Good Monday to you Steelers’ Fans!
If you’re here to look for my Draft grade for the Steelers you’ll get no such thing. I have a hard time giving a grade to players before I see them play and how they fit with the Steelers. Rather, I will give you my thoughts on each guy drafted.
Terrell Edmunds – Complete versatility here. Measured off the charts athletically and can do a number of things on D. He is the surest sign that this defensive scheme is changing. He’s been around football locker rooms his entire life. He should be able to get comfortable quickly.
James Washington – Black belt, tennis player and farmer. He’s a darn good receiver too. Built like a safety or running back, Washington has long arms and separates from DBs faster than you think. Going to have to work on his blocking but Coach Drake specializes in that.
Mason Rudolph – Huge numbers at OSU throwing to the guy above. Throws a great deep ball and spends a lot of time on film and preparation. I would have preferred a linebacker here but the Steelers followed their board. No guarantee he’s the “heir apparent” but clearly that’s why they drafted him.
Chukwuma Okorafor – He was seen as a late first rounder early in the draft process but slipped due to technique and strength issues. This is probably the Steelers’ most puzzling selection but it does make you wonder about Jerald Hawkins and Marcus Gilbert who has missed significant time. Okorafor will get great tutelage from Mike Munchak so perhaps the sky is the limit.
Marcus Allen – Big time hitter and tackler. Coverage skills are a concern and why he fell so far. Another sign as to how the defense is changing.
Jaylen Samuels – This could be a really intriguing pick. Samuels is a man without a position. He’s not quite a tight end or fullback or slot receiver or running back but he can do all of them. The Steelers have classified him as a running back for now but I’m curious to see how Randy Fichtner uses him.
Joshua Frazier – This guy is pretty one-dimensional in that he appears to be a run-stopper only. The fact that he re-joins Karl Dunbar, his position coach at Alabama could pay dividends for him in terms of development and making the team.
Tweet of the day… No explanation needed.
“Can I copy your homework?”
“Yeah, just make sure you change it up a bit so it doesn’t look obvious you copied”
“Ok” pic.twitter.com/kO9BQWsa4y
— Penguins Jesus (@PenguinsJesus) April 29, 2018
I’m very excited about Wendell Dunn signing a free agent deal with the Steelers. He is a tremendous young man and a guy we were fortunate enough to interview a few weeks ago. Check that out here. And here is the complete list of Undrafted Free Agents signed by the Steelers.
Parker Cothren, DT, Penn State… Jarvion Franklin, RB, Western Michigan… Greg Gilmore, DE, LSU… Quadree Henderson,WR, Pitt… Trey Johnson, CB, Villanova, Pharoah McKever, TE, NC State… Patrick Morris, C, TCU… Ikenna Nwokeji, OL, Elon… Olasunkanmi Adeniyi, LB, Toledo… Carl Schleuger, G, UAB… Jamar Summers, CB, UCONN… Matthew Thomas, LB, Florida St… Kendal Vickers, DE, Tennessee
The guy to keep an eye on is Thomas. I know we really liked him and most had him around the fifth round.
I’m going to discuss this in a lot more detail this week but the Steelers are clearly in the midst of a change not just defensively but I believe culturally as well. If you look at comments by Mike Tomlin about touchdown celebrations, the trading of Martavis Bryant, the lack of movement with Le’Veon Bell, there is most definitely change afoot.
Have a great Monday Steeler Nation!
3 comments
Personally, I am over Bell. He is a GREAT running back, to be sure, and an offensive weapon that defenses MUST plan for….but he is bringing too much drama to the team, in my opinion. Martavis Bryant brought drama…they traded him. Santonio Holmes brought drama….they traded him. LeGarrette Blount brought drama…they cut him. All three good players, and they found ways to win without all of them. My opinion may not be a popular one, but I think it’s time we move on from Bell.
Bell is a product of give all the carries to this guy. To the total of 3.9 yards per carry. With us sitting as the 20th best rushing team. Do you really think he needs rewarded with 18 million a year?
Exactly!