O-line moves

by SCSteeler on Aug 2, 2008 1:04 PM EDT Comment 11 comments

Steelers.com is showing they have resigned center Doug Legursky and released place kicker Julian Rauch. With all of the speculation about the o-line and the wrongness of Mahan...and the hope for Hartwig, does this resigning represent prudence or desperation? Is camp not looking that good for either center? How does everyone feel about Legursky as a prospect - good development potential or constant backup? Was he brought back just to make the other guys fight harder?

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might have something to do with

Mahan being out with a “sore back“

by schnifin on Aug 2, 2008 1:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good question?

I wish I had an answer. I was surprised they let Doug go before the pads went on.
I’m not going to continue to make myself sick with the O line enigma anymore. My local pharmacy knows me on a first name basis.

by steelersrock08 on Aug 2, 2008 2:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yeah-but that’s the fun part. The only cure will probably be September 7th vs the Texans – when it won’t matter because we’ll have who we have. Until then, I can’t help trying to figure out what the heck Z is thinking about and who’s going to be in which position. Enigma indeed.

I suppose though that it is better than last year when everyone was being shuffled around right up to the start of the season. I’m not sure that I like “we’re about set” better than that though.

I’ve been rereading the stuff on Legursky and there’s mention that he can play guard as well (another wrinkle – head down to the pharmacy again) and that he was a good college center. I like this move really, getting youth in there adds a backup, adds hope for the future.

by SCSteeler on Aug 2, 2008 3:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Doug,,,

I did alot of research on prospective draft this year. Doug’s resume came into view as one who might fly under the radar which it did. Doug is a hard worker, one strong dude and mean and nasty. He’s even practiced long snapping. When Tomlin and I forget who else went to Marshall it was Legursky they were looking at. I was hoping he would be signed as a UDFA by the Steelers. There were a couple of other teams looking at him too. Its been said that his arms are too short.

by steelersrock08 on Aug 2, 2008 4:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What Is Going On

This might be stating the obvious, but what is going on with the Steelers, in particular the offensive line.

Last year and apparently this year the Steelers had a great defense; great running back, QBs, wide receivers and tight ends. However we had an offensive line that is suspect and a special teams unit (minus the kickers) that was downright abysmal. Even though we are told the line positions are set, can someone please give me a believable explanation for the musical chairs in regards to the center, tackle, guard positions. I’m all for versatility, but they now have four centers (possible guards). The signing of Legursky casts a lot of suspicion on the three present candidates and by inference the OL coach(s). Please note that this signing happened right after Tomlin voiced displeasure at the play of the OL during Friday nights practice. While I just mentioned the center what about the guards and tackles.
At the rate we are going, we may have to go to a spread offense simply to give Ben enough time to move before he is sacked. Please forgive my rant, but the way things are going a 6 and 8 record would be good.

Don”t regard what has been written as being anti-Legursky, in fact I’m all for him if he has the talent and will. A center who is a great weight lifter, is not tall 6’ 1”, weighs 323, is mobile, was a track star, and was an All MAC center sounds to me like he could be the second coming of Mike Webster.

by manchesterheights on Aug 2, 2008 6:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

A 6 and 8 record?

What about the other two games?

There are simply not many ways the OL can be worse. We added two running backs, one of whom we know to be a capable blocker., both of whom we know to be capable receivers. We added another good WR who is coming along nicely. Our QB makes the line looks better than it is, but he’s aware that he has to get rid of the ball when that big play he’s looking for simply isn’t there.

The protection problems are not going to be as bad as they were last year. We managed to to win a divisional title despite a terrible line and injuries on the D side. I don’t think the protection situation, as it appears now, will sink us next year, schedule or no schedule.

by Desroko on Aug 2, 2008 6:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

by manchesterheights on Aug 2, 2008 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope you're right

...and with persepective, that line did well enough to have the #1 rusher in the NFL (for most of the season) and Ben did have a great year passing too. I think the strength of the other units and Ben should be enough to set that right (or at least detract from the negative), but it still just stinks that there’s this vagueness about the line.

I was going to post at one point that they didn’t do anything in the offseason, but then thought about the signing of Hartwig, the drafting of Hills, and the retention of Starks. They made some moves, and lets hope a semi-solid line comes out of it, and let’s hope Marvel stays healthy. I suppose they’re sifting through to find the best mix of players, but it’s hell on wheels for us nuts trying to figure it all out.

by SCSteeler on Aug 3, 2008 6:30 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Doug

His bio sounds great…seems like exactly what we need…a tough, young, productive o-lineman.

Trouble is, all these draft picks/free agents sound good…as fans we get excited and the next day or next week their gone…example, I thought Matt Trannon sounded promising…gone…Capizzi…gone…Dennis Dixon reportedly can’t hit the side of a barn from 3 feet away…

My point is as eager Steeler fans we just don’t know who coaches/FO actually are high on and who their not…of course we could just wait it out and find out who makes the roster…and not speculate…but how much fun would that be now :.)

by SteelerMike on Aug 3, 2008 8:04 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good point

Legursky sounds pretty good, but as was pointed out, the Steelers cut him before the pads went on, and no one else gave him a shot. That doesn’t mean he can’t prove everyone wrong, but it doesn’t speak very highly of him either. He’s definitely a fringe guy to watch, though.

by BadMaafala on Aug 3, 2008 10:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

O-line

This is just me, but it seems like O-line is really one of the most coach-reliant units in football. I mean, they work so closely together, and the NFL D’s are so good, that they really need to play together to be good. So, when we had proven o-line coaches, I would not worry about the line coming together. With Z, I worry.

by tkired on Aug 3, 2008 1:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs