The Steelers are almost halfway to the 30 visits by out of area prospects allowed by the NFL in advance of the draft after hosting South Carolina linebacker Eric Norwood and Wake Forest defensive back Brandon Ghee Thursday.
The visits are just part of the evaluation process and not too much should be read into them. Last year, for example, the Steelers drafted just two players they hosted before the draft: cornerback Joe Burnett and running back Frank Summers, both in the fifth round.
The Steelers didn’t bring defensive end Ziggy Hood to Pittsburgh prior to the 2009 draft because they were already sold on the player that became their first-round pick.
Thus, the fact that the Steelers have hosted cornerbacks Kyle Wilson of Boise State and Kareem Jackson of Alabama does not necessarily mean they are looking at those players more than others in regard to their first-round pick (No. 18 overall).
With the Steelers done with visits until early next week, here is the list of the players they met with this week. Keep in mind, too, that the team plans to bring in Oregon running back LaGerrette Blount for a visit before the draft.
Player/Position Ht/Wt College Skinny
Navorro Bowman, LB 6-0, 242 Penn State Could be an option for Steelers in the second round
Mike Neal, DT 6-3, 294 Purdue Projects as a defensive end in a 3-4 defense
Chris DeGeare, G 6-4, 325 Wake Forest Has the physical tools to play at next level but may need time to develop
Darrell Stuckey, S 5-11. 205 Kansas Productive in college but speed may be an issue
Rodger Saffold, OT 6-4, 316 Projected high-round pick could play tackle or guard in the NFL
Jacques McClendon, G 6-3 324 Steelers get closer look at player that did not get invite to the NFL Combine
Kyle Wilson, CB 5-10, 194 Boise State Won’t get to the Steelers in the second round if they really like him
Kareem Jackson, CB 5-10, 196 Alabama Another likely first-round pick, Jackson excels in coverage
Nolan Carroll, CB 5-11, 204 Maryland Good size and speed but missed most of his senior season because of a broken leg
Joe Webb, WR 6-3, 223 Alabama-Birmingham A quarterback in college, his size and speed make him an intriguing prospect
Albert McClellan, LB 6-1, 247 Marshall Defensive end in college projects as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense
Eric Norwood, LB 6-1, 245 South Carolina Gamecocks’ all-time sacks leader (29) could go as early as the second round
Brandon Ghee, CB 6-0, 192 Wake Forest Turned in fastest 40-yard dash time (4.45 seconds) among cornerbacks at NFL Combine
April 1st, 2010 - 11:48 pm
Draft Tebow. Play Batch or Dixon this year. Give us a QB who is not only a tough guy but a great role model. Ive had enough of Ben's bad behavior.
April 2nd, 2010 - 11:58 am
You are an idiot if you think this team can win without Ben. It took us 25yrs to finally get a franchise caliber Quarterback. You may get sick of him but I am not sick of having a chance
at Superbowl glory
April 2nd, 2010 - 12:15 pm
Would love to snag Tebow in the second round. Might have to trade up to the early second round. No character flaws...and they could use Big Ben for another year or two til he has a strike three...unless you consider the helmetless motorcycle thing as strike one...then you'd have MOTORCYCLE-TAHOE-GEORGIA = 3 Strikes Your Out.
April 2nd, 2010 - 1:00 pm
Draft Tebow????? Give me a break! Ben is going to be fine. He is an amazing QB who in my opinion will win more super bowls for us. If you want a role model look away from sports. I just want a winner and that's what Ben is.
April 2nd, 2010 - 1:12 pm
Tebow is going to be a "BUST". As for Ben he has not been convicted only accussed. You can't punish some one before you find out the truth. Just because he makes bad choices and puts himself in bad situations is no reason to get ride of him. OLB Brandon Graham, CB Kyle Wilson, or C/OG Maurkice Pouncey would be the best choices.
April 2nd, 2010 - 3:27 pm
I've been a steelers fan all my life. I want Ben together. We will see what happens. I think once he gets by this, i feel he will get it together. I think Dixon can be the QB of the future. Everyone forgets that Dixon would have went in the first two rounds if did not het hurt. If Ben doesn't work roll with Dixon. Draft Tbow or Colt McCoy
April 2nd, 2010 - 3:27 pm
norwood would be a great steeler......he can help on specials teams today......and be ready to play soon...
April 2nd, 2010 - 4:10 pm
For the love of God, would people give the whole 'Tebow' thing a rest. He will NOT make a good NFL QB. The Steelers can sit at #18 and take the best available player. Both the offensive and defensive line need help, and they could use a quality cover CB. Three possible picks are Mike Iupati, G, Idaho; Dan Williams, DT, Tennessee and Earl Thomas, S, Texas. (Thomas runs a sub 4.4 forty and some are saying he can/will play CB in the pros). Second round possibilities... Who knows? The draft starts to get really unpredictable after about the 20th pick.
April 2nd, 2010 - 8:58 pm
Ben will be fine,,,,,,as long as he's not in jail. If Tebow is still there in the second take him.
April 2nd, 2010 - 10:16 pm
I'm really amazed how fast some people are willing to throw Big Ben under the bus. He's still a kid who can get us some more trophies so let's all hope things pan out.
April 3rd, 2010 - 3:49 am
No Tebow, hopefully Big Ben will get through these seriouus charges and play football again. There is plenty of help at the QB position in Pittsburgh let draft Taylor May and truly sure up that defense in case of Troy gets hurt again this season.
April 3rd, 2010 - 4:07 am
How can "Big Ben" win games for us if he is behind bars... IF he is convicted? This case is far from over...IF he is convicted... do you honestly think the Steelers are going to keep him around? I don't think so..
April 3rd, 2010 - 7:57 am
Ben's on shaky ground, so I would definitely listen to offers; the team is getting a little old on defense and the offensive line is not the greatest, let's face it. So if someone wanted to make a Herschel Walker like trade - go for it. As for Tebow, I don't see it, but would trust the Steelers judgement on him.
April 3rd, 2010 - 8:18 am
Dixon and Batch are a joke and if Ben is guilty of being a perv then the Steelers are screwed/
April 3rd, 2010 - 8:19 am
We should move down in the first round of the draft, get some additional picks, draft Taylor Mays somewhere at the bottom of the first. Then use the extra picks to move up to draft McCoy or Tebow. I like Big Ben, but I love the Steelers and we need to send a mesage, No one is above the Team. If we can't grab McCoy or Tebow, then try to grab Pike in the 4th round. But I wouldn't be too disappointed to see Dixon get a chance.. he did some good things for us in relieve duty last season when he started for us against the ravens. I just want to see Mays in black and gold.. he's a beast... GO STEELERS
April 3rd, 2010 - 10:52 am
Nolan Carroll, CB, should be available in the 5th round. I anticipate and would love for the Steelers to take him in the 5th. He has the size and athletic ability to become an excellent zone corner and he provides great run support. If not for his broken leg he would have been easily at least a 2nd round player. His weakness is lack of experience at CB and a less then perfect hip-flip for man coverage. If he develops an ability to play man as well as he plays zone he could be the biggest steal in the draft of 2010.
Why I like him so much goes beyond the field of play. He is a leader as one of four team captains and member of the Terps' leadership council. He has a family history which is impressive. His father earned the rank of Senior Master Sergeant in the Air Force and his mother was a Lt. Commander in the Navy. His aunt works for the NSA at Fort Meade.
April 3rd, 2010 - 2:35 pm
We have Ben and will have him for many years to come. Maybe after this fiasco he will settle down, but who know. It's hard to retrain a selfish person.
Now, the person I like to fit in the Steeler Defense is Norwood. Personally having seen him play many times at Carolina, he is a beast. A smart, strong, and great open field tackler is what we need on our defense and Special teams. He's got my vote, would love to have him, but we have other needs to fill first.
April 3rd, 2010 - 4:10 pm
I think the Steelers should get a cornerback and a running back, Hardesty from UT would be a good backup for Mendenhall. Hardesty is a stud and is good at blocking would be a great thrid down back! In the later rounds they need to pick some offense linemen!
April 3rd, 2010 - 4:50 pm
I haven't read anywhere that Ben has been taken into custody but to not think we won't lose his services would be only kidding ourselves goodell will suspend him 4 games this season in which we could start the season 1-3 while he is out. When hi gets back what might look like a push for the postseason will only be an early date to switch gears to hockey as in the Pittsburgh penguins. Ben has given me every reason to believe he is playing out his last days as a steelers quarterback. So much for covering all our fingers with SB rings.
April 3rd, 2010 - 6:21 pm
It's humorous to me that someone would absolve Ben of his transgressions by saying that he's "still a kid". The man is 28 years old, college educated and an NFL vet, yet he's bar-hopping in a college town?
I hope he's exonerated and goes on to lead the Steelers to some more SBs, but it's time for him to grow up.
April 4th, 2010 - 6:51 am
Fans I understand the dissapointment in Ben,guilty or not he needs a wake-up call about being a role model and being a Steelers what ever happens to him ''oh well''. As for drafting a QB give D.Dixon a shot,don't even consitor T.Tebow,we won't make any super bowl contending run if we think that that secondary will hold up with ''hands of stone Taylor on one side and please draft either(J.HADEN,P.ROBINSON or K.WILSON with the 1st rd pick) haven't had a real CB since ROD WOODSON and CARNELL LAKE.
April 4th, 2010 - 7:42 am
The visitors list, lest we forget, is primarily used by the Steelers as a smoke screen, especially for early picks. Big Ben and Mendenhall were not amongst the visitors list when they came out. This list does give some indication where their intentions lie, a secret to no one. That said, their needs are numerous and obvious. At or near the top of everyone's list is CB/DB and OL. This is a draft flush with BIG PLAYERS. Althought, arguably, a top 'cover' CB Kyle Wilson with near Darrelle Revis like skills would be a no-brainer his availablity is a good possibility. IF the day one draft develops with 3 or 4 QB's & RB's going in the first 14 picks. It is a likely posibility either Wilson or Joe Hayden (CB FLorida) may slide. Perhaps trading down could also be an intelligent value oriented move. IF both those guys (Hayden or Wilson) are gone (And they do not trade down) an OT is a no-brainer. Saffold OT Indiana & K. Jackson CB Alabama, are late round (at best) 1 or mid round 2 picks, at BEST. Colbert is under the gun to draft young talent ready to produce. He's either chalk or cheese after this draft. Jim from NY.
April 4th, 2010 - 10:52 am
I don't know why the Steelers would draft another RB. They have Mendenhall, who's now a 1,000 yard rusher, Moore, their 3rd down guy, and Isaac Redman, who's poised for a beakout season after last preseason. I think they take Maurkice Pouncey from Florida in the 1st round because he can play Center and Guard. Then I could see someone like Cam Thomas in the 2nd with a Defensive Back; maybe Akwasi Owusu-Ansah or Morgan Burnett in the 3rd.
April 4th, 2010 - 5:49 pm
They will need to go Dl or Cb in the first round, After that draft a Qb- I don't think these guys are going to linger too much after the stink is gone. This organization does not put up with this kind of stuff whether it is deserved or not.
April 4th, 2010 - 9:54 pm
that is why we would draft a running back, because we have mendenhal, the number one fumbler in the nfl last year he dropped the rock on average ever 4 carries, thats nuts,, but then we also have redmon, and summers, which is why we wont draft a running back,, i garantee mendenhal will get demoted this year due to his fumbles,,,
April 4th, 2010 - 9:57 pm
T-bow is a flash in a pan, he wont pan out in the NFL, he is too much of a showboat,
April 4th, 2010 - 10:04 pm
i hate to say it, but looks like the black and gold, are becoming the east coast raiders,, this is ' how would charles barkley put it,, turrible, turrible, turrible! we gonna start needing bail bondsman , and what would the great late mel copeland think,
April 5th, 2010 - 8:08 am
Ben's the Steelers QB......but If the legal system sacks him or the league suspends him for the season, what direction do you go? DIxon ...then Batch....I'm not to confident with that hand. Tebow for future insurance? Interesting....... He's succeeded at every level. Who's to say with his new delivery he can't become the Steelers QB of the future. Ben's great I love the way he plays, but his style of play was in question before our last Super Bowl Victory. I would have no problem with drafting Tebow in the second or third round. He is a great athlete a confident leader (a little sensitive) but has a proven track record.
April 5th, 2010 - 10:19 am
The transgressions of Ben, Holmes, etc. will keep the Steelers from taking Legerrett Blount. For this, I am pleased. Their needs at CB, and OL are much more desperate than RB. I hope they pay more than just lip service to the running game this year. They need to find a great blocking fullback in the third round. Arians has to swallow his pride and actually use said fullback. This will make RM, Moore, and Redman much better. William Gay should have been shown the door. He is simply awful.
April 5th, 2010 - 10:52 am
Size, speed and more speed are what we need at CB, ILB, OL this is what they need to look for. Every one is talking about Tebow he is not ready at this time, the scouts know it so he will be drafted but in the 4th round with a team where he can learn the game. Lets face it the guy is a winner just needs to be with the right team. Steelers are not the right team. Steelers need the most help at CB, S also LB inside and out. Last season the D just did not get the job done. I look for them to draft the best CB, S, ILB #1, #2 draft the best CB, S, ILB, #3 OL in that order with size and a lot of speed. Now about Ben and Holmes that every one is talking about, first Holmes. If he is found guilty he will not be a Steeler they will let him go because he has been in trouble just too many times, so look for them to draft a WR the second day just in case. Now Been, in the story I read on the internet (sorry I cannot remember where I read it) a friend of the girl Ben was with said she went looking for her and when she went to the bathroom there were two guys that were with Ben's party standing out side the bathroom guarding the door so nobody could get in. If this is true, Ben is going down and they need to draft a QB as early as the third round.
I think Dixon can win in the NFL but they will have to change the O to fit his strengths. He did play good in the Baltimore game but at the end of the game they ran the wrong plays or they could have won that game.
April 5th, 2010 - 1:48 pm
Steelers are no worse than any other NFL team in terms of player conduct. The problem these days is players can't do anything thanks to instant media coverage. My God, TMZ must be run by a bunch of Browns fans because they seem to have a camera crew following Steeler players just waiting to break a story.
Every team has player issues, some seem to forget that our beloved Steelers of the 70s were also getting into trouble with the law but nobody clamored to cut them. Relax, Ben will be found guilty of nothing more than bad judgment and being horny. The motorcycle accident was a bad judgment thing but not a crime...
The cases with the girls with both Ben and Santonio, I think people need to wait for the facts before wanting to throw stones ... in both cases the actual facts are going to show that both players were guilty of nothing more than needing to be more careful where they hang out. This also is not a crime
April 5th, 2010 - 4:31 pm
We aren't going to draft Tebow period. We have secondary, oline, and dline issues that will be what we address in the draft. Yes Ben needs to change his social behavior but it has yet to be proven he did anything wrong. On top of that, Dennis Dixon has serious potential in this league.
April 5th, 2010 - 8:54 pm
I have only two words for you..Trent Dilfer..We do not need a superstar, just someone who does not lose the game. If Dixon sees Miller in the flats, we beat the Ravens. I love my team, but enough with Ben and Holmes. This is not about wins and losses, this is about character..Do you see a trend? We can't make fun of the Bengals, with these two.I liked Mcnabb because he is the same age as some of our vets, and he has never had the weapons we do. I say trade Ben to St. Louis and let's get some picks..
April 6th, 2010 - 5:50 am
The problem is, Ben will have used up all his get out of jail free cards if he dodges these two. There will be zero tolerance for any off field issues for him, which will be difficult given his partying ways. Without panicking (aka drafting Tebow) we should have an eye on a future without him. Next year, if a McNabb like player becomes available, we may need to take him. I home I'm wrong, and he has a Tiger-like epiphany.
April 6th, 2010 - 6:56 am
Tebow to the Steelers no way. Agree w/ #31 on Ben (guilty of being horney). I would want no one other then Ben leading are team. He is a Steeler through and through. We do need to focus on geting some DBs and o-line help. That is all, there is nothing more to this. Ben haters shut up.
April 6th, 2010 - 8:37 am
Tebow on the Steelers.....intriguing despite Ben's problems.
I think Dixon is a solid #2 and can hold the fort until the problems are resolved. I love Charlie Batch, but he can't finnish a game when he does go in. He always gets hurt and ends up on IR. Perhaps its time to find a place on the coaching staff. Tebow at all purpose back and #3 QB. He is tough and always make the short 3rd down yardage......hmmmmm.
April 6th, 2010 - 9:20 am
The media is hyping the troubles of the Steelers. If Ben and Santonio were actually charged with a crime, then let's make a big deal. However, accusations being discussed over and over without giving the complete story is irresponsible, at best. Do you guys remember the Jerome Bettis case in which the woman set him up. The media did the same thing then and did not apologize later.
Based on what I know about each of the cases, there will be no charges and I do not believe that they are guilty of anything. However, I am awaiting the conclusions of the investigations.
Everyone knows that If you are a single man at 28, you are going to bars and mashing on any pretty girl that gives you the attention. Everyone needs to stop judging football players differently than everyone else. Not everyone gets married when they are young and goes to church every Sunday.
April 6th, 2010 - 6:53 pm
Franchise quarterbacks are rare.If Ben sreers clear of criminal charges he will be here,despite his reprehensible conduct.If a top corner is available that can make an immediate impact,they must take him.If not,take Iupati the stud guard that you can run behind on third and two.We have been missing this type of bellcow lineman since Faneca left.If he is gone drop down,draft Pouncekey and pick up a late second.On that round take your corner and Alex Carrington or a linebackr like lee from Penn State to groom as Farriors replacement.Then take Blount and his 245lbs and six yards a carry for the short yardage back we need.Then add backup depth at strong safety with a guy who can play special teams.With the fith round picks take nate byham a guy that can really block.
April 7th, 2010 - 12:50 am
Ben just got a 100 million dollars and holmes is going to get a lot of money also. Both of them need to grow up and act like pro's on and off the field. All steeler fans are praying that nothing comes of these incidents and the team go's on to win more superbowls. AS far as the draft go's 1.kyle wilson (cb)2.v.ducasse (G)3.tony washington (OT)4.L.blunt (rb)5.moats (olb)5.deadrick(De) 5.Udofia (NT)6.harbor (te/fb)7.moore (cb) 7.amaya (fs)
April 7th, 2010 - 8:56 am
Ben isn't guilty of anything but poor judgement. It seems apparent there is some money grubbing going on, so I doubt anything will happen to him beyond the obvious embarassing stories. And if he does get a 4 game suspension, then Dixon is plenty capable of leading the team for four games. Don;t think he is Superbowl caliber yet, but he is certainly an exceptional player. I watched him make fools out of Michigan, so I am convinced he has what it takes to play at a high level. Now if we would just get to Steeler football and RUN THE BALL WITH POWER Ben/Dixon would have no worries at all. Mendenhall should be on DWTS, not NFL Network, cuz he is always dancing around, geez, hit the hole and run with some power. He looked better late in the season. I am hoping Frank the Tank turns into something and I know Redman has the stuff for 3rd downs when Moore is done. So pick Pouncey, set him at Center for the next ten years and draft a couple CBs in the next couple rounds, then pick Pounceys brother for guard late.
April 7th, 2010 - 3:47 pm
To Mark #33,
There is a big difference between the Dilfer led Ravens and the current Steelers team. Baltimore could run the ball effectively the year they won the Superbowl. Thanks to the handy work of Bruce Error-ans, the Steelers are no longer capable of that. A Dilfer type caretaker on the Steelers would get killed by week three. Think of all the hits that Ben is able to shake off and imagine how deeply Dilfer would be planted in to the turf under similar circumstances. Without a running game, defenses tee off on Ben. A lesser athlete would not hold up under the pressure.