Gerry: Smaller OL, taller WRs on Steelers radar?

Friday, 22 February 2013 09:37

Written by Gerry Dulac

  More from the NFL combine....

         Speaking of offensive lineman, Colbert said the Steelers are not necessarily looking for lighter, more athletic offensive linemen to help with the running game – as has been mentioned by offensive coordinator Todd Haley and new offensive line coach Jack Bicknell Jr.       

            Both of the past two No. 1 picks who were offensive linemen – Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro – are the leaner body types preferred by Haley.

            Bicknell suggested the Steelers want to have athletic linemen who can move to help improve the edge running game – something that is lacking from the Steelers attack.

            “No, we’re going to look for players,” Colbert said. “Some organizations may draft specifically to a position, but we won’t.  We’ve always been an organization that’s going to draft a good player. The coaches have always molded their system around that player.

“You’ll draft players that may have a better chance in another draft, but you won’t eliminate a player because he’s not a certain height or a certain weight.”

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            Today is the day when the combine’s skill players – quarterbacks, wide receivers and running backs – meet with the media.

            And the Steelers will have interest in all three positions, especially wide receiver with the expected departure of Mike Wallace. They could have a shot at Cal’s Keenan Allen (6-3, 210), who is considered the top receiver in the draft.

            The Steelers never turn their back on a skill player in the draft, though they have drafted just one receiver on the first round since Plaxico Burress in 2000 -- Santonio Holmes in 2006. Their current receiving corps was built with draft choices no earlier than the third round.

            “It’s good, it’s deep,” Colbert said of the draft’s receiving corps. “Can you look at this draft and say are there a lot of marquee guys? No, that’s pretty universal. But there are football players who can help in any given round,

“Mike Wallace was a third round [choice], Emmanuel Sanders was a third rounder, Antonio Brown was a sixth. There are players to be found. It’s our job to find them.”