Steelers Go Heavy On Defense In Final Day Of NFL Draft
PITTSBURGH (KDKA/AP) - Doran Grant picked up the phone for his first interview session as a professional football player and almost immediately blurted out: "Steelers, bro!"
The former Ohio State cornerback's youthful enthusiasm was palpable. Consider it fitting for a team whose secondary is in the midst of a long awaited makeover.
Let's give a #SteelersNation welcome to Fourth Round pick @AkronsVO_21! #SteelersDraft pic.twitter.com/RuuIOSaprd
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 2, 2015
Pittsburgh grabbed Grant in the fourth round of the NFL draft on Saturday, hoping he can bring the same physical presence that helped him become a first-team All-Big Ten selection last season as the Buckeyes stormed to the national championship. The Steelers later added 6-foot-7 Penn State tight end Jesse James in the fifth and a pair of defensive linemen in the sixth in Central Michigan's L.T. Walton and Miami's Anthony Chickillo. And in the final round they picked S Gerod Holliman of Louisville.
"Being from Pittsburgh, I'm happy to go there." - @JJames18_. #SteelersDraft pic.twitter.com/QC9PHY5m2s
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 2, 2015
The 5-foot-10, 199-pound Grant is the second defensive back taken by the Steelers, who picked up Mississippi's Senquez Golson in the second round on Friday as the club tries to find capable bodies to replace the likes of Troy Polamalu, Ike Taylor and Brice McCain. Polamalu and Taylor retired last month while McCain left for Miami in free agency.
"There are concerns when you have so many starters leave you at once," Steelers secondary coach Carnell Lake said. "You want to make sure you replace them and make sure you replace them with quality players."
Golson tied a school record with 10 interceptions last fall for the Rebels. Grant had five picks for Ohio State, including two in a 59-0 rout of Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game. The Akron, Ohio native played at the same high school where LeBron James once roamed and joins several Buckeyes who have carved out nice careers for themselves in Pittsburgh, including defensive end Cameron Heyward and linebacker Ryan Shazier.
Heyward and Shazier were among the first people to reach out when the Steelers used the 121st pick in the draft on Golson. Heyward has often talked about how the setup at Ohio State made the transition to the Steelers seamless. Golson expects the same.
"I love the history and the championship culture there," Golson said.
One that finds itself at a crossroads of sort during the offseason. The Steelers went 11-5 and won the AFC North last season almost in spite of their defense, which ranked 18th in points and yards allowed and 27th against the pass. Exit Polamalu and Taylor - who called it a career when it became apparent they were not part of Pittsburgh's 2015 plans - and McCain, who parlayed a solid year into a lucrative deal with the Dolphins.
In their place will be holdovers like William Gay and Cortez Allen and newcomers like Grant and Golson. Lake praised Grant's strength. Grant finished with 63 tackles last season played in 54 games in four seasons. That kind of versatility should help him find a spot on special teams while he learns the ins and outs of new defensive coordinator Keith Butler's 3-4 scheme.
Lake said there's a chance the Steelers could give Grant a look at safety, where Mike Mitchell and Shamarko Thomas are slated to start. Grant has never played safety in an actual game but is willing to learn if that's what it takes to see the field.
It's the same situation Chickillo will face after spending his career with the Hurricanes at defensive end. He will transition to outside linebacker with the Steelers, who are trying to bolster a pass rush that finished 26th in sacks last season. Assistant coach Joey Porter doesn't expect to burden Chickillo by making him learn how to cover tight ends. Pittsburgh needs players that can apply pressure.
"If you're a guy that is going to come in and get sacks for us, we'll take it," Porter said.
The youth movement underway in the secondary will soon happen at tight end, where Heath Miller is entering his 11th season. The massive James is more akin to backup Matt Spaeth but believes he can be a factor in the passing game despite limited opportunities with the Nittany Lions. James who won't turn 21 until June, caught 38 passes for 396 yards during his junior year in 2014. He left Penn State early hoping his size would provide teams looking for help at the end of the offensive line while also using his frame to create mismatches in tight spaces.
"I didn't get a chance to show how athletic I was," James said. "I'll get a shot to do that in the future."
The pick is a homecoming for James, who grew up a half-hour south of Pittsburgh. Tight ends coach James Daniel said despite the modest numbers, there's no reason James can't find his way into the rotation, particularly when the Steelers get near the goal line.
"I would think he's a red zone threat," Daniel said. "A guy that's 6-7 should be a red zone threat."
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