Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Thu Feb 11, 2016 1:27 pm
The cornerback position isn't much better, in terms of the Steelers' depth chart. William Gay, Antwon Blake and Brandon Boykin are all set to become free agents, leaving only Ross Cockrell, Doran Grant and Senquez Golson as returning cornerbacks with a familiarity with the Steelers' system. A fan favorite for the position the team should target in the first round of the Draft, there is plenty of talent to be had at cornerback in this year's crop of prospects.
Mayock's Top 5 Cornerbacks:
1. Jalen Ramsey, Florida State 2. Vernon Hargreaves, Florida 3. Mackensie Alexander, Clemson 4. Eli Apple, Ohio State 5. Cyrus Jones, Alabama
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Fri Feb 12, 2016 11:55 pm
3(89) Pittsburgh Steelers: William Jackson, CB, Houston
Pittsburgh's secondary is horrible right now, but there's lots of potential with that unit if the team can find a No. 1 corner to play across from Ross Cockrell.
Posts : 154 Join date : 2015-04-15 Location : Blacksburg, VA
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Sat Feb 13, 2016 6:10 pm
Hawaii 5-0 wrote:
The cornerback position isn't much better, in terms of the Steelers' depth chart. William Gay, Antwon Blake and Brandon Boykin are all set to become free agents, leaving only Ross Cockrell, Doran Grant and Senquez Golson as returning cornerbacks with a familiarity with the Steelers' system. A fan favorite for the position the team should target in the first round of the Draft, there is plenty of talent to be had at cornerback in this year's crop of prospects.
Mayock's Top 5 Cornerbacks:
1. Jalen Ramsey, Florida State 2. Vernon Hargreaves, Florida 3. Mackensie Alexander, Clemson 4. Eli Apple, Ohio State 5. Cyrus Jones, Alabama
Weird. I usually trust Mayock more than anyone else and he's the only person I've seen say Cyrus Jones is anything more than a Day 3 ST'er.
El-Gonzo Jackson
Posts : 1826 Join date : 2015-04-18
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Sun Feb 14, 2016 1:42 am
PhantomJB93 wrote:
Hawaii 5-0 wrote:
The cornerback position isn't much better, in terms of the Steelers' depth chart. William Gay, Antwon Blake and Brandon Boykin are all set to become free agents, leaving only Ross Cockrell, Doran Grant and Senquez Golson as returning cornerbacks with a familiarity with the Steelers' system. A fan favorite for the position the team should target in the first round of the Draft, there is plenty of talent to be had at cornerback in this year's crop of prospects.
Mayock's Top 5 Cornerbacks:
1. Jalen Ramsey, Florida State 2. Vernon Hargreaves, Florida 3. Mackensie Alexander, Clemson 4. Eli Apple, Ohio State 5. Cyrus Jones, Alabama
Weird. I usually trust Mayock more than anyone else and he's the only person I've seen say Cyrus Jones is anything more than a Day 3 ST'er.
Mayock often goes a bit looney for some guys. Jones is that guy this year I guess, but he showed well at the Sr. Bowl. Maybe another slot CB type guy.
Remember the huge LSU OT about 5 years ago that he had ranked in his top 5 guards? Didn't even last 3 years in the NFL I think. Lets not forget his love of AQ Shipley as his top center either. I think Mayock was pretty big on the Jarvis Jones bandwagon as well.
Hawaii 5-0
Posts : 2482 Join date : 2015-04-19
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Mon Feb 15, 2016 1:37 pm
1(25) Pittsburgh Steelers: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
The Steelers have to upgrade their cornerbacks and get a replacement for William Gay.
In 2015, Apple recorded one interception, eight passes broken up and 33 tackles. He had some coverage lapses early on, but played better to close out the year. Apple has a good skill set and lots of upside to develop. He was very impressive for the Buckeyes in 2014 down the stretch of their title run, recording 53 tackles with three interceptions and 10 passes broken up on the year. The 6-foot-1, 200-pounder looks like he has No. 1-corner potential.
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Tue Feb 23, 2016 2:57 pm
Heading Into NFL Scouting Combine, Top Prospects Pittsburgh Steelers Should Consider In NFL Draft
Feb 22, 2016
[
GLENDALE, AZ – JANUARY 01: Defensive player of the game Eli Apple #13 of the Ohio State Buckeyes holds the MVP trophy after the BattleFrog Fiesta Bowl at the University of Phoenix Stadium on January 1, 2016 in Glendale, Arizona. The Ohio State Buckeyes beat the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 44-28.
Eli Apple, Ohio State CB
Here’s a trivia question for you: who was the player that intercepted Marcus Mariota’s final collegiate pass?
You guessed it. Eli Apple.
At 6’1”, Apple is an important two inches taller than Alexander. He combines that size with strength that will allow him to compete with the NFL’s best at the next level. With 86 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss in his two years with the Buckeyes, he’s proven himself to be a capable tackler in the run game as well. NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein elaborated on his potential
Good height, weight and arm length combination. Clean footwork in transition with natural ability to mirror and match from press coverage. Won’t open hips early and rarely turned around off line of scrimmage. Has foot quickness in short spaces to maintain feel for his man. Extremely competitive when ball is in the air.
He showed off some of his playmaking skills, saving the game versus Indiana:
Looking at their recent history, the Steelers are comfortable with Ohio State players. They took Cameron Heyward in the first-round of 2011, Ryan Shazier in 2014 and cornerback Doran Grant in the fourth-round last year.
Apple is another player who would fill a tremendous need on their roster if available at No. 25.
I like this kid. Not sure he's as fluid as some of the natural corners you'll see out there. But he's a big kid who runs faster than it looks like he's running.
I also like Apple. Ohio State's defensive scheme doesn't provide a bunch of help to their corners. I don't want to state that they are out on an island, but they play with a lot of responsibility to cover their man or handle their responsibilities on pass plays. Apple is a kid who I think will go much higher than they originally anticipated. I'd be surprised if he's there at 25, but if he was there, I'd be happy if they nabbed him (although I very much would love to see Hunter Henry as he's the real deal and would make that offense unstoppable).
effyou515
Posts : 5249 Join date : 2011-09-28 Location : from upper Ohio Valley to Conyers Ga.
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Wed Feb 24, 2016 10:56 am
kirklandrules wrote:
Hawaii 5-0 wrote:
from Pete Prisco's first mock:
1(25). Pittsburgh Steelers
William Jackson, CB, Houston: He is tall at 6-2 and is a ballhawk. The Steelers need help at corner in the worst way.
I like this kid. Not sure he's as fluid as some of the natural corners you'll see out there. But he's a big kid who runs faster than it looks like he's running.
I also like Apple. Ohio State's defensive scheme doesn't provide a bunch of help to their corners. I don't want to state that they are out on an island, but they play with a lot of responsibility to cover their man or handle their responsibilities on pass plays. Apple is a kid who I think will go much higher than they originally anticipated. I'd be surprised if he's there at 25, but if he was there, I'd be happy if they nabbed him (although I very much would love to see Hunter Henry as he's the real deal and would make that offense unstoppable).
First round TE draft pick 11 years ago worked out well. since the Heath Miller retirement I'm for a TE pick at 25 keep feeding Ben weapons. again pushing DB picks later in the draft again but this draft is deep with DBs.
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Fire Arians
Posts : 2051 Join date : 2011-11-11
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Wed Feb 24, 2016 11:00 am
effyou515 wrote:
kirklandrules wrote:
Hawaii 5-0 wrote:
from Pete Prisco's first mock:
1(25). Pittsburgh Steelers
William Jackson, CB, Houston: He is tall at 6-2 and is a ballhawk. The Steelers need help at corner in the worst way.
I like this kid. Not sure he's as fluid as some of the natural corners you'll see out there. But he's a big kid who runs faster than it looks like he's running.
I also like Apple. Ohio State's defensive scheme doesn't provide a bunch of help to their corners. I don't want to state that they are out on an island, but they play with a lot of responsibility to cover their man or handle their responsibilities on pass plays. Apple is a kid who I think will go much higher than they originally anticipated. I'd be surprised if he's there at 25, but if he was there, I'd be happy if they nabbed him (although I very much would love to see Hunter Henry as he's the real deal and would make that offense unstoppable).
First round TE draft pick 11 years ago worked out well. since the Heath Miller retirement I'm for a TE pick at 25 keep feeding Ben weapons. again pushing DB picks later in the draft again but this draft is deep with DBs.
I'd be open to it. I'm in the crowd of wanting to draft defense, but the BPA strategy that the Steeler FO has been using over the years has been a proven winner. If the best available at 25 is a TE, by all means pick him.
El-Gonzo Jackson
Posts : 1826 Join date : 2015-04-18
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Wed Feb 24, 2016 1:30 pm
Fire Arians wrote:
effyou515 wrote:
kirklandrules wrote:
Hawaii 5-0 wrote:
from Pete Prisco's first mock:
1(25). Pittsburgh Steelers
William Jackson, CB, Houston: He is tall at 6-2 and is a ballhawk. The Steelers need help at corner in the worst way.
I like this kid. Not sure he's as fluid as some of the natural corners you'll see out there. But he's a big kid who runs faster than it looks like he's running.
I also like Apple. Ohio State's defensive scheme doesn't provide a bunch of help to their corners. I don't want to state that they are out on an island, but they play with a lot of responsibility to cover their man or handle their responsibilities on pass plays. Apple is a kid who I think will go much higher than they originally anticipated. I'd be surprised if he's there at 25, but if he was there, I'd be happy if they nabbed him (although I very much would love to see Hunter Henry as he's the real deal and would make that offense unstoppable).
First round TE draft pick 11 years ago worked out well. since the Heath Miller retirement I'm for a TE pick at 25 keep feeding Ben weapons. again pushing DB picks later in the draft again but this draft is deep with DBs.
I'd be open to it. I'm in the crowd of wanting to draft defense, but the BPA strategy that the Steeler FO has been using over the years has been a proven winner. If the best available at 25 is a TE, by all means pick him.
Nobody really knows. You could say that Jarvis Jones and Ziggy Hood were not exactly BPA.
Fire Arians
Posts : 2051 Join date : 2011-11-11
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Wed Feb 24, 2016 5:01 pm
El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:
Fire Arians wrote:
effyou515 wrote:
kirklandrules wrote:
Hawaii 5-0 wrote:
from Pete Prisco's first mock:
1(25). Pittsburgh Steelers
William Jackson, CB, Houston: He is tall at 6-2 and is a ballhawk. The Steelers need help at corner in the worst way.
I like this kid. Not sure he's as fluid as some of the natural corners you'll see out there. But he's a big kid who runs faster than it looks like he's running.
I also like Apple. Ohio State's defensive scheme doesn't provide a bunch of help to their corners. I don't want to state that they are out on an island, but they play with a lot of responsibility to cover their man or handle their responsibilities on pass plays. Apple is a kid who I think will go much higher than they originally anticipated. I'd be surprised if he's there at 25, but if he was there, I'd be happy if they nabbed him (although I very much would love to see Hunter Henry as he's the real deal and would make that offense unstoppable).
First round TE draft pick 11 years ago worked out well. since the Heath Miller retirement I'm for a TE pick at 25 keep feeding Ben weapons. again pushing DB picks later in the draft again but this draft is deep with DBs.
I'd be open to it. I'm in the crowd of wanting to draft defense, but the BPA strategy that the Steeler FO has been using over the years has been a proven winner. If the best available at 25 is a TE, by all means pick him.
Nobody really knows. You could say that Jarvis Jones and Ziggy Hood were not exactly BPA.
True, the best that can be made is an educated guess. The FO generally is pretty good at it though, despite those 2 misses. Though a lot of times it's a crapshoot. After all, if the 2010 draft had a do-over, a lot of teams would have been picking AB in the first round, even though at the time every single team passed on him numerous rounds that year.
pczach
Posts : 952 Join date : 2015-04-28 Location : Stunted Growth PA
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Wed Feb 24, 2016 7:27 pm
Fire Arians wrote:
El-Gonzo Jackson wrote:
Fire Arians wrote:
effyou515 wrote:
kirklandrules wrote:
Hawaii 5-0 wrote:
from Pete Prisco's first mock:
1(25). Pittsburgh Steelers
William Jackson, CB, Houston: He is tall at 6-2 and is a ballhawk. The Steelers need help at corner in the worst way.
I like this kid. Not sure he's as fluid as some of the natural corners you'll see out there. But he's a big kid who runs faster than it looks like he's running.
I also like Apple. Ohio State's defensive scheme doesn't provide a bunch of help to their corners. I don't want to state that they are out on an island, but they play with a lot of responsibility to cover their man or handle their responsibilities on pass plays. Apple is a kid who I think will go much higher than they originally anticipated. I'd be surprised if he's there at 25, but if he was there, I'd be happy if they nabbed him (although I very much would love to see Hunter Henry as he's the real deal and would make that offense unstoppable).
First round TE draft pick 11 years ago worked out well. since the Heath Miller retirement I'm for a TE pick at 25 keep feeding Ben weapons. again pushing DB picks later in the draft again but this draft is deep with DBs.
I'd be open to it. I'm in the crowd of wanting to draft defense, but the BPA strategy that the Steeler FO has been using over the years has been a proven winner. If the best available at 25 is a TE, by all means pick him.
Nobody really knows. You could say that Jarvis Jones and Ziggy Hood were not exactly BPA.
True, the best that can be made is an educated guess. The FO generally is pretty good at it though, despite those 2 misses. Though a lot of times it's a crapshoot. After all, if the 2010 draft had a do-over, a lot of teams would have been picking AB in the first round, even though at the time every single team passed on him numerous rounds that year.
Jarvis Jones was a pick at a position of need who dropped to them. They believed his motor and production in college could translate to the NFL with some body development and the addition of pass rush moves with some real NFL training and coaching. They missed.
With Ziggy Hood, they picked a good college player that didn't fit the defense they were playing. I'm sure they projected him to be able to adapt to playing 2 gap, but he was never able to do it. He was a bad pick because they tried to fit a square peg into a round hole. I liked Hood coming out, but not as a 3-4 DE. I thought he would be a 4-3 DE, but gave the Steelers the benefit of the doubt when they took him that they knew what they were doing. They projected him to play a role in a defense he had never played before. They missed.
We'll never know how they rated everyone on their board when they made those picks. The organization is going to be wrong on players sometimes....everyone is. They get more right than they get wrong, and have proven over time that they are as good at the draft process as anyone has been for nearly half a century.
As fans, we tend to have zero patience, but overall they have done well. We have been very fortunate as fans. Having Ben has kept them competitive through any rough patches.
Thet won't have that luxury in a few years. They need to continue to build the talent level of this team to carry them when Ben no longer can.
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SteelersCanada
Posts : 177 Join date : 2015-04-10
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Wed Feb 24, 2016 10:20 pm
Dollars to donuts they don't draft a CB in RD1.
El-Gonzo Jackson
Posts : 1826 Join date : 2015-04-18
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Wed Feb 24, 2016 11:21 pm
SteelersCanada wrote:
Dollars to donuts they don't draft a CB in RD1.
Canadian dollars?
What do you think about safety?
KeepHarrisonTilHes92
Posts : 852 Join date : 2015-04-12 Location : Living in my fears
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Thu Feb 25, 2016 12:22 pm
SteelersCanada wrote:
Dollars to donuts they don't draft a CB in RD1.
Agreed
BKAnthem
Posts : 174 Join date : 2012-01-13
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Mon Feb 29, 2016 2:46 pm
It makes me sad that i have no faith in the FO when it comes to drafting a DB in round 1..much less a quality one
BlackAndGold
Posts : 603 Join date : 2015-04-08
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Mon Feb 29, 2016 3:39 pm
Well, they haven't drafted a DB in round 1 since Troy. So, I'm not sure why you'd have no "faith" in them drafting a DB in round 1.
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Buddha Bus
Posts : 13488 Join date : 2011-04-04 Location : The last bar stool on the left
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Mon Feb 29, 2016 4:38 pm
BlackAndGold wrote:
Well, they haven't drafted a DB in round 1 since Troy. So, I'm not sure why you'd have no "faith" in them drafting a DB in round 1.
I think he means he doesn't believe they will actually draft DB first. It's been an area of need for some time now and, for whatever reason, they've elected to wait till later rounds to address that area. I'm not sure how much longer they will be able to push it into later rounds though. It's become the "sore thumb" of the team at this point. Hopefully Golson will also be able to help heal that sore thumb.
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BlackAndGold
Posts : 603 Join date : 2015-04-08
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Mon Feb 29, 2016 5:09 pm
Buddha Bus wrote:
BlackAndGold wrote:
Well, they haven't drafted a DB in round 1 since Troy. So, I'm not sure why you'd have no "faith" in them drafting a DB in round 1.
I think he means he doesn't believe they will actually draft DB first. It's been an area of need for some time now and, for whatever reason, they've elected to wait till later rounds to address that area. I'm not sure how much longer they will be able to push it into later rounds though. It's become the "sore thumb" of the team at this point. Hopefully Golson will also be able to help heal that sore thumb.
Oh, well in that case then yes I agree, to an extent, especially CB. With Cockrell being more comfortable with the defense, Golson returning, Grant going into year 2 and Blake getting healthy should make the CB position better. (Still going to be hyping up Mackensie Alexander or William Jackson for #25 tho)
I truly see them addressing the safety position highly, either in FA or via draft.
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Hawaii 5-0
Posts : 2482 Join date : 2015-04-19
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Mon Feb 29, 2016 6:07 pm
Eli Apple ran an official 4.40 time, pretty darn fast for a CB over 6' tall and weighing 200 lbs.
BlackAndGold
Posts : 603 Join date : 2015-04-08
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Mon Feb 29, 2016 6:20 pm
Hawaii 5-0 wrote:
Eli Apple ran an official 4.40 time, pretty darn fast for a CB over 6' tall and weighing 200 lbs.
Showed nice ball skills also today. I believe he goes before #25.
Ramsey(I think he's a safety)-top 5 Hargreaves-top 10 Apple-top 20 Alexander/Jackson iii.- top 30
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Hawaii 5-0
Posts : 2482 Join date : 2015-04-19
Subject: Re: Analyzing the Steelers Wants and Needs For the 2016 NFL Draft – Cornerback Tue Mar 01, 2016 8:46 pm
it wouldn't surprise me if the Steelers made this guy their #1 pick:
2016 NFL Draft Stock Up
William Jackson III, CB, Houston
Jackson was the star of the defensive backs on Monday. He was the fastest corner or safety with a sparking 40-yard dash time of 4.37 seconds, officially. In the field drills, Jackson turned really well and showed excellent ball skills with the ability to make hands catches. He was good in the gauntlet and was smooth in his back pedal while turning fluidly. Jackson showed loose hips and the ability to open up. The 6-foot, 189-pounder has length with a strong season of senior-year tape. After missing the Senior Bowl with an injury, Jackson made the most of the combine to push himself into first-round consideration.
