Steelers would not pass up a good DL
The most common misconception about the 3-4 defense is that linebackers are the key, that defensive linemen are nothing more than necessities, space eaters who do nothing more than battle to a draw so linebackers can make plays. Of course, linebackers are important to the scheme of preference of the Super Bowl champion Steelers, but it is the three guys up front who stir this drink.
The Steelers lost Kimo von Oelhoffen to the Jets, but had planned to move Brett Keisel into his starting spot anyway. Pittsburgh also brought back Rodney Bailey as a safety net. Also returning is end Aaron Smith and nose tackle Casey Hampton. Also returning are back-ups Chris Hoke on the nose and Travis Kirschke and Shaun Nua at end.
While it may appear the Steelers are set along the defensive front, no team, least of all a 3-4 team, can afford to pass on a capable defensive lineman.
Trouble is, picking last isn’t the best way to acquire an elite pass rushing end or run-stuffing tackle. Plus, remember that most college defensive ends are outside linebackers in a 3-4 defense. If the Steelers, for example, draft Florida State defensive end Kamerion Wimbley, he and his 6-4, 248-pound frame would become an outside linebacker immediately. The same could be said of Virginia Tech’s 6-2, 256-pound Darryl Tapp, but the point is probably moot because neither of those players will be available at No. 32.
None of the other prospects at defensive end – N.C. State’s Mario Williams, Penn State’s Tamba Hali or Boston College’s Mathias Kiwanuka – have ideal size for an outside linebacker or for a defensive end in a 3-4.
Hali’s stock has been falling. At the end of the season, he seemed like a sure-fire first-rounder, but the more scouts poked and prodded him, the more flaws they found. He’s basically too slow to play outside linebacker and too small to play defensive end in a 3-4.
If the Steelers address the defensive line in the first round, it would likely be a college tackle with the girth to play end in a 3-4 scheme or a bigger, squatter nose tackle candidate.
Pittsburgh won’t get within sniffing distance of Oregon’s Haloti Ngata unless they trade up substantially. He’s projected in the top 10 and may go as high as No. 5. The same holds true for Florida State’s Brodrick Bunkley.
More likely as a 32nd pick are LSU’s Claude Wroten (6-2, 302), N.C. State’s John McCargo (6-1, 305), Michigan’s Gabe Watson (6-3, 336) or Texas’ Rodrique Wright (6-5, 300).
Wroten saw his stock falling after an arrest for marijuana possession. The charges against him were dropped, but the arrest sent red flags throughout the league. Wroten sent a letter to all teams telling them that he had made a mistake, but that he wasn’t a bad guy.
Wroten actually may be preferable to Wright, whose desire and toughness have been questioned by many scouts. McCargo and Watson would be nose tackle prospects.
Later in the draft, there are some prospects the Steelers may be more interested in picking. Cal Poly’s Chris Gocong (6-2, 263) played defensive end, but has ideal size, speed and athleticism to play outside linebacker in a 3-4. Oklahoma’s Dusty Dvoracek posted a 5.07 in the 40, which is fast for a 306-pound man. At 6-2, he may look like a nose tackle, but is quick enough to play end.
(NEXT: Linebackers)
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Sixth in a series about the Steelers and the upcoming NFL Draft, to be held Saturday and Sunday. Today: Defensive linemen)