Colbert, Tomlin, And Haley At LSU Pro Day Today

Tomlin, Colbert, and Haley were at LSU's Pro Day today. http://thesteelersfans.com/2352/mike-tomlin-kevin-colbert-attend-lsu-pro-day/

Odell Beckham Jr. was on Sirius this afternoon and said he had dinner with the team last night.

http://thesteelersfans.com/2361/audio-lsu-wr-odell-beckham-jr-dinner-steelers-last-night/

*Fixed wrong link.

 

I do like Beckham, and I just watched a few of his tapes to refresh my memory on him. He's very, very quick and adds excellent long speed as well. He has good hands, runs good routes and is very elusive immediately after the catch. The instant he catches the ball, he's in motion and it looks like he's covered with grease the way defenders have trouble getting him wrapped up. Also, throw in solid return ability to out icing on the cake. That said, I don't see him being the guy at #15. He's really good, but there are a lot of good receivers in this draft, and he's a similar player to what we already have in abundance. I probably wouldn't be unhappy if we took him at #15, but there's pretty much zero chance of him being my BPA that high.

Watching his games reminded me of two more things. 1) I really don't like Mettenberger. He makes more garbage throws that just about any "top prospect" of a QB I've ever seen. IMO he is living off of his arm strength and a great receiving corp who made him look better than he is. The tools are there, but he just makes to many bad decisions and inaccurate throws. In the Ole Miss game, he threw 3 ints into double coverage on Beckham - if I recall, all in the 1st quarter. In each case, the throw looked like ti was intended for the DB. 2. I LOVE Jarvis Landry. I don't care what his 40 time is. If he runs a 4.7 in shorts, then he loses zero speed in full pads while everyone around him is a tick or two slower. He's not super explosive, but he consistently gets separation, and once the ball is in the air, it's HIS.

 

I don't get the interest in Beckham. Personally, I would be much more interested in Jarvis Landry at #46, should we pass on WR in Round 1, which I expect us to do. The smoke & mirrors game that goes on this time of year is quite frankly a waste of time and resources.

 

IMO, Beckham & Matthews will be gone before #46. They are those late 1st/early 2nd type of guys. Moncrief would be available at #46 I believe, but I am thinking that's a touch early.

 

I don't know how to respond to the justifying their jobs stuff, but as to Beckham, I'd imagine they'd hope he was there at #46. Gotta get as much data on every prospect you can, regardless of where you think he might go. Beyond that, any intel you have on a player for the future is advantageous as well.

 

Just to make this point - because I see it on so many draft profiles nowadays:

Does having KR skills even matter anymore? To me it doesn't. Nearly 50% of all kickoffs were touchbacks in 2013.

http://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/kickoff-touchback-pct

Interesting stats in that link. Carolina had the highest percentage of kickoffs that were touchbacks (78%). We were second last (28%).

There is no doubt that the NFL is attempting to legislate out kickoff returns. I think in the future they will continue to move the line forward until kick offs are removed from the game in its entirety. Regardless, a player that goes out, catches the ball and drops a knee doesn't matter a whole lot to me anymore. Players like Devin Hester, who could only thrive on ST will be no more.

If you strictly compare Beckham to Landry as WRs only, Landry wins. I have seen him compared to Eric Decker and Michael Crabtree. To me, he has alot more of Hakeem Nicks in him (The Nicks of old I should say). Landry is a competitor who has made alot of tough catches over the year. He is a much more physical receiver. He is a much better blocker. He has better hands. What he lacks in speed, he more than makes up for in desire.

Assuming we didn't take a WR in Round 1, and assuming Jordan Matthews is already off the board, I would have a hard time not choosing Jarvis Landry at #46.

 

I'm inclined to think that the former is the most likely of those two choices. I'm not as high on Lee as many are, but the Santonio example is somewhat flawed to me in that he was the 25th pick in a receiver pool with a lot less depth than this one.

It wouldn't surprise me at all to learn that the Steelers didn't have Evans as high on their board as most believe.

 

Mac, I'll tell you what was missing with Matthews. QB play. He was limited in his route tree and use of timing patterns by mediocre QB ability. He pretty much had to run screens, crossing patterns, slants and the occasional go route. Yet he was highly productive.

 

Street and Matthews shouldn't be mentioned in the same paragraph. I'm not sure Street will make a NFL roster...

 

My Top 10 WRs:

1. Sammy Watkins
2. Mike Evans
3. Marqise Lee
4. Jordan Matthews
5. Jarvis Landry
6. Davante Adams
7. Brandin Cooks
8. Odell Beckham
9. Kelvin Benjamin
10. Donte Moncrief

I would take Watkins or Evans at #15, but they won't be around. I would think long and hard about Lee at #15, but I don't think I would do it. If #4-#9 are there at #46, I pull the trigger, although I still have serious concerns about Benjamin. I don't think I would take Moncrief at #46, but then again he won't be there by the time our 3rd round comp pick comes around either. There's still some good WRs not on this list that might still be available by the time #97 comes around, but now you are taking a risk.

My new draft strategy is either:

1. CB (Gilbert/Dennard/Roby)
2. WR (Matthews/Landry/Adams)
3. ILB (Jones/Borland/Smallwood)

or

1. ILB (Mosley/Shazier)
2. WR (Matthews/Landry/Adams)
3. CB (Purifoy/Baptiste/Desir)

I think this is how the value/need will best be represented.

 

I think Matthews is one of the best in the class and I don't see anyone talking about Robinson, I'd take him over most of these other guys being talked about in this thread.

 

Coleman? Come on, Aldo Nova. ... oops, I mean Gary Nova was stellar! (No green font on my phone...)

 

Gotcha, Mac. He's worth a later round flier, but I do think he's going to struggle getting off the LOS at the NFL level.