DeCastro Starts Where?

[Jooser]

So, DeCastro played right guard while at Stanford and it's his home position. So, where do you all think he projects with us? Our biggest need is LG with the release of Kemo. Given his talent and apparent polish, does he transition well right into the LG spot? Just thinking about it, and am curious what yinz think about it. I think he'll be fine at LG. So, does the starting lineup look like this? Gilbert - DeCastro - Pouncey - Essex - Colon

You have a second rounder at LT, and two first rounders at LG and C. An instant improvement. If we somehow made the trade brought up previously by Ruthless and landed Glenn, our OL would go from laughing stock to BEAST!

[RuthlessBurgher]

Get Essex out of there first of all. Ramon Foster and Doug Legursky are better than Essex.

[Jooser]

Dangit, that's what I meant, sorry.

Gilbert - DeCastro - Pouncey - Foster - Colon

[aggiebones]

Yea, I think this pick 'could' spell the end for Essex, though he does have flexibility. He sucks equally well at G and T.

I think Tomlin will keep it wide open in camp. Do we still have JScott?
He is an option at RT as well with Colon sliding inside.

JScott - DeCastro - Pouncey - Colon - Gilbert

That is also a pretty darn good OL. Scott would need some help, but he'd have some with Pouncey and DeCastro cheating. I think it truly is wide open.

Need to find out if Colon can play T anyone. Been years since he hit anyone.

[Jooser]

Yea, I think this pick 'could' spell the end for Essex, though he does have flexibility. He sucks equally well at G and T.

I think Tomlin will keep it wide open in camp. Do we still have JScott?
He is an option at RT as well with Colon sliding inside.

JScott - DeCastro - Pouncey - Colon - Gilbert

That is also a pretty darn good OL. Scott would need some help, but he'd have some with Pouncey and DeCastro cheating. I think it truly is wide open.

Need to find out if Colon can play T anyone. Been years since he hit anyone.

That's very true. I don't think he gets a pass at all. What if we bring back Big Max at LT with DeCastro (LG), and then moved Colon/Foster the RG with Gilbert at RT? Not bad either.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Yea, I think this pick 'could' spell the end for Essex, though he does have flexibility. He sucks equally well at G and T.

I think Tomlin will keep it wide open in camp. Do we still have JScott?
He is an option at RT as well with Colon sliding inside.

JScott - DeCastro - Pouncey - Colon - Gilbert

That is also a pretty darn good OL. Scott would need some help, but he'd have some with Pouncey and DeCastro cheating. I think it truly is wide open.

Need to find out if Colon can play T anyone. Been years since he hit anyone.

I don't want Jon Scott anywhere near my starting lineup unless there have been multiple catastrophic injuries. Although he was passable in 2010, he was horrid in 2011.

[RuthlessBurgher]

That's very true. I don't think he gets a pass at all. What if we bring back Big Max at LT with DeCastro (LG), and then moved Colon/Foster the RG with Gilbert at RT? Not bad either.

If Max's rehab goes well, if he doesn't balloon up in weight, if he'll accept another lowball contract, and if no one else signs him first (that's an awful lot of "if's"), then, yeah, I could see that.

[focosteeler]

the-site-which-shall-not-be-named says they are keeping him at RG

[Flasteel]

So, DeCastro played right guard while at Stanford and it's his home position. So, where do you all think he projects with us? Our biggest need is LG with the release of Kemo. Given his talent and apparent polish, does he transition well right into the LG spot? Just thinking about it, and am curious what yinz think about it. I think he'll be fine at LG. So, does the starting lineup look like this? Gilbert - DeCastro - Pouncey - Essex - Colon

You have a second rounder at LT, and two first rounders at LG and C. An instant improvement. If we somehow made the trade brought up previously by Ruthless and landed Glenn, our OL would go from laughing stock to BEAST!

He has to be the LG...zero question in my mind. It's not the vacancy created by Kemo necessarily, it's the demands of the position and the skill set that DeCastro brings. The LG is the primary pulling guard when you consider that he's lined-up opposite the strong side most often. Most running plays go right, so it's the LG that has to pull. The LG is also the guy who lines up next to the LT, who generally draws the defense's bet pass rusher. He's got to be able to engage his man and be able to get off the block...especially if the LT gets beat on an inside move.
DeCastro has a lot of tools in his toolbox, but two of his greatest strengths are his footwork and ability to pull.I could have sworn I heard something about planning to keep him on the right side, but I see no way he doesn't move to LG.

[RuthlessBurgher]

He has to be the LG...zero question. It's not the vacancy created by Kemo necissarily, it's the demands of the position and the skill set that DeCastro brings. The LG is the primary pulling guard when you consider that he's lined-up opposite the strong side most often. Most running plays go right, so it's the LG that has to pull. The LG is also the guy who lines up next to the LT, who generally draws the defense's bet pass rusher. He's got to be able to engage his man and be able to get off the block...especially if the LT gets beat on an inside move.
DeCastro has a lot of tools in his toolbox, but two of his greatest strengths are his footwork and ability to pull. I see no way he doesn't move to LG.

The Stanford offense ran primarily left behind LT Jonathan Martin (with DeCastro pulling to the left from his RG spot).

Last year, our offense ran primarily right behind RT Marcus Gilbert (with Kemoeatu pulling to the right from his LG spot).

Well, now Kemo is gone and Gilbert is on the left side. Why would we be stubborn and continue to run (pretty much) only to the right under a new offensive coordinator. Gilbert sealing the edge at LT with DeCastro pulling to the left from RG would be a welcome change (and we'd be running right at the opposing team's best pass rusher...who is usually not also their best run stuffer). Makes sense to me.

[Jooser]

I see him as a left side guy too FLA

[ikestops85]

Colbert says he stays put and will play RG. I don't have a problem with that. I think Legursky is better than Foster anyway. With all the motion and different formations teams don't really have a set strong side like they used to have. I'll be happy no matter which side he plays on.

[grotonsteel]

I think it all depends if Steelers draft another O-lineman. If not i think deCastro should be able play LG by end of the camp/preseason.

[Flasteel]

Well, usually, the TE lines up on the right side...for most right-handed quarterbacks. Sure, sometimes we'll flip the formation or run weak-side, but I would imagine that most of our runs are to the strength of the formation - which is usually to the right. It's also Gilbert's first taste at LT. We have zero idea how he will perform and he's usually going to draw the best pass rusher, as I already mentioned. It only makes sense that we put the superior guard on the left.

I have no business arguing this with you, since you are obviously clairvoyant in all matters related to DeCastro. I'm sure he will line up where you predict.

[BackwoodsSteeler]

I think he stays at right with Legs at left.

Gilbert, Legs, Pounce, Cass, Allen, Massie, or Schwartz.

..................Ben............................. .............

............Very Happy....................................