Steelers 2021 Draft Review

 

All Summaries Come From NFL.COM

RD 1(24) RB Najee Harris - Alabama   6'2"  230lbs

2020: Doak Walker Award, 1st All-SEC, 251c/1,446yds/26TDs, 43rec/425yds/4TDs

Strengths: Runs decisively and with urgency. Able to gather & cut on short notice. Crisp change of direction. Makes a large number of tacklers miss. Plus balance to keep the run on track through 1st contact. Soft hands with above-average ball skills. Willing & able in pass protection. Good ball security.

Weaknesses: Runs with inconsistent feel for tempo. Lacks speed to threaten for the big play. Average burst between tackles. Average acceleration out of his cuts. Takes on heavy contact on a consistent basis.

Comp: Steven Jackson

Grade: 6.46 (Will Be a Starter Within First 2 Seasons)

RD 2 (55) TE Pat Freiermuth - Penn State  6'5"  251lbs

2020: 1st All-BIG 10, 23rec/310yds/1TD

Strengths: Coveted combination of size & athletic ability. Quality feet in space for a big man. Displayed ability to keep one-hand touches alive for the catch. Big target for chain-moving throws. Has build-up speed to climb past LBs into the seam. Stacks downhill yards after the catch. Makes impressive athletic recoveries & finishes blocks.

Weaknesses: Can improve his angles as a blocker. Inconsistent footwork to sustain 2nd level blocks. Slowed by physical coverage. Average quickness to separate on lateral route breaks. Inconsistent catch focus to finish in traffic.

Comp: Tyler Eifert

Grade: 6.30 (Will Be a Starter Within First 2 Seasons)

RD 3 (87) OG/C Kendrick Green - Illinois  6'2"  305lbs

2020: 1st All-BIG 10

Strengths: Gets off the ball in a hurry, gaining lateral ground with ease. Accelerates through contact, creating wash-down momentum. Short-area quickness allows for tighter schedule on combos. Above-average getting into space on screen blocks. Resets his hands in order to gather pass rusher in front of him. Reactive athleticism to make sudden cut-offs in pass protection.

Weaknesses: Too straight-legged up to 2nd level. Unable to neutralize power when heads up. Defenders are able to separate & play off his blocks. Gets glued to twist action & misses incoming rusher. Overextends, allowing edge to soften.

Comp: Isaac Seumalo

Grade: 6.21 (Good Backup, Could Become a Starter)

RD 4 (128) OT Dan Moore Jr - Texas A&M  6'5 1/2 " 311lbs

2020: 2nd All-SEC

Strengths: Pass pro movements are athletic. Adequate recovery anchor against the bull rush. Quality ability as a cut-blocker. Mindful of footwork & technique on double teams. Runs feet to secure wash-down blocks on outside zone. 

Weaknesses: Outside hands are too wide, causing him to gather rather than punch. Needs to pick a target & fully commit when faced with a blitzer. Would like to see more aggression into 1st contact as a run blocker. Inconsistent body control & positioning to consistently secure his block. Below-average demeanor as a block finisher.

Grade: 5.86 (Backup/Special Teamer)

RD 4 (140) LB Buddy Johnson - Texas A&M  6'0 1/2"  229lbs

2020: 86tckls/8.5TFLs, 4scks, 1INT/1TD, 3PUs, 2FFs

Strengths: Good size, definition & aggression. Durable & tough with experience inside & outside. Careful not to overshoot RB's entry point. Does dirty work to help the defense thrive. Physical striker & wrap-up finisher. Attacks the block with an aggressive punch.

Weaknesses: Needs to get deeper downhill to short-circuit pulling guards. Needs to slip blocks occasionally rather than always going to battle. Hip tightness hinders open-field coverage agility. Needs to stay light on his feet as an open-field tackler.

Comp: Kendell Beckwith

Grade: 6.13 (Good Backup, Could Become a Starter)

RD 5 (156)  DE Isaiahh Loudermilk - Wisconsin  6'6"  274lbs

2020: Honorable All-BIG 10, 13tckls/2.5TFLs, 2scks

Strengths: Activates sumo hand-fighting for interior pass rush. Efficient footwork & movement on twists. Reads QBs & looks to bat down passes. Potential to extend & separate through his punch. Team-oriented defender willing to do the dirty work, Leg drive pushes & scoops blocker into the backfield.

Weaknesses: Goes along for the ride on lateral block engagements. Unable to sit down firmly & anchor as an edge setter. Lacks foot quickness to work quickly around a block. Below-average hands to open a rush lane for himself. Way too tall on rush counters & is easily punch & stalled.

Grade: 5.55 (Chance to Make End of Roster or Practice Squad)

RD 6 (216)  EDGE Quincy Roche - Miami (FL)  6'3"  245lbs

2020: 3rd All-ACC, 45tckls/14.5TFLs, 4.5scks, 2FFs/3FRs

Strengths: Assails the pocket with controlled anger, Subtle hands have the same effectiveness in discarding the punch. Stays low in edge-to-edge counters, improving his success rate. Consistently forced & recovered fumbles. Will work to slide off blocks & find ball-carriers. 

Weaknesses: Tight hips, tight ankles. Not very explosive in race to the top of the rush. Unable to really sink & bend the edge. Below-average reactive athleticism. No access to tight turns or sudden change of direction. 

Grade: 5.96 (Backup/Special Teamer)

RD 7 (245)  CB Tre Norwood - Oklahoma  6'  192lbs

2020: Honorable All-BIG 12, 23tckls, 5INTs/1TD, 7PUs

Strengths: Decent ball skills with soft hands. Can take on a more expanded role as a safety. Good downhill speed to run the alley. Recognition of run-play development & where it is headed. Offers kick & punt coverage experience.

Weaknesses: Hiccup in his transitions from the press. Once he gets behind, he stays behind. Below-average pattern reader. Lacks functional agility to recover through coverage missteps. Grab-and-drag tackler.

Grade: 5.60 (Chance to Make End of Roster or Practice Squad)

RD 7 (254)  P Pressley Harvin III - Georgia Tech  5'11" 263lbs

2020: Ray Guy Award, 1st All-American, 1st All-ACC, 48yd avg, 18 inside the 20

Strengths: Able to handle poorly snapped balls. Directional punts look like passes to the gunner. TD pass of 41yds on a fake in 2019.

Weaknesses: Inconsistent hang time. High percentage of punts were returned. Displays inconsistent touch on short kicks.

Grade: 5.62 (Chance to Make End of Roster or Practice Squad)

  

 

 

Bills 2021 Draft Preview: Part 3

 

All Draft Summaries Come From NFL.COM

DT Tyler Shelvin - LSU  6'2"  350lbs

Strengths: Early to capture space in neutral zone off the snap. Quick recognition of pressure form down blocks. Eats up leverage battle & lives under the center's pads. Two-gapper with big pop and lift from his hips & hands. Daunting roadblock near the goal line.

Weaknesses: Conditioning has been an issue. Gasses out over 2nd half of the rep. Too slow in getting off blocks to make tackles. Seal blocks hold up against him. Little rush production & unlikely to see the field on passing downs.

Comp: Michael Pierce

Grade: 6.18 (Good Backup, Could Become a Starter)

CB Eric Stokes - Georgia  6'1"  194lbs

2020: 2nd All-SEC, 20tckls, 4INTs/2TDs, 4PUs

Strengths: Poised through press release. Stands his ground against physical targets. Can run with mismatch-caliber speedsters on crossing routes. Downhill drive to his target. Plays into the receiver when phasing downfield. Combination of speed & quickness to play inside or outside. 

Weaknesses: Thinks "hands" before "feet" when matching release & breaks. Doesn't fully trust what he sees yet. Takes extra steps on lateral transition from the shuffle & pedal. Tardy gaining play-making positioning in coverage. Opponents run through solo tackle tries. Likely to be isolated & targeted by run games.

Comp: Coty Sensabaugh

Grade: 6.31 (Will Be a Starter Within First 2 Seasons)

EDGE Jaelan Phillips - Miami (FL)  6'6"  260lbs

2020: 2nd All-American/2nd All-ACC, 45tckls/15.5TFLs, 8scks, 1INT

Strengths: Accelerates into the edge. Flexible upper-body to help flip over the punch at the top of the rush. Closing burst to the QB is not in doubt. Very aware as a run defender. Sees mesh point clearly on zone reads & recognizes lane choices by runner. 

Weaknesses: Pad level rises too tall off the snap. Below-average core strength. Gets bounced off his base during redirect blocks. Needs better command with his hands as a rusher. Fails to stack moves to stay ahead of pass blockers.

Comp: Maxx Crosby

Grade: 6.39 (Will Be a Starter Within First 2 Seasons)

DT Levi Onwuzurike - Washington  6'3"  290lbs

Strengths: Explodes into the neutral zone with his 1st step. Punishing initial pop. Will use brute force to power his way into the backfield. Very difficult to cross-face him as a blocker. Operates with balance & controlled movement. Impressive short-area feet to attack edges as a rusher. Workable spin move for future rush development.

Weaknesses: Loses proper pad level as the rep unfolds. Will dislodge rather than shed, allowing blocker to stay in it. Better hand efficiency would improve his rush. Lateral slides with narrow base allows for occasional wash-down blocks. 

Comp: Sheldon Richardson

Grade: 6.31 (Will Be a Starter Within First 2 Seasons)

RB Jaret Patterson - Buffalo  5'7"  195lbs

2020: 2nd All-American/1st All-MAC, MAC OPOY, 141c/1,072yds/19TDs, 

Strengths: Good ball security. Has a low center of gravity. Sneaks through spaces. Keeps feet moving throughout the carry. Rolls through initial contact. Forces missed tackles. Squares up incoming rusher & blocks with proper technique. 

Weaknesses: Feet look a little unsure while bouncing downhill. Doesn't always show trust in desired run lane. Hips tightness slows one-cut ability in outside zone. Bit of a one-speed runner. Not much of a pass catching option.

Comp: Jacquizz Rodgers

Grade: 5.98 (Backup/Special Teamer)

TE Tommy Tremble - Notre Dame  6'4"  248lbs

2020: 19rec/218yds

Strengths: Activated as a blocker from a variety of formations. Accelerates & crashes into targets as a lead blocker. Athletic ability & speed stand out as a pass catcher. Bursts off the snap & races into route. Can separate on 2nd and 3rd level routes.

Weaknesses: Gives away short routes with altered initial speed. Double catches & drops are a concern. Still learning to fit up block with proper platform & pad level. Needs quiet, efficient hands at the point of attack.

Comp: Drew Sample

Grade: 6.32 (Will Be a Starter Within First 2 Seasons)

WR Demetric Felton - UCLA  5'9"  189lbs

2020: 2nd All-PAC 12, 22rec/159yds/3TDs, 132c/668yds/5TDs

Strengths: Hybrid potential as a RB & WR. Loose & limber to slip around traffic as a runner. Plays with unbridled energy and urgency. Gains ground on coverage out of route stems. Hip sink to sell his double moves. Sudden hands to pluck throws right on top of him. Makes adjustments for throws outside his frame. Features RB power, vision & balance after the catch. Has kick return experience.

Weaknesses: Lacks patience & will rush ahead of blocks. Will need more work & experience at WR. Average short-area footwork getting into breaks. Hasn't shown talent for finishing the catch though contact. 

Comp: Theo Riddick

Grade: 6.00 (Developmental Traits-Based Prospect)

CB Asante Samuel Jr. - Florida St.  5'10"  180lbs

2020: 31tckls, 3INTs, 6PUs

Strengths: Controls footwork form pedal for quicker click-and-close. Very physical when closing distance & crowding receiver. Makes sure to feel the receiver before turning to find the ball. Treats battle for catch space like a fist fight. Works at keeping the route form working easily across his face. Tackles receivers quickly after the catch. 

Weaknesses: Doesn't get eyes on the QB often enough for coverage clues. Opens hips early, allowing route runner the advantage. Too grabby & undisciplined with his back to the ball. Average lateral burst. Needs to get off of receiver's run block sooner. Inconsistent running feet through the tackle.

Comp: Mackenzie Alexander

Grade: 6.24 (Good Backup, Could Become a Starter)

CB Nate Hobbs - Illinois  6'  195lbs

2020: 31tckls/2TFLs, 1INT, 2PUs

Strengths: Very athletic with good feet. Bursts into the route breaks. Possesses stop-start talent to change direction with the route. Quick wrap-and-finish after the catch.

Weaknesses: Inconsistent approach in run support. Needs to be quicker to read & challenge blockers. Tries to read the receiver rather than turning to locate the ball. Sluggish getting back on track. Doesn't take optimal play-making angles to play the ball.

Grade: 5.82 (Backup/Special Teamer)

WR Anthony Schwartz - Auburn  6' 186lbs

2020: 54rec/636yds/3TDs

Strengths: World class sprinter with game-changing speed. Useful weapon with jet sweeps. Threat of long speed creates easy throw & catch underneath. Able to change route direction while maintaining scary speed. Full-time gunner potential.

Weaknesses: Routes are unfocused & often ineffective underneath. Disappointing effort in scramble mode. Consistent issues tracking & adjusting to the long ball. Needs to become catch-ready more quickly. Focus & hand strength have been consistent issues.

Comp: Jacoby Ford

Grade: 6.00 (Developmental Traits-Based Prospect)

DE Tarron Jackson - Coastal Carolina  6'2"  254lbs

2020: 1st All-American, Sun Belt DPOY, 54tckls/14TFLs, 8.5scks, 3FFs

Strengths: Very strong at the point of attack. Reads initial blocker movement & hustles to steal the angle. Very strong base to drive through contact on his way to the ball. Quality spin to release away from run blocks. Beats tackles & TEs with inside swim for quick win. Comes out low & with good rush acceleration. Keeps coming for the QB with solid secondary rush effort.

Weaknesses: Doesn't have explosive 1st step into the neutral zone. Slow to activate his hands. Restricted agility due to tightness in his hips & knees. Easy target for cut blocks. Struggles to change direction. Face-up rusher missing hand skill & athletic talent to flip the edge. Rush plan consists of just power & inside swim.

Grade: 5.85 (Backup/Special Teamer)

  

  

 

2021 Oscars Preview

 

Best Production Design:

This is likely to go to one of the 2 period films with Mank and Ma Rainey's Black Bottom. Based on this awards season, I'm leaning towards Mank.

Pick: Mank

Best Animated Short Film:

Pixar has a contender here with Burrow, but their track record with animated short has actually been spotty as of late. A heavy hitter with important thematic material, I think If Anything Happens I Love You is taking this Oscar.

Pick: If Anything Happens I Love You

Best Live Action Short Film:

I can't remember a time when these nominated films were more available than they are now through mainstream streaming apps (same with animated short). I'm going with the powerful Two Distant Strangers.

Pick: Two Distant Strangers

Best Sound:

Soul and News of the World could be contenders here, but I'm leaning with Sound of Metal.

Pick: Sound of Metal

Best Visual Effects:

The Midnight Sky is a contender here given this awards season, but I just have a hard time seeing Tenet getting passed up here.

Pick: Tenet

Best Documentary Feature:

My Octopus Teacher has really surged as a favorite.

Pick: My Octopus Teacher

Best Documentary Short Subject:

Do Not Split and Hunger Ward could be contenders, but merely based on word of mouth I'm going with A Love Song for Latasha.

Pick: A Love Song for Latasha

Best Film Editing:

The Trial of the Chicago 7 could take this, best given the track record of the kind of films that take home the editing Oscar, I'm going with Sound of Metal.

Pick: Sound of Metal

Best International Feature Film:

Flying a bit blind here, but my pick here is Another Round.

Pick: Another Round

Best Makeup And Hairstyling:

Mank and possibly Emma could be contenders, but I'm going with Ma Rainey's Black Bottom.

Pick: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Best Original Score:

This seems pretty close to a given with Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross and Jon Batiste with Soul.

Pick: Soul

Best Original Song:

A number of ways this could go. "Fight For You" from Judas and the Black Messiah and "Io Si (Seen)" from The Life Ahead are top contenders, but I'm leaning towards "Speak Now" from One Night In Miami...

Pick: "Speak Now" - One Night In Miami...

Best Cinematography:

Nomadland is certainly a contender, but I'm leaning with Mank.

Pick: Mank

Best Costume Design:

Emma is a contender, but I'm pretty confident Ma Rainey's Black Bottom is getting this award.

Pick: Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Best Adapted Screenplay:

Borat has surprised this awards season with some screenplay awards, and The Father is a top contender. But I'm leaning towards Chloe Zhao and Nomadland.

Pick: Chloe Zhao - Nomadland

Best Original Screenplay:

This seems like a competitive field. I'm going with Emerald Fennell and Promising Young Woman.

Pick: Emerald Fennell - Promising Young Woman

Best Animated Feature Film:

Wolfwalkers is a contender, but this seems more than set for Soul.

Pick: Soul

Best Supporting Actor:

This seems fairly locked in with Daniel Kaluuya.

Pick: Daniel Kaluuya - Judas and the Black Messiah

Best Supporting Actress:

This race has been all over the place this awards season. Right now, the leading frontrunner seems to be Yuh-Jung Youn.

Pick: Yuh-Jung Youn - Minari

Best Actor:

Just like with Supporting Actor, this seems like a lock with Chadwick Boseman.

Pick: Chadwick Boseman - Ma Rainey's Black Bottom

Best Actress:

This is a three-way race, between Viola Davis (SAG Award), Frances McDormand (BAFTA), and Carey Mulligan (Critics' Choice). Not sure I can remember a more tightly contested acting race. I'm going with Frances McDormand.

Pick: Frances McDormand - Nomadland

Best Director:

Throughout this awards season, director has seems like a given towards Chloe Zhao.

Pick: Chloe Zhao - Nomadland

Best Picture:

Best Picture has been fairly competitive over the last few years.....that isn't the case right now. Nomadland seems to be running away with this, and I think it would be rightfully deserved.

Pick: Nomadland