First Round Wrap Up

Leading up to the draft I seen plenty of social media post by Steeler fans calling for a corner or safety. I read them all quietly to myself dismissing the idea, not because I thought it was a bad idea, but because Pittsburgh historically will worry about their pass rush over pass coverage. I mean, after all we are a franchise built on linebacker and Bud Dupree fits our team.

If you think you need first or second rounders in the secondary to win championships just look at the Steelers over the last ten years and you can see the evidence to the contrary. During our memorable Super Bowl XL run, only Troy Polamalu was drafted during the first two rounds. Chris Hope (3rd round 94th overall), Ike Taylor (4th round 125th overall) and Deshea Townsend (4th round 117th overall) were all later round guys who played well because our front seven didn't leave them out to dry. During the next run, Super Bowl XLIII, Troy was joined by second round pick, Bryant McFadden (62nd overall) and other than that Ike Taylor (yep, fourth rounder) and Ryan Clark (former undrafted rookie) finished the secondary. Two championships, only one first rounder and one second rounder.

So, why were these late round guys so successful? Pass rush.

Just look at the amazing front seven during those championship years. Von Olehoffen, Keisel, Porter, Harrison, Hampton Farrior and the list goes on and on.

So, what changed? Less than stellar drafts.

Over the last five years, not counting 2014, we have picked 44 times with 13 of those being front seven guys. Only seven of those spent multiple years with the Steelers and only one is still with the team. These have been atrocious drafts for the front seven and you can't expect to win titles with a poor pass rush. If you don't draft well up front then you can't keep pressure on the opposing quarterback and thus give them more time for them to pick apart a weaker secondary.

Bud Dupree looks the part. He is much bigger than our last two first rounders, Jarvis Jones (6'2 245 lbs) and Ryan Shazier (6'1 237 lbs), as he stands 6'4 and weighs a whopping 269 lbs. Dupree's play reminds me of Jason Gildon and who wouldn't want that kind of production? Gildon's 77 sacks are the most in franchise history. He is big and deceptively fast (4.56 40 yard dash) with exception character, something we should never underestimate.

The biggest thing to remember is that there are tons of defensive backs in this draft. If the Steelers don't grab some in the second or third rounds, I'd be shocked. The Steelers will continue, until hell freezes over, to fix their pass rush because lets face it, a Steelers team without a great pass rush just isn't a Steelers team.

Defense wins championships. Bud Dupree for President.

2015

It's literally been one year since I've posted to this site. The companies that I run have grown so much and so much extra work has been added to me that I just couldn't update consistently. With the growth though I was able to bring someone on to help me out, which has freed up time. Hence me posting again.

Now, its really close to the draft, tomorrow is round one actually, but you have to get back into it at some point and why not today. I'm really excited about this draft, as I always am. There is a sense of new hope for aspects of our game that our boys in black and gold need to work on and that is always exciting to know that we could fix it all, or crash and burn.

So, what is my opinion about our draft needs?

It shocks me as a Steeler fan to say this, but we need defense. Our secondary has been in rabbles for years with our linebackers and defensive line not much better. We've signed some really intriguing players from the CFL ala Shawn Lemon and Ian Wild but there are a lot of holes to fill. This draft is full of pass rushers and defensive backs, which bodes well for us.While there is always a need for something offensive, a new reciever and another young running back would be nice, but could be grabbed in later rounds. I hope that we stick to the defensive side of the ball and rebuild what we've always been known for in the Burgh.