Pro Day buzz: Tomlin spends two days in Gainesville, scouting, meeting with draft prospects

When Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin attends a Pro-Day it’s big news and Tomlin spent Tuesday and Wednesday of this week in Gainesville, Florida, meeting with draft prospects.

Tomlin attending Florida’s pro day including Tim Tebows exclusive workout sparked speculation that quarterback is on the Steelers radar in the early rounds with Ben Roethlisberger’s legal troubles looming.

However, according to multiple team sources, that is not the case.

Tomlin and his staff were in Gainesville meeting with draft prospects not named Tim Tebow. While the Steelers came away impressed with Tebow, they did not meet with Tebow during their visit.

On Tuesday, Tomlin and his staff met with linebacker Brandon Spikes. The meeting was confirmed by Spikes agent Terry Watson who informed me of the meeting on Tuesday.

We can also confirm that Tomlin and members of his staff met with top cornerback Joe Haden, safety Major Wright on Tuesday afternoon as well.

Haden (5-10 ¾, 189) who is regarded as the top cornerback on the board, erased some of the doubts regarding his speed by running 4.45 and 4.41 in the 40-yard-dash, according to Gil Brandt of NFL.com. Haden ran a 4.57 and 4.60 at the combine which according to many scouts put him on the Steelers radar at No. 18.

The increased 40-time improves his stock and solidifies his status as a top-15 pick in all likelihood. He is still regarded as a prospect that the Steelers will have to move up to land.

*According to multiple reports, it was a very disappointing day for linebacker Brandon Spikes. Todd McShay of scouts inc reported, “The biggest disappointment of the day was certainly Spikes’ times of 5.00 and 5.05 in the 40. That lack of straight-line speed combined with durability issues and tightness when changing directions likely will keep Spikes out of the first two rounds and perhaps even the third.”

McShay added, “Spikes looked lean and appeared to be in good shape but did not show good balance, seemed to tighten up during his 40 attempts and looked lazy between drills. He did not look like his usual intense self, and the draft process seems to have broken him down a bit.”

Spikes who was once thought as a lock in the first round is now a second round or third round prospect.

Defensive tackle Jared Odrick the 2009 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year has reportedly lowered his forty-time to an impressive 4.89 seconds. Penn State held their Pro-Day on Wednesday.

Odrick is a top target of Pittsburgh’s in the first round and two Steelers scouts were represented.

Penn State linebackers Navorro Bowman and Sean Lee met with Steelers officials during the combine and both will visit the team in a few weeks.

The buzz coming out of Pittsburgh’s pro day is that Dorin Dickerson (6-1¼, 228), Bill Stull (6-foot-2, 211 pounds), Nate Byham (6-3¾, 264) helped themselves leading up to April’s draft.

Dickerson performed very well at Pitt’s pro day is solidifying his status as a 3rd round pick with some scouts indicating he could go as high as the late second round.

Nate Byham and Bill Stull are also getting looks as late round picks. Byham had a forty time of 4.83 and his work ethic and improved blocking skills will earn him an opportunity in a training camp.

Believe it or not but there is talk that Bill Stull will get drafted in the late rounds. Scouts like his ability to run a pro-style offense.