Apr 30, 2016 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Not that they don’t always do so, but the Pittsburgh Steelers went into the 2016 draft with a legitimate plan.

They not only wanted to improve their secondary, they wanted to improve the size and speed of their secondary. Last year, they took players who were productive, even if they were smaller than average.

The Steelers checked off all of the boxes they wanted in this draft, acquiring players who were not only big, but fast, particularly with their top three picks.

In first-round pick Artie Burns and second-round selection Sean Davis, the Steelers have defensive backs who are 6-0 or taller and run sub-4.5 40-yard dashes.

Nose tackle Javon Hargrave, the third-round pick, also is an outstanding athlete, with sub-5.0 speed at 310 pounds.

Speed is relative. But the Steelers were keen on acquiring it.

“Really excited about it,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. “But speed is just an element of it. I like the production of all of the guys.

“Speed is an element of it. It’s something that we covet. But speed without production is less attractive. These guys have done it.”

Whether they can translate that speed and production onto the NFL level remains to be seen.

The Steelers are very confident they can.

And with a team that has holes on defense, it’s quite possible two or three of the players the Steelers selected over the course of the seven-round draft could play more than a small role in 2016.

“I believe it’s realistic; that’s why we chose them where we chose them,” Tomlin said. “But they have to earn it. We will give them an opportunity to do that.”

The impact of these draft picks might not be in terms of games started. It might be in the roles they play.

Burns and Davis, even if they aren’t starters, are capable of matching up with some of the big tight ends or wide receivers that have plagued the team over the past few years. With the way the game has changed, with more teams spreading the field on offense, that’s critical.

Hargrave gives the Steelers something they sorely needed in 2015 – a nose tackle in the 3-4 base defense who can spell defensive linemen Cam Heyward and Stephon Tuitt on passing downs.

Despite playing at a lower-level school, Hargrave’s 37 career sacks can’t be ignored. And he dominated the competition at the college all-star games, showing he wasn’t just a guy who showed up against lesser players.

A better pass rush means opposing quarterbacks won’t have the luxury of sitting in the pocket waiting for receivers to get open, which, in turn, helps the pass defense.

Anyone who watched the Steelers play last season knows their pass defense was an issue. And the defense doesn’t want to just be along for the ride. It wants to be a reason why this team wins in 2016.

“You can never have enough speed on defense,” Steelers outside linebackers coach Joey Porter said. “It’s been a while since the offense carried us. This is Pittsburgh, but (the offense) did last year.

“In Steeler Nation, we still have pride in our defense. We always want to have pride in our defense.”

Not only did the Steelers go on the defensive – five of the seven draft picks were defensive players – they also went heavy on potential special-teams players. Each draft pick, with the exception of fourth-round offensive tackle Jerald Hawkins, could help in that area.

How quickly they become acclimated to the NFL and help the defense remains to be seen. Despite the offseason suspension of wide receiver Martavis Bryant, the Steelers still have a fearsome offense, one that should be among the best in the NFL. If the defense can hold up, the Steelers could be a team that plays deep into the postseason.

If not, well, many are quick to judge a player or draft class on starts. In this case, the end result might be a better indicator.

“You never know,” said Steelers general manager Kevin Colbert. “If these guys help us win a championship, then it worked out. That’s the only way we can evaluate any class. We’ll see come February if it worked out. … I think Ryan Clark said this is the best reality TV going. There’s no gray area. We’ll either win or we’ll lose. If we win a championship with these guys, great.”

F. Dale Lolley can be reached at dlolley@observer-reporter.com.