2011 NFL Mock Draft: The Pittsburgh Steelers Select...

by Dave Cariello on Apr 26, 2011 11:00 AM CDT in 2011 CSC Community Mock Draft

With the thirtieth pick of the 2011 CSC Community Mock Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers (represented by WVPiratesfan) select...

Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia

If there is one thing that this year showed the Steelers, it's that their defensive secondary just isn't going to cut it. The current line up of Ike Taylor, Bryant McFadden, Willie Gay, Troy Polamlu and LSU Alum Ryan Clark needs some help. Outside of Ike and Polamalu , the Steelers need to upgrade at those positions. While it could come from Crez Butler or Kennan Lewis, Butler spent most of his time inactive and Lewis tended to lose his temper, costing the Steelers valuable penalty yards.

So this brings us to Ras-I Dowling, who has Ike Taylor's height and speed and McFadden's size and physicality. At 6'1", 198 lbs., Dowling notched 19 reps in the bench press and ran a 4.40 40-yard dash, meaning he has all the desired measurable's. Then you look at the tape and see that he is also a good tackler and plays bump-and-run very well. Both of those are very important skills for playing in Dick LeBeau's defense.

Then there is the $1 million question: can he stay healthy? His senior season he missed a good part of the year with a broken ankle. Then he pulled up during his 40-yard dash at the Combine while still running a 4.4. This is what has caused him to fall out of the first round according to some. But I believe these are things that can be helped with the benefit of a professional training staff.

Thanks to all the CSC members who participated in this years community mock draft. Without your help, none of this would be possible.

Below are the complete results from our community mock draft.

Catch up with all of the mock draft selections in our 2011 CSC Community Mock Draft Section.

Pick	Team	Selection	Team Representative	Approval Rating
1	Carolina Panthers	QB Cam Newton - Auburn	DatFan	35%
2	Denver Broncos	DT Marcell Dareus - Alabama	Jeff.l.b	71%
3	Buffalo Bills	QB Blaine Gabbert - Missouri	SpreeGoogs	52%
4	Cincinnati Bengals	DE Da'Quan Bowers - Clemson	coldpizza	73%
5	Arizona Cardinals	CB Patrick Peterson - LSU	GRIZZ	61%
6	Cleveland Browns	DE Cameron Jordan - Cal	theprogrammerman	11%
7	San Francisco 49ers	LB Von Miller - Texas A&M	who dat patate	68%
8	Tennessee Titans	WR A.J. Green - Georgia	shipgoalie05	48%
9	Dallas Cowboys	CB Prince Amukamara - Nebraska	saints fan in cowboyland!	67%
10	Washington Redskins	WR Julio Jones - Alabama	VAsaintsfan	56%
11	Houston Texans	DE/OLB Robert Quinn - UNC	Jon Banks	62%
12	Minnesota Vikings	OT Tyron Smith - USC	HansDat	46%
13	Detroit Lions	OT Anthony Castonzo - BC	NorthFan	48%
14	St. Louis rams	DT Nick Fairley - Auburn	hakimdropstheball	54%
15	Miami Dolphins	RB Mark Ingram - Alabama	SpreeGoogs	48%
16	Jacksonville Jaguars	DE J.J.Watt - Wisconsin	Jay Preece	41%
17	New England Patriots	OT Derek Sherrod - Mississippi St.	FriarBob	27%
18	San Diego Chargers	DT Muhammad Wilkerson - Temple	DrewBreesManCrush	39%
19	New York Giants	OL Mike Pouncey - Florida	mknkachow	64%
20	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	DE Adrian Clayborn - Iowa	iori125883	45%
21	Kansas City Chiefs	DT Phil Taylor - Baylor	YESSaints/iori125883	63%
22	Indianapolis Colts	DT Corey Liuget - Illinois	MobileSaint	48%
23	Philadelphia Eagles	OT Nate Solder - Colorado	DeuceisLoose926	43%
24	New Orleans Saints	DE Ryan Kerrigan - Purdue	Dave Cariello	70%
25	Seattle Seahawks	QB Colin Kaepernick - Nevada	natde1016	20%
26	Baltimore Ravens	CB Jimmy Smith - Colorado	Dave Cariello	63%
27	Atlanta Falcons	DE/OLB Justin Houston - Georgia	Dave Choate	51%
28	New England Patriots	DE Aldon Smith - Missouri	FriarBob	54%
29	Chicago Bears	OT Gabe Carimi - Wisconsin	GRIZZ
30	NY Jets	DE/OLB Akeem Ayers - UCLA	jful
31	Pittsburgh Steelers	CB Ras-I Dowling - Virginia	WVPiratesfan

Poll

Do you approve of this pick?

Yes

56 votes

No

51 votes

Indifferent

19 votes

126 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Approve

I had a feeling you were going to pick Dowling. This has been the most consistant pick I have seen over at BTSC. I think your comrades would also approve.

"My rule of life prescribed as an absolutely sacred rite smoking cigars and also the drinking of alcohol before, after and if need be during all meals and in the intervals between them."-Winston Churchill

by cscmember on Apr 26, 2011 11:16 AM CDT reply actions

The only way I wasn't going this route was if Carimi was still on the board

mostly because we have no idea if Colon still be able to play RT or if we are going to have to move him to gaurd after tearing his Achilles last off-season

Players who should be in the Hall of Fame: Pat TIllman, Dwight White, Donnie Shell, L.C. Greenwood, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Jack Butler, Greg Llyod, Andy Russel, Cris Carter, Kevin Greene, Curtis Martin, Willie Roaf, Andre Reed and Jerry Kramer
"Baseball is like church. Many attend, but few understand." Wes Westrum
Canal Street Chronicles resident Steelers Fan

by WVPiratesfan on Apr 26, 2011 11:28 AM CDT up reply actions