U mad, bro? Steelers fans have strong opinions about NFL draft, race with Ravens

This is what I’m here for during “these troubled times.” To be your target in the dunking booth.

Express a few doubts about the Steelers draft class. Say a few complimentary things about the Baltimore Ravens. And this is usually how it’s going to go.

So it’s an all-Steelers draft edition of “U mad, bro?” this week.

And just about everybody is mad at me.

Oh, and the Ravens, too.

Zach emailed me. He didn’t like my stance that the Steelers should’ve taken Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins (or Florida State running back Cam Akers) in the second round instead of Notre Dame wide receiver Chase Claypool.

“Dobbins is a dime a dozen Ohio State running back. (Zeke) Elliott is the exception. Where is “Boom” Herron? Beanie Wells? Ohio State can throw anyone in there and produce big numbers. It’s the system. It’s their schedule. It’s their OLine.

“Notre Dame doesn’t have stud receivers every year that are worth drafting in the top two rounds. This year they did. Claypool is the real deal. I watch every OSU and every ND game. Claypool is a great receiver and only getting better. Mocks had him going in the 40-60 range. We got him at 49.

“Stop crying about Dobbins. He’s the next Boom Herron.”

Easy, Zach. Expressing a mild disagreement doesn’t make it “crying.” Simmer down.

It’s not like I wrote a love letter about Dobbins. I just question the wisdom of selecting a guy who may not be anything more than the fourth receiver option this year, as opposed to a guy who could be the best running back on the team by the start of the season.

Sorry. I do feel that way about Dobbins. And the rest of the Steelers backfield.

Some of your “comp work” is questionable, too. I mean, Boom Herron!? He was drafted in the sixth round! What does he have to do with anything? And glossing over Zeke Elliott is a lot of gloss.

What I really don’t grasp is how you simultaneously argue that one exception to the rule (Elliott) proves that Ohio State running backs aren’t any good in the NFL. But no exceptions to the rule proves that Claypool will be good coming out of Notre Dame?

Explain that. Where do the likes of Golden Tate, Will Fuller and Miles Boykin fit in this analysis? Are they helping or hurting your argument? I’m confused.

Hey, Equanimeous St. Brown was drafted by the Packers in the sixth-round in 2018. Is he the Boom Herron of Notre Dame?

Also, I don’t know what mock drafts you saw. As I pointed out in the column, CBS Sports had Claypool rated as the 74th best player in the draft. ESPN had him at 62nd. NFL.com had him 59th.

If the Steelers over-drafted him a bit, that’s not a crime. If he works out better than Dobbins, so be it. We’ll both be happy.

The point of my column was to illustrate how much more of a priority they put on supplementing the wide receiver position versus running back, when both holes were obvious and both talent pools were still stocked at that point in the draft.

Sorry if that was too much “crying.” Maybe Boom Herron can hand me a tissue.

Forget second-guessing the pick. Apparently, my bigger sin was praising the Ravens for taking Dobbins after the Steelers passed on him.

The Ravens won just as many playoff games as the Steelers last season. I'm not sold on Baltimore's three yards and a cloud of dust offensive scheme in the NFL yet.

— Big Ben's Beard (@DevinBushFan) April 25, 2020

“Cloud of dust offense”? How thick was the cloud? Thick enough that you couldn’t see Baltimore’s offense was second in the NFL last year? And led the league at 33 points per game?

Look, you’re right. The Ravens didn’t win a playoff game. Just like the Steelers failed to do. Does winning 14 games versus eight mean anything, though?

In your analysis, I’ll assume neither win over the Steelers last year meant anything either. I’m also guessing you weren’t as dismissive of the Steelers going 13-3 in 2017 without a playoff win as you are of the Ravens going 14-2 last year.

Then again, maybe I’m seeing things wrong because of the 223 yards of “dust” Baltimore kicked up against the Steelers on the ground with their reserves in Week 17 last year.

Eh, actually. That was 223 yards of mud. It was pretty rainy that day.

Nick is also not on board with praising the Ravens.

The problem is that the Ravens win almost every draft and every year Steelers fans/media freak out.

— Nick Ewry (@NickEwry) April 26, 2020

I’d argue “the problem” is that Baltimore won the division each of the last two seasons while the Steelers missed the playoffs.

That’s the problem. Not fans and media freaking out.

Mike in Seattle hated the Steelers draft.

“I’m bewildered. Who is doing their scouting and putting together their boards? Do they even HAVE boards??

“Seemingly the plan is Ben will come back and do it all. Well, there’s some massive unknown variables with him. If his arm has turned to spaghetti or he re-injures it they have even less behind him than “Spud” Dupree. Because apparently they’ll be going with Mason (Rudolph) and “Duck” Hodges as backups next year.

“Sorry, Rudolph is just not the guy. I know he’s still learning and blah blah - we’ve seen enough. He’s a clipboard guy. And Duck? He’s a sandwich board guy.”

Mike, I’d ease up on the “Spud” talk. Bud Dupree was plenty good in 2019. They need another year like that out of him in 2020.

However, I do agree that the Steelers went with personal taste. They gobbled up guys that they liked individually far more than what other draft boards said. That’s pretty clear.

This isn’t wrong. It’s just trusting their instincts versus the collective opinion of the league.

As far as your concerns over failing to draft a backup quarterback, I disagree. I’m worried about the situation behind Ben Roethlisberger as well. But I didn’t want to see them reaching on a quarterback before addressing running back, wide receiver and outside linebacker in the draft.

If Georgia’s Jake Fromm had been there in the sixth round, or if they had a fifth-round pick, maybe.

Your angst over failing to strengthen quarterback depth should be focused on what they didn’t do in free agency, more so than in the draft.

Now, about these sandwiches “Duck” is selling? I’ll take a chicken salad on pumpernickel with lettuce and pickles.

Hey, gotta support your local business.

Let’s conclude with someone else who hates my guts. Read this email exchange I had with a guy named David following a column I posted about what the Steelers didn’t get in the draft.

“More useless info from people who think their opinion matters.”

Here’s how I replied to David:

“I bet you think it matters when I’m telling you things you WANT to hear.

“But I can assure you what doesn’t matter — Emails like this one trying to guilt me into carrying water just to make you happy.”

David wasn’t done.

“Actually you’ve never told me anything I’ve ever wanted to hear because this is the first time I have read any of your articles.”

So I made you this mad with just one article?

Wow! I consider myself batting 1.000 then. Normally, people need a nice, long, slow burn to react this negatively toward me.

I’m on fire. I must’ve stepped up my game during the shut-in.