Steelers Get Gift As DeCastro Falls In First Round

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: As a result of the Steelers' pick of offensive guard David DeCastro, Heinz Field will now be serving up pancakes on game days!

Pancake blocks, that is.

The NFL so dominates the American sports consciousness that even it's ancillary events get national attention. That was on full display Thursday, April 26th as the NFL held the 2012 version of its annual draft. A draft that saw the Pittsburgh Steelers, like an early Christmas gift, have DeCastro fall to them.

If the second round follows suit, I'd like to put in a request for Amini Silatolu or Mychal Kendricks to fall as well...and season tickets. Just sayin'...

I'm not sure whether or not the Steelers are still smiling like the cat who stole the canary over DeCastro falling to them, but they must be ecstatic.

There's no specific reason as to why DeCastro fell the way he did, but the Steelers won't argue. Just like they didn't in 1987 or in 2004. But maybe the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review's own Mark Kaboly said it best when he said, "The Steelers didn't pick DeCastro. The 23 teams ahead of them picked DeCastro for the Steelers."

Either way, they'll take it.

Decastro, who is 6'5" 315 lbs with 32 3/8" arms, is an extremely polished guard who started for three straight years at Stanford. He finished his collegiate career with 316 knockdowns and 68 touchdown-resulting blocks. He's NFL-ready, has surgeon-like technique, gets to the second and third levels very well and will likely be serving up pancake blocks for years to come.

Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said that DeCastro was one of the seven to ten prospects that the Steelers had identified as "surefire" NFL players before the draft, because he “has no holes” in his game. He also said DeCastro was a player that the Steelers had identified as one they would trade up for.

Thankfully, it never came to that.

DeCastro can pull too. Which means keep on running the counter draw to his opposite side like they did with Kemoeatu.

Colbert said on another occasion that taking DeCastro doesn't "preclude" the Steelers picking another offensive lineman the rest of the draft (like Amini Silatolu maybe).

As a point of amusement, DeCastro, a Washington native, grew up rooting for the Seahawks and cheered for them in Super Bowl XL.

"I wasn't the biggest Steelers fan growing up. You beat us in Super Bowl XL. Now I am the biggest Steelers fan there is."

All is forgiven, David.

With all that has been written about him already, there's no reason to rehash what has been repeatedly said. So, here's some reading and viewing pleasure for you. Hopefully it'll to hold you over until the 2nd and 3rd rounds:

PG Plus Blog: Ed: Steelers Were Willing to Trade to Get DeCastro http://t.co/O0exd0hD 

David DeCastro Highlight Reel http://t.co/nbO73Gjq 

David DeCastro Bio http://www.blogger.com/goog_1396714019

Steelers Video: Steelers pick David DeCastro No. 24 http://t.co/EnxUBzFv