2012 Draft; Two Candidates for Steelers Choice in First Round

[DCBILL]

OK, I am officially listing my (January) first round choices: NT Dontario Poe (6'5" 350 pounds, who is athletic and plays anywhere on the DL) or 6'4", 260 pound Dont'a Hightower, ILB from Alabama.

I'll probably change three times or more between now and May, but what the heck!!

[Palmetto Steel]

... Well, what about the kids coming out early?... Any hope for them?......

Alvester Alexander, RB, Wyoming
Dwayne Allen, TE, Clemson
Edwin Baker, RB, Michigan St.
Mike Ball, RB, Nevada
Jamison Berryhill, RB, Texas
Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St.
Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
Bryce Brown, RB, Kansas St.
Vontaze Burfict, LB, Arizona St.
Orson Charles, TE, Georgia
Morris Claiborne, DB, LSU
Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi St.
David DeCastro, G, Stanford
Tiree Eure, TE, Minnesota
Marcus Forston, DT, Miami
Stephon Gilmore, DB, South Carolina
Chris Givens, WR, Wake Forest
Dorian Graham, WR, Syracuse
Robert Griffin, QB, Baylor
Jewel Hampton, RB, Southern Illinois
Cliff Harris, DB, Oregon
Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama
Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech
Ronnie Hillman, RB, San Diego St.
Max Holloway, DE, Boston College
Jayron Hosley, DB, Virginia Tech
Janzen Jackson, DB, McNeese St.
LaMichael James, RB, Oregon
Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
Aldarius Johnson, WR, Miami
Damaris Johnson, WR, Tulsa
Chandler Jones, DE, Syracuse
Matt Kalil, OT, Southern California
Dre Kirkpatrick, DB, Alabama
Peter Konz, C Wisconsin
Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College
Ronnell Lewis, DE, Oklahoma
Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
Terrell Manning, LB, N.C. State
Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
Bobby Massie, OT, Mississippi
Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois
Lamar Miller, RB, Miami
Brock Osweiler, QB, Arizona St.
Eric Page, WR, Toledo
Donte Paige-Moss, DE, North Carolina
Nick Perry, DE, Southern California
Bernard Pierce, RB, Temple
Ken Plue, G, Purdue
Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis
Rueben Randle, WR, LSU
Riley Reiff, OT, Iowa
Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama
Josh Robinson, DB, Central Florida
Mohamed Sanu, WR, Rutgers
Darrell Scott, RB, South Florida
Tommy Streeter, WR, Miami
Darron Thomas, QB, Oregon
Johnny Thomas, DB, Oklahoma St.
Phillip Thomas, DB, Syracuse
Barrett Trotter, QB, Auburn
Olivier Vernon, DE, Miami
Brandon Washington, OT, Miami
David Wilson, RB, Virginia Tech
Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan St.

[DCBILL]

Juniors and others eligible will--once again--be high picks (which is why they come out now, rather than risk a college injury or better talent at their position next year).

Juniors Hightower and Poe (from your list) are guys I would hope the Steelers consider. Both are "big dudes" for the position they play, as noted 6'4" 260 and 6'5 350.

Hightower might offer more, because he led a first rate college defense (Alabama) and there are more DT/NT candidates than good ILBs available in later rounds (Alameda Taamu, Brandon Thompson, and Mike Martin. to name three).

One of the ILBs, who is on your list, is Vontaze Burfeit. Reportedly is a talent but also may have a temper issue; think a heavier, but slightly shorter Jack Lambert. (Reportedly headed to the Ravens if Hightower isn't available.)

OL DeCastro, Bobby Kahlil, and Jonathan Martin--all from your list--likely go before the Steelers choose at #24.

[DCBILL]

Make that "OL Matt Kalil," not Bobby, my bad!

[DCBILL]

I could be teased away from Dontari Poe by Daniel Brockers DE/NT from LSU, at 6'6" and 305 pounds ("with room to grow").

Although he might go in the top 10 choices, Brockers would be a worthy consideration for the Steelers at #24, if the go DL.

I still like ILB Hightower if they go away from NT.

Cordy Glenn OG/OT could appeal to them, too, which then would mean NT in Rd 2 (Alameda Taa'mu), 6'3" 330
lbs, since Hightower and Vontaze Burfick (ILB) would be long gone.