The off-season has been underway for a couple weeks now for the Pittsburgh Steelers, as they have switched their focus to evaluating their own roster, free agency, and scouting for the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.
Steelers QB Kenny Pickett hands off to RB Najee Harris. | Aaron Anastasia / Steelers.com
As we roll through the off-season, scouting potential prospects for the Steelers' 2023 draft class doesn't stop at watching the film from the 2022-23 college football season, but also the getting additional opportunities to see players at the All-Star games such as the East-West Shrine Bowl which started practice this week.
The Steelers send several scouts to the various All-Star games and the practices leading up to it, as they are a great way to get a more in-depth look at individual players as well as getting a chance to speak with them throughout the week. The team definitely pays close attention to these games, as both of their first-round picks in 2021 and 2022, Najee Harris and Kenny Pickett, participated in the Senior Bowl activities.
Below is a list of players that the Steelers should definitely keep their eye on throughout the week of practice and during this year's East-West Shrine Game.
Keondre Coburn, NT, Texas
In recent history, the Steelers have gotten away from using a traditional nose tackle. That could be due to the fact of the lack of players with that particular build and skillset being readily available for them, or it could be them adjusting to the NFL and how offenses are evolving around the league. Regardless, when playing in a division with the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns, both teams with offenses built around running the football, a true nose tackle has increased value.
Coburn is primarily a two-down run stuffer as he stands in at 6'1" tall and a whopping 344lbs. He takes on blockers with the best of them and is nearly impossible to move off of the line of scrimmage. His downfall early in his career was his lack of pass-rush ability, but he notched a career high 33 QB pressures in 2022 showing he does have a little juice in that department.
Tre'vius Hodges-Tomlinson, CB, TCU
It hurts deep in the hearts of Steeler Nation to see someone they let walk in free agency potentially playing in back-to-back Super Bowls for another team. That player is Mike Hilton, who many members of Steeler Nation wanted the team to pay. However, they should have their eye on another player with a very similar skillset in Hodges-Tomlinson.
Hodges-Tomlison, nephew of LaDanian Tomlinson, has primarily played as a boundary corner for the Horned Frogs, and has played very well there. He is a very physical corner that plays well at the catch point, with agility to stick with wide receivers in and out of breaks. However, he stands in at only 5'8" tall and weighs 175lbs, which shows up on tape occasionally against bigger receivers. He will likely get moved to the slot in the NFL, which he should excel at as he never has shied away from helping in run support.
Tre'vius Hodges-Tomlinson celebrates a turnover while playing at TCU. | Amanda McCoy
Jerome Carvin, IOL, Tennessee
The Steelers were extremely lucky along the offensive line in 2022, as they were the only team to have the same five linemen start every game. That luck isn't bound to happen again in 2023, and we all know how the Steelers love versatility in the trenches, and Carvin fits that mold.
Carvin has 42 starts during his college career and they are scattered across the interior of the offensive line. He is a big-bodied technician that rarely makes mistakes, and that consistency is exactly what you want in a backup early in their career. He will likely be selected on Day 3 of the draft, so getting someone with his immediate consistency and versatility is big for a team that is looking for immediate contributors.
Isaiah Moore, LB, NC State
Linebacker play has been incredibly inconsistent for the Steelers ever since Pro Bowl linebacker, Ryan Shazier went down with his career ending spinal injury in 2017. They have tried to address the position by being aggressive in both the draft (Devin Bush) and free agency (Myles Jack), but still don't have a proven winning formula. So if they took a heavy look at Moore, it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone.
Moore is a very physical linebacker who triggers downhill in an instant. Moore was named a team captain in 2020 and has held that honor every since, as well as being the defense's play-caller every since becoming a starter. Moore is one of those guys that might not impress in shorts and a t-shirt at the NFL Combine, but will be sure to win scouts and coached over on film and in interviews.
Who are some players you would like to see the Steelers take a hard look at during the East-West Shrine Bowl week of practice and game? Let us know in the comments below!
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