Interesting point on the 2008 draft class

Blast Furnace · Apr 21, 2013

I was reading a story about our 2008 draft class and it's responsibility for the position we find ourselves in ( http://www.post-gazette.com/stories...em-on-the-class-of-2008-684374/#ixzz2R7GL7ZcO ) but what I found most interesting was in the comments section and how it provides another view point about that draft.

"While it is very easy to say the '08 draft was dismal, and it was, IMO you must look at the whole draft-not just the Steelers picks-and see the true story. When I evaluate a "bust", I go back to that draft and look at 2 things-within 15-20 selections after the pick, is there a better player at the same position first, then I look for good players at any position. Looking at the 19 picks after Sweed, only 4 are still with their draft team...and only 1 is a starter for that team(Ray Rice). 20 picks after Bruce Davis is similar-only 3 are still with their draft team, 2 starters, and more than half are out of the league. So, while it is easy to criticize these picks, the pickings were extremely slim around them-not good draft depth. Mendenhall was not a bust. If not for injury and personality conflicts, he would still be a Steeler. Quick FYI-the NE Pats also whiffed on picks between Sweed and Davis. T. Wheatley and S. Crable were selected by the Pats between Sweed and Davis. Both were complete bust, also...out of the league, never productive. So, '08 draft was weak for most teams, not just Steelers..."

mac daddyo · Apr 21, 2013

Blast Furnace said: ↑

I was reading a story about our 2008 draft class and it's responsibility for the position we find ourselves in ( http://www.post-gazette.com/stories...em-on-the-class-of-2008-684374/#ixzz2R7GL7ZcO ) but what I found most interesting was in the comments section and how it provides another view point about that draft.

"While it is very easy to say the '08 draft was dismal, and it was, IMO you must look at the whole draft-not just the Steelers picks-and see the true story. When I evaluate a "bust", I go back to that draft and look at 2 things-within 15-20 selections after the pick, is there a better player at the same position first, then I look for good players at any position. Looking at the 19 picks after Sweed, only 4 are still with their draft team...and only 1 is a starter for that team(Ray Rice). 20 picks after Bruce Davis is similar-only 3 are still with their draft team, 2 starters, and more than half are out of the league. So, while it is easy to criticize these picks, the pickings were extremely slim around them-not good draft depth. Mendenhall was not a bust. If not for injury and personality conflicts, he would still be a Steeler. Quick FYI-the NE Pats also whiffed on picks between Sweed and Davis. T. Wheatley and S. Crable were selected by the Pats between Sweed and Davis. Both were complete bust, also...out of the league, never productive. So, '08 draft was weak for most teams, not just Steelers..."
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then we need better scouts. of course i've said this for many years. we have lost some of our top guys over the years including the rooney boys.

we need to get better in these area's, in either the scouts and coaches on the same page or just what type of players we look for. just because mel kiper has a guy ranked high, doesn't mean thats how we use him or fit him next to a guy already here as a compliment. where we are lacking at any one positions effectiveness and might want to add to it. brains,attitude,field smarts, athleticism, size,speed. do they play well with others. how will he react to alot of wealth thrown his way or not thrown his way.

there are alot of people involved with giving colbert info to make a pick.

is that the year we were in cash flow trouble, with the re-structure of the front office? maybe the scouting department didn't travel as much that year. there could be so many things we don't know about before the picks are sent in.

i have also said with the guys coming out younger as stars every year, it weakens drafts and their overall readiness as players. i still believe this. sure they are younger, but keeping them long enough to make them good players in your system is harder to do now. when they are ready, you can't pay them nowdays.

gpguy · Apr 21, 2013

Blast Furnace said: ↑

I was reading a story about our 2008 draft class and it's responsibility for the position we find ourselves in ( http://www.post-gazette.com/stories...em-on-the-class-of-2008-684374/#ixzz2R7GL7ZcO ) but what I found most interesting was in the comments section and how it provides another view point about that draft.

"While it is very easy to say the '08 draft was dismal, and it was, IMO you must look at the whole draft-not just the Steelers picks-and see the true story. When I evaluate a "bust", I go back to that draft and look at 2 things-within 15-20 selections after the pick, is there a better player at the same position first, then I look for good players at any position. Looking at the 19 picks after Sweed, only 4 are still with their draft team...and only 1 is a starter for that team(Ray Rice). 20 picks after Bruce Davis is similar-only 3 are still with their draft team, 2 starters, and more than half are out of the league. So, while it is easy to criticize these picks, the pickings were extremely slim around them-not good draft depth. Mendenhall was not a bust. If not for injury and personality conflicts, he would still be a Steeler. Quick FYI-the NE Pats also whiffed on picks between Sweed and Davis. T. Wheatley and S. Crable were selected by the Pats between Sweed and Davis. Both were complete bust, also...out of the league, never productive. So, '08 draft was weak for most teams, not just Steelers..."
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I've said for the last couple years...the a majority of the 08 Draft (not just the Steelers but the whole league) was one of the worst period.

Blast Furnace · Apr 21, 2013

Well that was just it, the entire draft class was slim pickings, you'd need scouts with crystal balls to have done better in that draft. Us and Green Bay are far an away the best drafting franchises in the league, think it's a little unfair to say we need better scouts. I think it's more important to get guys on the field quicker, especially now since we only have them for 4 years, I think that's the philosophy that needs to change.

Blast Furnace · Apr 21, 2013

gpguy said: ↑

I've said for the last couple years...the a majority of the 08 Draft (not just the Steelers but the whole league) was one of the worst period.
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Yeah I never realized that, never looked further then the Steelers, it's an excellent point, good catch

mac daddyo · Apr 21, 2013

Blast Furnace said: ↑

Well that was just it, the entire draft class was slim pickings, you'd need scouts with crystal balls to have done better in that draft. Us and Green Bay are far an away the best drafting franchises in the league, think it's a little unfair to say we need better scouts. I think it's more important to get guys on the field quicker, especially now since we only have them for 4 years, I think that's the philosophy that needs to change.
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that's all you took out of all i wrote?

how is it unfair to say we need better scouts? they have lost alot of good ones. they have been changed over the last several years. are we getting the same bang for the buck that we used to?

gpguy · Apr 21, 2013

Blast Furnace said: ↑

Yeah I never realized that, never looked further then the Steelers, it's an excellent point, good catch
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*takes a bow* I've always thought for that year it was unfair the single out just the Steelers...as out of the entire draft...you probably have only a couple handfuls of guys who ended up being worth anything (majority of them early first rounders). There were a TON of WR flops (especially that were 2nd round picks)...I think D. Jackson was like the only good WR to come out of the class...I think J Nelson was in there too but still thats about it...and people to this day won't let the Sweed thing go...it wasn't just the Steelers people...it was the entire league that year that bit the big one (minus those few selections).

Blast Furnace · Apr 21, 2013

mac daddyo said: ↑

that's all you took out of all i wrote?

how is it unfair to say we need better scouts? they have lost alot of good ones. they have been changed over the last several years. are we getting the same bang for the buck that we used to?
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, was there some deeper meaning there? I guess yes, if you want to be perfect with every pick then we need better scouts.

mac daddyo · Apr 21, 2013

Blast Furnace said: ↑

I'm sorry, was there some deeper meaning there? I guess yes, if you want to be perfect with every pick then we need better scouts.
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did i reference perfect anywhere?

this year they may have to be near perfect.

Blast Furnace · Apr 21, 2013

mac daddyo said: ↑

did i reference perfect anywhere?

this year they may have to be near perfect.
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That's the truth.

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Interesting point on the 2008 draft class

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