Unless they move Colon to guard (just kidding).

We do need to find some depth though, and depending on the front offices long term plan for Fat Willie, we may need a future starter. Given the age of our two starters, and the contract status of Max Starks, keeping both would be nice, at the right price.

I still think we overpayed for Max Starks, but the offer was fair to Max, and competitive as far as the market goes. A new coach can do a guy wonders though, and it’s his opinions that will effect these guys most (looking at you Tony Hills… whenever you’re ready buddy).

someone is needed to be brought in to push hills for his spot on the team. it seems he’s only been kept around because of his possible long term potential to see if he’ll pan out. and having only 3 playable T’s is risky line to walk.

would appear to be that,big as he is,he needs to get and stay in better shape. Most likely the reason for the fade…Maybe the new coach will help?

OT is too important a position to pass up, and while Starks and Colon might be the starters for now, you can never have too many offensive lineman. And its not as though Starks and Colon are at a Pro Bowl level. I’d say draft someone in the 2nd or 3rd round, if they end up being better than one of the starters than the offense will thank you, if not they add depth and hope for the future.

IMO OT is a high priority in the draft. We can not be a dominate team with either of these tackles.

If Starks stays at LT, BB will get killed by the speed rushers. He is too big and slow to get down and contain the pass rushers.

Colon is average at best. The running game to the right side will never be dominate with him at RT. He has improved, but is better suited for RG.

Hills is a LT only. He is too small to play RT. Since he has not dressed, and can not beat out Starks his technique must still be a problem. In training camp he looked really bad.

We have lots of needs on both sides of the ball and it will take a few years to plug all of the holes. Hopefully, they make a committment to the OL this year.
The new OL coach will help, but he will not turn sh*t into gold.

On sacks allowed, I think that JJ Cooper over at NFL Fanhouse did an exhaustive study a few weeks back. The result was that Starks and Colon graded out pretty well. Starks gave up some sacks, but most of them were after more than 3-4 seconds of Ben holding the ball.

I think they need to upgrade C, RG, and LG (Kemo while good, has a hard time figuring out who to block when the defense blitzes) before they mess with the tackles. But of course if they don’t sign Colon to a long term deal they could pretty easily get his replacement in this draft.

Is linked here, like I said, it’s pretty good.

I defended Starks in the past, and I still think the signing was ok. It is hard to get a great LT, and I didn’t think the Steelers would have the year they had where they could maybe draft one. He is smart, but does appear to take plays off. What I can’t tell is how much his play declined once Kemo was playing hurt. He had a good start in the year, but it did decline. Was it playing next to a rookie?

Colon is the big question. I really think this draft will help point us fans to the answer. It was Z and BA that called Colon a great tackle. I thought he improved but was still avg. He will be back and starting because of money and experience, but if the Steelers draft a 1st rd tackle?

Doubt we draft a Tackle 1st or 2nd round
I don’t see us drafting a tackle in the first or second round because as mentioned we have our starters for next year and young guys (although unproven) to back them up.
65 Kraig Urbik G 24 6-5 323 R Wisconsin (I believe his best at RT and hopefully can push Colon)
74 Willie Colon OT 26 6-3 315 4 Hofstra (Starter good enough)
79 Trai Essex OT 27 6-5 324 5 Northwestern (R & L Tackle backup and that’s it)
73 Ramon Foster OT 24 6-6 325 R Tennessee (Rook that got some playing time at G. Need a breakout season for him as a backup)
66 Tony Hills OT 25 6-5 304 2 Texas (should be ready after 3yrs in the NFL. It takes at least 4 years to develop a good linemen that’s not a #1 draft pick)
78 Max Starks OT 28 6-8 345 6 Florida (Starter good enough)
Looking at the age and years of experience, the tackle position can be left alone for a couple years. I’m not against finding a steal in round 3 but these men are professionals and all need to step up their level of play, ALL! I’m hopeful just as the org is that the new line coach will help develop our young talent and squeeze the best out of the starters. Pushing Colon and Starks during training camp is what the youngsters need to do this year. All will improve if they keep it competitive. The strong gets stronger when looking over your shoulder trying to keep the next guy from taking your job. Developing the talent we have is best for us at Tackle. Hopefully the new O-line coach will go into camp stressing no one has proven to be a starter until we find the best five O-linemen working the hardest this off-season into the pre-season. That will get some attention and some serious comp. The youngster will believe they have a chance and the starters will have to earn the right to start this season and in the future.
On the other hand our interior line is the biggest question mark. I’m not at all comfortable with both guard and center position. Regardless of Big Ben holding on to the ball too long there MUST be a better pocket formed from the inside out. If a QB can’t step up in the pocket his chances of getting sacked and lack of success on 3rd downs will happen as it has since Hartings ©, Faneca (LG) and Simmons (RG). If it was not for Big B’s heroics we could have finished worse than 9 – 7.
Inside linemen are just as important on running downs as well which explains the 3rd and short situation. Fans talk about Bruce A throwing on 3rd and short but he has been left no choice because of a lack of push from the interior linemen. Mandenhall got most of his yards on effort and talent. When you have to spin before reaching the line of scrimmage that’s a problem with interior line play more than anything. When you have to break tackles, spin or carry defenders for positive 2 or 3 yards that’s a problem with interior line play. Emmitt Smith walked through holes leading up to being the leading rusher in history. That’s because his Center and Guard play was outstanding for years. The list below shows no promise at all to me:
 
62 Justin Hartwig C 31 6-5 312 8 Kansas (just not getting it done)
64 Doug Legursky C 23 6-1 315 1 Marshall (should be starter or challenging if he’s any good. Beating out Hartwig should not be a huge task)
61 Jared Retkofsky C 26 6-5 260 2 Texas Christian (long snapper)
60 Greg Warren C 28 6-3 252 5 North Carolina (long snapper)
68 Chris Kemoeatu G 27 6-3 344 5 Utah (great run blocker but not so good of a pass blocker)
72 Darnell Stapleton G 24 6-3 305 3 Rutgers (too small to play RG should go back to center and challenge Hartwig and Legursky)
65 Kraig Urbik G 24 6-5 323 R Wisconsin (should be able to beat out any starting RG if he’s any good this year)
Once again my opinion is NT 1st round and C/G 2nd or 3rd round. I’m not sure 2nd or 3rd because there’s still a need at Safety. I rather pick a C/G with the 1st round choice unless there’s a top safety that’s a must have. Then I would say 2nd or 3rd round for C/G.

Given the fact that we had a 4000 yard passer and a 1000 yard rusher, I would say that our line was “not that bad”. Also consider the fact that a lot of those sacks were because Ben held the ball too long. Granted, he avoided some sacks because of his strength and durability.. I think that bad play calling or utilizing the wrong personnel on “3rd and short” was our big problem. Our need is a strong fullback who can be relied upon to get those 2 or 3 yards (am hoping that Frank Summers will be that FB).. Ben was VERY reliable on “3rd and 1” when he ran a Quarterback Sneak. The problem with our offense was that there was not enough versatility in our play calling. We needed to utilize Dennis Dixon to either run it, throw it or be a decoy. Also occasionally let Hines Ward (an ex QB) throw a few passes to keep the defenses “honest”. We have a VERY good team, so let’s put this past season behind us and have a good draft.