Heels, Sox & Steelers

A look at the second day of the draft
5th Round (145 pick): DE Nathaniel Adibi, 6'3" 255 lbs.
Adibi may be moved to outside linebacker as the Steelers like to convert college DE to the OLB position (see Gildon, Porter, Haggans and Jackson). With more consistency could be a beast as a linebacker. At the very least, he'll add some much needed depth to the linebacker position.

From NFL.com:
An outstanding defensive end who has experience at both defensive end positions...A hard worker in the weight room and on the practice field who has shown steady progress during his time at Tech...He combines size with excellent strength and speed and is both intelligent and physical...In 48 games, he started 44 contests, recording 186 tackles (107 solos) with 20.5 sacks for minus-143 yards, 33 stops for losses of 171 yards, 55 quarterback pressures, a pair of fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles, 10 pass deflections and two blocked kicks.

Positives:
Shows the quickness needed to gain instant advantage off the line (see negatives below)...Instinctive recognizing the cut block, showing good knee bend to avoid and protect himself vs. the low blocks...Has a good burst and acceleration to close on the quarterback...Also plays on most of the special-team units (right wing on the field goal/extra point block unit, left wing on the punting unit and the L-4 on the punt blocking squad).

Negatives:
Consistency has been his major problem...Could be a difference-maker, if only he went hard on every play (has an inconsistent motor)

Agility:
4.55 in the 40-yard dash (indoor track)...4.63 in the 40-yard dash (outdoors)...410-pound bench press.


6th Round (177 pick): OT/OG Bo Lacy, 6'4" 303 lbs.
The Steelers add more depth at a position that is sorely in need of it. He was a big part of the successful Razorback running game and even though he played primarily tackle in college, he can also play the guard position.

From NFL.com:
Has a tireless work ethic and shows the ability to be very capable of filling in at several offensive line slots...His lateral agility and foot speed could see him shift to guard at the pro level.

Positives:
Has a big frame with good linear speed, long arms and thick legs...Shows the foot speed to defeat defenders working the edge coming off the snap...Has the frame to add more bulk with no loss of quickness...Ambidextrous athlete.

Negatives:
Needs to develop better lower body power in order to maintain balance...Shows explosion to cave the defensive line, but still learning how to locate targets moving in the second level.

Agility:
Bench presses 225 pounds 22 times.

6th Round (194 pick): TE Matt Kranchick, 6'6" 258 lbs.
Pittsburgh uses the 194th pick to bolster the tight end position. Add him to a list that includes Jay Reimersma, Jerame Tuman and Matt Cushing (who also doubles as a FB). Kranchick is a beast and surprisingly fast for his size. It will be interesting to see where he fits in on this team -- I'm guessing if he makes the squad he'll be a special teams guy early on, but at some point, a tight end will have to be let go -- unless the Steelers are comfortable carrying four TEs on the roster.

From NFL.com:
Late bloomer who saw limited action during his first four seasons before emerging as a clutch short-area target for the passing game as a senior. He added 45lbs. while at Penn State after arriving on campus as a WR his freshman year.

Positives:
Has rare size for this position...Makes good body adjustments getting to the ball in traffic...Has the vision needed to come back for the off-target passes and is flexible enough to make the over-the-shoulder grabs...Adequate, but an improving in-line blocker who constantly moves his feet to gain further leverage.

Negatives:
Despite his acceleration and quickness, he needs to show better foot agility, as he tends to trip over himself when trying to get into deep routes...Needs to show more aggression and utilize his size better blocking in the second level, as he does not always search out and neutralize the linebackers (better blocking in a stationary position than on the move, as he keeps his leg base too narrow, negating his anchor ability).

Agility:
4.63 in the 40-yard dash (indoor rubber track)...4.88 in the 40-yard dash (outdoor grass field)...Bench presses 225 pounds 19 times.

6th Round (197 pick): C/DE/LS Drew Caylor, 6'5" 288 lbs.
This is a great pick late in the draft because of Caylor's versatility. As Cowher learned a few years ago, you can never underestimate the importance of having a good long snapper, and not only that Caylor can be an emergency backup center and also plays defensive end. It's not certain what the Steelers have in mind in terms of Caylors long-term position with the team.

From NFL.com:
Intriguing prospect who has yet to tap his impressive athletic potential...Spent three seasons as a defensive lineman before moving to the opposite side of the ball as a senior...Split time between center and offensive tackle the first four games of the 2003 campaign before taking over starting chores in the middle of the line for the team's final seven contests...Also performed well as the team's deep snapper for his final three seasons...Possesses great speed for a down lineman.

Positives:
Shows a quick kick slide in pass protection and is very fluid redirecting down the line...Showed good improvement later in the 2003 season in using his hands to gain inside position...Two-handed, right-hand snapper who displays good velocity on his snaps and consistency in his location...Shows good body control and quickness on the coverage unit...Averaged snap time is 0.75 seconds (14 yards).

Negatives:
Will pay immediate dividends as a long snapper, but still learning techniques needed to perform as an offensive lineman...Showed steady improvement over the course of his senior year, but still needs foot work refinement, as he must learn how to adjust and mirror defenders in order to gain position.

Agility:
4.82 in the 40-yard dash...31-inch vertical jump...370-pound bench press.

7th Round (212 pick): DT Eric Taylor 6'2" 302 lbs.
This is a solid 7th round pick because it's basically a no-risk selection. Taylor impressed a lot of people with his play his senior season and could provide much needed depth on the defensive line.

From NFL.com:
Rising star who came into his own as a senior...Collegiate defensive end, whose size, power and run-stuffing skills could see him shift to defensive tackle at the pro level. Started 24 of 39 games for the Tigers, recording 150 tackles (89 solos) with six sacks for minus-45 yards, 21 stops for losses of 85 yards, five quarterback pressures, two fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, a 52-yard interception return for a touchdown and 12 pass deflections.

Positives:
Physical and aggressive, showing balance, tenacity and urgency in his back side pursuit...Shows good urgency in his drive to get to the quarterback inside the box.

Negatives:
Needs to be more consistent with his hand usage, as he gets bumped out and washed down the line in run defense...Bites on misdirection and can be pulled offside by a hard count … Not always quick to read and react quickly as the play is developing...Has a quick burst, but will sometimes overrun the plays due to marginal stop-and-go action (gets a little sloppy with his feet).

Agility:
5.35 40-yard dash (outdoors)...5.27 40-yard dash (indoor rubber track)...Bench presses 225 pounds 26 times.

*Here's a look at yesterday's picks:

Round 1. Ben Roethlisberger

Round 2. Ricardo Colclough

Round 3. Max Starks