2012 Steelers Mock Draft 3.0

1st: NT Alameda Ta'amu Washington - With the Steelers defense aging, and Casey Hampton getting up in age, the Steelers snag a great run stuffer. Ta'amu will be the future nose tackle in the middle of the Steelers defensive line. Ta'amu, imaginably could get some playing time with the Steelers first team defense as Casey Hampton has been getting injured the past couple of season. This will be phenomenal if Pittsburgh makes Ta'amu the future, as he is similar to Hampton's frame, with Ta'amu weighing 330 Lbs and he's 6'2" in height. Ta'amu, like Hampton, can take on double teams and make open lanes for Pittsburgh's athletic linebackers to get through. Ta'Amu can also collapse the pocket and make opposing quarterbacks make mistakes. Great pick for the Pittsburgh Steelers, way to go Mr. Rooney! Grade: A+

2nd: DL Billy Winn Boise State - The Steelers yet again up grade their defensive line by picking Winn out of Boise State. Winn has the ability to be a run stuffer, as well to get some pressure on the quarterback. Winn would be a great player to get tutored by two of the best defensive ends in the National Football League in Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel. With Ziggy Hood having plenty of chances to prove that he should be the future at defensive end, it just seems he hasn't shown enough to prove that he should be the future. Winn would provide youth, and character along the defensive line, especially in the Steelers locker room. The Steelers get another player that would be such a special athlete to have on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Grade: B-


3rd: OG Lonnie Edwards Texas Tech - The Steelers look to up grade their line, but on the offensive side of the ball as they pick offensive guard Lonnie Edwards out of Texas Tech. With the pick up of running back Baron Batch this past draft, the Steelers add another Red Raider to the roster and add chemistry. Edwards is a great run blocker with pass blocking being another quality skill Edwards possesses. This would be another pick that the Steelers will be cheered on for as the offensive line this year has had many injuries. Only time will tell, if Edwards becomes a Steeler or not, and if he does, would he contribute? But this will be a great pick up. Grade: C

4th: ILB Tanner Brock TCU - With Farrior looking to retire after the 2011 season, Brock has the size that the Steelers want in their line backing corps. Brock would add much more youth to the defense and especially in the middle of the Pittsburgh defense. Brock will provide intensity that the Steelers love to see out of their linebackers and will most likely start next to Timmons next season(if Farrior retires) with Sylvester as a quality second string inside linebacker. Brock is an extremely hard hitter and is a very instinctive football player. He'd fit perfectly into Pittsburgh defensive scheme and have an immediate impact! Grade: B+

5th: WR Rueben Randle LSU - Randle seems like he'd fit into Pittsburgh's pass happy offense as he ignores the hype of big time cornerbacks and runs his routes. Rueben could be a possession receiver and gain short yardage and be an impact player on critical issues. Randle could be a threat if he gets into the middle of the defenses and breaks out an enormous gain of yardage and it could result in a touch down. Randle would make this Steelers receiving corps even younger and this group of receivers could stick with each other for much years to come. Grade: C+

6th: OT Alex Hurst LSU - Pittsburgh yet again adds much youth to their offensive line with the pick up of Alex Hurst from Louisiana State. With Hurst(6'6" 340 lbs) having similar build to Max Starks (6'8" 345), this could be a huge opportunity to pick up a great run blocker, and a very quality pass blocker with tremendous technique and ability. Hurst, in my opinion, is probably one of the biggest sleepers in this up coming draft and should be looked at more by Steelers drafting personnel. Hurst would add youth and chemistry and could possibly play guard, and just be such a tremendous force on the offensive line. Grade: B

7th: S Sean Baker Ball State - With Ryan Mundy not looking like a worthy replacement for Ryan Clark, the Steelers snag up a ball hawk out of Ball State. Sean Baker has a nose for the ball with being a very instinctive ball skills and just snags the ball from opposing receivers. This would be a great opportunity for the Steelers to steal probably one of the best safety's in the draft. Obviously, in my belief, the best free safety that the Steelers can build up behind Clark and even Polamalu to tutor Baker as well. I'd love to see this kid develop and become a part of something great. Grade: C+

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[cedthecool]

My picks for the Black and Gold this year are. 1. Dontari Poe(DT Memphis) 2. Mike Adams(OT Ohio State) 3. Vontaze Burfict(ILB Arizona State) 4. DeVier Posey(WR Ohio State) 5. Josh Robinson(CB UCF) 6. Jeff Fuller(WR Texas A&M) 7. Ryan Miller(OT Colorado). Let Me Know What You Think.

[Vanarambaion]

Ta'amu is a second round prospect. Billy Winn doesn't have the size to be a NT, and doesn't have the speed to be a DE pass rusher, and he's worse at run stuffing than he is at pass rushing. Not a great bull rusher, and no ability to split double teams. He's not a fit here, and the idea that the Steelers are going to pull in 2 DTs this year is unlikely to say the least. Randle will go 2nd or 3rd round, and not to Steelers. All the other picks are head scratchers or long-term project players.

[troisprenoms]

I don't think Ta'amu is graded as first round prospect. If we could snag him in the 2nd, I wouldn't complain.

[yomompooskittels]

what we need is to draft players that are as similar to the ones that are getting older, I think we need the most help at o-line, YES we do need to get younger on defense; however, ben is gonna last much longer if he keeps hitting the turf. That why i think we go O-LINE, MLB(to replace farrior), and NT( to relpace Hampton due to PIT being $25 mil over cap).

[crow672008]

we need help on both lines we really need to get younger on defense i agreed we need to get rid of the older players on the steelers team i hope you agreed

[afcnorthsteeler]

Vontave Burfict #1 on Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Board.

[atime07]

We should trade up to get Manti Te'o ILB. Steven McLendon is good enough, he reminds of Jay Ratliff. Offenses are not going to attack us with the deep ball, because our defense employs the Cover 2 scheme in pass packages. Offenses are instead going to attack us with the intermediate throws. This plays well for us choosing Manti Te'o. He can cover Ray Rice and Rob Gratkowski, these are the two threatening types of skill players offense like to use to attack us. Last, Te'o is another Samoan!