Around the AFCN

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Around the AFC North: News from the week of April 4

 

[Ewa PGH Fan]

Around the AFC North: News from the week of April 4

Balt WR Perriman is STILL recovering from last years preseason knee injury??? WTF???!!!

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Balt WR Perriman is STILL recovering from last years preseason knee injury??? WTF???!!!

Yea that's ridiculous... He's just now starting to jog? lol. At this pace, maybe he'll be able to contribute as a 'rookie' in 2017.

 

[Ewa PGH Fan]

Yea that's ridiculous... He's just now starting to jog? lol. At this pace, maybe he'll be able to contribute as a 'rookie' in 2017.

Maybe!!!

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

 

[SteelersPride]

Balt WR Perriman is STILL recovering from last years preseason knee injury??? WTF???!!!

hw was a bust before he was drafted, big sissy boy

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

 

[ATL96Steeler]

I promise...Sounds just like a politician!

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I promise...Sounds just like a politician!

Kind of have to be when speaking to thousands of disgruntled fans.

 

[Ojb81]

lol, hey great signing, bengals

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

lol, hey great signing, bengals

I had to look up who dafuq he even was lol

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Looking at the DIV drafts...

BAL & CLE had a ton of picks...always nice, but can THAT many rookies make your team? Maybe in CLE.

CIN was smart to move off WR in the 1st but WJ3 over Nkemdiche or Butler...on that team? I think they thought they were beating PIT to the punch which they did imo...Getting Billings in the 4th looks lke a big steal...he should get snaps early if not run Peko out altogether.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Looking at the DIV drafts...

BAL & CLE had a ton of picks...always nice, but can THAT many rookies make your team? Maybe in CLE.

CIN was smart to move off WR in the 1st but WJ3 over Nkemdiche or Butler...on that team? I think they thought they were beating PIT to the punch which they did imo...Getting Billings in the 4th looks lke a big steal...he should get snaps early if not run Peko out altogether.

Really sucks seeing Billings fall to the Bungals in round 4. That is a huge steal. Jury is out on WJ3 & Burns. We will have to wait and see what sort of returns each team gets.

BAL... Sooo frickin many picks. Not a chance they all make the team. 2 OT's drafted means Monroe's days are numbered.

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Really sucks seeing Billings fall to the Bungals in round 4. That is a huge steal. Jury is out on WJ3 & Burns. We will have to wait and see what sort of returns each team gets.

BAL... Sooo frickin many picks. Not a chance they all make the team. 2 OT's drafted means Monroe's days are numbered.

Billings...although I heard they liked him but at the end of the day, they felt like many teams that he was too limited to be a 3 down player at this level...in CIN's 4-3...playing next to a beast he should do okay, but I'm not expecting him to be big in the passing game.

WJ3/Burns...I've said few times...I didn't expect any back 4 player drafted this season to start...not that they are great at those positions, but knowledge of the system gives Cockrell, Gay, Golden a big edge going into the '16 season.

Steelers have not done a great job drafting CBs lately, but they also haven't invested these kind of picks in a long time...these are the best athletes they've drafted in the back 4 in a long time...it's up to the coaches at this point to get them ready and I think MT will be a lot more involved with them early on.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Billings...although I heard they liked him but at the end of the day, they felt like many teams that he was too limited to be a 3 down player at this level...in CIN's 4-3...playing next to a beast he should do okay, but I'm not expecting him to be big in the passing game.

WJ3/Burns...I've said few times...I didn't expect any back 4 player drafted this season to start...not that they are great at those positions, but knowledge of the system gives Cockrell, Gay, Golden a big edge going into the '16 season.

Steelers have not done a great job drafting CBs lately, but they also haven't invested these kind of picks in a long time...these are the best athletes they've drafted in the back 4 in a long time...it's up to the coaches at this point to get them ready and I think MT will be a lot more involved with them early on.

Really agree with that last paragraph... Putting Burns & Davis into a zone scheme will need a transition period. Athleticism won't be the problem. But in cover 2, safeties can't make mistakes. That alone makes me think Davis won't see the field near as often as Burns. But we know Butler & Tomlin love the rotation. I think Davis has a great shot to play, but only in big nickel and situations where he doesn’t have to be the last line of defense. I expect them to test him out in coverage on TE’s a lot. I think Golden starts the season next to Mitchell, who isn’t flashy but he didn’t make mistakes last year, and we’ll need that because I think Burns will play a lot early (not a starter but maybe 20-30% starting out). That kid is mentally tough so they aren’t going to baby him. With the way they jumped on him in the 1st round, I would suspect Tomlin & Colbert have zero problems with throwing him into the fire.

Hargrave is the more likely candidate to see the most work since there is a vacancy at DT. McCullers is still progressing, and not sure if they would trust him taking the full 30% that McLendon handled. Throw in more 4-3 fronts and Hargrave shouldn't have a problem finding work.

I can’t do anything but trust Munchak with Hawkins, after I’ve said the Front office should draft anyone Munchak tells them to. Let’s see what he does with the second OL taken on his watch. We don’t really rotate lineman, so he’ll likely contribute less. If he beats out Adams, he'll still probably be put on the gameday inactive list each week. Harris would likely be the primary backup for both OT's.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

 

[ATL96Steeler]

Really agree with that last paragraph... Putting Burns & Davis into a zone scheme will need a transition period. Athleticism won't be the problem. But in cover 2, safeties can't make mistakes. That alone makes me think Davis won't see the field near as often as Burns. But we know Butler & Tomlin love the rotation. I think Davis has a great shot to play, but only in big nickel and situations where he doesn’t have to be the last line of defense. I expect them to test him out in coverage on TE’s a lot. I think Golden starts the season next to Mitchell, who isn’t flashy but he didn’t make mistakes last year, and we’ll need that because I think Burns will play a lot early (not a starter but maybe 20-30% starting out). That kid is mentally tough so they aren’t going to baby him. With the way they jumped on him in the 1st round, I would suspect Tomlin & Colbert have zero problems with throwing him into the fire.

Hargrave is the more likely candidate to see the most work since there is a vacancy at DT. McCullers is still progressing, and not sure if they would trust him taking the full 30% that McLendon handled. Throw in more 4-3 fronts and Hargrave shouldn't have a problem finding work.

I can’t do anything but trust Munchak with Hawkins, after I’ve said the Front office should draft anyone Munchak tells them to. Let’s see what he does with the second OL taken on his watch. We don’t really rotate lineman, so he’ll likely contribute less. If he beats out Adams, he'll still probably be put on the gameday inactive list each week. Harris would likely be the primary backup for both OT's.

I heard strange stuff on McCullers...he's reportedly said he likes being a 3-4 NT moreso than 4-3 DT...his production as a 3-4 Nose has actually been pretty good vs the run. I've also heard thru the grapevine that coach Mitch say he doesn't think he'll ever be able to play low enough to be a consistent dominant player at the position.

No huge revelation there for a 6'7"+ DL playing nose...so if Hargraves comes in ready...I think he's going to get snaps early, maybe 50/50 at 1st and he will get the lionshare as the season goes along unless McCullers is just a beast himself.

Burns...whatever snaps CB4 gets...I expect him to get.

Davis...if for some reason Burns is slow to develop, I can see them playing some 3 S looks like they did with Shark for awhile.

Hawkins...with Adams released officially...the swing T job is up in the air...maybe Hawkins gets a few snaps there, but imo he will be inactive most weeks.

Feeney...already signed his deal...STs is a given, but don't be surprised if he doesn't get a few 3rd down snaps in pass rush...Porter likes what he sees so far and thinks he's got good potential as a specialist

Guys in trouble, we knew C Allen was doomed and kinda felt like Adams was after the Hawkins pick...they are officially no longer Steelers...others who should be concerned.

Shamarko Thomas...if he can't fix his ST mistakes...there's no reason to have him on the roster.

Chickillo...former DL trying to transition to OLB...not great on ST...they need to see some growth from him I think to make the 53.

Doran Grant...if he transitions to S well, maybe he sticks if Shark can't figure out ST...aside from that, I'm struggling to see a spot for him.

Walton...idk if he's in trouble, but he better be watching out for this Newberry kid from FL St. a big guy with good feet, maybe coddled too much in HS...highly recruited, got to FSU and realized everybody has talent, never able to really crack the starting lineup. If the switch goes off and he starts playing like his hair is on fire...he could make the team.