Happy Friday to all of you once again and congratulations on surviving another week in this crazy world that we all live in.
In case you haven’t realized it already, this is the final Friday before the 2017 NFL Draft takes place in Philadelphia. This same time next week we’ll be getting ready for the Pittsburgh Steelers second round selection as well as discussing who they selected in the first round. I can’t wait and I know the same goes for all of you as well.
Well, not only did I turn 49 on Easter Sunday, my wife and I celebrated being together 30 years on Thursday. Can you imagine living with me for 30 years and doing so without the use of alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, or even coffee? My wife has managed to do just that. God bless her. In case you’re curious, we met at a Waffle House 30 years ago and right after I turned 19. I was a night-owl regular at that place as I was already living on my own and her roommate was a waitress there. Now you know the rest of the story.
Little Finley Pearl is now cone-free after having her stitches removed this past Tuesday. She’s doing just great and I think she’s fully potty trained now. Thank you, Jesus.
Ok, on to this week’s five questions and I’m sorry they’re late as I was busy working on the Brandt post for you to have tonight. Please answer all five questions in the comments below and have a blessed weekend.
Peace and love, peace and love!
1 – Will the Steelers 2017 first round selection have had been included in Gil Brandt’s final top 50 rankings? (list of players here)
2 – How many running backs will ultimately be drafted in the first four (4) rounds of this year’s draft?
3 – What round will Pittsburgh running back James Conner ultimately be drafted in?
4 – Which player do you think will be the best/most shocking player still available on the board after the first round of the draft is completed?
5 – How many offensive players will be selected in the first round of this year’s draft?
Recap from last week’s questions:
Question 1 – We identified 13 of the 22 prospects who are scheduled to attend the 2017 NFL draft in person that we believe will still be on the board when it is the Steelers turn to select. USC cornerback Adoree Jackson’s 16 votes led the way with Colorado cornerback Chidobe Awuze close behind with 14. The rest in descending order were USC linebacker Takkarist McKinley (11); Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer (9); Washington cornerback Kevin King (7); Michigan State defensive tackle Malik McDowell (6); LSU cornerback Tre’Davious White (5); Wisconsin offensive tackle Ryan Ramczyk (3); Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley (2); Alabama offensive tackle Cam Robinson (2); North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky (1); Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson (1) & Washington wide receiver John Ross (1). How much of this is wishful thinking as opposed to objective analysis?
Question 2 – Collectively, we came up with a dozen adjectives to describe Dan Rooney (RIP). A brief flurry erupted when Thomas submitted the term GOAT. All was forgiven when it was realized he was using the acronym and not the animal to describe Mr. Rooney. Four one word descriptions were mentioned by more than one reader: Legend; Humility; Class and Integrity. We could combine those four to describe Dan Rooney as a; “Classy, humble legend who had integrity.” Not a bad way to be remembered and something we could all strive to achieve in our lives.
Question 3 – Six running backs not named James Conner were identified as potential pre-draft visitors to Pittsburgh. Oklahoma’s Samaje Perine was the most popular choice. Utah Ute Joe Williams another that got multiple nods with Wyoming’s Brian Hill, Louisiana-Lafayette’s Elijah McGuire, South Florida’s Marlon Mack and Clemson’s Wayne Gallman each getting mentioned once. That said, most folks believed that no running back would be invited by a 12-5 margin.
Question 4 – Thirteen stated that the Steelers are more likely to draft a defensive back followed by an edge rusher with their top two picks. Four said it would be vice versa. The majority feel that secondary prospects are a deeper group this year while the minority opinion was that edge rusher was the greater need and would drive the order of the Steelers selections. The classic best available versus need arguments.
Question 5 – This was a stumper; but North Carolina wide receiver Mack Hollins and Minnesota cornerback Jalen Myric were the two prospects that got multiple mentions as being most likely to be signed as free agents once their rookie contract was up – which means that a team other than the Steelers will draft team this year and we will have to wait up to 4-5 years to see if the Steelers do indeed sign one of them.
