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[ATL96Steeler]

The Cleveland Clowns are so dumb it wouldn't surprise me if they go after Colin Kaepernick.

Ya know...when Mack opted out and Schwartz left, the new regime probably didn't realize the impact of that. IMO Schwartz was just okay, but they were doomed for failure. In hindsight they should've gone for Weintz, but they had a decent draft LY, if they can shore up the OL and keep a starting QB (proabably Kessler) upright for 12-13 games, they can win 6 games next year.

But if they draft a QB high and hand over the reins early it's going to be another long season in CLE.

 

[Wamu]

Ya know...when Mack opted out and Schwartz left, the new regime probably didn't realize the impact of that. IMO Schwartz was just okay, but were doomed for failure. In hindsight they should've gone for Weintz, but they had a decent draft LY, if they can shore up the OL and keep a starting QB (proabably Kessler) upright for 12-13 games, they can win 6 games next year.

But if they draft a QB high and hand over the reins early it's going to be another long season in CLE.

No matter what the Browns do during the draft it'll be yet another long season for them. Of course I'd like to see them finally get going in the right direction but they have yet to do that since their return in '99. And I just don't see things changing anytime soon. Fuck it, can I root for the Steelers this year?

 

[ATL96Steeler]

No matter what the Browns do during the draft it'll be yet another long season for them. Of course I'd like to see them finally get going in the right direction but they have yet to do that since their return in '99. And I just don't see things changing anytime soon. Fuck it, can I root for the Steelers this year?

LOL...It probably will be a long season in CLE regardless of this draft, but it can certainly be better than 1 win. It doesn't matter if you're CLE, LA, PIT, NE...if you earned the #1 overall pick...you're more than one draft away from respectability.

The hope is you make some good picks and build a little at a time. Tampa imo is very close to being a playoff caliber team and they had #1 overall just 2 years ago.

That said, now what self respecting Browns fans would root for the Steelers? Oops, scrap that. The Browns owner for one. Sure, why not? lol

 

[Wamu]

LOL...It probably will be a long season in CLE regardless of this draft, but it can certainly be better than 1 win. It doesn't matter if you're CLE, LA, PIT, NE...if you earned the #1 overall pick...you're more than one draft away from respectability.

The hope is you make some good picks and build a little at a time. Tampa imo is very close to being a playoff caliber team and they had #1 overall just 2 years ago.

That said, now what self respecting Browns fans would root for the Steelers? Oops, scrap that. The Browns owner for one. Sure, why not? lol

Jimmy 'the jackass' Haslam bought the Browns for 1 reason: to keep them in the NFL basement. Seems like a waste of money.

 

[cincygrad]

What are the top AFCN draft needs? Just 1st round thoughts.

Everyone picks before the Steelers so it's possible there could be poaching.

BAL...16th...for the 1st time in a while the Ravens could use up grades at more than one position on both sides of the ball so they could go a number of ways...Edge, CB, ILB, WR, S. They are in prime position to get an impact player. I think they will go BPA and my gut says that will be a DEF player.

CLE...1st & 12th...we all know the Browns need multiple positions, but QB is still a priority and OT was a sore spot for them as well....unless somebody knocks their socks off they are going to take (and should) the DE, Garrett from TXAM...noted by many to be the best player in this draft....the question will be do they go QB at 12 or wait until 33? Depends on the board obviously, but I think they will go QB 12 and come back for a OT at 33.

CIN...9th...2011 was the last time the Bengals had a top 10 pick and they drafted AJ Green. Clearly they need Robin (WR)on the other side of their star WR1. They should get their #1 pick from LY back so I'm not expecting them to go CB, but I can see them going Edge rusher, the kid from Stanford Thomas, or Barnett from TN are both scheme fits for them. They've spent fairly high picks on OL that have yet to yield much, but I don't see them going back to the well this early. This is where you get your plug and play players, top 10, so we'll have to see where they go with this one but the WR from W. Mich is probably getting a lot of attention from them at the combine this week.

PIT...30th...Edge, CB, ILB...we've already talked a good bit on the 2017 draft board about the Black & Gold, but I think the 30th pick is going to go on one of these 3 positions. I'm seeing mocks where edge guys are flying off the board early, and I'm seeing mocks that have 4 QBs, 2 RBs, 3 WRs, and 2 TEs go early, (i.e heavy OFC) so it's wide open in terms of what the board is going to look like at 30.

With regards to Cincinnati..... I think you're right about Thomas or Barnett. They need pass-rushing help in a big way. And I also think you're right that they might not be ready to go back to the well for yet another corner or OT. Receiver might be a little less a priority because some of the kids played well last year. The passing game should be better if Eifert and Green ever get on the field at the same time.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

With regards to Cincinnati..... I think you're right about Thomas or Barnett. They need pass-rushing help in a big way. And I also think you're right that they might not be ready to go back to the well for yet another corner or OT. Receiver might be a little less a priority because some of the kids played well last year. The passing game should be better if Eifert and Green ever get on the field at the same time.

They say this a good year for the edge rusher crop...I hope they are right because a lot of teams have that need....CFB is not my forte but I do watch some SEC and pay a lot more attention during bowl season. I've seen Barnett probably more than most of the other bigger name edge rushers in this draft.

He's a 4-3 fit for sure imo. Not as athletic as a Clowney was coming out...more Bosa like in that regard. If he goes to a 4-3 team I think he's going to do well...has enough quickness to be effective at this level, but more developed moves for a young player...he's not always going to try to win outside...he'll spin, swim, can bull rush. Has good hands.

But Idt he's the guy you want to put in coverage a ton.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Steelers, Titans could be in mix for Dre Kirkpatrick

Interesting. Cincy will try to retain him, but it depends on the $. If he prices himself out of Cincy, I don't see the Steelers wanting to pay him more than Cincy does. I don't really think he's much of an upgrade, if at all, over Cockrell.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

 

[cincygrad]

Steelers, Titans could be in mix for Dre Kirkpatrick

Interesting. Cincy will try to retain him, but it depends on the $. If he prices himself out of Cincy, I don't see the Steelers wanting to pay him more than Cincy does. I don't really think he's much of an upgrade, if at all, over Cockrell.

Interesting.... I wonder if the 'source' was his agent!

I have mixed feelings about Dre.... I truly believe his best days are in front of him. I think he's learned how to play in the NFL. That said, he has always looked clumsy when it comes to ball skills and it's hard to see him as a shut-down (top 10 type) corner. There's no problem with that except that he'll cost a lot. Might be better off in the draft.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Interesting.... I wonder if the 'source' was his agent!

I have mixed feelings about Dre.... I truly believe his best days are in front of him. I think he's learned how to play in the NFL. That said, he has always looked clumsy when it comes to ball skills and it's hard to see him as a shut-down (top 10 type) corner. There's no problem with that except that he'll cost a lot. Might be better off in the draft.

Could be his agent, as surely they wouldn't want to lose him to a DIV rival, but PIT put a low tender on Cockrell. Some feel another team might come in and offer more than what PIT would be willing to match and there would need to be a plan B.

Although Face disagrees, I see Dre as a slight upgrade over Cockrell, but the fact that CIN plays a lot more man than PIT makes it interesting he would be targeted...especially as a costly FA.

I really expect PIT to go the draft route, most of their FA money will likely be spent retaining guys.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Interesting.... I wonder if the 'source' was his agent!

I have mixed feelings about Dre.... I truly believe his best days are in front of him. I think he's learned how to play in the NFL. That said, he has always looked clumsy when it comes to ball skills and it's hard to see him as a shut-down (top 10 type) corner. There's no problem with that except that he'll cost a lot. Might be better off in the draft.

Sounds a lot like Cockrell. Both have pretty bad ball skills. The biggest problem for me is the Steelers' defensive scheme. Their nearly every-down zone coverage isn't going to cut it in today's NFL. Their offense will get them to the playoffs every year until Ben retires, but the defense will always be their downfall. I truly don't think it really matters what caliber CB you have in this scheme, it's never going to work against elite QBs.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Sounds a lot like Cockrell. Both have pretty bad ball skills. The biggest problem for me is the Steelers' defensive scheme. Their nearly every-down zone coverage isn't going to cut it in today's NFL. Their offense will get them to the playoffs every year until Ben retires, but the defense will always be their downfall. I truly don't think it really matters what caliber CB you have in this scheme, it's never going to work against elite QBs.

What is silly....reportedly, and I emphasize reportedly is Tomlin has said he doesn't think the DEF scheme was the problem vs NE in the AFCCG.

If he truly believes that, the Steelers are never getting out of the conference unless they win a shoot out.

Now, I will say...you can run a zone back end and be successful in this league at a high level, but it has to be a much tighter zone, much like what SEA plays and you need pressure up front...anything less than that, and you're really just kidding yourself vs to the top QBs in this league.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

What is silly....reportedly, and I emphasize reportedly is Tomlin has said he doesn't think the DEF scheme was the problem vs NE in the AFCCG.

If he truly believes that, the Steelers are never getting out of the conference unless they win a shoot out.

Now, I will say...you can run a zone back end and be successful in this league at a high level, but it has to be a much tighter zone, much like what SEA plays and you need pressure up front...anything less than that, and you're really just kidding yourself vs to the top QBs in this league.

Truth. That defensive philosophy could be Tomlin's undoing at some point. For whatever reason he always turns a blind eye to what appears to be the glaring problem. And it also seems like his only fix is to draft young & fast athletes. Sure that might potentially fix the issue on the back end, but it will only get you so far. Elite QBs & WRs will always know how to handle the zone. Granted we know only a fraction of what actually goes on from the outside looking in, but it doesn't take a Belichickean mind to see that zone coverage is a huge problem.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Truth. That defensive philosophy could be Tomlin's undoing at some point. For whatever reason he always turns a blind eye to what appears to be the glaring problem. And it also seems like his only fix is to draft young & fast athletes. Sure that might potentially fix the issue on the back end, but it will only get you so far. Elite QBs & WRs will always know how to handle the zone. Granted we know only a fraction of what actually goes on from the outside looking in, but it doesn't take a Belichickean mind to see that zone coverage is a huge problem.

He's on the right path getting better, faster athletes. But putting them in a soft zone scheme is not going to beat anybody of note. Tomlin can be stubborn on certain things, but he's not stupid...I'm expecting a different approach on some level on the backend this season.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Ravens release veteran pass rusher Elvis Dumervil

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Tony Jefferson expected to sign with Baltimore Ravens

Ravens are typically active in FA...this yr is no different...cutting some dead weight to free up cash...using some of it here...some think Weddle is not the player he once was, but this tandem on paper is one of the best in the league with a young rising player in Jefferson.

Like the Steelers, they still need to upgrade the edge...will be interesting to see how they go about it.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Rams to swipe LT Andrew Whitworth from Bengals

CIN probably knew this was a possibility, but fans can't be too thrilled.

Ogbuehi better grow a pair quick now that he's been moved back to LT.