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The Day After The Storm: Why The Steelers Will Be Fine In 2018 and Into The Future.

Discussion in 'Steelers Talk' started by AskQuestionsLater, Apr 30, 2018.

  1. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

    21,265
    5,113
    Apr 21, 2016
    Hello fellow members! AskQuestionsLater here with my second thread for today. This time though will be a little different. In my review of the 2018 NFL Draft Class, I had given my thoughts about each pick and how this draft class was not just a means to win now but laying the groundwork for the future. This time though, I will be discussing more on the fallacies and inconsistencies within the general narrative of the fanbase. For better or worse, each pick does merit a meaning. We as fans need to comprehend that meaning for each to further put into context as to what each pick is, how it helps this season and what is to come in the years that follow. To further ensure that no stone will be left unturned, we will go back to where it all began; the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine. With that out of the way, let us begin!




    Soothing Music of The Ocean: Before The Rise of The Waters:



    From February 27th to March 5th, the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine had brought fourth some of either the most amazing athletes or some of the most memorable stories. One such player was Shaquiem Griffin, a linebacker from UCF who had played football his entire life with only one hand. Regarding the amazing athletic side of things, players such as Lorenzo Carter, Bradley Chubb and Saquon Barkely all performed as expected; Troy Apke, Matthew Thomas, Kolton Miller and Dylan Cantrell being just but a handful of surprises. For the Steelers though, finding a new "replacement" for Ryan Shazier was going to be easier said than done. Kevin Colbert knew that replacing Shazier in of in itself was a monumental task. After analyzing every single prospect he could, he deduced only one possible player; Roquan Smith. However, Mr. Smith was projected to go into the top ten and Colbert knew he would not be as fourtunate to obtain such a player as he did with Ryan four years prior. In addition, the issue with the Run Defense as well as the Safety position had to be addressed as well. To compound these matters, Colbert's Franchise Quarterback's clock inches closer to midnight, the games best receiver will be turning the big 3-0 in July, the Offensive Line is aging and Le'Veon Bell is likely not going to be a Steeler in 2019. This left him with an ultimatium;



    1.) Draft, or rather, roll the dice on a linebacker who could be molded into a multi-role player that could play the "Mack" position and handle its roles sufficiently while addressing the centerfielding Free Safety later.


    Or



    2.) Obtain a commitee of safeties to not only mitigate the linebacking defiencies of whomever remains at pick number 28 but also incorperate more of the dime defense.


    Something had to give. On March 1st, Colbert made his decision;


    "Outside linebacker types are good. Inside, not so much. There’s a few impactful guys, but then there’s a lot of numbers." Inside guys usually have one (main) ability…maybe they can cover, maybe they can play the run. Maybe they’re special teams guys. There’s a nice group of those."


    Given the fact that the "Mack" position is a multi-layered, multi-role position, the only linebacker capable of doing such feats was the 2018 Chuck Bednarik Winner and Bronco Nagurski Finalist; Roquan Smith from the University of Georgia. As Colbert knew though, acquring Mr. Smith would be too high a price to play. To that end, he enacted on his second ultimatium. For this ultimatium to work however, would require a new teacher to ensure this alternative method would work. For Colbert, he had already had the right man for the job; Tom Bradley. Considering that the latter of the two choices were already answered for him in addition towards the Safety class containing more multi-role players than ever before, Kevin Colbert had set his Black 'n' Gold sails out to the NFL Pro Day Seas, searching for the Safety who could not only replace Ryan's capabilities as much as possible as a Dime Linebacker but also function as a Safety. Not just for the defensive woes either, Colbert had to unearth the next generation of Steelers players who will be able to receive the torch that will be passed down from their predecessors.



    The Maiden Voyage Of The S.S. Rooney; NCAA's "Seven Seas":


    March 7th to April 11th. One month and four days to find out which prospects will not only contribute this season but be able to carry the mantle of stability and success that the Steelers have been longed known for and respected across the sports world since the AFL-NFL Merger in 1970. From the ACC halls of the University of Purdue to the stairways of the B1G's Michigan State, Colbert, Tomlin and the rest of the Steelers Front Office of Operations and Coaching Staff embarked on a 35 day journey that would take them throught the FBS Oceans and FCS Lakes of the NCAA World. Along their journey, fasinating prospects would be unearthed in the most notable of locations; Alabama, Ohio State, Wake Forest, Georgia, Arizona State, Aubrun, Virgina Tech, Oklahoma State, Louisville and Penn State, to name a few. Many of the prospects there were exactly what both Tomlin and Colbert were collectively after. However, treasure is only as good as its weight. To that end, the Pro Day Dinners were essential in gathering further information on the possible future Steelers that would supplant themeselves to the Steel City. Those same people would have received Pre Draft Visit Invitations; others not so lucky. For the 35 day journey, the Steelers had covered just about every square inch of both the FBS Lakes and the FCS Oceans. With their "Scouting Map" marked where the greatest of treasures lay hidden, both Tomlin and Colbert set home back to the South Side Facility; eager to now compile a list and begin digging for the next big haul of treasure chests. Once the Pre Draft Visits and further offseason moves were complete to ensure there was sufficient space within the Steelers Roster, Kevin Colbert was ready for the 2018 NFL Draft.



    Rime Of The Great Lone Star State: The Super Storm of Dallas. Day One:


    The 2018 NFL Draft was reputed to be among the biggest media coverage that the NFL had ever witnessed. A massive parade of Sports Journalists from all over the United States in addition to some parts of the world converged into Dallas, Texas to watch the next generation ascend from the college ranks into the NFL to ensure the sports stability and maintain its success. For Kevin Colbert and the Steelers, this also meant that their search through information gathering, personnel meetings with prospects and film analysis would come down to tonight as the fiercest storm that Colbert has encountered yet would commence.


    The prelude to the mighty natural occurance came with the first pick of the draft when the Cleveland Browns selected Baker Mayfield; a Heisman Winner who has a winning mentality but is quite the loose cannon on moral ethics and character. This pick sent massive shockwaves throughout the entire NFL World and would be the catalyst to strenghten an already mighty Cyclone, transforming its unpredictable and destructive power into a Hurricane. However, Cleveland was simply just adding mere surges to the natural disaster. With its fourth pick, Cleveland yet again sent a powerful surge into the NFL world. Unlike the last one however, this one would ultimately cause the NFL World of viewers to be put into a frenzy; a Super Typhoon now having been created with the selection of Denzel Ward; Cornerback from the University of Ohio State. Many pegged Bradley Chubb to be in play at pick four but given the fact he was not, many other NFL teams had looked at their other options; some being more successful in their contingency plans than others, to combat the new destructive wave of carnage the Browns beset upon the league. These forthcoming events, for me, will be forever known as the "Cleveland Cataclysm". As the Super Typhoon of the 2018 NFL Draft barrelled its way throughout the NFL Land's, teams were willing to sacrifice valuable resources for the future of their franchise to ensure that their abilitiy to hoist Mr. Lombardi would be well witihn reach. Others elected to trade back to acquire more resources to increase their man power within their teams. By the time the 28th pick of the NFL Draft came along, the storm had not even reached its highest peak of uncertainty. However, for Colbert, his greatest treasure still lay within the Super Typhoon itself.


    With the information in addition to finding the biggest treasure chest he could find to fix his own team, Colbert surged into the "Cleveland Cataclysm" and escaped with his Treasure; an athletic freak of nature by the name of Terrell Edmunds, the older brother of Tremaine Edmunds who was selected by the Buffalo Bills earlier. After the end of the first wave, the storm was only generating even more steam as Cleveland's choice set the NFL World into a social storm unlike which the NFL had never seen before. For SteelersNation however, Colbert's prize was not well liked among the mass populus. The general consenus was that Terrell Edmunds does not solve the issue at the "Mack" position nor the safety position either; the pick itself considered a reach by many no less. However, despite some of the fan perception, one key aspect that went unoticed during the aftermath of the first day; Colbert himself acquired more assests by shipping off Martavis Bryant to the Oakland Raiders. This would yield massive implications down the road as Colbert now finalized his pieces to lay the groundwork for the next generation. After the violent first day, Colbert and Tomlin both battended down the hatches and propelled forward into the strongest currents of the "Cleveland Cataclysm" that would be felt heading into Day Two among both Sports Analysts and SteelersNation alike.



    World Upheval; Calamity of The Cataclysm in Dallas. Day Two:


    To kick off Day two, a number of Round One worthy candidates were pushed into Round Two. Will Hernandez, Connor Williams, Nick Chubb and Anthony Miller, to name a few. To that end, and, at its powerful state, the "Cleveland Cataclysm" unleashed its most violent and destructive currents upon the NFL landscape unlike anything many fans, myself included, had not seen in either a long time or have ever witnessed. From Breeland Speaks to B.J. Hall. Darius Leonard, Duke Dawson and even Kerryon Johnson, teams were stockpiling their rosters of talent that many of not only their fans but also the analysts themselves were in shock of. Due in part to this, the "Cleveland Cataclysm" pounded and preyed upon the uncertainty of the NFL; teams are reaching for talent or taking risks with the talent they have acquired. The S.S. Rooney still lay strong among the waves when pick 60 arrived and, as was the case with Terrell Edmunds, Colbert elected to surge yet again to grab James Washington; the Fred Biletnikoff Award Winner from Oklahoma State University. This treasure box was only the beginning though of Colbert's ground laying work however. After the conclusion of Wave Two, Wave Three saw the most intense currents and destructive effects of the draft. Teams were trading up and down the board and others were standing pat. For Colbert, this was his oppurtunity. His chance to not only find the critical form of treasure in this draft but also exact revenge on a rival team that had stole his treasure long before he could receive it. With the 76 pick, Pittsburgh acquired their "Quarterback of the Future" in Mason Rudolph, a signal caller who showcased not only on field performance but also humility and motivational characteristics; proper attributes for the new leader when his time comes. With his second thrid round pick, Colbert secured yet another key piece in acquring a Nigerian Native by the name of Chukwuma Okorafor, a versatile tackle talent from the University of Western Michigan. His current Right Tackle in Marcus Gilbert is far from a guruantee anymore starting 16 games and it is clear that Colbert nor Tomlin fully trust Jerlad Hawkins to assume that position either. Someone with the talent of Okorafor though has the abilities to do so and with Mike Munchak on hand, will see to it. With the conclusion of the second wave, the NFL World began to breathe more comfrortably once more as the "Cleveland Cataclysm" began to die down. Its descent would continue in the third wave.



    A Rainbow Shines Bright Towards The Future. Day Three:



    The cataclysmic tides began to die down. After two days of being besieged by Clevelands reckless abandon, the storm had finally showed signs of degrading. For Colbert though, this was no time to celebrate. He still had a future to secure for all of SteelersNation to see. To that end, he wasted no time in finding even more depth and another useful tool for the Run Defense with Marcus Allen; Safety from Penn State University. As he was not done there, Colbert had also enacted on craving out a future in which Le'Veon Bell would no longer be a Steeler in Jaylen Samuels; Running Back from North Carolina State University. He does not have a set role now but developing him as a Running Back will be key. Until then, he can be used as another weapon within the offense. With his final pick, Colbert had completed his mission of fixing the Run Defense by giving new Defensive Line Coach Karl Dunbar an old disciple in Joshua Frazier; a very promising Nose Tackle prospect from the University of Alabama. With his mighty haul complete, Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin now await to forge these new Steelers. However, while the Steelers and some of the fans were happy about the newest Steelers, many others were not so forgiving. This is where proper intuition comes into play without rearing the ugly head of the form of inductive reasoning known as the "Confirmation Bias". This is where we need to understand not just what type of propsects the Steelers are after but ultimatley, another reminder as to who the Steelers, as an NFL Franchise around.




    Method To The Madness. Why Pittsburgh Is The Perpetual Dynasty Of The NFL:


    In the aftermath of the 2018 NFL Draft, SteelersNation still is in quite the uproar among the picks selected. Some thought the linbacker position should have been addressed. Others believe that Lamar Jackson is the far superior Quarterback and should have been the first pick. What is being lost in translation however is a very problematic trend among SteelersNation. This year however, brought out more toxicity than any other year I have ever witnessed. Is Big Ben nearing midnight? Yes. Is this team's window closing? Yes. Are certain players either getting older or will be departing? Yes. Here is the most important question though:



    Did the Steelers draft the necessary players to secure their future?


    [​IMG]



    For those of you who have watched the Steelers since their reign among the NFL began back during the Merger, when, at any point in time, have the Steelers salvaged anything for the future? When has the team ever placed all their assets into one season for a title run? Most importantly though;


    When has the team ever mortgaged stability and success for one "magical" season?



    This three questions can be easily answered with the same adjective;



    [​IMG]



    After Art Rooney Sr. witnessed 39 years worth of writhing agony, misery and despair to finally capture a Division Title against the Oakland Raiders on arguably Sports Histories greatest play, he realized one key aspect towards maintaining this success; everyone and everything within my organization has to not only be built for today but also for tomorrow as tomorrow is never promised nor guaranteed. In other words? Stability. Franchices like the Steelers, Los Angeles Lakers or even the New York Yankees have all had various degrees of success over the years due in part towards not only looking at their current issues but also evaluating the future for their teams. Much like well known companies such as Microsoft, IBM, or even Walmart, Professional Sports Teams are in an ongoing, hotly contested and competitve business. Their goal? To field the most competitve teams they can to compete for championships but ensuring the cycle can continue.



    Of the "Big Four" within the NHL, MLB, NBA, and NFL, while the NHL has the toughest road to win a Stanley Cup, the NFL is the most difficult Professional Sports Organization to maintain success due to a continually evolving game based upon the current demands within the rule changes, structure and, most importantly, acquring talent upon both ends of the spectrum. As all of us know, the NFL's only "farming system" is the NCAA FBS/FCS. The NBA does have a farm league known as the "G League" but the NBA is doing insufficient improvement upon it. The NHL's and MLB's are clearly marked out as we know, so no need for explanation here. While NFL Teams can adore themselves with the riches of the NCAA FBS/FCS pipeline, many NFL teams either do not focus on their current issues while having the draft capital to so, do not acquire draft capital for their own future or sell their future outright in an attempt to make a title run for only that season, a combination of the two or, in extreme cases, all three. Here in lies the problem for each scenario;


    1.) Teams that have a griphold of their division often become complacent with an aging infrastructure often ignore the fact that their rivals are either gaining ground or have reached their own point where they are capable of challenging the current division champion. Even not accounting for that, said complacent teams have the draft capital to create moves to ensure that their future can remain as stable as their current one but elect not too; contempt and frivolous pride being their downfall. This form of irrationality is commanly known as the "Self Serving Bias".



    2.) If draft capital is being expended upon to ensure that "the guy" will be selected before your enemies, know that the right tools must be around him to succeed if you are to either start him or be the understudy to another. In addition, those pieces, or skill positions, must be witihn the future plans of "the guy" as well as he needs them to bring about his own development. Otherwise, those teams who do not have the current assets to assist spend too much time acquring as much draft capital as they can for "the guy" in a hasty attempt to create a suitable situation and too little time actually developing "the guy" for the ideal situation. This form of irrationality, or rather, informal fallacy, is known as the "Hasty Generalization".



    3.) Teams who truly belive that they are one piece away from winning Mr. Lombardi mortgage their future in an attempt to "max out" their window. More often than not though, these moves have proven costly in not only team stability but the amount of faith the fanbase sometimes can get consequently drawn into. These consequentional actions form not only "dedcutive reasoning" due to the team placating the premise that the only one player is needed and therefore must picked but also "inductive reasoning" due in part to the belief that said player will perform the way the team needs in order to finally hoist Mr. Lombardi.




    Now, with all three scenarios covered, notice how such scenarios have played out in recent history; the AFL-NFL Merger being brought in for a key point later. The likes of the Seattle Seahawks and Indianapolis Colts fall or have fallen into "Scenario One". The likes of the Washington Redskins in 2012 and the Buffalo Bills in 2014 fall under "Scenario 2". The likes of the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons have fallen or will likely fall under "Scenario 3". Now, look at these teams. Combined, how many Super Bowls have they won? Seven total; Three from Washington, two from Indianapolis and one from both Seattle and New Orleans. What is the issue with these teams? Look at the level of futility they had gone through to get those Super Bowls and look where they either have been, are or will be since.


    Now, compare this to the Steelers? How many have the Steelers won since the merger? Six total. Best part of all is that they have never posted a losing decade unlike the aforementioned teams since 1970. Not losing season. Losing decade.



    "However AQL, you did not mention the better teams like Green Bay, New York or even New England. What is up with that?"



    Funny you ask as those teams also fall under near identical scenarios; The Giants having been already subject to a losing decade in the 70s, having one of the greatest defenses in the "Big Blue Wrecking Crew"; only to max out at two rings from 1981-1990. The Packers having been abysmal from 1970 up until 1996 and then losing the Super Bowl the next season; another 14 years back to the Super Bowl after downing the Steeles in XLV. New England is the only team that Pittsburgh is looking up towards since 2000 but it took them them 33 years and three attempts to win the Lombardi in 2003. Prior to that, their years from 1970 to 2002 were nothing to write home about. If anything, New England, of the three, is overdue for a massive collapse as Bill Belichick has been proven to have sabatoged their 2017 season.



    Coincidentally enough, the only team that closely compares to the Steelers is the team that hosted the 2018 NFL Draft; the Dallas Cowboys. From 1970 to 1996, both of those teams were neck and neck. However, from 1997 onward, the Steelers have proven to be the more stable and superior team; Dallas had only captured two playoff victories after their last one in 1995; 2009 and 2014 respectively.



    "However AQL, what does that have to do with anything regarding the 2018 NFL Draft?"



    Simple.



    [​IMG]




    Actually. Now that I think of it. This is a good segway to wrap up this thread.




    Trust The Process:



    There is a reason why the Steelers have been the NFL's most successul team since the AFL-NFL merger. There is a reason why the Steelers have never posted a losing decade. Most important of all;


    There is a reason why the Steelers are doing the impossible; still remaining a dynasty after their peak since the 1970s. For those of you who do not believe this, here is the official defintion of a dynasty:


    "A succession of rulers of the same line of descent."


    or


    A powerful group or family that maintains its position for a considerable time.”


    Given the fact that we have already covered how difficult it is in the NFL to maintain stability, the Steelers are the "Status Quo" of ensuring that, not only are they able to compete for Championships but also lay the groundwork for the future.


    The Rooney's do not "knee jerk." They Rooney's are not going to be "strong-armed" by anyone. The biggest aspect of the Rooney's however is to never be sub-serviant towards the "flash in a pan" sequences which can yield devastating consequences and jepoardize their bottom line, we the fanbase; some of which have been either ignoring that aspect or ungrateful of that aspect simply because one team is doing better in the conference. As I said, I seriously doubt that New England can sustain this success for much longer. In fact, count on it when either Bill Belichick leaves, Tom Brady retires or both. A team will likely take their place anyways; Jacksonville being my odds on favorite to do so. However, none of that is a factor.


    The NFL season is not just about winning Super Bowls. The NFL season is about getting into the playoffs to compete for said Super Bowls and continue to do so for a period of time. Considering we have gotten to the Super Bowl eight times and winning six of them, I would say our ability to maintain stability to compete for Super Bowls far exceeds any other team. Ultimately though, to field a product, that product has to be good enough to be showcased to a mass populous. Once that mass populous is attached, then comes the difficult aspect, sustaining that success. This leads me to the 2018 Steelers Draft; trust the process.



    Have the Rooney's had their blunders? Sure. It is feasible to state they will have more of them in the future? Absolutely.


    Does their run of stability of success and triumphs far outweigh them?!



    [​IMG]




    That being said, having over half a century's worth of sucess under their belts, I ask again for SteelersNation and members of TheSteelersFans to do the following two things;


    Number one:


    [​IMG]



    Most Importantly is two:


    [​IMG]




    History is on our side fellow members. Embrace it. Cherish it. Most importantly, admire it. The Rooney's have had their "days in the dumps" but not "years in purgatory". They know how to run and operate the Steelers. So long as the Rooney's are with us, our chances of competing for Lombardi's will always be good; right now or in the future being a non factor.


    Now then......



    Conclusion:



    *** AskQuestionsLater's mood right now ***



    [​IMG]



    [​IMG]



    [​IMG]




    [​IMG]





    There you have it everyone. My personal take upon the Steelers Draft and what it means going forward. Bear in mind that is just simply my take on the current "crisis" here in the aftermath of the draft; I see none as a result. Given the age we live in, it is easy to get absorbed into a cognitive bias known as the "Travis Syndrome" (essentially the "what have you done for me lately" M.O.) but remember this, history tends to repeat itself. As such, this draft class actually needs to be given a chance just as the others that came before them before deducing any irrational pre-conceived conclusion controlled by raw emotion and impluse. As I said before, and will say one last time fellow members;


    Trust.


    the.


    Process.



    With all that said, as always, I thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed! Please leave any feedback if you have any forms of constructive criticisms, concuring comments or questions as it always helps me out. Also, if you would like me to touch base on something, please do not hesitate to P.M. me as I am ready and willing!


    Take care of yourselves everyone and I will see you next time! :)
     
    Last edited: Apr 30, 2018
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  2. Thigpen82

    Thigpen82 Bitter optimist

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    Good write up as always AQL. I'm not sure it will convince everyone - but part of the problem with the committee approach to either S or ILB is that we haven't seen the Steelers do a good job of it yet; in part because when they tried it at the end of last season they were literally picking up guys from the street to fill the holes, with predictable results. I like the approach they've taken to the S position at the moment, but really need to wait and see how well Butler makes use of his new-ish weapons.

    I take issue with one, non-football related thing: the fallacy of exclusive premises is technically when two premises in an argument are negative, which prevents a sufficient condition for a conclusion being drawn. Which isn't quite what you seemed to be saying here.
     
  3. bigbenhotness

    bigbenhotness Well-Known Member

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    Good write up AQL. I agree, we all need to trust the process. Butler needs to do better though.

    Oh and Dallas has won a couple since 95. 2009 and 2014 lol
     
  4. CK 13

    CK 13 Well-Known Member

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    Ask put a lot of work into this thread. Steeler Hats off...

    I guess this thread was for the naysayers. I'm not one of them. I liked the way this draft panned out. Really like it.

    Their are no guarantees that any of these picks will pan out, just like their is no guarantee that Dupree will finally put it all together.

    But you can't discount that they are looking towards the future as well as helping this team this season. They got the steal of the draft as far as i'm concerned, a future starting QB.

    This is the way the Steelers have built teams. Not knee jerking. I'm sure the naysayers wanted to see them trade up losing draft picks to obtain the ILB they wanted. Could have spelled a miss on certain players that would secure the future...
     
    • Like Like x 1
  5. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    Thank you very much you two! :)


    Very much appreciated! :drinks:
     
    • Like Like x 1
  6. Coastal Steeler

    Coastal Steeler

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    Ummmm, yeah. What he said. I ain't reading nothing that long on a Monday
     
    • Winner Winner x 2
    • Hilarious Hilarious x 1
  7. bigbenhotness

    bigbenhotness Well-Known Member

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    AQL really does help ease my mind around here. When I see him panic, then I'll start to panic lol.
     
  8. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    That is fine Coastal. I do respect the fact that you understand. :hi:


    You are right. This "threadicle" of mine (thread and article mixed into one) can be easily summed up with what BigBenHotness stated.


    However, how it continues to work and why it is going to be that way is something that really needed to be emphasized. Becoming enraged over one draft and pre-maturely calling it a waste has become far too commonplace among SteelersNation over the past eight years.


    It is as BigBen stated;


    Trust the process.
     
    • Hilarious Hilarious x 1
  9. AskQuestionsLater

    AskQuestionsLater Writing Team

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    As I have said, the only aspect of my posts being "hilarious" is your inability to support why they are. :thumbs_up:
     
  10. SSylvester

    SSylvester Well-Known Member

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    I agree to an extent, but no process is perfect. And "the process" has produced a number of lackluster first round picks. Jarvis Jones. Ziggy Hood. Troy Edwards. I'm not saying this first round pick was good or not good. And it is true that generally, our first round picks become key contributors on the team. But I think "trust the process" isn't that great of an argument because it assumes that things will always work out and that has been shown not to be the case. Plus "the process" doesn't include an equivalent evaluation of every single player available so who knows what the pick could have been under those circumstances. I think it is ok to question the pick and the analysis behind it. I also think it is too early to say it was a bad pick. I'm taking a wait and see approach.

    I thought I heard one of the commentators say during the draft that the Steelers chose Edmunds because he was the BPA on their list. I find that surprising and think it is reasonable to question what process led to this outcome since it seems to be much different from lots of other knowledgeable opinions.
     
  11. jeh1856

    jeh1856 Beer is good

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    Oct 26, 2011
    Thought you were retired? Isn’t every day Saturday?

    If they are all Mondays, I’m not retiring.
     
  12. Coastal Steeler

    Coastal Steeler

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    Haha. You also get confused as you age
     
  13. mcam

    mcam Well-Known Member

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    Wow long thread. I had to only skim it.

    I rank this draft an 'A' overall, for the present and the future. I think they handled both immediate needs as well as future, picking the best player available at need positions at where we picked (near the bottom).

    Half of these guys will play and might end up starting. The other half might be out of the league in a couple years. We ultimately don't know, but to get a quality potential franchise QB with the 3rd is a steal. To get Marcus Allen in the 5th is another huge steal. To get some offensive weapons for depth was also very good.

    Ben is LOADED right now on offense. Our defense pending we can STOP THE RUN should be pretty good also. For stopping the run, see my bring back Lawrence Timmons thread.
     

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