Go Time, Day 2

Back for more. Yesterday, in a word, was nuts, but it's only half over. Some Steelers' fans are all in a huff over the two third round picks, but that's what you get for reading mock drafts. Personally, I'll give Colbert/Cowher a break, plus, their draft board was eerily similar to mine. From Thursday:

Round 1 (32nd pick):
Donte Whitner
Santonio Holmes
Bobby Carpenter
Darnell Bing
Joseph Addai
LenDale White

Round 2 (64th pick):
Jason Allen
Demetrius Williams
Maurice Drew
Jon Alston
Daniel Bullocks
Davin Joseph
Abdul Hodge

Round 3 (96th pick):
Maurice Stovall
Anthony Smith
Danieal Manning
Chris Chester
Best Available O-linemen other than Chester

The only obvious difference however, is that I would've taken Darnell Bing in the third round. As DJ mentioned, the Steelers had Anthony Smith fourth on their board and I'm guessing they liked him over Bing and Simpson because of his smarts. Yeah, I know, he ran a 4.71, but 40-times are for suckers, so relax.

So, who's left on the Big Board that didn't get the call in Day One? Well, let's just take a look (this is from TSN's 'best available' list and it's kinda long, but there are a lot of guys who didn't get drafted):

Quarterbacks
1. R. McNeal, Tex. A&M
2. O. Jacobs*, Bowl. Green
3. B. Gradkowski, Toledo
4. P. Pinegar, Fresno St.
5. E. Meyer, Eastern Wash.

Running backs
1. L. Washington, Florida St.
2. J. Harrison, Wash. St.
3. W. Lundy, Va.
4. D. Moore, New Mex.
5. M. Bell, Arizona

Wide receivers
1. M. Robinson, Penn State
2. S. Green, LSU
3. D. Williams, Oregon
4. D. Aromashodu, Auburn
5. G. Lee*, Pitt

Tight ends
1. T. Day, Oregon
2. O. Daniels, Wis.
3. C. Wallace, Auburn
4. T. Williams, NC State
5. C. Davis, Purdue

Centers
1. G. Eslinger, Minnesota
2. P. Ross, Boston Coll.
3. M. Philip, Cal
4. M. Degory, Florida
5. D. Raiola, Wis.

Guards
1. M. Jean-Gilles, Georgia
2. F. Matua*, USC
3. R. Sims, Ohio St.
4. A. Stenavich, Michigan
5. M. Setterstrom, Minnesota

Offensive tackles
1. R. O'Callaghan, Cal
2. J. Scott, Texas
3. G. Whimper, E. Carolina
4. T. Reddick, Auburn
5. E. Whitley, Tex. Tech

Defensive tackles
1. G. Watson, Michigan
2. O. Harris, Miami (FL)
3. R. Wright, Texas
4. J. Lewis, Va. Tech
5. J. Mahelona, Tennessee

Defensive ends
1. M. Anderson, Alabama
2. J. Wyche, Syracuse
3. V. Adeyanju, Indiana
4. S. McClover*, Auburn
5. R. Edwards*, Purdue

Inside linebackers
1. D. Robinson, Arizona St.
2. T. Dobbins, Iowa St.
3. K. Parham*, Va.
4. F. Roach, Alabama
5. T. Bray, Oregon St.

Outside linebackers
1. B. Johnson, Louisville
2. K. Ellison, Oregon St.
3. L. Williams, Miami (FL)
4. A. Nicholson, Florida St.
5. J. Williams, Arizona St.

Cornerbacks
1. D. Minter, Georgia
2. A. Zemaitis, Penn State
3. A. Phillips, Penn State
4. G. McPhearson, Maryland
5. W. Blackmon, Boston Coll.

Safeties
1. K. Simpson*, S. Carolina
2. D. Bing*, USC
3. P. Watkins, Florida St.
4. G. Blue, Georgia
5. C. Lowry, Penn State

Some thoughts:

* A lot of guys didn't get drafted on the first day, much less the first round, like many mock draft 'experts' predicts. I still stand by my claim that Pat Kirwin is a clown. Exhibit A: he had the Steelers taking Rodrique Wright in the first round. I'm guessing they can get him in the 4th.

* Penn State has a lot of guys still on the board, and Zemaitis and Phillips were at one time considered Day 1 picks. I can't see the Steelers taking any Slash-type players now that they already have two more WRs on the roster.

* Will Blackmon looked awful at the combine and he's another guy the Mocktaculars missed (Mocktaculars is my new name for 'mock draft expert')

* More suprising than Wright, is Gabe Watson. He dominated at the Senior Bowl, but teams are taking personality issues much more serious these days.

* Thank god the Steelers won't be taking Martin Nance. I know you've never heard me say this before, but tall receivers are overrated.

Okey doke, same deal for today -- I'll be updating throughout and hopefully write some stuff for SSI and the book in the process.

And before I forget, great work yesterday by The Hoff