Page 1 of 6 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 52

Thread: Steelers lineman Marcus Gilbert can take big jump in 2014

  1. #1
    Legend

    User Info Menu

    Steelers lineman Marcus Gilbert can take big jump in 2014

    Steelers lineman Marcus Gilbert can take big jump in 2014

    By Ray Fittipaldo / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
    June 14, 2014



    Offensive lineman Marcus Gilbert (77) could be in line for big bucks, whether his next contract is with the Steelers or elsewhere.

    The Steelers signed center Maurkice Pouncey to an extension last week that will pay him an average of $8 million per season. The next Steelers offensive lineman likely to cash in on a big contract is right tackle Marcus Gilbert, though it's unclear at this point if the Steelers will be the team signing his checks beyond the 2014 season.

    Gilbert, who has started 35 games over his first three seasons in the league, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. Gilbert said his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has approached the Steelers about a long-term deal. A source indicated those discussions are preliminary in nature.

    The Steelers have some salary-cap space to execute new contracts before the season, but Gilbert has to get in line. Cornerback Cortez Allen, also a member of the 2011 draft class, is in the final year of his rookie contract. Ben Roethlisberger and Jason Worilds are candidates for extensions, though negotiations with Worilds are stalled at the moment.

    Gilbert is scheduled to make $815,000 this season, and he can expect to at least quadruple his salary in his next contract. The market was set for Gilbert earlier this year when the top available free-agent right tackles secured deals worth between $4 million and $6 million per season.

    The best free-agent deal for a right tackle belonged to Austin Howard, who signed a five-year, $30 million deal with the Raiders. Michael Oher was next with a four-year, $20 million deal with the Titans and Breno Giacomini followed with a four-year, $18 million contract with the Jets.

    Of that trio, only Giacomini had a better overall grade than Gilbert in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus. Giacomini was the 41st-ranked tackle in the league. Gilbert was No. 44, followed by Howard at No. 47 and Oher at No. 68.

    Gilbert smiled when asked if he was aware of the free-agent contracts that were signed over the offseason.

    "They looked pretty good," he said. "But that's nothing I'm worried about. My agent is working on that right now. He's looking into it. I just want to go out there and play. I'm just here to play football."

    Gilbert, who was the team's second-round pick in 2011, said his desire is to remain with the Steelers.

    "I love it here," he said. "I wouldn't want to go anywhere else. My agent is working on that. I'm not worried about it. I'm just coming out here trying to get better, trying to become a complete player, trying to win a Super Bowl. I know the guys we have up front -- they drafted us there for a reason -- we're the group that can get us over the hump. It's time now. It's time for us to get going. Every guy has a chip on their shoulder."

    Gilbert is one of four offensive linemen on the roster drafted in the first or second round in the past five years. Pouncey and David DeCastro were the team's first-round picks in 2010 and 2012. Mike Adams was the second-round pick in 2012.

    Gilbert was the only one of that foursome to start every game last season. Those 16 starts came after he missed 12 games with an ankle injury in 2012. Having an entire offseason without any health issues was a benefit for Gilbert, who believes his training is setting him up for a breakthrough season in 2014.

    "As you get older you realize your snaps are limited," he said. "You only play the game for so long. I just want to maximize every chance I have to be here and show them what I'm worth. I don't want to miss any time. I don't want anyone to take my reps. That's the type of demeanor you have to have."

    Gilbert is playing for his third offensive line coach with the Steelers. New coach Mike Munchak is re-implementing the outside zone blocking scheme that was abandoned early last season after Pouncey was injured, as well as working individually with each player and their fundamentals.

    "He's tweaking different areas in our game," Gilbert said. "It's showing out here. It's crazy how a coach like him can share with us his experience, what worked best for him and what will work best for us. It's been working out great for us. I feel like I've been having the best offseason I had since I've been here."

    Gilbert acknowledged Munchak will have a big say in whether he gets a second contract with the Steelers. Pouncey quickly impressed Munchak and was rewarded with a $48 million dollar deal.

    Gilbert knows a lot is riding on his performance in 2014 if a long-term deal is not reached before the season.

    "I see a lot of improvement in my game, in the run and the pass game," Gilbert said. "I just want to become a complete and top right tackle in the game. I know I'm capable of doing it and they know I'm capable of doing it."

    [URL]http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2014/06/15/Steelers-lineman-Marcus-Gilbert-can-take-big-jump-in-2014/stories/201406150119#ixzz34jHgrw7l[/URL]

  2. #2
    Legend

    User Info Menu

    We can't let yet another valuable Steeler get away.........
    Last edited by Captain Lemming; 06-15-2014 at 03:28 PM.




    In view of the fact that Mike Tomlin has matched Cowhers record I give him the designation:

    TCFCLTC-
    The Coach Formerly Considered Less Than Cowher

  3. #3
    Legend

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by Captain Lemming View Post
    We can't let another valuable Steeler get away...........
    Which is why we can't spend money on Gilbert.
    Last edited by Captain Lemming; 06-15-2014 at 03:28 PM.




    In view of the fact that Mike Tomlin has matched Cowhers record I give him the designation:

    TCFCLTC-
    The Coach Formerly Considered Less Than Cowher

  4. #4
    Pro Bowler

    User Info Menu

    Why on earth would they even consider a long-term deal on this pile of crap? He is just terrible - at least the very worst player on the OL. He basically does two things: gets blown by or draws a flag. That's it.

  5. #5
    Pro Bowler

    User Info Menu

    Right, never blocks anyone, doesn't even slow anyone down.

    You always go over the top and ruin any chance of regaining even a shred of credibility.

  6. #6
    Pro Bowler

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by RobinCole View Post
    Right, never blocks anyone, doesn't even slow anyone down.

    You always go over the top and ruin any chance of regaining even a shred of credibility.
    Defending Gilbert gives you not even a modicum of credibility. NONE. ZERO. You obviously don't even understand the game, or don't ever watch it.

  7. #7
    Hall of Famer

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by sick beats View Post
    Why on earth would they even consider a long-term deal on this pile of crap? He is just terrible - at least the very worst player on the OL. He basically does two things: gets blown by or draws a flag. That's it.
    At least the worst player on the OL? Interesting choice of words I have never seen before.

    Even if he is the worst this line potentially can be a very good one. And even THE best line in football (whoever that is) has a worst player :/

  8. #8
    Legend

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by skyhawk View Post
    At least the worst player on the OL? Interesting choice of words I have never seen before.

    Even if he is the worst this line potentially can be a very good one. And even THE best line in football (whoever that is) has a worst player :/
    We can only guess the future what was he last year? he was the worst player on what was an AVERAGE at best Oline. Gilbert allowed the most sacks (11) and quarterback hurries (30) of the offensive linemen, left tackle Kelvin Beachum (an average player generally facing the best pass rushers) was second with seven sacks allowed.
    When we are lookin like the Hogs, the Cowboys Oline of the 80s, or even the good Noll or Cowher lines you might have a point. This line was not good.

    He GAVE up AS MANY sacks as ANY TWO teammates combined!!!

    HE WAS THE WORST PLAYER on an AVERAGE Oline, BY A HUGE margin.

    Come on people, I AM a lemming, and EVEN I gotta call it.




    In view of the fact that Mike Tomlin has matched Cowhers record I give him the designation:

    TCFCLTC-
    The Coach Formerly Considered Less Than Cowher

  9. #9
    Hall of Famer

    User Info Menu

    Quote Originally Posted by Captain Lemming View Post
    We can only guess the future what was he last year? he was the worst player on what was an AVERAGE at best Oline. Gilbert allowed the most sacks (11) and quarterback hurries (30) of the offensive linemen, left tackle Kelvin Beachum (an average player generally facing the best pass rushers) was second with seven sacks allowed.
    When we are lookin like the Hogs, the Cowboys Oline of the 80s, or even the good Noll or Cowher lines you might have a point. This line was not good.

    He GAVE up AS MANY sacks as ANY TWO teammates combined!!!

    HE WAS THE WORST PLAYER on an AVERAGE Oline, BY A HUGE margin.

    Come on people, I AM a lemming, and EVEN I gotta call it.
    I agree Lemming. I was just surprised at his choice of words. And in no way is the line close to being the best. I thought they played well later in the season though. And Ben remained upright.

  10. #10
    Legend

    User Info Menu

    Munchak's scheme requires that his linemen be mobile, athletic, and intelligent...all of which describe Pouncey, which is why he was given the extension without a single snap under Munchak. I'd imagine that they'll wait and see how Gilbert performs under Munchak before committing to him long term. The team is much more likely to try to extend Cortez and Ben this offseason, and wait for Gilbert and Worilds (since it sounds like they won't increase the offer that is on the table for Worilds this offseason).
    Steeler teams featuring stat-driven, me-first, fantasy-football-darling diva types such as Antonio Brown & Le'Veon Bell won no championships.

    Super Bowl winning Steeler teams were built around a dynamic, in-your-face defense plus blue-collar, hard-hitting, no-nonsense football players on offense such as Hines Ward & Jerome Bettis.

    We don't want Juju & Conner to replace what we lost in Brown & Bell.

    We are counting on Juju & Conner to return us to the glory we once had with Hines & The Bus.

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •