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C&T Draft Factory Produces Hits For The Steelers
Authored by Michael Milliron - 8th May, 2007 - 4:15 pm
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The C&T Draft Factory, better known as Steelers Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert and new Head Coach Mike Tomlin, were making their draft debut over the NFL’s Annual Selection Meeting weekend. With Bill Cowher gone, Colbert had a bigger say than ever and in Steeler fashion, the head coach had quite a bit of input too. The Pittsburgh Steelers entered the NFL Draft with no glaring, obvious needs, but that said, one could see an infusion of young, blue chip defensive talent on the horizon with the team having used its last three first round picks on offensive players.
Joey Porter is on South Beach in Miami, where Cincinnati’s Levi Jones just as soon see him stay put as opposed to hanging in Vegas. Last year’s other starting outside linebacker; Clark Haggans will be in the last year of his contract this coming season. Projected starter James Harrison had one start in 2006 and no sacks in a limited role. The Steelers signed two UFAs from other teams, offensive lineman Sean Mahan from Tampa Bay and defensive lineman Nick Eason from Cleveland. You can see where this draft was going.
Gonna Make You Sweat…
Tomlin has stated that the defense needs to get off the field on third down for the team to improve on last year’s record. With NFL officiating crews calling games more in line with the written rules in terms of bumping receivers at the line and downfield more than ever, the true shutdown corner is almost as mythical and sighted about as often as Big Foot. The Steelers have recently invested in the cornerback position with Ike Taylor’s big contract extension before last season and having spent a second round pick on Bryant McFadden in 2005.
Pittsburgh needs to improve their pass rush whether playing 3-4 or 4-3 defenses. The best way to help the secondary is to put heat on the passer and make him sweat. Pittsburgh’s first round selection of Florida State outside linebacker Lawrence Timmons and the second round selection of Michigan defensive end LaMarr Woodley are primed to do just that.
Timmons started only one year in college as a true junior last year. However, he showed very well as an impact linebacker. Timmons is a little under-sized as a pass rushing 3-4 outside linebacker at 6’1”, 234 lbs., but Tomlin says he is an “R&H” type of player – run and hit. Certainly, he can add some quality weight to his frame and gives the Steelers a lot of potential playmaking and the versatility to play effectively in a 3-4 or 4-3 scheme or even in a rover type of position in nickel or dime defenses. Timmons will challenge for playing time this season while also providing a lot of help on special teams. Colbert and Tomlin hope he plays well enough that he can eventually be referred to as L.T.
Woodley was a dominant end on one of the best defenses in college football over the last two seasons. The Steelers see him as yet another outside linebacker for their defense. However, unlike Timmons, his pass rush ability is not questioned after registering 25 sacks as a Wolverine. Also unlike Timmons, his ability to play in space at 6’2”, 266 lbs. is questioned. Woodley did play outside linebacker as a sophomore. So, the Steelers feel he can play the strong side outside linebacker spot in the 3-4 while also being versatile enough to put his hand on the ground and rush the passer as an end in a 4-3 defense or in the nickel and dime defenses.
The Steelers wanted to add some young, aggressive, defensive players who consistently get to the football quickly in this draft. Additionally, they wanted to acquire athletic, versatile players that would allow them to continue successfully in the 3-4 defense, as well as, give them the option to also play effectively in the 4-3 front. They accomplished that by picking Timmons and Woodley who have the potential to bring a dominant pass rush back to Blitzburgh.
Things That Make You Go Hmmm…
While Colbert and Tomlin were being lauded by the media and fans for bringing in a couple of young studs for the defense in the first and second rounds, the draft took a couple of unforeseen turns. A lot of the pundits panned the selections of Minnesota tight end Matt Spaeth and Baylor punter Daniel Sepulveda in rounds three and four, respectively. The Steelers drafted a tight end, only to be followed by a punter with all of those running backs on the board?
Outside of quarterback, perhaps no position causes a fervor among Steeler fans than the tight end. Having seen the team draft Bennie Cunningham, Eric Green, Mark Bruener, and Heath Miller in the first round over the last thirty - some years only to continually see three yards, a cloud of dust, and the players essentially acting as third tackles, you can see why it is questioned when the team uses a premium pick on the position.
However, things may be changing under new offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, who was promoted from receivers coach upon Ken Whisenhunt taking the Arizona Cardinals head coaching position. While Arians is actually scaling down the Steeler playbook, there are facets of it he plans on using a lot more often, with the two tight end formation being one of them.
Going into the draft, this draftnik thought that the Steelers would go after a fullback at some point with Dan Kreider in the last year of his contract. A younger, faster fullback would be able to get outside to block more quickly for “Fast” Willie Parker, as opposed to previously being just a straight ahead battering ram in front of Jerome Bettis. No fullback was drafted, but Spaeth was brought in with both Parker and Ben Roethlisberger in mind.
Utilizing a two tight end formation will allow the Steelers to not show a strong side on offense and be able to go either way equally, spreading the defense with more running lanes for Parker. It will also give Roethlisberger more surprise - type passing options on early downs. There is no doubt that Spaeth is an imposing, physical talent at 6’7”, 270 lbs. Once he learns the offense and gains a little experience, the Steelers could have one of the top tight end tandems in football.
Once the fervor was dying down…a little bit…over a third round tight end, the Steelers started off day two of the draft by trading up in the fourth round for a punter – a punter! Colbert was unfazed by any criticism, correctly pointing out that the punter is a starting position on a football team and field position is critical. While Tomlin spoke of getting off the field on third downs earlier, he also wants to see less short fields for his defense.
Sepulveda is an intriguing player, having gone to Baylor originally as a linebacker, which should endear him to Steeler fans already. He is a lefty, which will put a different spin on the ball than return men are accustomed to, possibly causing a turnover or two throughout the year. Oh, and did we mention the howitzer that is his left leg? The Steelers are expecting some booming salvos from Sepulveda this season.
Here We Go…
The Steelers went on from the controversial Spaeth and Sepulveda picks to add some players who will give them depth and some flexibility going forward. Their other fourth round pick, Oklahoma State defensive lineman Ryan McBean, was no surprise since the Steelers had him in Pittsburgh prior to the draft. They feel he can play end in the 3-4 and tackle in the 4-3, much like their free agent addition of Eason. McBean is yet another pick that provides Tomlin the possibility of integrating more 4-3 defensive sets sooner as opposed to later.
With starting guards Alan Faneca and Kendall Simmons both in the last years of their contracts, guard was definitely a need area. Fifth round pick Cameron Stephenson out of Rutgers will have to come in and be aggressive to make the team out of Latrobe, but could be a factor at the position as soon as next season. He is a former defensive lineman at Rutgers who moved over to offense and was a big part of their success. The Steelers like his upside with his best offensive line play still in front of him.
Pittsburgh added a cornerback with their fifth round compensatory pick, William Gay of Louisville. Gay does not possess exceptional speed or size for the position, which is why he was available in the fifth round. Colbert compared him a little bit to current Steeler corner Deshea Townsend, as a player that knows how to play the position and use what ability he does have to its maximum. Gay will have to make the team as a special teamer while he hones his coverage skills.
There was no sixth round pick, having used it to trade up for Sepulveda in the fourth round. Florida wide receiver Dallas Baker is the Steelers “Mr. Irrelevant” as their last draft choice in 2007. Baker did last until the seventh round, but so did Marques Colston a year ago. Certainly, Baker making a Colston – type impact is highly unlikely, but he adds some size to the Steelers receiving corps at 6’3”, 208 lbs. If he makes the team, which he should, he could find his way into the Steelers red zone package.
One missing item in this draft was a running back, as all the Steelers have after Parker is the injury – prone and enigmatic Najeh Davenport. So, they hit the phones quickly to try and get a good priority free agent running back.
Enter Gary Russell, formerly of the Minnesota Gophers. Russell was primed for a big year in the Big Ten in 2006, but then failed to qualify academically. He rushed for over 1,100 yards in 2005 when sharing the rushing load at Minnesota with a guy named Laurence Maroney. While Russell may not have the overall talent of Maroney or produce like former free agent Parker, for a priority free agent he is intriguing, none the less.
At the end of the day(s) the C&T Draft Factory was successful in its debut performance. While not having any real sexy skill position picks, they added players who performed well at big time programs while also addressing need areas. They had a plan, stuck to it, and added some good young football players that will give the Steelers the defensive flexibility they are looking for. Time will tell if the draft picks have staying power or are just the flavor of the month, but a few could be classics.
