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For followers of the Pittsburgh Steelers, there stays apprehension and uncertainty about what the workforce could be seeking to repair, spend money on, or improve within the upcoming NFL Draft. However I’m right here to handicap the scenario by including new names to my plan of assault.
Beware, that plan begins with what can be a controversial however essential choice: I’m eradicating Najee Harris from consideration.
Oh, he’s my man. If there’s one prospect about whom this old-school draftnik want to bloviate, it’s Najee. The energy and energy working recreation that might be hatched, over time, from a Derrick Henry-type working again, has its attraction. Harris is the quintessential Steeler in so some ways.
But, we should acknowledge just a few issues.
First, occasions have modified. That tends to occur. What the under-fortified roster of the Steelers will be happy with are the playmakers on offense. Simply examine the athletic traits of tight finish Eric Ebron and the roster of vast receivers. That mixes with a quarterback who needs to have involvement within the achievements and never merely as a side-show recreation supervisor.
There could be a greater match for the offensive scheme than energy. Sure, that pains me a bit, however I’m making an attempt to maintain up with the occasions.
I take purpose that the workforce will encourage the creativity and pre-snap movement of offensive coordinator Matt Canada, and, moreover, they are going to be in search of explosion and big-play pace from a possible working again.
Hey, the problem may simply resolve itself as a result of I imagine there’s larger than a 50/50 shot that Harris can be drafted earlier than the Steelers choose. He is a top-15 prospect on my board, and I do not imagine the league goes to easily enable the Steelers to take a seat at No. 24 and have the consensus RB1 fall to them.
So, I’ve eliminated Harris from consideration for my upcoming Dazzling Dozen piece, however will convey forth at the moment 4 new names, together with the working again that I argue will finally be the choice.
Listed here are this week’s nominations for my slate of eventual targets:
Travis Etienne, working again, Clemson, (5-10, 215, senior, 22 on draft day)
The sturdy and electrical Etienne could be an elite offensive addition to the Steelers. He didn’t miss a recreation in 4 years at Clemson and would add on the spot credibility to a unit that’s begging for it. Etienne would convey expertise and traits that haven’t been current on the place in a really very long time. Certain, he’s lighter and fewer highly effective than Harris, however let’s understand what Etienne has that is higher: agility, pace and imaginative and prescient to “go the space” any time the ball is in his fingers. Whereas different groups have had studs with twitch and explosive acceleration, the Steelers haven’t had that issue.
It’s time to handle this obligation and I think the workforce will with their first-round choice. Whereas we may take the time to assessment the resume – 78 touchdowns as a Tiger, three-time first workforce All-America, and lots of different attributes – it may function a waste of time as a result of offseason followers are nicely conscious of those attributes. My level is that Etienne might be the proper storm of draft choice, availability, want, and traits to get the workforce their man.
James Hudson, offensive sort out, Cincinnati, (6-5, 313, redshirt junior, 22 on Could 13)
This is the prospect who inflames me with optimism as we speak. Whereas analyzing a prospect or draft class, it is vital to not fall in love as a result of it could possibly trigger a blurred, biased imaginative and prescient. However I couldn’t assist it. Hudson is the man. He’s wanted. What workforce wouldn’t need an offensive lineman along with his bodily model of play? I just lately took an additional take a look at Hudson and ended up elevating his standing on my draft boards.
To be sincere, I am sick and bored with engaged on a few of these “stiffs” at offensive sort out. Certain, there’s a great half-dozen top-100 kind prospects who’ve pedigree and environment friendly line play – however, actually, many are stiffs. They’re boring and it’s awfully troublesome to get enthusiastic about their “only a man” attributes. They’re prospects from massive applications – Notre Dame, USC, Stanford, amongst different luxurious areas – however they couldn’t stand on one foot and juggle two tennis balls when you requested them to.
However let’s keep on with Hudson. He is completely different. He’s a 313-pound athletic freak who’s had some adversity however seems to make the most of his athletic twitch, violent fingers and general steadiness to demolish defenders. Hudson was as soon as with Michigan and transitioned from a defensive lineman to offensive sort out. There was some dispute and public angst when he transferred to Cincinnati and the sensation right here is that it would finally depart this man desirous to get even with a Harbaugh twice a 12 months.
Hudson stands as a lock to make my last Dazzling Dozen and I feel he’s in play for a variety in Spherical Two, the place the Steelers choose fifty fifth. Sure, with transfers and public disputes comes the necessity for background checks – these the Steelers will be capable to do this I can not. I hope my man checks out as a result of right here is the proper long-term left sort out funding and I’ve a sense he will be had at 55.
Chris Rumph II, exterior linebacker, Duke, (6-3, 244, redshirt junior, 22)
Rumph’s father is the present Chicago Bears line of defense coach and has had many teaching stops alongside the collegiate recreation. Extra just lately he coached the Houston Texans’ line of defense (2019) earlier than taking the Bears job this 12 months.
The traits inside Chris’ recreation make one imagine he had a father as a coach. He has that look of a disciplined, “know your project” kind prospect who makes use of well-crafted method to get the job achieved. The Duke product was a workforce captain in 2020 and a participant who suits fairly nicely for a workforce that could be content material sliding second-year participant Alex Highsmith into the beginning position, however shouldn’t be so glad with the depth of the place.
Rumph II is a high-ceiling, high-character prospect with traits that might help to the workforce now and sooner or later whereas additionally offering direct competitors to the incumbent.
I actually like Rumph as one of many defensive prospects to slip into that target-area of Spherical Three, the place the Steelers are slotted to choose 87th general. He’s in what I might classify as “fringe prime 100 standing” and finally makes the lower in an edge-rush class that comprises a number of questions and well being. Rumph provides a sure stage of reliability, so I might don’t have any hesitations with taking him in Spherical Three. His body and athletic traits make me imagine he is a candidate for the Steelers’ defensive scheme. With 17.5 profession sacks and 34 tackles-for-loss, the manufacturing is there in a aggressive ACC Convention.
Anthony Schwartz, vast receiver, Auburn, (6-0, 186, junior, 20)
The ultimate identify for as we speak comes as a hunch. It’s a what-if second. What if the Steelers aren’t as engaged at fixing the working again problem as a few of us suppose? That’s about as off-the-wall as one may get proper now, however let’s depart no stone unturned.
If the plan is to interact with what they’ve acquired, draft one other mid-round celebrity, and proceed to intensify offensive expertise with a mixture of brief and lengthy passes, Schwartz might be the proper discover.
Relying on how the draft unfolds, there might be a stage of advantage in dropping a large receiver into one of many Spherical 4 alternatives. Schwartz is a observe celebrity. No, actually, he’s a record-breaking, nationally acknowledged sprinter. He holds a number of Florida data after competing in school observe as nicely. What comes with that, so far as soccer traits, is a 4.25 40. The NFL recreation has been favorable to one of these prospect and Schwartz stands the possibility to see elevation in standing as a result of his wicked-fast pace. He is more likely to be slotted someplace in that fourth-round space, and when one considers the attainable way forward for Juju Smith-Schuster, the Steelers may resolve to fortify the place.
Will Smith-Schuster be signed to a long-term contract after cap aid turns into a actuality? Or is he right here for one 12 months with the quarterback he likes? Although vast receiver doesn’t seem a top-five want on this workforce, I envision the entrance workplace a participant they suppose can add to the dynamics on offense.
In viewing tape of Schwartz, I see a brand new play-thing for the Canada offense. Schwartz has environment friendly pre-snap movement and might be a gadget machine who matches up nicely with among the different ideas we would anticipate from that scheme.
So, to recap this with previous weeks, this is a rundown of the eight prospects nominated for consideration to my yet-to-come Dazzling Dozen:
No. 25 on my massive board, Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson – Spherical One
No. 60, James Hudson, OT, Cincinnati – Spherical Two
No. 66, Kendrick Green, C, Illinois – Spherical Two
No. 73, Jamar Johnson, S/slot CB, Indiana – Spherical Three
No. 82, Chris Rumph II, OLB, Duke – Spherical Three
No. 108, Cameron McGrone, ILB, Michigan – Spherical 4
No. 112, Anthony Schwartz, WR, Auburn – Spherical 4
No. 118, Derrick Barnes, ILB, Purdue – Spherical 4
I’ll be again in two weeks with last rankings, ideas about this thrilling time of the 12 months, and the ultimate Dazzling Dozen. I’m hoping somebody convinces me of the proper non-running again alternative for No. 24 by that point.
Within the meantime, please try my offensive and defensive draft boards.
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