I'm more concerned about NT then DE. I'll admit, I'm much more excited about the chance of landing a freaky DE but I think NT should be the priority. Hampton played well last year but unless he comes in in better shape then last year no chance of a new deal...Hell, they might anticipate a massive weight gain after this next contract and if that's the case he is as good as gone. I like Hoke but he's getting old...and I don't really like many interior players on the Dline this year. But the more I think about it the more I think D Scott might be a real good fit around round 3.

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I'm concerned about the future at NT as well, but I'm not sure how the PS could justify keeping three NTs on the roster this season. And I can't see Hoke getting cut in favor of a rookie.

I look for Colbert to put more effort into drafting for the DL than his most recent round 4selections of Orien Harris and Ryan McBean. I thought he and Tomlin were going to address the DL last year when they proclaimed as they did again this offseason they want to draft young, violent football players to add youth and depth to their aging DL. DL needs to be addressed in top 3 selections IMO. I look for Jerron Gilbert to be gone by pick 32 and I don't think Evander Hood is a good fit for the 3-4 so that leaves rds 2 and 3 to get DL. Scott a good pick in round 3 but strikes me more of a NT candidate than 3-4 end. MaGee would be an absolute gift in round 3 and has played DE but MaGee's has back issues.. back injuries always worry me no matter what the sport. I also don't like underachievers like Fili Moala who probably won't last until pick 64 but with 12 teams playing 3-4 this year the Steelers would have to consider him if he slides to 64. Ron Brace would address NT if he lasts until pick 64 but really there aren't a lot of NTs that should be drafted before round 4. Ricky Jean Fracois a possibilty in round 3 but the real DL at LSU who stood out to me this year was Rahim Alem. This kid really got after the passer watch out for him next year as an OLB/DE prospect

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"You seem angry, Drama."
"I've always been, Billy. Only now, I'm drunk too."

You are so full of shit your eyes are brown.

Provide any source, at all, that says effort is Moala's problem. Other than draft sites with unnamed "scouts" and "experts", you probably can't find anything at all (if you can even find that).

Guy played out of position and well enough to get through a 1-loss season- probably played one bad half of football all year. Yeah, that's "bad effort".

I have a - let's call it a- sneaking suspicion- that on last year's USC defense, guys who didn't give 100% spent a lot of time on the pine.

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If a guy posts on a bulletin board service, and nobody reads it, did he have anything to say?

With the number of teams switching to a 3-4 this year, would this be the time to try and move Hampton? If Braylon Edwards is worth a 1st and a 5th, we should get something for Hampton? Only so many teams can hope to win the BJ Raji sweepstakes.

Could we win with Hoke/Brace at NT or Hoke/<another rookie (Scott, Sammie Lee, Moala, Knighton) ?

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Off Season -- where I too, can be like Dan Synder. Just without the money and girls.

I can't help half of Pittsburgh doesn't get the NFL network. Pete Carroll was interviewed by some blonde at the senior bowl and when asked about his 3 first round LBs he praised Moala for making a position change that lead to their success. Do some listening and reading and you'll find plenty of sources that proclaim Moala's measurables do not translate into production including Pat Kirwan, Mike Lombardi, and Mike Mayock. Also...from PFW draft mag "Fake Tough. Not a worker. His passion for the game has been questioned. Motor does not always go.".....

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"You seem angry, Drama."
"I've always been, Billy. Only now, I'm drunk too."

These are all the same sources that hit on less than a quarter of their 1st round picks... So, forgive me if, having watched the guy play basically his whole college career, I am not overly concerned.

One of the better college D's anyone has seen in a long time, you'd think it didn't have a 1st round player on it, to read a lot of what's posted here.

They can't all slip to the 2nd or 3rd round. The three best players are Moala, Cushing and Maualuga... I'd be stunned if any of the three are there come the beginning of the third round.

It's funny, the closer you get to the draft, the more random noise fills the interwebs.

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If a guy posts on a bulletin board service, and nobody reads it, did he have anything to say?

Why? He signed for 5 mil per when he was a pro bowler. He will be 32 at the start of this season (his last under contract), meaning he will be 33 at the start of the 2011 season. If you think someone is gonna give him a raise, as a 33 year old-whenever his contract ends...you're kidding yourself. We're talking about a 6'0 tall NT who routinely comes to camp out of shape, only plays about half of the downs in a game, and will be 33 on opening day of C3. You think he's gonna turn down 4.5 mil a year to keep his family in Pittsburgh and continue to play on the best defense in the NFL?

Its ironic this thread is here. I've argued against this recently, but I not long ago I heard Roy Miller being interviewed on Sirius and he was asked which teams were showing him the most love and he said Denver, Dallas, Jax, and Pittsburgh.

I dont see him as a 34 NT, but they must

he mentioned this blog in his interview so I decided to look it up

http://www.thefootballexpert.com/roymillerblog.html

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Colbert on the #Steelers RB situation: "Where we were in running game last year was indicative in the talent at the position.''

Roy Miller?