billsfan905

But can't you flip that and suggest that Whaley hasn't hired the right coaches either?

More so switching systems every year has set our franchise back. Whether it was Shwartz, Rex, Pettine, or Wannstedt........... this switching of systems every year has gotten us nowhere. We're asking franchise players like Dareus to do different things every year and having him add or shed 30 pounds a season. You wonder why these guys start to give up.

Whether it was Whaley's or Rex's (whoever had control of the roster), it was a gigantic organizational failure. Which is ironic when we're desperate for a CB and WR and both Cockrell and Kamar Aiken are prized possessions right now.

Yes but that's exactly the kind of thing Whaley has been missing out on....... when he thinks things are good, guys become expendable. No vision for the future where Cockrell could become a top corner when all of our corners are walking? Gilmore, McKelvin, and Robey are gone now, and Darby took a step back in 2016. I'm sure this has a lot to do with having 7 defensive systems in the past 7 years, but it also doesn't make sense that we have absolutely no long term vision at any position. Similar to us neglecting WR for years now. Not to mention he was a 4th round pick less than a year prior.........

Per rotoworld: DKPittsburghSports.com reports Steelers restricted free agent CB Ross Cockrell is drawing "plenty" of interest. Reporter Mark Kaboly doesn't name any teams. Cockrell was somewhat surprisingly tendered at the original-round level, which is the fourth round in this instance. Teams might view that as a reasonable price for a player who has emerged as a decent No. 1 corner over the past two seasons. It's possible the Steelers are prepared to match any offer Cockrell receives on the open market.

Ironic that a 4th round pick in 2014 was signed off our practice squad a year later and is now a #1 corner for a top 5 NFL team, while we are sitting here with a gigantic need at corner. Another example of our failures to develop talent, and nearly always expecting our draft picks from rounds 1-4 to be immediate starters. Ross Cockrell would be pretty nice to have right now........

Did Whaley forget about this need when he was out signing fullbacks and safeties? We have one NFL caliber WR on our roster in Watkins, who is hurt at least 50% of the time. There are barely any quality receivers left in free agency (almost all of them are #3 guys like Wright, Hunter, Patterson). Unless Doug is hell bent on drafting 3 in May, we need to start adding some guys. This is the biggest need on the team, especially when you don't have an elite QB that makes average WR's great like Rodgers, Brees, or Brady.

Link: http://www.profootba...t-matt-barkley/

QB - 7, Fitz will never be Tom Brady but is definitely a starter in the league. Need a developmental backup that could replace Fitz in 3 years. RB - 2, would be 0 if we had a true power back for goal line situations, and a late round FB wouldn't hurt WR - 9, Outside of Stevie and Nelson Buffalo has nothing. Dire need of a #2. Would be 10 if Stevie and Nelson weren't as good as they were TE - 4, Chandler is good, hopefully he turns into the player he looked like in camp last year. I expect a late round pick on TE T - 8, Pears is great, we don't give enough credit to Hairston. A 4th round rookie looked pretty damn good last year, hope he proves it this year if we don't go OT at 10 OG/C - 2, position strength. Would be 0 if Wood didn't get hurt every year. DT - 1, Best position on the team. 2 pro bowl starters, 2nd round pick as a backup and quality depth in Spencer Johnson and Kellen Heard DE - 5, Mario Williams and Anderson put this from 10 to 5. No need for a top draft pick but I don't expect Kelsay and Merriman to be around forever so someone for the future should be looked at in mid rounds. OLB - 8, Barnett is rock solid but aging. Morrison looks good on paper but barely played last year. No depth so will be addressed x2 in draft. (Expect Bryan Scott here on 3rd downs) MLB - 4, Sheppard is fine. Hopefully he takes the next step. McKillop is a big question mark, however CB - 7, I don't think this is as big of a need as most of you do. Williams is going to be great, and we can deal with McGee, Florence, and Leodis on the other side for the time being. Rogers was great as a #3. No need to reach on CB early, 3-5 round. S - 3, Not a need position at all. Wilson and Scott only have a few years left so depth + Searcy development will be key K - 4 - Lindell is consistently good. Never going to hit long but is very accurate. P - 6 - Moorman sucked last year. Give him the benefit of the doubt for this year as he has been great for us. Always a bright spot on bad teams in the past.

Would absolutely love this mock. Would like to see Reynolds targeted in the middle rounds as he was predicted to be a top pick before the season, worth a gamble

Easy, since when has a corner ever been a make or break position? On the other hand, how often do top receivers propel QB's? Gilmore shouldn't even be a consideration at 10. We took a corner at 10 a few years ago who was supposed to be much safer than Gilmore and was the top DB in the draft. How did that turn out for us? Draft WR.

Galliford is an absolute hack. Knows absolutely nothing about football. Reminds me of Russ Brandon, a guy who only knows marketing, yet is in a position that you'd think he would know a lot about personnel. When you read Galliford's stuff it is easy to point out that he has never played football before pretty fast. Every year he makes the worst mock picks, to a point where I really don't understand why he continues. If he knew this would be a bad pick than why not just pick Floyd?

It's SC not USC, but regardless I think it'll be interesting to see how Jeffrey runs his 40, also would like to see if he's lost his Andre Smith look from earlier in the year

Agreed, he was not one of the guys. I think he is small for our defense but as a mid round pick he sure brings quality. And as for Kuechly I am certain they are considering him at 10, mostly depends if they feel he can play OLB.

I expect Buffalo to be aggressive but when its all said and done it really comes down to whether Buffalo is willing to go that extra mile trying to recruit guys to coming to a consistently sub .500 team, rather than playing in the Super Bowl. No free agent wants to come here, so its either put up or shut up from Buddy. What will he do?