RPO Draft Evaluation

thorn058 · May 3, 2017

RPO IZSB said: ↑

What an interesting draft. While I don't fall into the group of chicken littles who think the sky is falling because of a few draft picks, I did plenty to be critical of... and even more to be excited about.

From my Steelers Mock/Wish List
1 30 Takkarist McKinley EDGE UCLA
Alternate A Obi Melifonwu S UCONN
Alternate B Deshone Kizer QB Notre Dame

The Pick
1 30 TJ Watt EDGE Wisconsin
My Board: 22nd
Positional Rank: 5th EDGE
Need Score: A
Value Score: A-
Overall Draft Grade: A

No big secret here. We had a dire need at the position, the draft was deep in 1st round Edge rushers. We all had a pretty strong feeling this was the direction the 1st round would go in. I had hoped Takk's injury would have dropped him in our lap (I had him 16th overall in the draft). But Watt is a fantastic pick. I'm not going to break him down here, we've done that enough.

From my Steelers Mock/Wish List
2 62 Jourdan Lewis CB Michigan
Alternate A Marcus Williams S Utah
Alternate B Derek Rivers EDGE Youngstown

The Pick
2 62 Ju Ju Smith-Schuster WR USC
My Board: 46th
Positional Rank: 4th WR
Need Score: C
Value Score: A-
Overall Draft Grade: B

Boy did that run on safeties hurt... 11 DBs went in the 2nd round before our pick. And that was after 8 on day one. We could've had the 20th best DB in the draft... instead we did the smart thing. Even though our need was at nickel/hybrid, we had a heck of a player fall in our lap. When you take this pick out of the context of need (DB) and remove the myth that we have no need at WR, you'll start to appreciate it. JuJu is unlike any WR we have or have had in a long time. He's going to see the field very quickly in 3rd down situations, red zone, and other opportunities with his physical abilities (over the middle possession, run blocking, contest routes will be utilized. I had us taking a WR in the 4th.

From my Steelers Mock/Wish List
3 94 Desmond King S Iowa
Alternate A Rasul Doughlas CB WVU
Alternate B Davis Webb QB Cal

The Pick
3 94 Cameron Sutton CB Tennessee
My Board: 109th
Positional Rank: 15th CB
Need Score: C+
Value Score: C-
Overall Draft Grade: C

Missing out on Josh Jones by one damn pick, and then missing out on Jourdan Lewis by 2 picks... is going to stick in my craw for years (I hope they both bust now). I really don't know what to make of this pick, because Sutton is weak in the areas the Steelers traditionally value the most (zone, tackling). How are they going to use him? Obviously, it's a nice addition to special teams from a return perspective, but on defense he's a man corner, who doesn't tackle well. Is he really their solution in the slot?

3 105 Josh Reynolds WR Texas A&M
Alternate A Shaquil Griffin CB Central Florida
Alternate B Samaje Perine RB Oklahoma St

The Pick
3 105 James Conner RB Pitt
My Board: NR
Positional Rank: NR
Need Score: B-
Value Score: F
Overall Draft Grade: D+

I had a battering ram RB as one of my alternate picks at this spot (Perine). There's no other way to describe this pick other than a hometown reach. Everyone knows Conner's story. But a 3rd round pick? Crazy. I am excited about him though, regardless of the poor value of the pick. If Conner can alleviate some short yardage carries, and eliminate our historically inept "1st and goal from inside the 2" problems, he'll change everyone's mind about the value proposition here.

From my Steelers Mock/Wish List
4 135 Josh Dobbs QB Tennessee
Alternate A Jake Butt TE Michigan
Alternate B Carrol Phillips EDGE Indiana

The Pick
4 135 Josh Dobbs QB Tennessee
My Board: 100th
Positional Rank: 5th QB
Need Score: B+
Value Score: A
Overall Draft Grade: A-

I GOT ONE!!!! This is our 2nd best pick of the draft (Watt). Perfect value at the perfect time. I don't know why everyone isn't thrilled with this pick. Dobbs is going to get a minimum of 2 years development time, behind Ben and with an excellent coaching staff. With Dobbs, it comes down to one thing, building up his lower body mechanics and footwork to match his ability in and out of the pocket. For a "running QB", Dobbs is fantastic at waiting until the last possible second to break the pocket, but he's got footwork issues that lead to his inaccuracy even when standing in the pocket (and even worse when he breaks it). He gets the ball out quick with zip. Sure he throws a LOT of short passes, but they are on NFL style combination routes, very similar to what we run. His velocity on short/intermediate throws is fantastic. And his deep ball is purrrty. I'm not going to regurgitate his character and intelligence, but it is certainly top notch, and doesn't hurt.

Is he our next franchise QB? Maybe.... maybe not. But we haven't been able to say "maybe" and now is the time.

From my Steelers Mock/Wish List
5 173 Elijah Qualls DL Washington
Alternate A Jalen Myrick CB Minnesota
Alternate B Wayne Gallman RB Clemson

The Pick
5 173 Nate Allen DB Utah
My Board: NR
Positional Rank: NR
Need Score: C-
Value Score: C-
Overall Draft Grade: C-

This is the kind of pick I like in the late rounds. There is nothing but enormous upside here. I watched Nate Allen play. He's not a CB... not yet. He plays the position as if he thinks he's still a WR and everything he does in coverage looks like a WR. The likelihood, is that Nate Allen never plays CB in the NFL. BUT... there's a small chance that he develops, and if he does... look out. Because Nate Allen has all the athletics and ball skills you drool over. He's a practice squad lotto ticket.

From my Steelers Mock/Wish List
6 213 Jeremy Sprinkle TE Arkansas
Alternate A Lorenzo Jerome S SFU
Alternate B Keion Adams EDGE Western Michigan

The Pick
6 213 Colin Holba LS Louisville
My Board: NR
Positional Rank: NR
Need Score: C+
Value Score: D
Overall Draft Grade: C-

Yes. It's easy to laugh at drafting a LS. And yes, IT LOOKS like a waste of a pick. The reality is 2 things. First, Greg Warren is 35 years old and takes up over 1 million in cap space. The 2nd, good long snapping is something you get used to. We've had one of the best for over a decade. We don't even think about it. We don't miss FGs/XPs because of bad snaps, we don't give up field position because of bad snaps, we don't have game changing plays against because of bad snaps. If this 6th round draft pick continues that success, then it will have been well worth it. The little things, still impact the game.

From my Steelers Mock/Wish List
7 248 Jahad Thomas RB Temple
Alternate A Patrick Gamble DL Georgia Tech
Alternate B Pita Taumoupeno EDGE Utah

The Pick
7 248 Keion Adams EDGE Western Michigan
My Board: NR
Positional Rank: NR
Need Score: A
Value Score: A
Overall Draft Grade: A

If I was Anthony Chickillo and Arthur Moats... I'd be worried about my roster spot right now. Keion Adams has natural talent. His burst and bend are ridiculous. Joey Porter... DO YOUR JOB! I'm glad we double dipped at Edge. A long term unit of Dupree, Watt, Chickillo, and Adams... we are in a much better place than we were when we drafted Jarvis Jones.

Overall Draft Grade: B-

Pros:
- Addressed the greatest short and long term need on the team in a top tier EDGE Rusher, and even double dipped with a high potential developmental talent.
- Addressed lesser valued needs that could prove invaluable picks in the future (Physical Starting caliber WR, Future QB, Battering Ram RB... even a long snapper)
- Double Dipped in DBs
- Used 2 late rounders on high end developmental athletes (Allen, Adams)

Cons
- Did not add a high end / immediate impact DB
- Missed out on an incredible safety class
- Overdrafted in the 3rd round
Click to expand...

Is it your belief that for Dobbs to reach his full potential they will need to overhaul the playbook after Ben's retirement to bring it more in line with a mobile QB or will they simply teach him the system and allow him to move as he sees fit given the playcall?

RPO IZSB · May 4, 2017

thorn058 said: ↑

Is it your belief that for Dobbs to reach his full potential they will need to overhaul the playbook after Ben's retirement to bring it more in line with a mobile QB or will they simply teach him the system and allow him to move as he sees fit given the playcall?
Click to expand...

He's a perfect fit for Haley's system. His mobility is a bonus. No system changes/playbook changes required

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RPO Draft Evaluation

thorn058 Well-Known Member

RPO IZSB Well-Known Member

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