Mike Tomlin
By John Harris
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Monday, April 30, 2007
On the second day of the NFL draft, the Steelers bagged a defensive tackle, a cornerback, a punter -- punter! -- a guard and a wide receiver.
This, after selecting two linebackers and a tight end in the first three rounds.
So ends the first draft for new coach Mike Tomlin and director of football operations Kevin Colbert, partners in a joint venture called Winning Football.
"I like football in the trenches. We got better in the trenches this weekend,'' Tomlin said.
"Heck, I wish we had more picks,'' Colbert said. "We feel good about it. Everybody does.''
Put it this way: The Steelers got what they came for.
They wanted to get younger and faster on defense; they got younger and faster on defense with the selection of Florida State linebacker Lawrence Timmons in the first round and Michigan linebacker LaMarr Woodley in the second round.
Timmons, who already has his critics who believe he's too small, too short, too slow and too inexperienced, is the Steelers' hand-picked replacement for Joey Porter. He'll back up veteran James Harrison.
Not starting right away isn't necessarily a bad thing for Timmons, who, like Woodley, will play on special teams and passing downs until both players learn the defense and warrant more playing time.
Two of the top pass rushers in the draft, Timmons and Woodley have speed to burn on the edges. A lack of speed on the edges killed the Steelers' pass rush last season.
"With Joey leaving, we were thin at outside linebacker, and quite honestly, we have to be better than we were last year as a pressure team, especially on third down,'' Colbert said Sunday. "I look at that as a personnel issue, because we didn't get to the quarterback good enough, and that leaves your secondary exposed because you're not getting enough pressure.''
A defensive coach, Tomlin wanted to draft defensive players. Mission accomplished.
Colbert complied by acquiring players to fit Tomlin's system. Four of the Steelers' first six selections were on defense.
Of course, the Steelers didn't make Timmons the No. 15 pick in the draft because he's a good special teams player. But Timmons' selection -- along with the Steelers' willingness to put him on special teams and draft Baylor punter Daniel Sepulveda in the fourth round -- indicates the level of understanding and trust between Colbert and Tomlin.
In their first draft together, the general manager and coach fooled some of the local media when Tomlin spoke glowingly about Pitt cornerback Darrelle Revis prior to the draft without mentioning Timmons.
The New York Jets traded up to take Revis at No. 14, one pick ahead of the Steelers, who never contacted Revis before he was selected, according to his agent.
The Steelers felt they needed a cornerback so badly they didn't draft one until Louisville's William Gay ... with the 170th pick.
"Coach understood what we were doing and why we were doing it,'' Colbert said. "He and his coaches were in agreement, and he thought we put together a good board. It worked the way we wanted it to. You are judged on the wins and losses, and in two or three years, we'll see. But the process was great.''
Colbert entered the draft with a goal in mind: find players to fit Tomlin's system.
Tomlin's happy, so Colbert's happy.
At least for now.
John Harris is a sports writer for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. He can be reached at jharris@tribweb.com
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