Pittsburgh Steelers NFL Draft war room

by Dan Kadar on Jun 3, 2011 9:15 PM EDT

Mocking the Draft wants to introduce you to an new article series taking a closer look at each team's draft workings. The WarRoom articles will give you a glimpse at the recent draft history and the decision-making structure of each NFL team. We will also include our thoughts about the structure and draft history.

Offense: The Pittsburgh offense is built around the improvisational skills of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Because of that, it's important for the team to have a good tight end like Heath Miller, a running back who can block and receivers who know how to come back to the ball when the play breaks down. Wide receiver Hines Ward has made a career of that and playing with a lot of effort. That has allowed other wide outs, be it Santonio Holmes in the past or Emmanuel Sanders now, to get down the field.

Defense: Coordinator Dick LeBeau is the master of the zone blitz from the 3-4 set. To best run his system, LeBeau needs power ends that can hold the edge and a run-stuffing nose tackle. That allows the team's athletic outside linebackers to get into the back field. The middle linebackers are used mainly against the run, though one is typically allowed to freelance. The secondary uses man coverage with safety Troy Polamalu working all over the field.

Thoughts: It seems like the Steelers draft linebackers every year, even when they don't need them. In 2010 alone, Pittsburgh took three linebackers with the thought of them developing for a couple years. That's been the Steeler way, and their success validates the theory. The same idea was employed when Rashard Mendenhall was taken in 2007, even though incumbent Willie Parker ran for more than 1,300 yards the year prior. The 2011 draft was the first in several years where to the implicitly looked to fill holes with defensive end Cameron Heyward, offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert and two defensive backs.

Kevin Colbert is one of the league's best general managers because he has a philosophy and sticks with it. The team generally takes best player available and doesn't gamble on outside players (corners and wide receivers) early.

Five-year record: 51-29

Coach: Mike Tomlin

Recent draft history: Click here

Best pick: LaMarr Woodley

Worst pick: Limas Sweed

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Limas Sweed still has one more year to prove himself

He has a ton of ability and just needs to get healthy and put it all together. I still see him as our future #1 WR. I would say the worst pick has just been the combined number of busts at the CB position.

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by seton hall and steelers on Jun 3, 2011 11:27 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah but I'd call Bruce Davis worse

He was gone by his 2nd year and never made the field. Sweed has seen the field and shown potenial. Davis didn’t show anything.

I'm getting tired of saying this: Dick LeBeau’s system is so complex very few rookies can make an impact.

"It would be tough for me to care less about their opinion, to be honest with you." Mike Tomlin

by Steel in FL on Jun 5, 2011 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions

warmed over and nothing new here...

If I hadn’t read the first sentence, I’d have absolutely no idea what point you’re trying to make. Having read it I’m unfortunately not much closer.

About half of the article is random facts about current players. The rest is not particularly insightful.

Here are some good questions not answered.

How has the team addressed the O-line?
How has the team used FA?
What % of starters are in-house products?
Does the team expect rookies to start in year 1?
How does the team consider character and personality in evaluations?

The middle linebackers are used mainly against the run, though one is typically allowed to freelance. The secondary uses man coverage with safety Troy Polamalu working all over the field.

The premise of being able to summarize a team’s defense with 2 sentences is inherently flawed. I don’t really agree with anything you said there other than Polamalu can play anywhere on the field. Mostly the team runs a nickel zone with corners playing off coverage. The ILBers are involved in pass rush and coverage much of the time since folks don’t really try to run on the Steelers much.

Not sure what you’re trying to say the Steeler way is based on this either. Is it developing players? Drafting too many LBers? Or planning ahead? Regardless none of these are really the reason why Mendenhall was drafted. He was a top talent who slid in the draft. That would be an example of value drafting.

…has a philosophy and sticks with it. The team generally takes best player available and doesn’t gamble on outside players (corners and wide receivers) early

A first rounder on Santonio Holmes or Plaxico Burress would certainly seem out of character as you describe the team. Drafting strictly BPA is definitely not what the Steelers do. It’s a much finessed topic that’s been well explained this offseason over at BTSC. To try to encapsulate this is somewhat insulting.

by Steely McSmash on Jun 6, 2011 5:03 PM EDT reply actions