If you are like me, you’ll be watching a ton of football on New Year’s Day. As soon as the Pittsburgh Steelers season is over we will be turning all of our attention to the draft. Until then, here is one player from every team that’s playing Thursday that fits a potential need for the Steelers. This will get some good discussion going and feel free to add some off-the-radar prospects that you like and will be watching Thursday in the comments below.
| PLAYER | POS | COLLEGE | YEAR | HGT | WGT | PROJ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arie Kouandjio | G | Alabama | rSr | 6-5 | 315 | 2-3 |
| Amari Cooper, Landon Collins and T.J. Yeldon will get most of the attention Thursday, but I really want to focus in on Kouandjio and how he runs the inside zone and power at left guard. Guards usually drop in the draft and Ramon Foster won’t be around for the Steelers forever. Kouandjio is a plug and play guy. | ||||||
| Shane Ray | DE | Missouri | rJr | 6-3 | 245 | 1-2 |
| Ray has 14 sacks, 61 tackles, 20.5 tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles this year. He’s a tweener-type pass rusher and that means he will get looks as a 3-4 outside linebacker. I know he has speed to get to the outside, but I want to watch his power and ability against the run. | ||||||
| Gabe Wright | DT | Auburn | Sr | 6-2 | 284 | 2-3 |
| Can Wright hold the point of attack well at his size? Does he keep his feet when moving laterally? Does he have the frame and build that can carry 30 more pounds? Nose tackle isn’t a huge need for the Steelers, but being as I think Wright is a tad overvalued, he might be a mid-round prospect worth watching. | ||||||
| P.J. Williams | CB | Florida State | Jr | 6-0 | 196 | 1-2 |
| He has the size and speed and has held his own against some good receivers. It will be fun to watch him against the Oregon wide receivers. How is his tackling and run support? | ||||||
| Spencer Drango | OT | Baylor | rJr | 6-5 | 315 | 2-3 |
| Has drawn some comparisons to Zach Martin. I’ve seen just enough of him to know I want to see if he can handle the Michigan State pass rushers. | ||||||
| Shilique Calhoun | DE | Michigan State | rJr | 6-4 | 257 | 1-2 |
| While most of you will be watching cornerback Trae Waynes, I will be focused on Calhoun, who like the aforementioned Ray, is a tweener-type pass rusher. | ||||||
| Doran Grant | CB | Ohio State | Sr | 5-11 | 193 | 3-4 |
| Steelers need a cornerback and I doubt they get one of the top three. Grant could be a top-ten guy after smoke clears. Does he play to his measurables? Will he cover Amari Cooper Thursday? He can really jump up some boards with a good game. Dick LeBeau loves those Buckeyes. | ||||||
| Jake Fisher | OT | Oregon | Sr | 6-6 | 299 | 2-3 |
| It’s too bad that Ifo Ekpre-Olomu wont be playing Thursday. With Fisher, you have a player who should be able to play both left and right tackle. | ||||||
| David Cobb | RB | Minnesota | Sr | 5-11 | 229 | 3-4 |
| There’s not a lot of Minnesota players to keep and eye on so being as the Steelers could use a compliment to Le’Veon Bell, I will be watching to see what Cobb can and cant do Thursday. | ||||||
| Warren Herring | DT | Wisconsin | rSr | 6-2 | 294 | 4-5 |
| I already know a lot about Melvin Gordon, but Herring is intriguing as a 3-4 nose tackle. He will be facing one of the top centers in the draft in Reese Dismukes, so we will see if he can hold his own. | ||||||
