Noah Spence OLB Eastern Kentucky

He was the best edge rusher at the Senior Bowl, he's 6'3 254 lbs, and he had 11.5 sacks in 2015. Would the Steelers consider him at 25 if he slides that low? He got kicked out of Ohio State after failing multiple drug tests for ecstasy, his people said he got his act together and is clean.

 

Yeah... Noah Spence loved him some Molly lol there's no doubt he's a talented pass rusher, but you'd have to be really certain that he's past that to take him early like that.

Von Miller had his own Molly issues a year or two ago, so I guess that puts him in elite company haha

 

The last DE we drafted from EKU, Aaron Jones, didn't work out so well.

 

He looked great but the Steelers have a history of staying away from players with problems right? I know we drafted Adams but overall they pretty much take these guys off the list right?

 

Yup. And with so many guys with comparable talent at their respective positions there really is no reason to run the risk in the 1st.

 

But what if he's there in the 2nd?

 

Oh I'd be all over that. It's not like he's a POS human, he was addicted to some illegal substance like a few other guys have been. But for the 1st? Eh, no thanks. I think the most important thing for the 1st round is to not screw up. Taking an unnecessary risk is a good way to do that.

 

I would take him in the first depending on who else is available. I just don't know if the Steelers would be willing to. I think it would say indirectly that they think Jarvis Jones is not the answer. Are they willing to move on from him already, because if they drafted Spence in the first, you're not getting him to be a backup. You're looking squarely at JJ and saying "we could improve at that position".

They would absolutely have to do their homework on his background to see if the drug issues are really behind him. But I wouldn't take him off the board. I'm starting to change my view on this a little because last year I was against the Marcus Peters selection. That one instance hasn't changed my mind, but I guess I'm being a little more open. The view of the FO also has to be taken into account. Are they willing to put in the extra research if a player has some question marks. Kansas City doesn't seem to mind, they took Peters and Travis Kelce had some issues at Cincinnati IIRC.

Back to Spence, I think he is drafted in the first round. Edge guys are always a premium and this year's OLB class is weak to me.

 

The talent is there, Is his head screwed on right? I wanted him to go to Pitt badly when he was
in HS, he chose the Buckeyes you know the story from here.

 

Not to get off track but I said this last year maybe even to you but there was a lot more to the Peters story then we know. He pissed off Peterson with his actions on the sidelines which led to his release. However the few keys here was Washington went on and paid for him to go to another school, that don't happen unless there is more to the story. Also all thru the draft process Peterson help Peters and if I remembered right let Peters come to Washington's pro day, at least offered it.

All I am saying the Peters deal imo is a lot different then some of these other guys who have drug/substance problems, I do get you point though.

 

Good stuff, I remember some of that but not all of it. I'm sure Kansas researched the rest of the story until they felt comfortable in drafting him.

Randy Gregory and Shane Ray had mary jane issues last year and I didn't see any further stories from them. Granted we didn't hear about Martavis' two failed tests either, so there's that. Jameis Winston had a whole litany of issues, but seemed to remain in check this year. Whether the question on the player is maturity or drugs, it seems more and more players have some baggage. Guess it just depends on the teams view and opinions.

To me it sounds like Spence's issues were a year ago and he got back on track while at EKU. I wouldn't take him off the board. Would the Steelers take another LB in the first though is a different question.

 

First I don't believe they will draft an OLB in the 1st. Second, his substance issues are a real concern. Didn't we just witness a 4 game suspension? No thanks.

So many are concerned with the lack of Pass Rush. Well if you don't have a secondary covering properly pass rush ain't getting there. With all the shot gun sets, 3 step drops and gone, a successful pass rush starts with solid secondary play. Not patchwork. Fix the secondary. It's been a broken record.

 

I agree and I think they really tried to do that last year with Golson and Grant, however in past years they have not. 2014 was a great draft class for DB and what happened, we took one in the 5th and that was no help. Same thing with 12 & 13 drafts we waited until the 5 round, and that is why our secondary is in the shape it is. Drafting guys in the 5th and then not developing them has hurt us, I don't care where we draft a guy just want to see them develop into something other then dead money. I know we had Ike them years but we knew at some point we needed replacement for him and Troy. We thought Allen was gonna step in for Ike and that hurt us. I think it is time to get a Apple or Fuller here in the 1st and also getting Golson back should help......

 

Yup. Ideally we get some raw talent for our DB coach to work with. That positional group has gone too long without receiving a boost of talent. There are probably 5-6 guys with 1st round talent so hopefully one of them should be available to us when it's time to pick.

 

Pretty good read on Spence and maybe this pushes him out of the 1st????

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...y-gregory-suspension-puts-spotlight-on-spence

 

I doubt it, if he tears it up at the combine and his pro day he will get drafted in the 1st. Gregory is a idiot he tested positive at the combine, Von Miller showed how important edge rushers are in the playoffs.

 

I guess it is wait and see.................

 

Some other "character issue" guys who need extra scouting according to this author:

Leonte Carroo WR Rutgers
Robert Nkemdiche DT Ole Miss
Shawn Oakman DE Baylor
Gionni Paul LB Utah
Demarcus Robinson WR Florida
Noah Spence OLB EKU
Dhaquille Williams WR Auburn

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...6-nfl-draft-prospects-with-character-concerns

Just from following the Huskers, their OL Alex Lewis who is probably a mid to late round prospect was arrested for assault for a fight after get all boozed up back in 2013. Then he got in a verbal match with some Husker fans after a game.

Can't have a team full of choir boys but you don't want to be the Bengals either. It'd be interesting to know how much resource the Steelers devote to background checks, etc.

 

I believe the Steelers try to do a lot of background checks on their potential picks
but after the MB pick I am just not sure? If I am the Steelers and I am going to invest millions
in these ball players, you damn better be sure I am ASKING LOTS OF QUESTIONS. That's of anybody associated with these potential players.

 

Had his Pro Day this past week and it was reported that no head coaches or GMs were in attendance and only Tampa Bay had their positional coach. 28 teams in attendance overall, but they've must have been from the scouting departments. Pretty surprising to me that only one team had their positional coach there. I heard his interviews were not great, so that maybe scared a lot of teams.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...esnt-move-the-needle-for-prospect-noah-spence

 

I was listening to NFL radio and they were talking about Spence and they said there was another incident at EKU. So I searched and found this:

In May, Spence was arrested on charges of alcohol intoxication and second-degree disorderly conduct. Hood said Spence had tried to throw a bottle towards a trash can. He missed. It shattered and a policeman saw it and wrote the player up. The incident has been expunged and Spence did some community service.

http://www.foxsports.com/college-fo...ky-colonels-ecstasy-addiction-comeback-102015

I have a feeling this kid is gonna slide out of the 1st.

 

You may be right but what Turtle posted about no head coaches or gm's being at his pro day would worry me. I don't disagree about his talent but I think the teams are a little worried.

 

For some reason this guy gives me the Jarvis Jones feeling. Before the draft Jones began to slide a little, we took him expecting him to be All Pro, and as of today it could still happen,but I fear he want worthy of that 1st round pick. Hopefully he has a great 2016 as he definitely turned the corner in the latter part of last season. Spence has similar numbers, had a very average combine which turned teams off, and has begun to slide. I believe he will be there at 25, but I don't see us drafting him. Our top two picks this season have to contribute THIS YEAR, and Spence may need a lot of time. Time we don't have

 

We dumped Santonio Holmes for weed. I don't think Spence is even on Colbert's board anymore.