The Pittsburgh Steelers Guard Quandary

by ncoolong on Feb 27, 2009 6:45 AM EST Comment 31 comments

With veteran Kendall Simmons getting his release (word is he has not recovered from an Achilles injury that cost him the 2008 season), and Chris Kemoeatu receiving an offer from the Jets, the Steelers find themselves in the exact position they figured to be in today:

Precariously thin at the offensive guard position.

To put it mildly, Darnell Stapleton did not have his best game in Super Bowl XLIII. If Kemoeatu does sign with the Jets, Stapleton will be the only guard currently on the roster. Trai Essex has been listed as a guard and tackle in the past, as has Jeremy Parquet.

Does this mean the Steelers will pursue a guard on the free agent market? It's a better question to ask if they are going to pursue a starting guard in free agency. Rumors linking Colts C Jeff Saturday playing guard in Pittsburgh were debunked when he re-signed with Indianapolis. Cowboys free agent lineman Joe Berger is talking with the Dolphins.

Saints G Jahari Evans is impressive talent-wise, but his price tag is likely far off what the Steelers will pay. The same can be said for recently released G Derrick Dockery, as well as Ravens suddenly-uber-talented G-C Jason Brown (the Dolphins are going after him hard, according to Armando Salguero) meaning it's a solid bet the Steelers will be looking to draft guard come hell or high water in April. It is early in the free agency period, though.

It seems a safe bet to suggest they may bring in a veteran guard for the sake of providing some depth (see Defensive line: Eason, Nick), unless they plan to extend Trai Essex and give the behemoth a realistic shot at the left guard spot. That is contingent on whether they feel Stapleton is the answer at right guard.

That's certainly a step down from where it was last year.

There's the omnipresent notion of moving recently first-round-tendered Willie Colon back inside, which would really only force the problems to the tackle position, which has only thismuch more depth than the guard position. The Steelers did not make an offer to veteran T Marvel Smith, and appear to be content going into 2009 with Max Starks and Colon.

It was very likely the Steelers were going interior offensive line in the draft, and perhaps in anticipation all of this, they feel comfortable saying they will select a starter with one of their picks.

Poll

A 2009 Draft pick will be starting for the Pittsburgh Steelers at Guard for the bulk of the 2009 season.

True

572 votes

False

262 votes

834 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Draft

I think they are going to draft a center and move Hartwig to guard.

by Bob from Virginia on Feb 27, 2009 6:56 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

or they'll get

Duke Robinson if Mack (I’m assuming that’s who you were talking about) isn’t there.

"The team that scores the most points wins."
John Madden
(Master of the obvious)

by PixburghArn on Feb 27, 2009 7:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hartwig won’t get moved to guard. He didn’t want to be moved to guard in Carolina, he won’t want to be moved to guard here. He also has been calling the shots for the line for a year, the steelers aren’t going to move him. They’ll maintain any semblance of chemistry he has instilled and move anyone they draft or sign in FA to guard, not Hartwig.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Feb 27, 2009 9:23 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Im ok with this

First of all to criticize the Stapler for the Super Bowl is unfair. Troy Polamalu also had a piss poor game in it too, yet we still wuv him.

I think its probably smart to gut the aging high salary cap guys. Bring in some new ones.

But damn if Miami secures Brown, they have a heck of an O-line they have put together.

by Mechem on Feb 27, 2009 9:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Troy

Well, based on everything I heard, Troy was quiet because he was busy helping Ike shut down Fitzgerald for 3 and 1/2 quarters. They changed the defensive scheme in the 4th, going back to a traditional 2 deep zone, and that’s when Fitzgerald lit us up. At least, that’s what Madden was saying, and I’m pretty sure I remember some of the other people on here (that know more about Xs and Os than I) said it as well.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Feb 27, 2009 11:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting

Wolkpack, thanks for this. It’s the first explanation I’ve heard of why our pass coverage disappeared at the end of the game. Did anyone explain why we did that?

by TURFgeek on Feb 27, 2009 2:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

From what I remember

John Madden thought we did it to keep from giving up the big play. Obviously, that part didn’t work too well.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Feb 27, 2009 2:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nah

Look, Troy was making whiffs and slips all over. He took our own guy out on the right sideline on one play.

I understand he helped silence the Fitz, but he still was pretty mild.

And that cover 2 got raped. Fitz kept eating us alive up the middle.

by Mechem on Feb 28, 2009 3:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

WOW

In a Cover 2 defensive the middle is the weak spot. And the Larry did nothing that game until we switched to it. And as far as Troy not doing anything, think of it this way, How many times has torched teams in double coverage….eagles carolina, etc…Troy did his job the whole game.

by StlFrk on Feb 28, 2009 5:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I love this quandry

It portends the necessity to acquire new talent, that which we badly need, in free agency and or the draft. If we had kept Simmons and Kemo, along with Zeirlein, we would only have the same problems next year. I know we ended up winning somehow despite the line, but we certainly can’t count on that again.

Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history

by maryrose on Feb 27, 2009 9:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I have to think the Steelers have something planned, because right now our line is an absolute disaster. In tornado terms, it was a F4 last year and is now a F5.

The bills are bringing in all sorts of guys: http://www.buffalorumblings.com/2009/2/27/773864/bills-to-host-free-agent-g

I don’t think Hangartner will fit in well here. We don’t need more finesse or more problems with interior pass rushing, but I would expect the Steelers to bring in a couple of guys like him. I’d sure love to see us come down with an actual talent on the offensive line in FA or the draft, but right now I’d settle for 2 guards signed to the roster.

Kudos to the steelers for shaking things up though. I have faith that they have a plan.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Feb 27, 2009 9:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tony Hills at RT

With Max coming back – and proving last year that he can play LT – maybe they feel the monster that is Tony Hills can move to the easier RT position ( I say easier compared to LT, playing any position in the NFL isn’t easy by any means).

With that we’d have two hogs at the tackle positions, returning RG Stapleton, Hartwig at C, and the newly aquired Alex Mack at the LG position. I’d be happy with that at the start of the season.

by FireAriansNow on Feb 27, 2009 10:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hills?

No one inside the team seems to indicate he’s ready. Not even close to ready, in some estimation.

That means little here, or anywhere else, but the fact is, they do not have a strong interior offensive line right now. I do understand it’s not fair to judge Stapleton on one game, but he was completely man-handled in the Super Bowl. He wasn’t exactly putting fear into opposing defensive coordinators before that, either. Maybe he steps up this off-season, who knows?

by ncoolong on Feb 27, 2009 11:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yea i dont think tomlin's style is to bust out the annointing oil and declare hills a starter

that effects our bargaining position if nothing else as well in free agency. lips sealed from the team as per usual.

by Blitzburgh on Feb 27, 2009 11:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No one inside the team ever indicates much of anything

I hope they think Hills is the answer on the right side.

Thoughtful discussion with a sense of history

by maryrose on Feb 27, 2009 11:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Just to comment on Berger

the dude went to Michigan Tech (Northern’s rival), and although he was a little undersized when he came out, he had great technique.

When he was at MTU he was a LT though, and I have to admit that I haven’t followed his career since he was signed (I believe he was signed as an UDFA).

by Romain El 82 on Feb 27, 2009 12:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I'm scared of anyone named Berger without the Roethlis- in front of it

by TURFgeek on Feb 27, 2009 2:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe...

Arians will just increase the number of TE’s instead of getting guards. Yeah – move the tackles inside and put like 8 TE’s on the field…yeah that’s the ticket…

Like the rest of you I have to have faith in the guys counting those beans, but damn this feels precarious doesn’t it? If it’s true that Kemo is headed to the jets, I suppose that might verify the notion that Z’s zone blocking scheme is here to stay and that we;re going to find pegs to fit that hole.

by SCSteeler on Feb 27, 2009 12:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

im psyched Chris K is gone

Didnt like him. Hes not young. Only has 2-3 of his physical prime years left in him and will then soon be 30. Too many mental errors. Stape’s only 23; smarter; much more room to improve; just as much experience as Chris K. Costs 1/13 the price. Voila. No brainer.

by Blitzburgh on Feb 27, 2009 12:25 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Can't argue with that logic, but....

I guess I’m looking (probably incorrectly) at the fact they’re keeping Willie C. and letting Chris K. go. All things considered I would rather have Kemo than Colon, In my mind’s eye, when I think of Ben getting sacked – the pressure is coming from the right. Maybe another one of those sack breakdowns like last year will show the truth. My impression is that the center was much better defended this past year than with Faneca/Mahan in there.

I like Stapleton sticking in there too. Think he can develop as we move forward.

by SCSteeler on Feb 27, 2009 12:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Colon is RFA

With colon, you can basically offer him a dirt cheap deal. If he signs elsewhere its a 1st round pick. Im praying somebody signs him besides us.

Its a win win with RFA’s. You have to accept the fact he DID start 16 games, and he will be cheap. I dont like him either, and neither does the FO. They only offered him a 1 year deal. I think that was to entice Colon to sign a deal elsewhere for long term if offered.

by Mechem on Feb 28, 2009 3:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice!

Or maybe we do without an O-line altogether (which appeared to be the case in some of our games) and just throw in more receivers. Flag football, anyone?

by TURFgeek on Feb 27, 2009 2:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

WTF??

The situation is pretty ackward at this point, and to make things worse, Colbert and his buddies went on a skiing trip! cheez!

I definently dont think Stapleton is gonna be a monster Guard anytime soon, I would go even further to say he would never ever be my starter to begin with and to have Colon at RT again in 2009 is already giving me serious headaches!! Whats going on? So if we adress RT in the draft and the guy is not ready to start in 2009, whats going to happen? Colon again? Gimme a break! Thats just stupid as fuck! Specially since we dont even have one great guard yet!!!

Come on Tomlin/Colbert , wake up!!! Time to work! Resign Essex , move Colon to the interior and focus on a new starter RT in FA and go get the best C/G in the draft as possible, it cant be that hard to figure..

by setherian on Feb 27, 2009 1:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

your right they have done a horrible job running the franchise and have no idea what they are doing

I'll drink your Milkshake, I'll drink it up!

by drinkyourmilkshake on Feb 27, 2009 1:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Nice photoshop, like the steelers could ever…Oh.

Don't worry about the haters. Haters only hate.

by steelguy99 on Feb 27, 2009 2:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ha

I actually started scrolling back up to examine it for alterations before I finished reading the sentence.

by Varmint on Feb 27, 2009 2:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

KC's Waters?

I just posted a fanshot about KC’s All-Pro guard Brian Waters wanting a trade. That would be cool.

by TURFgeek on Feb 27, 2009 2:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

heard that on nfl radio this morning.

sign this guy! he probably wants a lot of money tho.

also, i hope the steelers draft a solid left tackle. supposedly, this draft class has 8 solid left tackles, GET ONE! Move Starks to his natural position, right tackle. Move Colon inside to right/left guard.

I also wouldnt be too upset if the Steelers drafted a Center w/ their first pick.

by bradyquinnsclipboard on Feb 27, 2009 2:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just playing the game

I figure any talk from either players or their agents is just a not-so-subtle threat to their current team. I seriously doubt Saturday wanted to play for us. He just wanted to make the Colts front office appreciate him. I figure Waters is doing the same thing unless there’s something more than idle talk to report on.

by Varmint on Feb 27, 2009 2:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs