fordfixer
08-07-2011, 02:11 AM
It's all on offensive line for Steelers this year
By Ralph N. Paulk, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, August 7, 2011
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... 50419.html (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_750419.html)
Jonathan Scott lumbered off Latrobe Memorial Field on a breezy Friday night with his helmet dangling at his side. He wiped from his eyes a perpetual stream of sweat as he labored to salute the Steelers' faithful along a trackside fence.
It was a long, hard practice for the 6-foot-6, 320-pound offensive tackle and an even longer walk toward the row of school buses for the short trip back to St. Vincent College.
Scott, who endured the sometimes-insufferable heat of Texas while playing for the Longhorns, admitted to surviving his hardest day of training camp since free-agent signees were allowed to start practicing Thursday.
On Saturday, Scott was back in the trenches, getting his massive hands dirty while battling several teammates for the starting gig in Friday's preseason opener against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.
Scott, who pulled up with a minor ankle injury late in Saturday's practice, isn't obsessed with starting. But he knows the next few weeks are pivotal if the Steelers are to carve a path toward Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
"We've got to win the Super Bowl in August," Scott said. "It's a slow process sometimes, but every day I sense we're getting better."
The Steelers' offensive front has room for growth. A year ago, the unit was ravaged by nagging injuries and often plagued by less-than-inspiring play — including a spotty performance in losing to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV in Dallas.
So far, offensive line coach Sean Kugler appears confident that his guys are capable of escorting running back Rashard Mendenhall to more than the 63-yard effort mustered against a Packers defense that ranked 15th against the run.
Traditionally, the Steelers' offensive line is among the best in the NFL. They weren't bad in 2010, considering Kugler had to juggle a patched-up front and several linemen were forced to audition before being cast into different roles.
But already Kugler and head coach Mike Tomlin are feeling the pinch:
>> Second-year center Maurkice Pouncey suffered a mild ankle sprain Friday. Pouncey is expected back before week's end.
>> Guard Chris Kemoeatu is hobbled by a left knee injury that could sideline him for the entire preseason.
>> Guard Ramon Foster left yesterday's practice after suffering what Tomlin termed "a training-camp type injury."
Kugler is left juggling an offensive line that returns only two starters — Pouncey and Kemoeatu — since last year's season opener against the Atlanta Falcons.
"We have to be versatile," Kemoeatu said. "We have had the willingness to move around. We had a lot of musical chairs on the offensive line last year, but we managed."
The Steelers began training camp shorthanded on the offensive line after NFL owners lifted the lockout. The free-agent signees -- including Scott, center/guard Doug Legursky and left tackle Willie Colon -- weren't allowed to participate in practices until players ratified the CBA, which didn't happen until Thursday.
"This was a totally unorthodox offseason," Colon said.
While Kugler is cautiously optimistic two weeks into training camp, Scott is convinced the offensive line will be ready for the rival Baltimore Ravens in the regular-season opener on Sept. 11.
"We needed to get the kinks out after we were locked out for several months," Scott said. "We haven't played football since the Super Bowl. Right now, we're doing the hard, little things that make you great during December football.
"We just need to keep in the back of minds we have to get into the motion of things, particularly with techniques."
While Pouncey and Colon are entrenched at their position, others are competing for jobs.
"You always want the same group in there all the time," Kugler said. "'We went through it last year, but you have to do with what you have.
"They knew at one point there would be camp, so they got their minds focused on playing football. We're confident the chemistry will come quick. Last year, there were some new things technique-wise, but we aren't making any changes this season."
Even though the Steelers' offensive line is among the most respected in the NFL, it was not without its shortcomings last season. The Steelers ranked 11th in rushing, 14th in passing and surrendered 43 quarterback sacks.
Kugler is looking for consistency and balance. And he's hoping someone slides seamlessly into the tackle spot vacated by the departure of Max Starks and can be consistent enough to improve on the 2010 numbers.
"We are also focused on getting terminology down," Kugler said. "There were times when we ran the ball well, but there were times when we needed to be more efficient. We can finish the job we started last year by being more efficient."
Right now, all eyes are on Scott, Tony Hills, Marcus Gilbert, Keith Williams, Chris Scott and Kyle Jolly as the Steelers try to develop depth on a unit that led the NFL last season with 37 holding penalties.
"I think Scott has to step up in a big way with Starks gone," Kemoeatu said. "But we all will be prepared mentally and physically to play."
"It's going to be a challenge," Pouncey said. "We don't have the luxury of trying to develop chemistry. I think we've got to have that right away."
Read more: It's all on offensive line for Steelers this year - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... z1UJwoqN7T (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_750419.html#ixzz1UJwoqN7T)
By Ralph N. Paulk, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, August 7, 2011
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... 50419.html (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_750419.html)
Jonathan Scott lumbered off Latrobe Memorial Field on a breezy Friday night with his helmet dangling at his side. He wiped from his eyes a perpetual stream of sweat as he labored to salute the Steelers' faithful along a trackside fence.
It was a long, hard practice for the 6-foot-6, 320-pound offensive tackle and an even longer walk toward the row of school buses for the short trip back to St. Vincent College.
Scott, who endured the sometimes-insufferable heat of Texas while playing for the Longhorns, admitted to surviving his hardest day of training camp since free-agent signees were allowed to start practicing Thursday.
On Saturday, Scott was back in the trenches, getting his massive hands dirty while battling several teammates for the starting gig in Friday's preseason opener against the Washington Redskins at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.
Scott, who pulled up with a minor ankle injury late in Saturday's practice, isn't obsessed with starting. But he knows the next few weeks are pivotal if the Steelers are to carve a path toward Super Bowl XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
"We've got to win the Super Bowl in August," Scott said. "It's a slow process sometimes, but every day I sense we're getting better."
The Steelers' offensive front has room for growth. A year ago, the unit was ravaged by nagging injuries and often plagued by less-than-inspiring play — including a spotty performance in losing to the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XLV in Dallas.
So far, offensive line coach Sean Kugler appears confident that his guys are capable of escorting running back Rashard Mendenhall to more than the 63-yard effort mustered against a Packers defense that ranked 15th against the run.
Traditionally, the Steelers' offensive line is among the best in the NFL. They weren't bad in 2010, considering Kugler had to juggle a patched-up front and several linemen were forced to audition before being cast into different roles.
But already Kugler and head coach Mike Tomlin are feeling the pinch:
>> Second-year center Maurkice Pouncey suffered a mild ankle sprain Friday. Pouncey is expected back before week's end.
>> Guard Chris Kemoeatu is hobbled by a left knee injury that could sideline him for the entire preseason.
>> Guard Ramon Foster left yesterday's practice after suffering what Tomlin termed "a training-camp type injury."
Kugler is left juggling an offensive line that returns only two starters — Pouncey and Kemoeatu — since last year's season opener against the Atlanta Falcons.
"We have to be versatile," Kemoeatu said. "We have had the willingness to move around. We had a lot of musical chairs on the offensive line last year, but we managed."
The Steelers began training camp shorthanded on the offensive line after NFL owners lifted the lockout. The free-agent signees -- including Scott, center/guard Doug Legursky and left tackle Willie Colon -- weren't allowed to participate in practices until players ratified the CBA, which didn't happen until Thursday.
"This was a totally unorthodox offseason," Colon said.
While Kugler is cautiously optimistic two weeks into training camp, Scott is convinced the offensive line will be ready for the rival Baltimore Ravens in the regular-season opener on Sept. 11.
"We needed to get the kinks out after we were locked out for several months," Scott said. "We haven't played football since the Super Bowl. Right now, we're doing the hard, little things that make you great during December football.
"We just need to keep in the back of minds we have to get into the motion of things, particularly with techniques."
While Pouncey and Colon are entrenched at their position, others are competing for jobs.
"You always want the same group in there all the time," Kugler said. "'We went through it last year, but you have to do with what you have.
"They knew at one point there would be camp, so they got their minds focused on playing football. We're confident the chemistry will come quick. Last year, there were some new things technique-wise, but we aren't making any changes this season."
Even though the Steelers' offensive line is among the most respected in the NFL, it was not without its shortcomings last season. The Steelers ranked 11th in rushing, 14th in passing and surrendered 43 quarterback sacks.
Kugler is looking for consistency and balance. And he's hoping someone slides seamlessly into the tackle spot vacated by the departure of Max Starks and can be consistent enough to improve on the 2010 numbers.
"We are also focused on getting terminology down," Kugler said. "There were times when we ran the ball well, but there were times when we needed to be more efficient. We can finish the job we started last year by being more efficient."
Right now, all eyes are on Scott, Tony Hills, Marcus Gilbert, Keith Williams, Chris Scott and Kyle Jolly as the Steelers try to develop depth on a unit that led the NFL last season with 37 holding penalties.
"I think Scott has to step up in a big way with Starks gone," Kemoeatu said. "But we all will be prepared mentally and physically to play."
"It's going to be a challenge," Pouncey said. "We don't have the luxury of trying to develop chemistry. I think we've got to have that right away."
Read more: It's all on offensive line for Steelers this year - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... z1UJwoqN7T (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_750419.html#ixzz1UJwoqN7T)