Pittsburgh Steeler Forecast
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Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)
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(32) LenDale White, RB. USC
(64) Darnell Bing, S. USC
(96) Parys Haralson, OLB. Tennessee
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For a team that is coming off a Super Bowl, the Steelers have a strangely large number of team needs to address in the draft. Having lost Plaxico Burress last year and Antwaan Randle El this year, the most pressing team need is at wide receiver. Finding an electrically fast receiver like Randle El or a tall, stretch-the-field, receiver like Burress would bring a dimension back to the offense that has been lost. Having lost Jerome Bettis and with Duce Staley unable to remain healthy, the Steelers would love to add a power option out of the backfield. Given the depth that is present at running back already, this is not a pressing need, but -if value surafces- the Steelers will not hesitate. Pittsburgh bread has been buttered by a power running for twenty years. Defensively, the team would love to add an additional pass rusher. Also, even after signing Ryan Clark to play safety instead of cap-caualty, Chris Hope, adding someone to challenge and possibly start over Clark would make the defense that much better.
(32) LenDale White, RB. USC
LenDale White may be fat and out of shape. At the moment, his hamstring may barely be attached at the hip. Regardless, the Steelers will find it impossible to let LenDale White slip past them on draft day. Having just lost Jerome Bettis, and having had a power option out of the backfield for seemingly ever, White would keep the tradition going. At 6'0"/238, LenDale has impressive size. Different from most big backs, White has amazing footwork a la Jerome Bettis. He is a north/south runner with good vision and excellent power. During his entire USC career, he was in the shadow of Reggie Bush, amassing 17 TDs and 1000 yards per season on average nonetheless. If he makes it to #32, the Steelers would hit a home run.
(64) Darnell Bing, S. USC
Needing a dynamic playmaker to play safety, the Steelers would be well served to grab Pat Watkins before he is off the board. Free agent acquisition, Ryan Clark, is a temporary solution to replace Chris Hope, but Darnell Bing is a long-term solution. Bing is an oversized safety at 6'2"/227 that could start before the end of the season. He can stop the run with the best of them. Bing's 4.59 speed leaves him looking uncomfortable in coverage often, but his hard hitting nature just screams, "Perfect fit" for the physical Steeler defense. Nevertheless, Bing has excellent ball skills and comes up with interceptions where few other players would.He is the ideal option to start opposite Tory Polamalu in the future.
(96) Parys Haralson, OLB. Tennessee
A true pass rusher can not be undervalued. Parys Haralson is just that. He is a gritty, tough, and productive. His 4.80 speed is nothing to be proud of, but his productivity on the field is. Quick and explosive, he knows just how to use leverage to make his presence known in the backfield on passing downs. His 6'1"/253 size makes him struggle at times with massive blockers in the running game. Shedding bocks is his biggest weakness. With time, size and strength will come, completing his game. In the meantime, Haralson can be a disruptive force as a true pass rushing OLB in the 3-4.
(*) Sinorice Moss, WR. Miami
Undersized. Blazingly fast. Incredibly quick. Unhumanly agile. Good route-runner. Those words describe both Antwaan Randle El and Sinorice Moss. In terms of all the measureables, Moss and Randle El look exactly the same on paper. Given the recent successes of guys like Randle El, Sinorice's borther Santana Moss, and Steve Smith, the Steelers may be hard pressed to pass on someone with such dynamic abilities. LenDale White being available at #32 would change that thought process in an instant. Should White be taken by the Panthers, Broncos, Jaguars, or Patriots, Sinorice Moss will be the Steelers' guy. Having won the Super Bowl with a smallish receiving corp, the Steelers will certainly not be biased against the little guy. Moss would make Steeler fans miss Randle El a lot less than they do now.
Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5)
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(32) LenDale White, RB. USC
(64) Darnell Bing, S. USC
(96) Parys Haralson, OLB. Tennessee
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For a team that is coming off a Super Bowl, the Steelers have a strangely large number of team needs to address in the draft. Having lost Plaxico Burress last year and Antwaan Randle El this year, the most pressing team need is at wide receiver. Finding an electrically fast receiver like Randle El or a tall, stretch-the-field, receiver like Burress would bring a dimension back to the offense that has been lost. Having lost Jerome Bettis and with Duce Staley unable to remain healthy, the Steelers would love to add a power option out of the backfield. Given the depth that is present at running back already, this is not a pressing need, but -if value surafces- the Steelers will not hesitate. Pittsburgh bread has been buttered by a power running for twenty years. Defensively, the team would love to add an additional pass rusher. Also, even after signing Ryan Clark to play safety instead of cap-caualty, Chris Hope, adding someone to challenge and possibly start over Clark would make the defense that much better.
LenDale White will not slip past the Steelers
(32) LenDale White, RB. USC
LenDale White may be fat and out of shape. At the moment, his hamstring may barely be attached at the hip. Regardless, the Steelers will find it impossible to let LenDale White slip past them on draft day. Having just lost Jerome Bettis, and having had a power option out of the backfield for seemingly ever, White would keep the tradition going. At 6'0"/238, LenDale has impressive size. Different from most big backs, White has amazing footwork a la Jerome Bettis. He is a north/south runner with good vision and excellent power. During his entire USC career, he was in the shadow of Reggie Bush, amassing 17 TDs and 1000 yards per season on average nonetheless. If he makes it to #32, the Steelers would hit a home run.
Darnell Bing could be paired up with his former
teammate, Troy Polamalu, in Pittsburgh
(64) Darnell Bing, S. USC
Needing a dynamic playmaker to play safety, the Steelers would be well served to grab Pat Watkins before he is off the board. Free agent acquisition, Ryan Clark, is a temporary solution to replace Chris Hope, but Darnell Bing is a long-term solution. Bing is an oversized safety at 6'2"/227 that could start before the end of the season. He can stop the run with the best of them. Bing's 4.59 speed leaves him looking uncomfortable in coverage often, but his hard hitting nature just screams, "Perfect fit" for the physical Steeler defense. Nevertheless, Bing has excellent ball skills and comes up with interceptions where few other players would.He is the ideal option to start opposite Tory Polamalu in the future.
(96) Parys Haralson, OLB. Tennessee
A true pass rusher can not be undervalued. Parys Haralson is just that. He is a gritty, tough, and productive. His 4.80 speed is nothing to be proud of, but his productivity on the field is. Quick and explosive, he knows just how to use leverage to make his presence known in the backfield on passing downs. His 6'1"/253 size makes him struggle at times with massive blockers in the running game. Shedding bocks is his biggest weakness. With time, size and strength will come, completing his game. In the meantime, Haralson can be a disruptive force as a true pass rushing OLB in the 3-4.
Sinorice Moss is so similar to Antwaan Randle El
in terms of measureables that he is the Steelers guy
(*) Sinorice Moss, WR. Miami
Undersized. Blazingly fast. Incredibly quick. Unhumanly agile. Good route-runner. Those words describe both Antwaan Randle El and Sinorice Moss. In terms of all the measureables, Moss and Randle El look exactly the same on paper. Given the recent successes of guys like Randle El, Sinorice's borther Santana Moss, and Steve Smith, the Steelers may be hard pressed to pass on someone with such dynamic abilities. LenDale White being available at #32 would change that thought process in an instant. Should White be taken by the Panthers, Broncos, Jaguars, or Patriots, Sinorice Moss will be the Steelers' guy. Having won the Super Bowl with a smallish receiving corp, the Steelers will certainly not be biased against the little guy. Moss would make Steeler fans miss Randle El a lot less than they do now.