Round 1 and 2 pick haters

[5RINGS]

Simple. Who would you have taken?

[FlaStGrad]

Mendenhall and Sweed. Too bad we weren't that lucky!

[blitz]

i would never have thought before the draft we would have gone rb/wr. but looking at how the draft went i really cant think of anyone better. i wish we had gotten groves but he was gone. sweed was best available

[Miller]

Merling. He fits in perfectly for us as a 3-4 end and would have gone waaay higher if not for injury. Barring that: Flowers, Cason or Jenkins. Phillips even. Maybe I would have held my nose, wished on a star and taken Balmer. Though in any case, at least we won't have to draft a backup running back for the next few years. So we at least have that base covered.

I'm fine with the Sweed pick. Especially after Jax jumped in to steal Groves. I might have been fine with Sweed in the 1st, all things considered.

Let me ask a question: did anyone who loves the Mendenhall pick really think one of our needs on the first day was to pick up a better backup than Davenport?

[DerbyCityBNGfan]

Jenkins is the only one I have reservations about, but I am thrilled with Mendenhall. I knew once Dallas had gone that he was ours.

[Thorndike]

I'm not a hater at all, but I was wanting to hear Jenkins called instead of Mendenhall. But I can certainly live with these picks.

[kurtistb]

Cason is my favorite corner in the draft (kind of scary that he's in SD now) and Merling intrigued me however all that changed when what some call the best RB in the draft is still on the board at pick 23. Not to mention I am one of those people that believes a back that gets 150+ touches in a season a a bit more than "a backup". I looked at Najeh as a backup I look at Mendenhall and Parker as more of a two headed monster. As a firm believer that Willie gets too many carries I see value in him offloading a fair percentage of his carries to someone else. IMO this leads to fresher legs for Parker later in the year and also a prolonged career.

[InBamaNow]

Maybe Mike Jenkins instead of Mendenhall... I thought he would have went earlier... but Mendenhall was a great value and nothing wrong with the pick. Day 2 will be mostly Defense though... maybe a tackle/guard in the later picks.

[BLITZ 43]

I'm not a hater at all, but I was wanting to hear Jenkins called instead of Mendenhall. But I can certainly live with these picks.

I felt the same way and was hoping not to hear Balmers name. With Mendenhall sitting there it is hard to pass.

[The Iron is Steel On!]

Let me ask a question: did anyone who loves the Mendenhall pick really think one of our needs on the first day was to pick up a better backup than Davenport?

I did!

Balmer makes me think of Orien Harris.

[5RINGS]

We got two top 10 picks on day one. Can't beat that.

[konasteel]

i love these picks... but i'm not "in" love with them. we needed to balance the running attack 4sure and rm does that.. but having to draft a running back in the first round when you have a young probowl back already kinda suks. but as coach said he can run inside as well as he runs outside and can go the distance. i personally liked hester from LSU in a later round. not a big fan of sweed coming into this draft... i was hoping kelly would fall to us. i thought we could get paul hubbard from wisc in a later round and he is every bit as good as sweed. but these guys will do well im' sure. gooooo steelerssssssssssss

[TMC]

Let me ask a question: did anyone who loves the Mendenhall pick really think one of our needs on the first day was to pick up a better backup than Davenport?

I have argued many times that we should not rule out the possibility of drafting a RB in the first, although most of those arguments revolved around Stewart, not Mendenhall.

And, I'll reiterate my point, the backup RB, if he is worth anything at all, will touch the ball at least 100 times a season. There are not many starting WRs that touch the ball that much. And, it wears defenses down because when you run in the backup, they cannot relax. They cannot sub in a couple DBs and rest their bigger players because you can bust them up with the backup. It is really something we have lacked since Bettis retired.

Now, am I against taking an OL? Nope. A DL? Nope. An OLB? Nope...but I think if you start ruling out positions, then you start locking into others and overdrafting. I cannot believe that Houston actually felt Duane Brown was worthy of a first round pick.

IMO, this may turn out to be one of the better drafts we have saw. If both players turn out like we expect, then we have three skill position guys for the next 5-10 years (including Ben).

[BLITZ 43]

I have argued many times that we should not rule out the possibility of drafting a RB in the first, although most of those arguments revolved around Stewart, not Mendenhall.

And, I'll reiterate my point, the backup RB, if he is worth anything at all, will touch the ball at least 100 times a season. There are not many starting WRs that touch the ball that much. And, it wears defenses down because when you run in the backup, they cannot relax. They cannot sub in a couple DBs and rest their bigger players because you can bust them up with the backup. It is really something we have lacked since Bettis retired.

Now, am I against taking an OL? Nope. A DL? Nope. An OLB? Nope...but I think if you start ruling out positions, then you start locking into others and overdrafting. I cannot believe that Houston actually felt Duane Brown was worthy of a first round pick.

IMO, this may turn out to be one of the better drafts we have saw. If both players turn out like we expect, then we have three skill position guys for the next 5-10 years (including Ben).


I agree and I think Houston got caught in the oline run in the first, when Cherlius was picked and Baker went I was worried the Steelers would get caught up it it. I love these picks and there are still some good OT's to be had on day 2 that will help us.

[Blind Official]

Let me ask a question: did anyone who loves the Mendenhall pick really think one of our needs on the first day was to pick up a better backup than Davenport?

Yes, as evidenced by the Stewart threads

[BlkNGoldBlood10]

We got two top 10 picks on day one. Can't beat that.

EXACTLY!!! We have had the best draft hands down...We really loaded up our OFFENSIVE ARSENAL!

[konasteel]

Especially after Jax jumped in to steal Groves.

i'm getting a little tired of wanta bes jumping up to draft "steeler" guys everybody knows we want. last year is was the jets and now the jags. revis and groves would have been great additions to our defense. hopefully sweed will have more impact than timmons has had. i don't know if we should be more alert to this and trade up ourselves. seems to me we shouldn't worry about packaging up a couple of lower picks to get the guy we want in the higher rounds... not many guys we have drafted in the lower rounds over the last few year are having much impact anyway.

[SteelerAl]

i don't know if we should be more alert to this and trade up ourselves. seems to me we shouldn't worry about packaging up a couple of lower picks to get the guy we want in the higher rounds... not many guys we have drafted in the lower rounds over the last few year are having much impact anyway.

Well, we've traded up in the past (for better or for worse) with Polamlau, Colclough, Holmes, K. Bell etc.

This year we have too many needs and not enough holes to move up. Next year at least we'll get a comp pick for Faneca.

[konasteel]

Especially after Jax jumped in to steal Groves.

i'm getting a little tired of wanta bes jumping up to draft "steeler" guys everybody knows we want. last year is was the jets and now the jags. revis and groves would have been great additions to our defense. hopefully sweed will have more impact than timmons has had. i don't know if we should be more alert to this and trade up ourselves. seems to me we shouldn't worry about packaging up a couple of lower picks to get the guy we want in the higher rounds... not many guys we have drafted in the lower rounds over the last few year are having much impact anyway.

[Vis Major]

i'm getting a little tired of wanta bes jumping up to draft "steeler" guys everybody knows we want. last year is was the jets and now the jags. revis and groves would have been great additions to our defense. hopefully sweed will have more impact than timmons has had. i don't know if we should be more alert to this and trade up ourselves. seems to me we shouldn't worry about packaging up a couple of lower picks to get the guy we want in the higher rounds... not many guys we have drafted in the lower rounds over the last few year are having much impact anyway.

The wanta be, as you put it, beat the Steelers how many times last year?

[CLUTCH]

We can't argue with the talent we got with these two picks; not necessary needs but great value for whatever that is worth; the Sweed pick probably helps us more right away than anything else so far in this draft (we still need a pass rush specialist and o-line help) imagine Big Ben scrambling around and hitting Sweed down field; our QB is real happy right about now believe that........

[Turbo Pig]

Knock it the hell off... This is our best 1st day in forever...

ANYONE that thinks we should have taken an OL at either pick with what was left on the board is a flipping moron... And that is not even debatable... Only an idiot would want to reach for a 3rd or 4th rounder at those spots... If we went OL at 23, we would be reaching deep into second day OL pools... Do you guys not realize that we are just as likely to get a future starter in the 5th round as the 1st on the OL with what was left... Who did you want us to pick oh wiseman (sarcasm) of the board, please tell me who we should have right now instead of Mendenhall and Sweed? Quit writing checks with out backing it up with alternatives that made sense to you

[Hines57]

We needed to add depth to our OL, DL and at DB. Mendenhall fills none of those needs. I'm cool with Sweed

[Turbo Pig]

We needed to add depth to our OL, DL and at DB. Mendenhall fills none of those needs. I'm cool with Sweed

read the post above yours... Who should we have drafted then in the first?

[Secret Santa]

read the post above yours... Who should we have drafted then in the first?

I wasn't happy that we took an RB. After looking back, I imagine the trade down opportunities vanished when the falcons had already traded up ahead of us. The OL (and other needs) talent at that point was, as you say, not #23 material.

I'm cautiously optimistic that the combo of Parker/Mendenhall will make our OL look better cause folks just will NOT be able to stop the run and that will give us a better chance at passing. I also think that replacing our center makes our OL already considerably better. Maybe our OL looked so bad last year cause the better guys were having to make up for terrible play next to them. I hope so.

Very happy with Sweed in the second. Maybe it was a steal.

[Smooth Criminal]

The only player that would have been alright at 23 would be Mike Jenkins who is a great corner.

But I'm vert happy with who we got. Parker/Mendenhall should be a great rushing attack and carry the ball more than last year. That alone will keep Ben off his ass better than last season.

[pete]

I really think Mendenhall is going to go down as one of the best RBs in Steeler history.

Better than Bettis.

[FlaStGrad]

I really think Mendenhall is going to go down as one of the best RBs in Steeler history.

Better than Bettis.

When Mendenhall holds up the Lombardi Trophy, then let's discuss. Until then, you are officially insane! Call the men in white... padded cell, here you come!

[markymarc]

I love these 2 picks. Now granted it would have been nice to add OL, but at 1.23 it would have been a reach for anyone who was left. Medenhall who was a top ten pick fell into our laps at 1.23. You can't pass on talent like that. Also, we were very lucky to have Sweedy fall to us in the 2nd round. I was very happy with our 2008 draft.

[FistfullofRings]

Until the Steelers draft for need they will never be successful... like the Houston Texans who drafted Duane Brown... I guess because he was the next OL available.

[crimsonsteel]

In the "Who Don't you want" thread before the draft, I said RB w/ the first pick. I also wanted Groves over Sweed. As it unfolded, I was extremely happy with the fact that our FO went for value with Mendenhall and when Groves was snatched from our grasp, I was pleased with the Sweed pick.

To me the Sweed pick is looking better and better. Our situation at LB and WR are very similar, solid starters, one vet and one young guy, and now we've bolstered both of those positions with solid young players in Sweed and Davis. ( I know we're only talking Rounds 1 & 2, sorry ).

Kudos to the FO for landing 2 to maybe 4 players who could end up being long time starters. ( fingers crossed )

[CoolieMan]

They took the best available player in both rounds...I am very pleased....

[Andymisiu]

Merling. He fits in perfectly for us as a 3-4 end and would have gone waaay higher if not for injury. Barring that: Flowers, Cason or Jenkins. Phillips even. Maybe I would have held my nose, wished on a star and taken Balmer. Though in any case, at least we won't have to draft a backup running back for the next few years. So we at least have that base covered.

I'm fine with the Sweed pick. Especially after Jax jumped in to steal Groves. I might have been fine with Sweed in the 1st, all things considered.

Let me ask a question: did anyone who loves the Mendenhall pick really think one of our needs on the first day was to pick up a better backup than Davenport?

Sorry dude, but we amounted to nothing when Parker went down. Two backs is what it takes in todays NFL. We took the best talent on the board and didn't reach for a need as you would suggest we do.

[Andymisiu]

We needed to add depth to our OL, DL and at DB. Mendenhall fills none of those needs. I'm cool with Sweed

DL can wait another year, OL isn't as bad as everyone thinks, did you happen to see how well we played offense last year? I thought safety was of bigger concern than Corner conidering we have McFadden and Gay who will play very well this year. RB is something we needed for sure!! and something that will destroy other teams.

[Doc]

I'll admit I was a bit horrified when I heard RB in the first round. But after taking a step back and looking at what happened in front of us, we would have been fools to pass him by.

[BermudaSteel]

We got two top 10 picks on day one. Can't beat that.

Nuff said.

[Lorak]

I am very happy with the way Day 1 of the draft went. I was really hoping for OL, but nobody was left that was worth picks when our time came up.

Both Mendenhall and Sweed should be impact players this year. Everyone is pimping Woodly like mad after his very limited playing time last year. Both of these picks will see way more playing time that he did his first year.

[greatness74]

I am 100% satisfied with this years draft! We paid Ben $102 Million and now we are giving him the weapons he deserves. We are truely building this team around him and for $102 mil we had better. I would have like to see some O Line Help but honestly I think the line will hold up for Ben...

Marvel Smith - Willie Colon - Justin Hartwig - Kendall Simmons - Max Starks
Trey Essex Chris Kemoeatu Darnell Stapleton Sean Mahan Tony Hills

We now have improved an already good running game, and Willie and Rashard will be an awesome duo. We are now stacked at RB...

Willie Parker - Rashard Mendenhall - Mewelde Moore - Gary Russell - Najeh Davenport - Carey Davis

We have an awesome WR/TE Corps that will be extremly hard to stop...

Hines Ward - Santonio Holmes - Limas Sweed - Nate Washington - Willie Reid - Jeremy Bloom - Dennis Dixon (the next Randle El, only Dixon is 6'4") - Heath Miller - Matt Speath

Our Offense is going to be incredible this season, not to mention that we did have the #1 Defense last year as well. The only real loss is Haggans and I consider Woodley to be a big time upgrade at OLB.

Aaron Smith - Casey Hampton - Brett Keisel

LaMarr Woodley - James Farrior - Foote/Timmons - James Harrison

Ike Taylor - Troy Polamalu - Clark/Smith - Deshea Townsend

We will be sitting pretty this season...I just hope special teams will pull their weight.