Sports

U mad, bro?: Steelers fans are fired up about Steelers draft. More linemen! Why take a running back? And … a punter? – TribLIVE

The NFL Draft has Pittsburgh Steelers fans in a tizzy.

Why did the team take a running back in the first round? Should they have taken more linemen earlier in the draft? Was their judgment clouded by some Steelers who stayed in free agency?

And, good God, what was with drafting that portly punter?!

It’s an even saltier than normal edition of “U mad, bro?”

Let’s start with the most important stuff first: The Steelers drafting a punter late in the seventh round.

I mean, when you think about it, the three most important concerns in the world right now are the coronavirus vaccine rollout, the debate over free speech on social media and if the Steelers were smart to draft a punter at pick No. 254.

In no particular order.

So let’s begin with this tweet about new Steelers punter Pressley Harvin III.

Well, Rick, as a Syracuse graduate, you had me at Trill Williams. And I do get your point.

However, why not draft a punter who actually has a chance to win the job (and be here for 10 years) instead of a second defensive back in the seventh round who may not even make the team?

Plus, Harvin is the best punter in the country. So the Steelers got the best running back (Najee Harris), the second-best tight end (Pat Freiermuth) and the best punter on the board. I’ll live with that.

Also, he’s about 260 pounds and built like Jerome Bettis. Maybe he can double as the short yardage back?

Based on how high and far Harvin punts, I’d say directly on the ball. Because, that way, when it comes back into orbit, it’s nice and cold.

William sent an email defending Mike Tomlin as the head coach of the Steelers.

“I know this is late, but (here’s) something for those who call for Tomlin to be replaced because he hasn’t won playoff games. Remember when we wanted Jamie Dixon replaced because he did not win tournament games but at least he got us there? What has Pitt basketball done since he left?

Be careful what we wish for.”

William, so long as Art Rooney II doesn’t hire Kevin Stallings to replace Tomlin someday, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.

Although, if he retains Tomlin and they move from the AFC North to the ACC, I bet I know what would happen. They’d split big games against North Carolina and Duke. But they’d lose as big road favorites to Boston College and Wake Forest.

This tweeter isn’t wild about the Steelers players who decided to come back to Pittsburgh after finding nowhere else to go for the right price in free agency.

I’m guessing he means players such as JuJu Smith-Schuster and Vince Williams. And maybe he means Robert Spillane, Cameron Sutton and Zach Banner, too.

But, hey, you can’t let everybody walk. And you can’t keep everybody either. Which makes me wonder if Steven Nelson may suck it up and come back for a year since he’s still unsigned as of the timing of this post.

Here’s one thing that’s confusing to me, though. They kept Spillane and brought back Williams at inside linebacker. Then they spent a draft pick on another guy at that position with fourth-rounder Buddy Johnson.

Why do that when there were plenty of pass rushers and cornerbacks available? After all, that’s where the team lost four players between Nelson, Mike Hilton, Bud Dupree and Ola Adeniyi.

Back to some draft reaction. This tweet from @debeassi on Friday morning is one of many I received saying I was wrong to endorse the Steelers’ selection of Harris in the first round.

Well, here’s the thing. They may not have been able to get a top-tier running back in the second or third round. Because obviously Jacksonville was going to take either Harris or Travis Etienne next.

Let’s assume they would’ve taken Etienne anyway, as they did. I’m not ready to assume Harris makes it beyond all seven remaining teams in the first round, especially not the Buffalo Bills at pick No. 30. Then North Carolina back Javonte Williams went off the board three picks into the second round.

If you are assuming the Steelers found a trade partner to move back — and they take two linemen — maybe they could’ve gotten Ohio State running back Trey Sermon before the San Francisco 49ers in Round 3. Or they take another tight end since (by your logic) they may have passed on Freiermuth depending on what the exchange was in the trade.

But the Steelers waited 87 picks before taking a lineman anyway, passing on the perceived two best centers remaining on the board (Josh Myers and Creed Humphrey) to take a tight end.

So, if that was their thinking, why not just get the best running back available in the first round? Which is what they did. And I‘m glad.

And I bet about eight games into 2021, you will be, too.

This person doesn’t mind the Steelers taking a first-round running back. He is just skeptical of Harris, in particular.

OK. So does that apply to all Alabama players then? Should none of them be drafted in the first round because everyone is a first-rounder? Is that the logic?

Derrick Henry was a second-round ‘Bama back. How is he working out for the Tennessee Titans? Were Julio Jones and Josh Jacobs strictly “products of the system”? Should we employ the same argument for Minkah Fitzpatrick and Marlon Humphrey on defense?

C’mon. As Pro Football Focus points out, Harris had 821 yards after contact and forced 71 missed tackles. Both ranked second in college football last year. That has to do with individual talent. Not the quality of blocking in front of you. Remember the run where he hurdled a Notre Dame defensive back after the offensive line got pushed behind the line of scrimmage.

I could watch that highlight all day. Although this guy is sick of it.

Yeah, well, editing together all 57 of his career touchdowns at Alabama probably would’ve taken too long.

But I’m sure he had nothing to do with those either, right?

Finally, I got this email from someone in Sewickley who — like me — is tired of all the shade thrown at Harris from the “ARBCGP” (Anti-Running Back Committee of Greater Pittsburgh).

“It was a no-brainer. The board dictated they had to pick him. Some of your cohorts’ ridiculous hot takes like trading out of the first round for more picks doesn’t even make common sense.”

Amen. However, disagree on one point. Nothing was “dictated” that they “had to” pick anyone. In fact, most draft boards dictated the opposite.

But they did it anyway. I like that about the pick almost as much as I like Harris himself.

Almost.

Tim Benz is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets could be reposted. All emails are subject to publication unless specified otherwise.

Related Posts

Perk: Joel Embiid has been getting disrespected & it has to STOP! | NBA Today – ESPN

Mavs stave off elimination in Game 4, Lakers may keep Russell Westbrook | NBA | THE HERD – The Herd with Colin Cowherd

St. Louis Blues Craig Berube says racist comments directed at Colorado Avalanches Nazem Kadri are in no way acceptable – ESPN