BTSC takes five bold statements surrounding the completed | Forum

Draft and labels them as Fact or Fiction."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Latest NewsSteelers Film Room2018 NFL Draft AnalysisLatest NewsLatest NewsFeatures and Long FormPittsburgh Steelers Fact or Fiction: Post-NFL Draft editionNew David DeCastro Jersey ,42commentsBTSC takes five bold statements surrounding the completed Steelers and the 2019 Draft and labels them as Fact or Fiction.EDTShareTweetShareSharePittsburgh Steelers Fact or Fiction: Post-NFL Draft editionBrian Spurlock-USA TODAY SportsThere are many narratives surrounding the Steelers after the completion of the 2019 NFL Draft in Nashville. With so many questions to be answered on the need to trade up or reaches or how a player will actually play...BTSC takes bold statements and labels them as Fact or Fiction. Lets take a gander.Devin Bush needs to be a Week One starter to justify trading up.FictionBush is a strong candidate to start the Steelers’ opener in New England, but it is not absolutely necessary. The thought process is that Bush will probably seize the spot, but it all depends on how exactly they view Mark Barron. My guess is that the newly-minted No. 55 is starting in prime time, but he’ll see a lot of time even if he doesn’t.Comparisons of Diontae Johnson to Antonio Brown are fair to put on the third rounder.FictionIf Johnson is statistically half as good as AB, you have a great selection. Yes, he is of comparable body dimensions and comes from the MAC. He also possesses good hands and decent route running ability, plus a lot of fans never heard of him. However, let this kid be his own player. He doesn’t need the comparisons or pressure to justify his selection. Let this all play out.Justin Layne should be the one to break the streak of underwhelming picks at the cornerback position.FactThe Michigan State CB had First Round grades from many teams, but the whole position group dropped with only Deandre Baker going at the end of the First. Layne is 6’2” with good coverage skills as a bump-and-run corner. He could be next man up and will likely start at times late in the season. There is a strong opinion among fans and “experts” that Layne could be a draft steal.Lack of size will sink Sutton Smith FictionRyan Shazier, at 6’1” and 229 lbs., is merely an inch taller and four pounds lighter than Smith at 6’ and 233. Smith plays with a ton of heart and sacked QBs 15 times with 26.5 tackles-for-loss in 2018. He had 14 and 30 respectively in 2017. The Norther Illinois product will have to earn his way on via special teams Darrius Heyward-Bey Jersey , but I’d bet on him to do something special when he does.Seven of the nine selections make the 53-man rosterFactKevin Colbert got this one right. The top four selections of the Steelers (Bush, Johnson, Layne and Snell Jr.) should very well make the roster with ease. With the lack of depth at TE and Bucky Hodges having been released, Zach Gentry should be the TE3 on the 53. The next four guys have battles in camp, but I can see Buggs push past McCullers and Sutton Smith get the nod over “Dirty Red” Matakevich because of ST play, regardless of his being an ILB or OLB. Ulysses Gilbert and Derwin Gray may need to start out on the Practice Squad.Agree? Awesome. Disagree? Fine, Agree to disagree? Cool with that too. Lets discuss in the comment section and lets welcome our new Pittsburgh Steelers. PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers have an opportunity to create some mid-season separation in the AFC North.To do that, they will have to beat the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Sunday, a venue where the Steelers have found it difficult to win and generate offense at times in the past.“We just focus on this opportunity ahead of us,” Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown said. “We don’t focus on the magnitude of the division. We know if we take care of our business, things will work out for themselves. It’s another opportunity this week to do what we desire to do.”The first-place Steelers (4-2-1) have won three straight after a 1-2-1 start. Their last loss came Sept. 30 against the Ravens at Heinz Field Jordan Berry Jersey , as the Steelers converted 2-of-12 third downs and rushed for just 19 yards in that game.“I don’t think there would be any player that would say they felt like they played their best game,” Steelers’ offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner said. “And when we had a chance to look back through it, we were pretty critical of what we did and what we didn’t do. It was a pretty good eye-opener.”The Steelers offense has found its stride since then, while Baltimore (4-4) has lost three of four. But the Ravens have experienced past success against the Steelers in Baltimore.The Steelers beat the Ravens 26-9 last season in Baltimore. But prior to last season’s win, the Steelers lost the previous four games and five of their last six road games against the Ravens dating back to September 2011.Brown has just 40 receptions for 427 yards and one touchdown in eight games at Baltimore. That’s an average of five catches and 53 yards per game for the four-time All-Pro.Brown, who leads the league this season with eight touchdowns, has never had a 100-yard game against the Ravens in Baltimore.“It’s a tough place to play,” Fichtner said. “There’s great fan support and it’s loud. They get excited playing in their crowd. Snap-count is always an issue. We’ve had some big games there in my past 12 years here. It’s an exciting place to play.”Roethlisberger owns a career completion percentage of 64 percent, but he’s completed just 57 percent of his passes in Baltimore.Roethlisberger, who ranks sixth in the league in passing yards this season, has never had a 300-yard game in Baltimore. He’s thrown nine touchdowns to 13 interceptions at M&T Bank Stadium Alejandro Villanueva Jersey , and has been sacked 29 times in 10 games, including eight in the last four contests.The Steelers are 3-6 in games Roethlisberger has started in Baltimore. Roethlisberger enters Sunday’s game against the Ravens with a broken index finger on his non-throwing hand. He sustained the injury at some point in Pittsburgh’s home win against Cleveland last Sunday.Roethlisberger fully practiced Thursday and Friday.“Ben’s a tough guy, and he’s been through a lot,” Brown said. “He’s one of the toughest ever to do it. You don’t see him complaining. This guy’s a warrior.”Brown hopes the Steelers can pick up an important victory on Sunday at a place where wins and yards have been hard to come by.“It’s a hostile environment with fiery fans,” Brown said. “It’s one of those environments you love to excel in. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to go out and compete this weekend.”NOTES: Steelers CBs Coty Sensabaugh (toe) and Artie Burns (ankle) are both questionable for Sunday’s game, while OT Marcus Gilbert (knee) is doubtful. Sensabaugh fully practiced on Friday, while Burns left practice early with his ankle injury. Matt Feiler will start at right tackle for the second straight week if Gilbert cannot play.