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Tres Rios
02-26-2008, 01:30 PM
Sorry Garrett don't know if you forgot this one or skipped it. But I'm very interested in WR.

Risers:
Devin Thomas, WR, Michigan State: Thomas moved his 216-pound frame across the forty yards of the RCA Dome in 4.38 seconds. He practiced to his timed speed and was fast all day. Thomas ran terrific routes and made several exceptional catches in the afternoon. He will now be rated as one of the draft's top five wideouts.

James Hardy, WR, Indiana: Hardy measured at 6-foot-5 and weighed 217 pounds. He then timed his forty's in 4.5 seconds, faster than anyone thought possible. Hardy ran good routes and caught everything thrown to him during the practice session. He solidified himself as a top 40 selection.

Andre Caldwell, WR, Florida: Caldwell ran much faster than expected, clocking both his forty's in the 4.35-second range. He then went on to show natural hands and made several acrobatic catches during practice.

Dustin Keller, TE, Purdue: Keller ran the fastest of all the tight ends, averaging in the high 4.5's in his two attempts. He also stood out catching the ball. Keller's not known for being much of a blocker, yet he showed well in drills and did complete 26 reps on the bench press.

Dexter Jackson, WR, Appalachian State: Jackson ran both his forty's near the 4.3 second mark, with some stopwatches having him as fast as 4.27 seconds. He ran scissor sharp routes and made all the catches, just as he did during the Senior Bowl. Jackson's play the past month has guaranteed he will not get out of round three.

Arman Shields, WR, Richmond: Shields is another small school prospect who made the most of his combine opportunity. He was sidelined much of last season with a leg injury yet still ran in the low 4.3's. Shields also looked good catching the ball.

Brad Cottam, TE, Tennessee: Cottam measured 6-7 and weighed 270 pounds. He stunned scouts running his forty's in the mid-4.6 second area. Cottam also completed an impressive 24 reps on the bench. He is one of the fastest rising tight ends in the draft.

Brandon Breazell, WR, UCLA: Breazell was a little light, tipping the scale at just 160 pounds, yet was lightening fast in his forty. Braezell twice got under 4.4 seconds and then played to that speed during pass catching drills.

Sliders:
Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan: Manningham was considered a vertical receiver at Michigan but that notion has been put to rest. He struggled to get below 4.6 seconds in the forty.

John Carlson, TE, Notre Dame: Carlson was considered one of the better pass catching tight ends coming into the season. He caught the ball well during his session, but forty times in the 4.8 second range are bound to hurt his draft stock.

Fred Davis, TE, USC: Davis declined to run at the combine yet did participate in the pass-catching workout. He had a lot of problems all day showing poor timing and dropping several catchable throws.

Evan Moore, WR, Stanford: Moore was a dependable yet oft-injured receiver in college. He was slow today, running a 4.75 forty, and showed limited quickness. He is now likely to get consideration at tight end.

Pilz
02-26-2008, 01:40 PM
There was another TE named Tamme that looked very fast and smooth during drills. He finished behind Keller as second best in the 40.

mightyguru
02-26-2008, 01:40 PM
Another kid I thought looked like a good prospect is Will Franklin. 6'1" 215 (his weight measured at the combine...wrong wt. listed at the nfl combine site) and ran a 4.37.

Garrett
02-26-2008, 01:50 PM
no prob, tres...had a meeting to attend and just ran out of time. Not on this list, but a guy that I think could help the Steelers is Jordy Nelson.

Superman
02-26-2008, 02:01 PM
Evan Moore is our man.

leftcoaststeelerfan
02-26-2008, 03:07 PM
Sliders:
Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan: Manningham was considered a vertical receiver at Michigan but that notion has been put to rest. He struggled to get below 4.6 seconds in the forty.


Speed is nice but not everything. Anquan Boldin ran a 4.7 at the combine I believe.

Tres Rios
02-26-2008, 03:10 PM
Manningham is too small to be that slow.

Hardy kicked ass. I would love to grab him in Round 1, Zuttah at OT in Round 2 and best available Guard in Round 3. That would be a dream. Then sign a FA Center and I may mess my pants.

leftcoaststeelerfan
02-26-2008, 03:10 PM
Manningham is too small to be that slow.

Hardy kicked ass. I would love to grab him in Round 1, Zuttah at OT in Round 2 and best available Guard in Round 3. That would be a dream. Then sign a FA Center and I may mess my pants.

I wouldn't be too disappointed with that scenario.....

BermudaSteel
02-26-2008, 03:31 PM
Manningham is too small to be that slow.

Hardy kicked ass. I would love to grab him in Round 1, Zuttah at OT in Round 2 and best available Guard in Round 3. That would be a dream. Then sign a FA Center and I may mess my pants.

I suggest "Huggies"...:D

the Bubster
02-26-2008, 03:44 PM
Thanks to colbert's complete disregard of the oline over the past couple years, this is a category that we dont have the luxury of looking at until the 6th rd.

schoondog
02-26-2008, 04:14 PM
Thanks to colbert's complete disregard of the oline over the past couple years, this is a category that we dont have the luxury of looking at until the 6th rd.

Go back to your own thread.

1st & 10
02-26-2008, 06:07 PM
Hardy will never make it past Dallas at pick #22, unless they sign Randy Moss.

FlaStGrad
02-26-2008, 06:14 PM
Dallas will move up, trading their picks to try for the future bust named: McFadden!

BLITZ 43
02-26-2008, 07:34 PM
The guy I was real high on was Donnie Avery and I don't think he did to good which means he might be a steal for us later. Not sure what he ran at the combine but I sure know it was not a 4.2, here is some info on him:



Blessed with incredible speed, Donnie Avery is difficult for cornerbacks to catch once he reaches a clearing.



Avery, clocked at 4.2 seconds in the 40-yard dash, put his quickness to good use during a breakout performance in 2007. He led Conference USA and ranked fourth in the nation with an average of 112 receiving yards per game, while his averaged of seven catches per contest also led the league and ranked 14th nationally.



In addition, he shattered school and conference records during his final campaign with 346 yards receiving in the Rice contest, becoming the first player in C-USA annals to gain over 300 yards receiving in a game. His 427 all-purpose yards in that game also set new league and Houston records, topping his own record set two weeks earlier with 350 yards vs. East Carolina.

Tres Rios
02-26-2008, 07:53 PM
Wasn't Willie Reid super fast? I'm looking for more tall and physical for jump balls and high throws into tight coverage. Something we're badly lacking. Something Hardy would bring lots of.

I can't see him going by #22. Sweed, Doucet and maybe even DeSean Jackson will go before Hardy in Round 1. Maybe even Malcolm Kelly.

He'll be there for us Round 1 but not Round 2. Just depends if our FO wants to go that way or only look at OL.

the Bubster
02-26-2008, 08:12 PM
If colbert goes WR in rd 1, he will have officially garnered Matt millen type status.

Supersteeler
02-26-2008, 08:18 PM
If colbert goes WR in rd 1, he will have officially garnered Matt millen type status.

It doesn't really matter what he does at this point does it? Just so you can hear yourself bitch.

Pilz
02-26-2008, 10:32 PM
If the top 3 OT are gone, I would love a big WR like Hardy in the 1st,

Remember Coach's rules of drafting:

1. You never draft a safety in the 1st round.
2, The Steelers should have drafted Ed Reed.
3. You never draft an interior lineman in the 1st round.
4. The Steelers should have drafted Mangold.

Tobe
02-26-2008, 10:36 PM
WVU's Reynaud was a top performer in bench, vertical, 3 cone, 60 yard shuttle and broad jump. He's built more like a running back at 5' 10" and 205 lbs but could make a hell of a slot receiver. The way he runs with the ball he may even be a bargain as an experiment at RB or WR in the later rounds.

Supersteeler
02-26-2008, 10:39 PM
If the top 3 OT are gone, I would love a big WR like Hardy in the 1st,

Remember Coach's rules of drafting:

1. You never draft a safety in the 1st round.
2, The Steelers should have drafted Ed Reed.
3. You never draft an interior lineman in the 1st round.
4. The Steelers should have drafted Mangold.

Don't forget #5: Always pre-screen for a guy that may develop diabetes 2 years down the road.

Hollywood Bags
02-26-2008, 11:34 PM
If colbert goes WR in rd 1, he will have officially garnered Matt millen type status.

Serious question Bubster. If Colbert drafts a WR in round 1 and then 3 other players that subsequently make all pro, does Colbert then become a very good GM in your fucked up eyes or is he still a bum ?

Smidrow
02-26-2008, 11:41 PM
Manningham is too small to be that slow.

Hardy kicked ass. I would love to grab him in Round 1, Zuttah at OT in Round 2 and best available Guard in Round 3. That would be a dream. Then sign a FA Center and I may mess my pants.

I agree. Who cares that he runs a 4.6 forty. The kid can flat play!!! I also like the kid from Oklahoma as well.

Vader
02-27-2008, 12:37 AM
This team has enough needs it doesn't need to reach for an OL if the top guys aren't there. This draft is deep in OL so if we take a great DL or WR I'm okay. Just get the best player at a needed position.

Mike64
02-27-2008, 01:05 AM
Hardy or Campbell or Merling would be fine first round picks by me so as long as the offensive tackles are off the board as is expected. I must say though, the idea of Stewart in the backfield with Willie has me dreaming.

Sabin
02-27-2008, 02:40 AM
Hardy or Campbell or Merling would be fine first round picks by me so as long as the offensive tackles are off the board as is expected. I must say though, the idea of Stewart in the backfield with Willie has me dreaming.


I came across an article last night that listed Merling as one of the D-linemen whose stock dropped from his combine performance. I don't think he ran, and didn't have as many reps on the bench press as the scouts would've like. Other than that.I don't know anything about the kid. I'll post the link if can find it.

EDIT: found the link. http://www.draftinsiders.com/node/323

Parasite
02-27-2008, 09:56 AM
Is there a chance Hardy will still be there around picks 29-35? If so, I might want to trade down and grab an extra 3rd or so. If we end up targetting Hardy.

FlaStGrad
02-27-2008, 11:00 AM
Don't forget #5: Always pre-screen for a guy that may develop diabetes 2 years down the road.

And #6... Height, weight, and 40 times are irrelivent if the player has a big head... literally.