A Case for the 2009 Draft...

One of the points I see highlighted quite a bit here is that the 2009 draft was quite unimpressive.  I want to take a moment to discuss this draft with everyone and review these picks.  I’ll make some observations from this fans perspective, and see what happens from there.

I choose to count “The Trade” because it cost us that second round pick, and we have to balance that out.  By not doing so, you are removing a high value pick without showed that compensation was received. 

One idea that jumped out at me as I continue to review this draft is that we came off a couple of awful seasons.  With our significant lack of talent, we were indeed in a position to rebuild again/still.  The theme that stuck with me in several of these pick is development.  Both the roles and players we drafted in this draft typically take a few years to develop in to contributors at this level.  I’ll talk more about this in discussing individual players.   

Pick #3

Tyson Jackson – DE – 6’4” 295 LSU

We took the big reach to take the best 3-4 DE in the draft last year.  In considering the circumstance, I understand to some extent.  We didn’t know how any of these players were going to transition.  I was one of those people that did not believe Dorsey would transition well in to the 3-4DE role.  If these players to not make the transition well, then we have almost nothing in the trenches.  Also, DL positions are among some of the biggest jumps in talent from college to the NFL.  It’s often in to year 2 before D-linemen are able to be effective as starters.  So pick the guy that has the experience and tool that make him most likely to succeed, and hope for the best.  His prototypically size and build were a part of that, his experience in that system at a college level also helped. 

Pick #34

Traded for

Mike Vrabel – OLB – 6’4” 261

Matt Cassel – QB – 6’4” 230

While there are a variety of opinions on this trade, I see good value.  Vrabel himself played pretty good last year, and perhaps more importantly, brought along some of the other guys in the lb core.  Andy Studebaker is a fan of his work, as we’ve all heard. 

While Cassel is still feeling some things out at the NFL level, he has shown some toughness, intelligence, and leadership.  Those are key attributes that are important in that position.  I look for him to continue to improve as he moves forward and also as the management continues to surround him with tools.  Remember, this guy had only been a starter for 15 games total.  Look at the QBs that have been successful in their rookie campaign.  Roethlisberger was only throwing 12-15 times a game in that first season.  When he did win his first superbowl, his passer rating in the game was in the 30’s.  As he gained experience, he improved and was able to put more of his team’s weight on his shoulders.  I know that Roethlisberger has difference strengths and skills from Cassel, but I thing some of those points, like the speed of the game and the decision making skills, come with that experience no matter your strengths. 

Pick #67

Alex Magee – DE – 6’3” 298 Purdue

As I mentioned in the Tyson Jackson portion, we didn’t know how Dorsey or anyone else was going to work out.  So we drafted for the worst, that he didn’t, and now we would have out 2 DE’s.  Magee played in a 4-3 base front at Purdue, but played both end and tackle, displaying the strength and speed for both.  Again, he has the size and tools to be successful at this level. 

Pick #102

Donald Washington – CB – 6’0” 197 Ohio State

Again, a bit of a reach, but Washington displayed at OSU that he very athletic, and has a lot of upside that can be actualized with some hard work and development.  In addition to playing CB, he has also played a little WR.  He also had some experience covering slot receivers, which would help out quite a bit as a nickel back.  While he did see a little time on the field this year, and was underwhelming in that time, this is a project and will take time.  By the way, these projects seem to be the theme in the lower round pick as well. 

Pick #139

Colin Brown – OL – 6’7” 335 Missouri

I remember everything I read before and after last years draft started out by describing Brown as a “Man Mountain”.  This was surprising for many.  Some thought he would probably go undrafted.  He’s a very large, very athletic player, and he could prove to be versatile.  While at Mizzou, he played center, guard, and tackle.  While he’s “IR” right now, after some time this season we will know what we have.  If he pans out to be versatile depth along the right side of the line, that’s not bad for a 5th round pick. 

Pick #175

Quinten Lawrence – WR – 6’0” 184 McNeese State

In looking at both Lawrence and Williams, it’s a bigger jump to the NFL from lower divisions of college ball.  Lawrence was picked not just because he is fast, and he is most certainly that, but because he plays fast.  His moves are quick and his footwork is sharp.  A lot looked to him to be our answer in the return game, but it will take time and reps for that, since he didn’t do it in college.  That speed is a good thing, and so is the agility, but its going to take reps to move from Div II to the NFL. 

Pick #212

Javarris Williams – RB – 5’10” 223 Tenn. State

He is a big kid who played well at his little school at Tennessee State.  It was noted by some that his frame is big enough that he could add some weight and play bigger than he was at draft time.  He has seen little game time, and could be a good short yardage back for us after a few years. 

Pick #237

Jake O’Connell – TE – 6’3” 250 Miami of Ohio

I really don’t get this one.  He’s an athletic kid, big.  I think they just liked him and took a chance to see if we can turn him in to something.  We traded our 2010 7th rounder for Miami’s 2009 to pick him.  He was a good special teamer in college, and that was an area that needed to be addressed coming in to this past season. 

Pick #256

Ryan Succop - K – 6’2” 218 South Carolina

The gem of the draft thus far, Succop came right out the gate and proved he has both the strength and the balls to be our kicker.  Hopefully he if here for a long time and he stays good.

Basically, almost all these guys are on a bit longer of a lead time than others.  We took picks in positions of need that take a little while to develop right off the bat, because it will take a couple years to get them going.  Drafts take about that long to evaluate, so we will see these player actualize in to pieces that fall somewhere between future hall of famers, to UFL backups.  So in considering this, what makes a good draft?  Considering everything, if we generate 3-4 starters, it that a good draft?  We already have two effective starters in Cassel and Vrabel.  I know Vrabel isn’t giving a full career, but he has played well and has given quite a bit to the team, and that’s mostly as a rider to that Cassel deal.  So if TJax work out and starts showing that he can be a strong starter later next season, that’s three.  Unless the wheels come off, I would call Succop our fourth starter out of this draft.  The rest we’ll see, but if one of those project guys woks out, it would be great.  I would say this could end up being a pretty decent draft based on just those couple points.

Look, I know there are a couple of assumptions being made, but really that all we can do to evaluate this draft.  The same is true for the argument against this draft.  To argue this draft as inferior because it’s not producing yet, one makes the same degree of assumptions, just that they work out poorly as opposed to positively. 

Either way, consider my points before we start to label this draft as a bad one. 

Jake