Steelers Lounge 2011 NFL Draft Discussion Thread

Posted on April 27, 2011 by ryan

Use this thread to talk about and keep up with  – you guessed it — the 2011 NFL Draft…

Ted will be posting for three straight days, prior to, during, and after each Steelers selection. Because that’s how he rolls.

Links you should click:

‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
Steelers Right to Take Heyward, Must Go CB Next
Steelers Lounge Podcast: Cam Heyward Edition
Steelers Lounge Steelers Mock Draft, Version 6
Steelers’ 7-Round 2011 Draft Value Board
Yahoo’s Doug Farrar Talks NFL Draft
Steelers Pre-Draft Player Visits
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Also feel free to relive the magic of our first-round live chat below…

Other links you should click:

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Steelers Lounge Steelers Mock Draft, Version 5
Steelers Lounge Steelers Mock Draft, Version 4
Steelers Lounge Steelers Mock Draft, Version 3
Steelers Lounge Steelers Mock Draft, Version 2
Steelers Lounge Steelers Mock Draft, Version 1
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Related posts:

  1. SL Discussion Thread for Week of April 18
  2. Steelers Lounge Podcast #43.1: Doug Farrar Talks NFL Draft
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers’ 7-Round 2011 Draft Value Board
  4. SL Discussion Thread for Week of Feb. 21
  5. 2011 Pittsburgh Steelers Mock Draft, Version 5
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  • http://www.steelerslounge.com/ ryan

    This is what I think the Steelers will do:

    Trade picks 2-7, and next year’s 1st to move up to 15th to select Mike Pouncey

    1st round: Brandon Harris
    2nd round: Orlando Franklin
    3rd round: Jurrell Casey
    4th round: Vincent Brown

    I have very little confidence in any of these picks.

    • JJ Cooper

      If we got this draft, I’d be very happy.

    • Ted

      I hate Franklin, but he would be a good value pick at this spot. Despite that one link you posted the other day, most see Casey as a 4-3 NT. He simply is not big or strong enough to play in the 3-4. Jones and Brown would be super value picks at those spots, although I am afraid they are both gone at those spots. I know we brought him in, but I cannot see us taking Saunders. He has a tremendous attitude, and is dumb and lazy. Plus, Spaeth will likely be back, so we do not need an in-line blocking TE.

      • Ted

        meant Saunders has a horrible attitude.

  • David

    I don’t know about 2-7, but I agree with Ryan that we’ll take Harris in the 1st.

    BTW, Yahoo Sports is reporting that we are trying to trade up to get Pouncey:

    http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/rumors/post/Steelers-pouncing-on-Pouncey-s-brother-?urn=nfl-348347

    • http://www.steelerslounge.com/ ryan

      That report is from NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora. We talked about it on the podcast today and the consensus was that it doesn’t sound likely.

      I wrote about this on the SL Community forums and I’ll repost that here:

      “[On the podcast we] agreed that if Pouncey was around at 1.31 (he won’t be), the Steelers should take him. None of us were in favor of giving up a third-rounder to move up to, say, 25th or so to draft Mike, though.

      At the time of La Canfora’s report, Bouchette and Wex were dubious, although Wex has since backed off. I still don’t see it happening. Two years ago, La Canfora said the Steelers were thinking about cutting Hampton. Of course now La Canfora says he “never reported it,” although he sure as hell put it out to the public.

      Shorter story: I don’t think he has reliable sources when it comes to the Steelers.

      [That said,] if Mike Pouncey is 85 percent of Maurkice, he’s a huge upgrade to the o-line. Given the Steelers’ other needs — namely CB and maybe DL — I just can’t fathom giving up a third-rounder to get him. Fifth-rounder? Fine. That said, if Pittsburgh does part with a third-round pick, you can be sure of one thing: they’re re-signing Ike.”

  • Austin Jackson

    Round 1 (31): Aaron Williams
    Round 2 (63): Curtis Brown
    Round 3 (95): Lee Ziemba
    Round 4 (128): James Brewer
    Round 5 (162): Sione Fua
    Round 6 (196): Alex Henery
    Round 7 (232): Frank Kearse

    Double dip in CB in the 1st and 2nd round similar to 2007 with OLB. Aaron williams will eventually move to FS after Ryan Clark is done. Curtis Brown will be an Ike-lite shutdown Steelers type of cover corner. Then Offensive line, Ziemba will be a good RT/RG prospect, while Brewer is talked about in a similar manner that Roger Saffold was last year but not as highly regarded. Sione Fua will eventually replace Casey Hampton. Henery will be a good kicker prospect. Kearse is a developmental prospect, like Worthington was last year. Not a high probability for making the team. All these players should be on the board at the picks designated.

    • Austin Jackson

      As a follow up, Steelers will allow Willie Gay, Tony Hills, Keyaron Fox, Chris Hoke, and Mewelde Moore leave in Free agency. Limas Sweed will be cut. Dwyer will be elevated to 3rd down back and Redman for short yardage. It’s likely also that Batch retires and Kapinos is gone. If these things happen, our lineup will be pretty solid.

      • Ted

        Unless a new CBA is reached, Gay is a RFA who the Steelers already tendered. He fits well in the nickel and dime, and can be a gunner on punts. No way we release him. If a new CBA is reached and we get Ike back, then we let him leave. Dwyer is not a receiving back at all. I agree about the rest.

    • http://www.steelerslounge.com/ ryan

      I like your picks a lot more than mine.

      • Austin Jackson

        Here’s hoping that it turns out. It would leave the team a little heavy on Lineman, but that’s alright with Colon moving inside to the RG slot which would leave Ramon Foster and Trai Essex as swing guards. CB is another heavy position after this draft, but letting Madison and Gay go will open up those slots, leaving the Depth Chart to read: Taylor, Williams, Brown, Butler, Lewis. Maybe they hold on to Madison as a special teams standout, but hopefully not as a Dime back anymore.

        • Austin Jackson

          Forgot BMac, He’d be between Williams and Brown, maybe even after Brown.

    • Ted

      I like this draft and your focus, but I don’t think we need two offensive linemen and highly doubt Brewer will last until the end of the fourth. I would rather have a 3-4 end to add youth and replace Eason at that spot. Otherwise, I love it, although I doubt Henery lasts that long as well.

  • Anonymous

    My guess at the Steelers picks. I may be a bit optimistic here, and I would probably be surprised to get any at all correct. I would definitely be surprised to get more than one right.
    Round 1 (31): Derek Sherrod
    Round 2 (63): Ras-I Dowling
    Round 3 (95): Lance Kendricks
    Round 4 (128): Marcus Cannon
    Round 5 (162): Sione Fua
    Round 6 (196): Deunta Williams
    Round 7 (232): John Skelton

    • Ted

      I don’t like Dowling, but like this mock minus the seventh round. It makes no sense. Even if a CBA is reached that grants FA to fourth and fifth year players, DIxon is still a RFA. Heck, the Steelers may have him for three more years if we continue to operate under 2010 rules without a cap and it took four years to reach a new CBA the last time the players won in court. Absolutley not reason to take a QB in this class. Otherwise, your position needs are right on.

      • Anonymous

        Good point about Dixon. Somehow it slipped my mind that Dixon would be restricted. In that place I’ll replace John Skelton, QB with Cortez Allen, CB. Allen would be more useful, but I doubt he falls so far.

  • EasyLikeSundayMorning

    This is the test of whether a monkey throwing feces at a bullseye can be as accurate as the experts. Yes, I’m the monkey.

    1. Cameron Heyward or Derek Sherrod
    2. James Carpenter or Ben Ijalana
    3. Curtis Brown or Curtis Marsh
    4. Buster Skrine or Johnny Patrick
    5. Austin Pettis or Vincent Brown
    6. Dion Lewis or Da’Rel Scott 
    7. Weslye Saunders or Jarriel King 

    For names alone, it would be fun to have Chimidi Chekwa, Buster Skrine or Jacquizz Rodgers.

    Lastly, will we avoid Lloyd (Greg Jr)?

    • Ted

      That would be a dream draft, because so many guys would have to fall. First round makes sense. Unfortunately, Carpenter has moved way up and will not be there at the end of round 2, but Ijalana might. No chance Brown falls to the end of round 3 and it’s probably 50/50 at best that he is there for us in round 2. Marsh, though, should be on the board at the end of round 3. Patrick goes 2nd or early 3rd round. Skrine might be there, though. Both of those fifth-round WRs will go earlier. Brown goes third or fourth round now (his stock has been rising). Lewis will fall, but I don’t know if he goes that far. He might.

  • Ted

    Screw trading up for Pouncey, if Price Amakumura really falls into the late teens or 20s as Kiper and McShay now project (although I still have a hard time believing this), then this is the guy we need to trade a lot to go up and get. Although I almost never say this, I might actually consider trading my first and second to move up to the get the Prince.

    • http://www.steelerslounge.com/ ryan

      I completely agree. If the Steelers are trading up, it should be for a CB like Amukamara, not a guard, even one named Pouncey.

    • http://www.steelerslounge.com/ ryan

      I completely agree. If the Steelers are trading up, it should be for a CB like Amukamara, not a guard, even one named Pouncey.

      • ROb D

        THis should be engraved on a wall.

      • Anonymous

        Consider how much the Steelers would have to give up to move to 20 for Pouncey. If he was guaranteed to have the career of Alan Faneca in terms of talent, productivity, and longevity… maybe. But only maybe, and that’s pretty much a best case scenario

    • http://www.steelerslounge.com/ ryan

      I completely agree. If the Steelers are trading up, it should be for a CB like Amukamara, not a guard, even one named Pouncey.

  • http://www.google.com/profiles/100857546184516732260 Dr Obvious

    Question for the class: With the diagnosis of non-h lymphoma, but otherwise a lot of talent, where would you want the the Steelers to take Canon? If he recovers, he’s got the potential to be an above average starter for a long time.

    I’d say fourth round, because thats where the picks really seem to turn into crap shoots, and I wouldn’t even mind if it was an early fourth picked up from a trade to get out of the first.

    • Ted

      I thought about that last night. Mayock says he will fall to the fourth. We could certainly afford to IR him as a rookie, but I would not take him in the late third. I doubt he lasts until the late fourth, but if he does why not?

      • http://www.google.com/profiles/100857546184516732260 Dr Obvious

        Plus, isn’t Rocky Bleier announcing the third day picks for the Steelers? That would be a pretty cool scene.

  • Grw1960

    My first 3 rounds call me crazy mock draft.
    1 – DT Muhammad Wilkerson
    2 – CB Curtis Brown – I am hoping enough players at other positions get picked & drop him to the Steelers.
    3 -Possibly traded away to get Wilkerson at pick 25.

    • Ted

      I would probably throw things at the TV if we traded up to get Jeremy Staat part two, while ignoring CB and OL in the first round.

  • David

    Easy, you crack me up, man.

    Random draft thoughts (questions):

    1. Why would CAR pick Cam Newton? Does Jarmarcus Russell ring any bells?

    2. Why is the major knock on Brandon Harris his size? He is 5’10″ and all the others rated higher are 6’0″–are 2 inches that big a difference?

    3. Mark it down: the Cowgirls will pick Pouncey at #9

    Other thought: my new team to hate is the Packers. Any thoughts on names? Whackers? Cheese-turds?

  • max

    1. Brandon Harris, CB
    2. Curtis Brown, CB
    3. Jah Reid, OT
    4. Akeem Dent, ILB
    5. Sione Fua, DT
    6. Zach Hurd, G
    7. David Carter, DE

  • Mike L

    My draft follows Ted’s D option of trading down with an extra trade. Option D has the Steelers trading down into the 2nd with Arizona for the 38th and 104th picks.
    (38) B Harris CB We need a cover guy if we lose Ike, I cannot imagine having B-Mac and Aaron Williams as our starters.
    (62) C Chewka CB I prefer Chewka over Gilchrist. With our first two picks we have quickness and speed in the secondary.
    TRADE- picks 104 and 128 to Pats for pick 92. Yes, the Pats have a million picks but every year they trade for future picks and they always find desperate teams
    (92) Taiwan Jones RB or DJ Williams TE Either pick contributes in some way this year.
    (95) Brewer OT Can play RT can play LT? injury history but at worst a good swing guy to replace Scott.
    5th rd Mario Harvey LB He does not make it to picks 6 or 7 so we take him now.
    6th rd Schuylar Oordt TE or Dion Lewis RB depending on who we took in the 3rd round.
    7th rd Dan Bailey K or Kris Durham WR I talked about both of these sleepers in an earlier post.

    • Ted

      I’d take that draft, although I am not as high on Chekwa. He is a lot like Gilchrest except he is not considered as good a coverage guy and he does not have experience at FS like Gilchrest. Still, he tested really well despite a late injury and looked pretty good against Ark. in the Sugar Bowl. I just would not take him until the end of the third round.

      Tough to call on where ILBs on day three fall, but I could see Harvey going earlier than the sixth due to his pro day. The again, he’s a 5-11 ILB and half the teams still play a 4-3. I would take Lewis in the sixth and Durham in the seventh, but where is the roster spot for Durham. He cannot play STs, so I doubt he beat out Battle. Suisham is better than Bailey. Either get Henery or no kickers please. Still, I would be happy with this daft and very excited about Jones. It addresses our biggest needs, but don’t we need to get at least one defesnive linemen for depth, youth, and to take advantage of the strength of this draft?

  • David

    You know what? I think we’re gonna draft Williams, then sell most of the farm and pick Harris high in the 2nd.

    Just a feeling.

  • David

    Hee hee, or we’ill move up and get Jimmy Smith, thus sticking one to the Raisins.

  • Dean Keaton

    Anyone have access to the pay part of the Dallas Morning News? Rick Gosselin’s final mock is up, and I’m curious to see who he projects for the Steelers.

    • http://www.steelerslounge.com/ ryan

      I don’t — and I haven’t heard about who he likes for the Steelers. But Peter King talks about many of the other picks here.

      More than that, it just shows how dumb, in general, newspaper pay walls are. People have been talking about — and leaking — most of Gosselin’s picks all day. So where’s the value in that for DFW readers? But it’s not like newspapers have any idea what they’re doing.

      /bitter

      • Dean Keaton

        I’ll bet it’s gotten more than a few subscribers just today alone for the Dallas Morning News. Of course most of those are probably going to cancel after one month.

    • Gretz

      He has them taking Cameron Heyward.

    • Ted

      Many of the country’s most abused illicit drugs are prevalent in Dallas and Gosselin must have been on all of them when he starting doing this draft. Can’t post it all, but he has five (Yes 5) QBs going in the top 12 (all but Mallett of the bix six). He has us taking Heyward with Sherrod going right before us and A. Williams right after us. That part of the draft sounds logical. Putting Amukamara at 25 and Watt at 26 is not. If the Prince makes it past the Lions at 13, we need to offer our first and second to every team that is up to move up until he is on our roster or off the board. No way he gets to 25, but if he did and we did not trade up it would be insanely dumb. This guy would be the perfect Steelers corner in every facet.

      • Dean Keaton

        If he has Amukamara going at 25 to the Dolphins, it’s possible he thinks the Dolphins will trade up to get him. I can’t see the article, as mentioned before, but from years past I remember he pairs player up with team at the team’s first pick based upon inside info from the organizations themselves, and doesn’t call out when trades up/down happen.

  • Gretz

    For me it’s come down to this: I don’t care what position they take, just so they get younger on defense. DL, LB, CB, S … we need some youth on D.

    • Ted

      If we take a LB in the first round, I will check myself into Belleview. LeBeau better than run a 3-6-2.

      • Gretz

        I’m not talking just first round, I’m talking entire draft.

  • Anonymous

    Okay. The NFL has me. I’m a sucker. I also don’t have cable. Any place online I can watch a live video stream of the draft?

    • http://www.steelerslounge.com/ ryan

      Intropy,

      First: I hope you’re joining us for the SL Live Chat (starts promptly at 8PM EST!). Second, you can toggle our live chat with NFL.com, which will air the draft live online here.

  • EasyLikeSundayMorning

    Suggested nickname for Amukamara: TAFKAP. Either that or just The Artist.

  • EasyLikeSundayMorning

    Sammy Haggar singing Right Now is ironic.

  • EasyLikeSundayMorning

    Both BPA and TBC (third best Cameron)

  • David

    Man, did you see how fast we got our pick in? Colbert & Co. must not have thought he’d last that long.

  • Dean Keaton

    I can never get enough of the old Ironhead Heyward Zest commercial, and can only hope that his son is somehow able to do a remake of it.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPFgKa6qSGE

  • David

    Repeat after me: Trade up to get Harris. Trade up to get Harris.

  • Anonymous

    So what do you think the second road board looks like? Here would be mine:
    Aaron WIlliams
    Brandon Harris
    Ras-I Dowling
    Curtis Brown
    Benjamin Ijalana
    Rahim Moore
    Kyle Rudolph
    Steven Paea
    Davon House
    Chimdi Chekwa
    Marcus Gilchrist
    Akeem Ayers
    Orlando Franklin

    I don’t think Williams or Harris are real shots. There’s a chance Dowling falls, so that’s my hope.

  • http://www.steelerslounge.com/ ryan

    David,

    Via Wex, guys like Gosselin and Zierlein think Harris might fall to the Steelers at the bottom of the second round.

  • Anonymous

    Is there going to be a new thread/chat for rounds 2 and 3 or this one again?

  • http://www.steelerslounge.com/ ryan

    Yeah, I can fire up a new thread for Rounds 2, 3.

  • http://www.steelerslounge.com/ ryan

    ATTENTION PEOPLE OF EARTH: there’s a new discussion thread for Rounds 2 and 3. Please use it unless you want me to mock you publicly. (See what I did there?)

  • ROb D

    I think we are drafting a nickle back if we choose a CB unless they trade up.

    Now it’s just a matter of whether they think one of those two guys are worth it, I guess. Personally, I think if they didn’t trade up to get Prince, they aren’t doing it for lesser players. And I would be OK with that. I love being in Super Bowls. I hate drafting 31st.

  • http://www.steelerslounge.com/ ryan

    One more time…

    ATTENTION PEOPLE OF EARTH: there’s a new discussion thread for Rounds 2 and 3. Please use it (NOT THIS ONE) unless you want me to mock you publicly.