Pre-Combine Rd 7 Steelers Big Board.

The last of the series, Need help with Grading these guys and adding potential targets.

Kirby Van Der Kamp P Iowa st.
Ryan Grant WR Tulane
Joel Bitonio LOT Nevada
Hakeem Smith SS Louisville
Josh Huff RB/WR Oregon
Tracy Moore WR Oklahoma St.
Matt Hazel WR Coastal Carolina
Jake Murphy TE Utah


Any suggestions?


Cajun-

 

What about Colt Lyerla? I think here in the 7th (6th round at the highest) he could be worth a shot. He might go undrafted... but if that is the case, why not think about spending a 7th round pick on him and see what happens?

Also add RB Kapri Bibbs (Colorado St.). Only a rSo. so it will be tough to gauge his draft stock, but is very quick and runs pretty hard inside too. Possible change of pace guy similar to De'Anthony Thomas, but bigger and not quite as scary lol

 

I doubt the Steelers would waste a draft pick on a coke head like Lyerla even if it's the 7th round.

 

I'd be surprised if we drafted him too, but we definitely should think about it if he is available with our last pick. I'd also be surprised if there weren't current Steelers that do/have done coke as well, so you never know.

 

I didn't list him because he left the team on his own mid season......... He'll be lucky if he gets drafted, he has a lot of splaining to do!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cajun-

 

huff, bitonio, moore are all ranked 3-4th round. ?? 7th would be a huge drop.

 

Absolutely no-way.... Bitonio is ranked between the 11th and 15th best LOT from where I've looked. I feel he'll be drafted early 6 to 7th rd.... 5th at the highest depending on his combine.

Huff & Moore I've seen repeatedly ranked 20's-30's among WR in this class on a couple sites. They are 7th rd talents pre-combine but could move to the 6th with a solid combine.

What are your sources because I really want us to put a realistic rd-by-rd steelers big board together.

Cajun-

 

nfldraftscout mostly. they have always been pretty close most years, but I use my own eyes to compare. they update pretty frequently too, with the ebb and flow of these guys. they give some good numbers from the combine and up to date news. amongst others.

individual players from college can be quite differently judged by team needs in the nfl. elam last year that I liked and argued all pre draft that he was a first rounder and everyone had him as a 2nd. he went first. eric wood at center I had as a 1st and everyone argued he's a 2nd, he went first. hightower was a can't live without for most on here and I wasn't impressed, he is what I thought he was. these sites are more of a guideline, I like to make my own determination on these guys and how they will fit in the nfl.

it's quite different than what they did in college usually. mostly I want guys that fit the steelers and could care less where else they go or who may think they fit with best. for example ebron. he may be a stud at NC in the acc, but when he comes to the pros, he better be able to block, that's part of playing TE at a high level. amaro the same way or why bother. yes they will be big wr's, but why take that when you can just take a good big wr? this year it seems van noy is a guy I see so much upside in for a team. you can't deny the kid makes plays and can play multiple positions, has speed, size, and is just a good football player no matter where he played. he creates turnovers and we need that. he could play the right side here and we have been looking for a player to do that. I don't want a big former DE on that side. it's not what we need. that is for Woodley and worilds and I think JJ will be able to play that position better actually. the right side for us is quite a different type of player needed not just any guy listed as an OLB can play that spot.

same as any T can play in our system at LT just because we have munch here now. not. sorry I rambled Cajun, but now you know my thinking in the draft. fits and upside not board ranking or popularity is what I go by. I've been pretty accurate on guys mostly. I've done football for a lot of years, so my thinking and what I see usually differs from most draftniks I guess.

 

Okay Mac, I get that and I too watch games and film. I use several sites to identify potential targets, draftscout is one of them. every one is so different but I look for consistency in ranking.

Take Bitonio- he is regarded as the 11th best OT in the draft, on avg between the sites. Last year was the year of the OT with 5 going in Rd 1. Only 17 were drafted in the entire draft. This year is not as deep in OT so a Player like Bitonio who is 11 best can expect to go late.

Last year only 29 WR were drafted. This year the WR class is deep, 18 underclassmen alone. Huff is the only one you listed that has a higher grade on draftscout at #16 pos rank. They list Moore as a possible UDFA.

I can see moving Huff up to maybe the 6th, Moore needs to stay in the 7th and Bitonio.... at best the 5th and worse 7th.

Cajun-

 

sorry typed moore and meant grant. he's ranked as a 4th. I agree about the tackles and have said this before , if you want a good one you better get him early. not just tackle either. now there are some guys not ranked and I'd put them higher than some that are, especially at guard. guys like mason walters from texas and sam longo from cinci/ohio state.

 

I was just trying to give a list of players the steelers may target and have these players slotted in an apprx. Rd. that they may be drafted in. This was to be a tool to help board draftniks formulate their own 7 rd mock.

Take Huff, I have him in the 7th, I've recently seen him in a mock going in the 2nd rd. There is no exact science as you say but its fun trying to determine who we may get in order to return to championship form.

Mac- just so you know, I value you assessments of OL guys.

Cajun-