2014 Draft...an initial analysis of need

In the main forum I wrote about this somewhat in my posts on current depth chart, but here is a summary of need based on that analysis heading toward the NEXT draft. Yeah, I know it's early, but don't tell me the scouts aren't currently doing this same thing...they are.

Offensive Draft Needs 2014

RB depth - If Bell is eventually going to be the starter, you are looking for role players, not a starter. Makes this a later round pick.

OLine Depth - Some of this comes down to how the young guys develop and who makes the squad, but there are some spots here. I don't think we are looking at starters, but you never know.

WR - Is Sanders extended? Do we want him to be? Did Wheaton step up and show starter potential? Could be a top 3 round pick.

Defensive Draft Needs 2014

DE: As I am not a huge fan of Woods and Williams at this point I cannot even count on making the roster, Keisel's soon to be retirement will make this a position where we need to look at.

ILB: We basically have our starters and completely unproven depth. I think it is possible Sylvester doesn't even make the team this year, and Spence I don't think will ever play again. This is position of need.

CB and S: I put these 2 together. The needs here are determined by the youth. Does Brown turn the corner or not? Does Hawthorne show he can play? Golden and Shamarko....do they start to develop? This is a question mark for both.


My rankings of importance (May 2013):

1. ILB - replace Foote
2. WR - replace Sanders
3. S - replace either Clark/Troy
4. DE - replace Keisel
5. OLine - replace Foster
6. RB - replace Batch or Redman or Dwyer
7. CB - replace Ike or if Brown/Hawthorne don't develop

 

wow. this is a bit early dont you think. i saw on Steelersdepot that they already penciled in the Steelers 1st round pick for 2014.

how about we see what this draft class does 1st and then lets see how the season plays out before we worry about 2014 draft.

it fine to think about it, but most people cant stand even giving grades to the players that were drafted this year let alone trying to figure out needs a year from now.

what seems like a need today might not be next year and vise versa.

again. im not bashing you, but i just dont understand the need to think about next years draft before we even see the 2013 season.

 

next year i would like to take safarian jenkins te , problem that he willl be a top 15 pick

 

thats who the guy from CBS sports has them picking. if they have the 14th pick than that means we are in for an even worse season this year. unless they trade up. tough to trade up from 32 to 14.

 

Eric Ebron TE UNC

 

I'll respond with 2 statements:

1. "Yeah, I know it's early, but don't tell me the scouts aren't currently doing this same thing...they are." If they aren't doing this, they should be fired, that is their job. The FO needs to constantly be looking at weaknesses in the team.

2. The areas which may be draft needs in 2014 are probably also areas of need and weaknesses which will show their head in the 2013 regular season.

Granted this will change. I typically do this yearly. I take the draft picks and "GUESS" which ones I predict to make the roster and look at potential changes for the next year. I will probably do it again right prior to last cuts, and then again at the end of the year, and then immediately prior to the draft. It is just a fun way for me to look at our changing roster. It will change and I know that. Spence's injury last year impacted the ILB position for now.

 

like i said, im not bashing you, but its just way too early to know what needs they are going to have next year. they addressed most of their needs in this draft, but if they are all bust than their needs will be the same next year and we will be looking at a team with a top 10 pick.

i think they will be looking at LB, CB and TE needs next year with TE probably being #1.

 

You really believe we addressed all of our needs? Really?

We have zero ILB depth. We have Malecki in our Top 7 offensive lineman right now, so there isn't anything there either. We met half of our needs at safety. Ugh! I liked our draft, but I hope they are right on all the guys they took.

 

read my post again slowly. i said MOST of their needs. i also said in another post that they still have needs at LB, CB and TE probably for next year.

 

I see nothing wrong with taking a quick look at our potential roster and start looking at possible needs for next year. That way it will give you player to watch in college.

Last year I started a thread after that dradt class that OLB may be our biggest need.

I'm gonna say DL will be our biggest need next year and that's without really looking at things close so it could change. That and ILB.

Cajun-

 

exactly , i still not understand why people is not worried about our dline , we have kiesel as our best player all the others are bust (ziggy) or unproven . mclendon should be good but we are sure ? he played 20 snaps and the others ? heiward is a question mark , depth taamu ....

 

well the 2014 mock i seen had the steelers with the `12th pick.. so i gues that mean they figure we got 6-10 or 7-9 at the best.. so they got us top 15 ...

HINES

 

Way too early to be thinking about draft needs in 2014 let's see how this season plays out hopefully the Steelers will be drafting at the end of the round and not middle like this year.

 

Acccording to Colbert Steelers never draft for needs, always best player available,
I thought I would also blow some smoke your way. LOL

 

If that was the case, the Steelers would have taken Arthur Brown in round #2. I think what he really means to say, is we don't PURELY draft on need.

 

yes can differ but i'm not sure is always better , there were some decision in the past that were head scretching for 99 % of steelers fan , b.davis in place of avril try essex instead of canty , worilds instead of lee ..just come to my mind .some were not even worth any discussion . but hey we have to trust the f.o on good and bad , but sometimes seems they go out of mind

 

I'm one of those that believe our dline is okay for what we ask them to do. Now, I wasn't a fan of drafting Heyward and Ziggy as number one picks because of what we ask them to do. As you can see Woods (4th round) and McClendon (undrafted) are doing quite well. I just don't see spending a high number one pick on a DE unless he is exceptional (JJ Watt type).

 

Right now, I think TE is high up there. We need to be DEEP at TE. Heath is getting older and our depth is weak.

I'd hate to say we need a Tackle, Guard, or Center, but so far I'm not impressed with the guys we have invested in.

 

I think you better think about CB, the second most important position in the game today. I seriously doubt, the Steelers will keep Ike Talylor(even though he is Dan Rooney's boy) past this year. So unless you think Curtis Brown is the answer than you better be looking for that CB. Good bye Brett Kiesel, Ryan Clark, Troy, Of course if you want to take a pay cut like your old buddy Silverback was asked to. We might have a need for you guys.Now who is fair.LOL, how things are a changing. PLAYER EVALUATION IS ALWAYS THE KEY. Who buys these groceries?

 

I agree with you on most of your analysis Tarheel.

OL - I like a pick here only if it is a top 2 round pick. We need starters, not more developmental guys.
RB - Definitely need to pick up depth here. I like DeAnthony Thomas here. We should keep Dwyer or Felix as a back up to Bell, and Thomas could be a 3rd down back/change of pace guy/returner
WR - not too concerned about our guys here. With Moye and J. Brown as our current depth, I feel good enough even without Sanders. Maybe a late round guy here.
TE - Needs to be a top 2 pick for us. No one behind Heath gets me excited. I like Ebron and Lyerla here.

DL - I dont agree that this is an area of concern. Even without Kiesel we have Hood, McClendon, and Heyward as starters with Woods backing up both DE and DT. Arnfelt will make the squad as a back up DE and we will carry an emergency DT (like Fangupo) who will not get a helmet unless Woods or McClendon are hurt.
CB - huge concern here. without Taylor, all we have is Allen. Gay is only serviceable in the nickel spot, and C. Brown just flat out cant play corner in the NFL. I like Roby from OSU here, but I'm a Buckeye homer lol
S - Doesn't concern me tons either. I think Clark and Troy still have some left in the tank, and Golden and Shamarko are good depth.We will probably spend a high pick in 2015 on this position.
ILB - definitely needs to be looked at. Hopefully Spence can come back and V. Williams progresses, but neither of these are givens. The outcome of the previous two guys mentioned will dictate how high of a pick this is.

 

OL
OL
OL
OL
OL
OL
OL

 

we can only hope.

 

We need at least two OL starters. Anything after that is gravy. We need a legitmate left tackle and one guard.

We need a Nose Tackle. McClendon is good but he is just to light in the pants for keep linemen off our linebackers. I think he would be a terror at DE.

WR. Someone in the range of 6'5'. Not a skinny 6'5", a big/hugh tall physical receivers with just a little speed.