Steelers football blog

Steelers sign picks Hills, Dixon and Davis

The Steelers came to terms with three of their seven draft picks Monday, signing fourth-round selection Tony Hills, an offensive tackle from Texas, and reaching agreements with fifth-round choice Dennis Dixon, a quarterback from Oregon, and third-rounder Bruce Davis, a defensive end at UCLA who will be converted to outside linebacker.

Davis, 6-foot-3, 252 pounds, agreed last night to a three-year deal that includes a $506,000 signing bonus. Earlier in the day, Hills (6-5, 304) received a signing bonus of $304,500. Dixon (6-3, 195) agreed to a $130,000 signing bonus. Continue

Steelers' Mendenhall brings a ton of potential

He is fast, powerful and far from a finished product. He is described as humble but confident enough to compare his running style to that of a future Pro Football Hall of Famer. He is well-rounded -- he writes poetry and music in his spare time -- and is considered such a solid citizen that occasional moodiness is apparently the closest thing Rashard Mendenhall has to a character flaw. "Yeah," Walter Mendenhall, Rashard's older brother, said late week, "sometimes he likes his space." Continue

Steelers finally get personal look at Mendenhall

Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians will get his first up-close and personal look at running back Rashard Mendenhall today when the Steelers open minicamp. He can only hope the Steelers' first-round draft pick looks as good in person as he does on tape. Arians probably hasn't stopped smiling since the Steelers took Mendenhall with the 23rd overall pick of the draft this past Saturday and then selected wide receiver Limas Sweed in the second round. Continue

Dynamic Dixon intrigues Steelers

He piled up 368 yards of total offense and accounted for four touchdowns. He led Oregon to a 39-7 shellacking of Michigan in front of more than 100,000 fans as well as a national TV audience.

Dennis Dixon thrust himself into the Heisman Trophy race with that performance last September -- and into the consciousness of Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert. "The first thing I thought about was Vince Young," said Colbert, who saw Dixon play extensively for the first time against Michigan. "He was winning that game by himself." Continue

Mundy to join Steelers

As a youngster, Ryan Mundy played for a Pee Wee Football team called the West Pittsburgh Steelers. And to hear him reflect on those carefree days, it's hard to tell what was more fun for him: playing in the games or donning his No. 34 jersey and football pants on autumn Sundays and collecting donations outside of Three Rivers Stadium before the, uh, other Steelers games.

"Those are very good memories I have of my childhood," Mundy said.More than a decade later, Mundy will try to complete the circle that started when he and his pint-sized teammates hit up tailgaters for extra change and collected one trophy after another. Continue

Steelers focus on 'D' on Day 2

A pass-rusher that's expected to provide depth at outside linebacker, an offensive tackle that could be the eventual successor to Marvel Smith and a local kid that will push for a roster spot were among the five players the Steelers selected Sunday.

By the end of the two-day NFL Draft, the Steelers were more than happy with their haul, even though it didn't include a much-needed defensive end. "It broke pretty well for us. We didn't feel we reached for any positions," director of football operations Kevin Colbert said. "I would have loved to get a player at every spot, but really, that's unrealistic. Are there defensive linemen available in free agency? We hope so." Continue

Surprised Steelers find offense in draft

Coaches, scouts and director of football operations Kevin Colbert talked through every scenario they thought might happen before the Steelers picked in the first round of the NFL Draft. One transpired that they didn't anticipate, and when Rashard Mendenhall fell to the 23rd overall pick Saturday, the Steelers were happy to snatch up the Illinois running back. Ecstatic, actually, is more like it. Mendenhall is the first running back the Steelers have taken in the first round since 1989.

The Steelers snagged a tall wide receiver with their second-round pick when they selected Texas' Limas Sweed, another player they never thought would last as long in the draft as he did.The Steelers' haul on the first day of the draft turned out to be a somewhat surprising one considering the needs they have elsewhere. Continue

Steelers take Illinois running back Mendenhall

The Steelers selected Illinois junior running back Rashard Mendenhall with their first-round pick (23rd overall) in today's NFL draft. The 5-foot-10, 215-pound Mendenhall, who player for former Steelers special teams coach Ron Zook at Illinois, is the first running back taken by the Steelers with their first-round pick since Tim Worley in 1989.

Mendenhall, the Big Ten Player of the Year, rushed for 1,681 yards and 17 touchdowns on 262 carries last season. The Steelers' next scheduled pick is 53rd overall, in the second round. The first two rounds will be held on Saturday. Rounds three through six begin at 10 a.m. Sunday. Continue

Steelers have many options with 23rd pick

When Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo visited the Steelers in late March, he and coach Mike Tomlin chatted about more than just football since the two hail from Virginia's Tidewater region. "We talked about that for an hour," Mayo said, "so, I definitely feel a connection." The two could have another connection after today.

Mayo appears to be one of the players the Steelers are strongly considering taking with their first-round pick in the NFL Draft. The question is, will the 6-foot-1, 242-pound tackling machine still be available when the Steelers make the 23rd overall pick -- that is assuming they don't trade down for extra picks -- some time tonight? Continue

Late-round gems elude Steelers

Brett Keisel has started 33 consecutive games at defensive end for the Steelers. Also notable about Keisel, particularly at this time of year: He lasted until late in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft. The fourth through seventh rounds of the draft, which will be held this weekend, may not garner nearly as much attention as the first three rounds, but quality can be found among the quantity in them. Continue

Drafting a receiver not such a tall order

The Steelers looked like they needed to upgrade their wide-receiving corps. And that was before quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said a tall wide receiver was on his wish list, before the Steelers released Cedrick Wilson following his arrest for simple assault.

Those offseason developments could prompt the Steelers to take a pass-catcher with their initial pick Saturday in the NFL Draft even though they have used three of their eight first-round selections this decade on wide receivers (Plaxico Burress and Santonio Holmes) and a tight end (Heath Miller). Continue

Steelers eye backfield depth

Barring a setback, Willie Parker will be 100 percent for next season, and Pro Bowlers such as Brian Westbrook and Marion Barber offer proof that good running backs can be unearthed later in the NFL Draft. Meanwhile, this year's crop of draft-eligible running backs is "unusually deep," Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert said.

All signs point to the Steelers waiting at least another year to use a first-round draft pick on a running back. But even though the Steelers have more pressing needs, they have not ruled out using the 23rd overall selection in the draft on a running back. Continue

Steelers unlikely to trade up in NFL draft

Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert raised the possibility of trading out of the No. 23 spot to acquire more picks in this weekend's NFL Draft. Unlike previous drafts, Colbert said the Steelers won't trade up in the first round to acquire a player they really like.

"Being that we only have six (draft) picks at this point, trading up in the first round is really not a likely scenario," Colbert said Monday at the team's South Side facility in the media session prior to the April 26-27 draft. "In other years, I would always say, 'Hey, we could go up, we could go down.' But realistically, I don't think we can go up. Continue

Steelers have no major holes to fill, yet have workman-like needs everywhere

The day the Steelers hired Chuck Noll in 1969, a philosophy change took place in their organization that they have followed the past 39 years. They build, rebuild and replenish primarily through the draft. Even when free agency took hold in 1993, that belief did not waver. It has modified out of necessity because of free agency and the reduction to seven rounds of the draft. But other than signing a veteran free agent or two each year and the occasional trade, the Steelers stock their roster through the draft and signing rookie free agents when it's over.

The opportunity to do so Saturday and Sunday, however, won't be as strong for them as in the past. They have only six draft choices, one in each of the first six rounds. They traded their seventh-round choice for Allen Rossum, a player they released this year, and they received no extra compensatory picks from the NFL. Continue

For every Faneca, there's a bust

A week from today, the Steelers will use the 23rd pick in the NFL draft on an offensive lineman, or at least they should, so you might want to hope they don't. I hope that's clear, in its own convoluted way. Look, don't blame me for your confusion. Seven days remain. The draft stopped making sense weeks ago. Players at every position are moving up and down the mock draft boards based on every conceivable blip of data, dubious and otherwise, right down to their apparent letter writing skills. Continue

Steelers meet CB Jenkins, WR Simpson

The Steelers had their last two visits from college prospects Thursday as part of their final preparations for next weekend's NFL Draft. South Florida cornerback Mike Jenkins and Coastal Carolina wide receiver Jerome Simpson met with Steelers coaches at the team's South Side facility.

Jenkins, a projected first-round pick, is one of the top cornerbacks in a draft class that is loaded with them. The 5-foot-10, 197-pounder had three interceptions and 12 pass deflections for the Bulls last season. Continue

Louisville receiver Urrutia visits Steelers

Louisville's Mario Urrutia, one of the tallest receivers in next week's NFL Draft, visited the Steelers Monday at their South Side facility. Urrutia, who measured at 6-foot-5 1/4 and 229 pounds at his school's Pro Day last month, had 35 catches for 501 yards and three touchdowns in 2007. A leg injury caused him to miss two games and limited him in others. Continue

Cherilus means business

Boston College tackle Gosder Cherilus is really a linebacker at heart. An offensive lineman with the mentality of a defensive player, Cherilus (SHARE-uh-luss) has a budding reputation for being as tough as he is big (6-foot-7, 320 pounds). Welcome to the NFL, Mr. Mean.

"That player on the other side of the line, he might be a nice guy, but he's not my friend," said Cherilus, regarded among the top offensive linemen in next week's draft, a likely first-rounder and a possible target for the Steelers, who have the No. 23 overall pick. Continue

Draft provides a chance to replace Faneca

The Steelers looked for help in their offensive line, wanting to further protect their franchise quarterback and keep their renowned running game at full tilt. Yet, with a late pick in the first round, it's rarely easy finding the ideal offensive lineman. Back in 1998, they not only found him, they drafted one of their best offensive linemen in history when they took Alan Faneca, a junior guard from LSU, with the 26th pick of the draft.

The franchise quarterback, Kordell Stewart, has long since departed but Faneca went on to play in seven Pro Bowls and was voted the only guard on their 75th Anniversary team. The Steelers draft 23rd this year and would love to find Faneca's replacement in the April 26-27 draft. Yesterday, another junior guard with Faneca-like credentials paid them a visit, but they must have even better luck than they did 10 years ago to land such a lineman in the draft. Continue

Steelers learn about Auburn's Groves, medical condition

This week, the Steelers welcomed several potential first-round draft picks to their South Side facility. It isn't a stretch to say that Quentin Groves, Auburn's career sack leader, had the most to prove. Or disprove.

Groves underwent heart surgery March 27 for Wolff-Parkison-White (WPF) syndrome -- 11 days before meeting with the Steelers. WPF is a condition that can cause a rapid heartbeat and can result in heart palpitations, lightheadedness and loss of consciousness. Continue

Oregon RB visits; toe still big issue

The Steelers have not selected a running back in either of the first two rounds of the draft in the past 19 years. Yesterday, they took a look at one who could snap that drought. Oregon's Jonathan Stewart paid a visit to the Steelers yesterday primarily to show off a small body part, his right big toe. He had surgery on the turf toe, injured last November, after he said he was encouraged to do so by NFL personnel at the Indianapolis draft combine in February. Continue

Former Oregon QB Dixon visits Steelers

Former Heisman Trophy hopeful and Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon, recovering more quickly than anticipated from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, visited the Steelers' South Side facility Monday.

Dixon, who passed for 2,136 yards, 20 touchdowns and only four interceptions before suffering the knee injury Nov. 15, impressed NFL teams during a 45-minute workout Thursday in Eugene, Ore. Despite being set at quarterback with starter Ben Roethlisberger and backup Charlie Batch, the Steelers decided to take a closer look at Dixon. Continue

Groves, Steelers strike chord

Auburn defensive end/outside linebacker Quentin Groves sacks quarterbacks, which is why the Steelers attended his Pro Day last month and arranged for his official interview today at the team's South Side facility. As much as the Steelers seem to like Groves, a two-time all-Southeastern Conference selection, Groves has even deeper feelings for the Steelers.

"Ever since I was little, I was always a Steeler fan,'' said Groves, who grew up in Mississippi and told people at the NFL Scouting Combine in February that he wants the Steelers to draft him. "When I saw that black and gold for the first time, it was like, 'man, I love the way those guys play defense." Continue

Avril's athleticism impresses Steelers

When Purdue defensive end/linebacker Cliff Avril visited Steelers headquarters last month, he did so under the cover of darkness.

Avril's visit wasn't announced to the local media, as the team did with other potential high draft picks, such as Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo, Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib, Michigan defensive end/linebacker Shawn Crable and Maryland defensive lineman Dre Moore. Teams are permitted 30 such visits leading up to the NFL Draft on April 26-27. Continue

Otah sits out Pitt's Pro Day

The biggest attraction, literally and figuratively, at Pitt's Pro Day wasn't exactly a no-show. But Jeff Otah merely joined the NFL scouts and coaches in watching Pitt prospects run, jump and do anything they could to improve their standing in next month's draft.

Otah, a projected first-round pick, decided not to work out Monday for the estimated 15 teams that were represented on the South Side because the mammoth offensive tackle still is nursing an ankle injury. Continue

Steelers welcome draft prospects

The upcoming NFL Draft and offseason conditioning were the focus Monday at the Steelers' South Side facility. On a day when the Steelers started voluntary workouts for their returning players, the team also hosted a pair of college prospects, including West Virginia defensive tackle Keilen Dykes.

In addition to Dykes, Maryland defensive tackle Dre Moore met with Steelers coaches and scouts. Yesterday was the first day that college players eligible for the draft are allowed to visit NFL teams. Teams are allowed to host as many as 30 players before the draft. Both interior lines are areas that the Steelers figure to target in the draft, which will be held April 26-27. Continue

Steelers could be interested in Pitt's Otah

In the almost 25 years he's evaluated college players for the NFL Draft, Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert said he's never seen a more promising group of offensive tackles than the current collection.

Michigan's Jake Long is the best of the bunch -- he has drawn comparisons to Joe Thomas, who made the Pro Bowl last season as a rookie -- but Jeff Otah may be the most intriguing of the tackle prospects. That is because he got a late start playing the position and his upside is, well as big as the former Pitt star is. Continue

Steelers eye several positions for first-round pick

The Steelers can use help everywhere and would consider drafting at any position in the first round this year except quarterback and tight end. But they won't use free agency as a primary way to restock their roster, following a long-standing philosophy. "No, I don't see any reason or any scenario where we wouldn't follow the same path we have," Kevin Colbert, the Steelers' director of football operations, said yesterday.

Colbert said the process and priorities will remain consistent with what they've done before. They will first talk to their own players who can become unrestricted free agents, including guard Alan Faneca, and then to others under contract they would like to extend, including quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Continue