Speed And Power - Day 3 & UDFAs: Did The Draft Improve The Steelers?

"This time, I think we might...take our chances with the other guy from Clemson. Not Sammy [Watkins], but the other receiver from Clemson [in the second round]," said Taylor," Steelers cornerback Ike Taylor said this past April 22 on his TribLiveRadio show. (brackets ours)

Better late than never. 

It was actually with their fourth pick of the 2014 NFL Draft, that the Pittsburgh Steelers selected wide receiver Martavis Bryant from the University of Clemson. The very wideout that we at If It Ain't Steel had been clamoring for on social media and in a blog article as early as immediately after his performance at the NFL Combine. - http://ifitaintsteel.blogspot.com/2014/03/steelers-post-combine-nfl-draft-look.html?m=1

Since then, however, we have done our due diligence with an even deeper research on the man. After watching approximately 30 minutes of highlights with no sound or influence, this is what we saw:

He has great straight away speed and break away speed. His route-running ability is still about average, but he got better as the season went on, which is in his favor. He is fairly adept at the fly, drag, 7, 8 and 9 routes. When he runs those curl routes, though, they aren't tight enough. He needs to be taught to make much harder cuts and sell them to keep NFL CBs off of him. Also, as we already knew, he catches too many balls with his body. 

He needs to be more aggressive at going after the ball, but has a high catch radius and gets the ball at its apex. His blocking ability is also wanting, but his overall ability, upside and potential are very promising. 

Steelers WR Coach Richard Mann likes him also, saying that they "got a big WR, something different than we have now. A guy I've been hunting. Been wanting a tall WR all draft." Mann also pointed out that if Bryant had stayed in college another year that he "could've been a first-round pick." 

Bryant gives the Steelers a tall receiving threat who is also a big-play threat. And though he averaged just under 20 yards per catch in his college career, Mann pointed out that "he'll be a great weapon in the red zone for us." 

There has been a number of articles written that purport that Bryant could start game one next season. Is that true, Mann?

"I don't think that it's fair to him to say that he will start. You have to come in and work."

That's what we think, too. As do Antonio Brown and Markus Wheaton. 

The next pick that brought the Bizarro World reference in part one of this two-part article was cornerback Shaquille Richardson out of Arizona. The 6'0", 194-pound CB ran a 4.43/40 at his Pro Day and has been clocked as fast as a 4.38/40.

Smooth athlete whose skill set -- great size and length, good wingspan, great in zone but can play man and often wins at the line of scrimmage, more consistency is needed in his technique but has good ball skills, has the ability to trigger off of his backpedal, fills the gaps and lanes against the run, and also played on special teams -- reflects head coach Mike Tomlin's words after the draft regarding playmakers. 

"You covet speed, but it's football not a track meet. If you get a capable football player who happens to be fast, it's an asset.”

Steelers defensive backs coach Carnell Lake likes Richardson's size and speed also, mimicking the sentiments of his being good in coverage. He should like him, though, Lake recruited Richardson when Lake was an assistant coach at UCLA. 

Lake and defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau both say that CB wasn't as pressing a need as perceived. 

"We have more numbers there than people realize," LeBeau said. "We may have great players in building and they haven't had chance to show us." Lake echoed those words saying that Brice McCain and Antwon Blake will help Steelers. - http://ifitaintsteel.blogspot.com/2014/04/steelers-sign-brice-mccain-bring-in.html

With their second compensatory pick, the Steelers next took OT/OG Wesley Johnson from Vanderbilt. 

At 6-5, First Team All-SEC OLineman has nice height and strength, but isn't quite 300 pounds. He'll need to gain more muscle and overall weight to survive in the NFL. His versatility, though, makes him potentially very valuable, much like Kelvin Beachum before him. - http://tinyurl.com/pfkuaak

We had mentioned Jordan Zumwalt as a Steelers possibility in a previous piece written after the NFL Combine because he's a taller, versatile linebacker (6'4") with fairly good length who played multiple linebacker positions in college. 

He's agile with good laterally movement, acceleration, and the ability to elude blockers in space. He shows good technique keeping his shoulders square to the line of scrimmage and can be disruptive in the backfield in blitzes. Lacks NFL-caliber strength, but loves to hit and can deliver blows harder than his frame would seem to indicate. - http://tinyurl.com/mvhs66k

Daniel McCullers, the Steelers 2nd 6th round selection, is a behemoth of a defensive tackle out of Tennessee. He stands nearly 6'7" and tips the scales at 352 pounds. - http://ifitaintsteel.blogspot.com/2014/03/secondary-may-be-key-but-steelers.html

After the selection, Steelers defensive line coach John Mitchell made the understatement of the year: "Daniel is a big kid."

In related news, water is wet, fire is hot and Donald Sterling is a bigot. 

McCullers is so big he's on both sides of the family. 

McCullers is so big, he uses the Tennessee interstate as a Slip `n Slide when it rains. 

McCullers is so big that the last time he jumped for joy he got stuck. 

McCullers projects as a space-eating nose tackle (and eating damn near e'erything else), but is bigger than what the Steelers are used to at the position. Coming out of college, both Casey Hampton (6'1", 320 LBs) and Joel Steed (6'2", 300 LBs) were much shorter and smaller than Mount McCullers. 

And as far as his space eater attributes, we definitely need a true plug at nose guard, but the Steelers were in their sub packages most of the time last season (60%-65% of the time). That means, on average he'd only be on the field for about one, maybe two, out of three downs. He'd have to be incredibly agile and athletic to warrant staying on the field in those sub packages, something which he is not. 

As The Sports Xchange said of him, the "Steelers want their nose tackles to eat up blocks and McCullers is big enough to eat up several. He is the biggest man on their roster right now. A little tall for nose tackle, so playing low will be a test for him."

He does have good potential and upside, though. McCullers at times would practically bully opponents and it's a $22 cab fare to get around him, slowing down the ball carrier and allowing time for LBs to get to the point of attack. - http://tinyurl.com/lrne4mj

Rob Blanchflower, a 6'4", 256-pound tight end out of UMass, was the Steelers' final pick of the 2014 NFL Draft. - http://tinyurl.com/n323rau

Overall grade for the Steelers' 2014 draft at this point(ITALICS) would have to be a B+ -- still could've and should've gotten another cornerback, but that's probably the worst we can say considering that all other needs were addressed. Good job, Colbert & Co., you definitely improved the team. Now bring on the season. 

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TIDBITS: The Steelers minicamp is May 16-18. These are players you will also see there:

UDFAs: On offense: QB Brendon Kay (Cincinnati), TE Eric Waters (Missouri), OT Kaycee Ike (UAB), G Will Simmons (East Carolina) and G Chris Elkins (Youngstown State).

On defense: DE Josh Mauro (Stanford), DE Ethan Hemer (Wisconsin), LB Howard Jones (Shepherd) and DT Roy Philon (Louisville).

S Jake DeMedal (St. Francis) and DB Devon Carrington (Stanford) have tryouts with the Steelers, and Penn State OL Adam Gress will also work out with the Steelers at rookie minicamp this weekend. - http://tinyurl.com/oevq4wv

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2014 Steelers Draft Class Twitter handles and what Jersey #'s we Know:
Ryan Shazier: #50 @RyanShazier
Stephon Tuitt: #91 @DOCnation_7
Dri Archer: @Dri_Archer1
Martavis Bryant: #10 @ThaBestUNO
Wes Johnson: @wjohnson67
Shaq Richardson: @Dr4_Richh
Jordan Zumalt: Not on Twitter
Daniel McCullers: @_BIGDAN98
Rob Branchflower: @Rob_Blanch

Thanks to Matt Vargo for doing the leg work on these. 

Secondary May Be Key, But Steelers Cannot Neglect Defensive Line

After the end of the annual Beefcake Bonanza, aka the NFL Scouting Combine, If It Ain't Steel started to write several articles covering the Pittsburgh Steelers' positions of need in May's NFL Draft.

We wrote about the Steelers' needs at both linebacker spots. Needs that were quelled somewhat by the signing of Arthur Moats whose proclivity is particularly on the outside, though he is versatile enough to play inside as well. - http://ifitaintsteel.blogspot.com/2014/03/a-look-at-steelers-linebackers-and-post_7.html

Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery, exit stage left. Enter understudy sophomore wideout Markus Wheaton and veteran Lance Moore. They can also further deepen the position in a big way with possible draft selections like Mike Evans, Martavis Bryant, Jordan Matthews or maybe even an Eric Ebron. - http://ifitaintsteel.blogspot.com/2014/03/steelers-post-combine-nfl-draft-look.html

We also covered the possibility of drafting a safety, though that is now unlikely, at least in the first several rounds, with the Steelers grabbing former Carolina Panthers safety Mike Mitchell in free agency. - http://ifitaintsteel.blogspot.com/2014/03/addressing-secondary-post-nfl-combine.html

That, along with the re-signing of free safety Will Allen, the restructuring of strong safety Troy Polamalu, and Polamalu's heir apparent in Shamarko Thomas, allows the Steelers to focus elsewhere in the draft.

Mitchell's signing and then also that of defensive tackle Cam Thomas effectively takes players like Ha'Sean Clinton-Dix and Louis Nix III off the board for the Steelers at the 15th pick. That leaves said focus to be on the position of cornerback. - http://ifitaintsteel.blogspot.com/2014/02/post-nfl-combine-at-steelers-draft.html

The need to get better in the secondary can't be overstated, as the Steelers were tied for 5th in the NFL for the fewest takeaways in 2013 with 20 and even worse in interceptions with 10 only. So, for now, the piece we wrote on whom we believe best fits the Steelers' scheme at cornerback seems now to be even more relevant. 

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin certainly believes that the secondary is a key area of need, though he isn't neglecting the rest of the defense. He understands the need to be flexible in the way they attack. 

“We have to be multiple,” Tomlin said at the owners meetings this past week. “We have to be capable of providing pressure, but more importantly than that, [we] have to be able to provide pressure with four [players] or less. I think that’s what gives you the flexibility to be something to deal with.” (brackets ours)

The reason he says they have to be able to pressure with four or fewer players is because of the increase in sub packages because of pass-happy offenses. 

“I think in today’s NFL it’s about situational football and what offenses do, and how many receivers they have on the field,” Tomlin also said. “Often times, we spend a lot of time in sub-package football, whether you are a 3-4 or a 4-3. In today’s NFL, most times you have five or six defensive backs on the field.”

Whether in the Nickel, Dime or Quarters packages, the Steelers did have as many as six defensive backs on the field between 60%-65% of the time in 2013. A definite increase over previous years and one that causes defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau to construct a speed bump to slow these high-powered offenses. 

"You're going to see these up-tempo offenses more and more across the league," said LeBeau in an offseason interview. "So very early during our practice sessions, the offense will go a lot of no-huddle attack so our guys get comfortable with not only their up-tempo conditioning, but they get comfortable with the mechanics of getting the call relayed when you can't get huddled up. You need to practice that because the up-tempo is another tool offenses have now to pressure defenses."

This means that holding the point of attack becomes even more paramount. So does, as Tomlin alluded to, doing the same or more with less. The core of any and all teams lie in the offensive and defensive lines. The defensive line, therefore, definitely needs to be addressed. - http://tinyurl.com/knmuus3

As was said before, such a pick won't happen very early in the draft. There is, however, value to be found as early as the third and as late as the sixth round. Look, in that case, for names such as:

Daniel McCullers, DT/DE, Tennessee: 6'7", 352 LBs, 225-LB Bench Press 27 reps (3th-4th Round) - McCullers is big for even NFL standards. He isn't overly quick or explosive, and is about four or five inches too tall for a nose tackle in the Steelers scheme. However, he is a very good athlete for his size, moves his feet well in space and plugs holes well. With nine picks in May's draft, it could be worth taking a trip to Mount McCullers. - http://youtu.be/ZuFq87B0RNs

JUSTIN ELLIS, (pictured) DT/NT, Louisiana Tech: 6'2", 334 LBs, Bench 25 reps (3rd-4th Round) - "I love playing nose tackle," says Ellis. The true NT has quick and active hands to ward off blockers, and a thick-but-agile lower body that makes it tough for blockers to keep hold of him, per Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com. Think Joel Steed or Casey Hampton. - http://tinyurl.com/n5rsgj6

Ryan Carrethers, DT, Arkansas State: 6'1", 337 LBs, Bench 32 reps (5th-6th Round) - 2013 All-Sun Belt 1st Team and a real value pick for the Steelers if he falls to one of their four selections 5th and 6th rounds. - http://youtu.be/p4Xo6OfbeAU

Deandre Coleman, DE, California: 6'5", 314 LBs, Bench 24 reps (5th-6th Round) - A DE in an NFL 3-4 defense, Coleman has the power and athleticism that Steelers D-Line coach John Mitchell can definitely use to mold. And as NFLDraftScout.com states, "Coleman's value in the NFL will come as a run-stuffing presence." - http://youtu.be/NrbV4sJ5Ca8

Holding the point of attack, rushing the quarterback and creating turnovers is what is basically being said and what was once the core of the Steelers defense. 

These free agent moves juxtaposed by a mirror-like draft can be the petard which hoists them back there - with the fuse being lit by the defensive line.