The general consensus I heard from most Steelers fans regarding the just completed 2011 NFL Draft was that it was solid. The Steelers did nothing Earth-shattering. They simply addressed some needs. There is disagreement among a lot of fans that the Steelers may have gone about filling their needs back assward. Meaning they should have addressed their biggest need in the first round which would have been cornerback. However, it's so hard to get a real feel for end of first round/beginning of second round talent.
I had no problem with the Cam Heyward pick. As I said in my most recent post on Behind The Steel Curtain, missing on first round selections is a quick way to get into trouble.
In 1999, the Steelers really had a need at the wide receiver position and even though he didn't grade out at a mid-first round talent, the Steelers went ahead and selected Troy Edwards with the 13th pick in round one. Edwards impressed the Steelers so much they had to go ahead and draft Plaxico Burress in 2000.
This isn't to say that Aaron Williams (the player projected to go to the Steelers by most draft experts) will not be a talent in this league. He very well could be a great corner for years to come.
But it's hard to find fault with the Cameron Heyward selection in round one. The drafting of Heyward this season and Ziggy Hood in '09 addresses a need at an important position on an aging defense. No one can say whether Heyward and Hood will duplicate what Aaron Smith and Brett Keisel have been doing for the Steelers in this era--Pittsburgh spent the entire 1980's unsuccessfully trying to duplicate the magic of the 70's Steel Curtain--but at least they have two young players in their system with tremendous upside.
This year's reaction to the Draft class is far more civil than last year's. Most fans were happy with the selection of Maurkice Pouncey in round one, but a lot of people were up-in-arms when the team drafted linebacker Jason Worilds in round 2 and receiver Emmanuel Sanders in round 3. "Why are they going after another linebacker! Why are they drafting another smurf receiver when they could have had Golden Tate in round 2!" That was my brother's reaction to rounds 2 and 3 last season. Of course, he also wanted the Steelers to pick Dez Bryant instead of Pouncey in round one. He's all about the "sexy" pick that makes you happy in April but can often leave you infuriated in November.
Of course, the fan base is going to be more emotional about a draft coming off a 9-7 non-playoff year than they are coming off a Super Bowl appearance.
Last season, after addressing a major need with Pouncey in round one, they went about bolstering their depth and their putrid special teams play that contributed greatly to them missing the playoffs in '09. It was kind of hard to understand at the time, but that strategy paid huge dividends last season.
The fans are still concerned about the cornerback position. Even though the team did draft corners in both rounds 3 and 4, that doesn't mean they will come in and make an impact. However, the process isn't complete. We do not know what's going to happen with free agency. Ike Taylor is said to be looking for a huge payday, but so was Ryan Clark last season before resigning with Pittsburgh.
As much as fans have been wanting a cornerback, I do not believe the need and the players available have been the right combination the past few years. The Steelers frustrated me for years by not addressing the offensive line position, but when the player and the need was the right combination, they found Pouncey and hit a homerun. I believe they will eventually go about addressing the corner position in round one, and when they do, knowing Colbert's track record, they will probably find a special player.
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