I eagerly texted SteelerBro when Dallas was on the clock at No. 22. Between that, and IMing JJ Cooper for our Roundtable discussion, I was the paradigm of technological efficiency.

I was the modern man. I used to be the type who would just as soon not have a phone, now, I was communicating with three people eletronically, and three others at my buddy Tim’s place.

Forced to use our newest media of technology, it dawned on me the Steelers had become something new Saturday at the NFL Draft.

The thing I told SteelerBro was the same thing I was blathering excitedly to my friends.

“The Steelers NEVER have That Guy fall to them!! NEVER!”

Illinois RB Rashard Mendenhall was never considered an option, because he was supposed to be long gone before the Steelers got on the clock. I’m certain the Mock Draft scenario drawn up by the Steelers staff that had Mendenhall on the board at No. 23 was something like “If somehow he falls, unless a guy with the last name of Long or Gholston somehow falls, he’s our guy.”

That Guy, Mendenhall in Saturday’s example, never falls.

Granted, Pittsburgh has other areas of need. Going into the start of the third round, they haven’t addressed the offensive line, which was the percieved problem going into the draft. They defensive line needs help as well. But frankly, you cannot pass on the 225-pounder with 4.45 speed, plus-receiving skills and shifty moves, especially when last year’s running back, Willie Parker, had an outside shot at 400 carries on the season before breaking his leg in Week 16.

And Limas Sweed! A 6-foot-4 wide receiver with above average speed, incredible athleticism, a great attitude and a Texas lineage. And, here are his bio notes as provided by Scout.com:

“…active in (the University of Texas’s) community service program … is part of a group of Longhorns that regularly visits patients at the Austin Children’s Hospital … majoring in youth and community studies with a minor in business … a prep honor roll student … served as a student mentor in high school … lists basketball, riding horses and playing video games among his hobbies.

A wrist injury slowed him down his senior year at Texas, likely a reason he slid a little bit, but more accurately, he slid because every wide receiver slid Saturday. After Malcolm Kelly of Oklahoma blamed the school for his 4.68 40-time (he ran on the same surface Vikings RB Adrian Peterson did when he cracked off a 4.38 in 2007), and James Hardy has a few question marks, the Steelers positioned themselves beautifully to select a receiver just as physical, quick, fast and sure-handed as any other in this draft.

With Nate Washington under a one-year contract, not only does Sweed not have to step in and fill an immediate role (like Cincinnati’s Jerome Simpson, a little known receiver from even lesser known Coastal Carolina, who has to fill in for Chris Henry, possibly even Chad Johnson). Sweed can be used in spots, and look for a third WR role next season.

What’s better, the Steelers now have these weapons to provide several different looks at the opposing defenses that didn’t flinch when the Steelers went into 2-TE max-protect offensive formations.

Mendenhall has great receiving skills, and perhaps the Steelers can actually get that screen pass down; ya know, the play that hasn’t worked for the Steelers since 2001?

They now have a four-receiver set with a huge WR. They already have a great 2-TE passing formation. They can use Mendenhall with Parker in the backfield with two TEs, three WRs, and run or pass out of it.

This makes offensive lines better.

Let’s not forget, either, the Steelers brought in C Justin Hartwig to push Mahan The Revolving Door out of the rotation.

I believe Wilson said this at one point last year, but Mahan had a terrible habit of making every other player along the line worse. As Sun Tzu says in The Art of War, if you lose the middle, the ends will not hold.

Perhaps that’s a little deep for this early in the morning, and for this subject, but I’m pretty stoked about this.

Like I said in Cooper’s Roundtable, Mendenhall was the best player available. More importantly, there was not an offensive or defensive lineman available worthy of the 23rd overall pick. Mendenhall is a top 12 talent.

Well played, Steelers. Well played. You haven’t had a player of this caliber fall into your lap in a very long time, let alone two of them.