Thoughts on Josh Chapman? (NT, Alabama)

Haven't heard anyone pimping this guy yet. I have him in the 4th in my "dream mock." From everything I can find on the guy, it seems like he is exactly what we want. He's a 2nd/3rd round prospect. Every single negative thing written about him is stuff like the following:

-not versitile enough to play another position
-not a lot of pass rush moves besides bull rush
-not tall enough to knock down passes

My answers to all of those is, "Who cares??" This is exactly what we need. To me all of those sound a lot like a young Casey Hampton. The fact that he's shorter is actually a good thing to me. Now, there is one REAL con. He tore his ACL and how much he'll play his rookie season is in question. He had surgery in the middle of January, right around when Hampton and Mendenhall did -- and we all know how Colbert distinguishes the injury by position, saying Mendenhall could be out until late in the year, and he expects Hampton ready to begin it. Chapman also has had other injuries in the past. But on the other side of that coin, he actually played most of the 2011 season ON that torn ACL. That might endear him to the Steelers (it also should give us all a little faith in Big Snack's 2012 return).

So yes, he's just a run stuffer. I know a lot of people don't want that. They think the NFL has changed and our NT should be more like a 3-technique and a pass rush specialist. I disagree completely. I think we have guys who we will use to rush the passer, and NEED a run stuffer on the roster. I don't care if the NFL becomes so pass heavy that they pass 70 percent of the time. 30 percent is still a huge amount and too big to ignore! And that's not where we are at, anyway. Running is not antiquated. Look at the Texans and what they did to the Ravens in the playoffs. They completely tore them apart and would have won if their 3rd string QB didn't throw it away. They almost won anyway. If people think we have trouble stopping the pass now, I don't think they want to see how bad it will get if we can't stop the run. It's something we MUST do to be successful. And this looks like the guy I would pick to do the job:

-he has great upper and lower body strength, like he should
-he has a high football IQ
-he is a hard worker on and off the field, with no Cody-style conditioning concerns
-he has experience against top competition

I don't think we go DL in round 1. If we go ILB in round 1, I'll really want to go OL in round 2, and then I'd be happy to pick up Chapman in round 3. If we go OL in round 1, I might pull the trigger on him in round 2, if he seems healthy. Round 2 seems like a black hole for ILBs. Like it's either round 1 or round 3+.

1. ILB ............ 1. OL
2. OL .... or .... 2. NT
3. NT ............ 3. ILB (or whatever)

A lot of fans and mocks alike have us taking Ta'amu, but I'm not sold on him. He seems like an underachiever. I'd rather have this guy. I've seen him going anywhere from early 2nd to late 3rd. Where would you pull the trigger, if at all?

 

I love Josh Chapman, if we can get him in the third round or later. He's been #3 at NT for me for a while, behind Poe and Ta'amu. But I don't believe that he's a 2nd round talent. Course, my personal opinion means squat in the great scheme of things.

 

Terrence Cody went in the 2nd...And I have heard similar concerns about Ta'amu.

Chapman is a NT through and through no doubt. I don't see how he is a bust in anyway, I just wonder how high is his upside? Can he have a Vince Wilfork/Casey hampton kind of career?

Also didin't Chapman tear his ACL a while ago, that is my only concern?

 

He apparently tore it early on last year and played the season with it. He had surgery on it in January. He might be ready to start the season, or he might go with the PUP list.

And frankly, asking even a first rounder to be as good as Casey Hampton is asking a lot. To get a second or third rounder anywhere near that good would be the steal of the draft.

 

I have us taking him in the 4th round in the mock draft thread, but I'm starting to think we'll have to spend a 3rd on him. We give him a year to learn the ropes while Hampton is still around and he should be able to take over in 2013.

 

I like all Bama players, they seem more NFL ready than most so
yes I would take a look at him.

 

He came in at 316 at the combine, at 6'1". I think that's the perfect size to start out with. I'm not positive, but I think that's about how big Casey was his rookie season.

Yeah I took him in the 4th in my "dream mock," which I tried to say in the first post but forgot which round so I left it blank and then forgot to fill it in... but that was when I thought he was slated to go in the third. Now I'm reading more and more that says he could go in the 2nd. I would definitely take him in the 3rd if he was there, and let him get as much playing time as he possibly can in 2012.

 

i got him in the 2nd in my steelers mock. looks like he'd be a keeper. they are looking thats for sure. they were at kent states pro day looking at kitchen too.

 

I'm now definitely going to be thrilled if we can get him in the 3rd, and am debating about getting him in the 2nd. I think if we get OL help in round 1, I take him in the 2nd. If not, we might have to go OL in round 2 and put him off. Maybe trade up for him in between our 2nd and 3rd picks? We'll have to see what happens with his stock, with the draft over a month away.

 

Kind of agreeing with Hugesnack. If we go O-line in the first (Decastro, Martin, Glenn, Adams, Konz) then we will probably go NT in the second, since there really aren't any 2nd round worthy ILBs available there. If we go ILB (Keuchly or Hightower) in the first, then I think we go O-line in the 2nd, NT in the third. If we go Poe in the first, then O-line 2nd. If we pull something out of our arses because someone falls, like a WR or CB (not complaining, Steelers have done it before with good results) then all bets are off.

 

i think for as thin as NT is in the draft ( starting quality NT's that is) we will have to jump by rd.2. if not we are looking at a" big guy "that we hope can hold the middle. i know we won't take another 1st on the D-line though. we have 2 and casey makes 3. he may be a little over drafted at 2, but it's supply and demand. i think as much as we all want to fill up the O-line with players, i'm not so sure the steelers are all that commited yet to it.

 

If the Steelers stay with a 2-4 nickel they should not spend a high draft pick on a NT. With Hampton here at least another year a project in the mid to later rounds would be good.

I think that a big physical MLB may be the way to go with a 2-4 nickel; let fast Timmons roam and cover.

 

You don't think someone who is the foundation of two-thirds of every defensive play is worth a 3rd rounder? If he's really good, he's worth a 2nd rounder. You could say that the league has changed over the last 11 years, but Hampton proved to be well worth a 2001 1st rounder.

 

I think that third or fourth round would be ok. A NT will play half of the snaps against the good teams; Hampton can do that. His replacement could develop this year if drafted.

 

I think that third or fourth round would be ok. A NT will play half of the snaps against the good teams; Hampton can do that. His replacement could develop this year if drafted.[/quote:1ms4ynmk]

This is still a L.O.S. dominated league; we don't need flashy DB's or awesome LB's, we need a strong DL first and foremost. For years, our dominate 3-4 DL made guys like Porter, Gildon and Haggans look good. No coincidence that our defense lost some effectiveness with Aaron Smith out and an aged Casey Hampton. Drafting a slow, fat lane-clogging NT isn't sexy, but it's a necessity.

 

I think that third or fourth round would be ok. A NT will play half of the snaps against the good teams; Hampton can do that. His replacement could develop this year if drafted.[/quote:15bk3jau]

This is still a L.O.S. dominated league; we don't need flashy DB's or awesome LB's, we need a strong DL first and foremost. For years, our dominate 3-4 DL made guys like Porter, Gildon and Haggans look good. No coincidence that our defense lost some effectiveness with Aaron Smith out and an aged Casey Hampton. Drafting a slow, fat lane-clogging NT isn't sexy, but it's a necessity.[/quote:15bk3jau]

losing our main backup really threw a clinker in our plans. it's possible we replace hoke this year and look to replace casey next. mclendon has been playing alot of DE when he's on the field, i'm not sure he's the true guy as the backup NT. we may just grab one of those 305lb. guys like hokie to bridge the gap, i'm not sure. if we don't draft one, we will see a couple of udfa's brought in to see what they have. maybe weston gets fattened up a little and plugged in there or ziggy.

 

Anyone listen to Stan Savaran today?

They brought a draft guru on who named Martin as a good fit for the Steelers cause his style of game is closer to Casey than Poe and other NT's in the draft, because Poe is more of a pass rushing penetrator than a stout lane clogger?

Are they talking about Martin from Michigan?

 

yes, i've heard him associated with the steelers for a while now. they really like him not only for NT, but he's strong enough and quick enough to play DE also.