Gettin' Ziggy With It: 2009 Draft Picks

The Steelers did a fantastic job over the last two days of addressing their needs in the draft. They may not have landed any “big name” players, but everyone the picked has a great chance of being a solid contributor in the NFL.

If one thing is for sure, Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert are on the same page when it comes to the draft. Over their 3 drafts, they have consistently drafted for depth. They have yet to pick a player who cracked the starting lineup for more than one game during their rookie year, but the depth they have built through the draft has manifested itself in great second year players like Pro Bowlers in the making LaMarr Woodley and Lawrence Timmons. From last years draft, Rashard Mendenhall had a shortened season because of injury, and Limas Sweed saw some time as the #4 receiver. All that being said, the Steelers now have one of the deepest linebacking units in the league and possibly the most dynamic rushing duo in James Harrison and Woodley. Tomlin and Colbert know what they are doing in the draft, and even if these guys don’t have an immediate impact, they will all be role players in the future.

First Round
Evander “Ziggy” Hood
DT – Missouri

This was a fantastic pick based on who was left on the board and what the Steelers needed. Everyone on the d-line depth chart is over 30, and Ziggy gives them youth and depth at a position where they needed both. He will be a DE in the 3-4 alignment and will likely see time in the D-line rotation this year. In the long term, he may be the heir apparent to 33-year old Aaron Smith.

Projection: makes team but does not become a consistent starter unless there is an injury along the D-line.

Second Round

The Steelers made a good move here in trading with Denver. The Broncos moved up to select a player the Steelers had no interest in and the Steelers got two 3rd round picks out of the deal. Solid move by the Steelers, and one has to question the decision-making of the Broncos front office on this one.

Prediction: Denver finishes 3rd in the West next year.

Third Round

Kraig Urbik
G/T – Wisconsin

This dude is huge. At a little over 6’5″ 330, Urbik played both guard and tackle at Wisconsin. The Steelers like him as a guard but may give him the opportunity to play multiple positions along the line. He is a mauler and will give Stapleton a run for his money at guard.

Projection: makes team as back-up.

Mike Wallace
WR/KR – Mississippi

In an interview during the draft, Tomlin described Wallace as “visibly fast.” Wallace ran a 4.3 40-yard dash and has decent size at 6’0″. The Steelers are hoping he can compete with Limas Sweed as the #3 receiver and he will be back there to take the first kickoff of the season.

Projection: makes lineup and will alternate time with Limas Sweed as #3 receiver. Will also be the Kick Returner.

Keenan Lewis
CB – Oregon State

Lewis, a high school teammate of Wallace, is already drawing comparisons to Ike Taylor. At 6’1″, Lewis is taller than the recently departed Bryant McFadden. Like Ike, he has questionable hands, but his size and strength give him the potential to develop into another shut-down corner. I don’t think he’ll press Willie Gay for playing time this year, but he could be an impact player in the secondary down the road.

Projection: Makes team as #4 cornerback behind Taylor, Gay, and Townsend. Will see time in nickel packages.

Fourth Round

This pick was traded to Denver with the 2nd rounder for their two third round picks.

Fifth Round

Joe Burnett
CB/KR – UCF

Burnett had 5 kick/punt returns for scores and may be able to crack the lineup in that regard. He lacks some size and has decent speed. The Steelers brought him in for a look in the offseason (see the Draft Prospects drop-down on the sidebar) so they must have liked what they saw. With the selection of Mike Wallace, I don’t see Burnett as cracking the lineup, unless Wallace really flops as a kick returner.

Projection: Practice squad.

Frank “The Tank” Summers
RB – UNLV

The definition of a bruising back. At 5’9″ 242, he is built in the mold of Jerome Bettis. It was sad to see Gary Russell go, but Summers brings a bit more size and grindability to the table. He just flat out runs people over. The coaching staff loved him and he might be the short-yardage back of the future. Summers can also play fullback and he may develop into a Le’Ron McClain-style player. I certainly remember sitting through the three Baltimore games last year wishing we had someone like McClain who was a bruiser with a motor. Now we do.

Projection: Borderline. I don’t see the Steelers keeping 5 running backs on the roster. Parker, Mendenhall, and Moore are safe, which likely means the Steelers will decide between Summers and Carey Davis for the last spot. I would prefer Summers to Davis.

Sixth Round

Ra’Shon Harris
DT – Oregon

Has solid size (6’4″ 303) to become a force along the defensive front. He was another player the Steelers brought in for a look over the past offseason. His inconsistency at Oregon in his one year as a starter doesn’t project him to crack the lineup this year, but he gives the Steelers more young depth along the defensive front. Let’s not forget that Brett Keisel was a 7th round pick, so the Steelers are good at finding eventual starters deep in the draft.

Projection: Practice Squad

Seventh Round

A.Q. Shipley
C – Penn State

I love this pick. If there is a pick to get excited about in the later rounds, it might be this one. In addition to being a local boy from Moon, Shipley is a Rimmington-award winning center from Penn State who showed that despite his supposed “physical shortcomings” he can mix it up with the best of them. He had a fantastic performance in a battle with the USC defensive front in the Rose Bowl, and also showed that he could hold his own throughout the Big 10 season. Shipley, a high school wrestler, is an absolute mauler up front and is a workhorse in the weight room. He is a great team player and may crack the roster since the Steelers lack any real depth at center.

Projection: Practice Squad, but he comes close to the roster because of lack of O-line depth.

David Johnson
TE/FB – Arkansas State

Johnson is in the mold of Sean McHugh and will give the Steelers a little more depth at the “H-back” position. McHugh did a great job as a blocking back last season and it would be nice to have a true fullback for goal line situations. With this pick, it seems as though Carey Davis’ time with the Steelers might be limited, but you never know, Davis could play his way onto the roster this year. If Johnson is going to make the team, he’ll probably have to do it on special teams, but he could be a practice squad player for a year or two before finally breaking in.

Projection: Practice Squad.

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Gettin’ Ziggy With It: 2009 Draft Picks

Alan Draper

Alan Draper

Alan Draper