Welcome to the Steelers Kayden Wetjen

Again...the Steelers have been terrible returning kicks. They are likely to have an offense that struggles to put up points whether to old man Rodgers or the youngins' struggles. Attempting to add an element that helps win the field position game is not a bad idea.

This might be the most honest self-scout draft pick I have seen this team make in a long time.

 

Part of drafting well is getting good value. A player who only returns kicks in the fourth round is not good value.

That is a problem with this entire draft, that the Steelers weren't getting good values. They had some great values fall into their laps, such as Pregnon in the third round, but failed to make them.

 

I understand your point, and I would agree if Wetjen were only a returner. But that doesn’t seem to be how the Steelers are viewing him. Khan said Wetjen was a need, and also mentioned that “that’s on the coach, he’s going to have some fun with him.”

In the post-draft discussion with Khan and MM, Mike said, “This draft was very refreshing when you see need as value and value as need.”

IMO, the Steelers didn’t see this as a reach for a returner, but as a case where their draft board and roster needs aligned. They already graded Wetjen as a strong player, and his return ability plus WR upside filled the role they wanted.

So it seems to me that Wetjen in the 4th round is where need and value met for the Steelers. And I’m just fine with that. I’m far too old to wring my hands over this stuff!

 

This bears repeating. Just because the team thinks it was a good move does not make it so.

There is very little reason to believe Wetjen can help as a receiver, at least not right away. If he could, why didn't Iowa use him that way?

 

Well, I think it was a good pick and agree with the Steelers on this one. I truly respect your opinion and look forward to training camp and the start of the season. I hope all the picks will pan out and exceed all expectations.

 

They have more information about the players, but the it doesn't take all that to realize the fourth round is too early for a guy who is only a kick returner aside from the occasional gadget play.

I never said it was fact. I simply made a clear claim and backed it up.

I like Dunker, but Pregnon is better. He also has great film. He is more athletic. He actually played left guard, so he doesn't have to change positions as Dunker will. The Steelers took a few guys whose production didn't quite live up to their physical talent. Everette was one of them. They would have been much better off with Pregnon and Scott than Everett and Dunker.

 

So do I.

 

He was a very productive kick returner. A luxury type of pick in round four. I expect very little from him as a WR.

 

Iowa didn't throw the ball munch and the passing game was TE heavy , but what Wetjen did well is catch with his hands and made guys miss after the catch.. I been watching his footwork and his ability to get off the LOS , he looks really good at it , his routes look crisp and he doesn't round them off ..Also I see a guy who realizes where the Defense is on his returns where the cracks are and how is the best way for him to get into those lanes..If he can hone his route running and know where MM wants him to be against zone coverage he could be a nightmare for other Teams in open space..

Is why Coach asked him if he was comfortable at RB ? Spread the D out give him a deep handoff or a deep pitch and let him turn it into a punt return..You can't Coach field vision and the feel for open lanes this kid is gifted...

 

Looking at his Iowa highlights and it's not so much his top end speed that impresses so much as it's his acceleration. His testing numbers don't really match what you see watching him. He does remind me a lot of CA3 in his ability to get up to speed quickly.

 

It's like anything else. Wetjen didn't play in a very good offense at Iowa. The passing game was not good, so no, he didn't flash much in the passing game. Any player in a bad offense is not going to look good unless you are a premier player. What this kid does is create field position in the return game. He is an open-field nightmare for teams to handle. A good coach or OC will design plays to get Bernard the ball and Wetjen the ball in space and let him be a returner within the offense. I look forward to seeing what McCarthy and his OC can come up with to get a couple of these dynamic open field players the ball with room to operate.

If they can do that, it is also going to open up the outside receivers as well because defenses will have a hard time taking away the deep outside and the underneath stuff and wide receiver screens. Mix it up with good play design and good play calling to give the talent a chance to do what they do best. If they can hurt defenses with the controlled passing game, it will give them more single coverage on the outside receivers and give them more chances for big plays down the field.

I look forward to seeing the approach they take offensively and how they use these guys.

 

I think part of this is having 3x 3rd round picks.

We wouldn't have done this in a "normal" draft IMO.

But taking a guy who looks like a high end returner with our 6th pick doesn't seem insane IMO.

Having so many 3rd round picks reduces the chances that guys in later round make the team or contribute. Barring injury, Wetjen will clearly make the team and have a clear role where he can contribute (and potentially impact games). This is the same reason I (and probably others) had said we would would OK drafting specialists in this draft in particular. Even earlier than usual. I was personally thinking about a punter late. But I think this is a better pick than that would have been.

I also think a lot of "he would have gone in round X" type comments are based on the lists that get put together by people who aren't scouts or front office people. Not sure it matters too much in this case, but I do think it's part of the blow back against the Max pick.

 

Again, Scott is a slot CB while Everette can play both inside and out. Everette was also better in press coverage, was targeted 2X more than Scott but allowed fewer yds/tgt. Scott's miss tackle rate was also sky high compared with Everette. Steelers picked the right guy for this defense.