Draft Day Guide
By Jerry DiPaola

With all 22 starters on offense and defense signed through 2002 and beyond, the Steelers don't figure to have many immediate needs in the draft. But they do have needs that can't be ignored.

They won't draft for a starter, such as they did last year with nose tackle Casey Hampton and inside linebacker Kendrell Bell, but they will look for depth and desperately needed help on special teams. Indeed, correcting one or two key missed tackles on Troy Brown's punt return in the AFC Championship game could have vaulted the Steelers into the Super Bowl.

The players that the Steelers will select early in the draft probably won't start this season ­ barring a catastrophic injury or two ­ but they will be asked to contribute immediately.

Here is a look at each position and what the Steelers might do with one of the last picks in each round. The 30th pick in the first round is the latest selection in team history.

Linebacker

Teams such as the Steelers that play a 3-4 defense can never have enough linebackers, and the Steelers will surely try to address that need early in this draft.

But there's no sense rushing it, especially this year when the linebacker crop is so weak. No wonder the Steelers were looking at veteran free agent linebackers last month.

The Steelers have been fortunate to find good linebackers in the second round ­ Levon Kirkland, Chad Brown and Bell ­ and they might have to use that formula this year. Northwestern's Napoleon Harris, an outside linebacker, may be the only linebacker taken in the first round. If Harris slips into the second round, a real possibility, this draft would be the first since 1973 that no linebacker went in the initial round.

Like Steelers' starters Jason Gildon and Joey Porter, Harris played defensive end as a college senior, but projects to linebacker in the NFL. At 6-3, 245, he is good at harrassing quarterbacks. He is a supremely gifted athlete, with a 36-inch vertical leap and 4.56 speed. He gave up a promising basketball career to concentrate on football.

Don't count out Oklahoma's Rocky Calmus, 6-2, 234, who has what the Steelers covet ­ exceptional production in college ­ even if he's slower and smaller than the computer says linebackers should be. He might still be available in the third round.

Safety

Starting safeties Brent Alexander and Lee Flowers are beyond or approaching their 30th birthdays, and Flowers is signed only through 2002. The Steelers must think about possible replacements, and they are fortunate there is a deep group coming out of college.

The two best ­ Oklahoma's Roy Williams and Edward Reed of Miami (Fla.) ­ are expected to be gone by the time the Steelers pick. That would give the Steelers, perhaps, a choice of Colorado's Michael Lewis, 6-1, 210, or Washington State's Lamont Thompson, 6-2, 215, in the second or third rounds.

Miami Dolphins' director of scouting Ron Labadie said Lewis is more physical than Reed, which might endear Lewis to the Steelers and many other teams looking for safeties.

Thompson is supremely talented, with eight interceptions last season, but teams must be convinced that his season-ending neck injury in 2000 won't be a recurring problem.

Kansas State strong safety Milton Proctor's 4.4 speed also will be hard to ignore, especially if he slips into the fourth round.

Cornerback

The Steelers' degree of need here depends on the status of backups Deshea Townsend and Jason Simmons, who entered the free agency signing period without a contract. In any case, teams are always on the lookout for talented cornerbacks and there will be more than a few available.

Forget Texas' Quentin Jammer or Phillip Buchanon of Miami (Fla.) ­ they'll be gone by the midway point of the first round ­ but Buchanon's teammate Mike Rumph, 6-2, 190, fits the design the Steelers like in cornerbacks: big and physical. Ohio State's Derek Ross, 6-1, 197, is equally interesting.

Florida's Lito Sheppard and Nebraska's Keyuo Craver are smaller (standing about 5-10), but they have good speed and ball skills.

Sheppard probably would benefit from another year in college, but he left when former Florida coach Steve Spurrier did. Craver must convince the NFL that the torching he suffered in the Rose Bowl was an aberration.

It might pay for the Steelers to try to replenish the secondary on the second day. The Cleveland Browns got 10 interceptions last year from rookie Anthony Henry, a fourth-round pick.

Offensive Line

The Steelers will concentrate mainly on defense in the early rounds, but it wouldn't be surprising to see them try to improve their depth on the offensive line at some point.

Guard would be the first area of need, with Oliver Ross the only promising backup.

Don't expect the Steelers to take an offensive lineman in the first two rounds, but if a good prospect such as Boston College tackle Marc Colombo, 6-7, 288, slips into the third or fourth round, the Steelers will consider him. Colombo can play on the left or right side.

Miami (Fla.) guard Martin Bibla, 6-3, 290, isn't as highly touted as his college teammates Bryant McKinnie or Joaquin Gonzalez, who are All-American tackles, but Bibla was the strongest member of the Hurricanes in the weight room and their most technically sound offensive lineman.

Receiver/Tight End

The Steelers have invested so much money and premium draft picks in this position that it would be foolish to choose one on the first day ­ unless he can combine pass-catching ability with return ability. Hank Poteat and Troy Edwards were only serviceable in the return areas last season.

What if Virginia Tech's Andre Davis falls into the third round because his hands and route-running are still a little ragged? He would be a good pick at that point. Davis has has run a 4.29 40, averaged 22 yards per punt return in college.

Keep an eye on Minnesota's Ron Johnson, the son of former Steelers' cornerback and first-round pick Ron Johnson. At 6-2, 215, he has size and hands, just not overwhelming speed.

Colorado tight end Daniel Graham's hands and athleticism to get downfield could make him an attractive package in the Steelers' passing game.

Running Back

The Steelers have three quality and well-paid players at the position ­ Jerome Bettis, Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala and Amos Zereoue ­ so don't expect the team to use one of its first four picks on a running back. In the sixth or seventh round, the Steelers could do worse than North Dakota State's Lamar Gordon, the only Division II player invited to the Senior Bowl.

Quarterback

There are not an exceptionally large number of draftable players at this position, and the Steelers surely have greater needs in the early rounds.

Sam Houston State's Josh McCown would be available early, but the Steelers would be foolish to make that kind of investment when they have three veteran quarterbacks, including Tee Martin, who is polishing his skills in Europe.

Draft Facts And Figures

On April 20th and 21st, Cowher Inc. will get another opportunity to play the NFL's version of a high stakes crap shoot known as the Player Entry Draft. Who they might pick is best left to the Mel Kipers and Miss Cleos of the world. Who they have picked is a matter of record.

The Cowher Drafts

1992 - 2001

Pure Numbers

98 drafted players total - 49 defense, 47 offense, 2 kickers. By position - 19 DL, 16 LB, 14 OL, 14 DB, 13 WR, 9 RB, 6 QB, 2 K.

Round One

First round picks - 3 WR, 3 OL, 2 DB, 1 DL, 1 TE.

Run First Philosophy?

4 WRs have been chosen in rounds one or two but no RBs earlier than round three.

Defense Wins with Emphasis on Linebackers?

Seven of the ten first rounders were offense. No first rounders were LBs. In fairness, six of nine second rounders were defense and three of those were LBs.

Conference Call

Establish the run, solid defense, unpredictable weather. Steeler football. Big 12 and Big Ten football too. Hardly a coincidence then that the Big 12 and Big Ten are one and two in pick producing conferences. Big 12 [18], Big Ten [17], SEC [11], ACC [11], PAC 10 [8], Big East [7].

Buffaloes, ...

Is the University of Colorado the Steelers' triple A affiliate? 6 Buffaloes have become Pittsburgh picks, the most of any school. Even stronger, 4 of the 6 Buffs were first or second rounders.

...Spartans & 'Huskers

The runner-up schools are Michigan State and Nebraska tied with 5 choices each.

Florida Who?

Only 3 of the 98 picks have come from the big three Florida powerhouses; one from each. 2 of the 3 were chosen in 1992 which leaves only 1 pick in the last nine drafts. Hmmm?

How about the locals?

Cowhers' Steelers have called the names of 3 Nittany Lions, 2 Panthers and 1 Mountaineer on draft day.