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April 29, 2012

I’m not saying that if Pitt had stuck to the 4-3 defense and the pro-style offense, that Pitt players would not have been shut out of the NFL Draft for the first time since 1999. I’m thinking it, but I’m not saying it.

Brandon Lindsey went from being a break-out player at the defensive end in 2010 to no-mans land with a change in defensive schemes. Playing in a hybrid linebacker/DE position that had him in no-mans land too many times.

Lucas Nix also suffered from the change in schemes with the O-line that made him look less productive. More importantly he suffered from injury that kept him out for over half the season. When you factor in the fact that Fraud Graham started questioning Nix’s toughness for not coming back from the injury as quickly as hoped, that probably raised flags for the NFL teams.

No doubt if Ray Graham had stayed healthy, he would have come out as a junior. The running back was putting up huge numbers and surely would have been a pick in the first 3 rounds.

Instead Pitt players will have to go the undrafted free agency (UFA) route to be on NFL squads. The conventional wisdom, being that it is better to be a UFA than a 7th round pick since you can pick the team and have a better chance/situation.

Here are the seven Pitt players that have already agreed to go to training camps with certain teams:

Brandon Lindsey — Pittsburgh Steelers

Lucas Nix — Oakland Raiders

Chas Alecxih — Miami Dolphins

Max Gruder — Atlanta Falcons

Greg Williams — Houston Texans

Buddy Jackson — Indianapolis Colts

Antwuan Reed — Cleveland Browns

Noted that none of the defensive players ended up signing with the Bills where former coach Dave Wannstedt is the DC.

Good luck guys.





dave did not draft any of his old pitt players even in the 7 th round
or try to sign any as free agents and as DC he has input.
i gess we did not have the good players we thought we did and who to blame dave he recruted them.

Comment by Frankcan 04.29.12 @ 9:17 am

Hard to understand Nix not getting drafted, probably injury related. Lindsey a tweener, small for a d-end, no resume as a line-backer. Alecxih, an overacheiver. I think they all have shot.
Anybody else making the cut would surprise me.

Comment by gc 04.29.12 @ 9:58 am

Sad to say but other than Alexcih, none of these guys will be missed this year.

Comment by gc 04.29.12 @ 9:59 am

None will play in the NFL irrespective of Fraud Graham. I don’t like the guy either, but I’m not going to blame him when I miss a 2 foot putt.

Time for us/Pitt to get over a bad relationship we started.

Comment by SFPitt 04.29.12 @ 12:35 pm

If you miss a two foot putt… It!s Bush’s fault

I never got the impression that Nix’s toughness was in doubt. It always sounded like he was more worried about his future then his teams present.

Comment by DCPinPGH 04.29.12 @ 2:32 pm

Pitt and South Florida were the only two Big East teams without any one drafted. Aside from Nix, I’m not surprised. Did anyone actually see NFL caliber play last year (other than from Ray Graham)? Last season was not entirely on Fraud.

Comment by Chuck Morris 04.29.12 @ 6:21 pm

This shows why DW had to go. These kids were just not good enough. I hated Fraud, but with all the scouting done, if the talent was there they would have been drafted.

Comment by Jimbo 04.29.12 @ 6:55 pm

The premise is slightly flawed in that we had a few go out last year that may have and probably would have stayed if Wannstedt remained as HC. Kind of funny to look back a year ago this time and everyone saying how talented Pitt was for getting a big group drafted and others signing as free agents.

We can’t have it both ways. Pitt will be fine. Next year will also be problematic in the draft for a couple of reasons. Two of Pitt’s most talented, Graham and Lumpy are coming off injuries that scout’s will question. Hubie Graham will have a shot during the draft if he has a nice year in the new system. I can also see an offensive linemen to sign in free agency.

With the last pick in the 45th round, the winnipeg blue bombers select, tino sunseri, pitt. That would be fantastic so he can rejoin smiley as a gm in winnipeg. Oh wishful thinking @ me.

Comment by dhuffdaddy 04.29.12 @ 7:37 pm

Thanks DCPinPGH…always looking for a goat to blame my game on….which, by the way, is pretty “Bush” lately!

Comment by SFPitt 04.29.12 @ 11:20 pm

Ask Henry Hynoski how the UFA route went for him.

Comment by Bones 04.30.12 @ 10:24 am

and guess which BE “powerhouse” had the most players drafted? Temple!!!

Comment by Larry 04.30.12 @ 11:59 am

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