Colbert: "...mistakes I made were 'hearts and smarts'"

Bubbahotep · May 3, 2026 at 9:52 AM

I'm not sure how to interpret what he is saying. Is he saying he used too much analytics in the 2022 draft? Or he didn't evaluate the intangibles well enough?

[starts discussion @ mid-point]

Kevin Colbert on the NFL Draft, Steelers Legends & Penguins Playoff Momentum

Blast Furnace · May 3, 2026 at 9:11 PM

Thats a great interview. 9:39 mark shows what most people know, having that losing season gave them the opportunity to draft Ben. Of course you dont try to lose and Colbert even says that but it does give you that opportunity to draft better players.

I also like how he said that late round picks that pan out isnt them picking right but the player proving them wrong. If they thought the player was that good, theyd draft him earlier. Good stuff.

As for the heart and smarts stuff, wasnt really clear about that. Maybe went too much heart, I dont know.

NorthernBlitz · May 3, 2026 at 10:09 PM

Bubbahotep said: ↑

I'm not sure how to interpret what he is saying. Is he saying he used too much analytics in the 2022 draft? Or he didn't evaluate the intangibles well enough?

[starts discussion @ mid-point]

Kevin Colbert on the NFL Draft, Steelers Legends & Penguins Playoff Momentum
Click to expand...

I think the biggest mistakes he made were (1) reaching to fill positional needs (e.g. Edmunds and Bush) and (2) trying to give Ben "weapons" when we didn't have an OL (e.g. Najee, Freiermuth).

NorthernBlitz · May 3, 2026 at 10:11 PM

Blast Furnace said: ↑

Thats a great interview. 9:39 mark shows what most people know, having that losing season gave them the opportunity to draft Ben. Of course you dont try to lose and Colbert even says that but it does give you that opportunity to draft better players.

I also like how he said that late round picks that pan out isnt them picking right but the player proving them wrong. If they thought the player was that good, theyd draft him earlier. Good stuff.

As for the heart and smarts stuff, wasnt really clear about that. Maybe went too much heart, I dont know.
Click to expand...

Also being fortunate that the small losing season they had coincided with what might be the best (at least among the best) QB drafts in the UFA/Cap era.

And even then, we still needed the Browns to be incredibly stupid by taking a mediocre TE instead of a franchise QB.

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Colbert: "...mistakes I made were 'hearts and smarts'"

Bubbahotep Well-Known Member

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