. However, when that sad day comes, I imagine someone else will be in line. I am not knocking Sylvester’s talent. He a great thumper and is instinctive as all get out. If he does become a replacement to Farrior, then I owe him my sincere apologies, but until then…it will be my opinion that this pick should have been a safety.

9.Jonathan Dwyer RB Georgia Tech
Grade: 95
Phenomenal draft day steal. Dwyer was initially valued at a second round pick. However he fell to us in the sixth! I cannot wait to see him make all of those teams that passed on him pay. He is a powerful runner that easily breaks tackles and is surprisingly quick. He reminds me of Jonathan Stewart, and readers of this blog…all four of you…will know I wanted the Steelers to get him bad. Dwyer will not only help spell Mendenhall, but give us a bruiser who can push the ball in the red zone and end games ala Jerome Bettis. Great pick!

10.Antonio Brown WR Central Michigan
Grade: 65
Not a thrilling pick. He definitely fits the mold that Steelers like to draft as far as wide receivers go. He is a short, speedy playmaker. We have three of those on our team already…to think this could have been Myron Rolle…yet another pick that should have been a safety.

11.Doug Worthington DT Ohio State
Grade: 70
He has nice strength and decent speed. He will probably be a practice squad body to be activated if Aaron Smith goes down again. Not bad value with a 7th round pick though.

12.Byron Leftwich QB Marshall
Grade: 90
Many people, when grading our draft, forget we gave up a 7th for Leftwich. A former first round QB with a solid arm and success in our system is a welcome sight. I have a great deal of faith in Dennis Dixon’s ability to get us through Ben’s suspension, but given the high risk of injury in the NFL, I am much more comfortable having Leftwich hanging around. Especially given that the two games Leftwich stepped in for an injured Ben, we won.

Final Grade: 83

Overall this was a nice draft. It addressed the needs along the offensive line, brought some promising youth/depth to our pass rush, upgraded our special teams coverage, and in Bryant McFadden, solved our cornerback dilemma. However, it also ignored establishing promising depth at safety and at the nose tackle. One of the major reasons our secondary was victimized was poor safety coverage. If Polamalu is healthy, this is really a moot point, but if he gets hurt, either Ryan Mundy or Will Allen will be starting. I hope we at least entertain bringing back Deshea Townsend as a safety for depth. The lack of a safety and drafting for the advanced future made this a B draft, but overall the Steelers got very promising players who should help Pittsburgh remain Championship competitive for a long time.