Four teams saw their post-season ended in the first round of the NFL playoffs. Each team had a critical flaw exposed, one that could be addressed in the April draft. Here's a look at each team, and an area of need.
Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals' storybook season came to an end on Saturday in a 31-10 loss to the Houston Texans. They won nine games, led by strong performances from rookies Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. But Cincinnati allowed over 150 yards rushing and an untimely breakdown in the secondary to put the game away in Houston. The Bengals could look to use their lower-half pick in the first round on a defensive player, perhaps someone who can make an impact on a rotational basis while learning the ropes as a future starter. Cornerbacks Adam "Pacman" Jones and Nate Clements could benefit from an influx of youth in the secondary.
Detroit Lions: Detroit is another team that could use some help in the secondary. The Lions ranked 22nd in the league in passing yards allowed in the regular season and watched Saints QB Drew Brees throw the ball all over the field on Saturday night. They also could consider upgrading the running game, which ranked 29th in the league in total rushing yards during the regular season.
Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons do not have a first round pick in 2012 after trading it to the Cleveland Browns during last year's draft. Atlanta traded up to the sixth overall pick to select wide receiver Julio Jones. The trade sent last year's first-, second- and fourth-round picks as well as this year's first- and fourth-rounders to Cleveland. Atlanta might want to consider using its first pick of the draft - a second-rounder - on a defensive lineman with pass-rushing abilities. The Falcons tied for 19th in the league in sacks during the regular season.
Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers allowed the fewest passing yards in the league during the regular season, but they allowed over 300 to Broncos QB Tim Tebow in their 29-23 overtime loss on Sunday. Cornerback Ike Taylor had a less-than-stellar game, and the Steelers aren't getting any younger in the secondary. They could add a defensive back in the first round of the draft.
Showing posts with label Pittsburgh Steelers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pittsburgh Steelers. Show all posts
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
News and Notes on 4/21
We're just about 24 hours away from the Draft and the news, notes and rumors are flowing. The NFL announced today that it has suspended Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger for six games, which makes a possible Draft day trade even more complicated. Here's a look at the rest of the day's information.
NFL Network's Rich Eisen Tweeted earlier today that the Steelers offered Ben Roethlisberger to the Rams and St. Louis said no thanks.
Seahawks coach Pete Carroll informed the Twitter-sphere that he will be Tweeting clues about Seattle's draft plans throughout the day. So far, the clues lead me to believe Clemson's C.J. Spiller could be the pick. But he can't go off the board at No. 6, right? And there's no chance he's still available at No. 14, right? But then again, nobody has ever accused me of being Sherlock Holmes.
ESPN is reporting that Florida QB Tim Tebow will not be attending the Draft.
The Redskins already have Donovan McNabb, but they still may consider Sam Bradford, writes Rick Maese in yesterday's The Washington Post.
Monday, April 19, 2010
The Forgotten QB
Does the name Colt McCoy ring a bell?
If it doesn't, I won't blame you. After all, the QB talk these days is centered around the other three. We seem to know where Sam Bradford will be drafted. Now the question is whether it's by the St. Louis Rams or the Cleveland Browns.
Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen is the likely next QB off the board, but is it to the Oakland Raiders at No. 8? How about the Buffalo Bills at No. 9? Or is it somewhere in Aaron Rodgers territory?
And Tim Tebow? He seems to be the most intriguing player in the draft based on the number of times you hear his name on a given day.
But McCoy is nowhere to be found. Save for Jon Gruden's QB Camp on ESPN, he is a relative no-show. Expect the same on Thursday night.
Sure, he has the mental makeup of a top QB. He has the college stats to back it up. Other than his injury in the National Championship Game, he's durable. But he is not a first round pick.
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has McCoy at No. 25 on his latest Big Board (as of April 14), which is surprising. Yes, he's got a good arm and good size (6-2, 210). Yes, those numbers are very impressive: He threw 61 touchdowns against 20 interceptions in his final two college seasons and had a completion percentage over 70.0% both years.
But there are a number of questions surrounding McCoy.
Is he fully recovered from the title game injury, and is his arm back to 100%? Does he have enough mobility to survive at the next level? After all, he was sacked 78 times over his final three seasons in Austin. Most importantly, do his stats belie his abilities, having played in a favorable system?
Make no mistake, he is a good QB, and has as good a shot as anyone in this draft class of succeeding as a signal-caller in the NFL. Still, he's a clear notch below Bradford and Clausen. Tebow has shown promise with his revamped throwing style, and his versatility trumps McCoy's.
So where does that leave Colt? He's clearly a day two pick, and probably mid to late second round. If the Pittsburgh Steelers are serious about trading Ben Roethlisberger, he could be taken at No. 52 overall (20th in the second round). Maybe the Arizona Cardinals (58th overall) or the Seattle Seahawks (60th overall) take him. These are all possibilities.
Just don't expect Thursday to be McCoy's night.
If it doesn't, I won't blame you. After all, the QB talk these days is centered around the other three. We seem to know where Sam Bradford will be drafted. Now the question is whether it's by the St. Louis Rams or the Cleveland Browns.
Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen is the likely next QB off the board, but is it to the Oakland Raiders at No. 8? How about the Buffalo Bills at No. 9? Or is it somewhere in Aaron Rodgers territory?
And Tim Tebow? He seems to be the most intriguing player in the draft based on the number of times you hear his name on a given day.
But McCoy is nowhere to be found. Save for Jon Gruden's QB Camp on ESPN, he is a relative no-show. Expect the same on Thursday night.
Sure, he has the mental makeup of a top QB. He has the college stats to back it up. Other than his injury in the National Championship Game, he's durable. But he is not a first round pick.
ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has McCoy at No. 25 on his latest Big Board (as of April 14), which is surprising. Yes, he's got a good arm and good size (6-2, 210). Yes, those numbers are very impressive: He threw 61 touchdowns against 20 interceptions in his final two college seasons and had a completion percentage over 70.0% both years.
But there are a number of questions surrounding McCoy.
Is he fully recovered from the title game injury, and is his arm back to 100%? Does he have enough mobility to survive at the next level? After all, he was sacked 78 times over his final three seasons in Austin. Most importantly, do his stats belie his abilities, having played in a favorable system?
Make no mistake, he is a good QB, and has as good a shot as anyone in this draft class of succeeding as a signal-caller in the NFL. Still, he's a clear notch below Bradford and Clausen. Tebow has shown promise with his revamped throwing style, and his versatility trumps McCoy's.
So where does that leave Colt? He's clearly a day two pick, and probably mid to late second round. If the Pittsburgh Steelers are serious about trading Ben Roethlisberger, he could be taken at No. 52 overall (20th in the second round). Maybe the Arizona Cardinals (58th overall) or the Seattle Seahawks (60th overall) take him. These are all possibilities.
Just don't expect Thursday to be McCoy's night.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Draft Impact: Jets Acquire Santonio Holmes
Multiple news outlets, including Bob Glauber of Newsday (New York) and Jay Glazer, are confirming that the New York Jets have acquired WR Santonio Holmes from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a 5th round pick.
The trade does not really affect the Jets' first-round draft plans, but it has major implications for the next six rounds. The acquisition of Holmes makes it increasingly unlikely that the Jets will use a second- or third-round pick to draft a WR, which could have included USC's Damian Williams or Notre Dame's Golden Tate. Now, the Jets should use those picks to add depth along the offensive and defensive lines.
Pittsburgh now has a gaping hole at WR, and the Steelers could get good value at No. 18 overall. There is a small possibility that Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant will be available there, and Demaryius Thomas of Georgia Tech probably will be available. Pittsburgh's next pick is at No. 52 overall, a second-round selection. If the Steelers choose to wait that long, an offensive lineman remains the likely choice in the first round.
The trade does not really affect the Jets' first-round draft plans, but it has major implications for the next six rounds. The acquisition of Holmes makes it increasingly unlikely that the Jets will use a second- or third-round pick to draft a WR, which could have included USC's Damian Williams or Notre Dame's Golden Tate. Now, the Jets should use those picks to add depth along the offensive and defensive lines.
Pittsburgh now has a gaping hole at WR, and the Steelers could get good value at No. 18 overall. There is a small possibility that Oklahoma State's Dez Bryant will be available there, and Demaryius Thomas of Georgia Tech probably will be available. Pittsburgh's next pick is at No. 52 overall, a second-round selection. If the Steelers choose to wait that long, an offensive lineman remains the likely choice in the first round.
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