2007 NFL Draft Preview....Posted Afterwards

As the 2007 NFL Draft is quickly approaching (only 10 more excruciating days), I felt it was time to kick start the Three Hamiltons blog, especially considering the place it holds in my sporting heart. I thought my format last year worked out okay, so I’m rolling with the same thing this year. Again, I’ll be focusing on the first draft of the Mike Tomlin era in Steeltown. This draft is crucial in adding some depth to bounce back from a topsy-turvy 2006 campaign. Looking back on last year’s picks, this exercise is in vain, but it is fun anyway.

1st round: Paul Posluszny (OLB – the ol’ Alma Mater)

Comment: As I’m sure everyone is sick of hearing me say, there is no player that is a better fit for everything that Mike Tomlin is going to instill in this Steelers team. Toughness – check. Ridiculous Work Ethic – check. Proto-typical WLB in the Tampa 2 – MAJOR check. Intelligent, High Character, Smart, yada, yada, yada – check, check, check. Tomlin seems like a no-nonsense, smart man. I just think this pick is a no-brainer, and I’m fully aware of my absolute subjectivity on the matter from both sides. That’s my story though, and I’m sticking to it. I just refuse to resign myself to the fact that they could pick someone else. It’s not happening.

2nd round: Dwayne Jarrett (WR - USC), Brian Leonard (RB – Rutgers), Tony Hunt (RB – Penn State), Justin Blalock (OL – Texas), Craig Davis (WR – LSU), or Sydney Rice (WR – South Carolina)

Comments: This 2^nd round pick was the toughest for me to pinpoint. This draft seems really deep from late 1^st to mid-3^rd, so there are going to be some talented players here. The national media has had rumblings of Jarrett falling recently, but I cannot see him dropping to #46. That being said, he would be amazing as the final link in the Steelers new 4 WR offense under new offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. They clearly will be targeting WRs because of this slight shift in offensive philosophy, and given the WR talent available in this slot, this pick seems like the logical place. Rice and Davis are both the type of tall, deep threat WRs that would compliment the gritty Hines Ward and quick Santonio Holmes. That being said, I think Brian Leonard would be a great “Ultraback” player to compliment Fast Willie Parker (God bless Raymont Harris, wherever you are). Leonard is a strong enough runner to spell Parker for 8-12 carries a game, and he is the ideal 3^rd down back given his pass-catching and pass blocking skills. Deuce Davenport is a solid # 3 back and special teams contributor, but they need a big, strong runner to compliment Parker’s speed. The offense clearly was lacking last year without that power running presence that the Bus brought to the table. Hunt could also be a possibility here, given his inside, power running abilities. He is not a #1 back, but would be an ideal #2 power back in the Steelers offense.

3rd round: Chris Henry (RB - Arizona), Jonathan Wade (CB – Tennessee), Quentin Moses (DE – Georgia), or LaMarr Woodley (DE/OLB – Michigan)

Comments: Henry’s size (230)/speed (4.38) combination at the combine really intrigues me, but his college stats seem very sparse. This pick really is contingent on the 2^nd round pick. I cannot see them getting through the first four rounds without taking a LB, RB, and WR. That being said, if some talent at CB (Wade), DE (Moses) or LB (Woodley) slide to this part of the 3^rd round, it would make sense to grab them. These three particular players were all high performers at major programs and would be a good fit for the Steelers slight shift in defensive scheme.

4th round (a): Daniel Sepulveda (P – Baylor), Kareem Brown (DT – the U), or Kevin Kolb (QB - Houston)

Comments: Punter Chris Gardocki has long outlived his usefulness, so, barring Josh Miller getting cut by New England, it makes sense to take a shot on a kid like Sepulveda. He is a 2-time winner of the Ray Guy award, and you have to figure at Baylor he got a lot of practice. Brown has all the talent to be a disruptive force spelling both Casey Hampton and Aaron Smith, considering the DL really lacks depth as currently configured. The Kolb selection could be a very solid long-term back-up solution at QB and fits with my adoption of the Ron Wolf philosophy of drafting QBs to develop and use later as trade bait.

4th round (b): Dwayne Wright (RB – Fresno State), Jon Abbate (LB – Wake Forest), or James Marten (OT - BC)

Comments: Again, Wright’s size and battering ram style are intriguing as a complement to Parker. Abbate again fits the blue collar LB style syonomous with the Steelers and has the look of a very strong special teams contributor. Marvel Smith’s age necessitates the adding of some OT depth, and Marten looks like another in a long line of solid OL from the Boston College program.

Late Round Flyers: Tyler Palko (QB - Pitt), Jason Snelling (RB - Virginia), Zac DeOssie (LB - Brown), or Jacoby Jones (WR - Lane)