A quick look at the 08 O-line class
by vherub on Oct 2, 2008 2:15 PM EDT
15 comments
This is by no means an indepth examination of the centers, guards and tackles taken in 2008, rather a brief summary to see how things are shaping.
The Steelers were one (of many) teams thought to target the oline going into the draft as a pressing need. As most people on this site know, instead their early picks went to Mendy (now lost for the year) and Limas (not on the radar). While it is unfortunate Mendy is out for the season, it is too early to consider either pick in terms of good or bad. It's also too early to judge most anyone from the 2008 class. Still...
Jake Long- 1st overall
Was considered a disappointment before the Dolphins handled the Pats game. has started every game.
Ryan Clady- 12th overall
May become the best of the class. Has done a great job in Denver.
Chris Williams- 14th overall
injured, has yet to play
Brandon Albert- 15th overall
injured in the preseason and injured again recently
Gosder Cherilus- 17th overall
recently hit the starting lineup, played decently
Jeff Otah- 19th overall
injured
Sam Baker- 21st overall
On an Atlanta line that created some big holes for Turner, now injured
Duane Brown- 26th overal
Gotten mixed reviews, but getting playing time
Chilo Rachal- 39th overall
backup
Mike Pollack- 59th overall
inactive
John Greco- 65th overall
backup
Jeremy Zuttah- 83rd overall
Filled in well when Stanton was out
Chad Rinehart- 96th overall
backup
Oniel Cousins- 99th overall
backup
Cody Wallace- 107th overall
backup
Kory Lichtensteiger- 108th overall
backup
Mike McGlynn- 109th overall
backup
Shawn Murphy- 110th overall
backup
Anothony Collins- 112th overall
backup
***Tony Hills- 130th overall
backup
David Hale- 133rd overall
backup
Josh Sitton- 135th overall
started in the preseason, currently injured
What stands out is guys taken after the 1st round weren't drafted to start. They may still start before the season ends, they may become great talents, but they were not drafted to fill an immediate need. In fact, aside from Zuttah filling for an injured player, none of the guys taken in the 2nd-4th rounds has signifcant or sometimes any playing time that I could tell.
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It also stands out that half the 1st round Oline’s are injured.
by steelguy99 on Oct 2, 2008 2:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, and Chris Williams was one I remember really hoping would fall to us.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on Oct 2, 2008 3:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thanks for the look
So I guess this was a great year for injured tackles, not offensive tackles. We’ll see how things shake out ever time. I’ve only seen Brown when Harrison embarrassed him and made him pout.
charity standing orders
by BadMaafala on Oct 2, 2008 3:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Basically this says....
That the Steelers would have had to have traded their first 3 picks in the summer draft (Mendenhall, Sweed, Davis), plus their top pick next year, to get an offensive lineman who could help them this season. Which was pretty much what I said at the time, when everyone was wailing about drafting an O lineman.
by robert ethan on Oct 2, 2008 4:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Boy you totally nailed that one!!
Good Job!!
charity standing orders
by BadMaafala on Oct 2, 2008 4:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What????
What are you talking about? trade first three picks? Even if they drafted lineman this year they wouldn’t get much help. Draft two or three next year and get one in Free Agency. Chris K, Colon, Simmons, Smith all should go. At least Simmons and Smith. robert ethan makes stupid comments.
by steelcitykid on Oct 2, 2008 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wasn't in favor of using the top pick on the O line
Most of the rest of the fans were. Rub’s little analysis shows that the Steelers would have had to move into the top 10 or so in order to get a solid starting lineman for this season. The price would have been way too high. After the first half of the first round, none of the players taken has any more or less long term potential than Tony Hills, I don’t think. They did the right thing at the draft. Plus the crop is supposed to be deep on the O line for the next two drafts.
by robert ethan on Oct 3, 2008 1:53 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
People (including myself) wanted to take an OL in the first round, but I don’t think anyone recommended trading up. If Williams, Clady, Otah, or Albert had fell, we would have been mad not to take them. Considering how deep this draft was for OT’s, we were hoping that a quality OT would fall to us, but when 7 or 8 tackles went before us, OBVIOUSLY we weren’t going to take one in the first. I’m sure plenty of people looked at their newspapers and said, “WTF? Why did we take a RB?”, but you’re preaching to the choir here. I don’t remember any regular poster on this site who thought we should have either reached on an OL in the first, or, before we knew who would or wouldn’t have been taken, traded all our picks for a chance at Clady. Like I said elsewhere, I don’t understand where you’re getting this “everyone else” idea, as if everyone else here didn’t have the same thought process.
charity standing orders
by BadMaafala on Oct 3, 2008 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
wait a second?
You’re happy with a decision made by the Steelers front office? Old coke-bottle glasses rooney made a wise choice? Bite your tongue!
Man if they got this right, I wonder what else they might have right… Maybe Tomlin will even pan out. :)
by Chicago Steeler on Oct 3, 2008 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Ryan Clady
Did the Broncos trade up to get him? If he is having a great year, at left tackle no less, they are improving big-time through the draft. That Royal guy at receiver, taken before we took Sweed, is having a lights out year. Last year they drafted their starting right tackle in the third round, Ryan Harris. The line can be addressed quickly with a good plan. The Browns proved that also. This offseason we must pick up at least one starter in free agency and one in the draft.
by maryrose on Oct 2, 2008 5:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
The Broncos had the 12th pick
I agree it is too early to judge and these things can change quickly, but Clady has started all 4 games, has yet to give up a sack and has only been penalized twice. Cutler has been getting good time to make throws. Clady is playing beyond his rookie years and has been praised by the media and the Denver organization.
by vherub on Oct 3, 2008 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I also don't mean
the steelers should have traded up for clady, there is no way to know he would play this well, nor is future greatness a sure thing. Just wanted to highlight, if anything, that rookie oline contributions in the first quarter of the season is very rare and Clady seems to be the best (and maybe only) example of drafting a lineman for a Week 1 need.
by vherub on Oct 3, 2008 10:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Too Soon
It’s too soon to say these OL are busts. Everyone knows it is near impossible to find a lineman to help in his rookie year. (Joe Thomas excluded) Agree with Rose that the lines are in desperate need of an upgrade.
I was definitely clamoring for draft picks for the O and D line. This rub rundown enforces my belief that the FO knew what they were doing. They didn’t get pressured into taking someone not worthy of their selection. As stated previously though Steelers are real weak in the trenches and the jury is out on 34. Is he man enough to play RB in the NFL every down every week?
When You Run The Ball Good Things Happen
by 5020 on Oct 3, 2008 9:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Otah's Ability
Yeah I’m a little new at this, but here goes. Pittsburgh’s own Jeff Otah was drafted 19th overall, and Carolina jumped up to get him. He’s a power right tackle with great ability and at 6’6" and 330 lbs. has all the size you can ask for. Yes he’s hurt now but if anybody saw him week one he was dominating to say the least. Moving up a handful of spots is not usually a cost effective move, it normally will take a couple of picks to move a couple of spots, but he will be the best right tackle in this draft, and at a position we need more than any other. I know one week, and he left that game early, is a VERY small sample size, but you would of thought he was in the league for years watching him play. You can’t change history, and I think Mendenhall will be great when he comes back next year, but our biggest need was immediate solid play at tackle, and if he had fallen to us I think that the Rooney’s would of been more than happy to put him in the fold. The draft is deep at tackle this year so with the early play of our line, which wasn’t awful by any means weeks 1 and 2, but has since gone south, it’s a safe bet to say we will be looking at tackle’s early and maybe even guards a little later.
by NYSteelersFan4 on Oct 3, 2008 4:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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