The guys on defense the Steelers have drafted should serve very well in those special teams/specialty situation roles. Never hurts to take a little of the heat off the longtime starters, keep their legs fresh for late in the games when their experience and playmaking abilities are most needed.

As for Kemoeatu, I’ve heard that he has only 2 starts at RG, both in ’06, and has been a backup there and has played on special teams. But he’s just signed a contract for 1.4 million.

Further, he just got half a million more a year than Trai Essex, who HAS played on the left side – at tackle, no less – and Essex was drafted a round earlier than Kemoeatu. So the Steelers obviously think a lot of CK. I could see him becoming LG. Again, since Ben’s the franchise, gotta pay the guys who protect his blind side well.

Wow, very busy last few days, and all in-between energy has been on the election, sorry to take so long getting back here. My question about Harrison wasn’t that his job was in danger; I think he’s in top form. My thought was just about how weak the Steelers’ Special Teams have been, and it seems like the addition of Davis might change that somehow. I don’t know Tomlin’s coaching style well enough to guess, but it seems like they might use Davis there if he’s got the speed and is quick turning corners, and that would save some wear and tear on Harrison.

Supposedly Chris Kemoeatu is going to take LG.

The Steelers picks truly show how random the best available talent on the board can be. But don’t forget: For as heralded as the Steelers defense is, the franchise player (and by that, I don’t mean the officially designated one for contract purposes but the TRUE franchise player) is Big Ben, and the more you can do to keep him healthy and productive the better. So perhaps there’s the tiniest bit of marketing in mind when they made those picks.

I believe the way to build a team in the NFL is to draft the best players available then trade to fill holes. You want to fill holes with established, proven players; drafting to fill holes is a crapshoot. I think the Steelers had a damn good draft, picking up some potential role players on the defense, allowing those kids a chance to play to their strengths and still take time to develop into more well-rounded players.

And the QB Dixon: He’s got a strong enough arm, has the pocket skills to be an solid pro, even though he missed the last few games with a knee injury. If he can adapt some better mechanics, he’ll still be worth it. I’m more worried about the O-tackle Tony Hills, since the Steelers need some shoring up at the line, and he’s coming off a broken leg.

The pass-rushing OLB Bruce Davis from UCLA is also being considered a reach by some draft experts, but like I said before, he’ll be given a chance to work to his strengths part-time while developing into a better-rounded player. He didn’t have a particularly great senior year statistically, though. So to answer your question about Harrison’s role: James’ position is safe for a few years.

Bears picks: I suppose they made some nice picks. I like the new tackle, Chris Williams from one of your alma mater’s, Vandy. He may even take over left tackle, pushing the present starter, John Tait, to the right side. It was a good early draft for tackles this year, and the Bears got one of the best.

Getting the Tulane RB Matt Forte should be an improvement over Benson. Forte’s a strong inside runner but not the type to get creative on carries — he won’t be making something out of nothing. So he’s not a real answer. The Bears took another Vandy product at WR, which is something we really needed, since Muhammad and Berrien are gone. Earl Bennett’s a beefy if not particularly tall receiver — he’s a sure-handed, fearless in the middle kind of guy.

Michigan State TE Kellen Davis was a nice pick in the fifth (how could a tight end named “Kellen” NOT be good?), but the rest of the picks were disappointing… mostly because there were no QUARTERBACKS among them. Oh, well… gonna be another long season between Devin Hester kick returns.

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Interesting how Tomlin and Colbert were so clear that they were not looking to fill positions or weak spots but just wanted to take the best available players. The biggest message they sent, if unintentionally, was a shift to offense – more weapons, more protection for Ben. Given the contract extension and $ he got, it looks like Tomlin’s going for it, you know? Really committing to him.

Thought the injured QB was a weird pick. If he’d been 7th round, maybe not so weird, but not convinced what kind of a player he is even if he’s healthy.

Really curious how James Harrison’s role will or won’t shift with the addition of Davis.

Are you happy with the Bears’ picks?

Round 5: Dennis Dixon, QB from Oregon. Gotta have potential to beat out USC’s embarrassment of offensive riches for Pac 10 player of the year. Strong arm, fleet of foot, good pocket passer, patient, BUT… not particularly accurate and has a weird deliverly. A project, but one the Steelers can afford with such a young stud at QB as Ben.

Round 6 (first pick): Mike Humpal, OLB, Iowa — so we know he looks good in black and yellow. Perhaps the ideal complement to third pick Davis — Humpal is more the ballhawk, but he’s not as physically gifted (hey, whaddya expect — he’s a sixth rounder) nor as fast, but he gets a lot out of his limited gifts.

Still more to come…. : )

Oh, well….

Steelers picks so far: Mendenhall IS a great pick. Best football player on the board at that point, has “low mileage” and is much tougher an inside runner than Chicago talking heads would admit when they thought the Bears would take him.

Second Steeler pick: Limas Sweed, WR of Texas. Another great pick — a big, physical hands receiver who can get banged around on inside routes and still catch and hold onto the ball. Arguably the second or third best receiver in the draft picked up at a bargain spot. Ben’ll be happy with him.

Pick three: Bruce Davis, OLB, UCLA. Not gonna be a ballhawk for the Steelers, more of a situational pass-rusher, because he’s quick and can shed blockers well. Not a bad pick for third round.

Fourth round: OT Tony Hills of Texas. My understanding is he’s a pass-protector, not a great run-blocker. May be tough keeping him healthy — he’s had knee surgery and a broken leg, probably why he’s better as pass protection than as a run-blocker.

More to come….