Prediction: Second Round

I'm a little late but lets get this round 2 pick in.

For the first round I called a defensive lineman and I can't say I'm not really shocked by Artie Burns; over the last two weeks I seen his name more and more. But its time to start over and I'm going defensive lineman again, this time Jonathan Bullard from Florida.

Bullard is another Cameron Heyward. He is a versatile player who can play inside and out. Putting him on the line with Heyward and Tuitt makes a formidable trio. We have already started rebuilding and this draft could top off our defense, Bullard could be that player.

Prediction: First Round

The draft is 30 minutes away and I'm sitting here toying with who I think the Steelers will take with their 25th pick in the first round of this years draft.

Now, I think its possible that the Steelers will move back a few picks. There will be some movement at the end of the first round and the Steelers would graciously pick up a few additional picks; my prediction however will be based on the Steelers not trading their pick.

Corner has been the topic of conversation for the last six years or so. Fans and experts alike have wondered why the Steelers have not used higher picks on defensive backs. I can't say I disagree with the fact that our corners have not been up to par but I disagree with most people on how to fix it. A killer pass rush hides a suspect defensive backfield.

With that being said I think the Steelers will draft Andrew Billings, DT, Baylor. The Steelers have two amazing defensive lineman in Tuitt and Heyward but there is no anchor in the middle; and hasn't been since Hampton's retirement. Billings fits that role. He's big, 6'1 311lbs and he's from Texas, just not UT.

Billings can play right away. He can secure the middle of the line and free up our linebackers to do what they do best.

It may not be a fancy pick, but its a Steelers pick.

News: Draft

We are on the eve of the draft once again. Its that time of the year when every fan of every team has the same hope; for your team to fix its problems. The internet has been flooded with predictions and analysis for months now and yet none of us are tired of it. So, here we are, the members of SteelerNation, waiting to see who our front office will pick to be the next young stars of our franchise; and ready to complain when its not what we want individually.

I've went back and forth for the last few weeks, really thinking about who they could logically take. While I'm not a mind reader and like everyone else I'll just be making assumptions based on knowledge that I, a non-professional executive would make. But here goes anyway.

Contrary to the popular belief I don't think the Steelers will take a corner in the first round. There are plenty of solid corners but its just not the Steelers style. From the 90s to present day we haven't had many elite corners. Their corners looked good because our pass rush was amazing. Last year Butler returned the sacks we've lacked for years increasing from 33 to 48. Hell, interceptions were up from 11 to 17. Stats aside the Steelers have confidence that Gay, Cockrell, Golson and even Grant can hold the fort down; why rebuild when three of the four will be in only their second season as Steelers?

I truly think the Steelers will grab a defensive lineman to finish securing the pass rush. Tuitt and Heyward can't do it all and a premier defensive lineman could fix that. I think Noah Spence will be off the board but Bullard (Florida), Reed (Alabama) and Nkemdiche (Ole Miss) could still be available and I think they will jump at a top notch versatile defensive lineman.

In the second through fourth rounds is where you will see some defensive backs. Keep your eyes on DJ White out of Georgia Tech and Jeremy Cash out of Duke. I also would expect some depth here either at receiver or tight end.

Heading into the final three picks is where you make your money. Excluding last year's class the Steelers have drafted 15 players in the final two rounds over the last five years and just about half of them have spent time with the Steelers and played. I expect another pass rusher, it wouldn't be a Steelers draft without a few, a quarterback prospect and depth at another position whether its offensive line or defensive backs.

It won't be pretty, it never is. But it will be a Steeler draft and hopefully what we need to get that seventh ring.

News: 2016 Schedule

The 2016 schedule was released today, so lets break it down.

Lets get brazen here 13-3.

Week 1

@ Washington Redskins MONDAY NIGHT

I'm not shocked this is a Monday night game, but I thought this would be vs Cincinnati. Despite being 13-21-3 in Washington this should be a good opener for us. Washington has a decent offense and defense but I don't think they'll be able to contain our weapons.

Projection: WIN



Week 2

vs Cincinnati Bengals

This is the grudge match. These two teams have a lot to fight about and I bet this will be a brutal start to both teams seasons. The Bengals lost a lot of depth but still have their play makers. This game will come down to whether our defense can hold up to their offense. The Steelers are 30-16 all time against them at home and 6-4 in the last ten.

Projection: WIN



Week 3

@ Philadelphia Eagles

Who knows what Eagles team we will get? I sure don't. What I do know is I don't trust their offense vs our defense, even if its shaky. And I don't trust their defense to stop our offense. The Steelers are 8-26-2 all time in Philadelphia and a horrendous 1-9 in their last ten there.

Projection: WIN




Week 4

 vs Kansas City Chiefs SUNDAY NIGHT

The Chiefs seem to be a torn in our sides. This game is scary to me since we never seem to play well vs Kansas City, but we are home for this one. I'm hoping momentum keeps us going. I'm counting on the defense getting better as well. The Steelers are 10-4 all time against the Chiefs in Pittsburgh.

Projection: WIN



Week 5

vs New York Jets

The Jets have won 1 game in 17 tries in Pittsburgh. Oh, and who the hell is going to be their QB? Enough said. To top it off the Steelers are 9-1 all time vs the Jets in Pittsburgh.

Projection: WIN





Week 6

@ Miami Dolphins

This should be a win. The Dolphins are in rebuild mode and their is so much discourse in their locker room but we have a tendency to play down to teams. We have a horrible record vs bad teams but I will hold out hope this year will be different. The Steelers have won their last three games in Miami but 6-8 overall there.

Projection: WIN



Week 7

vs New England Patriots

I don't care if this is at home. I don't care if the Patriots are a shell of themselves. I don't care if we should be on a roll at this time. The Steelers are 11-8 at home vs New England but have lost to Tom Brady 7 out of 9 times, including 3 of the last 4 in Pittsburgh. I hate to say this.

Projection: LOSE



Week 9

 @ Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens are revamping this off season in hopes of erasing the 5-11 memories from 2015. The problem is the Ravens have Tomlin's number and two of those five wins were against Pittsburgh. I don't think they will sweep this year but they will grab this one. Hell, we lost three straight in Baltimore and 9-11 overall there.

Projection: LOSE



Week 10

vs Dallas Cowboys

The Steelers are 8-6 all time vs the Cowboys at home and won their last meeting in Pittsburgh 20-13. The Cowboys should return to their 2014 postseason form but its Pittsburgh and the Steelers need a win to break their losing streak.

Projection: WIN



Week 11

@ Cleveland Browns

Oh, the rivalry is back. New coach. New look. New players. I'm still thinking same old Browns. The Steelers have owned the Browns since coming back in the league winning 13 of their 17 matchups in Cleveland. This shouldn't be any different.

Projection: WIN



Week 12

@ Indianapolis Colts THANKSGIVING NIGHT

The Steelers decimated the Colts last year in Pittsburgh so expect some sort of payback. The only problem is the Colts have not addressed a single need on defense or the offensive line. Adding to that the Steelers are 7-4 there all time including two straight.

Projection: WIN


Week 13

vs New York Giants

This is another toss up team. If they are horrible we have a better chance to lose, if their good, who knows. The one sure thing is they spent a ton of money and have Odell Beckham Jr. The Steelers are 14-22-3 against the Giants at home including losing 3 of the last 4 there.

Projection: LOSE


Week 14

@ Buffalo Bills

Our saviors from 2015, as short lived as it was, will host us in 2016. Buffalo has a good defense, up and coming quarterback and I think will give us fits at the end of this season. The thing with Rex is you just never know which of his teams will show up. The Steelers are 5-7 all time in Buffalo and have won three straight there.

Projection: WIN


Week 15

@ Cincinnati Bengals SUNDAY NIGHT

The second meeting and what most likely will be the most important. The Steelers are 26-19 all time in Cincinnati and have won 8 of 10 there. Its hard for me to predict a sweep of Cincinnati but after the fiasco that was the 2015 Wild Card game, the Steelers don't want to lose this game.

Projection: WIN



Week 16

vs Baltimore Ravens

Them. Again. At the end of the season. The Steelers are 15-9 all time but have lost 2 of the last 3 there. The Ravens embarrassed them last year, twice, but I don't think it will be the same in 2016.

Projection: WIN




Week 17

vs Cleveland Browns

Hue Jackson will get the Browns there one day. This won't be the year though. The Steelers are 44-21 all time in Pittsburgh including 11 straight and 15 of 16.

Projection: WIN

Combine: Quarterbacks

There are a few positions the Steelers need to address, so I'm going to breakdown some opinions that I have on players that could be beneficial to the Steelers. I'll start with quarterbacks.

It's no secret that the Steelers need help at Quarterback. Big Ben is getting up there in age and the depth behind him is lackluster. Micheal Vick won't be returning and I don't think that anyone believes in Landry Jones. Bruce Gradkowski is a solid backup but is like Ben, getting up there in age.

The draft gives the Steelers the opportunity to bring in a young guy that needs developing. Put him behind Ben and Bruce and let him learn. There are plenty of mid to late round talents but none that I like more than Kevin Hogan from Stanford.

Kevin has good size standing 6'4 and weighing in at 218 lbs. He has good speed running the 40 yard dash in 4.78, great vertical at 32.5 and ran the cone drill in 6.9; all near the top for quarterbacks.

Hogan is also a winner going 36-10 and 3-1 in bowl games with three PAC-12 championships. In his career he threw for 9,385 yards with 75 TDs and 29 INTS.

The best part about Hogan is that it shouldn't take a high pick to grab him. Most "experts" have him projected between the 5th and 7th rounds. With a late round pick there will be no rush to get him ready which will let the coaches get his footwork and deliver NFL ready.