Steeler's Draftables

The NFL Scouting Combine is this week and everyone has a player that they are rooting for. Mine is Toby Gerhart. Please understand that for him a set of three 40 yard dash runs will establish whether or not he will make $90,000 or $3,000,000 a year as a professional football player. Additionally, for my football fair-weathered friends, here are some names you can mention over the offseason that will give you some cred. Also, you can expect to see some of these players in black and gold.

Names to expect to see:

Florida CB Joe Haden - Haden is safe atop this year's cornerback class regardless of how he measures in Wednesday. Still, Florida's 5'11/190 listing for the shutdown corner has always seemed a bit generous, and the Gators have a history of claiming their players are bigger than they actually are. Confirming the aforementioned size could still go a long way for Haden. The player he's most often compared to, Jets CB Darrelle Revis, entered the pros at essentially the exact same height/weight coming out of Pittsburgh in 2007. The NFL continues to lean toward size at all positions, and we already know Haden's going to tear up the forty-yard dash.

Alabama NT Terrence Cody - Perhaps this year's purest 3-4 nose tackle prospect, Cody reported to last month's Senior Bowl at 6'4/370 after saying in an interview 20 days before that he weighed 355. Cody was carrying (only?) 349 lbs. at Alabama's 2009 preseason weigh-in. Clearly, Cody is subject to massive weight fluctuation. After the Senior Bowl, Cody's stated goal was to get down to 340 before his rookie year. By showing up closer to his target weight at the Combine, Cody could move his stock back into the mid to late first-round range. It would demonstrate positive work ethic, and confirm that playing pro football -- not eating -- is Cody's top priority.

LSU S Chad Jones - Opinions are mixed on Jones, who's been mocked as early as the middle of round one to as late as the second. One thing we can safely predict: he'll do work at the Combine. The nation's No. 1 safety recruit in '07 and a star southpaw for LSU's baseball team, Jones memorably caught Darren McFadden from behind after a long run as a freshman, was a homerun punt-return threat, and will probably time in the low-4.4s at 6'3/231. Far more fluid than Taylor Mays, Jones has the ability to play either safety spot and cover the slot as a nickel corner.

Missouri LB Sean Weatherspoon - Another Senior Bowl standout, Weatherspoon showed leadership skills by asserting himself as the voice of the North squad defense, and had two pass breakups in the game, including an interception. Non-pass rushing 4-3 outside linebackers don't typically go in the first round, but Weatherspoon could buck the trend by building on his impressive start to the pre-draft process. It's expected that he'll run a sub-4.6 forty at 6'1/240.

Bowling Green WR Freddie Barnes - Led nation with 155 catches for 1,770 yards and 21 all-purpose TDs as a senior ... Stood out at East-West Shrine all-star event ... 6'0/212, but questions about his long speed ... Battled leg injuries throughout the 2008 season.

Pittsburgh QB Bill Stull - Listed at 6'3/215 ... Two-year starter in run-heavy offense led by LeSean McCoy in 2008 and Big East Player of the Year Dion Lewis in 2009 ... As a senior, completed 65.1% of his passes, throwing for 21 touchdowns compared to eight interceptions.