2005 Mid-Season Draft Outlook - 11/15/05

I guess I can start this out by telling you that it’s never too early. Truth is, it’s way too early to start projecting draft orders, let alone projecting mock drafts, so, don’t look for me to do it here. But what I am going to do is break down the first day of the draft and the kind of players that might be available to the Steelers where they are drafting. What will actually happen is anybody’s guess. But at least we’ll be working with some insight as to what the Steelers will need and what they will probably pass on. In other words, I wouldn’t look for a QB in the first round. OK, let’s get to it.

With their first pick, the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers (it’s my article; I will project them there) select:

Round 1, #32: Needs- WR, DE, FS, LB. I will go with a WR here.

Hank Baskett WR, New Mexico: Who? Yeah, most folks would say that too, but I’ve seen him play a few times (I was trying to get a look at their RB DonTrell Moore) and I came away very impressed. Picture this: he’s 6-4 225 and runs a 4.5. Add in the fact that he has great hands, excellent route running ability, a strong upper body and very quick feet and you have a perfect complement to Hines Ward. In a nutshell, this guy is everything the Steelers wanted in Plaxico Burress while giving you none of the negatives. Add to that the fact he’s a great team leader and loves to block too. What he would provide the Steelers is an excellent deep threat who is very good at going up for the ball as well as a fine third down receiver who presents a big target and a wide area for the QB to throw to. It’s tough to throw this guy a ball that he can’t catch. OK, all this is great, but why is he mostly unknown? Start with the fact that he plays at New Mexico. Add to that he plays on a team that likes to run the ball and does not boast a real great QB either. As for his personal negatives, there is one glaring one: his lack of top end speed. It’s pretty rare when you see a WR drafted in the first round who doesn’t run at least 4.4, but I think he’d be worth it. He also has a major injury in his past, a neck injury (spinal concussion), that cost him a good chunk of 2002. All of that could push him down even further; it remains to be seen, but as of right now, I wouldn’t mind seeing this guy joining the Steelers and I would be willing to use a first rounder to do it.

Other names:

WR Derek Hagan, Arizona St.: A complete receiver who will probably go before the Steelers draft. FS Roman Harper, Alabama: This one would depend on whether or not Chris Hope re-signed. FS Greg Blue, Georgia: See above.

I’m not mentioning any DEs here because while the Steelers would like to bring in a big, pass rushing end here, there are just none that fit the description worth taking. As for LBs, I think the Steelers will look into those later unless a big name slides to them at the bottom of the first. Remember, the Steelers don’t spend first round picks on LBs; they find them later on and do well at it (Rian Wallace and Andre Frazier last year).

Round 2, #64: Needs DE, FS, LB, RB. I’m going to take an ILB right here. I like Rian Wallace to step in soon, which means I need someone to push him and Larry Foote. I would also love a guy who can step in and play special teams right away.

Freddie Roach ILB, Alabama: Here’s another guy who may have been made more obscure by a more famous teammate (DeMeco Ryans) but he has a lot of talent, nonetheless. He’s a good-sized guy (6-2 248) who can move a bit (4.7s) and who will not be knocked around inside and is also not a liability in coverage. Just so you know, not being a liability in coverage does not mean he has great hands, which he has yet to show. That said, he would give the Steelers another young body to compete inside for Larry Foote’s job and a possible replacement for James Farrior in a few years. With him and Rian Wallace playing inside, the Steelers future at ILB should look pretty good in the future. In the mean time, he would give the Steelers another big body to run down and cover kicks. He reminds me a little of Earl Holmes with a better backpedal.

Other names:

LB Spencer Havner, UCLA: Good looking LB who probably projects inside. DE Viktor Adeyanju, Indiana: Could add weight (he’s 265ish) and play DE or lose a bit and be an OLB possibility. RB DonTrell Moore, New Mexido: Good looking RB prospect who would be better as a situational substitution.

Round 3, #96: Needs DE, FS, RB, QB. Surprise, a QB you say? Possibly, the reserves behind Ben are getting old and ineffective. I think I’ll go that way here.

Bruce Gradkowski QB, Toledo: What, a QB and why this guy? Well, you gotta love QBs from the MAC who have long, odd names. Actually, what I like about this guy is that he reminds me a lot of Ben Roethlisberger, just on a smaller scale. He doesn’t have quite the size, quite the arm or quite the upside, but what he would be is a great backup for Ben for at least four to five years and possible trade bait if he impresses as he goes along. Gradkowski is more of a precision passer than he is a gunslinger who also goes with very good feet to get out of trouble. If he were just a bit bigger (he’s only 6-1 220), he would probably go higher in the draft. But down in the third, he makes a lot of sense for a Steelers team that has already played too many games using their aging backups.

Other names:

CB DeMario Minter, Georgia: Chances are Deshea Townsend won’t be back and you can always use more corners. DT/DE Johnny Jolly: Steelers need to add another talented big body up front on D. FS Nate Salley: Would be a nice addition if Chris Hope leaves.

Round 3, Compensatory pick for Plaxico Burress: Needs DE, FS, RB, OL. Hey, how about a Northwestern OT in the third round? It might happen…again.

Zack Strief OT, Northwestern: Don’t get Strief confused with Trai Essex because they are totally different players. If I had to compare him to anybody it would be with Max Starks. He has the size (6-7 345) and the athletic ability to be a force at OT in the league. Where he makes sense for the Steelers is that there is no team in the league that depends on its OL like the Steelers do and they always need more depth. With the possibility of Kendal Simmons, Jeff Hartings or both leaving after the season, the Steelers will need more depth. While it would appear that their guard depth would need more attention, it’s always the tackles that you need to look for. You can always move a tackle inside (see Kendal Simmons); it’s rare to be able to do the opposite. Strief is a good pass blocker and has the ability to completely overwhelm his opponent in the running game. He would be a nice pickup at the end of the third round.

Other names:

OG Matt Lentz, Michigan: Always need more linemen and Michigan is a good place to shop for ‘em. RB PJ Daniels, Georgia Tech: The Steelers are getting old at the RB position and some more help wouldn’t hurt. FS Tyrone Culver, Fresno St.: The Steelers need some youth and talent at the safety position.

Well, what do you think? Yeah, I know, still way too early but, as they say, you never know. I really doubt the Steelers draft will look much like this, but if it did, at this point, I wouldn’t have any problem with it. I’ll be posting a few more of these as the draft nears and get a bit more serious about who I think they’ll actually get. Until then and until my next Jottings (hopefully out soon)…

Nuf fer now

Tim “getting a little more interested in the draft day-by-day” Campion