Beer We Go Steelers

I was surprised about Doran Gran and Steve Johnson but the rest seemed pretty obvious. Look for some movement if they can grab some secondary help after todays cuts.

So the final preseason game is here and the Steelers of course had significant injuries although nothing fatal so far:

What we know?

-Cam Hewyard might miss opening night against the Redskins but I have a feeling he won’t!

-Ladarius Green will indeed be on the PUP list and the Steelers.

-No Starters, but the last three spots on the roster are up for grabs.

-Bruce Gradkowski is done and most likely finished as a Steeler.

-Zach Mettenberger was a great pickup!

-JAMES HARRISON IS NO CHEATER!!!

So we enter the pivotal week three of the dreaded preseason:

What we know?

-Landry Jones is in serious trouble. After a mediocre performance Week 1 he absolutely stunk up the joint in Week 2. His only saving grace is that Bruce Gradkowski has a hamstring issue and Dustin Vaughan looks way to raw right now.

-Ross Cockrell has a good chance at starting. He has played nicely and done a good job when called upon. The Secondary is a work in progress.

-Whoever scouts Steelers receivers is pretty good at it. The Steelers keep rolling out solid receivers every week of all different shapes and sizes. Eli Rogers looks like he could be a good find. Sammie Coates is starting to play bigger!

-The Steelers are starting to clear cap room…so Antonio Brown or Dave DeCastro will be significantly wealthier by Sept 12th. Would love to see both signed.

-Vince Williams is definitely going to be a part of the future and Laurence Timmons may be in his swan song year.

-LeVeon will only miss three games.

-James Harrison will not be missing any after that bogus Al-Jazeera report. The NFL should say case closed and let everyone move on with their lives.

-Daryl Richardson is probably not Willie Parker the Second! I think Fitz will beat him out and Fitz needs to “redeem” himself.

What’s a mystery?

-We still haven’t seen the first team offense or what they are capable of?

-Senquez Golson might never see the field as a Steeler.

-Ladarius Green and Artie Burns are both a mystery right now? Green is suffering from some injury that can’t be verified or at least has been compromised? Burns hopefully will play tonight.

-Can Jarvis Jones play in this league? and furthermore is Bud Dupree going to improve off of last year?

We won’t see the film until Sunday!

Okay so last week’s preseason game was a mild success. The result is irrelevant, most important thing is that no one was injured and for the most part the first and second teams played well.

The Good:

-Daryl Richardson had a great game and has the pressure on Fitz Toussaint.

-James Harrison and the defense stepped up when needed!

-Darrius Heyward-Bey made a strong case to win the Martavis Bryan sweepstakes. After an early drop he made a great catch for the offensive touchdown.

-Landry Jones put in a decent effort and made a case to win the backup job.

-The offensive line looked very solid.

The Bad:

-Tackling was mediocre.

-Sean Davis has a long way to go.

-Bruce Gradkowski went out after a promising start.

-Dustin Vaughan has the look and the arm of an NFL QB, but his results were awful.

Tonight the Steelers host the cross state rival Philadelphia Eagles.

-NO Ben, No AB, NO Le’Veon Bell

-Need to see who will step up in the secondary tonight?

-NO ONE CAN GET HURT

-Who wants Martavis’ spot?

-Lets see who is going to make the case to make the team?

The Steelers are back tonight…well at least a bunch of guys wearing Black and Gold uniforms. There are several scratches tonight and it doesn’t look like any of the early draft picks will be playing. Also, Ladarius Green is out, with headaches. So why would we watch?

Well BECAUSE IT IS THE STEELERS!!!

Several spots are open and will need to be filled:

-Does Landry hold off Gradkowski?

-Who is going to win the Tight End sweepstakes. Heath Miller has huge shoes to fill both on and off the field. Jesse James this is your time to shine!

-Anthony Chickillo will push for playing time and there are several openings for depth on defenses.

-With Senquez Golson looking to be an injury bust, who can play Cornerback?

-What will the middle linebacker depth look like?

-What will the defensive line depth look like? Is this Mt. McCullers break out year?

-Who will take Bryant’s spot at WR?

-The Steelers need to see a bunch of running backs, especially if Le’Veon Bell is going to be gone for four games!

So there is some intrigue tonight and you know what else…it’s the Steelers!!!

Camp is open here are some Quick Hits for July 29th:

-Le’Veon Bell is becoming a huge distraction, did he fail a test, did he not fail a test, who knows, but either way this is a distraction. You want big money, you better act like a big boy. very disappointed

-This is Mike Tomlin’s 10th camp and arguably the best team he has ever had!

-Welcome back Dave Johnson TE and part time FB and say goodbye to Matt Spaeth! This also opens up Jesse James chance to make the team!

-Dave DeCastro and Antonio Brown are awaiting contract extensions. Both should get them!

-BTW Antonio Brown’s car might be the coolest car EVER!!!

-New TE Ladarius Green and longshot WR Shakim Phillips will start camp on the PUP list.

-Below is the Camp Schedule provided by the Post-Gazette;

The Steelers completed the 2016 draft and the national media perception of the results is mixed. Here is the BWG Take on it.

1 (25). Artie Burns, CB, Miami

BWG TAKE: This was EXACTY the pick the Steelers needed and he will make an impact right away. Has all the tools and should be a great fit. The Pick has been panned but to me he won’t miss and he has the right attitude and size. He has NFL size and speed, with a good camp he could push to start.

2 (58). Sean Davis, S, Maryland

BWG TAKE: This one felt like a stretch especially with Von Bell waiting to be scooped up. However he is very FAST and hits like a cement truck, so he has the tools. He also has CB experience.

3 (89). Javon Hargrave, DT, South Carolina State

BWG TAKE: A versatile tweener that seems like a depth pick and most likely a 3-4 end. Powerful interior lineman.

4 (123). Jerald Hawkins, OT, LSU

BWG TAKE: This as the steal of the draft. He will challenge for playing time next year. Hawkins is a nice, athletic tackle with experience at both left and right tackle. He had graded out way better than the fourth.

6 (220). Travis Feeney, OLB, Washington

BWG TAKE: He will be a special teams ace and eventually push for playing time. Plays like he was shot out of a cannon!!!

7 (229). DeMarcus Ayers, WR, Houston

BWG TAKE: Loved this pick as well. A tough shifty and quick receiver, he is was one of the most productive wide receivers in college football in 2015. This might be the steal of the draft and he will play special teams as well!

7 (246). Tyler Matakevich, LB, Temple

BWG TAKE: He reminds me of Vince Williams. He is an old school thumper who had a great college career. Smart and driven! This could be the Beachum of this draft.

Will review UFA tomorrow.

         Artie Burns, CB Miami!!!

With a successful season long gone in the rearview mirror, the NFL draft is upon us again! The draft has a cult following and has taken on a life of its own. The NFL now sells tickets and it even has it’s own line of products. I will be attending a baseball game so will miss the beginning (LI DUCKS) and then will be headed home for the Steelers pick.

That being said, I am very excited for this year’s draft. What’s on the menu, for Beer We Go Steelers, first and foremost we are not doing a mock draft. Both the Captain and I HATE mock drafts. So forget that! However, we have some analysis.

The Steelers: First Pick (25), Total Picks (7), Roughly 47 years ago the Steelers made the draft the center piece of their talent building…they have never looked back, whether it was drafting four Hall Of Famers in the 1974 draft or stealing Antonio Brown in the 6^th round, the Steelers have built a foundation through the draft and this year will be no different. The glaring needs are help in the defensive backfield, a “clogger” in the defensive line, Offensive tackle depth and a young QB and then depth all over.

Biggest Needs: Is either a Safety or a Cornerback and that has to be the number one pick. The Steelers have had very few misses in the draft, however the defensive backfield has been one of them. Several CB’s have washed out and the Steelers haven’t done much better on safety. They need an impact player, preferably two or three in the first five picks.

The front seven is still one of the best in football, however the depth was seriously drained. The Steelers need a BIG, BIG man in the middle to backup Mt. McCullers and they need some outside linebacker help.

As for offense, depth at the tackle spot is a serious concern. Lastly, if the right steal is sitting there, they need to look at a Quarterback. While Ben has plenty of tread left on the tires, it would be prudent to look at a “project” guy to develop.

Steelers Draft Capsule:

Best 1^st rounder of the last ten years: Cam Heyward, DE, 20011 Draft, (31^st Overall)

Biggest Draft Bust: Jamian Stephens, T, 1996 Draft, (29^th Overall)

Biggest Draft Steal: (TIE) Mike Webster, C, 1974 Draft, (125^th Overall) / Antonio Brown, WR, 2010 Draft (195^th Overall)

Greatest Draft Pick: Joe Greene, DT, 1969 Draft, (4^th Overall)

Beer We Go division analysis:

Baltimore Ravens: First pick (6), Total Picks (9), The Ratbirds are in a strange position for them of picking in the top ten after a terrible season. Ozzie Newsome in this spot scares me, they rarely miss in the first round and they should make a significant impact in this spot. They also stockpiled fourth round picks, so look for some movement. There biggest need is a playmaker outside, a WR, but they have several holes including O-Line, and the defense which has been there calling card, is very leaky.

The Ravens Draft Capsule:

Best 1^st rounder of the last ten years: Joe Flacco, QB, 2008 Draft, (18^th Overall)

Biggest Draft Bust: Kyle Boller, QB, 2003 Draft, (19^th Overall)

Biggest Draft Steal: Adalius Thomas, LB, 2000 Draft, (186^th Overall)

Greatest Draft Pick: Ray Lewis, LB, 1996 Draft, (26^th Overall)

Cincinnati Bengals: First pick (24), Total Picks (6), The Bengals have become perennial contenders after being the laughing stock of football for nearly 20 years. What they need is coaching and better discipline, but that isn’t something that will be on their board. This should be a minimum impact draft and they will draft for depth. Historically, they have done a good job getting value picks….albeit with questionable smarts. (Vontaze that’s for you.) They need help up front in the NFL’s toughest division. Look for the Defensive line and Linebacker, to be the target. Also don’t be surprised if you see a QB get snatched if it falls in their lap.

The Bengals Draft Capsule:

Best 1^st rounder of the last ten years: A.J. Green, WR, 20011 Draft, (4^th Overall)

Biggest Draft Bust: Akili Smith, QB, 1999 Draft, (3^rd Overall)

Biggest Draft Steal: Lemur Parrish, CB, 1970 Draft, (163^rd Overall)

Greatest Draft Pick: Anthony Munoz, LT, 1986 Draft, (3^rd Overall)

Cleveland Browns: First pick (8), Total Picks (a whopping 12), The Browns are in the enviable position, that they are ALWAYS in this time of year, plenty of early quality picks. The draft should be named, Cleveland Browns Day!!! They traded with the Eagles and still stayed in the top 10. Sonny Weaver Jr. pulled off a stunner…wait that was only a movie, but none the less here we are!

The Browns front office is now trying a more scientific approach, having recruited Paul DePodesta away from the Mets. DePodesta was one of the central figures in “Moneyball”. That move was panned by many people, I am not one of them. The Browns will be using actual analytics and real life statistics compared to using the Twister Wheel and Ouija Board to make their picks. Whatever his shortcomings DePodesta is a Harvard Graduate with a football background and this might be the beginning of something for the Browns as well as the NFL, AKA read money ball!

Giving the Browns first round picks is very similar to giving monkeys fire, while it is a great tool, it is wasted and pretty damn dangerous if you don’t know how to use it. As for needs, well I can copy last year’s blog post verbatim, they need a QB more than just about anyone in the world. RGIII was a great pickup but he is not who they will build around, they also need playmakers, so look for an impact WR right away. After that they need EVERYTHING else. I am very interested to see the Ricciardi experiment!

The Browns Draft Capsule:

Best 1^st rounder of the last ten years: Joe Haden, CB, 2010 Draft, (7^th Overall)

Biggest Draft Bust: Seriously? Pick ‘em! Although the Johnny Manziel stink must seem like Chernobyl.

Biggest Draft Steal: Leroy Kelly, RB, 1964 Draft, (110^th Overall)

Greatest Draft Pick: Jim Brown, RB, 1957 Draft, (6^th Overall)