Thursday, January 17, 2008

Steelers Should Draft a Running Back With Their First-Round Pick

Not much going on outside of the fact that Kevin Colbert thinks the offensive line is in tip-top shape, the Steelers could conceivably draft a running back in the first round, and that Big Ben wants a big receiver.

I think everybody knows my thoughts on the subject of first-round running backs and tall wideouts (and everybody knows everybody's thoughts on the sorry state of the offensive line), but I'm an open-minded guy. I'd love to hear a good reason why the Steelers should take a running back in the first round, or draft a tall wideout to placate Big Ben.

Am I completely against drafting for either position? Absolutely not, but it'll take a little more than arm-waving to make me to reconsider taking one (or both) in the first three rounds. Like most of you, I'll just assume Colbert is blowing smoke, and that's fine.

Come late April and Roger Goodell steps to the podium and utters something to the effect of, "and with their first pick in the 2008 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select Joe Schlubmonkey, WR/RB," well, that's the day I become a Patriots fan.

*******

Regarding Randy Steele's link to the Stillers.com very early mock draft, you know, I didn't really mind the picks. And even the WR/RS in Round 3 was understandable given the sorry state of the special teams. Remember, two words: Jeremy Bloom. He's a "wide receiver" and a "return specialist" and he didn't cost the Steelers anything.

And then there's Willie Reid, who has been almost as disappointing as Ricardo Colclough, though to be fair, the guys been hurt so much it's hard gauge how good or bad he really is. Not being able to make the active roster hasn't helped either.

Working in reverse order, I'll admit it: I didn't think Hampburglar had his worst year. I should also admit that I didn't watch a lot of the defensive line. And if pushed, I'll concede the point because, frankly, it wouldn't surprise me. The poor guy had to play next to Nick Eason for parts of the season, and Brett Keisel sounds like he wasn't exactly controlling the line of scrimmage on Hampton's other side.

Hampton aside, a defensive tackle seems like a good idea. We were having this conversation last year with Adam Carriker. And remember, a college DT has a chance of moving to DE in Pittsburgh. No way in hell a 255 college DE is replacing Aaron Smith or Keisel.

Okay, I have to go get mentally prepared to pull for that pantywaist, Philip Rivers.