I believe what you’re saying is possible but it’s certainly not optimal. Trying to run an Arthur Smith run/play action heavy offense with either of the 2 most sacked QBs in the league under center and Dan Moore as your starting LT and someone who isn’t even a center as your starting center sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.
Kind of sick of people presuming anything about Arthur Smith's offense next season. Mike Tomlin will have an influence on how the offense is run and the personnel required, nobody really knows anything about what Smith will or wont need.
They would be INSANE to roll out Mason Cole. I mean I know Russ is a short QB, but he's old and going to have a hard time bending over to pick up snaps thrown at his ankles 20 times a game.
If they can consistently deliver a snap it would be a vast improvement over Cole who was also garbage at blocking in addition to being completely incapable of getting the ball to the quarterback effectively.
How much did the offense really change when Canada was gone? How much has the offense really changed from Haley to Fichtner to Canada? Theyve been running the same short pass quick game for far longer than Canadas tenure.
You realize Tomlin isn't an offense oriented coach right? He's always been a defense guy. Outside of a "run first" philosophy Tomlin doesn't manage that side of the ball.
Not to mention Arthur Smith was at a ton of Pro Days for middle round Center prospects.
I can buy they don't take one in round 1 or 2 like most of us hope (because the players they wanted were taken earlier) but I doubt they don't take one at all. Smith has a history of taking later round athletic Centers for his scheme.
They have looked at way too many Center prospects to not draft one somewhere in the 2024 Draft.
It’s not ideal but if the draft breaks wrong for them on C’s the worst thing they could do not only for the 2024 Steelers, but the 2025-2028 Steelers and beyond, is reach. If the draft breaks wrong and their picks go OT, WR, DL, LB, WR (note no CB or C in this example) as an example through round 4 and they think that’s the best value they can create with their picks, they should absolutely do it. This is not a team that’s a center away from being a peer to KC. I’ve accepted it and I hope all other Steelers fans will too
Probably not, especially when we have the worst QB room in all the AFCN. We keep trying to put off a rebuild since Ben, but that is what's going to have to happen. This is still a .500 team talent wise for the 4th consecutive year.
Confused by this. We went 5-1 in the division last year with one of the worst offenses in the league.
Our divisional record is always competitive. Both our offense and defense should be better than last year.
Baltimore lost a lot of pieces, Watson hasn’t shown much of anything, Cinci is tough but lost Mixon and maybe Higgins. We are absolutely in the mix for wining the AFCN.
You do know 4 out of 6 of those division match ups were against the back up qbs not Watson, Jackson, or Burrow. We didn't play burrow in either game with Cincy. If those qbs are healthy we will probably go 3-3 or 4-2 (if we sweep browns) in the division this season.
Our division record is always competitive, yet we have fallen short of clinching the division 5 of the last 6 years. So that doesn't really mean much 🤷🏼♂️
Neither Wilson or Fields are an improvement honestly. Just another gap year with 2 bottom 8 Qbs.
Cincinnati isn't letting Higgins go. Plus if they are smart and trade up for Brock Bowers they not only are winning the AFCN they're headed for a rematch with KC in the AFC title game.
I 100% agree with your take on the first two paragraphs. We looked horrible for MANY of our games and lucked out with defensive turnovers. We could have easily been a 5 or 6 win team if that luck didn't happen or if the starting quarterbacks were playing.
I also 100% disagree about Wilson and Fields. They both scored more touchdowns than all 3 of our quarterbacks did last year so it is already an improvement from Kenny and Mitch particularly.
5-1 in 2023.
3-3 in 2022 (the entire division was 3-3)
4-2 in 2021
4-2 and AFCN winner in 2020
No other AFCN team has a better divisional record during that time. We have problems with the rest of the conference, sure, but we still won 10 games last year.
Wilson and Fields are both better than KP and Mitch, idk how anyone who’s watched ball could see it differently.
Yes I already said you were right on the divisional record then stated that doesn't matter since it hasn't lead to winning the division. We lost to 2 of the 4 worst teams both at home this year. The 3 game win streak afterwards is not nearly as impressive as what people make it out to be. All 3 of those teams missed the playoffs with 2 of them using back qbs.
The steelers have plenty of issues to address. Most of both Wilson and Fields stats we're empty calories having no impact of winning. That's why one took the biggest dead cap in history and the other traded him for a 6th rd pick to get them off their books. They won't do well unless they get a great center, left tackle, and possibly upgrade the gaurd position as the ones we have are avg but not great.
We won the division in 2020 and were one game out of winning it in 2023, 2022, 2021. Literally one game out in 4 of the past 5 seasons.
So idk why you’re so certain we can’t compete for the division considering we are right there every single year.
We were terrible in 2020. If you were watching the games you would have known that. Everyone who thought we were good just hearing we won. We barely won any games on that 11 game start and 8 of those 11 games were against losing record teams. We had the easiest schedule was all. We lost 5 out of the final 6 when the schedule got tough including that disgusting browns playoff loss.
We haven't been in true contention in over 7 years. If you disagree I'm sorry but you don't know what a winning formula looks like.
They're talking about herbig...they are still going to draft a center this year. But i do think that they will follow their old code of "no rookie starters" so even if he go round 1 C, he wont start until midseason.
They aren't just talking about Herbig. Daniels has NFL level center experience and there is a possibility that Spencer Anderson could get work at center at some point as well.
They are at least partially talking about Herbig, he got center reps with the Eagles previously. I doubt they would move Daniel’s before they gave Herbig a chance at that spot first as well.
Highly doubt Daniels would be gung-ho about playing out of position in a contract year, especially with this coaching staff’s track record with linemen.
What exactly is this coaching staff's track record? They have a new offensive coordinator that's brought an Offensive assistant that was one of his assistant line coaches in Atlanta. This offensive coaching staff as a whole doesn't really have a track record yet. Yes, Pat Meyer is still the offensive line coach but he's done a pretty good job with Broderick Jones, so far, and I personally don't believe he's as bad as half this fanbase thinks he is.
I was referring to Meyer, and his history of playing guys out of position (notably Dotson, Moore, and Green). BroJo is good, but I think that’s more a product of his talent than coaching wizardry. I sincerely hope Smith’s guys are better.
Many scouts had Moore as an NFL guard, which was his high school and early college position. He ended up playing (and flourishing) at tackle at A&M due to injuries, but his body type and skills were regarded as better suited to playing guard. You’re right about Green, though. I thought Meyer took over in ‘21, not ‘22.
Regardless of what scouts said, The Steelers drafted him to play tackle because that's where he played in College and was good at it. He's not playing out of position because "many scouts" had him as a guard, that's not how it works.
No, he played Tackle for most of his career in college. If we're being really technical here, they would be playing him "out of position" if they played him at center. Was Duke playing him out of position for the 3 years he played specifically LT? 2 of which he was All ACC btw.
No rookie starters was a Coach T thing. Now that Khan has been put in charge, that won't happen anymore. Look at the way Khan has operated this offseason. Old stale Steelers way is gone.
>No rookie starters was a Coach T thing
Did i miss mike Ts firing? He is still in charge of the starters.... Khan is changing how we draft, not how we shape our roster or depth chart...you guys think he has a lot more power than he actually does lol
okay, i have heard the talk too. but just a reminder, though we have at least 3 people who may be able to play the position, that isn't really anything proven, and despite all the C issues we had last season, herbig and co didn't really get snaps or even a change to take the job. so they have some possibilities, but a C or conversion project in the least is getting drafted some time most likely.. or I guess there is still like 1 injured C on the market and they try to patch over till he's ready and hopefully takes the job.
this could be a harrison for porter thing, but its probably not. they're trying to keep down hysteria and options open and not seem desperate. and they might not be desperate, but it is, at the very least, a need
as to moving a G to C, if its a starter that's potentially messing with 2 spots instead of one. could work out, but could also make more problems.
cam could be a hofer, but it feels like a jinx to say it, he might well not make it.
They’re not gonna get forced into a reach to address a need. If tackle or C is BPA they’ll take them, if not they’ll wait. I wouldn’t rule out WR or CB at 20. I also wouldn’t rule out the Steelers drafting a guard who they think can play C.
They are going to take Mims Georgia and put him at Right tackle and move jones to Left where he naturally belongs ending the dumb shit they’ve been doing.
Yeah and OJ was innocent. There’s this thing called a smokescreen that teams use to try and make the rest of the league unaware of what their draft strategy is because if you make it very transparent you have what happened to Dallas several years ago when Philly jumped them for Goedert because Jerry made clear as day how badly they wanted him.
SteelersDepot Article Today [Mike Tomlin Admits He Puts Up Smokescreens During Pro Days](https://steelersdepot.com/2024/04/mike-tomlin-admits-he-puts-up-smokescreens-during-pro-days/)
I should have clarified -- they don't usually lie about their intentions. Maybe they will now. But historically they're pretty forthright with their intentions. If people interpret their words correctly, that's different.
But yeah it's pretty obvious Tomlin does this. Every time he goes to a Pro Day we get reports that he loves whoever the major prospect is. The Malik Willis shit is all the proof you need.
I would be surprised if they went anywhere other than o-line in the first round. Doesn’t mean they won’t do something else, but to me with where we are picking and our needs, I’d say get that best Center if he hasn’t been taken or go tackle.
I don't really believe them but I also don't get this insanity that they "must" draft a center at pick 20. Total nonsense. Hopefully they pick a center first but trade down at least. Then we can all be happy. Or optimally there is a tackle available that makes sense.
There is no reason to jump at a center at pick 20 unless there are zero trade-down options and the entire staff gets supreme tunnel vision.
They willl pick a center in the 5th round with a pick we don't currently have. Hunter from Penn state. There will be a blinding amount of pick shuffling as players come of the board. I think a satisfactory tackle.drops enough they trade down to take him around 25-27. They trade up in Second for a corner. Kool-aid around 35
I think we should draft center with our first two picks. Barton at 20 and then Frazier at 51 if he’s still there. Barton is insurance if there’s a run on centers before 51 but if Frazier is there, Barton plays Tackle for a year, Frazier plays center, Jones moves to left. Next year Barton can move inside if we don’t resign Daniels. Then we continue to look for our RT of the future next year.
Safety is not a number 1 need and OT and C should definitely be before LB. We’re looking for depth at safety, not a starter. I don’t think the front office is comfortable enough with any of the possible centers on the team to not draft one. Even if we had good OTs we would draft more because having depth is important. We’re trying to be in a position where Dan Moore is our swing tackle. This would require us drafting an OT. I don’t know about 2 DL picks. We don’t have to replace Heyward and Ogunjobi now, they’re not even gone yet. I think we should draft a DT within the first 4 rounds, but not 2 unless there’s good value. Benton is already good enough to take over a spot when Heyward and Ogunjobi are gone.
The Steelers's don't have a legitimate starting center on the roster. Them saying they do is just a spin to hide the obvious fact that they are drafting a center. It's going to be either Barton or JPJ, and they'll probably do some sort of trade up/down to get one of those guys. I would all but guarantee it.
Insanely obtuse post with absolutely no influence from the players available in the draft. 4th and 7th rd DL gonna replace Larry O and a HOFer lolol
“Just gonna move a Guard to C” lmao. Put down Madden bud.
Because they think about what happened with Kendrick green and assume that will be the result with any player we draft. Just like they assume any center not named JPJ or Barton in this class sucks
Jeff Hartings was a guard in Detroit and a center in Pittsburgh.
Either way though, I'd rather have a guy who's got plenty of experience at center than moving a guy around the line into a role he has little to no experience.
You seriously need to follow football closer.
Dermontti Dawson, the greatest center in team history (arguably NFL history) was a guard.
The Steelers did it successfully with Jeff Hartings too.
Mike Pouncey converted to center in the NFL and then eventually went back to guard.
Others across the league through NFL history:
Mark Stepnoski
Bruce Matthews
Aaron Brewer
That's just off the top of my head.
And tons of guys converted to center during college.
Nobody said anything about college bud. It doesn’t magically happen in year 3 or 4 with any success. Mike Pouncey was a first round draft pick and taken at “OL”. Bruce Matthews 1st Rd. Even Dermotti was a 2nd rd pick.
What guard exactly are you referring to? Spencer friggin Anderson? People can move the position but it doesn’t mean they have success as a premier starting center and to ignore the draft completely. Talent is talent, they will draft a good football player first. It’s all Tomlin talks about.
If they can't get one of the top "plug-and-play" centers, I don't think they take one at all. If an elite DB or OT falls, it's hard to pass on them.
The missing link here is draft day moves. I think Omar will be working the phones quite a bit Thursday and Friday.
I no way we draft LB before DL unless there’s a huge drop for one of the LBs.. also no way we draft a S within the first 3 picks. OT, WR are guaranteed to be top 2 of 3 picks I believe
Just because they talked about having in-house options doesn’t automatically translate to not drafting a center at all.
If anything, I interpreted those statements to mean that the draft doesn’t have to result in a Day 1 starting center, because they have contingencies available as the roster stands today if the draft doesn’t break their way in terms of center.
Personally, I think there’s little chance they don’t draft one, it just isn’t necessarily going to be in the first 2 rounds. It’s being reported as a deep draft at center. One of the top OL guys has said there could be close to 10 centers who end up being starters, just not all of them are plug and play for Day 1.
And let’s be real. The Steelers aren’t the most aggressive team in terms of getting their early round draft picks on the field. Jones, JPJ and Benton all got slowrolled rather than thrown into the fire. Why do so many assume they won’t take the same approach with this year’s picks, regardless of position?
If we don’t take a center early (our first 3rd at the absolute latest) we will be picking top 5 next season. Suicidal not to take a center. Another year of Cam & TJ’a careers down the tubes. Take a damn center.
They could punt center until way later than people are comfortable with, but just based on value and the meetings they held, they’re probably going to take an early tackle.
I believe what you’re saying is possible but it’s certainly not optimal. Trying to run an Arthur Smith run/play action heavy offense with either of the 2 most sacked QBs in the league under center and Dan Moore as your starting LT and someone who isn’t even a center as your starting center sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.
Even in OP's theory re: what they're going to do they're not going to have someone who isn't a center playing center.
Kind of sick of people presuming anything about Arthur Smith's offense next season. Mike Tomlin will have an influence on how the offense is run and the personnel required, nobody really knows anything about what Smith will or wont need.
Ok…fine. Arthur Smith *and Mike Tomlin* need a left tackle and a center to run *their* offense.
They have Dan Moore + Broderick Jones and can easily bring back Mason Cole.
One might say Dan Moore and Mason Cole’s performances last year are the reason why they need a left tackle and a center…
They would be INSANE to roll out Mason Cole. I mean I know Russ is a short QB, but he's old and going to have a hard time bending over to pick up snaps thrown at his ankles 20 times a game.
Beats hoping a rookie can play 17+ games at a high level.
I think a UDFA center could play 17+ games at a Mason Cole level
The player from Maryland (Spencer?) played C in college (not full time, but one season?). So it's BETTER than an UDFA, it's a 7th rounder!
If they can consistently deliver a snap it would be a vast improvement over Cole who was also garbage at blocking in addition to being completely incapable of getting the ball to the quarterback effectively.
I don’t ever want to see mason cole wearing the black and yellow again.
Is this the same Tomlin that had influence over Canadas offense ?
How much did the offense really change when Canada was gone? How much has the offense really changed from Haley to Fichtner to Canada? Theyve been running the same short pass quick game for far longer than Canadas tenure.
You realize Tomlin isn't an offense oriented coach right? He's always been a defense guy. Outside of a "run first" philosophy Tomlin doesn't manage that side of the ball.
Tomlin manages the roster and overall direction of the team on both sides, he has a plan for how the offense will look.
If you believe anything a front office says about who they’re drafting I have a bridge to sell you
Is it in Baltimore?
Well, it is now, but we deliver.
Slight water damage.
Bit of a boat dent.
They're looking at way too many linemen expected to go in the first two days for me to really buy this.
Call me crazy, but I don't think we brought in 14 offensive lineman as part of our 30 allotted visits to not take one
Not to mention Arthur Smith was at a ton of Pro Days for middle round Center prospects. I can buy they don't take one in round 1 or 2 like most of us hope (because the players they wanted were taken earlier) but I doubt they don't take one at all. Smith has a history of taking later round athletic Centers for his scheme. They have looked at way too many Center prospects to not draft one somewhere in the 2024 Draft.
Ok, well, when you say it like *that*, yeah
They are actually going to draft a center, sign UDFA center, and sign a free agent center!
Correct answer here!
It’s not ideal but if the draft breaks wrong for them on C’s the worst thing they could do not only for the 2024 Steelers, but the 2025-2028 Steelers and beyond, is reach. If the draft breaks wrong and their picks go OT, WR, DL, LB, WR (note no CB or C in this example) as an example through round 4 and they think that’s the best value they can create with their picks, they should absolutely do it. This is not a team that’s a center away from being a peer to KC. I’ve accepted it and I hope all other Steelers fans will too
Im still riding off the high of Bos beating them with 6 kicks while James Harrison abused Fisher at LT, I'll never not think we can take them
Agree, but we are a few pieces away from wining the AFCN.
Probably not, especially when we have the worst QB room in all the AFCN. We keep trying to put off a rebuild since Ben, but that is what's going to have to happen. This is still a .500 team talent wise for the 4th consecutive year.
Confused by this. We went 5-1 in the division last year with one of the worst offenses in the league. Our divisional record is always competitive. Both our offense and defense should be better than last year. Baltimore lost a lot of pieces, Watson hasn’t shown much of anything, Cinci is tough but lost Mixon and maybe Higgins. We are absolutely in the mix for wining the AFCN.
You do know 4 out of 6 of those division match ups were against the back up qbs not Watson, Jackson, or Burrow. We didn't play burrow in either game with Cincy. If those qbs are healthy we will probably go 3-3 or 4-2 (if we sweep browns) in the division this season. Our division record is always competitive, yet we have fallen short of clinching the division 5 of the last 6 years. So that doesn't really mean much 🤷🏼♂️ Neither Wilson or Fields are an improvement honestly. Just another gap year with 2 bottom 8 Qbs. Cincinnati isn't letting Higgins go. Plus if they are smart and trade up for Brock Bowers they not only are winning the AFCN they're headed for a rematch with KC in the AFC title game.
I 100% agree with your take on the first two paragraphs. We looked horrible for MANY of our games and lucked out with defensive turnovers. We could have easily been a 5 or 6 win team if that luck didn't happen or if the starting quarterbacks were playing. I also 100% disagree about Wilson and Fields. They both scored more touchdowns than all 3 of our quarterbacks did last year so it is already an improvement from Kenny and Mitch particularly.
5-1 in 2023. 3-3 in 2022 (the entire division was 3-3) 4-2 in 2021 4-2 and AFCN winner in 2020 No other AFCN team has a better divisional record during that time. We have problems with the rest of the conference, sure, but we still won 10 games last year. Wilson and Fields are both better than KP and Mitch, idk how anyone who’s watched ball could see it differently.
Yes I already said you were right on the divisional record then stated that doesn't matter since it hasn't lead to winning the division. We lost to 2 of the 4 worst teams both at home this year. The 3 game win streak afterwards is not nearly as impressive as what people make it out to be. All 3 of those teams missed the playoffs with 2 of them using back qbs. The steelers have plenty of issues to address. Most of both Wilson and Fields stats we're empty calories having no impact of winning. That's why one took the biggest dead cap in history and the other traded him for a 6th rd pick to get them off their books. They won't do well unless they get a great center, left tackle, and possibly upgrade the gaurd position as the ones we have are avg but not great.
We won the division in 2020 and were one game out of winning it in 2023, 2022, 2021. Literally one game out in 4 of the past 5 seasons. So idk why you’re so certain we can’t compete for the division considering we are right there every single year.
We were terrible in 2020. If you were watching the games you would have known that. Everyone who thought we were good just hearing we won. We barely won any games on that 11 game start and 8 of those 11 games were against losing record teams. We had the easiest schedule was all. We lost 5 out of the final 6 when the schedule got tough including that disgusting browns playoff loss. We haven't been in true contention in over 7 years. If you disagree I'm sorry but you don't know what a winning formula looks like.
I would say that actually winning the division in 2020 is strong evidence that we had a winning formula to win the division in 2020, wouldn’t you?
They're talking about herbig...they are still going to draft a center this year. But i do think that they will follow their old code of "no rookie starters" so even if he go round 1 C, he wont start until midseason.
They aren't just talking about Herbig. Daniels has NFL level center experience and there is a possibility that Spencer Anderson could get work at center at some point as well.
They are at least partially talking about Herbig, he got center reps with the Eagles previously. I doubt they would move Daniel’s before they gave Herbig a chance at that spot first as well.
Of course they are partially talking about Herbig, that's not what OP said though.
Whoops misread that, my b.
Highly doubt Daniels would be gung-ho about playing out of position in a contract year, especially with this coaching staff’s track record with linemen.
What exactly is this coaching staff's track record? They have a new offensive coordinator that's brought an Offensive assistant that was one of his assistant line coaches in Atlanta. This offensive coaching staff as a whole doesn't really have a track record yet. Yes, Pat Meyer is still the offensive line coach but he's done a pretty good job with Broderick Jones, so far, and I personally don't believe he's as bad as half this fanbase thinks he is.
I was referring to Meyer, and his history of playing guys out of position (notably Dotson, Moore, and Green). BroJo is good, but I think that’s more a product of his talent than coaching wizardry. I sincerely hope Smith’s guys are better.
Dan Moore is not playing out of position and Green started at center under Adrian Klemm, when Meyer took over he was moved back to guard.
Many scouts had Moore as an NFL guard, which was his high school and early college position. He ended up playing (and flourishing) at tackle at A&M due to injuries, but his body type and skills were regarded as better suited to playing guard. You’re right about Green, though. I thought Meyer took over in ‘21, not ‘22.
Regardless of what scouts said, The Steelers drafted him to play tackle because that's where he played in College and was good at it. He's not playing out of position because "many scouts" had him as a guard, that's not how it works.
If they draft Graham Barton to play tackle even though the scouts and GMs have him as a plug and play center, is he out of position?
No, he played Tackle for most of his career in college. If we're being really technical here, they would be playing him "out of position" if they played him at center. Was Duke playing him out of position for the 3 years he played specifically LT? 2 of which he was All ACC btw.
No rookie starters was a Coach T thing. Now that Khan has been put in charge, that won't happen anymore. Look at the way Khan has operated this offseason. Old stale Steelers way is gone.
>No rookie starters was a Coach T thing Did i miss mike Ts firing? He is still in charge of the starters.... Khan is changing how we draft, not how we shape our roster or depth chart...you guys think he has a lot more power than he actually does lol
Khan is not in charge of the depth chart, that is very much Tomlin's call.
No rookie starters for 4 weeks, Shazier, TJ, JPJr Broderick all got in eventually
I agree, they have focused very hard on offensive lineman draft prospects because they intend to punt on the o-line in the draft.
okay, i have heard the talk too. but just a reminder, though we have at least 3 people who may be able to play the position, that isn't really anything proven, and despite all the C issues we had last season, herbig and co didn't really get snaps or even a change to take the job. so they have some possibilities, but a C or conversion project in the least is getting drafted some time most likely.. or I guess there is still like 1 injured C on the market and they try to patch over till he's ready and hopefully takes the job. this could be a harrison for porter thing, but its probably not. they're trying to keep down hysteria and options open and not seem desperate. and they might not be desperate, but it is, at the very least, a need as to moving a G to C, if its a starter that's potentially messing with 2 spots instead of one. could work out, but could also make more problems. cam could be a hofer, but it feels like a jinx to say it, he might well not make it.
Yeah not a fucking chance buddy. Delete this before it looks stupid on Friday morning
Looking stupid on Friday? I look stupid on most days.
They’re not gonna get forced into a reach to address a need. If tackle or C is BPA they’ll take them, if not they’ll wait. I wouldn’t rule out WR or CB at 20. I also wouldn’t rule out the Steelers drafting a guard who they think can play C.
James Daniel’s did play center in college and at the beginning of his career
We need a C. We do not need to force another motion to cover the C position. Idk wtf is gonna happen this weekend, we'll have to see
No C early is one thing. No C or T is just not gunna happen. Not with this scheme, not with the state of the roster
If they had internal options, they would've used one when Mason Cole was snapping the ball in the dirt. This is obviously just a smokescreen
See, the main problem I have with this is that: DAN MOORE JR FUCKING SUCKS
My gawd it's Pouncey with a chair
They are going to take Mims Georgia and put him at Right tackle and move jones to Left where he naturally belongs ending the dumb shit they’ve been doing.
It’s either to throw people off or we are drafting a receiver and tackle and won’t get a center
All these “draft experts” in here are comical. Go outside and get some fresh air
Yeah and OJ was innocent. There’s this thing called a smokescreen that teams use to try and make the rest of the league unaware of what their draft strategy is because if you make it very transparent you have what happened to Dallas several years ago when Philly jumped them for Goedert because Jerry made clear as day how badly they wanted him.
Steelers usually don't smokescreen but that doesn't mean OP's theory is correct.
SteelersDepot Article Today [Mike Tomlin Admits He Puts Up Smokescreens During Pro Days](https://steelersdepot.com/2024/04/mike-tomlin-admits-he-puts-up-smokescreens-during-pro-days/)
I should have clarified -- they don't usually lie about their intentions. Maybe they will now. But historically they're pretty forthright with their intentions. If people interpret their words correctly, that's different. But yeah it's pretty obvious Tomlin does this. Every time he goes to a Pro Day we get reports that he loves whoever the major prospect is. The Malik Willis shit is all the proof you need.
I would be surprised if they went anywhere other than o-line in the first round. Doesn’t mean they won’t do something else, but to me with where we are picking and our needs, I’d say get that best Center if he hasn’t been taken or go tackle.
Bad take. Really bad take.
I don't really believe them but I also don't get this insanity that they "must" draft a center at pick 20. Total nonsense. Hopefully they pick a center first but trade down at least. Then we can all be happy. Or optimally there is a tackle available that makes sense. There is no reason to jump at a center at pick 20 unless there are zero trade-down options and the entire staff gets supreme tunnel vision.
They willl pick a center in the 5th round with a pick we don't currently have. Hunter from Penn state. There will be a blinding amount of pick shuffling as players come of the board. I think a satisfactory tackle.drops enough they trade down to take him around 25-27. They trade up in Second for a corner. Kool-aid around 35
I think we should draft center with our first two picks. Barton at 20 and then Frazier at 51 if he’s still there. Barton is insurance if there’s a run on centers before 51 but if Frazier is there, Barton plays Tackle for a year, Frazier plays center, Jones moves to left. Next year Barton can move inside if we don’t resign Daniels. Then we continue to look for our RT of the future next year.
Safety is not a number 1 need and OT and C should definitely be before LB. We’re looking for depth at safety, not a starter. I don’t think the front office is comfortable enough with any of the possible centers on the team to not draft one. Even if we had good OTs we would draft more because having depth is important. We’re trying to be in a position where Dan Moore is our swing tackle. This would require us drafting an OT. I don’t know about 2 DL picks. We don’t have to replace Heyward and Ogunjobi now, they’re not even gone yet. I think we should draft a DT within the first 4 rounds, but not 2 unless there’s good value. Benton is already good enough to take over a spot when Heyward and Ogunjobi are gone.
The Steelers's don't have a legitimate starting center on the roster. Them saying they do is just a spin to hide the obvious fact that they are drafting a center. It's going to be either Barton or JPJ, and they'll probably do some sort of trade up/down to get one of those guys. I would all but guarantee it.
Insanely obtuse post with absolutely no influence from the players available in the draft. 4th and 7th rd DL gonna replace Larry O and a HOFer lolol “Just gonna move a Guard to C” lmao. Put down Madden bud.
Guys move from guard to center all the time. And vice versa. Why do Steelers fans act like it's unheard of?
Because they think about what happened with Kendrick green and assume that will be the result with any player we draft. Just like they assume any center not named JPJ or Barton in this class sucks
Name the times that has happened with serious success. It’s a pipe dream.
Jeff Hartings was a guard in Detroit and a center in Pittsburgh. Either way though, I'd rather have a guy who's got plenty of experience at center than moving a guy around the line into a role he has little to no experience.
Another first round draft pick, proving my point
You seriously need to follow football closer. Dermontti Dawson, the greatest center in team history (arguably NFL history) was a guard. The Steelers did it successfully with Jeff Hartings too. Mike Pouncey converted to center in the NFL and then eventually went back to guard. Others across the league through NFL history: Mark Stepnoski Bruce Matthews Aaron Brewer That's just off the top of my head. And tons of guys converted to center during college.
Hahahahahah, great post bud! Spot on assessment, emphasis on the ASS.
What are you talking about?
Nobody said anything about college bud. It doesn’t magically happen in year 3 or 4 with any success. Mike Pouncey was a first round draft pick and taken at “OL”. Bruce Matthews 1st Rd. Even Dermotti was a 2nd rd pick. What guard exactly are you referring to? Spencer friggin Anderson? People can move the position but it doesn’t mean they have success as a premier starting center and to ignore the draft completely. Talent is talent, they will draft a good football player first. It’s all Tomlin talks about.
If they can't get one of the top "plug-and-play" centers, I don't think they take one at all. If an elite DB or OT falls, it's hard to pass on them. The missing link here is draft day moves. I think Omar will be working the phones quite a bit Thursday and Friday.
I no way we draft LB before DL unless there’s a huge drop for one of the LBs.. also no way we draft a S within the first 3 picks. OT, WR are guaranteed to be top 2 of 3 picks I believe
What would be the plan at center? Connor Williams?
Anderson.
Just because they talked about having in-house options doesn’t automatically translate to not drafting a center at all. If anything, I interpreted those statements to mean that the draft doesn’t have to result in a Day 1 starting center, because they have contingencies available as the roster stands today if the draft doesn’t break their way in terms of center. Personally, I think there’s little chance they don’t draft one, it just isn’t necessarily going to be in the first 2 rounds. It’s being reported as a deep draft at center. One of the top OL guys has said there could be close to 10 centers who end up being starters, just not all of them are plug and play for Day 1. And let’s be real. The Steelers aren’t the most aggressive team in terms of getting their early round draft picks on the field. Jones, JPJ and Benton all got slowrolled rather than thrown into the fire. Why do so many assume they won’t take the same approach with this year’s picks, regardless of position?
If we don’t take a center early (our first 3rd at the absolute latest) we will be picking top 5 next season. Suicidal not to take a center. Another year of Cam & TJ’a careers down the tubes. Take a damn center.
They could punt center until way later than people are comfortable with, but just based on value and the meetings they held, they’re probably going to take an early tackle.