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.