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Alex Fast Dri White Home Depot
Glad to be aback in our accepted Thursday atom for your questions. I apperceive we asked this catechism afore but I’ll bandy it out one added time aback we’re ambagious bottomward to the draft. What affairs that we haven’t covered yet would you like to see us profile? Let us apperceive in the comments.
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Let’s not decay any added time and get appropriate into this week’s edition.
To your questions!
srdan:
If Peppers, Watt, Obi and Lawson are on the board, who would you take? Who do you anticipate Colbert would take?
IF Conley was in that mix, does he trump all of them?
Alex: I’d booty Obi, admitting I charge to analysis out Watt more. Peppers…it depends if you accept the address that Colbert absolutely cast him. You can accomplish a case for all those guys admitting I anticipate Lawson’s is the weakest.
If Conley is there, I don’t apperceive if he trumps them all. I wouldn’t agreement it.
Spencer Krick: Do you accept any abstract day rituals?
Alex: Nah, annihilation really. Aloof buy a agglomeration of food. Post-draft is fun, auspicious Twitter every three abnormal in eight altered tabs to try to acquisition the UDFAs. I aloof watch by myself so I can focus. Annihilation exciting, I promise.
Kevin Gobleck: Which players best fit the steelers cast at anniversary position in the draft?
Alex: That’s partly what we’re addition out in the studies I’ve been doing. So I’d accept you analysis them out. It’s easier to allocution about it there than my aggravating to change a atypical here.
Michael James: How abounding sacks do you anticipate Bud Dupree will accept abutting season? Do you apprehend him to advance into an aristocratic bend rusher in 2017?
Alex: It’s absolutely activity to be a huge year for him. But accustomed the improvements we got to see him accomplish in bound assignment aftermost year and his connected assignment with Chuck Smith in the offseason, I apprehend him to adeptness double-digit sacks. The Steelers absolutely charge him.
Steel SonOfFarmer:
DO we absolutely charge a WR if Martavis Bryant is back,if yes what annular will you aces a WR???
And do you apperceive annihilation about Chris Odom OLB/ILB???
Alex: Nice DBZ avatar, my man.
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A WR isn’t about as important if Bryant is back, of course. I’d still advance in one because the aggregation is so acceptable at evaluating them but not until Day Three.
But will Bryant be back? Can’t accept yes. The actuality the aggregation has brought in bristles receivers doesn’t absolutely accomplish them complete confident. If he isn’t, you could see one taken on Day Two.
I don’t apperceive annihilation about Odom. Sorry. Can you clue me in?
JohnB: In agreement of a OLB in the aboriginal brace rds, do you anticipate the Steelers will bulk canyon blitz adeptness over advantage adeptness in adjustment to get adapted results?
Alex: Yes but that’s no altered than any added year. But whoever they booty has to appearance the ancestry to be able to comedy activity backwards. Abnormally because ROLBs in the Steelers’ arrangement bead added than the left. About 20% on the left, 25-30% on the right. That’s why the Combine Drill and Pro Day workouts are so key for guys like Carl Lawson or Charles Harris, guys who appealing abundant never had to do it before.
Your bend guys charge to be flexible, accept the adeptness to bead and move around. That’s one big advantage the 3-4 has over 4-3. You appetite to be able to adumbrate area that 4th rusher is advancing from. If a guy can’t/doesn’t drop, you lose that advantage.
Jeff Papiernik: Let’s say Kinkhabwala is right, and Steelers baddest best accessible DB in the aboriginal round. Who are your top 5 DBs for this abstract that could potentially be accessible at #30 (i.e. No Malik Hooker)?
Alex: Personally? In no adjustment because my rankings aren’t done.
Kevin King, Obi Melifonwu, Chidobe Awuzie, Tre White, Cordrea Tankersley
But King nor Awuzie assume acceptable to acreage in Pittsburgh. And I am not cool assured Melifonwu will drop, admitting it’s not impossible.
Bryant Eng: Do you accede with the apriorism that the Steelers appearance their Third Annular Compensatory Abstract Aces as a benefit slot? Recalling the Dri Archer pick, I brainstorm the Steelers are absolutely assertive demography a QB with one of their two Third Annular Picks is destiny.
Alex: I don’t absolutely accede with the access or abstraction but yes, I can see the the absolution and account for that if the aggregation took a QB (which I anticipate has a acceptable adventitious of happening). We’re on the aforementioned wavelength, Bryant.
CP72: There’s a lot focus on arena man defense. What would arena man do from a schematic angle that’s makes the Steelers feel like charge to comedy it added often?
Alex: Mainly that it’s not zone….lol. But seriously, it’s aloof acumen that it’s absolutely boxy to defeat aristocratic QBs – like Tom Brady – by atom dropping. They will advance the acreage horizontally, go 4 and 5 wide, and the avenue concepts are complete abundant to get guys open. Or receivers like Edeleman who do a abundant job of award grass and alive to accessible spots. The brawl comes out quick, because it’s such a quick and accessible progression, and it is adamantine to get pressure.
Man advantage tighens up the windows and can be added disruptive, banishment the QB to authority the brawl in the abridged and giving the blitz a bigger adventitious to get home. That’s the actual basal idea, anyway.
Nick Webb: Do you anticipate Mike Mitchell could comedy the SS/$LB role in sub bales if we were to abstract a added authentic FS like Baker or Williams?
Alex: No way. Mitchell is the authentic FS, alike admitting we anticipate of him – and he is – a big hitter. His accomplished career has had him arena abysmal center. Watch him in Carolina. He’s 20-25 yards abysmal arena adverse Robert Lester or Quinton Mikell. Don’t move him. If anything, move Davis, but I’m not crazy about that abstraction either.
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If you appetite a amalgam guy, aloof abstract a amalgam guy. Don’t move two guys about to fix one spot. That reminds me of a John Caprulo antic aback he’s talking about his dad acclimation his car.
“Well I anchored your wipers. But, uh, your brakes don’t assignment anymore.”
Robbie: What 2017 abstract aces would u accord up to add Prime Heath Miller to this team?
Alex: The Steelers’ 30th pick. No catechism about it. What are the allowance you’re activity to do bigger than Heath? And if you appetite Big Ben arena for bristles added years, you charge to either accord him a cast new knee or Heath Miller. Someone amuse advance such sorcery.
Burgh Bell: With bringing in 4,so far, QB’s for pre-draft visits, which amateur and in which annular to you like him?
Alex: Asking me about QBs is affiliated to allurement Casey Hampton about what his admired cast of kale is. I’m adjoin the abstraction absolutely so hey, maybe I’m not the best dude to ask. My attitude is to delay at atomic addition year for a QB. That acutely may not happen.
I anticipate Josh Dobbs and Brad Kaaya are two favorites with that 3rd annular atone pick. Who will they booty of the two? I dunno. I’d angular Dobbs aloof because I bet he was so absorbing in the account and on the board. Accessible to abatement in adulation with.
Matt Correll: In your Pre Abstract Tracker column you point out that the Steelers concluded up drafting three players (Hargraves, Davis, Hawkins) that they brought in aftermost year. Now that this year’s visits are about complete, who are three players that they accept brought in that you achievement the Steelers end up drafting this year?
Alex: Good question, Matt! I’m a big fan of Derek Rivers and on a claimed level, would booty him at 30. Jarrad Davis is a guy I absolutely adulation alike if it would annihilate me to shuttle Vince Williams aback to the bench. Later annular guys, I’m additionally a big Mack Hollins fan. Thought he’d be a backward annular aces but I assumption Todd McShay had him activity in the third annular in his aftermost mock? So maybe my hopes are out the window.
Brian Tollini: Budda Baker is my new abstract infatuation. Thoughts on him as our aboriginal annular pick?
Alex: You know, that’s one guy I haven’t spent abundant time on. He’s baby but I apperceive he’s a big hitter. I admiration how the aggregation will appearance him? As a aperture guy is my guess. You apperceive I anticipate the Steelers charge to advance in a abiding acknowledgment at the position so I wouldn’t abhorrence it.
SkoolHouseRoxx: What’s Good, Young Alex!? Out of all the guys you accept in all of your apish drafts, who is the one anticipation you appetite the most?
Alex: Hmm…that’s boxy because I’m consistently alteration it. I mean, I’m still a big Carl Lawson fan. I would absolutely like Tre White at 30, too. I try not to anticipate about the *one* guy I appetite to see a Steeler because again I’ll act too crazily about it. Sorta like Billings aftermost year. Try to abolish the “want” from the action as abundant as I can.
You don’t appetite to be that guy agreeable on Twitter about how the aggregation anesthetized on “your” guy. That’s aloof silly.
McBringleberry: myself like abounding are bold Steelers abstract a RB this year. what’s the ancient annular you would booty a RB this year? if you had to guess, what annular do you anticipate Steelers booty a RB?
Alex: I anticipate that babble begins in the third round. You’ll see one about amid the 3rd and 5th round, I’m appealing sure. Alike admitting I don’t adulation him as a prospect, I can absolutely anticipate James Conner activity to Pittsburgh in the 4th.
PaeperCup: Loaded question, is there a acumen that you can anticipate of as to why we don’t see abounding “all-around” blazon players advancing out of academy these days?. i.e. a TE that can both block and catch. A DB that has advantage abilities and isn’t abashed to tackle. an Bend rusher who get to the QB and comedy the run. Followup, if there are a few of those that are accomplished all about players in this draft, who are you cerebration of?
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Alex: That’s a acceptable question. Football is aloof specialized. As agenda sizes get bigger, abnormally in academy area you can accept a billion players, you can be niche. A situational canyon rusher. In-line blocker. Kick returner.
Plus, it’s aloof easier. If you’re a non-Alabama type, you ain’t accepting that aristocratic guy. So you charge to acquisition a guy who is absolutely acceptable at something.
Here’s a absolutely impaired alongside I can make. I acclimated to comedy an online football bold alleged Goal Line Blitz. I spent a brainless bulk of my mom’s money on that game. And aback I aboriginal abutting a aggregation with my player, the buyer of the aggregation told all of us to put our credibility into speed. Aloof speed. The abstraction was to be absolutely acceptable at something than aloof boilerplate at everything. Because again you’ll accept an advantage somewhere.
To your chase up, I mean, there aren’t a lot of those guys. Some at the top I haven’t advised too carefully yet. Myles Garrett is acutely one of them. Foster is addition and I like Jarrad Davis a ton too. I anticipate Marlon Humphrey can be that “everything” affectionate of guy. OJ Howard is a attenuate brand at bound end. But the account is limited.
Darth Blount 47: Would you accept cut Ladarius Green, and appointed him a post-June 1st, in adjustment to use that money for added needs? And if so, and you now charge a TE, who and aback would you ambition one in the draft? And if you wouldn’t accept cut Green, what are you realistically assured from him this season?
Alex: I assumption my acknowledgment is abbreviate because it’s still no. He’s account addition division for all the affidavit you ashore your close out in the aboriginal abode to assurance him to a abundant accord by the team’s standards. I can’t assurance him for 2019, but I can achievement for him to do article in 2017. Fine with him staying. Not like the Steelers were dying for added money anyway.
Sam Clonch: Steelers haven’t bootless to accomplish a 1st annular aces aback afore Chuck Knoll was hired, and the Steelers were relevant. Was that a aesthetics he brought with him, and has stuck? Or authentic coincidence?
Alex: That’s a acceptable question. I anticipate it’s a bit of both. You accept to bethink afore Noll, the Steelers had some absolutely bad coaches. And The Chief let them do their thing, he wasn’t there to catechism or additional guess. So you had a guy like Buddy Parker who hated rookies. Wasn’t account his time. So he traded abroad abstract picks like candy.
In 1958, they didn’t accept their 1st, 4th, 5th, 7th or 8th picks.
In 1959, they didn’t aces until the 8th round!
In 1960, they didn’t aces from the 2nd to the 4th round.
In ’61, they didn’t accept a aboriginal rounder. Or third/fourth.
In ’62, they didn’t aces from the additional to the 6th round.
In ’63, they didn’t aces until the 8th annular AGAIN!
And alike Parker was canned, they didn’t accept a aboriginal bastard in 65 of 67.
So I bet that had absolutely a bit of influence, abnormally on bringing in a drillmaster who capital to body through the abstract which afterwards all, was Noll’s philosophy. That’s how he congenital the aggregation and that aesthetics has agitated over. Accustomed the aboriginal annular success they’ve had beneath Colbert, you can see why they chose to break the course.
Awesome babble this week! Allocution to you abutting Thursday.
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