Steelers Today - A Pittsburgh Steelers blog

Sorry for the delay in posting this, but after that draft weekend marathon, I needed to take a little break.

Once the draft ended, that opened the doors for all of the players who went undrafted to sign with any team that they wanted to.  The Steelers used this opportunity to add 13 undrafted free agents to their roster.

The Steelers signed the following players:

Steven Black (6’2″, 200 lbs.), WR, Memphis

Jeff Bradley (6’3″, 280 lbs.), DT, Western Carolina

Mark Estermeyer (6’1″, 251 lbs.), LS, Pittsburgh

Ramon Foster (6’5″, 328 lbs.), OT, Tennessee

Cedric Goodman (6’2″, 189 lbs.), WR, Georgia

Tyler Grisham (5’10″, 184 lbs.), WR, Clemson

Tom Korte (6’0″, 239 lbs.), LB, Hillside

Kevin McCabe (6’2″, 209 lbs.), QB, California (PA)

Steve McClendon (6’3″, 305 lbs.), DT, Troy

Isaac Redman (5’10″, 228 lbs.), RB, Bowie State

Mike Reilly (6’3″, 214 lbs.), QB, Central Washington State

Derrick Richardson (5’11″, 201 lbs.), S, New Mexico State

Andrew Schantz (6’1″, 234 lbs.), LB, Portland State

With the Steelers signing 3 wide receivers, in addition to drafting one, and potentially bringing in Ashley Lelie, the Steelers’ receiving corps shouldn’t miss a beat.

I was glad to see them bring in a safety, since they didn’t draft one, and we are woefully short on safeties.  I do think that Deshea Townsend would be a very good candidate to convert to safety.  He is very disciplined, and would make a good backup free safety.  I also believe that Keenan Lewis would make a good safety, but the Steelers have not said that they plan to try him at the position.

Both of the defensive tackles that they drafted are too small to play nose tackle, so I assume that they plan to convert them both to 3-4 DE’s.

I was a bit surprised that they brought in two free agent quarterbacks.  I don’t think either of them has a chance to beat out Charlie Batch or Dennis Dixon.  However, the Steelers are tight on cash, and if they think Dixon is ready to move up to #2, they may release Batch and keep one of these cheaper options as #3 quarterback.

I  am completely baffled by the long snapper signing.  Sure, Mark Estermeyer is from Pitt.  But Greg Warren will be back from injury, and Jared Retkofsky is still on the roster.  Do we really need that much competition for the long snapper position?  Maybe I’m missing something.  Wouldn’t we have been better served bringing another safety into camp?  Or perhaps a big, fat kid who can someday develop into a nose tackle?  Or how about a center.  All three of the long snappers are too small to ever play center.  I’m confused.

If you have any thoughts on the Steelers’ free agent signings, please leave a comment to let me know your reaction.

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April 26, 2009
By Donald Starver

With their final pick in the 7th round, the Steelers selected David Johnson, tight end, Arkansas State.   Johnson stands 6’2″, and weighs 268 lbs. 

 

Johnson wasn’t highly rated as a tight end.  Many teams probably didn’t even have him on their draft board. 

Johnson had a career high of 22 receptions for 356 yards in 2008.  His 2008 reception total more than doubled his 2007 output of 10 catches (for 204 yards).  This performance earned Johnson second team All-Sun Belt conference honors.

Johnson was actually an H-back at Arkansas State, and this is probably what the Steelers found appealing about him.   He was used primarily as a blocker in college, though he has very good hands.   He averaged 16 yards per catch in college. 

Johnson runs a 4.7 second 40 yard dash.  That is pretty fast for a player of his size.  He also has a 32.5 inch vertical leap, and did 21 reps in the bench press at the NFL Combine.  He also played baseball in high school, and is an excellent athlete.

Johnson is probably a better athlete than the Steelers’ current H-back Sean McHugh, and he should provide competition at the position.

To read about the Steelers’ previous pick, click here.

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April 26, 2009
By Donald Starver

With their first pick in the 7th round, the Steelers selected A.Q. Shipley, center, Penn State.   Shipley stands 6’1″, and weighs 304 lbs.

A natural leader, Shipley was the first center to serve as team captain since 1996.  He was the winner of the 2008 Rimington Trophy, given annually to college football’s best center.  He was also named a 1st-team All-American.

A local boy from Moon Area High School, Shipley has been on the Steelers’ radar for quite some time.

Shipley is an intelligent player who comes from a very high quality program at Penn State.  He has good vision and recognizes blitzes.  He has excellent technique and his physicality and tenacity are unmatched in this year’s class of centers.  If anything holds Shipley back, it won’t be his desire or effort.

Unfortunately, Shipley has physical limitations that caused some scouts to downgrade him as a potential NFL center.  He is short for the position, and has very short arms.  He also needs to increase his lower body strength.  He can be bull rushed by larger defenders and pushed into the pocket.  This may be an even greater liability in the AFC North, where huge nose tackles abound.

Shipley lacks mobility, and is unable to offer guards much help in run  blocking.  He also isn’t a powerful blocker, and he struggles to generate movement by himself in the running game.

The bottom line is that Shipley is limited physically, but his heart, determination, and high football IQ should help him find a way to make an NFL roster.

To read about the Steelers’ previous pick, click here.

To read about the Steelers’ next pick, click here.

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April 26, 2009
By Donald Starver

With their 6th round pick, the Steelers selected Ra’Shon Harris, DT, Oregon.   Harris stands 6’4″, and weighs 305 lbs. 

 

This will not be Harris’ first time playing for “Pittsburgh”.  Harris actually graduated from Pittsburg High School in Pittsburg, CA.   Perhaps being drafted by the Steelers was inevitable.

Harris is a big, strong player who enjoys spending time in the weight room.  He shared the team’s top bench press mark (415 lbs.) as well as topping the defensive linemen in the power clean (314 lbs.).

Harris didn’t see much action in his first two years.  He became a regular substitute during his junior year, and finally became a starter as a senior.

Harris has decent speed for a man his size.  He has an excellent anchor, and can hold up well against the double team.  He is good at plugging the middle when the run is straight at him.  He also gets a very good push and is able to collapse the pocket on passing downs.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKc6M8Nl5OE

Despite these strengths, Harris just isn’t much of a playmaker.  He gets very few tackles, although his ability to take up blockers did help his teammates.  Harris’ lacks mobility and agility.  His stamina and work ethic have also been questioned.  Despite his weight room prowess, he is in poor physical condition.

He did relatively well during East-West Shrine Game practices, and this probably got a lot of teams to look at him that wouldn’t have been interested otherwise.

Despite his shortcomings, Harris is a big body who can take up blockers.  This makes him a viable option as a 3-4 DE if he is willing to dedicate himself to improving his conditioning.

To read about the Steelers’ previous pick, click here.

To read about the Steelers’ next pick, click here.

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April 26, 2009
By Donald Starver

With their first pick in the 5th round, the Steelers selected Joe Burnett.  Burnett is a cornerback from Central Florida.  He stands 5’10″, and weighs 185 lbs.

Burnett was a record breaking cornerback and return man for UCF.  He was a first team All-American his senior year, and helped UCF to its first two bowl berths (2007 & 2008), and its first conference championship (2007) in school history.

Earned eight Conference USA All-Conference honors, including four straight first team punt returner awards.  Named Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Year his senior year.  Finished in 19th place for career punt return yards in NCAA history with 1,304.  Was the only player in the nation to be in the top 20 in both kickoff returns and punt returns.

Set the UCF career record with 16 interceptions.  Tied record for most career punt return touchdowns (3).

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10F5Ma4qRHw

Is considered to be a bit small to play cornerback in the NFL.  However, he has good technique, and is stronger than you’d expect for his size.  He is never out of place, and plays with discipline.

Because of his size, he struggles to get off blocks.  He also tends to give too much cushion to receivers.

He can bring pressure as a blitzer, but he doesn’t finish off the quarterback.  He is more of a cut tackler, and doesn’t wrap up with his arms.

Burnett probably isn’t going to make an immediate impact on the Steelers defense, but he should have an immediate impact on special teams.   Earlier pick Mike Wallace is primarily a kickoff returner, while Joe Burnett will upgrade the punt return game.

To read about the Steelers’ previous pick, click here.

To read about the Steelers’ next pick, click here.

(If you enjoyed this article, please consider leaving a comment below. Also, please subscribe to our blog by pressing the orange button below. Thanks.)

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