Prediction: Steelers find their CB
Kevin Colbert got something off his chest at the Steelers鈥� pre-draft press conference this week, and it came off as odd for a guy who normally fares well with 鈥渆levator music,鈥� as his partner, Mike Tomlin, likes to say about worthless chatter.
鈥淭here鈥檚 so much misinformation,鈥� Colbert started, 鈥渁nd it鈥檚 really irresponsible on whoever puts information into the media. I think it鈥檚 really bad for our profession when people put whatever means they use to get information out to try to influence a draft and they talk about a kid鈥檚 test score, a kid鈥檚 injury, a kid鈥檚 character. I think that鈥檚 awful. I think it鈥檚 disrespectful to our profession. It鈥檚 disrespectful to the game. It鈥檚 disrespectful to the kid. I think it鈥檚 horrible. In knowing that we really don鈥檛 pay attention to it, we鈥檙e just going to be true to what we believe. We don鈥檛 believe in mock drafts and what people are saying about other teams because so much of it is misinformation. You just lose your mind trying to figure out what everyone鈥檚 going to do. We鈥檒l just be true to what we do and feel good about it and live in it.鈥�
Huh?
And then it struck me: Colbert鈥檚 worried about the PR of a player he鈥檚 going to draft.
He鈥檚 going to draft Marcus Peters.
They like him. They need him. They certainly believe they can lean on him. He鈥檚 a coach鈥檚 son, after all.
But there鈥檚 the ugly rumor that Peters 鈥渢ried to strangle a coach on the sideline.鈥�
At least that鈥檚 what an anonymous scout told Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journel-Sentinel last December. It鈥檚 been credibly denied, but since I heard it I haven鈥檛 been able to forget it.
That has to be what Colbert鈥檚 talking about.
But I hope they draft Peters, and believe they will.
I sorted through Peters鈥� trials and tribulations at the University of Washington in yesterday鈥檚 edition, and in my opinion 鈥� and I believe in the Steelers鈥� opinion 鈥� he鈥檚 the kind of guy who鈥檒l survive and likely thrive, in a stable organization with coaches who鈥檒l easily command his respect.
FIRST ROUND
n Marcus Peters, CB, Washington 鈥� Physical, press-man corner who has ball skills, can support the run, and plays with swagger. Put the ornery guys out on the flanks anyway. It鈥檚 been my season-long contention that he鈥檚 the best cornerback in the draft.
SECOND ROUND
n Eli Harold, OLB, Virginia 鈥� Opened as the favorite on my tote board but received zero public backing. My guess is that on draft day he鈥檒l receive little NFL support as well. Harold will be able to help the nickel front a bit.
THIRD ROUND
n Rashad Greene, WR, Florida 鈥� Would be a great place to grab a nickel corner and put some real excitement into the Steelers鈥� secondary, but they鈥檝e left themselves with a gaping hole on the WR depth chart and it must be filled with quality. This polished route runner is that.
FOURTH ROUND
n Bobby McCain, CB, Memphis 鈥� Well, hello Mr. Excitement. The Steelers haven鈥檛 shown McCain (5-9陆, 195) any interest, of which I鈥檓 aware, but I really like him. He鈥檒l not only fit the slot, he鈥檒l return kickoffs. And interceptions. Of his 12 picks in college he returned four for scores. Yes, replace McCain with McCain.
FIFTH ROUND
n Shaq Mason, G, Georgia Tech 鈥� Won鈥檛 be the five-position reserve that could be Max Garcia here, but the 6-1戮, 304-pound Mason could become a starter by 2016.
SIXTH ROUND
n Matt Jones, RB, Florida 鈥� This might be the better spot to land a nickelback or a guard, because with this pick the Steelers should be filling a bigger roster need at DE. But I can鈥檛 find a DE to fit here, so that may have to be addressed in Rounds 4-5. But I like McCain and Mason too much.
SEVENTH ROUND
n A.J. Derby, TE, Arkansas 鈥� The Steelers brought in several late-round tight ends, and not Derby. I just like this converted QB because he told me more about Heath Miller鈥檚 move from QB to TE in college than Heath ever did. An athlete with upside.