Official Pittsburgh Steelers Thread

K Train · Apr 26, 2008

Mendenhall....i love it, i seriously freaking love it. Best player available is always the way to go and theres no way he should have been there. Now we have a badass in the backfield, something we havent had in a while lol

Dougerrrr · Apr 26, 2008

Very happy that Mendenhall is a Steeler. Excellent choice. This guy has a total package and can carry the load.

reigningblkngold · Apr 26, 2008

DON'T KNOW ALOT ABOUT HIM I HOPE HES WORTH NUMBER ONE!

Crowned · Apr 26, 2008

Mendenhall + Sweed I love that I just really hope the moves we make in our offensive line during the off-season are enough since obviously we won't be addressing it via the draft since all the good OTs went quick as crap.

K Train · Apr 26, 2008

our oline is in decent shape and dont be surprised at carl nicks or barry richardson tomorrow

Dougerrrr · Apr 26, 2008

Doesn't always have to be a huge name to be a steady o-lineman. I like the first two picks. Let's see what tomorrow brings.

wide right · Apr 26, 2008

Good first day of the draft for the Steelers.

mike oxlong · Apr 26, 2008

especially at guard, there are plenty of guys that get taken late that turn out great, plus a guy like Tony Hills is still out there for tackles

86WARD · Apr 27, 2008

Loved Day One.

K Train said: ↑

Mendenhall....i love it, i seriously freaking love it. Best player available is always the way to go and theres no way he should have been there. Now we have a badass in the backfield, something we havent had in a while lol
Click to expand...

I love the pick. I was hesitant at first, but within 10 minutes, I loved it. Limas Sweed? Awesome. They definitely got the best value for their picks. I love that they took the best available player in Mendenhall with their pick.

I heard an interview with Tomlin and they had a chart with 15 players on it. If all of those players were gone, they were going to trade out of that spot and down into the second round. He said that when Dallas picked Felix Jones, their war room erupted in cheer that Mendenhall was still available. He did say they got a few offers for that 23 pick.

ABSOLUTELY loved the Limas Sweed pick. The guy could be the best WR in the draft!

Today I am looking for a little secondary help. Maybe a Tom Zbikowski after they trade Polamalu away. Wouldn't mind Reggie Smith or perhaps a Justin King at CB. Even that kid from Iowa, Godfrey.

I still want to see them draft an O-lineman. Roy Schuening is still available at G - I was reading up on him. He's not a bad player. Could possibly be the second rated guard in the draft. He's Albert's size, very durable. Need a little work. As a bonus, he's got one of those "Steelers Names."

:TTW:

Crowned · Apr 27, 2008

BRUCE DAVIS

Linebacker

University of California-Los Angeles

6:02.5-252

Houston, Texas

Clear Creek High School

3rd Round – 88th Overall

OVERVIEW

Having patterned his style of play after Miami’s Jason Taylor, Davis showed during Senior Bowl practices that he might still be raw playing linebacker, but also displayed the athleticism and urgency in his play to do whatever it takes to get to the quarterback on a regular basis…despite giving up more than 50 pounds weekly to the offensive tackles he faced, would finish his career ranked second in school history with 29 quarterback sacks and third with 42.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage…at Clear Creek High School, Davis received a six-star prospect rating from Max Emfinger’s recruiting service and earned All-American accolades, in addition to being ranked 19th among the nation’s defensive ends, according to Tom Lemming…added Super Prep All-American and All-Southwest/Texas honors, as that recruiting service rated him the 20th-best over-all prospect in the state…the Prep Star All-American selection added All-Greater Houston area and All-League recognition as a senior…that season, recorded 65 tackles (50 solos), 12 quarterback sacks and 17 stops for losses…as a junior, registered 32 tackles, including eight sacks…he also lettered in track, competing in the long jump…originally agreed to attend the University of Arkansas, but later changed his mind and enrolled at his father’s alma mater UCLA (Bruce, Sr., was a member of two Super Bowl championship teams, playing offensive tackle with the Raiders (1979-87) and Houston Oilers (1987-89)…during the 2003 season, redshirted as a defensive end for the Bruins…the following season, started the team’s first two games at right defensive end, sharing that position with Justin Hickman and Brigham Harwell the rest of the year…posted 17 tackles (11 solos) with 2.5 sacks and broke up one pass…shifted to strong-side outside linebacker prior to the 2005 campaign…due to injuries, also competed at defensive end that year…in 12 contests as a reserve, was in on 28 tackles (17 solos) with a pair of sacks and six stops for losses…also caused a fumble and showed his pass coverage skills by deflecting four throws…back at right defensive end, the coaching staff unleashed Davis while moving Hickman over to the left side…both of those players ended up with the team and Pac-10 Conference lead, while ranking fourth nationally with 12.5 sacks, the third-best season total in school annals…Davis ranked second in the league with 17.5 stops behind the line of scrimmage and produced 47 tackles (35 solos) while causing three fumbles and recovering two others…even though he earned first-team All-American honors from College Football News, the league’s coaches only selected him to the All-Pac 10 Conference second-team…as a senior, garnered All-American second-team and All-Pac 10 first-team honors…started all year at right end, pacing the league while ranking ninth nationally with 12 sacks…led the Bruins with 15.5 stops for losses, as he caused two fumbles and recovered another…broke up nine passes and registered 45 tackles (32 solos)…in 50 games at UCLA, started 28 contests at right defensive end…recorded 137 tackles (95 solos) with 29 sacks for minus 170 yards and 42.5 stops for losses of 229 yards…posted five quarterback pressures and deflected 17 passes…caused six fumbles and recovered three others, returning two for a total of 20 yards.

CAREER NOTES

Davis ranks second in school history with 29 quarterback sacks, topped only by David Ball’s 30.5 (2000-03)…his 42.5 stops for losses rank third in school annals behind Ball (43.5) and Carnell Lake (45.5, 1985-88)…his 17.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in 2006 rank ninth and his 15.5 stops for losses in 2007 rank 10th on the school’s season-record list…His 12.5 sacks in 2006 tied Justin Hickman (2006) and Donnie Edwards (1994) for third on UCLA’s season-record chart, topped by Dave Ball (16.5 in 2003) and Carnell Lake (13 in 1987).
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Source: steelers.com

I'm thinking in a few seasons we will look back on this as a key pick, don't know why he just feels like a wildcard pick that will pay off.

Dougerrrr · Apr 27, 2008

Overview
Hills is a former tight end who overcame a devastating injury that threatened his career during his high school days to go on and start 24 of his final 42 games with the Longhorns. Unfortunately, his college career would also be cut short due to a broken fibula in his left leg. He had made a smooth transition to left tackle from tight end as a redshirt freshman and proved to be a capable replacement for former All-American Jonathan Scott.

Hills was a three-year starter as a tight end at Alief Elsik High School, where he twice earned All-Greater Houston and All-District honors. A Parade All-America selection who added Class 5A third-team All-State recognition as a senior, he added second-team All-State accolades during his junior campaign.

Hills averaged 17.9 yards on 28 receptions his final two seasons. As a senior, he caught 15 passes for 275 yards for a team that reached the 5A Division I semifinals, but sustained a serious left knee injury in the first half of that contest. He also totaled 13 receptions for 227 yards and a touchdown as a junior. Before giving up basketball prior to his freshman year, he had earned a spot on the U.S. Junior National team.

Because of his knee injury, Hills was granted a medical hardship in 2003 at Texas, giving him time to recover from reconstructive surgery that repaired nerve damage in his knee. Doctors originally feared his playing days were over, but a grueling rehabilitation program saw Hills return to the field in 2004.

As a redshirt freshman, Hills shifted to left tackle. He appeared in seven games on offense and special teams in 2004, competing for playing time. He was part of a line that cleared the way for Texas to rank second in the nation in rushing (299.2 ypg), seventh in total offense (464.4 ypg) and 18th in scoring (35.3 ppg).

In 2005, Hills was a valuable reserve, seeing action in 11 games as Jonathan Scott's caddy at left tackle. That year, the line was responsible for the Longhorns ranking first in the nation in scoring offense (50.2 ppg), second in rushing offense (274.9 ypg) and third in total offense (512.1 ypg).

With Scott gone to the National Football League, Hills stepped into the starting lineup in 2006. He was an All-Big 12 Conference honorable mention and earned a spot on ESPN's All-Mayday Team for being one of college football's "Toughest of the Tough," in addition to being named one of UT's Most Improved Offensive Players. With Hills clearing the way, Texas gained 162.6 rushing yards per game (34th NCAA), 391.5 total yards per game (23rd NCAA) and scored 35.9 points per game (seventh NCAA).

In 2007, Hills earned Walter Camp All-American first-team and was named to the All-Big 12 Conference first-team squad. He started the first 11 games at left tackle before he broke a bone in his left leg. In the 11 games with Hills at left tackle, the team averaged 471.5 yards in total offense and 265.2 yards passing per game, while allowing an average of 1.9 sacks. With Hills on the sideline, the offense averaged 415.5 yards in total offense, 201.5 yards passing and three sacks per contest.

Career Notes
In 24 games starting at left tackle, Hills graded 83.21 percent for blocking consistency on 1,681 snaps...Registered 131 knockdowns with 17 touchdown-resulting blocks, as he allowed just four sacks and seven pressures on 743 pass plays.

High School
Attended Alief Elsik (Houston, Texas) High School, playing football for head coach Bill Barron...Three-year starter as a tight end...Twice earned All-Greater Houston and All-District honors...Parade All-America selection who added Class 5A third-team All-State recognition as a senior...Second-team All-State choice during his junior year...Averaged 17.9 yards on 28 receptions his final two seasons...As a senior, he caught 15 passes for 275 yards for a team that reached the 5A Division I semifinals, but sustained a serious left knee injury in the first half of that contest...Totaled 13 receptions for 227 yards and a touchdown as a junior...Before giving up basketball prior to his freshman year, he had earned a spot on the U.S. Junior National team.

Copyright NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.
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LINK:http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/tony-hills?id=258

Looks like a pick with possibilities but it does look like he's had some tough luck with injuries. Addressed the o-line need though.

86WARD · Apr 27, 2008

Let's hope he got the injury bug out of his system...

Looks like a lot of potential in Hills.

Dougerrrr · Apr 27, 2008

Doesn't look like a bug just some really tough luck. Blew out a knee in high school and broken leg in college. Doesn't sound like nagging injuries just two really bad ones.

86WARD · Apr 27, 2008

Well let's hope he's gotten all his "injuries" out of his system.

I really really like the Steelers draft so far...exceptional!

Dougerrrr · Apr 27, 2008

Agreed 86...nice draft on paper.

Crowned · Apr 27, 2008

I want Steelers to get Trae Williams here

86WARD · Apr 27, 2008

Has Schuening been taken? Everything I've read has him ranked as the Number 2 Guard in the draft...

I wouldn't mind Williams though...

Crowned · Apr 27, 2008

No he hasn't been drafted yet.

86WARD · Apr 27, 2008

I am not a big fan of the Dennis Dixon pick...

There were better players that would've added better depth than taking Dixon...

Anidem · Apr 27, 2008

More of the same. Decent day one, complete collapse in day 2.

Almost completely ignored both lines. Waste.

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