In yesterday's Post-Gazette, Gene Collier dissected the Pittsburgh Steelers 2005 draft.In a nutshell, he gave them a B-. That's about 4 letter grades higher than I'd give their collective 2006 to 2009 drafts.
Living near Pittsburgh, it's accepted that Kevin Colbert dominates the NFL draft every April. But in an age of what have you done for me lately, the N.F.L. can stand for--say it with me, Jerry Glanville--NOT FOR LONG if you begin to show a pattern of ineffectiveness. Colbert is the poster-child for that pattern.
In 2006, the Steelers drafted 9 players. Only 4th rounder Willie Colon remains on the team today. Almost impossibly bad.
In 2007, the team inexplicably fell in love with Lawrence Timmons and took him in the 1st round. He's so good that they needed to go resign the aging Larry Foote this past off-season. They did hit on Lamar Woodley in the 2nd round, but of the remaining draftees that year, only Daniel Sepulveda is likely to start on the team this upcoming season. He's a punter. Yikes.
In '08, Pittsburgh drafted Rashard Mendenhall in the 1st round. He did nothing as a rookie, but was productive in his second year. He also got benched for not studying his play book so the jury's still out on him. 2nd rounder Limas Sweed has been a colossal bust, and 3rd rounder Bruce Davis didn't even make the team last year. Did they forget to scout that year?.
Last year, the Steelers drafted 9 players. Of the 9, it appears that the only guy with pro-bowl capabilities is 3rd Rounder, Mike Wallace. Atrocious.
It's too early to predict the success or failures of the 2010 draft class, but based on the trend developing, I wouldn't go buy your Maurkice Pouncey jersey just yet.
Kevin Colbert drafted very well his first few years in Pittsburgh. But his last 4 gradable drafts have been pretty awful. If Bill Cowher really is actively recruiting Colbert to join him wherever he ends up coaching, I--for one--will pitch in towards a one-way plane ticket.
