Up and Down Ride with the Violent Tide

by franz on Oct 17, 2011 1:54 PM EDT

Whether it is a game or an offensive series, this team goes where the offensive line takes it. A leaky dike is all we really need, not the Hoover Dam. But with guys like Trai Essex playing, the Steelers can't stay above the flood tide for very long. That roar you hear isn't the crowd, it's the rush of oncoming defenders trying to wash away the legs and face of Ben Roethlisberger.

Sounds ridiculously simplistic but this is football, and the need for good line play never ceases. In basketball, offensive talent is very hard to stop - you can't tackle the guy dribbling the ball. The skill of players with the ball is not dependent upon others for success. In football, that is the essence of the game.

What was the biggest difference between the Titans game and the games either side of it? The play of the offensive line. The Titans beat the Ravens and that is not so easy to do. The Steelers beat the Titans because the O Line made possible the use of the Steeler's incredible offensive firepower. The defense also played well but the offense needs to score for this team to win big games. This defense is not going to win us games by keeping the other team to less than 10 points, nor should they be expected to.

For the Titans game, the Steelers were able to put 5 guys into 5 spots where they mostly fit and could function together as a unit. Starks came in off the street and looked better than anyone playing LT in a black and gold uniform has in a long time. When Legursky gets hurt(again) and the RT position is also a revolving door, you get a second half like we saw yesterday. If the Steelers simply gain enough yards for 3 or 4 more first downs, this game is over and done with. No last second heave to the endzone, no drama. But the eleven on the field at any moment is changing constantly and that is a dangerous thing.

If the Steelers can ever put together an average offensive line and keep it there, the offense will continue to have dynamic plays and at least a decent running game. The defense is good enough to keep them in most games. Without the O Line solidifying, the Steelers are vulnerable against 3/4 of the teams in this league. With just an OK offensive line, they can beat anyone.

Not too sure what, if anything can be done with the roster. If they sustain a season ending injury to an O Lineman, does the salary cap allow for them to sign anyone else? If so, how much can they utilize - same value as the IR player? I believe kk99 and others have expertise in this matter. I guess it's just hope for the best for now, hope they can rebuild the dike before the next high tide.

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I think they have a perfectly good Average OL

Starks Legs Pouncey Foster Gilbert

Now if they can play back to back games together it would be amazing.

Game 7 comming up and 7th starting OL for the Steelers, and counting:(

If you buy a foreign made product you give money to a person who will not be buying an American made product that you get paid to make. Think about it next time you're at the store.

by SNW on Oct 17, 2011 4:03 PM EDT reply actions

Yes but recall

that line up was not yet created until Starks was re-signed and Legs moved to LG. I would like to see Legs stay at LG and have Kemo play RG when healthy(ier). Legs is small but can move, Kemo is getting bigger by the minute and seems to be struggling with pulling.

Plus, even if Kemo is healthy and can move, he is bigger and can take on the 3 tech or shaded nose better than Legs.

"Franz" in NoCal

by franz on Oct 17, 2011 4:10 PM EDT reply actions

IR players count towards salary cap

if a player on your Roster is injured during football then you cannot get out of the Salary Cap hit for that year. You can also cut a player like Chris Scott and free up his Cap Space but any signing bonus or other guaranteed $ for that year remains a Cap hit for the current year.

If you get rid of a vet with 4 or more accrued seasons then you have the full Salary Cap hit because he is due Termination Pay and it counts fully against the Cap.

You may be able to get out of a Cap hit if a player is refusing to perform under his contract but that is an appeal process and probably best you can do is get a Cap credit carryover for a following year.

I estimate we have about $2.1mm in Cap Space and there are complete details on the Home Page in a story i just wrote. This $2.1mm is enough to cover a good player or 3 or 4 players like Max Starks if you could find them. You just have to cut players with less than 4 “AS” who do not have “SB” money or other guarantees. That probably means the players who are currently in their 2nd, 3rd or 4th year as there may be more guarantees in rookie contracts (because of the new CBA 50% rookie pay cut). Anyone who is currently playing in their 5th year or beyond cannot be cut and clear any Cap Space.

Very limited options.

by kk99 on Oct 17, 2011 6:19 PM EDT reply actions

Great executive summary kk99

You encapsulated what most of us think we know about the money end of things.

So, if anyone is gonna get hurt, it’s preferable that it is one of the more recent 2nd tier players. One more good O Lineman and this team becomes twice as dangerous. Other positions like DL or DB could use some help too but if we only could improve in one spot, I would say OL. Especially since Tomlin likes to carry one less OL position on the roster than Cowher and many other coaches.

"Franz" in NoCal

by franz on Oct 18, 2011 6:41 PM EDT up reply actions