The Pittsburgh Steelers Need to Focus on More Than Nose Tackle, Left Tackle and Cornerback in the 2012 NFL Draft
Mel Kiper, Jr. said on the NFL Network that the Pittsburgh Steelers should concentrate on three positions in this upcoming 2012 NFL Draft, nose tackle, left tackle, and cornerback.
I do agree that those three positions will be vital to the Steelers’ success. The offensive line needs to find a better way to protect Ben Roethlisberger. The defensive line needs a potential replacement for the aging and ailing Casey Hampton. Also, the secondary needs some added depth, especially since the contract of cornerback Bryant McFadden was terminated.
However, I also feel that other positions like wide receiver and running back need to be focused on as well.
With the predicted departure of veteran receiver Hines Ward and the uncertain health of running back Rashard Mendenhall, Pittsburgh should definitely make quality picks for these two positions.
Kiper’s expertise in the NFL Draft over the years has been heavily taken into consideration by a lot of other draft predictors.
According to James Tate, an analyst of www.bleacherreport.com, Kiper is predicting that the Steelers will pick University of Memphis nose tackle Dontari Poe in the first round. Tate states that Poe would add much needed depth to the defensive line, but questions his ability to play against top competition.
“As Kiper points out, the Steelers defense is aging, and a 3-4 defense is only as good as the nose tackle in the middle of the line, said Tate. “There is no doubt Pittsburgh needs to upgrade there.
“The only problem with Poe is that he has not played against the level of competition you would like to see from a first-round pick. He dominated the guys he played against, but 99 percent of the guys he played against will have to have a ticket to get into an NFL game.”
Looking beyond the first round of the draft, www.draftsite.com lays out predictions for all seven of the Steelers draft picks:
- Mike Adams (OT, OhioState)
- AlamedaTa’amu (DT, Washington)
- Dan Herron (RB ,OhioState)
- Ryan Lindley (QB, San Diego State)
- Brandon Taylor (S, LSU)
- Donnie Fletcher (CB, Boston College)
- Mario Kurn (DE, San Diego)
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