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With the draft coming up in the next few weeks. It's time for us to play "keep up" with the Steelers as they prepare to draft the players they need to fix the positions that needs improving. So with this in mind. I have some questions to ask.

1. What positions should be address for the draft?
2. Who do you think the Steelers should go after in the draft?
3. If the Steelers managed to not get some of their positons needs met during the draft. Then who you feel they should go after in free agency?

I think we need to address CB, LB and depth at DE.

We seem to need to address CB every year and still get burned every year.

Taylor was inconsistent last year, I don't know how Colclough will respond after his neck injury, and McFadden was great in our playoff/Superbowl year but didn't exactly tear it up last year. I don't like the idea of going into this season with Taylor, Colclough, McFadden and Townsend.


If he lasts, I like Adam Carriker because he's a 3-4 defensive end who would be instant impact. But Leon Hall or home-grown talent Darrelle Revis would be ideal at 15.

Carriker would be a great pick....love his versatility

But I would really love to get Patrick Willis...I know MLB isn't a pressing need right now, but I think Farrior is in serious decline and no body on the roster is a pure 4-3 MLB if/when we switch from the 3-4. His production was off the charts in the best conference in the country while playing on a terrible team. I think he might be the safest pick in the draft with the exception of Joe Thomas, and I'd be shocked if he doesn't become a Zac Thomas/Trotter (in his prime)/bruschi type player or make an immediate impact like demeco ryans last year.

Later in in the draft, we definitely need to address the OL and DL, but I would really like Leonard in the 2nd round. I know haynes was a dissapointment, but when he was healthy, he was a vital part of our offense (i.e. picking up the blitz, catching screens, draw plays etc.). Parker can't pick up the blitz to save his life, and I don't trust davenport to stay healthy. Like willis, leonard would make an immediate impact, which i think is crucial seeing as our window of opportunity is closing a bit.

As for CB, I think we're fine there. I'd say last years struggles were a product of not getting to the quarterback and youth more than anything else.

Patrick Willis would make a solid MLB with a team. But will Pitt be doing themselves justice by picking a safe pick instead of drafting an important need at the positions they need fill?

In some cases of safe vs need I would agree with you. For instance, I wouldn't support taking a "safe" QB, RB, TE, or SS in the first round because we have Big Ben, Parker, Miller, and Troy, meaning not only are they not positions of need now, but they won't be positions of need for the forseeable future.

MLB, however, will be a need in the near future, so taking Willis would be a proactive rather than reactive measure. I guess I'm just really afraid of taking timmons or jarvis moss, neither of whom can compare to Willis, just because we need an OLB more than MLB right now. To me, that would be something we'd regret in the future.

That being said, I'd have no problem taking Carriker. He fills a need and he appears to be a relatively safe pick.

Farrior is 32 so I can see what you're saying about picking someone of Willis's calibur at MLB. So probably in a year or two tops. If Pitt picks Willis. He could be very useful, but that depends on this new coach and how would he fit into his defensive schemes. Also since OLB is well needed due to the departure of Joey Porter. I wonder if the Steelers could work out a deal to net another 1st round pick to get Carriker if they were to go this route to get Patrick Willis?

I'd be disappointed if we don't take Revis or Hall with our 15th overall pick. Our LB corps is weakened with the departure of Porter but we've had success over the years in selecting quality linebackers later in the draft (ie. Haggans, Bell, and Foote). Perhaps we can even get another late first round pick to draft Timmons. Timmons would be too high at 15 and Willis could realistically be gone before 15.

We need a star DB which we haven't had in years. Revis has good size and speed and he's home grown and played at Heinz Field in College. Hall is the consensus no.1 rated corner. I'd really like a top shutdown CB and we are in the area where these 2 CB are going to go.

We need a star DB which we haven't had in years.

That's where I disagree with you. I get the sense that our corners aren't asked to be lock-down 1-on-1 defenders like Champ Bailey, but rather play a disciplined zone behind our pass rush and be sure tacklers in the run game. Very rarely do we put the corners on an island, and if we do, we just ask them to not get beat deep and keep the receiver in front of them. So in that sense, the organization seems to emphasize instincts and tackling above pure man-to-man cover skills.

Looking at our recent history of drafting corners...mcfadden, ricardo, ike...I don't see us taking a CB in the first round, especially considering how pedestrian this particular group is. I get the sense that Hall and Revis aren't entirely unique and are highly rated only in contrast to a lack of talent at the position this year.

In terms of our poor performance in the secondary last year, I'd say addressing the front seven will do more to improve the back four then any rookie CB will be able to do.

NO to CB. We can't stop the pass because we fail to put pressure on the QB. Improve our pressue and we have enough CBs to do the job.

We need OL, DE and LB help in the first 2 rounds. I'd love Willis, but he's going to be long gone. My prediction.

1st Round = Carriker (Hopefully San Fran passes)
2nd Round = Justin Blalock (Probably gone, but one can hope. Ben Grubbs maybe. Ryak Kalil (Sp))
3rd Round = Tony Hunt (Michael Bush Backup Plan