Back to the Draft

As the excitement began this past Sunday, the Steelers had 8 out of their 10 April, 2010 draft picks make the active roster. That is outstanding. This is reminiscent of the days of Coach Chuck Noll when he was an advocate of fueling the team with draft choices. Mr. Kevin Colbert and the Steelers team of scouts did an excellent job evaluating the talent nationwide. The other 2 choices that did not make the active roster are OT Chris Scott who is on the the PUP list(Physically unable to perform)and DE Doug Worthington who actually played pretty well in pre-season. First rounder Maurkice Pouncey uprooted Justin Hartwig as starting center and after watching the pre-season contests the other 7 draft choices all looked good at their respective positions and as special teams players. With the 2009 draft, #1 choice Ziggy Hood has huge upside and is showing signs of being a real good player. Third round selection WR Mike Wallace may have been the steal of the draft. This guy can go, catch the ball on the run, and is really good after the catch. He should have been a first round guy. This 2009 draft has 4 players not around anymore with first selection in third round OG Kraig Urbik being released. The Steelers are in need of Offensive Linemen and cutting Urbik hurt. But on the flip side undrafted free agent RB Isaac Redman is demonstrating lots of potential out of the 2009 group as is OG Ramon Foster who was and Undrafted free agent in 2009. Just my opinion, I like it when a team has 9 to 11 draft choices. You can find some real good players in the later rounds like WR/KR Antonio Brown who was chosen in the 6th round last April and I will say it again, some of those undrafted free agents can be a pleasant surprise.

Lineman University

What happened to this region of the country that used to be called Lineman University. I am talking about the Western Pennsylvania region that used to pump out offensive linemen like it was going out of style. As of today, September 9, 2010, there is one offensive lineman active in the entire NFL from the area inclusive of Erie over to Johnstown, down to Uniontown and over to the PA-Ohio border. He is Reggie Wells from South Park High School, and Reggie took his talents to Clarion University and played for the Arizona Cardinals and was recently traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. Reggie Wells was going to follow his father's foot-steps and plays hoops at Clarion but opted to play football and the rest is history. What has happened to the Pittsburgh region? Is it the population decline or is it the lack of size coming out of this region? The coaching is still really good. It is hard to put your finger on it. Look back at some of the Offensive linemen that emulated from this region back in the 1970's and 80's. Bruce Clark from New Castle HS, Bill Fralic from Penn Hills HS, Jimbo Covert from Freedom HS, Jim Sweeney from Seton LaSalle HS, Jeff Christie from Freeport HS. I am sure I am overlooking numerous other linemen that played high school football in this region. Maybe it is a cyclical event and if it is, it has been going on for a while. But there is hope of the horizon. Two senior Offensive linemen from this region are rated very high going into April, 2001 draft. They are OT/OG Jason Pinkston from Pitt(Baldwin)and OC Stefen Wisniewski from Penn State(Pittsburgh Central Catholic) and a third senior is a legit sleeper from Slippery Rock U. is OC/OG Brandon Fusco from Seneca Valley.

Dennis Dixon Friendly Offense

The commitment has been declared by the Pittsburgh Steelers coaching staff that Dennis Dixon is the starter for the opening game vs. the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons want to run the football led by powerful tailback Michael Turner who hails from the MAC school Northern Illinois. Also, the Steelers would enjoy establishing the running game also against the Falcons. Both teams are going to put the ball in the air. Hometown Philadephia, Falcons QB Matt Ryan is getting better every season. Steelers QB from Oregon Dennis Dixon has nice upside as a QB. Coach Bruce Arians needs to install a Dennis Dixon friendly passing attack. As we jog our memories, last season vs the Ravens, Dixon had an explosive TD scamper down the sidelines but he threw a key interception by Ravens DE Paul Kruger. In the pre-season game vs Denver, Dixon had a ball picked off by athletic Corner Perrish Cox in the end zone. In both of these scenarios, the underneath guy intercepted the pass. Dixon may be so focused on the receiver, that he does not see the underneath player resulting in the 2 picks. Coach Arians needs to install a Dennis Dixon friendly offense. By this I mean send receivers into the cavities of the defense, send receivers in between the linebackers and secondary people, stay away from double coverage, utilize natural picks to get receivers open in certain areas, flood one side that would allow Dixon to throw into man-to-man coverage on the other side of the field, toss the ball to Mendenhall and other backs into the flat or underneath the linebackers, use Dixon on creative roll-outs going both right and left where he has option to either pass or run. There are many ways that Bruce Arians has in his mind to keep Dixon from missing the defensive players that come from underneath. As his instincts develop more to avoid throwing into double coverage, Dixon's game will get a boost of confidence. Dennis Dixon has excellent upside as a QB that can really run with the football. Hopefully his talents will be revealed this Sunday.

Cupcakes and Cream Puffs

Mr. Dick Vitale made the word"cupcake"famous along college basketball circles when he used to rant and rave about some big time college basketball programs playing cupcakes to soften up their schedules. In college basketball, you have around 335 Division 1 program classified as High Major, Mid Major, and Low Major programs. Some big time programs have out of sight budgets and some of the low major programs have minimal budget to go out and recruit. So in Division 1 basketball you have a variance of degrees of talent from the # 1 program to the # 335 program. Now in football, you have Division 1A and 1AA. 1A programs have 85 players on scholarship and 1AA programs are maxed out at 63. That is a huge difference of 22 additional players on full scholarship. 1A are supposed to beat up on 1AA opponents. Not only the scholarship differential but you also have a recruiting budget differential from 1A to 1AA. It is hard to call 1AA programs "Cupcakes" when they are playing 1A programs in football. But let's look what happened this past weekend. 1AA Jacksonville State goes into Ole Miss and beats them in overtime 49-48. Ole Miss is pumping guys into the NFL(Steelers Mike Wallace), Ole Miss has a great budget, Ole Miss has 85 scholarships. Most people do not even know that Jacksonville State is in Alabama. They received a nice guarantee for playing Ole Miss. Also, North Dakota State goes into Kansas and beats them 6 to 3 and spoils former U at Buffalo Coach Turner Gill's debut. Same scenario as Jacksonville State. People may disagree, but 1AA programs are not "cupcakes." The cupcakes to me are the 1A programs with 85 scholarships and good recruiting budgets that never win. They should be classified the "cupcakes" or maybe even better terminology calling them "cream puffs." There are some out there in the mix of the 120 Division 1A's. Iowa State was one for a while until former Pitt Defensive co-ordinator Paul Rhoads took over the helm. They are not a "cream puff" any more.

Developmental Time

These next 2 days are serious times for the NFL. The reason why, all 32 teams have to get their rosters from 75 to 53. After watching numerous pre-season games on the NFL Network, there are many good young players out there that are going to be released on Friday September 3rd and Saturday September 4th. In retrospect, what really should be occurring is that these 22 players that are going to be released really should be placed on each team's minor league program along with 11 more to give each NFL franchise a total of 33 minor leaguers. A minor league for each team gives each franchise an opportunity to develop players that need work on technique, need work on strength, need work on team chemistry, and need work on the adjustment to the speed of the NFL game. There always is a referral back to Steelers James Harrison who coming out of Kent State was released by Pittsburgh 3 times and signed by Baltimore, sent to play for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe, signed back by the Steelers and 5 years later becomes the defensive MVP of the league. The position that a minor league system would assist the most is quarterbacks. If Steelers Dennis Dixon during his rookie and second year was playing in minor league games instead of being in a non-playing role, he could have developed his quarterback skills playing in numerous NFL minor league games. Nothing like hands-on experience. I am swinging into the wind here because the NFL powers will not institute a minor league but there are many on the rise players that never get a chance to develop.

Fantasy Central

It is that time of the year. The Fantasy Football Drafts are upon us. I do not participate in a Fantasy League but since I am around the game, numerous Fantasy Football Draftniks ask me who I like and to recommend players that they could draft. So here we go. By the way, the Fantasy Football Players know talent, so I will expound on under the radar type players. Let's start with quarterback. Obviously, I do not know each league individual scoring rules but here are 3 guys on the Rise: maybe the NFL's best kept secret is New England QB Brian Hoyer, if Tom Brady misses multiple games, pick up Brian Hoyer, this guy can play. 2 other QB's to look at late in your draft, Detroit's Matthew Stafford and Miami's Chad Henne. Next Running Backs:my Super Sleeper is Houston's Arian Foster. I like rookies CJ Spiller of the Bills and Lion's Javhid Best, and a real good back on the rise is Giants Ahmad Bradshaw. I am looking at Seattle's Justin Forsett but Leon Washington could be a surprise at Seattle. RB Atlanta's Jason Snelling could be a guy to eye-ball if Michael Turner misses games and 2 guys that had excellent 2nd half of the season's in 2009 were Kansas City's Jamaal Charles and Cleveland's Jerome Harrison. Speaking of Cleveland RB Peyton Hillis could be a goal-line guy that could be a scorer in Fantasy Football. Going to Tight End's, I like 2 rookies to explode onto the scene, Cincinnati's Jermaine Gresham, and New England's Rob Gronkowski. TE Zach Miller of Oakland could be a steal late, and Tampa Bay's Kellen Winslow might have a break out season if Tampa Bay can get him the ball. Reviewing wide outs, Steelers Mike Wallace could have a great year. Cleveland's Josh Cribbs is on the Rise, while Indianapolis Pierre Garcon could really explode, and 49ers Michael Crabtree is ready to turn it up a notch. If New England's Wes Welker has problems with his knee, then take a hard look at Julian Edelman to catch a bunch of throws. Place Kickers are abundant but my sleeper is Denver's Matt Prater. Hope everyone enjoys their Fantasy Football Season. It is amazing how many people(men and women alike)play Fantasy Football and have a great time doing it. This is an excellent time of the year.

Think Tank

Sports Illustrated's Peter King picks the Pittsburgh Steelers to beat the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl next February. I can substantiate Peter King's selection but the Steelers have to really establish a running game this season in order to accomplish that goal. The Steelers are very capable of doing that even with the loss of OT Willie Colon........Local football buffs need to check out Division 2 power California U. of PA(nickname CalU). Under the tutelage of veteran Coach John Luckhardt, California has enough talent, chemistry, and experience to position themselves to get to the Division 2 championship. CalU has a pre-season ranking of #5 in the nation and they have a premier Quarterback in 6'4" senior Josh Portis and an abundance of receivers for Portis to throw to. Division 2 football does not get the recognition in this area it deserves, but if you want to see some good football, check some of these local Division 2 programs out........The Steelers along with many other NFL teams have a lot of difficult cuts to make this Saturday going from 75 to 53. The colleges are really producing some good players and some players are getting cut that should be in the NFL. Maybe an expansion to 34 teams is on the horizon........High school football starts this Friday and there are 4 outstanding games this Saturday at the Woodland Hills Stadium in Turtle Creek beginning with McKeesport taking on Ohio power, the Steubenville Big Red, in the late morning.