And with the 53rd pick in the 2008 Arrowhead Pride Community Mock Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select:
Purdue OLB Cliff Avril
cgolden with the pick:
Linebackers are the key to the success of a 3-4 and even though the Steelers used both a first and second round pick on linebackers last year, there are still question marks at the position. Lawrence Timmons (2006's first rounder) has moved inside and should start at LILB and LaMarr Woodley will be starting at LOLB. The rest of the linebacking corps in is in good hands with Farrior and James Harrison, but both players are over 30 years old. Not to mention that Farrior is entering the final year of his contract and at 34 years old he's unlikely to get another contract in Pittsburgh. What all this means is that the Steelers need some more youth at linebacker so with the 53rd selection the Pittsburgh Steelers select Cliff Avril.
If the previous selections had gone a bit differently the Steelers would have very interested in each of the past five picks. Avril is a nice consolation prize though. He's faster and bigger than every top-rated OLB, including Keith Rivers, and has the stats to back it up with two consecutive seasons of 15 tackles for loss and at least 6 sacks. Avril has the size and speed to play either inside or outside as well as put his hand on the ground and rush the passer.
1. Miami Dolphins - QB Matt Ryan
2. St. Louis Rams - OT Jake Long
3. Atlanta Falcons - DT Glenn Dorsey
4. Oakland Raiders - DE Chris Long
5. Kansas City Chiefs - DT Sedrick Ellis
6. New York Jets - RB Darren McFadden
7. New England Patriots - DL Vernon Gholston
8. Baltimore Ravens - OT Ryan Clady
9. Cincinnati Bengals - OLB Keith Rivers
10. New Orleans Saints - CB Mike Jenkins
11. Buffalo Bills - CB Leodis McKelvin
12. Denver Broncos - OT Chris Williams
13. Carolina Panthers - DE Derrick Harvey
14. Chicago Bears - RB Rashard Mendenhall
15. Detroit Lions - OT Jeff Otah
16. Arizona Cardinals - CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
17. Minnesota Vikings - DE Philip Merling
18. Houston Texans - OG Branden Albert
19. Philadelphia Eagles - FS Kenny Phillips
20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - WR/RS DeSean Jackson
21. Washington Redskins - WR Limas Sweed
22. Dallas Cowboys - RB Felix Jones
23. Pittsburgh Steelers - OL Gosder Cherilus
24. Tennessee Titans - WR Devin Thomas
25. Seattle Seahawks - WR Malcolm Kelly
26. Jacksonville Jaguars - DE Lawrence Jackson
27. San Diego Chargers - RB Jonathan Stewart
28. Dallas Cowboys - CB Aqib Talib
29. San Francisco 49ers - WR Mario Manningham
30. Green Bay Packers - CB Brandon Flowers
31. New York Giants - LB Jerod Mayo
32. Miami Dolphins - OT Carl Nicks
33. St. Louis Rams - CB Antoine Cason
34. Atlanta Falcons - QB Brian Brohm
35. Kansas City Chiefs - WR Jordy Nelson
36. New York Jets - DE Quentin Groves
37. Atlanta Falcons - OT Sam Baker
38. Baltimore Ravens - CB Justin King
39. Cincinnati Bengals - DT Kentwan Balmer
40. New Orleans Saints - LB Dan Connor
41. Buffalo Bills - TE Martin Rucker
42. Denver Broncos - WR Earl Bennett
43. Carolina Panthers - QB Joe Flacco
44. Chicago Bears - OT Duane Brown
45. Detroit Lions - DE Calais Campbell
46. Cincinnati Bengals - OLB Xavier Adibi
47. Minnesota Vikings - OT Anthony Collins
48. Atlanta Falcons - CB Reggie Smith
49. Philadelphia Eagles - WR James Hardy
50. Arizona Cardinals - ILB Curtis Lofton
51. Washington Redskins - DT Trevor Laws
52. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - CB Tracy Porter
53. Pittsburgh Steelers - OLB Cliff Avril
Position count: QB (3), Off. tackle (9), Off. guard (1), Def. tackle (3), Def. end (6), Running back (4), Linebacker (5), Corner back (9), Safety (1), Wide receiver (8), Tight end (1)
Up tomorrow: Tennessee Titans (RTC Fan), Seattle Seahawks (ChiefSuni) and Green Bay Packers (c rag).