Steelers solve defensive woes in latest mock
Replacing assets can be tricky but sometimes new is better.
Mock draft season is in full swing, with daily programming pivoting from what was, to what will become of the NFL.
Fresh off the NFL Combine, multiple outlets and big-name pundits have released their newest set of findings.
Something to note as we inch toward April is that these mocks will transition from fits to hearsay when it comes to the selections.
Meaning, instead of mocking a prospect that said analyst likes, they will be mocking prospects based on what teams are saying and showing.
Indianapolis kicks off the insight, but pro days and top 30 visits are where the sausage is made if you will.
Teams can only hide who they like so much before it slips out.
It would be premature to think Todd McShay's latest mock is based on "noise" but his Steelers selection may raise some eyebrows.
That's right, Mcshay has the Steelers selecting Emmanuel Forbes at 17th overall.
A stud in college, Forbes is the definition of a ball-hawk. So much so, that he holds the all-time FBS record for interceptions returned for touchdowns.
The tape shows a wiry corner with fantastic instincts, soft hands, and easy transitions. Not to mention he did this in the SEC, facing the best wide receivers in the country down after down.
A trip to the combine backed up his tape, where he ran a 4.35 40, and jumped nearly 38 inches. So what's the concern you ask?
If there is any position where you can "get away" with being slight, it would be cover corner.
The headline in the job description is to prevent receivers from getting open but it also entails being a part of run support, something Forbes frame may be incapable of handling.
Todd Mcshay thinks otherwise, defending his choice by saying:
"Forbes also measured in at 6-1 and 166 pounds at the combine. Yes, 166 pounds. That might scare some teams off in Round 1, but they shouldn't discount the high-level instincts and body control that we see on tape."
To be frank, McShay is exactly right. Seldom do you come away from Forbes tape and say, "man he is weak, look at him getting thrown around".
That just never happens, lending credence to the validity of Forbes as an NFL corner.
McShay would add, "He (Forbes) has great ball production, picking off 14 passes and breaking up 18 more over three seasons. That fits with the Steelers, who led the league with 20 interceptions last season but could lose Cameron Sutton to free agency."
The important part of that blurb is Cam Sutton. Pittsburgh has made their intentions clear when it comes to the future of Sutton in black and gold.
Pittsburgh will have a tough choice to make come April 27th. Many of the top corners and tackles are likely to be gone by their selection at 17, but Forbes is slated to be there.
The odds of consistently leading the league in interceptions are slim, so maybe Forbes is the perfect pick for Pittsburgh to continue the trend.
