Two Players, Two Posititons, Two Needs, One Pick.

The safeties last year often had to cheat up to protect the run because we were that horrible against the run. So in order to secure the run safeties cheated up and risked getting caught because the run stop was far worse that pass defense and had Flowers and Carr. With an ILB that can stop the run and do it well. Even more so with a decent NT in front of him, whether Cody, or whoever we get or signed, the safeties won’t have to cheat so much and be more productive.

I’m not saying our safeties are good, they can definitely be improved, but I think they can be improved in 2nd round or middle rounds.

I’d be fine with either, but looking at what we currently have at S and ILB, Safety is the greater need, and I think Berry will be the pick if we stay at #5. The biggest plus about McClain over Berry is what’s behind McClain at ILB vs what’s behind Berry. Much more depth at safety, BUT Berry has a far better chance to be a special player than McClain does.

he has the ability to contend for a starting job at 5 different spots including defense and special teams and will be able to win a starting job at one of the two DB positions that we have great need whether SS, FS (or Corner if that is our weakest point…which it hasn’t been reported to be).

McClain on the other hand absolutely would do his best work IF we have a solid NT that eats up 2 OL at a time. It’s simply the way our 3-4 D is designed. That’s not to say we don’t have that NT in Shaun Smith already, or won’t get one in round 2 who can do an adequate job in his first season beating out Shaun Smith. In either of those cases, our defense improves drastically with McClain running the D. My big question is whether an ILB merits the #5 money.

So while I prefer Berry at the #5, I would be happy with either one. If everyone else ahead of us goes OL or QB leaving Suh there at #5 my vote goes with him to fight out the NT position with Dorsey and Smith with either Suh or Dorsey ending up at the DE position.

I’d say Roethlisberger puts a huge wrinkle in the draft and someone wanting a QB will opt for the proven player as opposed to the college youngster. If we can get a decent 1st and 2nd round pick for our #5, hopefully Pioli takes it. We can get the talent we need and desire without the huge bonus/risk that comes with a 5 pick.

On pure ability and need, Berry is the choice, hands down…

but, this draft looks very deep with Safeties and NTs. LB is not so deep, maybe McClain should be the choice, and we get the best safety & NT in the 2nd and 3rd round.

I’d love to see Golden Tate at 2a, but all these scenarios have already been posted. I can’t wait to see what the actual picks are. It’s gonna be exciting!!!!!!

Berry would make those last line of defense tackles that Mike Brown couldn’t.
McClain would make those big hits on the RB that Demorrio Williams couldn’t.
Both these players bring so much to the table. Either way our defence improves.
I am 100%, without a trade down, that the pick will be one of these two, but then again, lots of people were “certain” Curry would be the pick last year.

in my opinion would force teams to game plan a little differently against us. If you have a ballhawk in the secondary, you are gonna think twice before slinging the ball around all willy nilly (first Broncos game). Miles Austin isn’t having a career day. Jerome Harrison is sure as hell not making history (good safeties stop those massive chunks of yardage). And in combination with a NT from the 2nd round (Thomas, Troup, Joseph) Berry could make our LB corp and our CBs better instantly.

McClain will also have an impact on our defense that was horrendous at stopping the run. But I don’t feel like he’ll have as much of an effect on both the run and pass D like Berry will…