Steelers Reportedly Close To Re-Signing Max Starks
by Michael Bean on Oct 5, 2011 12:16 AM EDT
in Steelers Rumors
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PrintInteresting news coming out of the Pittsburgh Steelers South Side facility on Tuesday evening. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazzette is reporting that the Steelers are set to re-sign veteran offensive tackle Max Starks. Though many fans might prefer that Flozell Adams were brought back, I don't think too many would argue that re-signing Starks is a wise move considering the dilapidated state of the Steelers' offensive line.
Still just 29 years old, Starks conceivably has plenty of good football left in him provided he's lost the weight that he was carrying this summer. I have heard from more than one source that the personalities of Mike Tomlin and Starks are not all that compatible. There's, of course, a million examples like that between coaches and players over the year, but I think it helps explain why the Steelers opted to part ways with Starks this summer rather than trying to restructure his contract and keep him in the fold if at all possible.
Since Starks' release, Willie Colon has been lost for the year to injury. Jonathan Scott is also injured, though not seriously. But Scott's struggles against Terrell Suggs and Dwight Freeney had to have given Tomlin and the front office cold feet about whether he would be able to hold up over the course of a long season for a team that would like to believe it has championship aspirations.
Let's see first if Starks is in fact re-signed tomorrow or sometime soon this week before speculating too much further about what the transaction might mean for the offensive line. Provided he does, we'll have some interesting debate about who starts where -- Starks at left tackle with Scott slid over to the left side? Starks at left tackle with Gilbert starting at RT? Scott at LT with Starks at RT? Lots of possible scenarios really. And quite frankly, that's what the Steelers need right now -- the opportunity to tinker with different combinations right now before any more time passes. Find a combo that works, than perhaps it's not unrealistic to think that the line can establish some cohesion and continuity before the home stretch in late November and December.
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Damn late again on the post
Good to hear though major improvement over Essex and Scott if healthy and is like by the whole offense and Ben.
Just deleted my post
No sense having two post that say the same thing.
by Steel34D on Oct 5, 2011 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
I appreciate this attitude
Thank you for your thoughtfulness.
"Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity." Jack Layton (R.I.P.)
"My city's still breathing (but barely it's true) through buildings gone missing like teeth. The sidewalks are watching me think about you, all sparkled with broken glass. I'm back with scars to show. Back with the streets I know. They never take me anywhere but here. " John K Samson (Left and Leaving)
by Cold_Old_Steelers_Fan on Oct 5, 2011 7:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Starks at LT Gilbert at RT
I like what I saw in Gilbert against Pro Bowl competition and elite players. I don’t think Scott will be back for this game and I don’t trust Essex at any O-line spot period! However like stated many possibilities the one I like if everyone healthy.
Gilbert is raw, but I liked what I saw too.
With a solid supporting line around him, Gilbert would look even better. I think he has a good ceiling.
I'll be hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from May, 2011 to Sept., 2011, to raise money for charity. For more info, please visit: http://thf2.wordpress.com
by Fifty-Eight on Oct 5, 2011 12:35 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Completely approve!
I was beginning to worry about Tomlin at some point grabbing W.Saunders, inserting him at tackle, and telling him, “See the guy trying to get Ben? Stop him. The one with the different color jersey than ours. Go get Em son.”
I'll be hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from May, 2011 to Sept., 2011, to raise money for charity. For more info, please visit: http://thf2.wordpress.com
by Fifty-Eight on Oct 5, 2011 12:34 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
Nice! This makes me feel slightly better about the state of our O-line. I don’t want Scott or Essex starting at all!
by ChitownSteelerfan on Oct 5, 2011 1:28 AM EDT reply actions
Jonathan Scott DOES have a serious injury
It’s called “sucking”, and it can apparently prove fatal to pass protection, and running games.
Symptoms include throwing stuff at the tv, Steeler losses, and Terrell Suggs hanging out in your backfield.
I realize it’s not ALL his fault, but I was sort of appalled over the summer when it became clear the team thought he was good enough to be moving forward with.
"Football combines the two worst things about America: It is violence punctuated by committee meetings" -George Will
there is no remedy for sucking
"Franco made that play because he never quit on the play. He kept running, he kept hustling. Good things happen to people who hustle."
Hell yeah!
I’d be surprised if he starts this week, but the sooner J. Scott stops playing the better. Next one out, Doug Legursky, please.
I bet Ben had something to do with this.
“I’ll play all hobbled up again if you sign a damn LT for me.”
As per Post-Gazette
Starks apparently has lost 60 pounds and would be closer to his usual 345 playing weight.
Dunno if this means he’ll start, though, or if he’s even in playing shape. Bottom line is we need help so if he can provide it, it’s all gravy. Ben has to do his part though, enough with the play extension behind a hobbled line, play smart, get the ball out, throw to your checkdowns and stop trying to hit the homerun on every freakin’ play! This cowboy stuff is one thing behind a solid line, but in this situation it’s just cruisin’ for a bruisin’. And the coaches need to make him understand this if he doesn’t.
Dick, what would Woody (Hayes) say to you now: "He'd say, 'LeBeau, get your hair cut.'"
Link to article
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11278/1179762-66.stm
Dick, what would Woody (Hayes) say to you now: "He'd say, 'LeBeau, get your hair cut.'"
Really hope this happens
I realize Flozell brought some much needed toughness last year, but it just always seemed more logical to pursue Starks. Beyond the salary cap demands, LT seems to be more of an issue, and hopefully, Starks knows enough of Kemo to help balance some of his failings.
Also signals a willingness to correct some (perceived) mistakes of the front office instead of doubling down. Now, we just need two G’s from Florida to have a complete set.
"It's football the way it's meant to be played. That's who Pittsburgh is, and that's who Pittsburgh has always been."
-- so says Rex Ryan.
good point hopefully about kemo
starks has played beside him for many years. hope that helps him some. cuz kemo has looked like dogmeat
Freel free to email me anytime at behindthesteelcurtain@gmail.com with questions, suggestions, complaints, etc, or to just say what's up. -Michael Bean (Blitz)
exactly
what I was thinking. 3/5ths of the o line would be from florida. Should we pursue a trade with denver for Tebow? With Tebow in the same back field with Redman, I can’t see us losing a game for the next ten years! JK, but Starks back would be a huge improvement, and a big(literally) step in the right direction.
I hope you die in a fire, that was set accidentally, by someone you love.
-Jim Norton
by steelerfreak76 on Oct 5, 2011 7:09 AM EDT up reply actions
desperate times call for desperate measures
the ship had sailed on starks and management wanted nothing to do with him and michael’s comments about him and tomlin not getting along make total sense. BUT after the beating ben was took in Indy & Houston even tomlin knew that if there was no help ben may go down for the season or even for good. then what? tomlin knew that if he was on watch while ben went down with a career ending concussion or something like that his job might eventually be on the line. QBs like Ben just don’t come around that often.
So it looks like Tomlin swallowed hard and went with the devil he knew. being the last one at the dance with no date makes for strange bedfellows:)
One big difference between Starks and Flo is that Starks REALLY wants to play for Pittsburgh
Nuff said.
I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer.
- Homer J. Simpson
I have one question..
Why didn’t the Vikings sign him????
A man is innocent untill proven guilty...Even if it's Ben Roethlisberger!
'I rather have a German division in front of me than a French division behind me'..General George Patton
" I don't care if he has two horns and a tail, as long as he is anti-communist"..General Douglas MacArthur..
"The way to end our dependence on foreign oil is to keep our tires properly inflated"....B. Hussein Obama
"Government is not the solution to our problems, it is the cause of them" Ronald Wilson Reagan..40th President of the United States
maybe
the Steelers were already talking to him. Maybe he didn’t want to move to Minn. Maybe they weren’t offering enough money to afford the move. Maybe it doesn’t matter, you wanted the FO to do something and they have.
People don't ever seem to realize that doing what's right is no guarantee against misfortune.
- William McFee
by stillergorillar on Oct 5, 2011 8:24 AM EDT up reply actions
Championship!!
"Aye, do tiitieboy twochainz got twitter?"
by DwightWhite's Missing Tooth on Oct 5, 2011 7:28 AM EDT reply actions
A little algebra
X – 60 pounds = 345 pounds.
Solve for X.
X = 405 pounds.
One wonders what Starks looked like at 405 pounds. Could he move? Was he a heart attack waiting to happen? Or was that doable for his frame?
Wow
The steelers just keep going from the frying pan to the fire. They can’t be serious, Starks, wow, he is even slower than Trai Essex who is a true guard. It just amazes me the steelers continue to be stupid and not draft a left tackle who has quick feet. Starks out of football for basically two years, really isnt a left tackle at all, the only reason he moved to the left side is because we lost Marvel Smith due to low back problems. After that year, we never had a good left tackle and Starks wasnt it either. And, he had neck surgery, and was out all last year. Unreal!!!
Cant figure out why you wouldnt move Gilbert to the left side, he played his last two years at Florida on the left side, the other two on the right protecting Tebow, so he must be decent at protecting the blind side. Saw him in camp and he looked really good.
MMMM, here is an idea, move Pouncey to Guard and put Legursky at center. Legursky didnt miss a beat in the superbowl and I think he is a natural center. Kemeteou cant pass block to save his life and its never going to change.
They really need to take some notes on the Patriots offensive line. Ben is on pace again for 55-60 sacks on the season. Probably wont make it through the year. Plenty of reasons for this also. Offensive coordinator who has the receivers running 15-20 yard patterns when you have a 3rd and 3. Ben wanting to always throw the ball down the field and not use his check off and safety valve back. Offensive line that cant pass block to save their lives, this all ads up to a disaster.
Mendenhall needs to sit on the bench. I am tired of seeing him not hit the hole and tippy toe everytime he gets the ball. run right, run left, run right, then hit the hole. Ever since his rookie year when Ray Lewis broke his shoulder, Mendenhall doesnt hit the hole full tilt and is afraid to hit the linebacker area. We have seen it week after week and they put Redman and Moore in the game and they move the ball and they have more yards in 2-3 carries than Mendenhall has on 10-12.
Wake up Tomlin and get some balls. Tired of : we will be alright, our guys are capable, we are looking towards the challenge. These guys are paid WAYYYYYYYYYY too much and they need to be held accountable, whether its a half ass offensive line, guys taking stupid penalties, etc. Dont tap them on the helmet and think its okay, its not. I cant stand Bellicheck or Tom Brady, but you have to admit, you dont do your job, your off the field and off the team, PERIOD!!!, You think Brady wouldn’t speak out if he was one of the most sacked QB’s in the league the last 5 years. Brady, 5 sacks all of last year. Ben 5 sacks in one game by the third quarter.
Dont worry
I just got off the phone with the Rooneys and they told me they were going to fire Tomlin. Our problems are finally solved.
Pittsburgh Steelers fan - nuff said.
Miami Hurricanes fan - nuff said.
Georgetown Hoyas fan - nuff said.
Cleveland Cavaliers fan - um yeah, about that...
by StoneColdSteel on Oct 5, 2011 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Thank heavens
that somebody finally took some action!!! Good thinking, SCS. The only thing I would say is, why didn’t you do it sooner?
I hear they are bringing in Eric Mangini…
"If you're not getting better, I don't care what business you're in, you're a dead man. I try to look critically at the mistakes that I make and try to learn from them, like our team does." - Mike Tomlin
by Rebecca Rollett on Oct 6, 2011 11:11 AM EDT up reply actions
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