Beer We Go Steelers

Here is my complete Analysis of the 2014 NFL Draft and Undrafted Free Agent Signings:

Ryan Shazier, OLB, Ohio State:  Grade B-

BWG TAKE: Despite a glaring need for a Cornerback and Darqueze Dennard still on the board, the Steelers selected Shazier, who was a 4-3 OLB for Ohio State. His physical attributes are unquestionable and he gives the Steelers a dimension that they currently don’t have, especially if the plan is to move him inside and pair him up with Timmons. So why the B-, not sure what the thought process was in selecting what I would consider a “luxury pick” when we had a glaring hole, with a player who could fill in on the board. My guess is that Worilds will be out after this year or Sean Spence is not going to be ready to play. Either way I would have preferred we drafted a cornerback.

Stephon Tuitt, DE, Notre Dame: A

BWG Take: Tuitt was a pleasant surprise to me. He is an absolute monster, and a natural 5-technique defensive end. I had Louis Nix DT, Tuitt’s teammate in this spot. This is a much better pick and paired with Steelhead Heyward, will be a huge force to be reckoned with. This also means McLendon may get another shot at DT and Cam Thomas will be the penciled in starter.

Dri Archer, RB, Kent State: D-

BWG Take: I can just copy the attributes from the Shazier pick, super fast guy and should be the change of pace back that Chris Rainey wasn’t. He is an absolute playmaker and a threat to score when he touches the ball. He makes the offense younger and better. So why the F Grade, if Shazier was a “luxury pick” I don’t even know what to call Archer. While he will be fun to have, we needed a Defensive Back and we drafted a running back. Pierre Desir was still on the board and would have been a very good addition. To add insult to injury the Browns snatched Desir.

Martavis Bryant,  WR, Clemson: Grade B+

BWG Take: Since there was a run on Cornerbacks this was the best pick available for the Steeler’s needs. After years of Big Ben clamoring for a “tall” receiver the Steelers hit a potential HR with the pick of Bryant. He is a great receiver with tremendous catch radius and he will provide a very credible threat in the Red Zone. Given where the Steelers were on the board this was a good pick and addressed a need.

Shaquille Richardson, CB, Arizona: Grade C

BWG Take: The Steelers finally drafted the much needed cornerback. This would be a great pick if the Steelers drafted Dennard or Desir and were going to use Richardson as a project player. He has the physical attributes and looks the part of an NFL starter. More often than not according to scouting reports he doesn’t play to his size an speed. I trust the Steelers coaching staff to fix that. If that is the case, this goes from being a C pick to an A pick, but again we needed more than Richardson if we wanted impact in 2014.

Wesley Johnson, OT, Vanderbilt: Grade B+

BWG Take: Who is this year’s Kelvin Beachum, a good bet is on Wesley Johnson. Johnson has the experience, the tools and the attitude. Johnson started and astounding 51 Games in the SEC and was solid in his starts. He has the ability to play Guard or Center as well and gives the Steelers solid depth. This was a great pick and a tremendous value for the team.

Jordan Zumwalt, LB, UCLA: Grade F

BWG Take: If you have made it this far reading this, the theme has been we needed a CB. So when drafting in the Sixth round and you need a project player, lets grab what we need, so the Steelers drafted…you guessed it an Inside Linebacker. That isn’t a typo, despite having one of the best ILB in football (Timmons), having a very serviceable ILB in Vince Williams, despite having Sean Spence and spending our first round pick on what most likely will be an ILB, we drafted an ILB. We basically got a smaller slower version of Vince Williams. ANY OTHER PICK, would have made sense here, even a QB would have been less puzzling than this. The only reason this wasn’t a complete disaster is because of the next pick.

Daniel McCullers, DT, Tennessee: Grade A+

BWG Take: This was probably my favorite pick of the draft. At 6′ 7″ and 352 Lbs(BTW I need to borrow that scale) this has the potential to be a huge impact for the Steelers both figuratively and literally. I figured after the Zuwalt debacle McCullers would be gone, we were pleasantly surprised to see him there. While he certainly will be a project player he just eats up offensive lineman and will definitely have the ability to push McClendon to the outside. The best quote about this pick, “The Steelers made the Earth move with sixth round pick”, NUFF SAID.

Rob Blanchflower, TE, UMass: Grade C

BWG Take: Blanchflower’s Sr. year was wiped out by injuries and he could potentially be a value pick. The Steelers are thin at TE and Blanchflower is a smart play in this spot. He certainly is worth a look. Selfishly, I don’t want to type his name every week in the blog so I might root for someone else to make the team, or he needs a nickname.

Free Agents:

Devon Carrington,  S, Stanford: He looks like a practice squad candidate, has nice physical attributes, but lacks technique.

Howard Jones, OLB, Shepherd: Very exciting prospect and if he played at a bigger college he would have been drafted. He has great athleticism with a shot to make the roster or the practice squad at the very least.

Josh Mauro, DE, Stanford: He plays with tremendous leverage and power. He might me a little small to play defensive end in the 3-4 but he has the ability and football acumen. He certainly has the frame to get bigger and stronger, if he does this could be a real find.

Ethan Hemer, DE, Wisconsin: Love this pick and love this kid. He was a walk on at Wisconsin and he played his way to be signed in the NFL. Hemer is a tall, tough, athletic 5-technique end. At 291 pounds and his attitude, he could come in and contribute right away.

Eric Waters, TE, Missouri: The Steelers are thin at TE after Heath so Waters has a shot.

Will Simmons, G, East Carolina: Has the physical ability and the nasty demeanor to make this team. He is a very interesting prospect and has the best chance of this group to make the squad. Very strong and could be the steal of the day!

Roy Philon, DT,  Louisville: He looks a little small to play DT in a 3-4 defense. Probably better projects to being a 3-4 point of attack end. The Steelers do well with undrafted lineman so he has a shot.

Brendon Kay, QB,  Cincinnati: Kay is a gifted athletic prospect with very interesting QB skills, He will at the very least will be a camp body. He has the potential to push Landry Jones and Bruce Gradkowski for the last QB spot on the roster.

Kaycee Ike, OT, UAB: He projects to be more of a guard and has some nice athletic upside. The Steelers are not afraid to keep undrafted OL who have versatility so he has a long shot.

Chris Elkins, OL, Youngstown State: He seems to be facing the toughest odds of making the squad. The plus is he plays Center and Guard the down side is he has trouble with the bigger defensive players and gets clobbered.