New blood
By Mike Batista
So while the Steelers try to rehabilitate their sexually deviant quarterback,
they take Florida center Maurkice Pouncey in the first round of the
draft.
Just what Ben Roethlisberger needs. A center. Someone
else whose crotch he'll be sticking his hands into.
Well, for now it looks like Pouncey (6-4, 304) will line up at guard for the Steelers. Hopefully by the time he's ready to take over for Justin Hartwig at center, Roethlisberger will have learned to behave.
The Steelers have a proud tradition at
center (Mike Webster, Dermontti Dawson, Jeff Hartings) that Pouncey
will hopefully restore. Choosing him in the first round signals the
Steelers' commitment to re-establishing the running game.
Here's a quick look at the rest of the Steelers' draftees:
2 (52): Jason Worilds (OLB, Virginia Tech,
6-1, 254): Could develop into a monster pass rusher. Also
strong on special teams. First of three linebackers chosen in the
draft by the Steelers. Not only do they need linebacker depth in a
3-4 defense, but James Harrison is 32, and James Farrior, who is 35,
really started to show his age last season. This guy better be good,
because since LaMarr Woodley in 2007, the Steelers haven't got much out of the second round. They didn't have a second-round pick last year, and Limas Sweed (2008) has one last chance before
he is officially stamped as a bust. Another reason Worilds (pronounced
Worlds) better be good is that Terrence Cody, Alabama's 349-pound
nose tackle, was still on the board. The Ravens got him five picks
later. The Steelers need an eventual successor to Casey Hampton, and
I'm concerned about that mountain playing in the AFC North. The Steelers
didn't address their aging defensive line until the seventh round.
3 (82): Emmanuel Sanders (WR, Southern Methodist,
5-11, 186): The Steelers needed to pick a receiver somewhere
in the draft, although I thought the third round was a little early.
They must have liked this guy. He was projected as a fourth- or fifth-round
pick, but the Steelers took him in the third round so they wouldn't
risk losing him before their turn in the fourth round. SMU's all-time
leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. Also can return punts.
4
(116): Thaddeus Gibson (OLB, Ohio State, 6-2, 243): Left school
a year early after being named second-team all-Big 10. Doesn't seem
to be a finished product. Also can help out on special teams.
5 (151): Chris Scott (OG, Tennessee, 6-5, 319):
Started last 39 games for Volunteers (eight at right guard, 31 at
left tackle). Did not allow a sack at left tackle during the regular
season in 2009, but projects as a guard in the NFL.
5 (164): Crezdon Butler (CB, Clemson, 6-0, 191): 10 career interceptions at Clemson. Return of Bryant McFadden is reason Steelers didn't take a cornerback sooner.
5
(166): Stevenson Sylvester (OLB, Utah, 6-2, 231): A first-team all-Mountain
West selection in 2009. A project at linebacker but can help on special
teams.
6 (188) Jonathan Dwyer (RB, Georgia Tech,
5-11, 229): Everyone says this guy's a steal as a sixth-rounder.
He had two straight seasons in which he gained 1,395 yards at Georgia
Tech. It's possible he benefitted from Tech's triple-option offense.
With his size, he could be the short-yardage guy the Steelers have
lacked since Jerome Bettis retired. But it remains to be seen whether
he can fill the Steelers' need for someone who can spell Rashard Mendenhall as a featured back. Interestingly, at Georgia Tech he followed in the footsteps of Tashard Choice, who has averaged more
than five yards a carry (821 yards on 156 carries) in two years with
the Cowboys.
6 (195) Antonio Brown (WR, Central
Michigan, 5-10, 186): Guess where this guy can help? That's right. Special teams. He's a two-time MAC Special Teams
Player of the Year. In three years he amassed 3,434 yards and five touchdowns returning kicks and punts. Something tells me
special teams was kind of important for the Steelers in this draft.
7 (242): Doug Worthington, (DE, Ohio State, 6-5, 292): Better late than never as far as addressing that aging defensive line.
