Steelers pick LSU OT Jerald Hawkins in Round 4

Steelers pick LSU's Jerald Hawkins to kick off NFL Draft Day 3

April 30, 2016
By Ed Bouchette / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



The Steelers kicked off the third day of the NFL draft by selecting offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins of LSU in the fourth round this afternoon.

Hawkins (6-6, 305) was a three-year starter for the Tigers after taking a redshirt in his first season there in 2012. He started 11 games at left tackle as a junior last season, 13 games at right tackle in 2014 and 12 at right tackle in 2012.

The Steelers lost starting left tackle Kelvin Beachum in free agency. They return Allejandro Villanueva, who replaced Beachum after he tore his ACL in the sixth game of the season. The Steelers signed free agent Ryan Harris, who started 16 games at left tackle for the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos last season. Also Mike Adams, their second-round draft pick in 2012, returns after missing all of last season following back surgery.

“We’ll bring them in, let them compete, play a lot of reps, see who rises to the top,” line coach Mike Munchak said.

He will put Hawkins on the left side at first, but indicated he can play either. Marcus Gilbert starts at right tackle.

“We feel this guy can come in and push the guys we have,’’ Munchak said.

The Steelers do not have a fifth-round pick, which they traded to Philadelphia last summer for cornerback Brandon Boykin. They have a compensatory sixth-round pick and then wind the draft up with two selections in the seventh round today.

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2016/04/30/Steelers-NFL-Draft-picks-for-Day-Three-Round-4-to-7-football/stories/201604300175

Nice pickup. He is a good run blocker and has the body type for LT at 6'6" with 34.5" long arms. He doesn't have a thick lower body but plays with heavy hands and has good feet in the run game or pass protection. Not consistent in his pass sets, sometimes gets unbalanced and leans forward and hand placement can be outside the frame instead of inside on the chest.

Needs a year or 2 of Munchak coaching and could be the future LT. Draws comparison to Bobbie Massie, but I think he has better feet and agility.

Steelers Mike Munchak Updates Status Of T Mike Adams

BY DAVE BRYAN APRIL 30, 2016

Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Mike Adams has had a rough professional career since being selected in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft and now that the team has drafted former LSU tackle Jerald Hawkins in the fourth round of this year’s draft, the former Ohio state product’s time remaining in Pittsburgh figures to be short.

While Adams did miss the entire 2015 season with a back injury, Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak gave every indication Saturday afternoon that he’s now healthy enough to compete for his roster spot this year during the team’s OTA sessions and training camp.

“He’s working with the players,” said Munchak of Adams. “We’ll see how he develops. Any time with injuries, there’s always uncertainty, but we missed him last year. Hopefully he will be contributing this year.”

Even though the Steelers did lose tackle Kelvin Beachum to the Jacksonville Jaguars during free agency this offseason, they quickly replaced him with former Denver Broncos veteran tackle Ryan Harris. Harris figures to compete with Alejandro Villanueva for the starting left tackle spot this offseason with the loser of that battle serving as the team’s swing tackle. When asked if he knows who will open up training camp as the starter at left tackle, Munchak refused to commit to either Villanueva or Harris.

“I don’t think we’ve even discussed that yet,” said Munchak. “Obviously Villanueva is the one that’s most familiar with the position coming in. That won’t mean a whole lot. Harris is new to the offense. He just got a Super Bowl ring so he brings a lot of experience to the room also.

“We have a lot of good problems to have. We’re going to have some good competition. Ultimately that will make our offensive line even better. Right now, no we haven’t discussed any of those things as far as who’s going to be where. It’s just a matter of getting him in here, starting OTA’s and seeing where it goes.”

As for Adams, he not only now needs to beat out Hawkins this year during training camp, he also must hope that the team ultimately decides to keep four tackle-types on their final 53-man roster this year. Being as the team now has a fourth-round draft pick invested in Hawkins, he really would have to have a tough offseason to wind up not making the final cut.

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2016/04/steelers-mike-munchak-updates-status-t-mike-adams/

If Adams isn't recovered from injury, he wont make the 53. Too much potential in Hawkins and IMO, the only way Adams makes the 53 is if he out performs Harris or AV.

"Potential is a fancy French word for you haven't done anything yet."-Bill Parcells. Hawkins has more potential than Adams, but Adams only hope is to prove he has more potential than the 31 year old Harris.

Agree, Harris is the only expendable player if Adams were to be ANY good, but Adams wasn't very good playing LT, and he was a RT mostly for Ohio State.

I had brief podcast covering Hawkins and yes, he'll spend his "senior year" with Munch, which could make him a viable starter at LT in the near future.

http://www.steelcityunderground.com/podcast/2016/05/pittsburgh-steelers-4th-round-selection-jerald-hawkins/

I feel sorry for Adams, he is a die-hard Steelers fan and its a shame the injuries (and the stabbing) that set him back too far that I don't think he'll be able to recover. Besides when he got drafted I think that was the first year with Jack Bicknell Jr who was terrible for us until we brought Munch in. I thought maybe Munch could have given the Midas touch to Adams but I think Adams was given enough oppurtunies to prove his worth.

He has the physical build to be an elite tackle, but doesn't have a brain and I think it's too late to develop the skill set now.