how to fix the O-line...or, does it need fixing?
by nycsteelerfan on Dec 17, 2009 2:53 PM EST
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PrintOk, does the solution to fixing the O-Line reside on the team? Or, do we need to import some talent? If so, FA? Draft? Is the answer, better coaching? We know we need help on the defense...D-line, ILB and of course, secondary..that is a diff topic for a different thread..If we want to run the ball...consistantly, the O-Line MUST improve..so, what is the solution? Is Essex and upgrade over stapelton? Could foster be the next right gurad? What about Urbik? Legursky at center?
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One run on sentence and ten questions. Well done.
The Hell that Tomlin & the Steelers have unleashed on me this December is indescribable.
Lol
We need lot’s of help that’s for sure. I think we grab 2 OL this draft.
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by SoCalSteelerFan on Dec 17, 2009 3:26 PM EST up reply actions
I think it's a scheme problem personally
O-line played fine against the Ratbirds, but somehow when Ben plays they can’t protect? I’ve seen enough improvement from them to tell me it’s other issues beside talent.
They won’t draft O-line in the first 3 rounds unless a player is coveted. I was a defender of BA earlier this year, but I can’t any longer. They are just too damn predictable. There needs to be a coaching change I think.
I think the secondary is the only place where there is a true deficiancy of talent
13 years and no playoff wins for the Dallas Cowboys... SWEET!
1 We need Ben to Mature
I saw a video on NFL by Mike Mayock showing a play. I’m trying to find it. Found it. At the 1:09 mark Mayock(my favorite draft Guru) shows where Ben needs to grow.
2 O-line needs more time together.
3 D needs to pull it together. Incidently we aslo have the second most sacks this season check the 2:21 mark
OC RG RT
all need upgraded and probably in that order.
OC: Legursky has not yet beat Hartwig and Harwig is the glue of the O line away from the game.
RG: Can either Foster, Legursky, Colon, or Urbik be better than Essex?
RT: Can Hills or Essex be better than Colon?
Nothing I’ve seen draft wise has an OC that is slated to be the next Dawson.
There are lots of Guards to choose from already on the team, don’t for get Stapelton. That’s 6 Guards, so unless the young Steve Hutchenson suddenly is found no Guards.
Now RT on the other hand could be a place I see the Steelers drafting in the 1st only if, the guy could move to the Left in a few years. From my meager mock draft searches it seems like a possibility.
I’m not sure it’s the biggest need, but unless a FS/ILB/CB that looks probowl worthy/all world, I could see BPA being a Tackle.
Starks, Kemo, Harwig, Colon, 1st Rd pick. Looks ok, now toss in a FB (and out Airens) and we have something.
If you buy a foreign made product you give money to a person who will not be buying an American made produdt that you get paid to make. Think about it next time you're at the store.
I don’t think we’ll have a shot at a 1st round worthy tackle.
by Phantaskippy on Dec 17, 2009 9:19 PM EST up reply actions
Nearly all of the mocks I look at have tackles falling into the late teens
I don’t know if any are worth it but a move up a few spots would seem likely this year.
Don’t they have like 9 picks or something?
If you buy a foreign made product you give money to a person who will not be buying an American made produdt that you get paid to make. Think about it next time you're at the store.
Cornerbacks have "0" interceptions this season...Line needs a "Fanaca" type replacement for O-Line & Bruce Arians: 1 yr to show or Your Fired
Arians has too much talent to not score points…period
Steelers never appropriately replaced Alan Faneca (who was the last Steeler OL in Pro-Bowl). I think Colon has Pro-Bowl potential & Starks and Essex need fires lit under them or they would be good back-up linemen.
To have a cornerback tandem with ZERO interceptions warrants taking at least 2 of the top 4 draft picks as Cornerbacks & at least 1 of the top 4 on OL…
I agree we could use a “pass-catching” fullback, been a while since good old John L Williams played for the Black n Gold
oh yeah, replace at least 50% of the special teams….
Result: Back to the Super Bowl really soon!
O-line has improved
Before the Browns game, most people were happy with the progress that the line has made in both run blocking and pass protection this year. Yes, the line had a bad game in Cleveland, but so did a lot of other units on the team. Let’s not dump on them for one bad game.
Starks has played well overall. Kemo and Colon have both improved tremendously and are still young enough to have upside. Essex has been adequate. Hartwig, to me, is the weak link.
We already have some young guys who might be an upgrade at C or RG: Stapleton (who can play C), Urbik, Foster, Legursky, maybe even Shipley. So there is no point is drafting more lineman in the lower rounds. The plan for next year is probably just open up some competition at C and RG and see what happens. IMHO, we can win with the guys we have, particularly with some better coaching and better decision-making on Ben’s part.
Sure, I would love to draft a stud lineman in the first round. But I agree with idiscgolf: it is more important to get some help for the defensive secondary.
Good concensus on our Cornerbacks...
Once again….“we really need Cornerback assistance”, while Polamalu & Clark are one of the great safety combination’s in the NFL when they get to play together
Will they get to play together?
Given that Clark is a pending free agent and given Polamalu’s injury history, I think we need help at safety more than at cornerback. We just drafted two CBs and need to see how they pan out. Even if we sign a mid-level free agent to replace Clark (or even if we resign Clark, who has lost a step this year), I’d like to see us draft a good young safety that could be a quality backup in case of injury and who could eventually play next to Troy. Unless you think Ryan Mundy is that guy. :-)
Biggest problem is on D....Tomlin and LeBeau knew if all along....
They drafted Hood, Burnett, Lewis….signed Ratliff…..They saw the weaknesses.
The D-line is aging and can’t push people around any more…The inside linebackers have been disappointing (other than K-Fox)…and the cornerbacks have zero interceptions and just as many big plays. The loss of Smith and Polamalu exposed the existing weaknesses that LeBeau had managed to hide until the 4th quarter of the Super Bowl. The middle of the D minus Troy lacks speed and quickness, and that’s why we’ve seen all those godawful missed tackles all year.
The offensive line is physically weak…only Kemo seems to be able to dominate occasionally on running plays. There are no road graders, hence no real short yardage running game. These are not your father’s Steelers.
Luckily, there is an embarrassment of riches at WR, QB, TE, OLB, and FS. Just about everything else (except RB) needs an upgrade or an infusion of youth.
I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer.
- Homer J. Simpson
Colon is our best run blocker
Not Kemo. Both last year and this year I’ve seen Colon completely wipe out his man better than anybody else.
The issue with the line is between Hartwig and Essex. We just signed Hartwig to an extension and Stapleton is his backup, so I have a feeling we’ll have to make due with Hartwig for a while.
Hartwig can’t handle bigger guys, and he struggles to keep his weight up during the season because of his fast metabolism. Essex is a backup that is only starting because of injury and because there’s no one else. He’s done an adequate job considering his talent level.
When I go back and re-watch the games on my DVR the most missed assignments and failed blocks occur between these two guys. Two things can help us shore up this problem: a better o-line coach, and a better RG.
by StoneColdSteel on Dec 17, 2009 11:48 PM EST reply actions
Agree
Center is weak. I was stunned that they extended Hartwig. He ends up on the ground too much, he can’t turn his head and find the blitzer. Just really mediocre.
in an uncapped year..
If we cut a guy we extended…Hartwig, farrior, how does this affect the uncapped year?
I don't see a drafting of OL and agree with Steelin's comments on why
Left side is solid with a still improving Starks and Kimo. Hartwig is adequate but I see Stapelton pushing him next yr for the starting job. Foster and Urbik will battle for RG and Colon is getting solid at RT. Unless Hill can be the RT thene they move Willie to RG. Overall, this line has improved and played well. They are young and improving. They would open more holes on 3rd and 1 if given the chance. Ben has to improve his quick reads and the sacks improve too. Think Baltimore…0 sacks. I know Suggs was out but 0 sacks? and they ran the shit out of the ball. Why? because BA was committed to the run and quick reads for DD. The biggest offseason addition to the OL is the subtraction of BA.
Best way to fix the OL
Not have empty sets on 3rd-2.
If you buy a foreign made product you give money to a person who will not be buying an American made produdt that you get paid to make. Think about it next time you're at the store.
We need to draft one more guy.
The Steelers probably need to draft one more offensive lineman. But he doesn’t have to be a first-rounder. A second-round pick is OK. You bring in a first-rounder and all the vets get mad because you have to offer him a fat contract. Urbik and some of the other youngsters might pan out as well. It would help if we made any kind of commitment to running the ball.
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