The 2008 Draft: With nobody left, "It was an embarrassing waste of resources..."

Oh, you thought the headline referred to the Steelers? ... because the storied Pittsburgh Steelers, our Pittsburgh Steelers, so frequently lauded for historical drafting prowess, have zero players left from the 2008 draft? ... our Pittsburgh Steelers who went 8-8 in 2012 and hold the 17th selection in next month's NFL Draft?

No, actually, Darin Gantt of ProFootballTalk.com wrote that line ("an embarrassing waste of resources") about the 2008 draft of the chronically mediocre, middling and muddling Miami Dolphins, who went 7-9 in 2012 and hold the 12th overall pick in the draft.

"It was an embarrassing waste of resources," Gantt wrote of Miami's 2008 draft. "And part of the reason the Dolphins are now in a desperate game of catch-up."

Guess who else doesn't have any players left from the 2008 draft? The Steelers.

By "a desperate game of catch-up," presumably Gantt is referring to the Dolphins' recent signing of former Steeler wide receiver Mike Wallace to a five-year, $60 million contract, as well as other notable (expensive) free agents: Dannell Ellerbe (LB),  Brandon Gibson (WR), Dustin Keller (TE), Brian Hartline (WR), Matt Moore (QB), and Phillip Wheeler (LB).

By comparison, new signings by the Steelers last week included typically low-profile (cheap) free agents: backup QB Bruce Gradkowski, tight end Matt Spaeth and slot corner William Gay.

Make no mistake: We are glad to have been born and raised as Steeler fans; we are proud to be part of the Black 'n Gold Steeler Nation. There are lots of differences between the two franchises, and there's no way we'd trade places with Dolphins fans. Ever.

Unfortunately, however, there is one thing the two teams currently have in common, and which cannot be denied: Wasted drafts in 2008 and 2009, and that's why, to a large extent, both teams are where they are today.

The proud Steelers not only have zero players left from the 2008 draft, they have only one player left from the 2009 draft, and that is first-rounder defensive end Ziggy Hood, who hasn't exactly lived up to first-round billing.  

The Dolphins have been able to salvage two good starters from the 2009 draft, Brian Hartline (WR) and Chris Clemons (S), both of whom hit free agency this off-season but were then signed by Miami and retained.

Those two drafts, in 2008 and 2009, hurt both the Steelers and the Dolphins, and are the main reason why both teams are trying to rebuild.  

By contrast, a CBS Miami Website article titled, "Long's Departure Accentuates Parcells' Abysmal Failures," pointed out the following: 

"For comparison purposes, the Baltimore Ravens in 2008 drafted: quarterback Joe Flacco, running back Ray Rice, linebacker Tavares Gooden, and defensive back Tom Zbikowski with the teams’ first four picks. In 2009, Baltimore selected offensive tackle Michael Oher, linebacker Paul Kruger, and defensive back Lardarius Webb."

The point?  The Steelers had better get this draft right. They cannot afford to whiff ... they're already (still) paying the price for the 2008 and 2009 drafts. No room for mistakes this year.

We'd hate to think the Steelers are only on par with a mediocre team like the Dolphins. If the two teams squared off today, we'd think the Steelers would beat Miami ... but then, before the 2012 season, we thought the Steelers wouldn't lose to Oakland, Tennessee, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dallas and San Diego. They did.

Unlike the Steelers, the "Doll-phins" have been a mess for a long time and, unlike the Steelers, Miami still doesn't have a franchise quarterback, although they're trying to rebuild with last year's first-rounder, QB Ryan Tannehlill, who may or may not develop. Miami also lost three high-profile starters to free agency this off-season: LT Jake Long, RB Reggie Bush and CB Sean Smith.

 

Joey Porter's Pit Bulls don't care about the Doll-phins. We care about the Steelers. They need to get better. Fast. Enough of this mediocrity crap.

Top o' the Morning to You. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

"If You're Lucky Enough to be Irish ...
You're Lucky Enough."

An Irishman walks into a pub in a small town in Ireland and orders three beers. 

The man takes the beers to a table where he sits alone and polishes them off in about an hour. He gets up, orders three more and does the same thing. Another hour later, he gets one more round of three, drinks them and leaves.

This scene repeats itself the next evening and then the next, and pretty soon this pub is abuzz about the man they're now calling Mr. Three Beers. When he comes in again, the bartender's curiosity is overwhelming, and he asks his new favorite customer what the deal is.

He replies that he has two brothers who are no longer in Ireland, they're worlds apart, and they all vowed that each would order an extra two beers whenever one of them went drinking to keep the brotherly bond.

The bartender and the tavern regulars bought the story, admiring the brotherly love, and Mr. Three Beers became a pub favorite.

But one day he came in and ordered only two beers. The bartender poured them and the pub crawlers took immediate notice, thinking the worst -- that one of the brothers had passed away. This went on for several days.

One day, the bartender offered his condolences on behalf of himself and the pub regulars. The man thanked him for the thoughtfulness but said his two brothers were alive and well.

So what's with ordering only two beers? the barkeep asked.

"It's Lent," the man replied. "And I, myself, have decided to give up drinking until Easter."

Tumbling Dice

As tempting as it is to indulge in instant punditry during rapid-fire free agency moves such as we've seen the past week, this week's moves and non-moves by the Steelers produce a collective shrug.

Free agency started on Tuesday. Now that the dust has settled a bit, it's no surprise the Steelers stand squarely in the shadowed, shallow depths: No big splashes this year for the Steelers. No Connor Barwin. No Sebastien Vollmer. No Dannell Ellerbe. No Greg Jennings. No Steven Jackson.  Those kinds of signings were never going to happen.

For the team that went 8-8 last year, it's pretty much status quo except for the not-unexpected subtractions: James Harrison (hurts), Keenan Lewis (ouch), Mike Wallace (no surprise, but leaves a big hole), Rashard Mendenhall (good riddance), Willie Colon (see ya, waste of space), Ryan Mundy (so long, won't be missed).

Emmanuel Sanders remains in limbo, and if he goes to New England, the Steelers will definitely have to add a receiver in the draft or free agency. Unless, that is, you count people like David Gilreath, Derrick Moye, Bart Reed (?), Kashif Moore (?) and other such "futures" players invited to training camp.

Most of the off-season signings, so far, have been lateral, for retention and depth. The "big" signings for the Steelers so far this off-season have been:

• Retained Players -- Larry Foote, Ramon Foster, Plaxico Burress, Isaac Redman, Jonathan Dwyer, Greg Warren, David Johnson.  We might also consider the easy-to-overlook players who were on the practice squad or were late-season additions, but really, how much can we expect from guys like Justin King, DeMarcus Van Dyke and, yes, even Plaxico Burress?

• New Signings -- Slot corner William Gay, backup quarterback Bruce Gradkowski, tight end Matt Spaeth (ugh).

Are the Steelers really that cash- and cap-strapped? Apparently.  Contract restructurings appear to be finished.

What's next? Additional roster cuts? Additional marginal free-agent signings?

Linebacker Victor Butler?  How about LB Antwan Barnes? The former Baltimore backup is built like Jame Harrison, uses similar leverage in his pass-rush technique, and had 11 sacks during 2011 for the Chargers, for whom he played the past three seasons. Barnes was released after a miserable 2012 season during which he managed just three sacks while battling hamstring problems, finally going on injured reserve in December. He might be worth a close look, but ...the hamstring can be a chronic problem (LaMarr Woodley).

Other free-agent possibilities:  At running back, how about Bernard Scott or RB Peyton Hillis? Probably not. 

How about safety Michael Huff?

Speaking of safeties, maybe the Steelers should take a look at safety Tom Zbikowski? He's available and cheap. Indianapolis released Zbikowski on Friday, but with just $1.2 million due him and only one year with the team, it was a bit of a surprise.

More so because Colts coach Chuck Pagano, formerly Balttimore's defensive coordinator, signed Zbikowski as a free agent from the Ravens just last year, shortly after Pagano moved from Baltimore to Indianapolis. In 11 starts last year, Zbikowski managed just 38 tackles, one sack and one interception. For the Steelers, who desperately need depth at safety, the former Raven may be a decent (cheap) stop-gap option as a backup. Zbikowski is no Bernard Pollard or Adrian Wilson, but he may be a good fit for Black 'n Gold at this point. At least he'd be popular on Polish Hill.

Of the players who have been retained, probably the most significant is offensive tackle Ramon Foster. He and Old Reliable Max Starks were the only offensive linemen to start all 16 games last year, and Foster can play both guard positions and right tackle. It's good that Foster will be back.

Starks, who started all 16 games last year, remains unsigned. We've heard no news of  the Steelers' plans, if any, for him or Casey Hampton.

That's it, Fort Pitt.

Off to the Races

Danario Alexander, a restricted free agent

Mike Wallace is off to Miami. Keenan Lewis is off to Cleveland (?). James Harrison is off to ... San Diego? Cleveland?  Ramon Foster is off to, well, Latrobe, this summer, with the only questions being whether he will play left guard or right tackle, and whether he will start. We have the feeling the Steelers are not convinced Mike Adams can handle the starting right tackle job.

NFL free agent signings start today. Nothing that happens today is likely to change the Steelers' draft plans. Like all Steeler fans, we'd like to see them sign certain free agents, but we expect little.

Dennis Pitta, RFA

• Joey Porter's Pit Bulls would investigate signing LaRod Stephens-Howling to take over the Chris Rainey role.

• We would seriously consider pursuing Baltimore restricted free-agent tight end Dennis Pitta, although it would mean sending a second-round (?) pick to the Ravens -- unless, that is, Baltimore was forced to match our offer; which, if they do, would be a win for us anyway, as we would have just driven up their cost of keeping him, which would further complicate their already complicated cap picture. Pitta's a good player.

• We'd also take a close look at what it might take to sign San Diego restricted free-agent wide receiver Danario Alexander, who would not cost a draft choice. The last we saw him, in December, he was a nightmare-matchup for the Steelers' secondary at Heinz Field. There will be competition for him, one would think.

More expensive signings aren't going to happen, so it's pointless to speculate about the likes of unrestricted free agents like New England tackle Sebastien Vollmer and Houston defensive end Connor Barwin, both of whom would look great in Steeler uniforms.

One thing for sure: More than a few 2012 Steelers won't be 2013 Steelers, and that list probably includes Rashard Mendenhall, Casey Hampton, Willie Colon, Ryan Mundy, Byron Leftwich, Stevenson Sylvester, Leonard Pope and several others.

The free-agency carousel begins today.

Leave a comment, below, if you're so inclined.

Release of the Silverback

James Harrison, the Silverback, one of the fiercest and most fearsome linebackers in Steeler history, is no longer a Steeler. 

The team released him today.

Harrison's game is all about velocity, leverage and violence. Seething with a teeming ferocity, he was truly a player who opponents wanted to know where he was on the field at all times.

Harrison embodied the classic definition of  a linebacker: "Agile, mobile and hostile."

As a Steeler, he was ferocious, intimidating and relentless. He was ba-a-a-a-d. Still is, no doubt.

After taking over for Joey Porter as a starter in 2007, Harrison immediately proved a worthy successor in the long lineage of excellent outside linebackers in Steelers lore, including Porter, Jason Gildon, Greg Lloyd, Mike Merriweather, Jack Ham, Robin Cole and Andy Russell.

Although Harrison missed a lot of playing time the past couple of years because of injuries, the team will miss him. Harrison didn't seem to be the most vocal sort, so it's hard for us outsiders to say he was a leader other than on the field and as a player who worked exceptionally hard and was committed to his craft.

He seemed to be one of those players about whom it is said, "He led on the field."  That he did, indeed.

He will be forever remembered for the play that is arguably the greatest single effort in Super Bowl history: the 100-yard interception return as time ran out in the first half in Super Bowl XVIII vs. the Arizona Cardinals.

Remember the time he slammed a wayward Browns fan who had drunkenly run onto the field in Cleveland?

Harrison brought a level of intimidation that nobody else can match.

It will be weird seeing him in another uniform, and it won't seem right. Any number of teams will express interest, but it's entirely possible Harrison will end up in Cleveland, where former Steelers' assistant coach Ray Horton is now defensive coordinator. Ugh. If that were to happen, wouldn't it be ironic if Colt McCoy ends up on the Steelers?

James Harrison is not going to be easily replaced.

About Big Ben's Denial of Leadership Problems

Joey Porter's Pit Bulls are not going to speculate too much on the perceived lack of leadership on the Steelers, or the reports of a fractured locker room.  We fans, after all, are on the outside.
  We see what we see; we hear what we hear; we read what we read. We draw our own conclusions.

Although we know better, it doesn't sit well that the Post-Gazette's Ron Cook, the bleating little weasel, can hide behind the "anonymous Steeler" cloak covering the supposed story of an "anonymous" player who criticized LaMarr Woodley for being "terrible" and out of shape.

 Yeah, Woodley was terrible and appeared out of shape, and Cook can hide behind his "confidential source" and the recumbent Columbia Journalism Review blather, but Cook's story is weakened by the anonymity of the source.

Granted, this isn't Watergate, but how are we even to know there was such a player making these statements about Woodley? We're supposed to take Cook's word for it. Speculation about any player, then, is fair game, and that reeks.

That's not to say it didn't happen. Usually, where there's smoke there's fire. Sometimes, it's just smoke. We have a feeling there are some smoldering embers here, at the very least, but we don't really know. How could we?  Last year, however, it was clear something was wrong on that team. Actually, by all appearances, a lot of things were wrong.

Conspicuously absent through all this, until just last week, was the $102-million franchise quarterback, the highest profile player on the team, the face and voice of the franchise.  

We ask: 

Is it fair to wonder whether questions about "lack of leadership" are being asked in part because the quarterback has failed to assert leadership? 

Ben Roethlisberger's comments speak for themselves, but there's something lacking, as if proclaimed from a partitioned room separate and above the rest of the building.

Roethlisberger was quoted extensively by Ed Bouchette in the story headlined, "Big Ben: Steelers locker room perfectly fine"

Bouchette's article raises more questions than answers: Is Ben Roethlisberger out of touch? Is he being unintentionally disingenuous? Whistling past the graveyard? Despite all evidence to the contrary, the quarterback proclaims there are "no issues"?  

Seven times -- count 'em -- seven times in the article, Ben says there are "no issues."  He doth protest too much?

Read for yourself (emphasis, i.e., bold-faced and italics, added by JPPBs), below:

"For anybody to say there are locker room issues or leadership issues are completely off base," Roethlisberger said Thursday. "The important thing to know is, there are no issues (1) in our locker room. There are no issues (2) with LaMarr. There are no issues (3) on our team.

"I want to make sure people know there is no issue (4) in our locker room," Roethlisberger stated. "We've got great leadership. We have plenty of older guys -- myself now, Ike Taylor, Larry Foote, Willie Colon (?!), Brett Keisel, Casey Hampton -- we have a ton of guys.

"I want it to be known there is no locker room issue (5), there is no leadership issue (6)."

"I've been around a lot of the guys, I've seen a lot of the guys, there are no issues (7)."

"That's what I'm hoping to just say: Done."

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Get it? No issues. According to Ben Roethlisberger, there are no issues in the locker room.

After all that's happened, the proclamation has been made. From the ivory tower. Now that's leadership. You just keep telling yourself that, Ben. Uh-huh.

Seriously, is Roethlisberger that out of touch? Or is that his way of making a show of asserting "leadership"?

The Return of Big Play Willie Gay

Cornerback William Gay has Tweeted he will return to the Steelers in 2013. Welcome back.

Gay's return suggests that free agent corner Keenan Lewis is likely gone, but Lewis is likely gone anyway. Our guess is that Cleveland is calling Lewis's name. Former Steeler secondary coach Ray Horton is now the defensive coordinator there, and Horton has stated explicitly that the Browns will play exactly the same defense as the Steelers. He knows Lewis, the Browns have money, and ... well, it's up to Lewis. Other teams will be calling him, as well, and there will be lots of money offered. Lewis is in line for a nice payday.

William Gay made some timely big  plays for the Steelers

Assuming Lewis is gone, Cortez Allen would probably step in for him as starting corner, and Gay would reprise his former nickel-slot role (although he was a starter here in 2011). Curtis Brown, presumably, would be first in line to play dime coverage, with competition from people like Justin King, Josh Victorian and rookies.

Joey Porter's Pit Bulls always believed William Gay was a better player than most fans credited him for being. Following the retirement of DeShea Townsend, Gay filled the role left vacant by Townsend, who was a better player, but Gay was always pretty solid both in the slot, and that is where he belongs.

He was also generally okay as a pure corner after he took over the starting corner role for Bryant McFadden during the 2011 season. By most reports, Gay was, eh, not so solid last year for the Arizona Cardinals. Like all corners, he gets burned now and then. He's not the best corner in the world, but he is mostly solid, especially in the slot and as a blitzer. To our eye, he looks a bit heavier than we remember him being. We don't know, but we wonder if he may have lost some speed over the past year or so; and he was never very fast to begin with.

William Gay, No. 22

Gay's return is not a world-changing development, but it solidifies the secondary a bit (hopefully). Gay can even re-claim his old uniform number (22), last seen on the ill-fated Chris Rainey.

Dave Bryan over at Steelers Depot offers interesting observations on the story of Gay's return and its implications for the draft, and he's probably right. It now seems unlikely the Steelers will invest a high-round pick on a cornerback.

Not that drafting a corner is necessarily a bad idea. Too many other spots to fill, but ...You can never have too many good corners, and Joey Porter's Pit Bulls wouldn't mind seeing a reasonably tall, rangy, physical corner -- in addition to Ike Taylor and Cortez Allen -- who tackles well, sticks the run and could cover the big receivers like A.J. Green, Dez Bryant, Erick Decker, Calvin Johnson, Andre Johsnon, and that cast of characters we saw San Diego bring to town last year.

Florida State's Xavier Rhodes, anyone?  Probably not now; not with so many other spots to fill. Still, we expect the Steelers to try to add another Cortez Allen-type in the draft's middle rounds.

It's Dizzy Time

The rapidly changing array of constantly blinking, rapid-fire array of mock drafts available now that the Combine is over is dizzying. Everybody's got an opinion, not that anybody knows.

We're not doing a mock draft. It's a waste of time. Trades happen. At this point, nobody knows, of course; not even the teams themselves.

SI.com's Don Banks has his latest, 2013 Mock Draft 2.0, up now, and Joey Porter's Pit Bulls agree with very little of what he wrote. We just don't see it shaking out that way.

Even in mock drafts, the ripple effects of prior choices would affect the availability of players at No. 17, which where the Steelers sit. Banks has the Steelers drafting Damontre Moore (6'4", 250), OLB, Texas A&M. Here's what Banks wrote about Moore:

"The Aggies junior didn't help himself at all in Indy, and it's possible his draft stock will slip down into the lower third of the first round. He ran a disappointing 4.95 and managed just 12 reps in the bench press, lowest among all defensive linemen. But the Steelers need some youth at outside linebacker and usually show patience with draft picks who might need a year or so to develop. If Moore's grade slipped too far to warrant being picked 17th, LSU outside linebacker Barkevious Mingo is a solid option for the Steelers."

Twelve reps on the bench?!  And a 4.95 40?  Does that sound like a Steeler to you? No. It just doesn't feel right.

Where Banks is really wrong, though, is this: The Steelers don't have time for patience, not this year. Not with their first-round pick; not with so many holes to fill. They need an impact starter right now. They've already drafted and shown patience at outside linebacker with Jason Worilds and Chris Carter. It's time for those two to step up and deliver. If they don't, the Steelers are in trouble. Which they are.

Frankly, if the Steelers were going to draft an OLB, we'd prefer to see LSU's Barkevios Mingo, not only because he has a great name, but he's been productive and performed extremely well at the horse show (the Combine). Our concern about Mingo, however, is that he's too light.

Another prospect we'd think the Steelers might want to take a very, very close look at is Xavier Rhodes, CB, Florida State. Banks has him going No. 24 to the Bengals.

Banks projects our new favorite second-round prospect, Margus Hunt, going to the 49ers at No. 31. That's the first time a prominent mock draft list Hunt's name mentioned as a first-rounder. We'd love to see him available for the Steelers in the second round, but it's beginning to look like that's not going to happen.

SMU's Margus Hunt at ILB for the Steelers

Margus Hunt, the Estonian (the tattoo is a wolf).

If you watched the BVBA Compass Bowl in Birmingham two years ago, when Pitt played SMU, you probably couldn't help but notice a defensive end for SMU. His name is Margus Hunt, who is 6'8", and he abused Pitt's Tino Sunseri all day.  At the time, two years ago, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls are thinking, "Who is this guy, and can the Steelers get him?"

Well, he was just a junior then. This year, Hunt has been projected as high as a late-second or mid-third-round pick -- but more so as a "project" who might be worth a mid-round (fourth/fifth) draft pick.

Because Margus Hunt performed so well in drills Monday night at the Combine, however, his stock just went up. Dramatically.

We're still not talking first-round material here, not at No. 17, but midway through the second? Yeah, if he's still available, why not take a close look?

On Monday, Hunt ran a very good time in the 40 (4.60), which surprised everyone and was  step-for-step comparable to best performers among all defensive linemen, including the extremely impressive but lighter-weight Dion Jordan, Barkevious Mingo, Ezekiel Ansah, etc.  At 277 pounds, Hunt's 40-yard dash time at the Combine was faster than all but two tight ends.

Hunt also pushed 38 reps on the bench at 225 lbs. per rep, and that's a lot of reps for anybody -- tied for most reps among all Combine prospects this year. For his height, he's light (277), lean and put together. He has an 82-inch wingspan. 

Seventeen blocked kicks for SMU

While at SMU, he blocked nine field goals (an NCAA record) and eight extra points. The Steelers couldn't use somebody like that?

Here's what Joe Porter's Pit Bulls are thinking: Because he runs so well and since the Steelers love to switch up defensive ends to OLBs, how about another switch -- can you imagine this guy at Inside Linebacker?  Paired with Lawrence Timmons?  Stuffing the runs, altering passing lanes with his height, running loops and stunts on the pass rush?  Being a presence in the middle and using his speed sideline to sideline. 

You can't teach that kind of height.

You can't teach that kind of height. And that frame and wingspan would come in handy vs. the tall, rangy tight ends like Jimmy Graham, Rob Gronkowski, Vernon Davis, Jason Witten, Dennis Pitta, Ed Hickson, Jermichael Finley, Jermaine Grisham, Martellus Bennett, Antonio Gates, et al.

Nobody's talking about Hunt at ILB, but that's what we're thinking. When we see this guy, we see either a relatively light defensive end in a 4-3, or a cross between Karl Mecklenberg and Levon Kirkland at ILB -- which is where we believe he could really shine.

To some extent, Hunt calls to mind Jevon Kearse ("The Freak"), a DE/LB who entered the NFL in 1999. Kearse was about 6'4", 245-255, and had an 86-inch wingspan. He had a sometimes brilliant career spanning 11 years for the Titans and Eagles.

The Steelers tried to address the ILB position in last year's draft with third-round choice Sean Spence, the inside linebacker from Miami who showed some promise but unfortunately suffered a massively complex and severe knee injury (with peroneal nerve damage) in the 2012 preseason. The Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette reports the Steelers are not counting on Spence to contribute this year.

The Wolf.  Alert, watchful; ready; righteous

At 5'll, 231 lbs., Spence made people wonder if he was too small to play ILB in the NFL.  At 6'8", 277 lbs., Hunt imparts no such concerns.  You want a thumper at Inside Linebacker? Here's your thumper.

The Baltimore Ravens met with Hunt already and are interested in having him bulk up 20 pounds to be a 3-4 defensive end (come to think of it, Aaron Smith was about Hunt's weight when Smith came out of Northern Colorado). 

The Ravens are interested? Of course they are, but we have this idea that he could be awesome at ILB for the Steelers  ... 

Oh, and about that tattoo of a wolf on his shoulder:  Hunt says his name in Estonian means "wolf," and the tattoo implicitly suggests he is channeling that animus. Here's an excerpt from the article link at Dallas's Central Track, below: 

"On his left bicep Hunt has a tattoo of a wolf. He says that's what his last name means in Estonian. Maybe it's also an external representation of the beast within. Watching him play, it's clear that he has an instinctive nature, not unlike a wolf's, although Hunt plays down any such connection. 

"I'm still trying to find kind of that animal sense," he says. "I think I have it, but, in my mind, it's defined a little bit differently. I like to play hard, but I don't like to be a dirty player and talk trash -- even though that's part of the game. To me, let's just line up and let's play."

Sounds like a Steeler to us; yeah, this guy could play for the Steelers.

Here are links ....

The Baltimore Sun: Ravens to Meet With SMU Defensive End Margus Hunt

The Dallas Morning News: Margus Hunt Wows Scouts at the NFL Combine

Central Track:  There's a Reason Why NFL Scouts Are Drooling Over SMU's Margus Hunt

CBS Sports: Margus Hunt Player Profile

Dallas Morning News: How Video Games Helped SMU's Margus Hunt Go From Estonian Track Star to Top-Flight NFL Prospect 

 Bleacher Report: Teams Should be Wary of SMU DE Despite Breakout Performance at Combine

The Combine!

We all do it.  We watch college football for the enjoyment of it, but when a standout player jumps off the screen, we think, "Let's keep an eye on that player at the NFL Combine" or, "That player would look good in Black 'n Gold."

Ray Mansfield, circa 1966

It's NFL Combine Weekend, and that means it's time to learn a whole lot more about draft prospects. Draft "stock" will rise and fall based on interviews, Wunderlic tests and, most crucially, workouts and drills in gym clothes -- all of which can be misleading.

Joey Porter's Pit Bulls have identified several players we find intriguing as possible candidates for the Steelers. Many of them simply won't be available when the Steelers draft, but it's fun to debate and speculate, and to second-guess afterward.

Last year, nose tackle Dontari Poe (Memphis) was a textbook example of a Workout Warrior who emerged from obscurity to blow away scouts at the Combine. At 346 pounds, Poe shot up the charts with a 4.87  straight-line 40-yard dash and a freakish 44 reps on the 225-lb. bench press.

Following the Combine and before the draft, enthusiasts raved about his Combine performance. More than a few skeptics remained unconvinced, however, and speculated Poe would be over-drafted. Debate intensified over whether his relatively lackluster college career should be over-shadowed by his athletic showcase at the Combine. The workout showed nothing, of course, about Poe's ability to shed blocks, pressure quarterbacks or tackle running backs.

As Draft Day approached, some Steeler fans clamored for Poe at No. 24 in the first round, and there was a case to be made for him at that spot (nobody anticipated that Stanford guard David DeCastro would still be on the board at No. 24). Then, on Draft Day, Kansas City's "genius" GM Scott Pioli outsmarted everyone and invested the No. 11 overall pick to make Poe the first defensive lineman selected in last year's draft. Pioli projected Poe's Combine performance to the NFL playing field, but ... 

After a "disappointing" training camp, Poe had little impact his rookie season: He started all 16 games but tallied just 28 tackles, zero sacks and no forced fumbles. It's premature to project how he will do in the future, but it is fair to say he had not much impact his rookie year. His spotty performance with the Chiefs mirrored his college career; not what he flashed at last year's Combine.

Kansas City's record last year? Two wins, 14 losses. The Chiefs have the first overall pick in this year's draft.

From our perspective, Joey Porter's Pit Bulls tend to gravitate to productive players with demonstrable success from big-time programs; football players, not workout wonders.

About any draft prospect, we don't want to hear too much about so-called "character issues" (Chris Rainey last year out of Florida); or so-so motivation; or positional-transfer projections; or drug/alcohol history (this year's Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia, DUI last weekend); or medical red flags (like this year's Jarivs Jones, LB, Georgia, spinal stenosis).

The Steelers, with the 17th pick in the first round, simply cannot afford to take chances.  They cannot afford to whiff. Coming off an 8-8 record with holes galore to fill, they need a sure-fire, can't miss impact player. Let's hope they get it right.

In Defense of Antonio Brown: He's Right

"If I could live my life over, I'd be a football player, and you damn well better believe I'd be a Pittsburgh Steeler!"

-- Jack Lambert, Hall of Famer

Steeler wide receiver Antonio Brown is right. 

Brown has taken a lot of criticism this week both for what he said and how he went about saying it (in public, on ESPN's First Take), but he is absolutely correct, and Joey Porter's Pit Bulls agree it needed to be said -- in public.

Let's get it out there and talk about it. Here's what Brown said:

“We have a lot of young guys. A lot of guys haven’t been around here for the history of this team. I want to make sure guys understand the importance of being here, the tradition and what is required from our peers, coaches and everybody inside this building. You have to know the history of something if you are a part of it. You have to know where it started, where it came from and what it’s about. You know where you are with it now and where you want to go. I can help teach guys about that and take that type of approach. Every man here has to understand the importance of what the Steelers logo stands for, the men that came before us and wore the jersey and we have to understand the importance of it, be humbled by it and work with that mentality.”

Brown is right: The Steelers' need to pull together as a team, and some of the players -- a lot of the players, apparently -- need to better understand what being a Steeler is all about.  It's clear that all too many Steelers last year, especially some of the younger players, do not fully appreciate or even at all comprehend what an honor and a privilege it is to be a Pittsburgh Steeler.

We saw it early in the season, and we're outsiders. We saw it in the games at Denver, Oakland and  Tennessee. It was about then that Joey Porter's Pit Bulls started having this conversation with friends, although we held off writing it until our Steelers' 2013 season post-mortem:

"Too many of the younger players displayed a sense of entitlement. They 'displayed' instead of played. Too many of them -- some of whom have enjoyed occasional flashes of success -- played as if they'd arrived -- when in actuality, they haven't accomplished anything of substance or duration. The perception here is that too many of the 2012 Steelers failed to understand what it takes to succeed consistently in the NFL, let alone what it means to be a Steeler. They seem to have no clue." 

"The play of some of these guys suggested that their expectation was that just because they had some modicum of success at major NCAA programs like Georgia Tech (Jonathan Dwyer), Missouri (Ziggy Hood), Florida (Chris Rainey), Texas (Curtis Brown), etcetera, that they would be given a free pass in the NFL. It doesn't work like that, and certainly not in Pittsburgh.

"Just ask retirees Aaron Smith, Hines Ward, James Farrior, Chris Hoke, DeShea Townsend, Jerome Bettis, Alan Faneca, etcetera, and the list goes on and on. This is not to say there was no leadership on the 2012 Steelers: Some of the veteran players like Ryan Clark, Larry Foote, Heath Miller, Brett Keisel, Max Starks and others, no doubt, did what they could. Others probably could have done more. 

"Most certainly, however, too many of the young guys just didn't step up their game, and they didn't seem to appreciate what it means to be a Steeler.  Mike Wallace and Rashard Mendenhall come to mind.  Mendenhall quit on the team.  Wallace too often appeared sullen and disinterested. Those two are gone.

"Jonathan Dwyer was given a golden opportunity -- he was handed the starting job at running back -- and fumbled it away, figuratively and literally. Chris Rainey found there is a big difference between the SEC and the NFL."

Antonio Brown himself was hampered by injuries, came back probably too soon, and at times his play was sloppy (with fumbles and bonehead plays), so he is not totally blameless for some of the Steelers' losses in 2012.

But let's give him credit for saying what needed to be said. That's a first step. Nobody questions Brown's work ethic, or his heart.  His judgment?  Fair enough; sometimes, yeah, occasionally, it's fair to question Brown's judgment and maturity.

Brown seems to appreciate what it means to be a Pittsburgh Steeler, however, and he's sticking his neck out there in a fledgling attempt to be a leader.  Let's not chop it off.

In this case, nobody should doubt Antonio Brown's passion and his pride in being a Pittsburgh Steeler.

Steelers' Draft: Why not Chance Warmack?

Albrecht Durer's self-portrait

Joey Porter's Pit Bulls just can't let it go.

We've written previously why the Steelers' won't draft an offensive lineman in the first round this year, but ...

We keep coming back to the offensive line, and two players possibly being available at Pick No. 17. They are Chance Warmack, G, Alabama (the very first name we gravitated to in January as a possible first-rounder for the Steelers), and Lane Johnson, T, Oklahoma, who might be able to step right in at left tackle in the new offensive line scheme being installed by Jack Bicknell, Jr.

The good writers over at the excellent Steeler Depot blog make a case for Chance Warmack, the Alabama guard who demolished Mante Te'o (and others) in the BCS Championship game.

We still don't believe it's going to happen, and neither does the Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette, yet we still keep coming back to one question: Why not?

The answer is that the Steelers invested first- or second-round draft picks in four players during the past three years, and those picks count disproportionately against the salary cap for a single positional area, in this case, the offensive line.

If Chance Warmack is the best player available, however, Why Not?

Another Bad Idea From the Pirates: New Logo

Has a single good idea ever emerged from focus groups?

The existing logo, in place since 1997.

Bob Cohn of the Tribune-Review reports, "Four focus groups — season ticket holders, corporate partners, suite holders and random fans — are meeting at PNC Park this week to help pick a new buccaneer symbol. The present model features a snarling pirate in a black and red bandana. It has been around since 1997."

How much do you want to bet the new logo being developed with input from focus groups comprised of "season ticket holders, corporate partners, suite holders and random fans" will look something like this? ...

Happy Valentine's Day to All

On this, the Feast of St. Valentine, people the world over exchange bon mots, bon-bons, cardboard hearts, sugary sweets and sweet nothings.

Our advice: Open your heart to the universe, send up a prayer to St. Valentine to visit you with love, and who knows? Something good might come your way.

Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours, or yinz 'n yinzers.

For your listening pleasure ... A Valentine's Day Musical Set-list.

The First Time I Met Charlie Sheen, Part III -- How the Steelers' 2013 Draft Might Just Shake Out

Gorilla at Erie Zoo

Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls would be inclined to jump on the opportunity to grab a good offensive lineman with the Steelers’ first-round pick (No. 17 overall) in the first round, and especially a fierce left tackle like Oklahoma’s Lane Johnson.

Many prognosticators point to linebacker as a possibility, but we'd be a bit surprised if the Steelers draft a linebacker in the first round this year. They certainly need one or two new impact linebackers, and it's entirely possible they will really need somebody to step in for James Harrison, who may be released as a salary cap casualty, although the Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette claims the coaching staff wants him back.  

Although Jason Worilds made some progress last season, we’re not convinced he's the real deal.  As a second-round draft pick entering his fourth season, this will be his make-or-break year.  Chris Carter hasn't shown much, and Stephenson Sylvester remains a question mark. We have slightly higher hopes for him than Carter, who looks like he's never adjusted to playing linebacker in the 3-4 defense (instead of the passing-rushing defensive end role he played in college).

Keep in mind, though, the Steelers gave Harrison and predecessors like Jason Gildon a few years, more or less, on the sidelines and special teams before they stepped in. The Steelers apparently intend to have Worilds move in as the starter to succeed Harrrison.

Can We Count on Lamarr Woodley to Play 10 Games?

Many people say it might make sense for the Steelers to flip-flop Lamarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons, and it might make sense, but knowing the Steelers, Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls don't think that's going to happen.

Frankly, it’s a fair question to wonder whether we can count on Woodley to play 8-10 games a year, ever. He seems to have chronic hamstring problems. Still, Woodley just looks like an inside linebacker, and Timmons looks like he should be covering the big, fast tight ends coming off the line these days. Maybe that's the role the Steelers see for Sylvester. Still, they need somebody to rush the passer, and that's an enormous need, so Woodley stays on the outside.

Also of concern: Larry Foote isn't getting any younger. He's always been a bedrock in the linebacker corps, steady, but never great. He’s never been a devastating thumper; never particularly disruptive; and his play slipped noticeably in the second half of last season. The Steelers apparently envision Sean Spence taking over for Foote after 2013, but Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls can’t help but wonder if Spence is too small -– and nobody has seen him in a regular-season game.

Free Agency or a Later Draft Pick?

It would be interesting if the Steelers were to sign Baltimore's Dannell Ellerbe out of free agency, but that's going to happen. Joe Flacco's contract situation really complicates things for the Ravens, but we expect Baltimore will let pass-rushing linebacker Paul Kruger walk and try to keep Ellerbe to maintain continuity at inside linebacker in the wake of Ray Lewis's departure. At this point, Baltimore can't afford to sign Kruger (13.5 sacks), and neither can Pittsburgh.  

In the draft, we believe the Steelers will add to the linebacking corps after the first round by drafting, say, Jon Major of Colorado. For some reason this guy hasn't been mentioned as anything but a mid-round selection, but his productivity was off the charts for a bad Buffaloes team, and his instincts appear to be superb. Jon Major to the Steelers in the second round? Too high? Maybe; maybe not. We haven't seen him much, but he reminds us a bit of Sean Lee.

By our calculations, the Steelers will not pick a linebacker a LB in the first round. We’ve already discussed in previous editions of this series why we don't see the Steelers drafting an offensive lineman (too much money tied up in the four high draft choices on the line already) and running back (not enough value for a first-rounder).  

Where does that leave us? Wide receiver? Not gonna happen. The Steelers believe they can get one in later rounds, like they did with Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown. If, however, Oregon State receiver Markus Wheaton lasts until the Steelers' pick in the second round, grab him.  

Wheaton sounds every bit as good, if not better, than the more highly touted wide receivers like Keenan Allen (Cal) and the handful of others mentioned in the top tier of receivers. He looks like he is slotted to go in the second round, but probably before the Steelers' pick at No. 17 in Round 2.

Big Daddy Lipscomb, 1961

Defensive Line or Secondary?

By our calculations, then, that leaves two broad positional areas where the Steelers are most likely to invest their first-round selection: DL and the secondary. On the DL, they already have two first rounders in defensive ends Ziggy Hood and Cameron Heyward.  

To digress for a second, the Post-Gazette’s Ed Bouchette makes an interesting suggestion, which is to switch defensive end Ziggy Hood and nose tackle Steve McClendon, and that sounds like a good idea. We also don't think it's going to happen.  

With two of the last four No. 1 draft picks having gone to the defensive line, it‘s a long shot for the Steelers to draft for the DL in the first round this year. Again, too much payroll tied up in one positional category, and it’s too soon to let go of either Hood or Heyward.

Hall of Famer Jack Butler

Safety or Corner?

That brings us to the secondary: Safety or cornerback? The Steelers will be counting on Troy Polamalu to return to form, and Ryan Clark was probably their defensive MVP last year.  Safety is a near-future need. Texas's Sonny Vaccaro is a guy who some people project to the Steelers at No. 17. Joey Porter’s Pit Bulls don't buy it.  

That brings us back to cornerback, where the Steelers have a gaping hole with the departure of Keenan Lewis. Ike Taylor (just like Brett Keisel and Larry Foote) isn't getting any younger, and Curtis Brown has been a big disappointment, although he probably will get one more season to prove he belongs (much like Lewis got last year).

We believe the Steelers would rather keep Cortez Allen at the slot-corner, but it's entirely possible they intend for him to start in place of Lewis. That still leaves them extremely thin at corner. If either Taylor or Allen go down with an injury, then we're left with the likes of Josh Victorian and Curtis Brown starting, and everybody saw how that worked out for the Steelers vs. San Diego and Dallas.

Hall of Famer Dick LeBeau

So, all of that brings us squarely back to one of the first three players who caught our attention when we first started looking closely at possible draft picks after the season: CB Xavier Rhodes, Florida State. 

There might be one other corner worthy of No. 17 on the board at that point, but that's the guy we’d think the Steelers might give a very, very close look at the Combine.

You can never have too many corners, and good ones are always at a premium. With passing games the way they are these days, the best corners will go off the board early on April 24.

It’s early, but it’s later than you think.