Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Preview

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} The Pittsburgh Steelers will undoubtedly remain on their usual game plan come this weekend’s draft. The defending champion Steelers lost only one starter on defence. Some needs the Steelers can address are another CB, the OL and perhaps another wide receiver for depth, although in years past, the Steelers always take the best all round athlete available at that time. The question is; will things change this time around?   I have held discussions for just over a month with fellow Steeler brass on who we believe the Steelers will choose in the 1st round this weekend and it is pretty across the board on who we believe they will pick. Sure, there was some discussion on guys like Darius Butler, a CB out of UConn who impressed the Steelers at the combine, but it is believed within the Steelers camp that he will not be available when it comes time to pick.   Gerry Dulac, of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette believes the Steelers are going to take Fili Moala, a defensive tackle from Southern Cal, who also impressed at the combine, as well as during their invited meeting. Moala would fit nicely into the Steelers 3-4 defence and would be added depth for a somewhat aging core, but I don't think the Steelers go DL in the first round.   Other players to be mentioned in discussions were Eben Britton, OT, Arizona, Ziggy Hood, DE, Missouri, Brian Robiskie, WR, Ohio State, Max Unger, C/G, Oregon and Eric Wood, C/G, Louisville. However, the player that continues to be mentioned and that would make the most sense for the Pittsburgh Steelers is center Alex Mack. Mack would give the Steelers their Center for years to come. Hartwig could move to the left or right side, a position better suited for his size, would also offer the Steelers an extremely reliable back-up. So with their first round pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers select Alex Mack!!!   Mack Highlights: One of the best centers in the country with a long list of awards by his name ... recipient of the Draddy Trophy as college football's top scholar-athlete, an award that includes a $25,000 postgraduate scholarship ... named the Pac-10 Scholar-Athlete of the Year for football ... selected a first-team All-American by Rivals.com ... also chosen a second-team All-American by Walter Camp and the Sporting News and a third-team All-American by the Associated Press ... won the Morris Trophy as the best offensive lineman in the Pac-10 (as voted by Pac-10 defensive linemen) for the second year in a row, just the third player to receive the award twice ... a finalist for the Rimington Trophy given to the top center in college football ... also a finalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for academic and athletic accomplishment ... named a semifinalist for the Rotary Lombardi Award ... earned first-team All-Pac-10 and Pac-10 All-Academic notice ... chosen a first-team mid-season All-American by the Sporting News and College Football News ... Cal's Co-Offensive MVP ... received the team's Schlessinger Coaches Award, which recognizes outstanding athletic ability, academic success and community service ...had three pancakes and four knockdowns in the opener against Michigan State ... registered five pancakes and four knockdowns against Arizona State ... tallied a season-high six pancakes against Stanford ... prior to the year, selected to the Playboy Preseason All-American Team ... has the top clean all-time at Cal (all positions) at 374 pounds.