Buckeyes Research Paper
For the Steelers, improving the secondary lists high on the team’s priority list this offseason.
Whether the help comes in free agents or the draft, the front office must repair a mangled pass defense that ranked amongst the worst in football. Guys like Jalen Ramsey, Vernon Hargreaves and Mackensie Alexander are listed as the top three corners in this draft with each possessing tremendous upside.
Unfortunately, these prospects are projected to be long gone when the Steelers pick at 25. One guy that could be available for the Black & Gold late in the first round is Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple.
The Steelers are no stranger to picking Buckeyes in the draft. In five of the last six drafts, the Steelers have selected at least one player …show more content…
His arm length and quick foot work allows him to be aggressive in coverage. Once the balls in the air, Apple gets extremely competitive with the opposing receiver. Over his two years with the Buckeyes, he was able to snatch 4 interceptions while breaking up 17 passes.
His aggressive nature not only shows up in pass coverage, but in the run game as well. Apple is not afraid to through his body around and take on run blocks. He amassed over 86 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss in his two years with the Buckeyes. This aggressive style does cause Apple to not wrap up when he tackles. To last in the NFL, he must become a sound tackler.
Like many playmakers from Ohio State, some of Apple’s best games have been on the national stage. It was his interception of Marcus Mariota that sealed the Buckeye’s national title win. In their 44-28 beat down of Notre Dame, Apple earned defensive player of the game. This season he was named second team all-conference in the Big Ten.
Many draft experts have projected Apple to be selected by the Steelers in the first round. He would be a tremendous upgrade to the leaky secondary of the Black & Gold. We will find out over the next few months how interested the Steelers are in
Whether the help comes in free agents or the draft, the front office must repair a mangled pass defense that ranked amongst the worst in football. Guys like Jalen Ramsey, Vernon Hargreaves and Mackensie Alexander are listed as the top three corners in this draft with each possessing tremendous upside.
Unfortunately, these prospects are projected to be long gone when the Steelers pick at 25. One guy that could be available for the Black & Gold late in the first round is Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple.
The Steelers are no stranger to picking Buckeyes in the draft. In five of the last six drafts, the Steelers have selected at least one player …show more content…
His arm length and quick foot work allows him to be aggressive in coverage. Once the balls in the air, Apple gets extremely competitive with the opposing receiver. Over his two years with the Buckeyes, he was able to snatch 4 interceptions while breaking up 17 passes.
His aggressive nature not only shows up in pass coverage, but in the run game as well. Apple is not afraid to through his body around and take on run blocks. He amassed over 86 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss in his two years with the Buckeyes. This aggressive style does cause Apple to not wrap up when he tackles. To last in the NFL, he must become a sound tackler.
Like many playmakers from Ohio State, some of Apple’s best games have been on the national stage. It was his interception of Marcus Mariota that sealed the Buckeye’s national title win. In their 44-28 beat down of Notre Dame, Apple earned defensive player of the game. This season he was named second team all-conference in the Big Ten.
Many draft experts have projected Apple to be selected by the Steelers in the first round. He would be a tremendous upgrade to the leaky secondary of the Black & Gold. We will find out over the next few months how interested the Steelers are in