Steelers will have plenty of talent, if not size, to choose from at cornerback

By Gerry Dulac / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

INDIANAPOLIS — If the Steelers or any other teams are looking for big, physical cornerbacks to copy the Seattle Seahawks, they are not going to find them in this year’s NFL draft.

They certainly aren’t in abundance at the NFL Scouting Combine, where only four of the 39 cornerbacks invited to Lucas Oil Stadium were taller than 6 feet.

Of the top seven cornerbacks generally considered the best prospects in the draft, four are 5-11 or smaller.

“Big, fast guys are the fewest people around,” Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. “Everybody would like to get longer, taller guys that run a 4.4 [40-yard dash]. But there are just not very many humans like that in the world, you know. So it’s rare when you find them and then you have to develop the guys.”

Carroll did that in Seattle when he found Pro Bowl cornerback Richard Sherman (6-3, 195) and Pro Bowl safety Kam Chancellor (6-3, 232) in the fifth round and signed cornerback Brandon Browner (6-4, 221) as an undrafted free agent.

“When we had Brandon and Richard playing, you can’t get any longer,” Carroll said. “Those are the two tallest cornerbacks to play together arguably in the history of the league. So it’s, ‘Well, let’s go do that.’ But there are no players like that. Look at this draft, there are only a couple of guys over 6-1 at corner. So that’s just how it goes.”

Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said the two deepest positions in the draft are wide receiver and cornerback, which just happen to be two of the positions the Steelers likely will address early.

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2014/02/26/Steelers-will-have-plenty-of-talent-if-not-size-to-choose-from-at-cornerback/stories/201402260035#ixzz2uV0LCEwy

Justin Gilbert did a great job in the combine. He really caught some attention with his smooth running and agility. I have a feeling the Lions will take a CB in the first round and one has to question if Gilbert or Dennard fit their scheme best (or the scheme they want to play). Gilbert is very good playing off the line, whereas Dennard is a great press-man defender.

Of the two, I think Gilbert is more athletic. He’s just more fluid and his body control is amazing. Dennard is much more relentless and a far better tackler. Passing up either of these two guys would tell you the Steelers really believe in the talent of a CB they think will be available in the 2nd round, not to mention the talent level of anyone that might have fallen to them in the 1st.

There's always the diamond in the rough. They don't have to play ball like the CBs for the Seahawks. What they need to do is fit in to the Steelers system and play ball. I'd rather have a ball hog that can play game then just someone who is overly aggressive. Eventually, the refs will start calling penalties on that aggressiveness.

As mentioned, I believe the Steelers need to find the right players to fit in to their system.

kirklandrules wrote:

Justin Gilbert did a great job in the combine. He really caught some attention with his smooth running and agility. I have a feeling the Lions will take a CB in the first round and one has to question if Gilbert or Dennard fit their scheme best (or the scheme they want to play). Gilbert is very good playing off the line, whereas Dennard is a great press-man defender.

Of the two, I think Gilbert is more athletic. He’s just more fluid and his body control is amazing. Dennard is much more relentless and a far better tackler. Passing up either of these two guys would tell you the Steelers really believe in the talent of a CB they think will be available in the 2nd round, not to mention the talent level of anyone that might have fallen to them in the 1st.

Yep, Kiper believes this too.

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