For the second time in the last two decades, the Pittsburgh Steelers are in the midst of a two-year stretch in which they have not made the playoffs. Part of the reason for their 16-16 record in those two seasons: an aging defense that gave up 684 points in those 32 games, the highest two-season point total allowed by the Steelers since the 1988-1989 seasons.
Aaron Donald
On behalf of Behind the Steel Curtain, Neal Coolong is here to address the team's defense in the SB Nation NFL Writers Mock Draft - and he's not looking far away from home geographically to do so.
| Team | Player | Pos. | Ht | Wt | Class |
| 15. Steelers | Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh | DT | 6'1 | 285 | SR |
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"Surprised? There’s very little about the Steelers pass rush or defensive line that should obligate them to staying inside the '0 and 5 technique' box. Donald is one of the best overall players in this draft, in our opinion, and we have faith in Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau to spend some time in the lab scheming up ways to get Donald on the field. Would he stand up and rush off the edge? Maybe. He’s only an inch shorter than LaMarr Woodley, and weighed probably 10 pounds heavier, but he’s still faster in short spaces. Will he rush the A gap? Why not? His first step is as explosive as any other player in the draft. Penetration leads to pressure leads to sacks and turnovers - two things the Steelers really haven't generated the last three seasons. Keep doing what you’re doing, and you’ll keep getting what you’re getting."
Dan Kadar, our esteemed NFL Draft analyst, has some thoughts and opinions to share on the Steelers' mock draft pick of Donald:
The value Donald here is fine. That's without dispute. The fit on Pittsburgh just isn't. It's one thing to take a college defensive end and shift him out to standing up at linebacker. It's another to try and do it with a defensive tackle. If Donald is lining up as an end in a 3-4, he doesn't have the length to be effective in that role.
To close out today's trio of picks, the editorial staff from Blogging the Boys will be making the Dallas Cowboys No. 16 overall pick at 3 p.m. Eastern. Stay tuned!
Top 5 players remaining
| # | Player | Pos. | College | Ht. | Wt. |
| 8 | Eric Ebron |
TE | North Carolina |
6'4 |
250 |
| 9 | C.J. Mosley |
LB | Alabama | 6'2 | 234 |
| 12 | Louis Nix | DT | Notre Dame | 6'2 | 326 |
| 15 | Xavier Su'a-Filo | OG | UCLA | 6'4 | 307 |
| 17 | Kony Ealy | DE | Missouri | 6'4 | 273 |
2014 SB Nation NFL writers' mock draft results
Steelers picks
| Rd | # | Team | Player | Pos. | College |
| 1 | 15 | Pittsburgh Steelers | Aaron Donald | DT | Pittsburgh |
| 2 | 46 | Pittsburgh Steelers |