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Ben, FWP Get Help

The Steelers made one thing clear this offseason: Ben Roethlisberger is the future of the franchise. Since that is the case, they needed to use the draft to get him some help. Most of us figured that this meant drafting an offensive lineman. However, the signing of Justin Hartwig coupled with the run on o-linemen in the middle of the first round pretty much squashed that idea. The Steelers weren't about to reach for a o-lineman just because they thought they needed one. That kind of logic had burned them in the past (see this draft if you don't believe me). Kevin Colbert ended up doing exactly what he said he was going to do. He drafted the best player available.

Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall figured to go earlier in the first round, but he was still sitting there when the Steelers picked at spot #23. It was obvious that the Steelers wanted this guy because they didn't waste much time in making the pick. Mendenhall becomes the first RB drafted in the opening round since 1989 (I won't say who that pick was for fear of jinxing Mendenhall). He is a 5-10, 225 pound power back who can still run a 4.41 and has the ability to break tackles, make guys miss, and catch the ball out of the backfield. In other words, the PERFECT compliment to FWP. That was a big need after last season's "run FWP until the wheels fall off" strategy literally made Willie's wheels come off in a week 16 game at St. Louis. As good as FWP is, he needs help, and the offense needs a reliable second runner. To his credit, FWP was encouraging this. "We need somebody else in here," Parker said. "If they bring somebody else in here, I'm all for it."

FWP's team-first attitude was the complete opposite of Hines Ward's hissy fit over Ben's desire to obtain a tall receiver. Fortunately the front office didn't let that stop them from getting a tall receiver in the second round. Texas star Limas Sweed is 6-4 and runs like a gazelle. I agree with Steelers receivers coach Randy Fichtner, who was bewildered by the fact that Sweed, thought to be maybe the best WR in the draft and rated as one of the 25 best players overall by the Steelers, was still on the board in the late second round. Sports Illustrated is already calling this "one of the best sleeper picks in the draft". Teams were likely turned off by the fact that Sweed missed most of his senior season with injuries. That is a concern, but this guy seems to be a stud. I actually wanted us to take him in the first round. I am genuinely excited about this pick. The Steelers receiving core desperately needed a third decent receiver to make up for the one who drops every pass and the other one who sucker-punches women in the face. Hopefully Sweed does just that for the offense.

The third round saw the Steelers go with another pass rusher. UCLA's Bruce Davis played DE in college, but will almost definitely be an OLB in the 3-4 defense, especially with last season's #1 pick Lawrence Timmons moving to the inside. I guess the more pressure on the QB the better. I know one thing - Hines will be proud of the way this guy gets motivated by a lack of respect.

The Steelers went back to Texas for their 4th round pick, selecting OT Tony Hills, who is described as a better pass-protector than he is a run-blocker (which is probably what we need more right now). The 5th round got interesting as the Steelers selected Oregon QB Dennis Dixon, the guy who was a Heismann favorite last year until he tore his ACL late in the season. My guess is that they will look for him to possibly be an Antwaan Randle El / Kordell Stewart type of weapon, while also seeing if he can develop into a capable backup (Charlie Batch isn't getting any younger after all). The Steelers rounded out the 2008 draft with OLB Mike Humpal and S Ryan Mundy (WVU sucks).

I loved the fact that the Steelers got two big steals in the first two rounds. I love the fact that they are building around Ben, because that is the way it should be. We had lots of great players in the 26 years between Super Bowl wins, but it took a gifted QB to finally put us over the top again, and he is more than capable of repeating that feat before it's all said and done. That being said, here is what I didn't like about the draft: the Steelers still have a lack of trench guys. This has been an ongoing theme in the Colbert era. We rarely draft offensive and defensive linemen anymore, and it's catching up with us. The o-line was awful last season, and now the two best players on that line for the past decade (Alan Faneca and Marvel Smith) are either gone or about to retire. The d-line is also getting older and couldn't withstand the loss of Aaron Smith last year. So what are we doing about it? We all know that the Steelers build thru the draft, not thru free agency. I just see this as a big concern right now. Good draft, but this is something we cannot ignore.

Steelers 2008 Draft Board

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