OT: The Pittsburgher Thread: Sneaking up onto training camp

[JTG]

Kendrick Green was the wrong pick the second it was made and everyone aside from Colbert and Co knew it.

The Steelers' Kendrick Green Selection Has Its Final Knife Twist

Wednesday evening, the NFL offered a reminder of the Pittsburgh Steelers miss that was taking Kendrick Green in the 2021 draft. Where the Steelers whiffed, the Denver Broncos hit big. Just 11 picks after the Steelers took Green, the Broncos landed D-III stud Quinn Meinerz. He’s become everything...

steelersdepot.com

The 49ers didn't trade Samuel when he requested one in a more or less identical position. Barring the sort of all time sulk that should make teams reconsider whether they actually want Aiyuk, I don't see why they'd handle it differently.

edit: Just to expand on this -

The 49ers had to have thought through all the scenarios when they decided not to trade Aiyuk at the draft, right? Including the real possibility they couldn't get a contract done until a long way through the summer, if then?

If they decided that was the better course then, why change their minds? A trade request had to be one of the scenarios they brought up and decided they could live with.

They're in a championship window. There's no deal they can strike that'll make them stronger this season. They'll still have control over Aiyuk next season through the franchise tag.

The only real reason I see for them to change their mind is Aiyuk getting stupidly unhappy, or a stupidly big trade offer. And a trade request isn't the former.

I think the 9ers know that he isn't the type of dude who will really cause a big scene. Pickens, Aiyuk, Wilson, and Austin is a really awesome WR room.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Kendrick Green was the wrong pick the second it was made and everyone aside from Colbert and Co knew it.

The Steelers' Kendrick Green Selection Has Its Final Knife Twist

Wednesday evening, the NFL offered a reminder of the Pittsburgh Steelers miss that was taking Kendrick Green in the 2021 draft. Where the Steelers whiffed, the Denver Broncos hit big. Just 11 picks after the Steelers took Green, the Broncos landed D-III stud Quinn Meinerz. He’s become everything...

steelersdepot.com

Yea I don't pretend to know these other dudes that they theoretically passed on, nor did I know much about K Green when he was picked. But the more tape I saw the more I realized he certainly wasn't a center. And I'm just an armchair scout. Steelers are making a bad habit of putting OLinemen in positions they aren't succeeding in. That's gotta stop

 

[Peat]

The fun thing about the Green pick was you didn't need to watch a single second of tape to know that selecting a raw guard who wasn't all that big to become an immediate NFL center was probably not going to work.

I'd love to have been a fly on the wall for that one. My guess is Klemm really pounded the table for that one and it's part of why he was sacked, but I'd love to know what everyone else was seeing and thinking. Bonus points for Tomlin's post-draft description of Green that honest to god sounded like he was just talking about a different guy.

 

[JTG]

There is no way anyone watches Green's tape and sees anything but a serviceable college player. I think they thought they could get a bit more out of him because his measurables were actually great as was his mentality. He had not sand in his ass. Zero ability to anchor.

Pretty much everyone here wanted Meinerz at that pick which is why I posted that article.

 

[Factorial]

You guys would have hated Eric Green too.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Old, trusted vet for special teams/bottom of the roster duty. I'd really prefer if these positions could be manned by young, hungry, up and coming players, but we do what we do.

https://x.com/i/web/status/1813680345986040318

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

You guys would have hated Eric Green too.

The whole Green family for that matter. Poor guys though. It’s not easy.

 

[OnMyOwn]

Never expected him to come back. He’s made a hell of a career out of special teams.

 

[Peat]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1800584703340421582

 

[WickedWrister]

 

[Andy99]

He’s not wrong…lol

Mark Madden: Steelers' outlook grim after underwhelming offseason, questionable roster decisions

The Steelers will lose at Atlanta in Week 1. Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins will outscore them. We’ve talked about training camp issues throughout what’s been an interminable offseason. Since those topics are exhausted, why not jump ahead to predicting games? Records, too. I’ve got 9-8...

triblive.com

 

[ImporterExporter]

Mark Madden calling anyone a bum makes me chuckle.

 

[Son Goku]

Mark Madden calling anyone a bum makes me chuckle.

Considering his body is comprised of 75% lard ass

 

[JTG]

Expert Picks Steelers Offensive Line As Breakout Group: 'Seismic Shift'

O-line guru Brandon Thorn thinks the Pittsburgh Steelers are building something special up front. In a deep dive of the NFL’s front fives, broken down by division, Thorn tabbed the Steelers as the AFC North’s breakout offensive line. Through his Trench Warfare substack, he cited the team’s heavy...

steelersdepot.com

 

[JTG]

Trading Alex Highsmith for Brandon Aiyuk? Steelers WR trade rumors are out of control

The Pittsburgh Steelers should trade for a wide receiver, but some of the ideas being thrown around are going too far.

www.pennlive.com

 

[JTG]

Steeler Nation: Pittsburgh Steelers News, Rumors, & More

Your best source for quality Pittsburgh Steelers news, rumors, analysis, stats and scores from your SteelerNation home

www.steelernation.com

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Trading Alex Highsmith for Brandon Aiyuk? Steelers WR trade rumors are out of control

The Pittsburgh Steelers should trade for a wide receiver, but some of the ideas being thrown around are going too far.

www.pennlive.com

If they trade Highsmith, that's just another leak in the dam that has to be plugged.

First they robbed Peter to pay Paul (trading DJ for Jackson)
Now they're going to do it again: theoretically filling the WR hole with an EDGE hole.

Just accept that you can't be deep at every position every year. With the salary cap, every single team has positional questions that can't be addressed.

 

[JTG]

If they trade Highsmith, that's just another leak in the dam that has to be plugged.

First they robbed Peter to pay Paul (trading DJ for Jackson)
Now they're going to do it again: theoretically filling the WR hole with an EDGE hole.

Just accept that you can't be deep at every position every year. With the salary cap, every single team has positional questions that can't be addressed.

For me it all depends on where the hole is and how adequately can you fill it. In terms of WR - I'd actually like to see Austin and Wilson. It's risky, but I think it's worth it. With a very weak secondary, they need to get to the QB. I'd keep Highsmith.

 

[Night Shift]

Just accept that you can't be deep at every position every year. With the salary cap, every single team has positional questions that can't be addressed.

That's every team. Every team has weaknesses, That's why you need coaching. I've seen posters on this board say coaching is overrated...lol no it's not.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

For me it all depends on where the hole is and how adequately can you fill it. In terms of WR - I'd actually like to see Austin and Wilson. It's risky, but I think it's worth it. With a very weak secondary, they need to get to the QB. I'd keep Highsmith.

That's my take at the moment: you need to just plug your nose this year and accept Wilson/Austin as WR2.

Plus that's the only way they get better- by playing. Let's see what they got and if they don't have the chops, then WR can be addressed next offseason

 

[Peat]

I'm not particularly hankering to get Aiyuk and per Over The Cap, Highsmith's dead money for the next two seasons is prohibitive, but at the same time, at some point they need to bolster the offence big time and that money is going to have to come out of defence. Maybe it'll leave some cracks but with the amount of money in it, it should be able to ride them out.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Aiuyk the player is a no-brainer. But he'll need a contract. And he'll cost assets. Highsmith specifically is an asset I wouldn't move, despite that it would help counter some of the contract.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

I'm not particularly hankering to get Aiyuk and per Over The Cap, Highsmith's dead money for the next two seasons is prohibitive, but at the same time, at some point they need to bolster the offence big time and that money is going to have to come out of defence. Maybe it'll leave some cracks but with the amount of money in it, it should be able to ride them out.

Yes, at some point the salary cap has to be tilted towards the offense and I think even the past 2 drafts have reflected that. I worry though, that as the defense ages, they have over-corrected too much and won't have invested enough draft capital to replace those guys so they'll be in the reverse shape in a few years (where the Offense gets too much salary cap).

But to your original point, I don't think any high profile WR is coming our way due to what we'd have to a) give up and b) the subsequent contract. No thanks to both.

 

[Night Shift]

Yes, at some point the salary cap has to be tilted towards the offense and I think even the past 2 drafts have reflected that. I worry though, that as the defense ages, they have over-corrected too much and won't have invested enough draft capital to replace those guys so they'll be in the reverse shape in a few years (where the Offense gets too much salary cap).

But to your original point, I don't think any high profile WR is coming our way due to what we'd have to a) give up and b) the subsequent contract. No thanks to both.

I know you hate Pickett but if he was still here I could see him having chemistry with Ayuik in Arthur Smiths offense.

I'm always going to think it was a bad move moving Pickett but I'll have to wait and see if I was right when he gets his chance in Philly (it's coming). Jalen Hurts is garbage and not worth his contract. Or he's getting hurt by week 4 (Picketts chance with that offense, Barkley and all that is coming).

The thing that pisses me of is, I don't care if you hate the guy because he comes from your local school but don't quit on a QB YOU drafted after year 2. That's always been my point.

Not necessarily you @Buddy Bizarre but in general i mean

I'm originally from Philly so maybe I'll enjoy this but then again I live in Florida now and like the Bucs too so f*** Philly because we have a rivalry with them too.

 

[JTG]

That's my take at the moment: you need to just plug your nose this year and accept Wilson/Austin as WR2.

Plus that's the only way they get better- by playing. Let's see what they got and if they don't have the chops, then WR can be addressed next offseason

Exactly. And figure out if they can play outside. People think it's crazy, but I think Wilson and Austin both can. The key will be to get those two moving and mixing DBs up because with the both of them, if they can get DBs confused on the same side, it's over. Peterson said that last year about Austin - one miss step, you may as well stop running.

I'm not particularly hankering to get Aiyuk and per Over The Cap, Highsmith's dead money for the next two seasons is prohibitive, but at the same time, at some point they need to bolster the offence big time and that money is going to have to come out of defence. Maybe it'll leave some cracks but with the amount of money in it, it should be able to ride them out.

Aiuyk the player is a no-brainer. But he'll need a contract. And he'll cost assets. Highsmith specifically is an asset I wouldn't move, despite that it would help counter some of the contract.

Agreed. The business side of Aiyuk makes no sense. The football side of it is a perfect fit, which is what even gives me pause and consideration on how I would feel about it happening.

I think they really should be looking to bolster the OLB spot so maybe they can do a flip on Highsmith for some draft capital. I really believe Herbig is going to make Austin play him this season, so that's a bridge that will have to be crossed. Highsmith makes a lot of money, he's highly productive, and he still has a lot of tread left on the tires. I could see a team being really interested in his services if we ever got to that point.

I think the offense will be the higher paid of the units when this OL gets to their 2nd contracts.