The Steelers are talking to a big OT today that could be on the teams radar in the upcoming NFL Draft – Iowa’s Bryan Bulaga:
Iowa offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga, a likely first-round draft pick, is visiting the Steelers today. Bulaga is 6 feet 5, 314 pounds, and played left tackle for the Hawkeyes. He is the 14th player to visit with the team’s coaches and scouts, who are permitted by league rules to meet with as many as 30 players by April 14.
Mike
April 7, 2010 at 11:51 am
Put bulaga at LT, move starks to the right side and slide Colon inside.
DrGeorge
April 7, 2010 at 4:20 pm
I’m not sanguine about starting a rookie at LT, but your general thought, Mark, echoes similar sentiments I expressed here last year. M. Starks does not have the footwork to play LT effectively; speed rushers victimize him rather easily to the outside. I thought he played better at RT, but even there his footwork limits him. He is at best an average NFL tackle.
But the larger issue is this: should we use a #1 pick on the O-line when our Defensive needs are critical and so numerous? I’d prefer to use the #1 pick on a true ‘freak of nature’ who can start and dominate his position, as Orakpo did last year. The freaks in this year’s draft are on defense, it appears. Iupata and Bulaga are solid O-linemen, but they aren’t the second coming of Orlando Pace.