2016 Steelers offseason thread

[3Rivers]

And the idea of having 3 good DL is intriguing

And I think that's how they are looking at him as. At least that's the idea I get from what the visits/beat writers opinions, etc. Heyward/Billings/Tuitt/McCullers would be a pretty good front imo. Still need to solve our S/CB issues though

 

[basketball reasons]

I like what I seen from Billings but I'm not sure a 3-4 NT is worth a 1st round pick anymore, unless he's a Dontari Poe type and i dunno if I see that from Billings. But they seem to paying him a lot of attention like you said, and I would probably rather have him round one over Apple or Fuller if it came down to it.


And the idea of having 3 good DL is intriguing

I think he played a big number of snaps for baylor. Hes a good enough pass rusher even now to play in our nickle, which was hurt last year by only being able to keep 2 de's on the field. If he can play 60% of the snaps this year hes the pick.

 

[General Mills]

Would have been ok with him back as a 4th DB but this is fine too

 

[3Rivers]

 

[3Rivers]

Our pre draft visits thus far

Steelers 2016 Pre Draft Visit Tracker - Steelers Depot
Reportedly Scheduled Or Visited
WR Tyler Boyd – Pittsburgh – Speculated (LOCAL VISIT) – March 16th
TE J.P. Holtz – Speculated (LOCAL VISIT) – March 16th
T Jerald Hawkins – LSU – Scheduled for March 31st
S Jayron Kearse – Clemson – Scheduled for unknown date
CB Tavon Young – Temple – Scheduled for unknown date
CB Ryan Smith – North Carolina Central – Scheduled for unknown date
CB Jonathan Jones – Auburn –Scheduled for unknown date

2016 NFL Draft Prospect Tracker: Who the Pittsburgh Steelers have met with leading up to the draft
USC QB, Cody Kessler (Senior Bowl)
San Jose State RB, Tyler Ervin (Combine)
Stanford TE, Austin Hooper (Combine)
Penn State DE, Carl Nassib (Combine)
Duke S, Jeremy Cash (Combine)
Louisiana Tech DE/NT, Vernon Butler (Combine)
Oregon QB, Vernon Adams (Combine)
Clemson CB, Mackensie Alexander (Combine)
USC LB/S, Su'a Cravens (Combine)
Clemson OLB/DE, Shaq Lawson (Combine)
Mississippi State QB, Dak Prescott (Combine)
Southeastern Louisiana CB, Harlan Miller (Combine)
Ohio State OT, Taylor Decker (Pro Day)
Tulsa DE, Derrick Alexander Jr. (Pro Day)
Colorado State CB, DeAndre Elliott (Pro Day)

 

[3Rivers]

 

[DonKnock]

Any background on Ricardo Mathews?

 

[3Rivers]

Any background on Ricardo Mathews?

 

[DonKnock]

Less than ideal. Gonna have to look into this, hold up



Update:

From Pro Football Talk

The Steelers need to do most of the work on their secondary, but they’ve added some depth to their defensive line.

The team announced they had signed defensive end Ricardo Mathews to a one-year contract.

Mathews started seven games for the Chargers last year, but is a depth addition for the Steelers.

He was originally a seventh-round pick of the Colts, and played his first four years there, before signing with the Chargers in 2014.

Just for depth, shouldn't be too risky

 

[DonKnock]

On Monday, we passed along the news that Pittsburgh Steelers unrestricted free agent h-back Will Johnsonhad a agreed to a two-year contract with the New York Giants and on Tuesday, the former undrafted free agent out of West Virginia bid farewell to Steelers fans via a classy post on his Instagram account.

#SteelerNation, first I would like to say thank you to the Rooney family, Coach Tomlin, Kevin Colbert and the entire #Steelers organization for the opportunity to play in the National Football League. They took a chance on me when no one else would, and for that, I am forever grateful. Next, I would like to thank my coaches, teammates and SteelerNation, some of the very best fans in football, for welcoming me. It's been a fun Journey in which I've made great relationships and memories that will last a lifetime. @steelers

While Johnson’s role in the Steelers offense was very limited during his four seasons in Pittsburgh, he was always a model player who was always willing to do the dirty work. Johnson also exhibited a good character during his time in Pittsburgh.

Johnson’s backstory as to how he ultimately made the team’s 53-man roster back in 2012 is certainly a unique and inspirational one and it started with him impressing Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during the West Virginia pro day that year as a tryout candidate. You see, Johnson did not receive a training camp invite from any team after going undrafted in 2011, so he sat out the entire season and proceeded to work three jobs while continuing to train for an opportunity.

The Steelers signed Johnson to futures contract after that 2012 pro day workout and against all odds he wound up making the team’s 53-man roster that year out of training camp. Johnson then went on to dress for all but one regular-season game for the Steelers over the course of the four years he was in Pittsburgh.

Johnson will now attempt to make the Giants 53-man roster this year as a role player on offense and special teams contributor. The fact that New York gave him a two-year contract bodes well for him in his attempt to do just that and we wish him well in his endeavours.

 

[DonKnock]

D Will making the rounds on SportsCenter and other ESPN programs

 

[3Rivers]

 

[DonKnock]

The Terrible Podcast guys name dropped my high school teammate Caleb Benenoch as a possible pick in the late rounds


:DKMike:I'm so proud right now, these are MJCry tears of joy brehs

Please do it Steelers

 

[3Rivers]

Today's visits

 

[DonKnock]

Today's visits

I like the position make up of that list

Y'all think there's any chance Nkemdiche will drop because of his hotel incident?