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Steelers 2012 Draft Receives More Praise

The Steelers' 2012 NFL Draft class, led by offensive linemen David DeCastro and Mike Adams, has already received plenty of praise, and rightly so. The latest to climb on the bandwagon is CBS Sports' Rob Rang:

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DeCastro, himself, warrants an extended mention in this space because few first-round picks were better schematic and personality fits for their NFL teams than he will prove as a Pittsburgh Steeler. Considering how often quarterback Ben Roethlisberger likes to hold on to the ball, step into the pocket, hold on to the ball some more and then finally find a late-breaking receiver, protecting the inside is actually more important in Pittsburgh's scheme than sealing off the edges, which is why the combination of 2010 first-round pick Maurkice Pouncey (who has been selected to the Pro Bowl after each of his two NFL seasons) and DeCastro could be lethal for years to come.

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Rang also praises Adams and fourth-round pick Alameda Ta'amu, although he notes that Ta'amu will have to step up his intensity if he wants to fill Casey Hampton's shoes (11 wide, I'm guessing). He also notes that third-rounder Sean Spence and fifth-rounder Chris Rainey could be valuable role players this year, with Spence contributing on special teams and Rainey as a "versatile speedster" in the Dexter McCluster mold.

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Via Behind The Steel Curtain, which is SB Nation's source for Steelers news.

Photographs by dizfunk used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.