Pro Football Draft Network | 2011 Pro Football Draft Analysis

1st Round (#18) C Maurkice Pouncey, Florida

Key Player(s) Passed On: CB Kyle Wilson, DE Jared Odrick

Analysis: Pouncey can help solidify the Steelers’ offensive line which has become a weakness.  Pouncey has a powerful lower body, plays with leverage and is a smart lineman with leadership skills.  He can play guard or center.  The former Gator should be able to start early in his NFL career (likely at right guard) and eventually will be Pittsburgh's offensive line leader at center.  Pouncey is a step in the right direction toward revitalizing Pittsburgh’s ground game.  The Steelers had needs at cornerback and at defensive end, where age is an issue.  However, the offensive line play has been heading south and Pouncey is such a solid player.  This pick made a lot of sense. 

2^nd Round (#52) DE/OLB Jason Worilds, Virginia Tech

Key Player(s) Passed On:  LB Sean Lee, NT Terrence Cody, LB Brandon Spikes

Analysis: Worilds played defensive end in college and will be converted to outside linebacker.  He has a good first step and plays hard.  However, his hips look tight and he has to add variety to his pass rush.  The Steelers are set at outside linebacker in the near future with James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley being as fine a pair as there is in the NFL.  Pittsburgh has a need at one inside linebacker spot where James Farrior started to show his age last season.  In addition, Larry Foote is entering his 9^th year in the NFL.  Sean Lee and Brandon Spikes would have injected youth into the Steelers' inside linebacker position and they are both heady players.  Pittsburgh resigned Casey Hampton to a 3-year contract, but he is 33 this September.  Hampton is a terrific nose tackle, but he is near the end of his career.  Cody has a lot of potential as an NFL nose tackle and he could spell Hampton while being groomed to take over.  PFDN thought Pittsburgh could have helped themselves more had they selected some of these other prospects instead of Worilds.  Farrior, Foote and Hampton are significantly closer to the end of their careers than Harrison and Woodley are.

3rd Round (#82) Emmanuel Sanders, SMU

Key Player(s) Passed On: WR Jordan Shipley, WR Eric Decker, WR Andre Roberts

Analysis: Pittsburgh traded Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward is entering his 13^th season and Limas Sweed (2^nd round, 2008 NFL Draft) has been a bust.  Clearly, the Steelers required reinforcements at wideout from this draft.  Sanders had outstanding production at SMU, but part of that is attributable to June Jones’ offensive system.  It remains to be seen whether he is strong and tough enough to work the slot in the NFL.  Eric Decker may have been a worthy successor to Hines Ward.  The former Minnesota star has the size, strength and hands to be a fine possession receiver.  He also is tough as nails and will block like crazy.  Shipley played against much better competition than Sanders did and he looks like a future crafty slot receiver.  We like how Andre Roberts catches the ball in traffic and makes some difficult catches look routine.  We agree that the Steelers were wise to select a wide receiver in the 3^rd round, but evaluated several receivers to be better than Sanders.  We shall see who has the best career out of this group of receivers.

4th Round (#116) DE/OLB Thaddeus Gibson, Ohio State

Key Player(s) Passed On:  DE/OLB Eric Norwood, OT Jason Fox

Analysis: The former undersized defensive end will be converted into a 3-4 outside linebacker.  Gibson has some decent physical tools, but lacks top instincts.  He also does not play with consistent leverage.  Eric Norwood plays with more power than Gibson does, in our view.  In addition, Jason Fox would have provided solid depth at left tackle.  Gibson was just an average selection.

5th Round (#151) OT Chris Scott, Tennessee

Key Player (s) Passed On: DT Arthur Jones

Analysis: Scott was a sound 5^th round pick.  He is a fairly stout run blocker and has fine playing strength.  Scott can play right tackle or guard.  We liked the potential of Arthur Jones more than Scott.  However, the Steelers need offensive lineman and Scott is solid.  He could develop into a starter if he takes his conditioning seriously.

5th Round (#164) CB Crezdon Butler, Clemson

Key Player(s) Passed On: WR Kerry Meier

Analysis: Butler has decent size and speed, but lacks toughness and is beaten too often for a player with his athletic ability.  He was an ok selection in the 5^th round.  Meier is a big, possession receiver who likely will struggle to separate in the NFL.  He works hard and understands the passing game.  He might have been a slightly better option.

5th Round (#166) LB Stevenson Sylvester, Utah

Key Player(s) Passed On:  DE Greg Hardy

Analysis: Sylvester is undersized for an outside or inside linebacker in the 3-4.  However, he could be a productive player on special teams.  Sylvester runs well and hustles, but may not be strong enough to be more than a backup.  Hardy has pass rush skills, but probably lacks the work ethic and focus to successfully transition to outside linebacker. 

6^th Round (#188) RB Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech

Key Player(s) Passed On: WR Dezmon Briscoe

Analysis: Dwyer was a bargain in the 6^th round.  Pittsburgh could use another back to complement Rashard Mendenhall.  The Steelers would like to be a more physical rushing team this season.  The powerful Dwyer can help them.  The former Georgia Tech star slipped to the 6^th round due to concerns over the offensive system he played in the past two seasons and a failed drug test due to medication he takes for attention deficit disorder.  Dwyer was a no-brainer for the Steelers. 

6^th Round (#195) WR Antonio Brown, Central Michigan

Key Player(s) Passed On:  WR/QB Joe Webb

Analysis: Brown was another attractive 6^th round value.  He was highly productive in college as a receiver and he can return kicks.  He could surprise and be a productive slot receiver in a year or two.  Webb is much bigger than Brown, but is very raw as a receiver.  He is a major project after spending considerable time at quarterback at UAB.

7^th Round (#242) DT Doug Worthington, Ohio State

Key Player(s) Passed On: S Kurt Coleman

Analysis: Worthington fills a need as a young 3-4 defensive end.  He has the size for the position and had a decent career at Ohio State.  Worthington lacks a special trait to get off of blocks quickly.  PFDN thought more highly of Kurt Coleman, but the Steelers have to get younger at defensive end.

Bottom Line:  Pittsburgh started their draft off in solid fashion with the Pouncey pick.  We questioned their 2^nd and 3^rd round selections.  The Steelers did well on the 3^rd day of the draft (particularly, Chris Scott, Jonathan Dwyer and Antonio Brown).  Overall, Pittsburgh improved their offensive line, added some badly needed receiver talent and may have found a steal in Jonathan Dwyer.  The secondary was not really addressed, but the offensive line had to be the priority.  It had become harder and harder for Pittsburgh to score on the ground in recent seasons.   

Draft Grade: B-