Marc Uhlmann

I wrote earlier this week that if I had my druthers I would take Texas’ Safety Kenny Vaccaro over Georgia Linebacker Jarvis Jones with pick 17 in the first round of the NFL Draft. The next day, I wrote about taking Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert if the Steelers were to go offense with the pick.

As it turned out last night in New York, the one team I thought would take Jones was New Orleans at 15 but they took Vaccaro instead. The pick for the Steelers therefore became Jones even though Eifert had slid down the board and was just begging for our selection.

In taking Jones, the nation’s most prolific pass-rusher the last two seasons, the Steelers are clearly looking to replace James Harrison and they are also looking to the future as well. Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau is well-known for not exactly throwing rookies into the fire in year one and I expect Jones’ situation to be no different.

The selection of Jones also sends a clear shot across the bow of Jason Worilds who the Steelers obviously feel is not up to the task of replacing Harrison long-term. By doing this, is Kevin Colbert also admitting that Worilds, a second round pick, was yet another poor draft selection?

Personally, I think Worilds has the chance to be a player if he stays healthy and much like Jones, he will have to work on playing the run.

I believe you’ll see Jones on the field in pass rushing situations only in year one which would be similar to what was done with LaMarr Woodley. In my study of Jones, I noticed that he very seldom dropped into coverage and that worries me going forward. If LeBeau allows him to just rush the passer and gives him few other responsibilities then I might really love this pick.

The problem is that LeBeau wants his outside ‘backers to be able to do more and I’m not convinced that Jones can.

The selection of the pass rushing monster is sure to be welcomed by the majority of the Steeler Nation and perhaps myself in time. I don’t think this is a bad pick by any stretch, I just think it is going to require patience. This is also a young man who is 24 years old and was once diagnosed with spinal stenosis, which is a narrowing of the spine.

Jones played two full seasons at Georgia with no issues following the diagnosis at USC. My feeling on the medical issue is simple. If the Steelers medical staff had no issue then I don’t either.

I would have preferred offense, but I trust the Steelers have a solid game plan heading into day two of the draft to address an offense that sorely lacks play-makers. Believe me, I want nothing more than for Jarvis Jones to be the next in the great line of Pittsburgh Steelers’ linebackers.

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Marc Uhlmann

I have struggled with this decision plain and simple. I like Keenan Allen. I like DeAndre Hopkins. I like a lot of guys but the question keeps coming back to me. Which potential pick from the offensive side of the ball is truly a first round pick in our position?

In my decision-making process, I want it to be known that my most favorite choice at pick number 17 is to trade down. The Steelers can use the extra pick or picks and I honestly just don’t believe a guy they really covet will be there at 17.

We said the same thing last year of course and then David DeCastro fell into our laps when most never saw it coming. There are so many possibilities for the direction of this opening round that it is impossible to suggest that could or couldn’t  happen again.

What if there is an unexpected run on QBs ahead of us? What if both highly-rated guards are chosen ahead of us in combination with a run on another position? The point is, who the hell knows who will be there at 17?

If Tyler Eifert, the Notre Dame tight end is still on the board at 17 then he would be my selection and this is why;

1. It should be obvious to all of you that Todd Haley likes a ton of two tight end sets. We saw many different ones last year with Heath Miller and David Paulson and have no reason to believe that won’t be the case again.

2. In choosing Eifert, this is in no way a knock on Heath Miller. What we must realize though is that Miller suffered tears in three ligaments in his knee and he is 30 years old. While I fully expect him to be back to normal at some point, I can’t tell you exactly when that will be.

3. By choosing Eifert, you immediately pencil him in at number two tight end spot ahead of both Paulson and Matt Spaeth. The hope is that if Miller is not ready by the season opener, Eifert can step in as the starter. Paulson and/or Spaeth are not going to strike fear into any defensive coordinator.

4. If and when Miller is ready, the combination of he and Eifert becomes potentially lethal if Haley uses them correctly. Eifert can be split wide of the formation which can potentially create match-up problems and open up the middle for Miller.

5. By choosing Eifert, you reduce the pressure of having to nail the pick if you were to choose wide receiver at 17. This is an incredibly deep draft for receivers so there will be plenty available in rounds two through six.

Eifert by no means is without faults. He’ll need to improve some route running and blocking but he isn’t light years away in either of those departments.

There’s a good chance Eifert will be gone by the time we even go on the clock, but if he is there I feel he is the safest and best choice to not only give the offense a boost but provide serious depth where it is sorely needed.

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Marc Uhlmann

With the NFL Draft now just a day away, I honestly cannot tell you who the Pittsburgh Steelers are going to draft. With so many needs and so much depth to fill, there are at least five positions I can seen being taken in the first round at pick number 17.

I looked at dozens of mock drafts and have come to the conclusion that should the Steelers go defense with that first pick then it likely comes down to Georgia outside linebacker Jarvis Jones and Texas free safety Kenny Vaccaro.

I looked at a considerable amount of video on these guys last evening and while both are deserving of their first round grades, I couldn’t help but come away more impressed with Vaccaro than Jones.

The Positives

Jones: He really does have a tremendous first step that will create any number of problems for tight ends and tackles who are even the slightest bit slow of foot. The way he gets his 240lb body around the edge is very reminiscent of former Steeler James Harrison.

I also like the fact that when he zeroes in on his target he isn’t just going for the tackle, he looks to make a big play by stripping the ball. Creating turnovers has been a major issue for the Steelers in recent years and it’s good to see Jones thrives on that.

Vaccaro: He was extremely active in the Texas’ secondary often lining up within five yards or less of the line of scrimmage. Against spread teams, I was very impressed with his ability to come up and take on blockers in an effort to blow up the blocking schemes designed to spring the receiver.

I loved how Vaccaro never gave up on plays and frequently made tackles after being caught out of position (more on that later) or was on the other side of the field. I really liked his intelligence in diagnosing plays especially on the move and against the run.

The Negatives

Jones: In the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 3-4 defense, Jones will be required at times to drop into coverage and I saw little of this in the video I looked at. At 6’2″ and 240lbs, can he do this? I would guess ‘yes’ but the lack of experience there concerns me.

I was also very concerned about Jones using the wrong shoulder many times to take on blockers at the point of attack against the run. Although many players struggled against Alabama in 2012, Jones looked very pedestrian against them in running game and when a long-armed tight end or tackle was blocking him in pass protection I found him to be neutralized.

The other thing that really shocked me was his lack of effort in closing on plays down-field. In several games, he would close in when a teammate was making a tackle and rather than attack he often pulled up. I like my linebackers aggressive, not passive.

Vaccaro: One of the things Vaccaro will need to work on immediately is open-field tackling. Several times on video he could have had himself in much better position to make plays but wasn’t and the runner was buy him with one move.

Vaccaro also found himself out of position at times against the pass. While there were a few times he reacted as though he should have had help over the top, he was still not in the best spot to take away certain routes. He also gets caught looking in the back-field a little too often as well.

The Verdict: Because Jones is already 24 years old, can the Steelers really afford to follow their usual plan which is to keep rookie defenders on the pine for a year? Jones worries me against the run for more than just poor technique. He also gets beat to the outside more than he should as well. The biggest difference between these two players in my opinion is effort.

I routinely saw Jones quitting on plays that were right in front of him while Vaccaro was constantly on the move and finishing plays. Both seem to be quality individuals in the interviews I watched but I was more impressed with Vaccaro who is an admitted ‘football junkie.’

If the Steelers go the defensive route, I like Kenny Vaccaro of Texas.

970 ESPN has enlisted a team of listeners to bring you a side of Pittsburgh sports you have never heard before.   Check back here daily for a unique perspective on sports in Pittsburgh.

These are listeners' opinions only. These opinions do not reflect opinions of Clear Channel Media & Entertainment or 970 ESPN.