Steelers Get a Gift as RB Mendenhall Falls to them at 23

In a move that may put the Steelers back as a power running team, the Black and Gold got a gift on Saturday in the first round of the draft, when Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall fell to them at the 23rd pick.  Many had the back going higher, such as with the Bears at 14, who instead took OL Chris Williams.  The back can combine with Willie Parker and Najeh Davenport to develop a running game that could give nightmares to others in the AFC North.  While there will be a lot more to say about Mendenhall, here is the early word on Mendenhall from NFLdraftcountdown:

Strengths:
Terrific size and bulk…Excellent timed speed…A natural runner with great instincts and vision….Strong and powerful…Keeps his legs moving on contact and picks up extra yards…Has pretty good hands and can be a weapon catching the ball out of the backfield..More than holds his own as a blocker…Does not have much mileage on his tires…Tough and durable…Smooth and a very good athlete…A hard worker and team player with top-notch intangibles….Still improving and has some upside.

Weaknesses:
Only carried the load for one season…Has some issues with ball security…Is not overly elusive…More quick than fast…Doesn’t always play to his timed speed….A between-the-tackles-type who could have trouble turning the corner in the pros.

Notes:
Older brother Walter is also a running back for the Illini…National Top 100 recruit coming out of high school…Backed up Pierre Thomas, who made the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent, the first two years of his college career….One year wonder who took a while to fulfill his potential but really came on as a junior and emerged as a top pro prospect..Has a rare blend of size and speed with all of the physical tools you look for..A workhorse runner and terrific all-around weapon.

And here is ESPN’s take on Mendenhall:

Mendenhall isn’t going to make many people miss and he’s a two-down back at this point; he catches the ball fairly well, but he needs to work on catching the ball away from his frame. Also, he doesn’t pick up the blitz consistently. He does have great size and is a tough interior runner who can pick up yards between the tackles, though, and Mendenhall has the second gear to go the distance when he gets a seam.