Underwhelming Draft

In comparison to Broderick Jones, Max has much quicker feet. Probably because he played soccer.

 

I agree ! Just like local station NBA games during timeout's and they have some stupid fan contest and announcer yapping away.

 

I agree. I feel the same way.

 

Steelers improved the O line and WR corps. And special teams. Aside from the CB and Qb picks It was a decent draft.

 

It seems this actually pushed you over the edge. Instead of backing your accusations/insults with substance, you’ve spent your time complaining that others don't blindly agree with everything the Steelers do. You’ve already conveyed these draft picks are flawless; to suggest anything else now would just contradict your own argument.

 

I think I’m starting to come around for this draft.

But this was draft was pretty much for the offense, the guys we added on defense this weekend are not going to move the needle.

I’m kinda worried about our defense…ABC/ESPN threw up some stat on the Steelers defense I never saw before that was concerning: It said we gave up 170 some points in the 4th quarter last year, which was far and away the most by any defense in the playoffs ever.

That stat coupled with some aging stars is troubling….are the older guys wilting in the 4th quarter?

I don’t see it getting better unless our new DC is a miracle worker. Right off the bat, I would be looking at Heyward/TJ/Ramsey.

 

While I hope Graham can revitalize the Steelers, his history as a DC is a cornucopia of inconsistency. He’s shown he can overachieve, like leading a top-10 scoring defense with the Giants in 2020 and the Raiders in 2023, but those peaks are often followed by sharp declines. The 2019 Dolphins ranking 32nd under his lead is a major red flag, especially considering they improved to 6th the year after he moved on. For a Steeler team already lacking a clear defensive blueprint/identity, Graham’s perceived lack of a cohesive identity is worrying. Unless he adapts his scheme, the Steelers may continue to struggle against accurate quarterbacks who thrive against his specific coverage style.

 

Wonder if the theme this year well this wasn't as bad as it was under Tomlin.

Oh man, if we finish below 500, I'm going to love reading the forums. I'm already giddy at the pandemonium that might ensue.

I won't be happy of course, but will at least enjoy the meltdown and fighting. LOL!!!

EDIT: But with that said as I too feel underwhelmed but I'm also not a scout and I'm usually wrong, so this might be the best draft ever. So we have that going.

 

It's very possible Graham isn't good as DC, I don't know, so we'll see, but I would never judge Graham based on their 2019 season of the dolphins since their owner wanted to lose every game and their first month was historically bad, losing their first four games: 59-10, 43-0, 31-6, and 30-10. They were much better after that, including a massive upset in the final game of the season in New England that cost them a playoff bye for the first time in 10 years.

 

Graham is well regarded among the football community, let's see what he can do with the most talented defense he has had a chance to work with.

 

We won’t know until the lads come on, and in that case I ask: did they address positions of need?

going into the draft I’d say the main needs were OT, WR and ILB

So 2/3 addressed.

It wasn’t an exciting draft but there’s lots of potential there.

 

you radical!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Getting wild in my old age

 

I don't know about that. I think that McCarthy has a history of players developing under his watch. As much as we've always talked about how WRs thrive in Pittsburgh from any draft position, that all fell off once Ben retired. We've seen disasters on the OL, a generational D that turned out to not be able to communicate for years etc. If MM, and the coaches he's brought in can change the way the talent grows, then it can set the team up better for the future, as well as being win-now. To me, this is the big question that we'll watch play out the next few years.

 

From what I can tell....people are the most upset with the returner draft selection. With the underwhelming options to lead the offense the 2026 Steelers have, I would think that giving the unit any field position head-start possible would be a fairly good idea.

No idea if the kid is gonna be any good in the NFL...but the process is not hard to figure.

 

You think McCarthy will wear the shades?

 

I don't know, but he's not above showing off his moves.

 

I believe it is time I stepped in and offer my take on the whole Maxwell Iheanachor vs Broderick Jones debate. More specifically, the whole issue of equivocation that is going on between the two. There is a finite difference between a player being raw vs a player being inexperienced.


Max isn't as raw as Broderick is though both were such coming out. However, what is being forgotten is what the term stands for. Being a raw player doesnt equate to lacking technique or fundamentals. The shortcoming is the consistency of. Broderick was far more inconsistent than Max was but Broderick was both younger and arguably more athletic coming out of Georgia. Given how Offensive Tackle is a very traits heavy skill position, such overall athletic abilities were worth taking a gamble on.


Now, with this information comes the key difference and why comprehension is so important. Inexperience isnt about basics nor fundamentals. Inexperience points to the lack of time acquiried. This is immense and is worth pointing out. Yes, Max has only played Football for roughly five seasons compared to Broderick who has done so virtually his whole life. The difference though stems from their most recent games played; best used in total number of snaps (I will get into games started soon).


Broderick Jones: 1,396 total snaps played.


Max Iheanachor: 2,107 total snaps played.


That is a 711 snap difference. On paper, that doesnt sound a whole lot but we to remember the context of the definition. The more time a player plays, the more adept he will be at playing the game. This leads to games started between the two;


Broderick Jones: 19 games total started


Max Iheanachor: 31 games total started


This marks out to a 12 game difference. Again, doesnt sound like too much at first but College Football in general is only 12 games in total; a full season. Factor this into the aforementioned snaps played and the picture between the two becomes quite clear; Max is well within the threshold of Offensive Tackles drafted in Round One; anywhere between 30 to 40 games or more started. Compare that to Broderick who was well below that Threshold; only 19 to start. This makes Broderick an exception to the rule rather than the usual rule itself. On one hand, these exceptions can pay off big time if they work out. On the other hand, they also possess a high risk to them.


Overall, Max's issues have nothing to do with experience. Max's issues are about fine tuning his foundation to become a consistent force. With Broderick, Mike Tomlin put it best when asked about him and calling Broderick a "Diaper Dandy". Brodericks talent, potential and ceiling were immense but so was the learning curve. Max is as well but the learning curve will not be nearly as steep as others would make it out to be.


In short?! Max simply needs to be more consistent. Broderick needed both consistency and in game reps; working on the go. They are not the same player.



I hope this clears any confusion up! Always happy to help!

 

We made a lemon out of a lemon-less draft this time.

Hopefully our picks turn out better than expected.

Big yawn, but I like the O-line help.

 

If the picks at Tackle and Guard pan out, and the Oline improves... it will be a successful draft, IMO.

 

Rodgers had a single WR last year that is worth being a #1. The rest were more like 2.5s. Even Metcalf drops the ball more than he should for a guy of his skill level. Add to that a run game that did not get going very often and you end up with a QB that does not have what he needs to take the team deep into the playoffs.

Give Rodgers some more help on the offense and he will reward us. Can't be a great QB when you are running for your life or throwing the ball so quick to avoid being smashed.

 

They need more than that they need Bernard to work out too, we saw last year what happens when you don't have a good WR room.