TRIPLE DIAMOND CHRONICLES #43 with a RED FLAG Thrown Review of STEELERS Director of FOOTBALL Operations Kevin COLBERT and his "Never Miss Approach" on 1st Round Draft Picks and 2008-2010 2nd Rounders or later...

"Your are only as Good at the Top as you are on the Bottom" and that goes with any Organization whether your in Corporate America, Small Business, Professionals Sports Teams, and even Colleges and Universities. There is a Reason why the Pittsburgh Steelers are one of the Top Professional Sports Franchises in the Business for a Variety Reasons.

The Rooney Family and there "No-Non Sense Don't be the Loudest One in the Room" Approach to Things on and off the Field. The Continuity of the Organization from 3 Head Coaches in the last 30 Plus Years form Coach Noll to Coach Cowher to Coach Tomlin and the Front Office on the Football Operations Side led by Director Kevin Colbert.

K.C. the Bluedude calls him is what every NFL Organization Needs in Place to be Successful in having the Right Approach to the Annual NFL Draft. Its starts with the "Steelers Philosophy" of getting the Players that Fit as well as a Character Fit for the Field and the Locker Room. Yes we covet the 6-4 250 Pound Violent Type as in Backers. The Steelers also address Need in Early Rounds then Address in Later Rounds the Best Player on the Board at that time. Another Key Cog is they never Move Up or Reach for Picks they let the Draft Board come to them which helps the Steelers keep All their Picks year after year. Some Teams say they follow that Creed but when you Miss in the 1st 2-3 Rounds it can set an Organization Back a Few Seasons.

Here is a List of 1st Round Picks on K.C.'s Watch 2000-2012
(3 AFC Championships and Lombardi's 5 and 6 to the Steel City)

2000 WR Plaxico Burress "Sparty" 66 Starts
2001 NT Casey Hampton "Hookem' Horns" 161 Starts
2002 OG Kendall Simmons "the Plains Auburn"81 Starts
2003 SS Troy Polamalu "Men of Troy" 158 Starts
2004 QB BIG Ben "Red Hawks Nation" 118 Starts
2005  TE Heaaaaath Miller "Wahoos" 111 Starts
2006 WR Santonio Holmes "O-H-I-O" 48 Starts
2007 ILB Lawrence Timmons "'Noles" 51 Starts
         OLB Lamaar Woodley "Big House" 52 Starts *
2008 RB Rashard Mendenhall "Fighting Illlni" 45 Starts
2009 DE/DT Ziggy Hood "Mizzou" 25 Starts
2010 C Maurkice Pouncey "the Swamp" 30 Starts
2011 DE/DT Cameron Heyward "O-H-I-O" 0 Starts
2012 OG David DeCastro "the Farm Stanford Red" Rookie on PUP List

Look at the Quality of Players that have not missed being Steelers with Hamp, Troy, Big Ben, Heaaaaaath, LAWdawg, Wood *(2nd Rounder in 2007), Shard, Ziggy, Twin #53, Cam, and D2 all on Roster making Significant Contributions...11 Players including Wood who is the Lone 2nd Rounder on the List.

Notable Steelers taken 2nd Round or later 2008-2010 under Colbert....

WR Mike Wallace 3rd Round "Ole Miss"
WR Antonio Brown 6th Round "Chippewas Nation"
WR Emmanuel Sanders 3rd Round "Mustangs Nation"
OT/OG/C Doug Legursky Undrafted 'Thundering Herd"
FS/SS Ryan Mundy 6th Round "Morgantown"
TE/FB David Johnson 7th Round "Red Wolves Nation"
OLB Jason Worilds 2nd Round "Beamer Ball Blacksburg"
ILB Stevenson Sylvester 5th Round "U of U"
RB Jonathan Dwyer 6th Round "Ramblin' Wreck"

Colbert has done a Marvelous Job of Keeping that Core Group that carries the "STEELERS Lore" and in turn passing that on to the Younger Players. K.C. doesn't miss and when he does miss it doesn't effect the Steelers Results Year after Year.

"Steelers Nation"..This is how we do...

Note: Draft Results from Pro-Football-Reference.com