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Mathew Thomas: He is why we drafted no LB

Discussion in 'Steelers Talk' started by Watt Wack, May 6, 2018.

  1. TheSteelHurtin2188

    TheSteelHurtin2188 Well-Known Member

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    That’s what I was thinking. How did they know for sure that he would go undrafted? Seems like a huge gamble to me.
     
  2. TheMatrixHasYou

    TheMatrixHasYou Well-Known Member

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    So you think they don't prepare for the draft? You think they don't have a draft board? You think they don't contact many guys and maybe say "Hey, if you go undrafted we are probably the only team that can just about guarantee you a roster spot."

    Nope, they would never do something like that. I mean, to do all of that they would actually have to travel the country to talk with many players before the draft and they would have to have scouts.

    Nope, no way they do all that work because a guy might not go undrafted. Nope. No way they do all that work. They have no idea who is going to go in the top of the 1st or the bottom of the 7th round.
     
  3. TheMatrixHasYou

    TheMatrixHasYou Well-Known Member

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    It's not a gamble. Every year there are MANY good ILB's who don't get drafted. We only needed a last backup ILB.
     
  4. BuckeyeBucco

    BuckeyeBucco Well-Known Member

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    That's not what I said. I said that there was no way that the team could be sure that some other team wouldn't draft him, making it highly unlikely that they constructed an entire draft strategy secure in the knowledge that they would just sign Thomas after the draft ended. I'm sorry to point out the obvious flaw in your logic, but getting defensive about it doesn't really strengthen your case.
     
  5. TheMatrixHasYou

    TheMatrixHasYou Well-Known Member

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    There's no way the team could be sure some other team wouldn't draft him? If he's gone then they sign someone else. You act like getting a 5th ILB was the most important thing to the team. You think the teams whole draft board was based upon some UDFA ILB? Well it wasn't. If Thomas was gone then they bring in someone else. See how that works?
     
  6. coldrolled

    coldrolled Well-Known Member

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    Correct.. He will not be the QB on the defense.
     
  7. thesteeldeal

    thesteeldeal Well-Known Member

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    They definitely didn't not draft a ILB because they knew Thomas would be available. That would be a pretty optimistic and risky approach. It may be likely though,since they brought him in for a pre draft visit that they told him that we are interested in you late or as a high priority UDFA. I'm sure he was/is aware that he has a decent shot at making the roster because of our depth and considers this opportunity one of the better ones,so he took it. I think it's as simple as that....
     
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  8. Da Stellars

    Da Stellars Well-Known Member

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    IMHO I don't think he makes the final 53.

    Side tangent: Do you think Orlando Brown Jr. purposely tanked his combine cause he knew the Ravens would draft him? I mean it seems too good to be true. They are giving him his dad's number and locker spot. He came into the combine a potential 1st round pick? How could he have regressed like that?
     
  9. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    I usually don't give these un-drafted players much thought anymore but ones like Thomas who drop because of injury/character issues could be a good find.

    I think we might have something with this one.

    But as to whether the Steelers avoided drafting a ILB early because of him, not a chance. Their board dictated who they drafted. They tried to move up to get Evans in the first.
     
  10. steelersrule6

    steelersrule6 Well-Known Member

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    He didn't tank at the combine, he's just not a good athlete that's why he slipped in the draft.
     
  11. TheTerribleOwl

    TheTerribleOwl Well-Known Member

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    I think the essence is that none of the guys they could get would be out there every down so what is the point of spenind the pick on them since we already have people for the sub roles. Maybe I misinterpretted it.
    What were the character concerns? The only thing I know of were potential NCAA violations.
     
  12. Blast Furnace

    Blast Furnace Staff Member Mod Team

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    Failed drug test (I dont know the details) and in his own words, teams interviewing him at the combine were asking him about off field stuff and that if they drafted him, could they trust him. No elaboration what those off field things were but must be something if teams were asking about it.

    Whether there is something to it or not, totally worth the risk for a UDFA.
     
  13. Da Stellars

    Da Stellars Well-Known Member

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    Curious what kind of drugs? PEDs or recreational?
     
  14. TheMatrixHasYou

    TheMatrixHasYou Well-Known Member

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    Right, the big ILB's are for run defense which happens mostly on 1st and 2nd downs and the quick ILB's are for pass defense because passes tend to happen more on 3rd downs against teams with a good QB.

    This year and every year there are good quick ILB's that can run 4.60 still available into the 3rd round. And in the 5th round, every year, there are still good ILB's available but they are 4.80 guys.

    Tomlin wanted the guys he wanted. He doesn't seem to value ILB's much unless they are freak athletes like Shazier.

    It really hurt us last year in the playoffs with Spence out there but if we get lucky and don't have a lot of injuries at one position like last year we should be okay.
     
  15. TheSteelHurtin2188

    TheSteelHurtin2188 Well-Known Member

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    But I’m not going to say that’s why the didn’t draft one. Also the thread title really makes it seem like this guy was solely the reason why
     
  16. jeh1856

    jeh1856 Beer is good

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    Toss in the year of academic suspension and you have another large asterisk.
     
  17. Watt Wack

    Watt Wack Well-Known Member

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    • Like Like x 1
  18. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    Limit what we teach him and he'll be fine. Anytime you see a number 12 you crush it. Lesson 1 complete.:smiley1::cool:
     
  19. Wardismvp

    Wardismvp Well-Known Member

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    Folks there are reasons why these players drop or go undrafted. Lets see how it plays out.
    my guess is 3/4 of these players will be gone oh lets say before the first exhibition game
     
    • Like Like x 1
  20. jeh1856

    jeh1856 Beer is good

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    You are showing your age. NFL long since got rid of “exhibition game”. Now it’s “preseason”.
     
  21. mcam

    mcam Well-Known Member

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    Sure they did. Smart move, but they didn't know any picks they liked would be available after the draft.
     
  22. JackAttack 5958

    JackAttack 5958 Well-Known Member

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    Hey, I remember those exhibition game days. I used to call this number to get updates on the Steelers "exhibition" games before ESPN Sportcenter and waaay before the internet! Check out the cameo of Caitlyn back when he was still the manly man Bruce. :lolol:

     

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