When it comes to Pro Days, we’re never not scouting here at Steelers Depot. Eyes always wide open, we have a couple of last-second notes to where the Steelers’ coaching and scouting staff was at during this year’s Pro Day circuit.
The Steelers released their latest episode of The Standard Wednesday night, an episode that covered the start of offseason workouts and more importantly, the draft process. And it gave us a couple of pieces of information.
The biggest one was the attendance of DBs Coach Grady Brown at Michigan’s Pro Day. The episode documented the team’s trip to Schembechler Hall, one of the Steelers’ usual stops, and one where we already knew Mike Tomlin, Omar Khan, Dan Colbert, and Alfredo Roberts were at. You can add Brown to that list too.
It’s notable that Brown was there to see CB DJ Turner, a name that hadn’t generated much buzz when it comes to corners the team is interested in. Brown’s presence is certainly noteworthy given the history between Day-Two picks and having positional coaches attend their Pro Day. For example, WRs Coach Frisman Jackson was at Georgia last season to work out George Pickens.
Turner lacks great size at just 5112, 178 pounds with 30 3/4 inch arms but blazed a 4.26 4o at the Combine, the fastest time by anyone in attendance. He also jumped 38.5 inches in the vertical and a 10’11” broad jump, both excellent figures. Over his last two years at Michigan, Turner recorded 69 total tackles (two for a loss), with three interceptions and 17 pass breakups.
In our pre-draft scouting report, our Tom Mead noted Turner’s fluidity and ability to read and drive in zone but panic on vertical throws and lack of physicality against bigger wide receivers. Mead concluded this about Turner:
“His size and physicality may give him issues in the NFL, but he is a competitor and can get his hands on the ball especially in the short area. I think he would fit best in a Zone heavy scheme if a team wants him to play outside. But I think his best fit initially is in the slot to stick with the quicker receivers. With added play strength he could move outside in a year or two.”
Mead gave Turner a fourth-round grade. He is expected to hear his name called somewhere on Day Two though he’s a sneaky pick at the end of the first round. But if not, and if the Steelers haven’t grabbed a corner in the first round, Turner may be in the conversation at #32. His ability to play inside or out is attractive and the Steelers need help at both, especially in the slot.
Though less notable, the episode also gave us a couple other nuggets to add to our Pro Day tracker. Area Scout Mark Bruener was at Fresno State, VP of Player Personnel Dan Rooney was at Georgia and Charlotte. Pro/College Scout Dennis MacInnis also attended Charlotte.
QB Jake Haener is one of the top names at Fresno State along with WR Jalen Moreno-Cropper. Charlotte was headlined by WR Grant Dubose, a Day-Three pick.
