I'm pasting this article from SteelCityInsider in this email.so I hope the
formatting comes over, this is Matt Steel's work:
With the Steelers' early exit from the playoffs, they've been thrust into
offseason preparations in which there are still plenty of unknowns.
Another unknown sprung up Friday with the announcement that there won't be
an NFL Combine, at least as we've know it in years past.
That puts the onus on the college all-star events as possibly the only
place where scouts, coaches and front-office members will have a chance to
get to know these players, get medical checks or even get official
measurements.
The Senior Bowl is always the gold standard on the college all-star game
circuit, and Executive Director Jim Nagy has done an excellent job of
putting together skilled staffs, a talented roster, and a platform for
these players to perform. In light of the situation in which we are all
dealing, his work is highly commendable.
Those interested in watching these players practice can tune in Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday on NFL Network. The game culminates the week on
Saturday Jan. 30th at 2:30 ET on NFL Network.
For this article the players will be separated by which team they have been
assigned, either the American Team coached by Matt Rhule
<https://247sports.com/Coach/Matt-Rhule-1095> and the Carolina Panthers
staff, or the National Team coached by Brian Flores
<https://247sports.com/Player/Brian-Flores-74458> and the Miami Dolphins
staff.
Here are the players to watch from the Steelers' perspective:
*Jamie Newman <https://247sports.com/Player/Jamie-Newman-43697>: QB, Wake
Forest (American)*
Newman may be the most polarizing QB prospect in this year’s draft class.
His Senior Bowl performance will hold a lot of weight as to where he will
be selected in the 2021 NFL Draft as he decided to opt out of the 2020
college season after transferring from Wake Forest to Georgia.
He possesses a sturdy build with a big arm and likes to throw the ball down
the field. He has the athleticism to run the ball but he struggles to
consistently cycle through progressions and his accuracy can wane in the
short to intermediate areas. If he's able to flash improvements under the
watchful eye of an NFL staff, he has the opportunity to boost his stock
into Day Two of the draft. This would be a good candidate for the Steelers
to select and develop in an NFL offense behind Ben Roethlisberger.
*Mac Jones <https://247sports.com/Player/Mac-Jones-80433>: QB, Alabama
(American)*
Jones was a big ticket add to the roster after the national championship
game. He is a QB with a lot to prove as a lot of evaluators are unsure of
his skill set, if he will be able to live up to his production at Alabama,
or if he was a benefactor of tremendous talent around him. He's adept at
cycling through his progressions and flashes the ability to throw with
touch and anticipation. Also, he shows underrated poise in the pocket and
can elude pass-rushers within the pocket. He does not have the strongest of
arms, but showed enough velocity to put the ball through tight windows.
With a good week in Mobile, Jones has the opportunity to press
decision-makers on whether he should go in Day One of the draft. If
Roethlisberger does indeed retire, Jones may be the only QB in their
first-round draft range (without having to trade up).
*Najee Harris <https://247sports.com/Player/Najee-Harris-62925>: RB,
Alabama (National)*
Harris is squarely in the conversation to be the first back selected in the
2021 NFL Draft, and was also a vital cog as to why Alabama won the national
championship. Some evaluators will knock him due to the NFL-caliber
offensive lineman opening gaping holes for him, or because of the amount of
carries on his tires, but I tell those evaluators go turn on the tape. He
is a freakish athlete who was the definition of a three-down workhorse
while at Alabama.
Can shoulder a high workload by running with terrific vision, strength, and
burst. Possesses soft hands and can be a legitimate threat in space to
defeat smaller bodied defenders. Hurdles defenders like they are
stationary. This would be an instant boost to the Steelers' offense and
give them the ability to have proven a commodity to help reestablish the
running game.
*Rhamondre Stevenson
<https://247sports.com/Player/Rhamondre-Stevenson-81020>: RB, Oklahoma
(National)*
Stevenson is a burly sized running back with nimble feet and good vision to
get the most out of what is blocked up for him. He has the rare ability for
a bigger back to get skinny through rushing lanes, jump cut and pop off
nice sized runs to the second level of the defense. He is adept at
converting short-yardage situations and will be a plus in the red zone. Has
underrated pass catching ability and soft hands that were underutilized
while at Oklahoma.
His rushing style reminds me a little of LeGarrette Blount
<https://247sports.com/Player/LeGarrette-Blount-55493>. How Stevenson
interviews will be something to monitor as he struggled to stay qualified
academically coming into college and having to go the JUCO route. He will
also have to answer as to why he was suspended for Oklahoma’s bowl game in
2019.
Stevenson would be a complementary back in the Steelers' backfield, perhaps
to replace James Conner <https://247sports.com/Player/James-Conner-17958>, an
unrestricted free agent, while also giving guys like Anthony McFarland
<https://247sports.com/Player/Anthony-McFarland-Jr-58723> and Benny Snell
<https://247sports.com/Player/Benny-Snell-36825> the inside track at
splitting the starting reps.
*Ben Mason <https://247sports.com/Player/Ben-Mason-83571>: FB/TE, Michigan
(National)*
A fullback? Don’t the Steelers already have a highly priced fullback that
was barely utilized last year in Derek Watt
<https://247sports.com/Player/Derek-Watt-581>?
Yes, but Mason is not just a fullback, he's a Swiss army-style weapon.
Michigan used him across all formations, from H-Back, fullback, running
back, and in-line TE. They also used him in their pre-snap motion plays,
and he even received a few carries. He's not a small statured player, but
rather a full-grown man who stands 6-2 and possesses a well-proportioned,
muscled-up frame that allowed him to play both ways at Michigan.
Mason has soft hands and can pluck passes away from his frame and can be a
handful for DBs to bring down. Is a maniac on special teams and always
seems to be the first guy down the field. He could be a natural replacement
for Vance McDonald <https://247sports.com/Player/Vance-McDonald-31791> on
lead blocks in the short trap game, and an under-the-radar pass catcher, a
valuable asset to the back end of a roster looking for players to help
establish an attitude on offense.
*Kadarius Toney <https://247sports.com/Player/Kadarius-Toney-87107>: WR,
Florida (American)*
Toney was an explosive playmaker and go-to target for fellow Senior Bowl
attendee, Kyle Trask <https://247sports.com/Player/Kyle-Trask-82817>. He
has a somewhat smaller and slight build who may be pigeon-holed as a slot
WR, but Toney's the definition of a human joystick in space.
Is able to create tons of separation by using the fluidity in his hips and
lower body which allows him to get in and out of his breaks effortlessly.
Can accelerate to top speed in an instant and blow by defenders in
one-on-one situations and collect tons of yardage after the catch. With the
proliferation of pre-snap movement in the Steelers' offense, he could be
used in a litany of ways and would give the offense another WR in the Diontae
Johnson <https://247sports.com/Player/Diontae-Johnson-77270> type role as
well as give Mike Tomlin <https://247sports.com/coach/Mike-Tomlin-3362> another
option in the return game.
*D'Wayne Eskridge <https://247sports.com/Player/DWayne-Eskridge-80846>: WR,
Western Michigan (National)*
Stop me if you have heard this statement before: The Steelers will be
taking a hard look at an explosive pass catcher from the MAC.
Easy to discern, right? First it was Antonio Brown
<https://247sports.com/Player/Antonio-Brown-75967>, then it was
Johnson, and now it's Eskridge.
This is an explosive playmaker who runs his routes so effortlessly that
he's able to generate plenty of separation. The other intriguing part is
that he plays wideout with the mentality of a defensive player in that he's
not afraid to scrap and brawl in the blocking department as well as fight
for extra yardage after the catch. A team-first player who bounced back and
forth between cornerback and receiver due to other players leaving the
program or getting injured, Eskridge doesn't give an indication that he
played two different positions, considering his polish as a WR. Strong
hands to catch in contested situations and has dynamic pure speed to put
safeties on notice, as he was a decorated high school track athlete.
With the prospective loss of JuJu Smith-Schuster
<https://247sports.com/Player/JuJu-Smith-Schuster-27684> this offseason,
and James Washington <https://247sports.com/Player/James-Washington-33621> in
the last year of his rookie deal, I would not be surprised to see the
Steelers add another WR with the capability to win early in the route,
probably as early as Day Two of the draft, which is right where I peg
Eskridge coming off the board.
*Amari Rodgers <https://247sports.com/Player/Amari-Rodgers-36512>: WR,
Clemson (American)*
Rodgers is another playmaker who was utilized primarily from the slot
during his time at Clemson, but he differs from the normal build of slot
wideouts. He's built like a RB with a lot of lower body strength and
contact balance in the Deebo Samuel
<https://247sports.com/Player/Deebo-Samuel-30287> mold.
Rodgers does have the speed and agility to get separation with ease, due to
his movement skills and savvy route-running, and showed a lot of grit and
perseverance as he came back from an ACL tear in just 166 days in 2019 to
then evolve into a go-to target for Trevor Lawrence
<https://247sports.com/Player/Trevor-Lawrence-61350>. Was used from a
variety of different positions and in pre-snap movements.
No moment ever seemed too big for Rodgers, who has experience playing in a
number of big-time games. Would be an intriguing fit for the Steelers with
his build and skill set, especially with all the pre-snap movements and his
ability to win in space.
*Cornell Powell <https://247sports.com/Player/Cornell-Powell-36471>: WR,
Clemson (American)*
Powell is a late-blooming prospect who had to sit and bide his time behind
a long list of Clemson wideouts who have gone onto NFL success. This year
though, he came on late in the season after an unfortunate neck injury
to Justyn
Ross <https://247sports.com/Player/Justyn-Ross-81988> that thrust him into
a starting spot.
When I watched Powell, his game reminds me a lot of Smith-Schuster's.
Powell doesn’t have any standout traits like game-changing speed or height,
but he is a savvy route-runner with enough speed and agility to pick up
gains after the catch. He is a sure-handed target who knows how to shield
defenders away from the ball, and he runs with attitude after the catch
that can lead to breaking tackles and picking up key first downs. He hasn’t
been afraid to chip in on special teams throughout his time at Clemson.
This WR has the feel of one of those late-round gems the Steelers are able
to mine. In fact, colleague Shane Hallam mocked him to the Steelers in
his *mock
draft
<https://247sports.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/Article/SteelCityInsider-draft-expert-starts-draft-season-with-proper-nod-toward-improving-physicality-of-Steelers-offense-159487398/>*
the
other day. With a talented skill set and the right playing mentality,
Powell could be a valuable addition to the WR room.
*Hunter Long <https://247sports.com/Player/Hunter-Long-94048>: TE, Boston
College (National)*
Long is an early entrant in this year’s draft as a redshirt junior. A smart
guy who already has completed his degree. he flashes that intelligence on
the field as a savvy route-runner who understands when to sit in soft zones
and present a target for his QB or when to keep running through in man
coverage.
With soft hands, Long does a great job of apexing the ball in traffic by
boxing defenders out from the ball. Will not go down softly after the catch
and can drag smaller bodied defenders en tow. Flashes the needed tenacity
as an in-line blocker and utilizes good hand placement, but needs to add
more strength and bulk to combat NFL-sized defenders.
With McDonald having already retired, it wouldn't surprise me if the
Steelers look to overhaul the TE position group with a host of new players
in hopes of gaining more consistency both as pass-catchers and in the
blocking department.
*Alex Leatherwood <https://247sports.com/Player/Alex-Leatherwood-80818>:
OT, Alabama (American)*
Mr. Hallam also mocked Leatherwood to the Steelers the other day, because,
as we saw in the playoffs, Alejandro Villanueva
<https://247sports.com/Player/Alejandro-Villanueva-86247>'s struggles were
evident. He also is set to be an unrestricted free agent, so the facelift
to the offensive line is probably in effect.
Leatherwood is a dancing grizzly bear who can simply overwhelm defenders
with his ability to finish. He has a good quick set and enough foot
quickness to mirror pass-rushers, which should give him a chance to remain
at LT. If he does seem to falter, he has experience at guard as well, so
the versatility would be a terrific asset to a line in need of
reinforcements. As a run-blocker, Leatherwood has the nasty temperament to
bury defenders and would instantly help restore that type of attitude to
the offensive front.
*Spencer Brown: OT, Northern Iowa (National)*
Brown is a small-school player whom many media pundits may not know, but
rest assured talent evaluators have him squarely in their sights.
The first thing you notice is that Brown is a FREAK athlete, and was
recognized by *The Athletic’s* Bruce Feldman as the 18th freakiest player
in college football. Brown stands a gargantuan 6-8 with 35-plus-inch arms
and the speed and movement skills of a tight end, where he played in high
school. Was a three-sport star in basketball, baseball and football from a
small town in Iowa, and is not afraid of hard work. Consistently is able to
get to the second level of defenses and seal off running lanes and was used
a ton on trap plays. Nasty temperament when finishing off blocks and seeks
to destroy his assignment. Is a weight-room warrior and possesses little to
no fat on his build.
The sky is the limit for this kid if a seasoned OL coach can get his hands
on him. The only drawback is that he played exclusively RT while at
Northern Iowa, but has all the ingredients to play the blindside as well.
With the contracts of Villanueva and Zach Banner
<https://247sports.com/Player/Zach-Banner-7234> up in March, and Chuks
Okorafor <https://247sports.com/Player/Chukwuma-Okorafor-30753> in the last
year of his rookie deal, OT will be a position the Steelers key on early in
the draft. I wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger on this guy’s upside
late in Round One.
*Dillon Radunz <https://247sports.com/Player/Dillon-Radunz-80315>: OT,
North Dakota State (National)*
Radunz is a highly decorated LT who was tasked with keeping prospective
first-round quarterback Trey Lance
<https://247sports.com/Player/Trey-Lance-93591> upright.
Radunz helped North Dakota State win multiple championships during his time
on campus and no situation seems too big for him. Sturdy pass protector
with light feet is able to mirror pass-rushers. Shows the ability to
shuffle and set and anchor when needed. Was a three-sport athlete in high
school in track, basketball and football. Flashes the mean streak you want
to see in the running game and was asked to consistently get to the second
level on trap plays. Is able to flow and fit at a consistent rate when
blocking in space. Could stand to add more bulk and strength to combat NFL
defensive linemen, but is a solid OT who could come in and contribute Day
One if needed.
If the Steelers were able to select Radunz in the late first round, or
early in Day Two, their search for a young tackle would be considered a
success.
*D'Ante Smith <https://247sports.com/Player/DAnte-Smith-81088>: OT/OG, East
Carolina (American)*
This is an offensive lineman whom I feel will be one of the highest risers
throughout the pre-draft process. He's from a smaller school where he
played the majority of snaps at left tackle, but Smith also has some
experience at guard. He has long arms (35.5) and some very good movement
skills. You can see his background as a high school wrestler with his
ability to anchor and steer and clear defenders in pass protection. Has the
foot quickness to get out and fit on blocks at the second level as a run
blocker, but he needs to add some more bulk to his frame to be able to
manage NFL linemen.
Highly respected teammate who is willing to put in the prep work as he was
a two-time team captain. This could be an early Day Three target for the
Steelers to groom as a TE in their jumbo package while he develops further.
*Quinn Meinerz: OG, Wisconsin-Whitewater*
The Senior Bowl is an event that allows players from all over the nation a
chance to showcase their talents, and with success stories like Ali Marpet
<https://247sports.com/Player/Ali-Marpet-82008> and Ben Bartch
<https://247sports.com/Player/Ben-Bartch-46099461> from small schools in
the subdivisions of the college football realm, guys like Meinerz have hope
that they can join those ranks.
Meinerz checks all the boxes you could want in an interior line prospect
with good hand usage, lower body strength, intelligence, ability to
diagnose blitzes and stunts, and a mean streak that will make you want to
say mercy. He has light feet to mirror in pass protection, and also has the
fluidity to short trap with great success. Used the layoff this year to
expand his tool belt by learning the nuances of the center position, which
gives him greater versatility and ability to stick on a roster.
I had the opportunity to talk with Quinn recently and he has a great story
to be told, and if given the chance to acclimate to the NFL level I think
the upside could be tremendous, all for an investment that will cost you a
Day Three pick.
*Drake Jackson <https://247sports.com/Player/Drake-Jackson-37345>: C,
Kentucky (American)*
Everyone in the draft community is talking up Landon Dickerson
<https://247sports.com/Player/Landon-Dickerson-76786> at the premiere
center in this class, and for good reason, due to his unique personality
and nasty playing style. But Dickerson suffered a knee injury that will
take him out of the pre-draft process. In his stead, Jackson should be the
center teams keep close tabs on.
Jackson was a four-year starter at Kentucky, which excelled at running the
ball. He is a smooth mover in space and can get to the second level and
seal blocks with ease. He does lack elite measurables, such as arm length
and bulk, but his tenacity is evident on tape against the big-bodied DL in
the SEC.
He also needs some hand-fighting refinement by an NFL OL coach, and the
good news is it's a correctable flaw. Terrific pre-snap communicator and
will relay information he keys in. Due to his size limitations, he most
likely will fall to Day Three of the draft, but could turn out to be a
10-year starter in the right system.
With the uncertainty of Maurkice Pouncey
<https://247sports.com/Player/Maurkice-Pouncey-53891> returning, and the
uncertainty of whether JC Hassenauer
<https://247sports.com/Player/JC-Hassenauer-24286> can be an NFL starter,
it would be wise for Tomlin and Co. to check out Jackson.
Those are the players to keep tabs on next week, and look for my next
article, which will provide insight on defensive players at the Senior Bowl.