OT: The Pittsburgher Thread: Super Bowl? Thats like a giant pot of chips or popcorn right?

[JTG]

I doubt the packages offered were anything I’d flip tables over… not for some sick f*** who puts mayo in their coffee.

I was hoping for Branch, but I assume they are comfortable with Neal. Tomlin also basically said he couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t bring JPJ home (which bothers me when I think about it too much).

I already highly suspected Tomlin felt that way, so deep down I knew JPJ was going to be the pick after he slipped out of day one.

If I had my wish I’d rather they drafted a shut down corner than a versatile safety, so I’m doing my best to be positive JPJ can be that guy.

I think Porter will be a fine corner. The more I think about it, the more the comparison to Ike is probably the best one for him. He may have better hands than Ike (who didn't?), but he certainly did not have the ball production in college to believe otherwise just yet. So I don't anticipate him flipping the field much for us, but I think he will be a physical corner who can rattle WRs kind of like Sherman did in Seattle. If he can get hands on the line of scrimmage and throw guys off, that's a win for us. I'll be really curious to see how he fairs against the Bengals this year because he's going to get a big WR who can fly. It will be a good test.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

I doubt the packages offered were anything I’d flip tables over… not for some sick f*** who puts mayo in their coffee.

I was hoping for Branch, but I assume they are comfortable with Neal. Tomlin also basically said he couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t bring JPJ home (which bothers me when I think about it too much).

I already highly suspected Tomlin felt that way, so deep down I knew JPJ was going to be the pick after he slipped out of day one.

If I had my wish I’d rather they drafted a shut down corner than a versatile safety, so I’m doing my best to be positive JPJ can be that guy.

The name/nepotism thing cuts both ways in my mind. The pro is that they know you. The con is that it can potentially blind you to shortcomings.

If JPJ had any other name, I just don't know if I see them taking another CB when their group was "good enough", plus had the addition of Petterson as a FA.

Their self analysis should have yielded that there is very little depth at Safety and they needed an injection of youth at the position. Plus Branch to me jumps out as a dynamic player in his highlights.

As you said, I'm not going to "flip tables" but I'll go on record that I think Branch ends up the better player than JPJ

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

The name/nepotism thing cuts both ways in my mind. The pro is that they know you. The con is that it can potentially blind you to shortcomings.

If JPJ had any other name, I just don't know if I see them taking another CB when their group was "good enough", plus had the addition of Petterson as a FA.

Their self analysis should have yielded that there is very little depth at Safety and they needed an injection of youth at the position. Plus Branch to me jumps out as a dynamic player in his highlights.

As you said, I'm not going to "flip tables" but I'll go on record that I think Branch ends up the better player than JPJ

The nepotism cuts a third way when the focus is the nepotism and not the quality of the player.

The inverse question is if JPJ had any other name would Steelers fans be fussing over the pick?

 

[JTG]

The name/nepotism thing cuts both ways in my mind. The pro is that they know you. The con is that it can potentially blind you to shortcomings.

If JPJ had any other name, I just don't know if I see them taking another CB when their group was "good enough", plus had the addition of Petterson as a FA.

Their self analysis should have yielded that there is very little depth at Safety and they needed an injection of youth at the position. Plus Branch to me jumps out as a dynamic player in his highlights.

As you said, I'm not going to "flip tables" but I'll go on record that I think Branch ends up the better player than JPJ

I don't disagree with the Steelers premise (which some call nepotism) when it comes to landing siblings. I also think there is a ton of merit to bringing guys in that have been around the building. Removing factors from a rookie failing is huge. Much like Pickett, Porter knows the city, he knows the building, he knows the front office, he knows the coaching staff, he knows the culture, he knows where he wants to live, he has friends here. So much of the "life" stuff is completely removed from the equation where the kid just has to focus on football. That gives players a leg up, IMO.

With the siblings, I've played on hockey teams with my brother, and I'd be completely lying if I said it didn't make me play harder when he was on my team. You both have the same purpose and it just brings a different level of focus and drive to the table.

I get the nepotism claims, and I guess that's really what it is, but I don't think it should always be painted as a bad thing. I don't think the Steelers drafted any of these guys out of place. It'd be totally different if we drafted Porter with a top 10 pick and he was ranked in the 40's. Herbig went a full round later than he should have.

The nepotism cuts a third way when the focus is the nepotism and not the quality of the player.

The inverse question is if JPJ had any other name would Steelers fans be fussing over the pick?

If Joey Porters name was Joe Smith, 32 was still a good spot for him. That's kind of what annoys me with people who want to hate the pick because of the dude's name.

At this time 365 days ago in preliminary 2023 draft publications, Joey Porter was in the first round. He remained in that conversation over the course of the entire year. He IS a good football player. His name is a moot point to that fact.

 

[xlm34]

I still have deep concerns about the middle of the defense. Meaning the ILB and Safety spot from a pass coverage standpoint.

Yeah that’s definitely the weak point on paper as things stand right now. You can even throw slot corner in that as well.

The name/nepotism thing cuts both ways in my mind. The pro is that they know you. The con is that it can potentially blind you to shortcomings.

If JPJ had any other name, I just don't know if I see them taking another CB when their group was "good enough", plus had the addition of Petterson as a FA.

Their self analysis should have yielded that there is very little depth at Safety and they needed an injection of youth at the position. Plus Branch to me jumps out as a dynamic player in his highlights.

As you said, I'm not going to "flip tables" but I'll go on record that I think Branch ends up the better player than JPJ

I think Branch would have been more impactful this year, but long term JPJ makes a ton of sense. He’s the most talented CB prospect they’ve drafted in a looong time, and Peterson was the only CB on the roster signed beyond this year. So this draft was the perfect time to start planning for a future at the position, imo.

And I don’t know. I mean it’d be naive to think the familiarity didn’t play any factor, but Porter Jr’s play speaks for itself. The dude gave up only 140 yards, no TDs, and was only targeted 30 times in 10 games. That’s a guy that deserves to be drafted higher no matter what his name is.

 

[Peat]

The nepotism cuts a third way when the focus is the nepotism and not the quality of the player.

The inverse question is if JPJ had any other name would Steelers fans be fussing over the pick?

Clearly not to the same degree. I daresay many fans would still be equally dubious or pleased about the player, but they'd be talking a great deal less about it. And I suspect just as many fans would feel different.

I personally share Jiggy's unease about Tomlin's love of the story and worry it might cloud his perceptions.

The counterpoint that the national media loved Porter as a player is a good one but once I start questioning, I have to ask, what do we believe the media's biases are? Nobody is unclouded. One of the things that made me low on Porter is I'd read the profiles and think they didn't really match up with what they were saying to take him.

I could very easily believe that the media overrates guys with bloodlines due to name recognition, not wanting to look foolish, knowing how much the NFL loves this stuff, and maybe liking the story too. We know their ratings aren't always accurate. I read an article the other day that looked at the numbers and found that guys who fall from their media rankings generally don't outperform their draft spot.

I don't know if anyone's ever studied outcomes from drafting guys with NFL blood ties to guys without. If they do, it wouldn't surprise me at all to learn they were overranked or even overdrafted.

Ultimately I have no quibbles with Porter at 32. If he has flaws, then no shit, he's the 32nd overall pick. The only near flawless guy in the process was the running back.

But the process of how they got there, and how they'll get to choices in the future, I've got feelings about and wish I knew more. I also feel happy that Khan is there and he seems better able to take the passion out, and wish Weidl had a bigger voice.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

The name/nepotism thing cuts both ways in my mind. The pro is that they know you. The con is that it can potentially blind you to shortcomings.

If JPJ had any other name, I just don't know if I see them taking another CB when their group was "good enough", plus had the addition of Petterson as a FA.

Their self analysis should have yielded that there is very little depth at Safety and they needed an injection of youth at the position. Plus Branch to me jumps out as a dynamic player in his highlights.

As you said, I'm not going to "flip tables" but I'll go on record that I think Branch ends up the better player than JPJ

I’m sure it happens in other org, Steelers just seem to ramp up the nepotism meter.

Maybe if they had won a playoff game in the last five years it wouldn’t be as scrutinized, but all in all it’s a small matter to me.

It’s only annoyed me with the JPJ pick because he has traits that have always worried me in corners (stiffness, lack of playmaking skills, grabby).

Sauce Gardner surprised me because he was a really handsy corner who took mad penalties and wasn’t as fluid as I like to see in a corner.

So that offers me hope as well that my fears may be off about JPJ.

 

[xlm34]

Here are I think the players that are considered the “nepotism” signings/draftees before this draft:

Khalil Davis: Practice Squad player
Trey Edmunds: Practice Squad player
Derek Watt: FB/Special Teams player
Conor Heyward: 6th round pick that showed last year that he is a pretty good player.

I guess we can gripe about Watt being a bit overpaid, but for the most part these nepotism signings have just been roster fillers. And this year, the “nepotism” picks were pretty highly regarded players at positions of need so both Porter and Herbig made a ton of sense.

Last year’s draft gives me confidence that they’re able to put the familiarity aside when necessary. If they placed that much of an emphasis on just taking guys they knew growing up, Skyy Moore would be on the team instead of George Pickens.

 

[Factorial]

I haven't seen any comments on the possibility of TJ Watt being signed. According to the Trib that is a possibility.

 

[JTG]

I haven't seen any comments on the possibility of TJ Watt being signed. According to the Trib that is a possibility.

JJ*

I'm just not so sure he wants to continue the grind of football, from the interviews I've listened to with him. He may give it some thought to play with his brother(s), but I just think the dude is done with the grind of being an athlete. He's a new dad, he wants to enjoy that part of his life from what I have gathered.

 

[xlm34]

There’s apparently a rumor that Mason Rudolph is re-signing. If it’s true that’s kind of crazy. I figured he would go literally anywhere else if he had a chance.

 

[Josey Wales]

Ray Fittipaldo
@rayfitt1
QB Mason Rudolph is coming in for a visit with the Steelers tomorrow. Very well could lead to his return to the roster.

 

[Colonel Mustard]

I haven't seen any comments on the possibility of TJ Watt being signed. According to the Trib that is a possibility.

Watt literally said today he isnt coming out of retirement

 

[Empoleon8771]

I'd be fully in support of trading Trubisky and making Rudolph the backup, but I don't think the Steelers want to trade Trusbisky.

 

[OnMyOwn]

There’s apparently a rumor that Mason Rudolph is re-signing. If it’s true that’s kind of crazy. I figured he would go literally anywhere else if he had a chance.

He must not have had the chance, haha.

 

[bigdaddyk88]

Watt literally said today he isnt coming out of retirement

Guy almost died and just had a kid he isn’t going to play football anymore

I'd be fully in support of trading Trubisky and making Rudolph the backup, but I don't think the Steelers want to trade Trusbisky.

They would gladly trade him not sure any team is going to give up a day 3 pick for him

 

[Captain Hook]

There’s apparently a rumor that Mason Rudolph is re-signing. If it’s true that’s kind of crazy. I figured he would go literally anywhere else if he had a chance.

He must not have had the chance, haha.

Yeah, there must not have been a market for him. Oh well, he's fine as a #3 QB, probably a pretty high-end one, honestly. I thought the Steelers may have looked for more of a developmental guy in that #3 spot, with Trubisky already being the veteran backup type.

 

[Peat]

Famous last words but at this point I don't see the Steelers reversing themselves on their public love for Trubisky. I'd guess Rudolph is here to be QB3.

edit: I also think the Steelers have made their feelings on Rudolph as a QB2 crystal clear, hence so many people thinking he was a goner. Again famous last words, but this feels like confirmation that nobody else in the NFL wants him as QB2 either, which I'm a bit surprised by but as I didn't really want him as as QB2 here, I guess I shouldn't be.

 

[Captain Hook]

Puts into perspective how huge Darnell Washington is.

 

[Pens x]

I guess the other 31 teams had no interest in Rudolph.

 

[JTG]

I think Trubisky and Rudolph both have to accept the fact they are backups at this point. Neither could beat out a rookie.

 

[Pengwins]

I'd be fully in support of trading Trubisky and making Rudolph the backup, but I don't think the Steelers want to trade Trusbisky.

you mean cut Trubisky. he makes a lot of money

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

The nepotism cuts a third way when the focus is the nepotism and not the quality of the player.

The inverse question is if JPJ had any other name would Steelers fans be fussing over the pick?

Unsure it that was directed at me, but I felt I was clear with my reasoning for the 2nd guessing of the pick. I thought S was a bigger need AND I felt the player available was better than the CB selected.

Again I think JPJ ends up a really nice player. But I worry that we passed on Ed Reed lite for Ike Taylor

 

[Goalie_Bob]

Except that Branch doesn't play like Ed Reed at all......

 

[JTG]

Unsure it that was directed at me, but I felt I was clear with my reasoning for the 2nd guessing of the pick. I thought S was a bigger need AND I felt the player available was better than the CB selected.

Again I think JPJ ends up a really nice player. But I worry that we passed on Ed Reed lite for Ike Taylor

I'm a huge Branch fan. I don't think he's an Ed Reed type. I think he's more between Tyrann Mathieu and Ryan Clark. Both Porter and Branch had warts, and the one thing I am very concerned about with Branch is his size coupled with his lack of speed.

I have zero concerns with Porter's size and speed. I think he could stand to get a bit more stronger because he's going to be playing some bully WRs. I think he could also use some work on his change of direction.