Steelers safety Ryan Clark grabbed some headlines recently with comments about the Patriots and Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, but he’s got his mind on his own team as well.
He thinks those doubting the Steelers should have faith in the decisions made by General Manager Kevin Colbert and the rest of an organization that has been successful for a long time doing things a certain way. Splashy free agent signings are not part of the program in Pittsburgh, where they prefer to build by drafting and developing players.
Clark thinks the team did a good job of that this year. He thinks the team hit on big needs by adding players like linebacker Jarvis Jones, running back Le’Veon Bell and wide receiver Markus Wheaton in the first three rounds.
“The way I look at our draft, every pick was exactly where we needed to go,” Clark said, via John Dudley of the Erie Times-News. “We got the best pass rusher in the nation the last two years. We got a good young running back. We got another receiver. And we got a highly-rated safety (fourth-round safety Shamarko Thomas) who I think would have gone a lot higher except for his size.”
Thanks to Clark’s age and impending free agency, the mention of Thomas is interesting. He’s expected to be Clark’s backup this season and that makes him a good bet to be Clark’s replacement if Colbert and company are as savvy as advertised.