Kelvin Beachum is the smallest left tackle in the NFL standing at 6 foot 3 inches and 303 pounds, but although that worries some fans, it shouldn't.
Beachum might not be the atypical size of a NFL caliber left tackle, but if the man can get the job done, then that is simply all that matters, right?
Well, some still aren't satisfied with the man that protects Ben Roethlisberger's blind side, but when starting in 11 of 12 of the final games in the 2013 season, the team's record over that stretch was 8-3 when he lined up on the left side. Putting it mildly, Beachum was the answer on the left side and did a tremendous job protecting Roethlisberger during his time in the starting role. His ability to keep pressure off of Roethlisberger was one of the reasons the Steelers only surrendered seven sacks in the second half of the season.
Yet, still some view that position as a weakness.
Don't think Beachum doesn't hear the talk either, but it is something he is used to being a seventh round draft pick out of college and essentially being the utility lineman along the Steelers' offensive line. That all changed this offseason, and Beachum is the starter coming into his third training camp.
As he told Dale Lolley of the Washington Observer-Reporter, his focus isn't on the naysayers, but on his craft and becoming as perfect as possible.
"I'm still competing; competing with myself every single play, trying to make every play as perfect as it can be, aiming for perfection."
Don't think that Mike Munchak's arrival won't have an effect on Beachum as a player and his performance on Sundays. That only adds to the excitement of football for Beachum.
"I'm very excited," "You're always excited to play football. You see progress from Year 1 to Year 2, and Year 2 to Year 3 . You can see the season coming up and you're excited to be back on the field. Last year, we didn't start out too well, but where we finished, it gives you some confidence. it gives you something to build upon for next year. Now, we're here."
The season is definitely here, and Beachum is the starting left tackle heading into the first week of the season when the Cleveland Browns come to town. Maybe it's time for fans to realize that although not "typical", Beachum should not be overlooked as a huge difference maker for this Steelers offense.