The NFL Combine has become so much more than just a player evaluation tool. It’s literally the pro football version of the Catalina Wine Mixer. Deals are suggested, deals are thrown back and forth and deals are made. And there’s a whole lot of other stuff going on too. Here’s a recap of things you may have missed from the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL.
Quarterbacks
I firmly believe that Mike Tomlin and possibly even Art Rooney II feel that they are closer to a postseason run than most of us are. Therefore, I won’t be surprised if they make a deal for a QB. There’s nothing I can do about how Tomlin feels about his team but me personally? I’m not crazy about giving up high picks especially for a guy like Matthew Stafford and I honestly don’t know why he’d want to come to Pittsburgh right now anyway.
The Tush Push
I have always been against this for the major reason that it is not a football play. It’s rugby plain and simple. Football is about moving guys without the ball out of the way so that the guy with the ball can advance forward. It has never been about literally shoving – or in some cases – lifting the ball carrier forward.
I get the argument as to why the NFL may not ban it. They rarely do anything that hinders scoring points. Like it or not, the NFL wants points in the regular season to appease the fantasy players and the sports books.
A fair compromise could be to have only one person be in contact with the player taking the snap. I say “player taking the snap” because it isn’t always the QB. I’m not in favor of this but it’s far better than three guys getting in behind the ball carrier. The ‘Tush Push’ takes creativity out of fourth down calls too but as I suggested, the NFL will likely keep this.
Steelers Potential Prospects
Dane Brugler, the NFL Draft expert at The Athletic, pointed out a couple of guys “with something to prove” who are likely on the Steelers’ radar. One is Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant. Many see him as a second round guy, but his testing could very well push him into the first round. Jaylin Noel is a wide receiver from Iowa State who doesn’t have the type of size you want necessarily in a boundary receiver but he possesses a ton of skills the Steelers would love. He’s got great hands and has the type of speed the Steelers desperately need.
