The Injury Bug Hits the Steelers at OTAs

Generally when we think of injuries during the offseason, we associate them with full contact practices during training camp in late July. For third year tackle Jerald Hawkins and last season’s UDFA tight end signee Jake McGee, both their seasons ended even before it got started. Hawkins’ injury was especially damaging, as he was expected to play a huge role as backup offensive lineman. Coming off injured reserve in his rookie season, Hawkins was looking to take that next step from the limited role he had last season. Senior Steelers writer Mark Kaboly detailed Hawkins’ knee injury according to veteran offensive lineman Ramon Foster.

Ramon Foster on Jerald Hawkins knee injury: "All I heard was him screaming."

— Mark Kaboly (@MarkKaboly) May 30, 2018

With Hawkins lost for the season, this sets the stage for this year’s third round pick, offensive tackle Chukwuma Okorafor, to step up and play the role of backup to Marcus Gilbert. For tight end Jake McGee, his Achilles tendon injury effectively ended his season. Though McGee was not noted as playing a big part in the Steelers offense, any loss of depth could affect them later in the season.

Killers ‘B’s NOT present at OTA

In the first three days of OTAs, both Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown were very much involved in team drills and other activities. As of Tuesday, it was reported by several sources that Roethlisberger was away on family vacation, and opted not to attend OTAs. In the case of Brown, his reported absence was due to his preference of working “with his starting QB”.

Maurkice Pouncey said Ben Roethlisberger has been on a family vacation, thus his absence from OTAs. Multiple #Steelers said Antonio Brown's absence is only b/c of his preference to work w/ his starting QB. Players uniformly said this isn't holding back any "install" of new OC's O

— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) May 31, 2018

Though OTAs are not mandatory, considering they have a new offensive coordinator for the upcoming season, their absences could have an effect on the cohesiveness of the entire unit with the new tweaks in the offense. Also taken in consideration were the comments made by Brown to All-Pro running back Le’Veon Bell‘s decision not to attend OTAs. It was reported that Brown was still in the Pittsburgh area and still training intensely with his personal trainers.

Cameron Sutton Displaying His Versatility 

One of the many reasons why the Steelers selected cornerback Cameron Sutton in last year’s draft was due to his ability to play multiple positions on the field. In addition to playing in multiple spots at cornerback with the Tennessee Volunteers, he also played safety and was a respectable kickoff/punt returner. According to Penn Live reporter Lauren Kirschman, Sutton was seen playing in three spots; safety, corner and nickel. At this point Sutton has not played dime, but that is likely to change with the way things are trending. Sutton, who played in a handful of games last season, notably against the New England Patriots in December, is slated to play bigger role in the defense this upcoming season.

Second Year Players Motivated By Adversity

The 2017 season was not an ideal one for both outside linebacker Keion Adams and running back James Conner. Both suffered injuries during training camp, and in the case of Adams, his shoulder injury was serious enough to require surgery and effectively end his season on Injured Reserve. For Conner, his season came to end as a result of an MCL injury suffered in December against the Patriots.

Motivated by redeeming themselves from injury plagued seasons, both Adams and James Conner have been taking full advantage of OTAs, taking as many reps as they can handle. When asked by Steelers.com host/ team reporter Missi Matthews about the mental process in dealing with an injury plagued season, Adams spoke of the importance of staying mentally active throughout.

I had to go out there and mentally prepare as far as just learning how to watch film, learning the small things, not just running through plays and things of that nature.

For Conner, though he is anxious to make his imprint this upcoming season, he talked about taking things “one game at a time” and showing up. Adams is coming into this season with the opportunity of playing an important role in the Steelers pass rushing defense. With the absence of Bell in these OTAs, Conner is taking as many reps as he can; this upcoming training camp is looking to be very competitive at the running back position.

Steelers Unveil New Throwback Jerseys

To commemorate the Steelers back-to-back Super Bowl teams from 1978 and 1979, Dan Rooney II alongside Steelers receiver Juju Smith-Schuster, unvailed this year’s throwback jersey, which will make an appearance in their October 28th matchup against the Cleveland Browns. The design was made with the purpose of capturing that era in Steelers history.

The strength of the 1970's.
The fire of 2018. pic.twitter.com/WSndRMi2uo

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 30, 2018

The post 2018 Steelers Offseason: OTAs Recap Part 2 appeared first on The Point of Pittsburgh.

In his freshman year, it was destined to be a redshirt one; that was until a sudden injury to then-starting quarterback Daxx Garman before their week 11 game against Baylor thrust him in as the starting quarterback. With little expectations, Rudolph not only excelled, but he set his first of many school records, by throwing for 281 yards in a 49-28 loss against the Bears — the most by any Oklahoma State quarterback playing their first game in their program’s history. A week later, Rudolph engineered the second-largest fourth quarter comeback victory in their program’s history against the Oklahoma Sooners, in a 38-35 overtime victory. It took only three weeks for Rudolph to amass 853 passing yards and six touchdowns. It may have been a small sample size, but the legend of Mason Rudolph was just beginning.

After former starter Garman decided to transfer in March 2015, Rudolph was expected to be the starting quarterback for his sophomore year, splitting reps with backup J.W. Walsh. Though his first game was a modest one, he came back the following week going 23 for 35, 405 passing yards and two touchdowns. With Rudolph and Walsh, the Cowboys won ten straight games and were undefeated until their week 11 loss to Baylor. Rudolph grew a propensity for throwing the deep ball, as he tied future Rams’ quarterback Jared Goff for the nation’s lead with 40 completions of at least 20 yards. Rudolph ended this season with 3770 yards and 21 touchdowns.

Rudolph’s breakout season came in his junior year. His notable performance came in week 3 against the University of Pittsburgh, when he completed 26 of 46 passes for 504 yards. At one point, Rudolph had 164 consecutive completions without an interception. In week 9 against Kansas State, he threw for 457 yards and five touchdowns.  Rudolph was arguably the best in the nation at throwing the deep ball, as his 36 completions of 30 yards or more, ranked him among the best in the nation. He completed his year with 4091 yards, 28 touchdowns to just four interceptions.

Rudolph’s senior year was undoubtedly a ‘golden’ one. In week one, he passed for 303 yards and three touchdowns against Tulsa. From that point, Rudolph went on to pass for 300+ yards for five straight weeks. His most notable performance once again came against the University of Pittsburgh, when he completed 23 passes for 497 yards and five touchdowns. Rudolph led his Cowboys to a 10 – 3 record, which culminated with a 30 – 21 victory over Virginia Tech in the Camping World Bowl. In total, Rudolph finished the season with an incredible 4553 passing yards and 35 touchdowns. He helped his Cowboys offense become the first in Big 12 history to produce two 1000-yard receivers, and a 4000-yard passing quarterback. He led all quarterbacks in the nation in passing yards and was awarded the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, and the Sammy Baugh Award. He was voted to several All-American teams and was even a semifinalist for the prestigious Walter Camp Award. In totality, Rudolph became arguably the greatest quarterback in Cowboys’ history.

With all these incredible passing statistics in mind, it was clear that the area of focus would be on Rudolph’s ability to throw the deep ball. When evaluating this aspect on film, I came to the realization that his throwing ability was comparable to Steelers second round pick and teammate James Washington‘s ability to run deep routes; it is not spectacular to look at but is incredibly effective. If we were to compare his deep throwing ability to Buffalo Bills first round pick Joshua Allen for instance, there is really no comparison. Rudolph does not possess the type of throwing velocity and strength which Allen possesses; however, he was able to deliver the ball more quickly and accurately downfield than Allen and many of the other quarterbacks in his draft class. Through his deep ball is not considered elite-level, it gets the job done which counts in the end.

30-yard Touchdown Throw vs Iowa State

In this game against the Iowa State, the Oklahoma State offense is seen in an 01 package, showing four wide receivers (three of them to the right and one positioned as the left wide receiver); the tight end represents the fifth receiver in this concept. Running back Justice Hill (wearing #5) at this point is the only one seen in the backfield next to Rudolph. Before the ball is snapped, Hill motions right behind Rudolph; as soon as the ball is snapped, Rudolph sells the idea that it is going to pass on Hill’s side, then turns to look downfield. When he sees his man open, receiver Marcell Ateman in this case, he throws a deep pass to his side.

Aspects to note in this case: Firstly, there is little to no exaggerated arm motion or wind up. Secondly, he does not quite throw it off his back leg; rather, he puts much of his body into it making the motion a little unnatural. Thirdly, his release is impressively quick. Fourthly, he gets the right amount of velocity for the ball to travel, seemingly not much effort needed in this aspect. The pass from first view did not seem promising, but the fact that he able to place the ball where Ateman could grab it between two defenders was quite amazing.

Rudolph’s Deep Pass Attempt vs Pitt

The staple of Oklahoma’s State’s offense is unquestionably the Run Pass Option (known as RPO), a spread concept Rudolph ran primarily during his collegiate career. In this sequence, Rudolph will use this concept against the Panthers on the first possession of the game. Note in this case, Rudolph has both a fullback to his left and a running back behind if he chooses to use the run option. When the ball is snapped, Rudolph will fake the handoff to Hill and look down field. When viewing the video paused, one can see his intention is to throw deep to one of his receivers. The second pause displays his throwing motion. I noted that he got more velocity on the throw, in contrast to the previous clip. As is his trademark, he does not display an exaggerated arm motion. The one aspect I saw here was how much air time this deep pass received. In my opinion, the ball’s trajectory was too high, which likely explains why the Panthers defensive back had time to catch up to receiver Chris Lacy, and make a play which should have resulted in a pass interference call. If there is one area that Rudolph needs to correct, it is the amount of air his deep passes get, otherwise this would have been a perfect throw.

Deep Pass Attempt To James Washington

As in the previous clip, the RPO was in full effect in this sequence. When the ball is snapped, Rudolph fakes the handoff; noted on this play, the Texas Tech middle linebacker coming in on a blitz, which is picked up by the Cowboys’ center. As seen when the video is paused, Rudolph is already looking downfield, his feet are almost shoulder width apart. His throw is smooth as he is able to throw off his back leg. The ball in this case had the right amount of air time and is accurate, as he is able to hit Washington in full stride. Though Washington was unable to complete the reception, I found this to be one of Rudolph’s better throws and the type of deep ball that is very catchable.

Conclusion

With Rudolph, the Steelers received a quarterback with all the physical and mental attributes a team looks for in a quarterback. Coming into this draft, Rudolph’s name was listed alongside the top quarterbacks in this year’s draft such as Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold. For the longest time, many wondered if the Steelers would be able to find a quarterback with the potential of becoming the heir apparent to future Hall of Fame quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Perhaps the fact that he was not well received from Roethlisberger serves as indication that he has never had any real competition, until now. In my estimation, Rudolph was the most complete quarterback in this draft. With time, I believe he will make all the teams who passed over him regret not taking him.

The post Analyzing 3rd Round Pick Mason Rudolph: The Man With The Golden Arm appeared first on The Point of Pittsburgh.

This past Tuesday marked the first day of organized team activities, as part of the second phase of the 2018 offseason for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Though the players did not wear pads or make contact, it gave the coaches and the players the opportunity to set the groundwork for their mandatory training camp in late July, and the upcoming NFL season. Here are some of the storylines for the first three days of OTAs.

Day 1 OTAs:

Ben Roethisberger and Mason Rudolph building a connection

No question, the biggest story coming into OTAs was Ben Roethisberger. With the circus surrounding his controversial comments towards the Steelers selecting quarterback Mason Rudolph in last month’s NFL Draft, much of the media in attendance wondered how he and Rudolph could co-exist. Pittsburgh Tribune reporter Joe Rutter noted that Roethlisberger went out of his way to help Rudolph after a throw he made during the first day of OTAs. In the meantime, Roethlisberger took the time to clarify his comments toward Rudolph to the media in attendance. He when on to explain how his comments were taken out of context, and it was not intended to insult Rudolph in any way.  Things were seemingly harmonious between the two during this day of OTAs, but it will be interesting to follow their status once the competition heats up.

Tyler Matakevich Atop the ‘Mack’ Linebacker Pecking Order

When former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Jon Bostic was signed by the Steelers in March, the expectation was for Bostic to start alongside follow ‘buck’ linebacker Vince Williams. At the beginning of this particular day however, it was third year linebacker Tyler Matakevich who was selected as starter. Matakevich, a seventh round pick out of Temple in 2016, was slated to be the starter opposite Williams after All-Pro linebacker Ryan Shazier fell to a serious spinal contusion against the Cincinnati Bengals back on December 19th. Due to a shoulder injury sustained later in that game, Matakevich was shelved for the remainder of the season; the Steelers in turn signed former Tennessee Titans linebacker Sean Spence. For an athleticism point of view which is required for the ‘mack’ linebacker spot, Bostic is better suited than Matakevich; however, Matakevich does bring familiarity with Keith Butler‘s system and a high-level football intelligence. When asked by report Jacob Klinger, Williams was very complimentary of these aspects of Matakevich.

Tyler [Matakevich] is a very intelligent person. He doesn’t make mistakes. He plays the game really, really hard.

Though no confirmation has been regarding Matakevich as this season’s starter, this could potentially set up and intriguing battle between him and Bostic during mandatory training camp in late July.

Day 2 OTAs:

Antonio Brown Leads by Example

It is no secret that All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown is a consummate professional. On a yearly basis, his worth ethic and dedication to his craft are one of many reasons why he is not only considered the best at his position, but one of best overall players the NFL. Coming into his ninth OTAs, Brown made it a priority to lead by both words and actions. Following the trade of deep threat receiver Martavis Bryant, Brown is aware that he could be shouldering much of the offensive burden this upcoming season. When asked by ESPN NFL Analyst Jeremy Fowler how he felt about the current roster of receivers, he stated that he had faith that all of them could produce at a high level. If all else fails, Brown noted “just throw me all the passes”. When the topic of All-Pro running back Le’veon Bell‘s absence from OTA was brought up, Brown was straightforward in his response, urging Bell to “show up” despite the ongoing contract dispute between him the Steelers organization.

The first rule of getting better is showing up. You can’t make anything better without showing up

Brown further stressed the importance of making a presence, in order to make it known to everyone that he wants to be a part of the organization for the remainder of his career. As it stands, Bell is slated to come back when the season begins on September 9th.

TJ Watt Looking To Make a Splash

After an impressive rookie campaign, second year outside linebacker TJ Watt is looking to take his game to the next level. According to Fowler, Watt is looking to make “more splash plays” this upcoming season. He was seen on this day working with linebacker coach Joey Porter.

Day 3 OTAs:

Vance McDonald and His Featured Role in the Steelers Offense

For sixth-year tight end Vance McDonald, he would like nothing more than to materialize the offensive potential that compelled the Steelers to trade for him last August. Despite the Steelers losing to the Jacksonville Jaguars in last season’s AFC Divisional Playoff match, McDonald’s 110 receiving yards on 10 receptions, is the type of performance that he can build upon this upcoming season. With the departure of Bryant to the Oakland Raiders, McDonald is slated to play a larger role in the Steelers offense. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, offensive coordinator Randy Fitchner‘s offense will likely feature a heavy dose of McDonald. When asked, McDonald himself was very clear what his intentions were for this upcoming season; “It will be my breakthrough season,” he told Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. With the myriad of injuries behind him and with a year under his belt, McDonald feels that he was ready to finally contribute, as he the Steelers transition their offense to Fitchner’s system.

It’s good, just being able to take the time and slow things down in terms of the mental load and get details of all the routes and stuff.

No mention has been made concerning fellow tight end Jesse James‘ contribution to the offense, but if it similar to last season, it would likely involve 3rd down and red zone situations.

Rookies Making An Impression

This particular day saw many of the rookies tuning up their skills and impressing the Steelers coaches in attendance. One rookie that made a big impression was second round pick James Washington. According to Fowler, was seen making some acrobatic-type catches, involving “contorting his body”.  The other rookie that was at the center of focus was fifth round pick Jaylen Samuels, who took full advantage of Bell’s absence to make an impression. First round pick Terrell Edmunds was seen doing one-on-one drills, displaying his footwork and his ability to flip his hips. For each of these rookies, the next set of OTAs may present the opportunity to test their abilities against some of the veterans, as they resume again this coming Tuesday.

The post 2018 Steelers Offseason: OTAs Recap appeared first on The Point of Pittsburgh.

Coming into Western Michigan in 2014, Okorafor was noted as one of the best overall recruits in the state of Michigan. In his freshman year, Okorafor did not make any starts but played in 12 games. In his sophomore year, Okorafor started all 13 games at right tackle and was an essential piece in the Broncos’ rushing attack, which was one of the best in the conference. His most notable performance came in the Popeye’s Bahamas Bowl, as he and the offensive line contributed to freshman running back Jamauri Bogan’s MVP performance. By his junior year, Okorafor became a household name in the Mid-American Conference. In this particular season, he moved to left tackle where he played all 14 games. Okorafor was a major contributor in the Broncos offensive line that was one of the best in all of college football (ranked 4th by Pro Football Focus) and made it possible for star running back Jarvion Franklin to rush for over 1,300 yards that season. For his efforts, Okorafor was selected to the First-Team All-MAC team. Okorafor’s senior year was a culmination of his hard work and consistency displayed throughout his collegiate career. He was selected to several All-American teams, given First Team All-MAC status, and was one of 6 semifinalists for the prestigious Outland Trophy awarded to the nation’s top lineman.

Pass Protection Technique

• Great feet and lateral movement
• Effective use of hands
• Has natural strength and often wins one-on-one battles
• Uses effective movement to seal defenders
• Pad level is a concern

The aspect that stands out with Okorafor is his feet and lateral movement; movements are fluid and seem very effortless, which was one of many reasons why he was one of the best in respect to pass protection. His use of hands, particularly his initial punch, tends to send opposing defensive linemen off balance, a key factor to his success in winning one-on-one battles. What defines him though is the fact that he does have an aggressive disposition.

The biggest concern with Okorafor is without question his pad level. In almost all the clips I viewed, he had this tendency of standing upright as his first move. The importance in all this has to do with the idea of playing with leverage. Playing with leverage entails keeping a low pad-level. For an offensive lineman like Okorafor, this is key since it allows him to keep his size and strength at a base, as opposed to his upper body. This tendency of staying too high is keeping him from reaching the full potential of his strength.

In this example shown against Toledo, when the ball is snapped, Okorafor’s first move is upright; as the play continues, he is able to use quick feet, lateral movement, and proper placement of hands to force the Rockets off the arc. Against this type of lineman, Okorafor is likely to win this type of battle the majority of the time. If presented with a linemen that has a quicker first step and bend, he may not be so lucky.

Speaking of bend, this is one aspect that needs work. As noted in his NFL Draft profile, Okorafor is noted to have “limited lower body bend”.  In order for Okorafor to get the pad level necessary to win one-on-one battles in the NFL, this has to become an element of his blocking. When done correctly (as shown in the diagram below), Okorafor’s natural strength and other techniques can shine through.

 Run Blocking Technique

• Uses his strength effectively to redirect defenders
• Displays excellent lateral movement and use of hands
• At times is off balance and gets knocked over unnecessarily
• At times looks unsure who to block.

When it comes to this aspect, there exists little to no median. Simply put, Okorafor displayed both extremes of proficiency; he can either be very good or very bad. When Okorafor is at his best, he exhibited the ability to explode off the ball into the opponent and keep a relatively low pad level. The key to his success is when he uses his strength to redirect linemen, and his size and width to protect the ball carrier.

In this particular clip against Michigan State, the Broncos offense is going to run one of their trademark zone blocking schemes. Okorafor from the snap explodes into the Spartans defensive lineman, uses his feet to drive him outside, leaving a gaping hole for the Broncos ball carrier to run through. Note how at one point, he uses his raw strength to drive him away from the ball carrier, a small sample of Okorafor natural strength. As seen here, he has the ability to impose his will on defenders, and create opportunities for ball carriers.

Okorafor’s deficiency in run blocking can be summarized in one word — “balance”.  What was interesting to watch was how he was easily taken off balance when attempting to pull, or when trying to block at the second level.  One thing I noted is that his head is often down, impeding him from viewing the defender he is blocking; as a result, he topples off balance. At times when watching him in certain run blocking situations, it almost seemed a little lost.

Early in this game, when Okorafor attempted to pull and block the defensive lineman on his side, he pulled but did not properly locate the lineman. The result is seen in the photo below as he defensive lineman was able to evade him, sending him to the ground. For Okorafor, his ability to locate his target should start before he even pulls. The hope is that with offensive line coach Mike Munchak, this can be corrected so he can become a reliable asset in the Steelers ground game.

Conclusion

Okorafor has all the physical attibutes to be a top-level offensive lineman in the NFL, if he is able to correct the technical flaws in his game. For Okorafor, his timing could not be any better, as the departure of long-time backup Chris Hubbard to the Cleveland Browns has opened the window of opportunity for him or third-year offensive lineman Jerald Hawkins to take over one of the backup spots. Considering how late Okorafor started playing football, he has the tools necessary to make the Steelers roster.

The post Analyzing Steelers 3rd Round Pick Chukwuma Okorafor: Finding the Right Balance appeared first on The Point of Pittsburgh.

Washington was an impact player from the time he stepped onto Oklahoma State in 2014. As a true freshman, he accumulated 456 yards on only 28 receptions, giving him an average of 16.3 yards per reception. His six touchdown receptions not only led his team that year, but it also ranked him fourth among true freshmen in the nation. He followed up a strong freshman season with a stronger sophomore season. That year saw him account for 1,087 receiving yards on 53 receptions. He became only one of four underclassmen in Cowboys history to record 1000 receiving yards in a season. For his efforts, he was given a second-team All-Big 12 selection. Once again, Washington followed up his strong sophomore season, with an even better junior season, by recording his second straight 1000-yard receiving season. On top of being selected team captain, he was a first-team All-Big 12 selection. His 296 receiving yards in a game against the University of Pittsburgh in week 3 that year was the second-highest in school history and the fourth-most in Big 12 history. To cap off an exceptional career with the Cowboys, Washington became the nation’s leading receiver with 1,596 yards on 74 receptions. His mark of 20.93 average yards per receptions led all receivers in the FBS. Alongside teammates, Oakland Raiders selection Marcell Ateman and Steelers third round selection quarterback Mason Rudolph, they helped give the Cowboys’ offense the distinction of having two 1000-yard receivers and a 4000-yard passer for the first time in Big-12 conference history. To add to his many accolades, he was given the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver.

One may wonder how a receiver with seemingly moderate-looking speed can produce at a high level throughout his collegiate career? The aspect to understand is this — there is speed and there is functional speed. What makes Washington unique is the fact that he possesses deceptive speed which may not time well, but is functional enough to beat defensive backs consistently.

Straight Line Speed

When watching Washington run Go routes, it seems as if he is not putting much effort to it; then after a short period of time, you realize that he’s wide open. As noted, Washington does not have the type of speed that will jump out at you, but he had great acceleration and kept a consistent pace. One thing I have learned is that some of the best runners are the ones that do not look like they are actually running, it seems like they are gliding. Washington’s running style is deceptively faster than what it appears on screen and I believe that defensive backs underestimate its effectiveness; hence the reason why they are always getting beat.

In this clip against Virginia Tech, Washington is seen at the top, and runs a Go route. At first glance, one would wonder how a seemingly lackadaisical-looking route is able to get behind an entire defense. From viewing the play from a different perspective, you will see that Washington sells the route quite well; in other words, he makes it look unsuspecting until he gets by the Hokies defender that was trailing him. In addition, it appeared that the speed of the route also caught the Hokies defender off guard, as Washington utilizes long strides, allowing him to cover a large amount of distance quickly.

Here is another view of that route:

Combat Catches

A combat catch can be defined as a receiver’s ability to make a reception while being physically confronted by a defensive player (i.e.: arm pulled, bumped). Washington has a top-heavy frame which allows him to fight off defenders in order to complete a catch.  One of the reasons he is able to make combat catches is due to his ability to create enough separation to do so. With Washington, he often does not engage in too much hand play or bumping. What makes him successful in this regard is what he does before he breaks into his route.

In this particular clip against Pitt, he and the Panthers’ defender are seen lined up opposite each other. The thing to note when the clip plays is the subtle stutter step he executes shortly after he comes off the line; that step was enough to get the separation he needed before he broke into his route. What was encouraging to see during the video pause, was how he never allowed the Panthers’ defender to crowd him against the sidelines and force him out of bounds. Lastly, he displayed great concentration even though the Panthers’ defender had him well-covered and was trying to pull on his arm. One of things head coach Mike Tomlin loves in receivers is the ability to make combat catches. Washington made a habit of this throughout his collegiate career and there is no reason to think this will stop anytime soon.

Ball Control Issues

For a long period of time, the rules pertaining to what constituted a catch in the NFL had been marred in confusion and controversy. One of the noted precepts in the new simplified catching rules entails ball control. For the most part, Washington has not issues making the initial reception, but I noted on several occasions where he would fail the secure the ball. This could be attributed to lack of concentration, or when he was trying to fight through a defender. In either sense, Washington’s ball control can be inconsistent at times.

In this clip seen here against Baylor, Washington ended the game with 235 yards on just six receptions. Yet even with this impressive performance, he left a lot of plays out on the field. In this instance, Washington runs a Go route and is once again able to beat the defensive back covering him. Though Rudolph slightly underthrew the ball, he was able to adjust and make the catch. All seemed good at this point, yet when the video is paused one can see that part of the football is not fully secured. As the play continues, Washington is surrounded by two Baylor defenders, in which one of them is able to knock the ball out of Washington’s hands and recover the ball. As noted earlier, the initial reception was fine but the ball security was questionable.

Conclusion

The Steelers organization has proven to be excellent at finding receivers late in the draft, and grooming them into productive and impactful players. James Washington is different in the sense that he was selected earlier than their usual area, and he comes in a little more polished than previous drafted receivers such as Sammie Coates, Martavis Bryant, and even All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown. NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks has already predicted big things for Washington, as he placed him all his 2018 NFL All-Rookie.

AFC North opponents quickly learn that Washington is more than capable of torching one-on-one coverage as an explosive big-play threat.

With newly hired wide receiver coach Darryl Drake, it will interesting to see what he can do to enhance is strengths and correct his weaknesses. If all works out, Washington should become the Steelers next big time, playmaking offensive threat for the NFL to take notice.

The post Analyzing Steelers 2nd Round Pick James Washington: A Deceptively Productive Deep Threat appeared first on The Point of Pittsburgh.

Steelers Rookie Minicamp Roster

From: Steelers.com Click to enlarge

The Mason Rudolph Story

With much of the attention surrounding the rookie quarterback and his unexpected rivalry with starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, Rudolph not only showed his maturity throughout the situation, he also displayed that he is a legitimate threat to take over the backup spot, currently occupied by quarterback Landry Jones. In an added twist to this unusual saga, ESPN senior NFL writer Jeremy Fowler reported that prior to rookie camp, Roethlisberger had reached out to Rudolph by way of text.

Mason Rudolph said Ben Roethlisberger texted him Thursday to wish him good luck and looked forward to meeting him. “It meant a lot,” Rudolph said.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 11, 2018

This gesture may be interpreted as a sign of goodwill, but considering the comments made by Roethlisberger regarding the selection of Rudolph in the draft, it is likely that Roethlisberger is very much threatened by Rudolph’s presence, as he represents the first quarterback qualified to be the heir apparent to the coveted Steelers’ starting quarterback throne.

Throughout the controversy which was part of this weekend’s camp, Rudolph displayed professionalism well beyond his years, as he acknowledged the situation and believed that much of the controversy was perpetuated by the media’s interpretation of what was said. In addition, he expressed that both he and Roethlisberger would be friends once the football season is in full swing.

“I think the media got it kind of twisted around a little bit. He’s a Hall of Fame quarterback. He’s a competitive guy. That’s what I would expect. He’s a longtime starter.”

“I’m sure when we get in this building, in this room, we’re going to be friends, and I’m going to let him do his thing and pick up what I can from him but not bother him.”

Rudolph also made his statement on the field displaying his throwing and leadership abilities. Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin acknowledged that Rudolph “made some plays”, despite some fumbling issues under center. The highest praise, according to Fowler, came courtesy of practice squad receiver Marcus Tucker. Tucker had noted that Rudolph had seven straight completions in team drills, and raved about Rudolph’s natural leadership abilities. One thing that is for certain, the battle at quarterback is shaping up to be one of the most competitive in years when official training camp begins in late July.

Steelers receiver Marcus Tucker on Mason Rudolph: "He has a really big arm, strong arm. throws a great ball. Also pointed out his leadership, which he can pick up even in two days of minicamp: "Certain guys just have a command of the huddle."

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 12, 2018

Terrell Edmunds Displaying His Versatility

When the Steelers drafted Terrell Edmunds with the first round pick, part of the reason they selected him was due to his versitility. Part of what made him appealling was not just his ability to play safety but linebacker as well. Even with the addition of linebacker Jon Bostic during free agency, the Steelers are still absent a true Mack inside linebacker. Edmunds spent much of this minicamp taking snaps at both safety and linebacker. As noted in my film analysis on him, it is likely that Edmunds will be used in different defensive packages (specifically Dime packages) as a linebacker. At this point, one should not be surprised if Edmunds adds more weight before the beginning of training camp in late July.

In additon to his versility, a point of emphasis during minicamp was communication, an aspect that was seemingly deficient with the safeties last season. Tomlin noted that both Edmunds and fellow rookie safety Marcus Allen were taking turns making some of the defensive calls during their first practice. From what was noted, both Edmunds and Allen had quickly established a connection which could pay dividends during training camp, and their first preseason game.

The Steelers putting Terrell Edmunds’ versatility to the test early in minicamp. Edmunds (No. 34), who looks every bit of 217 pounds, said he played safety and linebacker snaps for the defense on Day 1. pic.twitter.com/ztXXEW2xEl

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) May 11, 2018

Steelers Sign Damoun Patterson and RJ Prince

As a player coming in on a tryout basis, one hopes to make a big enough impression the coaches to gain a rookie contract. The reality is that for many at this minicamp, this may represent their one and only opportunity to fulfill their NFL dreams. For Division II receiver Damoun Patterson and offensive tackle RJ Prince, their respective performances earned them rookie contracts, and the chance at making the roster at Steelers training camp in late July.

Patterson is a relatively unknown player but in the FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) last season, he was one of the best deep threats around. The 6’2″ receiver transferred from Utah State in 2016 and quickly established himself as Youngstown State‘s most reliable deep threat. He finished that year with 484 receiving yards on 20 catches, and followed it up with 555 receiving yards on 32 catches. Patterson faces some difficult competition as he is vying a receiver spot alongside Eli Rogers (currently rehabbing his ACL injury), Marcus Tucker, Justin Hunter, Tevin Jones, and Justin Thomas.

I can’t write in cursive but I just signed my rookie contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. God be the glory pic.twitter.com/IxqG7rrzSW

— Damoun Patterson (@chasing_8) May 13, 2018

Prince went undrafted after playing a total of 45 games, starting each game in his junior and senior seasons with North Carolina. Back in April, the 6’6″, 320 lb tackle met with the Steelers following his Pro Day workout, so it appeared Prince was on their radar. What is interesting to note, with former backup Chris Hubbard signed with the Cleveland Browns, the backup spots behind veteran tackles Marcus Gilbert and Alejandro Villanueva are up for grabs. If Prince is able to impress during training camp, he could possibly gain a spot on the roster.

Truly appreciative of the staff of the Pittsburgh Steelers for giving me this opportunity! Officially a Pittsburgh Steeler! Time to get to work pic.twitter.com/6Kr1FLbeLt

— RJ Prince (@rdprince71) May 13, 2018

Jaylen Samuels Feels Disrespected

Coming into this year’s draft, Samuels was noted as being the most versatile player available; perhaps this is why he felt slighted being chosen in the 5th round by the Steelers. According to Fowler, despite accumulating 1080 rushing yards, 1809 receiving yards, 47 touchdowns, along with eight total tackles on defense; Samuels believed that his versatility merited “better draft footing”. He went on to state how he had “always been underestimated all my life”. Going into training camp in late July, Samuels will be someone to follow as he will look to make a statement, and establish himself as a viable asset to the Steelers offense.

The post 2018 Steelers Rookie Minicamp Roundup appeared first on The Point of Pittsburgh.

In high school, Terrell was All-State in two positions; at running back and defensive back. In his senior year, he accounted for 1,753 receiving yards and 25 touchdowns. At the same time on defense, he recorded 53 tackles and two touchdowns.

His freshman year at Virginia Tech was a forgettable one, as he was redshirted and demoted to the scout team. In his redshirt freshman year, he played a total of 13 games in which he started in eight of them. He recorded 18 total tackles to go with seven passes defended and a blocked kick. In his sophomore year, Terrell took a giant leap forward with his best season as a Hokie. He recorded 89 total tackles, four interceptions and seven passes defended. His most notable game that year came against Duke where he recorded 14 total tackles. For his efforts that season, he was named to Campus Insiders Sophomore All-American team. His junior year was unfortunately plagued by an injured shoulder relegated him to just 10 games. Even in his shortened season, he was highly productive and played on every defensive snap including special teams. He ended the season with 59 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions, and four pass breakups.

For all that is said about Terrell, he is not a flashy player by any means. At times he was often unnoticeable, since his brother and defensive tackle Tim Settle Jr. were often making splash plays. When given his chance, Terrell displayed many of the attributes which appealed to the Steelers brass — quick to read and anticipate, lots of speed and good at using his hands to make plays. The areas of concern with Terrell relate to ball tracking and covering receivers deep. As you will see in this film session, Terrell’s athleticism is good enough to be a potential difference-maker in games.

Read and Reaction

From what I observed, this was an area of strength for Terrell. As noted before, there is nothing fancy about what he does in this respect; he continuously has his eyes on the backfield, reads the quarterback and reacts to where the ball is going. What is noticeable, though, is his quick movement. One of the attributes noted in his NFL Draft Profile, was how quick-twiched he was. From what I viewed, this was quite true. Another plus was his hips. In addition to demonstrating quick feet, he is very good at flipping his hips and changing direction to follow the play. When it came to covering receivers deep, he was not as strong as with the aspects that I noted, but since Terrell played mainly in the box, his read and reaction ability was very promising.

In this clip against West Virginia, Terrell is seen in this nickel set seemingly in the strong side linebacker spot.  What impressed in this clip was how Terrell was continuously reading the quarterback in this sequence. Once he assessed where the play was going, he flips his hips and changes direction to shadow the Mountaineer receiver. When the ball is thrown, he times his move perfectly to break up the pass. When it comes to covering in shallow parts of the field, Terrell is proficient in this area.

Questionable Ball Skills

Defensive backs who excel in this area are proficient at tracking the ball in the air. When it comes to covering the shallow part of the field, Terrell has little to no issues with tracking; however when it comes to deep coverage, this a definite weakness. From my observation, Terrell’s weakness at tracking the ball is derived from the fact he often had his back to the ball when covering receivers deep. Instead of turning to make a play, he would continuously focus on the receiver and as a consequence, he would miss making a play when it came his direction.

In this sequence, Terrell is seen in relatively the same spot as the previous clip.  The player to note in this case is Mountaineer receiver #12 Gary Jennings, positioned closer inside to the right of Terrell. When the ball is snapped, Jennings will run a simple inside post route. At first, Terrell is positioned correctly, but as you will see when the clip is paused, Terrell has his back turned away from the ball. From reviewing this clip a few more times, Terrell either did not flip his hips in time, or he flip his hips in the wrong direction. As result, Terrell could not turn around in time to play the ball. Jennings, on the other hand, was able to make the reception and score a touchdown in the process. This play in many ways also exposes another area of weakness for Terrell, which are his instincts. I believe at this point, his instincts are most effective when covering the shallow areas of the field. So when it comes to covering receivers deep, Terrell is likely not the defensive back that you want taking that assignment.

Tackling

This aspect in my opinion represented an area of confusion with Terrell. From my study, it was difficult to assess this aspect as an area of strength or weakness, due to the inconsistencies surrounding it. When it came to supporting the run, Terrell was mostly strong in this aspect; he displayed proper timing and control to make a tackle in these circumstances. When tackling in open field, the results varied. At points, Terrell was able to get the right angle on the ball carrier and make the tackle as seen in this clip against Clemson.

Equally there have been instances, as in this example against Duke, where he missed tackles that he should be able to make. As the ball is snapped, Terrell has already read where the ball is going and breaks from his backpedal. Here is the problem, as you will see when the clip is paused, the angle taken by Terrell was too wide. As a result, he is unable to adjust when the Blue Devils receiver cuts inside. In addition, he used a little too much speed which did not allow him the chance to establish a base to make the tackle. As a result, the receiver is able to make the catch and get the first down. One of the conclusions I drew from watching Terrell is that he is more adept to making tackles from a straight line. When it comes to angles, he has difficulty judging the right speed and distance needed. The good news is that with time and coaching, this can be corrected.

Conclusion:

Of players selected in this year’s draft class for the Steelers, Terrell Edmunds is unquestionably the biggest enigma.  There are many of the opinion that the should have not been drafted as high as he was, and there is much evidence to support this idea. At the same time, there is proof of the contrary, as he ranked in the top percentile in several measurables for his position — vertical jump, broad jump, and hand size. To put into perspective, his overall performance score equaled that of Derwin James with 76.2%.

Many in the fanbase anticipated a linebacker as a first round pick and perhaps are not ready to embrace him at this point. It is likely that defensive coordinator Keith Butler will take advantage of Terrell’s athleticism and diverse skillset, and add him in different sub-packages as a linebacker. Terrell is the type of player that may not come with much fanfare, but I believe he will eventually prove that he was worth the first round selection.

The post Analyzing Steelers 1st Round Pick Terrell Edmunds: The Underappreciated Athlete appeared first on The Point of Pittsburgh.

I had the opportunity to chat with Thomas about his passion for the game and the obstacles he had to overcome in his life. One thing is for certain, this motivated young man ready to make an impact right away.

You are one of the most intriguing prospects in this draft. When looking at your measurables, you seemed to have checked all the boxes. Why do you believe teams passed up the chance to draft you?

Thomas: I mean it’s obvious, I had some issues and made some mistakes in college. There were questions if I loved ball. Most felt as if they couldn’t trust me based off my history and all the concerns determined the outcome.

In terms of your skillset as a linebacker, what attributes do you bring to the table that sets you apart from the other linebackers you’ll be competing against for a roster spot with the Steelers?

Thomas: As far as my skillset, I’m the type of linebacker who shouldn’t come off the field. I can stop the run, play in space, cover backs & tight ends in coverage, rush the passer situationally and blitz.

TALLAHASSEE, FL – SEPTEMBER 21: Jackie Wilson #5 of the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats is sacked by Matthew Thomas #12 of the Florida State Seminoles during a game at Doak Campbell Stadium on September 21, 2013 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

Growing up, which player/athlete was your biggest influence and why?

Thomas: Growing up I admired, rest in heaven, Sean Taylor because of his relentlessness and how he played the game. Deion Sanders as well, because of how confident he was with his game.

The Steelers as you know are a franchise with a storied history of winning championships. In what ways can you contribute to helping this team win a Super Bowl?

Thomas: Well before I can help I’ll need to know what I’m doing. I’m a fast learner so I’ll pick up quick, but immediately I know I can contribute on special teams.

What obstacles (mental or physical), do you believe that you need to overcome, in order to make the Steelers roster?

Thomas: Just have my mind right and be in the best shape.

What were your emotions when you were informed that the Steelers were going to sign you?

Thomas: I was very emotional, I actually thought I would be drafted at least. Not being drafted lit a fire under me so I’m that much [more] motivated to being great in this league.

Your mother, as it has been documented, passed away back in 2015 a lung disease. I can only imagine how much this affected you. How did you manage to persevere, and how do you continue to use her as motivation?

Thomas: It was a hard time for me, but growing up I saw how my mother fought for her family to survive. Embracing the struggle, doing whatever she had to. She fought day in and out working numerous jobs to support us. She was the perfect role model. Even if I wanted to quit it’s not in me to, I wasn’t raised like that. It took a lot but I reached deep down and fought through all the adversity. I always been a fighter regardless of the situation. You have to fight for what you love. I have my own family now and I’m extremely motivated to take care of them. All I needed was an opportunity and I got one so I’m excited, truly thankful and ready to go.

***

You can follow Thomas through his Twitter profile, @6FromOvertown

The post The Long Road Ahead – An Exclusive Interview with Steelers UDFA Matthew Thomas appeared first on The Point of Pittsburgh.

As reported by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writer and radio host Gerry Dulac, the Steelers’ initial target in the first round was Alabama linebacker Rashaad Evans. Yet when he was selected by the Tennessee Titans ahead, they felt the divide between him and other linebackers was too wide to select one in that round.

Just so everyone knows, Alabama’s Rashaan Evans was the Steelers intended target in the 1st round, no matter who else was there at 28. When he was gone with other top ILBs, they either didn’t have a high enough grade on the rest or feel strongly enough to go up and get one.

— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) April 28, 2018

This set the tone for what was one of the most unusual draft classes in recent memory. This year’s draft class had surprisingly a greater emphasis on offense than defense, in contrast to the previous three drafts where there was a greater emphasis on defense.

1st Round – 28th pick: S Terrell Edmunds – Virginia Tech 

In many ways, this was an unexpected pick considering both LSU running back Derrius Guice and Stanford safety Justin Reid were on the board. Even with the signing of veteran defensive back Morgan Burnett, Edmunds brings ideal NFL size and athleticism to the Steelers secondary. A highly productive defensive player, Edmunds’ best season came in 2016, when he accounted for 89 total tackles, four interceptions and seven passes defended. It will be interesting to see whether he will play strong or free safety, as he has the type of skillset to play multiple positions.

2nd Round – 60th pick: WR James Washington – Oklahoma State

The reigning Fred Biletnikoff Award winning receiver led the entire nation with 1,549 receiving yards, was a unanimous All-American and First-Team All-Big 12 in his senior year. Washington is an incredible route-running receiver that brings great ball tracking skills and is a viable deep threat that averaged over 19 yards per catch during his collegiate career with Oklahoma State. This move was a necessary one as it adds well-needed depth to a receiving corps that just lost one of their biggest vertical threats in Bryant. Washington alongside All-Pro receiver Antonio Brown and last year’s rookie sensation JuJu Smith-Schuster, has potential of being one of the most productive trios in the NFL.

3rd Round – 76th pick: QB Mason Rudolph – Oklahoma State

For weeks, many speculated that Rudolph would be chosen in the first round, as head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert showed great interest in drafting the 6’5″ quarterback. On this occasion, the Steelers traded up for the chance of taking Ben Roethlisberger‘s potential heir apparent. Winner of the last season’s Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, he and the Steelers’ second round pick Washington made a formidable tandem during their respective final years. Rudolph led the nation in passing yards with 4,904 yards, while averaging 377 passing yards per game, and completing 65 percent of his passes. He is a comfortable pocket passer that brings ideal size, good mobility and field vision. In all likelihood, he will battling for the backup spot currently occupied by veteran Landry Jones.

3rd Round – 92nd pick: OT Chukwuma Okorafor – Western Michigan

The king-sized offensive tackle started all 12 games this season and was one of six semifinalists for the Outland Trophy. The young man, known as “Chuks”, was well accomplished in his senior year, receiving numerous All-American honors such as FWAA First Team All-American and Phil Steele First Team All-American. Okorafor brings tremendous size, strong hands and natural power allowing to redirect linemen in pass protection with little effort. Any noted issues with leverage and lateral movement can be ironed out, considering he’ll be under the tutelage of arguably the best offensive line coach in the NFL, Hall of Famer Mike Munchak.

5th Round – 150th pick: S Marcus Allen – Penn State

One of the reasons for this pick is tackling, something that the Steelers have made as an emphasis this offseason. Allen is a traditional ‘in the box’, hard-hitting safety that takes a linebacker-type approach when supporting the run. His high-tempo and aggressive style will be a welcome addition to team that struggled mightily in finishing tackles last season. Allen is limited when it comes to coverage; he will need to develop better footwork and hips in order to be an asset in this area. All in all, Allen does have attributes that could make him a future starter, but he will definitely need to work with newly hired defensive backs coach Tom Bradley in order to fix his coverage issues.

5th Round – 167th pick: TE Jaylen Samuels – NC State

Considering Samuel does not possess the traditional height and weight for the tight end position, Samuel is essentially a hybrid fullback, as he is equally adept to both catching and running with the football. Apart from being a multi-purpose offensive player, he is a very capable special teams player as he was also used last season to return punts and kicks. With tight ends Vance McDonald, Jesse James, and Xavier Grimble currently on the roster, Samuels’s best bet to make the roster would have to be on special teams and potentially as a fullback in zone scheme situations.

7th Round – 246th pick: DT Joshua Frazier – Alabama

This draft pick was inevitable, as it was reported Frazier was meeting and dining with Colbert and Tomlin before Alabama’s Pro Day in March. The addition of Frazier puts the future of current roster lineman Daniel McCullers in doubt. Frazier was a relatively unknown defensive player on a defense that featured standouts such as Ronnie Harrison and Evans, but played an effective role in stopping the run and was adept to taking on double teams. He brings good size, energy, and moves well for his size. This pick reunites him with former Alabama defensive line coach Karl Dunbar, who played a significant role in recruiting Frazier to the Steelers.

Undrafted Free Agents: (From Steelers.com)

The post NFL Draft Recap – 2018 Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Class appeared first on The Point of Pittsburgh.

Several years ago, I wrote about how “pre-draft dinners with potential draft picks” was a good indicator about whom the Steelers might actually draft.  To a degree, I was trying to be funny… because  “funny” is my style of choice in the majority of my articles.  But, truth be told, there was indeed a ton of truth in what I wrote.

That aforementioned article, in a nutshell, stated that during the 2013 pre-draft visits, Mike Tomlin had eaten dinner with Le’Veon Bell and then, when the draft came around, the Steelers did indeed draft Bell.  Ergo, using “dinners” as a basis, I created an entire 2015 mock draft based solely on the players with whom the Steelers had eaten dinner.

In that 2015 article, one of the players whom I listed who had eaten dinner with Mike Tomlin, was none other than Bud Dupree (even though I did not actually mock him to the Steelers in my Dinner Takes All mock draft).  Lo & behold, a month after that dinner (and a few days after my mock draft) the Steelers drafted Dupree.

In 2016, a very similar thing occurred: Mike Tomlin ate dinner with Artie Burns… and then, the Steelers drafted him.

In 2017, Mike Tomlin ate dinner with T.J. Watt… voila!!! the Steelers drafted him, as well.

I may not be the smartest man, but I noticed a pattern that was developing with those picks.  In case you missed it, let me make this as simple as possible: if the Steelers have dinner with a player, the odds are that they will indeed draft that player.  So, in order to create a Steelers mock draft for this upcoming draft, the obvious next step was to look at with which draftees the Steelers have eaten dinner during this off-season.  Here is the list:

-Jessie Bates III, safety, Wake Forest

-Derrius Guice, running back, LSU

-James Washington, wide receiver, Oklahoma St.

-Leighton Vander Esch, linebacker, Boise St.

-Lamar Jackson, quarterback, Louisville

-Ronnie Harrison, safety, Alabama

-Rashaan Evans, linebacker, Alabama

Jessie Bates III, safety, Wake Forest

Bates is your typical “centerfielder” type of safety; he plays deep, and allows nothing to get past him.  After watching eight seasons where Ryan Clark allowed a total of nine deep passes, juxtaposed to four seasons where Mike Mitchell seemingly allowed nine deep passes in every single game (note: statistics may be skewed for dramatic effect), I would love nothing better than to have a free safety who keeps everything in front of him.

That said, Bates is equivalent to the “deep threat” wide receiver: Bates is great at what he does best (patrolling the deep routes / not allowing anything to get past him), but I am not sure he is as good at run support and blitzing.  On most teams, their free safety would not be asked to do much of those two activities, but for a free safety who would play for the Steelers, those two things would be a huge part of the his responsibilities.

Derrius Guice, running back, LSU

First of all, allow me to dispel the “rumor” that Guice has character issues.  Follow me on this progression.

-Team X asks Guice if he is gay.
-Guice mentions that this question was asked.
-Roger Goodell reprimands Team X.
-Team X leaks a rumor that Guice has “character issues”.

Once again, I may not be the smartest man, but my deductive reasoning says that Team X is akin to a five-year-old who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar, and is trying to blame it on his baby brother.  In other words, aside from playing Fortnite, Guice has no character issues.

As far as running ability goes, some say that Guice is the best “runner” in the draft (with Saquon Barkley being the better “all around” back.)  I am not sure that I would go that far, but Guice is indeed a viable replacement for Le’Veon Bell… as well as a realistic candidate to be Pittsburgh’s first round pick.

James Washington, wide receiver, Oklahoma St.

Every Steeler fan’s first reaction to a wide receiver is: Why!?!  I hear you, because the Steelers already have Antonio Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster.  But, after this season, the odds are that Martavis Bryant will leave via free agency, and that would leave the Steelers with only those first two receivers on the roster.  I understand that many teams would be envious of having those two receivers, but the Steelers routinely go three- and four-deep at receiver; ergo, drafting another receiver would, in fact, fill a need.

In my opinion, Washington fits with what the Steelers look for in a receiver: he is fast and he fights for the ball.  Speed: at the Senior Bowl practices, no other top-tier receiver continuously played as fast as Washington.  Sure, there were many receivers who had faster forty times, but when helmets were involved, Washington was the only top-tier receiver who maintained that speed.  As far as fighting for the ball goes, in my opinion, Washington made Mason Rudolph look better than he is; on many throws, Rudolph would simply float a ball towards his dynamic receiver, and Washington would fight for (and catch) the pass.  Despite both of those positives about Washington, I think that pick 28 is too early for him (but, I would not be surprised at all if he was the pick at 60).

Leighton Vander Esch, linebacker, Boise St.

As everyone already knows, Vander Esch has been my guy for a while. In a nutshell, Vander Esch has some work to do (disengaging from blocks), but there is not a better coverage-linebacker in this draft.  Vander Esch would start immediately as a dime/coverage linebacker, as he learns & matures.  The Point of Pittsburgh’s Kelechi Anozie thinks similarly about Vander Esch.

Alas, after Vander Esch’s impressive Combine, he suddenly became the “player du jour”, lining up over a dozen (literally) dinners and/or private meetings with almost every team drafting between picks 11 – 28.  Technically, Mike Tomlin did not eat dinner with Vander Esch (only Jerry Olsavsky did), but that was because inclement weather derailed Tomlin’s flight.  Coincidentally, just like Tomlin missed out on that dinner, I expect the Steelers to miss out on Vander Esch (i.e. he will get drafted before pick 28).

Lamar Jackson, quarterback, Louisville

Having dinner with Jackson was no easy feat, because his mother is his agent and she sort of botched up the entire pre-draft process for her son.  Regardless, Tomlin ate dinner with Jackson, which adds Jackson’s name to this list.  As I have previously discussed, I am a huge fan of what Jackson can become.  (Greg Cosell, who I admire & respect, analyzes Jackson far better than I ever could).  In a nutshell, I feel that Jackson will become what Michael Vick was “supposed” to be.  That said, I see no way that he drops far enough for the Steelers to draft him.

Ronnie Harrison, safety, Alabama

I list Harrison, because technically, he had dinner with Tomlin.  That said, that dinner also included seven other of his teammates, including Minkah Fitzpatrick (who will go top ten), Rashaan Evans (who I will discuss next), and Josh Frazier (who, apparently, was the focal-point of Tomlin’s attention).  To make a long story short, Harrison is good, but not great, in coverage, and he is a willing tackler in run support.  In my opinion, he would be a strong safety in the NFL; ergo, drafting Harrison would mean moving Sean Davis to free safety, which is fine, because Davis is able to play any position in the secondary.  That said, I think that other players in this draft are a far better “value” at 28.

Rashaan Evans, inside linebacker, Alabama

Evans is a “plug & play” linebacker: a finished product who would start day one.  The problem is that he would not really “improve” much as his career continues.  I equate Evans to CJ Mosley: immediate starter, who excelled early and then, plateaued.  Do not get me wrong: Mosley was (and Evans is) a solid B+/A- linebacker.  That said, Ryan Shazier took a few years to get up to speed, but once he got there, he surpassed Mosley.  Likewise, I foresee Vander Esch surpassing Evans by year three; thus, if Vander Esch is available, he would be the long-term choice.  But, the Steelers also would not be wrong if they drafted Evans.

Furthermore, by all accounts & purposes, Evans “should” be the pick.  He checks all of the boxes:

-position of need
-not a reach
-safe pick
-great player
-even better person
-private meeting at the Combine
-sat down to dinner with Mike Tomlin

But…

My mind keeps going back to the Shazier pick, in 2014, when the Steelers merely “met” with Ryan (they did not eat dinner with him).  That said, they showed quite a bit of interest in him.  Fast-forwarding to 2018, while no dinners were involved, the Steelers have spent a significant amount of time with each of the following players: Mason Rudolph and Justin Reid.

Mason Rudolph, quarterback, Oklahoma St.

Physically speaking, Rudolph has everything that you could want in an NFL quarterback: big in stature, strong arm, can make all of the throws.  But, as I have averred for a while, Rudolph tends to float his passes.  Looking more closely, those errant passes came when he did not use his legs (used his arm-strength only) which occurred when he felt pressure.  Juxtapose that with Ben Roethlisberger, who stands tall in the pocket and/or moves just enough to buy himself enough time to plant his feet and throw.  In other words, when there is no pressure, Rudolph is as good as they come.  But, when there is pressure (and, trust me: in the NFL there WILL be pressure) Rudolph looks pedestrian at best.

Justin Reid, safety, Stanford

Yes!!!  Besides my man crush on Leighton Vander Esch, the other player who is on that same plateau is Justin Reid.  As I have mentioned in a previous article, Reid has the potential to be the best safety in this draft class. The kicker is that Steelers met with Reid at the Combine as well as having had a private visit.

Game.
Set.
Match.

SUMMATION:

Without further ado, with the 28th pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select…

R1:  Justin Reid, safety, Stanford

Alright, alright… the peanut gallery can quiet down.  It is not like I would have finagled my own mock draft in order to make sure that the guy that I wanted would drop to the Steelers.  When is there an example of that happening?  (cough, Karl Joseph, cough).  Fair enough.  I will give you that one.  Besides Karl Joseph, when have I ever stretched my mock draft so that a player would land where I wanted them?  (ahem, Marcus Peters, ahem).  Well, Marcus Peters goes without saying, doesn’t he?  Besides Karl Joseph and Marcus Peters… (achoo, Jabrill Peppers, achoo).  Okay, I get it (hurph, Deone Bucannon, hurph).  Alright, alright.  Besides Jabrill Peppers, AND Marcus Peters, AND Karl Joseph, AND Deone Bucannon… when have I manipulated my mock draft in a way that a player would slip to down the Steelers ?  (cough, Matt Elam, cough)  Ugh… do shut up!!!

With the first round out of the way, allow me to move on to the rest of the picks.  I will not be sticking strictly to “dinners” as the end all / be all for selecting a player.  That said, I will indeed only be mocking players who came in for visits and/or had private meetings with the Steelers.

R2:  Kerryon Johnson, running back, Auburn

I really want to make this pick be Frank Ragnow, (guard/center, Arkansas).  Last season, he allowed only three hurries on 488 snaps.  A guard is not a flashy pick, but think about it this way: there is a significant possibility that guard and center are going to be huge needs after 2018. If the Steelers win the Super Bowl, I would bet that  Ben Roethlisberger retire and, so does Maurkice Pouncey. With Ramon Foster aging/not having a contract after 2018, that would leave the Steelers with B.J. Finney at guard and Diddly Squat at center.  So, yeah, I am fine with picking Ragnow.

But… as far as dinners go, the Steelers did not take Ragnow to dinner.  Furthermore, only a random scout attended Arkansas’ pro day.  Ergo, there are zero signs that Ragnow would be the pick.  Instead, I will go with the player who had the honor of having the first meeting with the Steelers at the Combine: Kerryon Johnson.  For further analysis, check out the write-up by The Point of Pittsburgh’s own, Kelechi Anozie.

R3:  Fred Warner, inside linebacker, BYU

Warner played outside linebacker at BYU, but much like Lawrence Timmons (and James Farrior), he may actually be better suited to play inside linebacker.  Jerome Baker could be the pick, if he is still available, because Mike Tomlin did spend a sizable amount of time with Baker at Ohio State’s pro day.  But, Warner had a formal, sit down meeting with the Steelers at the Senior Bowl… and, Warner’s sit-down trumps Baker’s pro day conversation.

R5:  Will Dissly, tight end, Washington

He did not have dinner with the Steelers, but he was one of seven tight ends that the Steelers met with at the Combine.  That large number of meetings with tight ends signifies that, at some point, a tight end will indeed be drafted.  But, which one?  No dinners nor private meetings were scheduled; so, the tie-breaker was that a large number of Steelers coaches attended Washington’s pro day.

R5:  Shaun Dion Hamilton, inside linebacker, Alabama

Hamilton was one of the eight Alabama players who had dinner with Tomlin.  If not for missing last season with a fractured kneecap, Hamilton would have been one of the top-rated inside linebackers in this draft.  Not only is Hamilton worth the gamble, adding another inside linebacker provides much-needed depth to a position that saw a player come in off of the street (Sean Spence) and start in a playoff game.

R7:  Joshua Frazier, nose tackle, Alabama

Not only was Josh Frazier at that Alabama pro day dinner, the reports were that Frazier garnered much of Tomlin’s attention.  In short, Frazier replaces Dan “Unreached Potential” McCullers on the depth chart.

R7:  Justin Watson, wide receiver, Penn

As I already stated, I would not be shocked if the Steelers added a receiver earlier in the draft.  That said, the Steelers already have an impressive top three (Brown, Smith-Schuster, Bryant) which allows them the luxury of not taking a receiver until now, wherein they take a flyer on a small-school prospect.  Watson set all sorts of Ivy League records, impressed at his pro day, and had a private meeting with the Steelers.  Additionally, he is the tall, red-zone type of receiver for whom Ben routinely requests gets added to the roster.

RECAP:

R1:  Justin Reid, safety, Stanford

R2:  Kerryon Johnson, running back, Auburn

R3:  Fred Warner, inside linebacker, BYU

R5:  Will Dissly, tight end, Washington

R5:  Shaun Dion Hamilton, inside linebacker, Alabama

R7:  Josh Frazier, nose tackle, Alabama

R7:  Justin Watson, wide receiver, Penn

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