Pittsburgh Steelers 2010 NFL Draft Grade

PITTSBURGH

1. (18)Maurkice Pouncey, C, Florida
Pouncey provides some much needed and long overdue protection for Big Ben, and he’s a force for the rushing attack. I wasn’t sure if this would be the year that they addressed the situation up front, especially considering their possibly subconscious desire to see Ben hit, but they grabbed the best interior lineman in the class, and he’ll help them regain their power-running identity. GRADE: B+

2. (52)Jason Worilds, OLB, Virginia Tech
Worilds has one of the quickest first steps in the draft, and the Steelers outside linebackers aren’t getting any younger. He’s a productive guy who has the talent. Just needs better consistency. But with the way the Steelers develop guys at this position, he should be a starter in a year. GRADE: B+

3. (82)Emmanuel Sanders, WR, SMU
Sanders was really rising lately; he’s a Mike Thomas/Jarrett Dillard guy. He could be a solid replacement for Santonio Holmes, and he’s pretty underrated. He’s got excellent speed, and his natural quickness makes him very dangerous underneath. GRADE: B

3ROUND GRADE: B+

4.116 Thaddeus Gibson, OLB, Ohio State
Gibson was a solid pick for Pitt. They really needed to inject some youth into their linebacking corps, and Gibson and Worilds had two of the best offseason of any pass rushers. He’s another guy that really needs to be coached up, but the canvas is there. GRADE: C+

5.151 Chris Scott, OT, Tennessee
Not a bad pick. Scott fits the Steelers mold for offensive tackles and he could be a guy that earns a starting role in a year or two. He needs to sit and learn for a while, but again he’s their type of blocker and they need to protect someone. GRADE: C

5.164 Crezdon Butler, CB, Clemson
I don’t really like this one. Butler is full of upside, and runs a great 40, but he’s a poor tackler and a real finesse corner which feels odd in this city. His man-coverage is good, but his zone needs a lot of work. GRADE: D+

5.166 Stevenson Sylvester, OLB, Utah
Sylvester burst onto the scene with a great Sugar Bowl against Alabama, and then followed that up with a successful senior season that went unnoticed. He’s great in coverage, and his unique abilities there make him valuable to this defense. GRADE: B

6.188 Jon Dwyer, RB, Georgia Tech
I wasn’t a fan of Dwyer’s this offseason, and I think his weight issues will make him a liability. But I have a feeling the Steelers saw a little “Bus” in him, and if he’s half that good this pick will be worth it, especially this late. GRADE: B

6.195 Antonio Brown, WR, Central Michigan
Brown is a lot like Sanders, but in this case with the sudden dearth of youthful talent at wide receiver, it makes sense. He gives the Steelers three Mike Wallaces and that’s got to be better than three quarters of a Santonio Holmes. GRADE: B-

7.242 Doug Worthington, OT, Ohio State
A developmental offensive tackle prospect in the seventh round from a school with good O line pedigree. Nothing more, but nothing less. GRADE: C

Best Pick: Maurkice Pouncey
Worst Pick: Crezdon Butler
Sleeper Pick: Stevenson Sylvester

FINAL ANALYSIS
The Steelers felt a need to bolster the pass-catching corps after the Santonio Holmes trade, and they clearly helped that area. Brown and Sanders are very similar to Mike Wallace, but the Steelers had success with him, and if Limas Sweed can step up as the big target, this’ll be a great group. That’s a big if though. Worilds and Gibson are prospects I really like for this defense, and they give Pitt two possible future starters who fit what they look for in terms of speed and ability. Don’t be surprised to see at least one of them contribute in a bigger capacity than expected this season. Although, I am worried about Worilds’s injury history. Sylvester has more work to do, and has a slighter frame, but he’s going to be a weapon for Dick LeBeau with his great zone skills. Pouncey was just a smart pick. He’s the type of interior lineman that Steelers’ fans will love.

I know that Bryant McFadden has been brought back, but that doesn’t totally alleviate the need for DB help.  Why the Steelers didn’t look to add to their secondary depth in a bigger way, I’m not sure.   Crezdon Butler is very raw, and very soft in the open field, which is a big red flag in this defense. Hard to see him getting off of special teams. Scott and Worthington are both players with enough upside to have a shot, but only after sitting first. Pittsburgh has the time to develop them. I really wasn’t a fan of Dwyer’s option offense roots and his proclivity for packing on the pounds, but he’s got a powerful lower body and will push the pile in short yardage situations.

Outside of the cold shoulder turned to the secondary, this wasn’t a bad haul from a team who almost slyly lulls you to sleep with their drafting style. They got their type of players, and when a team like the Steelers seems to get what they wanted out of a draft, it’s hard to underestimate them. But some of these guys seem pretty one-dimensional.

GRADE: C+

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