Pancake Blocks Mock Draft: Pick No. 23
Pittsburgh up, with Matt G. making the pick. Matt took some heat for his comments about the Jonathan Stewart pick, although most of those comments came off looking worse than anything he wrote. At least people are passionate about the first annual Pancake Blocks Mock!
The facts everyone keys on:
- The Steelers gave up 47 sacks last year
- Their O-line is now sans Alan Faneca, a perennial pro bowler
The facts no one else really discusses:
- Willie Parker was the rushing leader before he broke his leg late in the season
- Big Ben put up career and franchise bests in passing and had a QB rating of 104.1
- Many of those sacks were simply a result of Ben holding onto the ball too long.
The offensive line is the area that all the media pundits are saying is the #1 priority for the Steelers. In some regards they are right.
If Brandon Albert were somehow on the board at 23, which 2 weeks ago seemed quite likely, you could bet the Steelers wouldn't waste a second thought on pulling the trigger. If Albert is still on the board at 18 when Houston is up the Steelers might ship their first (23) and third (88) to pick him up. Under the old and new draft trade charts this value is close even without Houstons 7th rounder (223).
That said; Albert is off the board. Pittsburgh's hoggies are still solid overall and depth can be addressed later in the draft. What you wont find later in the draft is an RB that runs a 4.44 40 at 235 pounds. Oh, and he can catch the ball. And run between the tackles.
Two things FWP (Fast Willie Parker) cant.
In the end Jonathan Stewart and perhaps a Sam Baker (OT) or Chilo Rachal (G) seems better than Gosder Cherilus (OT) and perhaps Terrell Thomas (CB)
However, it appears Marv took Stewart one spot ahead of this one so…
With the 23rd pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers should select Gosder Cherilus from Boston College.
2008 Pancake Blocks Mock Draft
1. Miami Dolphins (Scott L.) - Chris Long
2. St. Louis Rams (Evan Silva) - Glenn Dorsey
3. Atlanta Falcons (Troy Hill) - Matt Ryan
4. Oakland Raiders (Stephen G.) - Jake Long
5. Kansas City Chiefs (Jeremy S.) - Darren McFadden
6. New York Jets (John B.) - Vernon Gholston
7. New England Patriots (Gregg R.) - Sedrick Ellis
8. Baltimore Ravens (Ryan F.) - Leodis McKelvin
9. Cincinnati Bengals (Jacob C.) - Ryan Clady
10. New Orleans Saints (Scott K.) - Keith Rivers
11. Buffalo Bills (James N.) - Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
12. Denver Broncos (Taylor C.) - Chris Williams
13. Carolina Panthers (Matthew W.) - Derrick Harvey
14. Chicago Bears (Zone) - Branden Albert
15. Detroit Lions (Adam P.) - Rashard Mendenhall
16. Arizona Cardinals (Scott C.) - Aquib Talib
17. Minnesota Vikings (Tim L.) - Jeff Otah
18. Houston Texans (Jimmy) - Mike Jenkins
19. Philadelphia Eagles (Andy G.) - Devin Thomas
20. Tampa Bay Bucs (Robert O.) - Antoine Cason
21. Washington Redskins (James M.) - Philip Merling
22. Dallas Cowboys (Marv) - Jonathan Stewart
23. Pittsburgh Steelers (Matt G.) - Gosder Cherilus
Comments
Seems like a reach. From everything I've seen and read, Cherilus barely has a first round grade.
The Steelers' defense is pathetic. If they want to contend for another title anytime before Manning, Brady, and Tomlinson retire, they need to fix that first.
Posted by: Si Singer | April 18, 2008 09:33 AM
I think it is funny that you criticized someone for taking stewart when they had marion barber on their roster and another first round pick (and their team seems poised to draft an RB in the first round. While you yourself planned on taking the same RB with the next pick when you have Willie Parker on your roster.
Posted by: J | April 18, 2008 09:39 AM
I don't think Cherilus is a reach at all. IMO the Chargers offensive line played better than the Steelers this year (at least they were doing so by the end of the year). And the Chargers did not lose a guy like Faneca.
But the Chargers are very thin at the OT spot, like I presume the Steelers are. I can tell you that many, if not most, Chargers fans are hoping that Cherilus falls to them at pick 27. Cherilus would be a perect fit at right tackle in the Chargers offense. Since the Steelers runs a similar offense I think he'd be a perfect fit for them as well.
On another note I keep reading here that Kenny Phillips is barely worthy of a 1st round pick. I for one was much more impressed with his scouting reports than say Brandon Flowers, who many people have advocated earlier and many have linked to the Chargers. I even think, all things being equal, the Chargers should select a CB over safety given that they have needs for depth at both spots. But given the reports I've read I think I'd rather have Kenny Phillips. Comments?
Posted by: Robert O. | April 18, 2008 09:51 AM
"The Steelers' defense is pathetic" - Si Singer (presumably an alias)
Steelers 2007 defensive ranks:
Total Defense: No. 1
Passing Defense: No. 3
Rushing Defense: No. 3
Si Singer, are you alive?
Posted by: dan | April 18, 2008 11:27 AM
Dan,
I know what you are saying regarding the 'statistical excellence' of the Steelers D, but anyone who watched the Jags shred them in the playoffs has probably come to the conclusion that stats are not everything. I wouldn't say they were putrid, but its obvious they are not the 2000 Ravens either.
Posted by: Boesy | April 18, 2008 12:21 PM
has any defense EVER been as good as the 2000 Ravens?
Posted by: dan | April 18, 2008 12:52 PM
I thought about going for a D lineman, but the D line didnt lose a guy like Faneca, and they were decent last year as well. It needs to be addressed in this draft sometime I think, but the only one I that I might have went for here was Kentwan Balmer and I dont see that.
Im actually really high on Chilo Rachal in the second as a great upside pick. Going with oline there frees up the first round for more of an impact player. I think the Steelers are going to have a rough year this year, due to depth issues and schedule so most of their picks should be for guys that could really take off with a year of seasoning.
J: Marion Barber is a completely different horse than FWP. That is the crux of the critique.
FWP is a solid RB as well but he brings much different things to the table than Stewart or Barber. The idea was that Stewart would be the Barberesque player for the Steelers. That being working the red zone offense while Parker worked between the 20's where he had room to break those longer runs outside.
Posted by: Matt | April 18, 2008 01:15 PM