As it stands now, the Week 4 starting OLine...

[hawaiiansteel]

Re: As it stands now, the Week 4 starting OLine...

My question is, if Scott and Legursky can't go, Essex plays tackle and Foster RG, who is the top backup guard? I'm pretty sure they don't have any other guards on the roster. I guess they can move Essex to guard and one of the other backup tackles up but I'm wondering about the position flexibility of those backup guys.

Chris Scott was the early camp sensation and leading candidate to start at RG until he lost the job and got moved to RT.

[Pahn711]

Re: As it stands now, the Week 4 starting OLine...

My question is, if Scott and Legursky can't go, Essex plays tackle and Foster RG, who is the top backup guard? I'm pretty sure they don't have any other guards on the roster. I guess they can move Essex to guard and one of the other backup tackles up but I'm wondering about the position flexibility of those backup guys.

Chris Scott was the early camp sensation and leading candidate to start at RG until he lost the job and got moved to RT.

Ah yeah thats true, I forgot about that. Well considering his "tryout" at guard didn't even impress the coaches enough to make him a top backup, heres to hoping that doesn't happen.

[papillon]

Re: As it stands now, the Week 4 starting OLine...

I think this game had better put the state of the O-Line into perspective & shut up those who harp on Ben hanging onto the ball too long being the problem. These guys generated no push in the run-game & were flat-out manhandled for the second time this year. Ben & Mendy are going to get killed behind this line & with BA's tone-deaf play-calling (& I used to think that Mike Martz was the most neglectful OC in the NFL). Make no mistake, the success of this year's team lays at the feet of the OL, let's hope that Ben isn't lying there as well.

The three turnovers were not problems with the O-line, they were three bad decisions by Ben, playing against Freeney and Mathis there has to be a clock in your head that tells you it's time to give up on a play (particularly, if you don't know where Mathis and Freeney are) and the INT was just a bad throw that sailed high on him. The O-line in each instance was successful. Overall, the O-line was as putrid, but those three plays Ben had the time necessary to make better decisions, IMO.

Pappy

Sorry pap, at least one fumble (from the Freeney hit) can't be blamed on Ben. He barely completed his drop and was crushed from the blind side. There was no that blintz Ben missed. You have to assume the O-line is at least going to get a chip on him. They barely achieved that.

The INT was obviously your typical Ben-Bonehead-Play.

And I'll give you the Mathis hit too. Ben was trying to be aware of him, scrambling looking behind to see if Mathis was coming. Unfortunately, it seemed like he was in Ben's blind spot (or somehow Ben didn't see him). Seemed more "unlucky" than neglect. But none the less, after that much time and when he is scrambling, it's all on Ben to take care of the football.

Well, as we find out the Freeney sack/strip was Ben's fault. The play was supposed to be a 3 step quick hit pass play, but Ben and Wallace signaled each other to look deep and J. Scott set up for a 3 step drop and appeared to get beaten cleanly by Freeney. The reality is that Ben checked out of the play, but only let Wallace in on the play. Review of the film also show that even had Ben been able to get the play off to Wallace and it was complete, it would have been called back for an ineligible linemen down field. Kemo had moved down field to block thinking the pass was a 3 step quick hitter.

But, as we all know, you take the good with the bad with Ben, I'm fine with it, because he's exciting to watch. I'm glad he plays for the Steelers.

Pappy