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

[JTG]

I really think the small hands stigma is why teams passed on KP.

I kept watching all of his snaps his final season and kept seeing a guy who has everything you could ask for in a QB.

The only question marks were his age (stupid), not having an elite arm (whatever) and a genetic mutation that made his hands so small, Carolina Panther execs stared in wonder that he could even hold a football like an adult male:

Bah Gawd, what dark magic is this!​

And his hands are still larger than an average male hand.

Yeah it's kinda weird to see NFL scouts so high on Levis and Richardson after knocking Pickett for a lack of established track record. As a junior and senior, Levis had a 43-23 TD-INT ratio with a 65.7% completion%. Pickett in his last 2 years with Pitt had a 55-16 TD-INT ratio with a 64.8% completion%. Why does one project to be a top-5 pick while the other one fell to the 20s? Levis isn't even young either, he's turning 24 later this year and is the same age that Pickett was when he was drafted.

I honestly don't see a justification for either Levis or Richardson going in the top-10 in the draft this year. I like both Stroud and Young as high picks, but what do the other 2 have? Levis is 24 and didn't have a single season on par with Pickett's senior season at Pitt. Richardson is a total project that very likely needs another year or two in college. I think the Steelers taking Pickett at 20 is insanely better value than any team using a top-10 pick on either Levis or Richardson.

I have watched Levis and Richardson and I thought they looked atrocious, to be honest. Super skilled, but I don't think either has the processing speed to be an elite NFL QB. Both guys should sit for a year or two, and that's not going to probably happen.

I understand the appeal of Richardson. If you can develop the talent- he’s like Allen on roids which is crazy to say. He wasn’t very good at Florida but the physical tools are actually a joke. Like maybe best ever.

Anthony Richardson might be a draft enigma, but his athleticism scores are legendary

Anthony Richardson might be the most athletic quarterback the NFL has ever seen.

www.saturdaydownsouth.com

Add the arm and you have a ball of clay with talent that can’t be taught. In the era of Herbert, Mahomes, Allen… I do get it.

Levis… idk man. He’s got the arm and release to make us look dumb but I’m with you. Idk how you get excited about taking him top 5, but I guess the same was said about Herbert by some.

Richardson is probably the craziest freak of an athlete we have seen. He's the output in NCAA 14 when you build a player. I just don't see the processing speed necessary with him. I watched 3 Florida games that were spread out throughout the year, and even in the last game I saw him play in my buddies and I looked at each other not understanding the hype.

 

[JTG]

It looks like Edmunds won’t be back. I’m kind of conflicted about it. I don’t hate the idea of trying to upgrade but I also think you can do a lot worse.

It goes back to what someone said in here earlier I think. The new regime isn’t afraid to let the average players go. Which is kind of a nice approach after what we’ve seen from the Penguins lately.

It'd be nice to have an upgrade on him, but it's the devil you know v. the devil you don't. He works well with Minkah and he's serviceable. This is a great draft to find an upgrade though. I'm a big fan of Ji'Ayir Brown.

Maybe the put Kazee in Edmunds spot and let Norwood work in Kazee's spot.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Wins are a team stat not a Qb stat I think KP will improve he is a hard worker


The offense couldn’t function in basic dumb down college offense. I don’t blame the Qb entirely they couldn’t do rpo without line men down field. The wr group wasn’t interchangeable and they couldn’t line up all over. They need to play DJ and GP in the slot sometimes for mismatches. I am loving the reports they are working out together because thats how they will get better

It doesn't matter if they are a team stat, that's pretty much the entire point. Winning is the bottom line for any team.

Did KP in his first year win more games than DM did in two years?

Yes. Thats a hard fact.

So the Steelers got more benefit out of KP at Qb than the Texans got with DM.

Not sure how you can argue otherwise.

The Steelers and Texans aren't trying to win in some fantasy football leagues.

That’s great jones in the pocket can win and play in structure that’s the number 1 thing that matters and helps with success. When plays breaks down sure you want the tools to extend plays but he still found away to throw 22 tds as a rookie and go 10-7 that is what I expected from KP

Jones also severely regressed in year two, so I'm hoping KP doesn't go that route, even if the two are nothing alike really.

 

[xlm34]

It'd be nice to have an upgrade on him, but it's the devil you know v. the devil you don't. He works well with Minkah and he's serviceable. This is a great draft to find an upgrade though. I'm a big fan of Ji'Ayir Brown.

Maybe the put Kazee in Edmunds spot and let Norwood work in Kazee's spot.

Yeah I’m gonna have to do some looking into the safety class now. Between Sutton and Edmunds, it just seems like they lost a ton of versatility in the secondary. Branch is making more and more sense to me.

I’m starting to like the idea of trading back a lot more now too. There are still a lot of areas they could try to improve so having an extra second or third would be huge.

 

[Peat]

To me the easiest way to look at Mills vs Pickett is most of the media thinks Houston are 100% moving on from Mills and that Pickett is the Steelers QB of the future. Yeah people make wonky assessments but the raw numbers of wins, touchdowns... they're misleading due to the number of other factors too.

I feel like if there's one number that isolates QB performance, its probably QBR. As pointed out, Pickett has a 51 QBR. Which isn't amazing but does at least make you a "don't rush to change starter". Mills had 41 and 33. That's "we expect improvements". He hasn't made them. Mac Jones is an interesting comparison because he posted a 56 the first season, very nice... but dropped big time the second season.

Looking back, getting a 51 beats a fair few other rookie seasons. It's not a bad place to start from if he can keep improving.

 

[Empoleon8771]

PFF had Pickett at a 75.5 rating last year, compared to Mills at a 61.9.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

To me the easiest way to look at Mills vs Pickett is most of the media thinks Houston are 100% moving on from Mills and that Pickett is the Steelers QB of the future. Yeah people make wonky assessments but the raw numbers of wins, touchdowns... they're misleading due to the number of other factors too.

I feel like if there's one number that isolates QB performance, its probably QBR. As pointed out, Pickett has a 51 QBR. Which isn't amazing but does at least make you a "don't rush to change starter". Mills had 41 and 33. That's "we expect improvements". He hasn't made them. Mac Jones is an interesting comparison because he posted a 56 the first season, very nice... but dropped big time the second season.

Looking back, getting a 51 beats a fair few other rookie seasons. It's not a bad place to start from if he can keep improving.

There is a lot of truth in what you wrote about looking at stats.

I’m just trying to understand the idea that Houston got more out of Mills than the Steelers did with KP.. in what way beyond fantasy football stuff?

Tomlin always says “we are in the business of winning football games” and KP has done that more than Mills, with one less season under his belt.

Stats guys and fantasy guys can argue who has better stats I guess, but a coach wants a guy who helps him win games.

 

[Colonel Mustard]

Edmunds showed inprovement but i dont know that i am that upset over losing him.

 

[Peat]

I am not bummed about losing Edmunds per se but I am bummed about not having an ultra-reliable (if limited) safety that could kick down and pick up some linebacker duties. Losing him feels like a fairly glaring roster hole and he was the best player in UFA to plug it (or so people say).

 

[The Old Master]

Edmunds showed inprovement but i dont know that i am that upset over losing him.

it just makes it a greater need than before.

 

[JTG]

Yeah I’m gonna have to do some looking into the safety class now. Between Sutton and Edmunds, it just seems like they lost a ton of versatility in the secondary. Branch is making more and more sense to me.

I’m starting to like the idea of trading back a lot more now too. There are still a lot of areas they could try to improve so having an extra second or third would be huge.

I'm not typically for doing so, but with our needs, where the roster is, and how this draft is looking regarding depth, I wouldn't be totally against using 2024 picks to get back into this draft if there are guys there that we really think are going to start.

 

[JTG]

Edmunds showed inprovement but i dont know that i am that upset over losing him.

I'm right here also. He is an average player, but he was just kind of ticking a box for us. Branch makes way more sense now since he has versatility and is a ridiculously smart football player. If he doesn't run better at his pro day, we actually may be able to get him at 32, which would be the most epic of wins for us.

 

[bigdaddyk88]

'We Run The Ball And We Have A Lot Of Success Doing It:' Cam Heyward Doesn't Believe Steelers Need To Adapt Philosophy

Appearing on The Herd hosted by Colin Cowherd earlier today, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward talked about how the Steelers do things differently than other NFL contenders. Heyward believes the Steelers’ run-heavy philosophy bodes well for the team making a deeper run in the...

steelersdepot.com

I'm right here also. He is an average player, but he was just kind of ticking a box for us. Branch makes way more sense now since he has versatility and is a ridiculously smart football player. If he doesn't run better at his pro day, we actually may be able to get him at 32, which would be the most epic of wins for us.

So we draft a Nb to replace edmunds

 

[JTG]

'We Run The Ball And We Have A Lot Of Success Doing It:' Cam Heyward Doesn't Believe Steelers Need To Adapt Philosophy

Appearing on The Herd hosted by Colin Cowherd earlier today, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cameron Heyward talked about how the Steelers do things differently than other NFL contenders. Heyward believes the Steelers’ run-heavy philosophy bodes well for the team making a deeper run in the...

steelersdepot.com

Not sure what people get out of asking a defensive lineman that question.

So we draft a Nb to replace edmunds

Branch would play up around the line and in nickel. Less than half of Edmunds' snaps were at free safety anyway.

I'm imagining they are fine with Kazee taking over for Edmunds at free safety, and a guy like branch could take over the packages where he played around the line or in the box. I don't think they should deploy another free safety the same way they deployed Edmunds. It worked for him, but I think it hurt the overall defense. He wasn't a particular good run defender (Branch is phenomenal at it), a good tackler (Branch is phenomenal at it), or smart enough to feel the play (Branch is right there with Minkah in terms of intelligence).

EDIT: It was actually 1/3 of his snaps at Free Safety.

 

[Peat]

You can't rely on getting Branch though. You can feel fairly safe about him being there at 17 but it's still not a guarantee, and taking Branch at 17 feels a bit rich.

I don't get this one tbh. He fitted a need, I doubt he'll cost much and it feels like there's now quite a big hole there.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

You can't rely on getting Branch though. You can feel fairly safe about him being there at 17 but it's still not a guarantee, and taking Branch at 17 feels a bit rich.

I don't get this one tbh. He fitted a need, I doubt he'll cost much and it feels like there's now quite a big hole there.

Possible they are planning a different approach in the middle of the field on D, with all the changes at ILB too?

 

[Pengwins]

i dont care about losing Edmunds but sucks losing Sims.

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

i dont care about losing Edmunds but sucks losing Sims.

Is this sarcasm?

Not to disrespect the guy, but Sims is an undersized career 9 YPC guy that barely posted 100 yards receiving last year.

He's pretty easily replaceable by signing a scrap heap guy post June 1.

 

[Peat]

Possible they are planning a different approach in the middle of the field on D, with all the changes at ILB too?

Maybe but I don't easily understand what it is.

edit: to expand, right now the plan seems to be to have just about nobody with size and speed in the box. I don't get how that approach works.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

Maybe but I don't easily understand what it is.

edit: to expand, right now the plan seems to be to have just about nobody with size and speed in the box. I don't get how that approach works.

Yeah I was just speculating. I didn’t mean to suggest it was a clear picture.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

Is this sarcasm?

Not to disrespect the guy, but Sims is an undersized career 9 YPC guy that barely posted 100 yards receiving last year.

He's pretty easily replaceable by signing a scrap heap guy post June 1.

Sims was a decent enough player, but not enough to warrant $2M. Austin will likely/hopefully replace him

 

[Peat]

Dupree in for a visit. Assume that's a medical pre-signing.

 

[Pens1566]

You can't rely on getting Branch though. You can feel fairly safe about him being there at 17 but it's still not a guarantee, and taking Branch at 17 feels a bit rich.

I don't get this one tbh. He fitted a need, I doubt he'll cost much and it feels like there's now quite a big hole there.

I'm pretty sure he'll be there at 17. I'm pretty sure I'll be upset if we take him there.

 

[JTG]

Dupree in for a visit. Assume that's a medical pre-signing.

This is actually a huge signing if he passes his physical. OLB was a much bigger need than I think most of us would like to admit. Not to mention, the guy is coming in and he knows what is going on.

Khan and Weidl have done a great job this offseason so far, and signing Bud will make it that much better. Orlando Brown wasn't an LT I was a huge fan of, especially with the salary he signed at, but it would have been really nice to go into the draft and basically only need to find a corner.

 

[JTG]

I'm pretty sure he'll be there at 17. I'm pretty sure I'll be upset if we take him there.

You shouldn't feel upset about it because he would really transform the defense. He's a slot corner, but he's another Minkah and he's phenomenal in run support. I have seen people clamor for guys who will probably not have much of an impact their rookie year because they have so much to work on.

The two guys that I think the Steelers could draft defensively and they would both change the complexion of the defense and be immediate difference makers are Branch and Mazi Smith.