|
The Pittsburgh Steelers are expected to pick an outside linebacker early in the NFL draft, perhaps even in the first round. That might have been the case even if the Steelers did not have a glaring need at outside linebacker given the quality of edge pass-rushers in the draft. "The outside linebacker types for us is probably as good a group as I’ve seen at that position in probably 10 or 15 years," Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert said Monday. "It’s an exceptional group with a lot of impact-type guys." The Steelers could use an impact player at outside linebacker as well as long-range help at the position. They have just three outside linebackers on their roster with NFL experience, and one of those, James Harrison, turns 37 next month. The Steelers hosted a handful of edge pass-rushers for pre-draft visits, including Nebraska’s Randy Gregory, Virginia’s Eli Harold and Utah’s Nate Orchard. Gregory is one of the top pass-rushers in the draft and could slide in the first round because of failed drug tests in college and at the NFL combine. Harold is considered a first- or second-round pick and Orchard is widely projected as a second-round selection. Another player to watch is Missouri’s Shane Ray, who could slip in the first round because of a foot injury. Coach Mike Tomlin said the Steelers have received recent help in projecting which edge pass-rushers translate well to the next level. The proliferation of the spread offense in college football, Tomlin said, has more teams playing 3-4 defenses at least some of the time. The Steelers have traditionally had to covert defensive ends in college into outside linebackers. "It seems like there are more and more guys playing outside linebacker in college these days," Tomlin said. "There are less projections, less conversions. I think that’s another trend (in college football). You’re seeing more and more guys actually playing the 3-4 outside linebacker position in college than you did a number of years ago."
|
