In The Steelers' Sights

By George Von Benko

Phillip Rivers, QB NC State 6-5, 236

Holds the NCAA record with 51 career starts at quarterback...Second leading passer in NCAA history with 13,484 career passing yards...Second all time in NCAA with 13,582 career yards of total offense...Tied for fifth in NCAA history with 95 career touchdown passes

What the scouts are saying

Positives: Tall, linear build with good size for his position ...Good arm strength and velocity...Goes through progressions well, often finding secondary receivers...Tremendous leader who doesn't rattle easily...Good timing and touch on his throws...Great poise and pocket presence; he will stand tall and deliver under pressure...Highly competitive...More comfortable in the short-to-intermediate passing game, displaying incredible accuracy ...Not fast, but can buy time with his feet and maintains his accuracy throwing on the move.

Negatives: Very unorthodox delivery (tends to sidearm the ball)...Footwork needs improvement...Does not have a lot of athleticism and his lack of mobility is a concern...Will struggle with his long tosses, as the ball will sail and hang on him.

PSR: A question always raised about you is your unorthodox throwing motion. Is that a valid concern?

PR: The way I usually approach that is that if you took all 32 starting quarterbacks in the NFL and lined them up and let them all throw - not one of them throws exactly the same. I think for me it's my natural way of throwing the ball and I also think it's not as awkward as it once was. As I developed as a player my arm got stronger and it molded in to something different. It's still awkward, but I don't think it's totally unorthodox and a lot of my throws in our offense were quick short throws and that was another reason for some of the different releases - I just used different throwing lanes to get it there as quickly as possible.

PSR: What are your strengths?

PR: I think non-physical strengths of leadership and being able to get guys to rally and get guys to play hard. Playing so many games and growing up around football with my dad being a coach - I feel that's one asset I do have. I think I'm accurate as a QB and I think I can find a way to win. I think my arm is stronger than some people think. I think I can make all the throws. I feel confident in my abilities to play the position at the next level.

PSR: Was your performance in the Senior Bowl a big boost?

PR: The week I had down there was pretty consistent. I wasn't outstanding in practice, but I was consistently throwing the ball pretty well. The game topped off the week for me.

PSR: The Steelers are reportedly enamored with you. Would Pittsburgh be to your liking?

PR: I had a good meeting with them at the combine. Coach Cowher graduated from NC State so we had a good connection. A franchise like the Steelers with the tradition and the location would be a great place. I would be excited to go anywhere, but you mention a team like Pittsburgh and that fires me up that it could be a possibility.

Dunta Robinson, CB S.Carolina 6-0, 185

What the scouts are saying

Positives: Has size, 4.34 speed, and coverage skills to be a shut-down corner...tackles well, steps up in run support... character guy...can be used on kick or punt returns.

Negatives: Inexperienced as a corner...does not have great leaping ability.

PSR: How did you feel after the combine?

DR: Great. I had great interviews, great workouts, and ran the 40 at 4.34. My stock is rising at the right time and I am hearing anywhere from 10 all the way down to 25.

PSR: Would you like to play for Steelers?

DR: I would love to,it would be an honor to play for the black and gold. Just something about playing for the Steelers would be amazing.

PSR: Do you have a relationship with any of guys on the Steelers' team?

DR: Being from Georgia, I grew up a fan of Hines Ward and Kendrell Bell. Those guys are from Georgia and have cleared the way for guys like me. My brother also went to high school with Kendrell so I know all about him.

PSR: How do you feel about the 3-4 defense?

DR:I would feel comfortable playing a 3-4 defense, especially the Steelers' 3-4, because I like to blitz.

PSR: What will be going through your head when your name is called on draft day?

DR: It will feel real good; it always as been a dream to play in the NFL. I don't know how I will react. I will probably be real nervous... My family and I will be very happy when draft day comes.

By George Von Benko
With assistance from the Roanoke Times

DeAngelo Hall, CB Virginia Tech 5-11, 198

What the scouts are saying

Positives: Tremendous athlete with blazing 4.34 speed...makes big plays...good vertical leaping ability...breaks well on the pass, and has good recovery and closing speed...not afraid to step up in run support...tremendous ability as a return man.

Negatives: Overall he has pretty good technique, but it could use some polishing...tends to get turned around a little early at times; doesn't always recognize the play quickly.

PSR: You are entering the draft after your junior year in college. Are you ready for the next level?

DH: I'm ready! I have the size, the speed, and the ability to go out and play with the best of them.

PSR: You are a good punt returner - what makes you good at that aspect?

DH: It's just instinct. A normal player makes the normal plays. A great player makes the big plays.

PSR: You played some receiver in college. Could you be a two-way player in the NFL?

DH: I'll play whatever the coaches ask me to play. I'm a cornerback first, though. I'm a cornerback, then a punt returner, then whatever else my team might need.Special teams is my love. Cornerback is my passion.

PSR: Who was the best wide receiver you faced in college?

DH: Larry Fitzgerald is the best wide receiver I went up against. Former Miami receiver Andre Johnson gave me the most trouble.

PSR: Where do you see yourself being picked in draft?

DH: I will be the first, and if not first the second, cornerback taken. Ohio State's Chris Gamble is the other possibility to be the first corner off the board.

Shawn Andrews, OT 6-4, 366 Arkansas

What the scouts are saying

Positives: Massive frame, long arms, quick feet, great strength...Mean streak...Goes after defenders after the initial block...Dominating run blocker.

Negative: Weight a significant concern...chronic ankle problemsas a junior are possibly a sign that the ankle was stressed from carrying too much weight.

Arkansas' Shawn "Hurricane" Andrews is a legend in Hog Country.

NFL personnel man Gil Brandt recently tabbed the fun-loving Andrews as a future color commentator for his colorful demeanor.

He's also a legendary eater, once downing nine Big Macs in one sitting. Andrews actually gained weight over the course of his junior season - going from 355 in August to 365 by the holidays.

Worse, his character took a shot after he sat out the Independence Bowl last year. The reason given was a sinus infection, although there were whispers that Andrews merely was trying to avoid hurting himself and his NFL draft stock.

To compound matters, he ballooned to over 400-pounds. Some of the weight gain was due to water-retention caused by medication to treat the sinus condition - although Andrews admits he was "doing some eating."

Until this incident he was considered a hard-worker. Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt and OL coach Phil Markeson both said they stand behind his character, and Andrews shed all of the extra weight before the NFL scouting combine. He also had surgery to remove polyps from his nasal passages shortly after.

Scouts call Andrews a devastating run-blocker who dominates smaller opponents and rarely gets pushed around. Some, however, feel his future is at guard. One of the few critiques of his on-field performance has been that he doesn't have patience for the finesse-game required of tackles. His attitude may be more suited to that of a brawling guard.

By Matt Eisele

Chris Gamble, CB Ohio State 6-1, 196

What the scouts are saying

Positives: Quick burst, closes in a flash...Explosive jumper with natural hands...Stays tight with receivers all over the field.

Negatives: Used in too many roles and did not refine techniques...can be fooled by play action and misdirection...can get pushed around in run support.

One theory in the NFL is you make or break your draft status at the combine. If that is true, Ohio State's Chris Gamble had better hire an accountant.

Coaches and scouts at the combine raved about Gamble. Already projected to be a sure first-round pick, the sense now is he could be one of the first two cornerbacks taken, perhaps in the top 10 overall.

Gamble's combine workout, in addition to his on-field combination of speed, toughness, and size Ð plus his ability as a wide receiver and punt returner - left some coaches drooling.

"One thing you can't teach defensive backs is playing the ball in the air, and he does that because of the fact he played receiver," Philadelphia Eagles' coach Herman Edwards said. "Guys that have those types of skills, they're going to go very, very high."

The Steelers may have an interest in Gamble at No. 11, and he'd be fine with that.

"Right now it really doesn't matter where I play, but playing for Steelers would definitely be a positive," Gamble said.

Could Gamble also fill a void for the Steelers if Plaxico Burress opts for free agency next season?

"If they allow me to I will, but I'm mainly concentrating on defensive back," Gamble said when asked at the combine if teams have asked him to play wide receiver. "I think I'm better at defensive back, but I'm good at receiver, too."