First, can you let us know how you get started covering the Steelers?
I got started on my own in 2011 – I started doing my own research on the draft and posting on Twitter. I did some editing a few years later – I got pushed into doing that more. It wasn’t something I naturally enjoyed but I took the leap and started writing for Steel City Blitz. I went from there to FanSided and gradually got better. Now, we’re also doing a podcast. It’s weird seeing this community that listens to me here.
Diving into the draft, where do you think it’s deepest relative to the Steelers needs?
I think cornerback is a need for the Steelers. This is the most exciting cornerback class I’ve seen since 2013. There are so many guys at the top of the draft like Christian Gonzalez, Devon Witherspoon….Gonzalez has a big, athletic frame … Witherspoon is more twitchy and likes to hit and excels in man coverage.
Deonte Banks also had a great combine. I had him in the top 50 before he blew away the combine. I watched more tape of him and I think he’s worthy of being picked at 17. I think there could be seven cornerbacks taken in the first round.
Are there guys that are best suited to the style of play for the Steelers?
The Steelers have shifted more into press coverage lately – I think that’s because of Teryl Austin – that seems to be his vibe. This is a good class for that. You can’t be a first rounder if you can’t be trusted in man coverage.
Witherspoon is more explosive but has a lighter, thinner frame and didn’t face great competition in college so teams have to weigh that. He can press and backpedal – he’ll take the ball away and hit.
Banks likes to dictate the way wide receivers play – he’s very physical. He’s versatile and can backpedal. Porter – he doesn’t backpedal as well. With his long frame he engulfs wide receivers at the line of scrimmage but he’s not as natural when not in press. He’s not fluid in his backpedal – he’s more scheme-dependent and has less ball production. You have to be very intentional on how you use him.
What about the linebacker and defensive line classes – with a big holes at both how do you see the Steelers addressing them?
I think the free agent linebacker class is outstanding There’s so much more there than in the draft class. I’d prefer they go there.
Defensive line is an underrated need. They have a few defensive pillars in Fitzpatrick, Watt and Hayward, but they need to get younger. Leal seems like a guy without a home. He’s not athletic enough to be an edge guy but not big enough to fit in the interior. They need a starter-type on the defensive line.
It’s an ok class at defensive line. Mazi Smith has potential. He’s a decent pass rusher. He hasn’t had a ton of production in terms of sack numbers but he gets a good number of pressures. He was good against a good Ohio State offensive line. He’s not a prototype zero-technique run clogger though – he’s more of a disruptive kind of player.
A guy that makes sense to me is Keeanu Benton from Wisconsin. He’s not going to be a Pro Bowl type of guy but he has starter qualities – he plays the run well which is what the Steelers like, and he comes from a very projectable defense in Wisconsin.
Gervon Dexter from Florida interests me too. There’s a lot there to like. He’s taller and leaner but he plays with strength. He has no pass rush moves right now, but you watch film of him and at times and he just jumps off the screen.
What about Siaki Ika?
I’ve watched him since last season – I saw a guy then that moved well for his size. This year though he didn’t test well in the combine and watching tape on him, he got blown off the ball too often when double-teamed. If your going to be mainly a run-stopping lineman with little pass rush value, you have to hold up in double-teams. I think his stock dropped.
Is wide receiver a real need in your opinion?
It’s not up there at the top but it’s a need – they need a real slot receiver. You can’t be a high-powered offense with Steven Simms in the slot. Austin is an intriguing guy, but he’s only played on the outside.
The wide receiver class is underwhelming for those boundary guys. But if they take one on day two – a guy like Penn State’s Parker Washington could fit that slot need. He has a high floor but low ceiling – he’s a standard number three receiver. His abilities compliment the other receivers they have. He’s tough in traffic and tough after the catch. He plays above his weight class at 5’10”, 200 pounds. He’s still a bit unrefined but he’s good against zone coverage – he has a strong lower half.
How do you see them addressing the offensive line – do you think they do so early?
I’m a little higher than the consensus is on Dan Moore. I think he’s a base-line steady offensive tackle that can hold his own. He’ll never be an upper-echelon tackle but he did get better over the course of the season. I’m pretty confident Mike Tomlin likes him as well. I think the Steelers offensive tackles will be the same next season.
They could address that left guard position though. O’Cyrus Torrence could be a guy you see them going after in the second round. He’s a load and could make a strong impact as a run blocker and is reliable in pass protection. He’s not very mobile though – you don’t want him if you’re looking for pulling guards. But he’s a good fit for the Steelers run scheme.
I did find it interesting that the Steelers met with a lot of center-capable guys at the combine. Joe Tippmann out of Wisconsin is an interesting guy to watch. Mason Cole is a guy many think could be moved to guard at some point if they draft a center type of lineman. Another guy I like is Ricky Stromberg from Arkansas. Many are less high on him than I am but I see starting potential there. He’s quick out of the gate, good at passing off blitzes and has played over 3,000 snaps against top competition and never looked out of place against those guys. He has the ability to get to the second level – he’d be a good day three guy to watch.
Any surprises you think Steelers fans should be prepared for?
I think a surprise for some may be if offensive tackle isn’t a top priority.
One other surprise may be the Steelers looking to prioritize Kazee over Edmunds. Edmunds is under-rated – I think some people don’t understand his positional versatility and how they used him, but Kazee has natural ball-hawking skills. He’s like a ball magnet and the Steelers want more playmaking ability in the secondary. He’s a bigger risk-taker but it seems to play off for him.
Do you think corner is as big of a need as many say if they re-sign Sutton?
It’s not dire with Wallace there but corner is one of the toughest positions for rookies to transition quickly to the NFL. You can make an argument that you can draft one now and they don’t have to play very down – you can bring them along slowly and play them in sub-packages and kick Sutton inside.