Too soon to predict Steelers draft board

The air is electric at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis and already many are predicting what the draft board will look like for the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Tweets about players who have talked to the Steelers at the Combine, mock drafts and chatter about drills abounds.  The fact is: the Steelers have never shown their hand during this time of year and are unlikely to do so anytime soon even if they interview players who’ve shown up on one of the biggest stages before the NFL Draft to showcase their talents in the hopes of landing a job as a professional football player.  While many speculate the Steelers will absolutely have to draft a defensive back, namely a corner, in the first round, General Manager Kevin Colbert is saying ‘not so fast’.

Gerry Dulac of the Post-Gazette spent some time at the Combine speaking with Colbert, and the results of the conversation indicate that the Steelers may be leaning toward the defense but they are nowhere near passing over players who could improve the offense.  “If there’s a great offensive player who can make us average 27 points instead of the 24 we averaged last year, maybe we don’t have to be as good on defense,” Colbert said. “We always want to be open to making sure we are taking good players at any position.”

The debate has raged on between Steelers fans about what position Pittsburgh should target first in the draft and it has been fairly heated.  Many insist that despite the fact that former fourth-round pick (2011) cornerback Cortez Allen receiving a five-year, $26 million contract extension before the season but riding the pine for most of the 2014 NFL season proves the Steelers ‘must’ go for the cornerback position immediately.  Others are adamant that the Steelers find a running back to pair up with Le’Veon Bell who had a break-out sophomore outing.  Colbert’s comments either settle the debate or heat it up to a new level.  On the first day of the Combine, he said, “We know where we’re strong, we know where we need some help, we know where we need some depth…Maybe you add some guys in the [defensive] back end at some point. But we won’t go into a draft looking at a specific position because, any time you do that, you tend to over-evaluate that position and that’s where mistakes are made.”

As a football fan, I love watching the Combine and enjoy thinking about how a player that looks good may appear in a black and gold jersey.  As a journalist, I try to be a bit more objective – stats, game film, production, off-field issues, intangibles, etc.  I enjoy this time of year generally because I miss football, plain and simple.  While others are watching Sidney Crosby light up the net or Andrew McCutchen take batting practice for spring ball, I sit comparing linebackers’ college stats, weight room performance and on-field production compared to the results they put up in Indianapolis.  Unfortunately, as James Harrison recently posted on Twitter, not all of the potential draftees are even invited to the NFL Scouting Combine.

Throwback to my combine workout in 2002!! Oh damn I forgot I never got a invite, oh well!???? http://t.co/S1T6YRxSOE

— James Harrison (@jharrison9292) February 19, 2015

Colbert says the Steelers need “another infusion of young talent” on defense.  I can see the gears turning on how great it would be to have that option to pair with Ryan Shazier and Stephon Tuitt.  The team went after those two in last year’s draft and need to start building for the future.  Every team goes through the process of out with the old, in with the new.  It’s part of the game.  One thing Colbert made clear was that drafting a cornerback in the first round in not necessarily what the Steelers will do.

You won’t see a mock draft from me posted on any sporting news site regarding the Steelers.  Why?  I have never enjoyed them, there are too many variables to factor in and I have no interest in moving into a general manager position in the NFL.  Just covering professional football can be a challenge.  I watch the movie “Draft Day” and think, “I would not want that job, ever.”  So maybe the movie isn’t completely accurate, but with all the armchair GM’s out there in the sporting world, I’d rather peruse what they have to say and then get back to my film, stats comparisons and dreams.

I have one suggestion for Steelers fans.  Hold on to your seats.  Enjoy all the excitement that surrounds this period between regular seasons. Savor it.  But, don’t let that excitement convince you that there is a stone tablet sitting in the front office in Pittsburgh with names of prospects chiseled into it.  It’s too early for the Steelers draft board to be complete.  And honestly, the teams utilize a white board for a reason – because they can easily wipe off a name written in a dry-erase marker.