Pittsburgh Steelers Draft Primer
Here's What To Expect Come Selection Time
By Jerry DiPaola

Whether it's the astutely organized Tom Donahoe or the quietly thorough Kevin Colbert sitting next to Steelers coach Bill Cowher on draft day, the Steelers have hit the mark on most of their first-round picks.

Since Cowher became head coach in 1992, the team has drafted in 11 different slots in the first round—from eight all the way down to 30—and misfired only twice. Offensive tackle Jamain Stephens turned out to a monumental flop at No. 29 in 1996 and wide receiver Troy Edwards, though he set a franchise rookie record for receptions, was a clear disappointment at No. 13 in 1999. The past three No. 1's, drafted under Colbert, have started a total of 33 games in their rookie seasons, and wide receiver Plaxico Burress, nose tackle Casey Hampton and right guard Kendall Simmons will be important players in 2003.

Furthermore, assuming tight end Mark Bruener (No. 27, 1995) and running back Jerome Bettis recover from surgical procedures on their knees, the Steelers will line up with 11 No. 1 picks in their starting lineup this season, six taken in the Cowher era. The other five—Bettis, center Jeff Hartings, quarterback Tommy Maddox, linebacker James Farrior and cornerback Dewayne Washington—were drafted by other teams and acquired by the Steelers in the past six years.

The trick will be to find the same success April 26 when the Steelers draft 27th—six from the bottom—in the first round of the 68th annual NFL selection meeting.

Needs? Name 'em, the Steelers got 'em.

For a team that has won 25 games in the past two seasons, the Steelers are far from a finished product, despite Dan Rooney's expenditure of $72-plus million dollars in signing bonuses since 2001. Consider these issues—

o    The Steelers have a desperate need for a defensive back who can run faster and provide better pass coverage than what Lee Flowers displayed last season.

o    An edge pass rusher wouldn't hurt, either, whether he's an outside linebacker or a defensive end. That could turn out to be Kendrell Bell, but the experiment of moving Bell to the outside on passing downs wasn't going well when he sprained his ankle last August.

• Is running back Amos Zereoue an adequate long-term replacement for Bettis? Is Bettis coming back healthy in 2003? Maybe he will, but why not draft a running back who could, possibly, step in by 2004?

o    The Steelers re-signed Charlie Batch, one of the most important offseason moves, but they have to start developing a young quarterback, having failed with Jim Miller, Mike Quinn, Pete Gonzalez, Anthony Wright and Tee Martin—none of whom were taken before the fifth round.

Here's a position-by-position look at how the Steelers will approach the draft from the first through the seventh rounds:

Quarterback

Free agency, if handled properly, is designed to ease some of the pressure a team could feel on draft day. That's what the signing of Batch accomplished, but it may not be the long-term answer. He will turn 29 during the upcoming season, and he was not seriously considered for the two starting jobs that were filled in free agency by Jeff Blake (Arizona) and Kordell Stewart (Chicago). For that matter, Maddox, who will be 32 before the season begins, could flame out in two or three seasons. It's time to get a quarterback now—with a premium pick—and have him ready when Maddox is 35 and Batch is 32. The problem is that the Steelers are not drafting high enough to nab the three highest rated prospects — USC's Carson Palmer, Marshall's Byron Leftwich and California's Kyle Boller. Settling for Florida's Rex Grossman isn't a bad idea for the Steelers at No. 27, considering he comes from a program and a coach (Steve Spurrier) that prepared him for the pro passing game. Waiting until the second round (the 59th overall pick) might not yield the type of prospect that the Steelers need. Drafting a quarterback during the second day in the final four rounds may only yield the type of quarterback—Wright, Martin and Gonzalez come immediately to mind—who will, once again, fall short of expectations.

Running Back

The time is coming for the Steelers to change the guard at running back, but this year might not be the best time to alter the course. Nonetheless, the Steelers may have a need within the next 12 months, if not earlier. There is no guarantee that Amos Zereoue will turn into the next Bettis—a rugged, durable, dependable back who recorded eight 1,000-yard seasons—and Bettis himself is coming off another knee operation. That being said, the Steelers probably have bigger needs in the first round this year. Cowher hasn't given up on the running game as an effective means of moving the football, but the offensive system has taken a decided turn toward the passing game. A runner needs to be exceptional for the Steelers to consider him early in the draft. Overall, the crop isn't strong enough for any team to reach for one in the second and third rounds. The Steelers will consider drafting a running back, however, and Colorado State's Cecil Sapp, 5-foot-11, 229 pounds, is a thought. Some fans will push for USC's Justin Fargas, but his 4.38 40-yard dash time at the combine will have him off the board no later than the early part of the second round.

Offensive Line

The Steelers could use another prospect on the offensive line, and they would be well-served to pick one. The loss of Wayne Gandy at left tackle won't be easy to cover up, and maybe the guy to eventually do that isn't on the current roster. There are questions surrounding the tackle position as it is currently assembled. How long can the team wait for the light to come on for tackle Mathias Nkwenti, who has been on the team for two seasons without dressing for a regular-season game? If the team was so high on Oliver Ross, who was blocked a year ago from leaving for Cleveland, why did it sign Todd Fordham, who never distinguished himself in Jacksonville? Can Marvel Smith make the successful transition from right to left tackle, a position he hasn't played since college? Will it be necessary to ask him to make that move?Fortunately, the Steelers have worked on the guard and center positions the past two years, extending All-Pro left guard Alan Faneca's contract, drafting Simmons in the first round and signing Hartings in free agency. It's not a great year for tackles, but, perhaps, Georgia's George Foster will fall to the Steelers at No. 27. If not, there is never a shortage of tackles to be selected in all rounds, and Florida State's Brett Williams, 6-6, 315, may be a consideration late in the first day of the draft.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

The Steelers have, perhaps, the strongest trio of wide receivers in the NFL, with two-time Pro Bowler Hines Ward, Burress and Antwaan Randle El. The wide receiver position is the area of least need on the Steelers team. Still, it's always a good idea to draft a wide receiver, because even serviceable players can be found in later rounds. The wide receiver group is always deep in quantity, if not quality. The Steelers just don't have to use a premium pick on a pass catcher, especially this year. The offseason started with the Steelers needing to address the tight end position, and they certainly didn't shirk that responsibility. Jay Riemersma, the 10th-leading receiver in Buffalo Bills history, was signed with an $850,000 signing bonus that indicates that the team has grand plans for him. Jerame Tuman and Matt Cushing also came back, and Tuman pocketed a $600,000 bonus in the bargain. Where does that leave eight-year starter Mark Bruener, who is coming off serious microfracture knee surgery and carries a $2.65 million cap charge? Nothing is certain, other than Bruener's future with the team is in question. No one rehabilitates an injury more diligently than Bruener, who has been one of the most loyal players in team history, restructuring his contract three times from 2000-2002 to give the team cap relief. But Bruener's strength is run blocking, and the Steelers pass with greater productivity than they run these days. There is a chance that Tennessee tight end Jason Witten could be a first-round pick on someone's team, but the Steelers certainly have greater needs, especially after their signing spree.

Defensive Line

Money and a No. 1 draft pick (Hampton, a potentially great nose tackle) have been invested in this position in recent seasons, making it unnecessary to continue that trend this year. But that doesn't mean the Steelers will ignore the chance to add big people who can move. After all, there are precious few men on this planet who can take up space such as 6-5, 300-pound left end Aaron Smith, drafted in the fourth round from Division II Northern Colorado in 1999. If you can find a similar player and develop him to eventually replace right end Kimo von Oelhoffen, who will be 33, you jump at the opportunity. This is a good year for defensive linemen, but many of the top defensive end prospects are 280 pounds or lighter, and that just isn't a great fit for the Steelers' 3-4 defense. The Steelers could take a chance on a smallish end, but not with a premium pick. Perhaps one of the tackles in the draft could move to end. Tackle Kenny Peterson of Ohio State, 6-3, 295 pounds, is built along the lines of fellow Buckeye Rodney Bailey, who has turned into a serviceable backup end for the Steelers.

Linebacker

Two facts of life regarding the Steelers' defense —

o    The Steelers never can have too many linebackers.

o    The four starters, as a group, may be the best in the NFL.

Outside linebackers Joey Porter and Jason Gildon and inside linebacker Kendrell Bell are recent Pro Bowl performers. Their backups, however, are restricted free agent Clark Haggans and the inexperienced Justin Kurpeikis and James Harrison. The Steelers need to find depth at the critical outside linebacker position, but inside linebackers Bell and James Farrior are ably backed up by John Fiala, newly acquired Clint Kriewaldt and Larry Foote. There is little chance that the best outside linebacker in the draft—Georgia's Boss Bailey — will fall to No. 27, but Colbert must be prepared to grab a prospect at some point. How intriguing will the incredibly athletic Khalid Abdullah be late on the second day? Abdullah, 6-2 1/2, 227, played at Division II Mars Hill (NC) College, setting school records for sacks in a game (5), season (15) and longest interception return (100 yards, twice).

Defensive Back

Fans are crying for the Steelers to upgrade their secondary, but the team won't reach for a defensive back in the first round, if he has second-round ability. Maybe as few as three cornerbacks—Kansas State's Terence Newman, Washington State's Marcus Trufant and Oklahoma's Andre Woolfolk—will be taken in the first round, and all will be long gone by the time the Steelers draft. The Steelers have already committed bushels of money to cornerbacks Dewayne Washington, Chad Scott and Deshea Towsend, but there is a glaring hole at strong safety. That void would have been filled if Dexter Jackson had kept his word and signed with the Steelers instead of chasing the money to the Arizona desert. There are some talent scouts who will insist—if injected with truth serum—that top safeties Mike Doss of Ohio State and Troy Polamalu of USC don't deserve to be drafted in the first round, even as low as No. 27. After those two, drafting a safety with a premium pick is like rolling dice or eating chocolates—you never know what you're going to get.

Punter/Kicker

The Steelers rarely use a draft pick on a punter or a kicker—the last punter drafted was Harry Newsome, who became rookie of the year in 1985—and that notion should not change this season. Veteran punter Josh Miller returns after undergoing successful shoulder surgery in December. Kicker Jeff Reed is back for his first full season after pushing Todd Peterson off the roster. There is no need to add anyone else on draft day, but the Steelers will surely bring competition / companionship to training camp for Miller and Reed.