Ed: Adams to LT, Gilbert Stays at RT

[hawaiiansteel]

Ed: Adams to LT, Gilbert Stays at RT

THURSDAY, 17 MAY 2012 WRITTEN BY ED BOUCHETTE

Ed Bouchette confirmed today that the Steelers are planning on newly drafted Mike Adams being the Steelers left tackle as they enter the 2012 season.

Rookie Mike Adams will go to left tackle and Marcus Gilbert will stay at right tackle, a source close to the situation told me today.

At least that’s the plan going into training camp. That obviously could change if Adams cannot handle the job but the coaching staff believes he can and quickly made that decision right after they drafted him.

It’s why they put the phone call into Willie Colon so quickly to inform him of his move to left guard.

So, as long as things work out, the Steelers offensive line will look like this:

LT Mike Adams, LG Willie Colon, C Maurkice Pouncey, RG David DeCastro, RT Marcus Gilbert.

Possible backups: T Jonathan Scott, G/T Trai Essex, G/C Doug Legursky, G Ramon Foster.

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[Jooser]

In another thread, there's been some debate about this. But, here it is. If Ed's take is accurate, this could be an interesting season.

[Oviedo]

What I like the most is that you see Legursky and Foster listed as "possible back ups" where they belong. How quickly things have changed for the better when just a couple months ago we were talking about them as starters which is why our OL was so bad last year. Neither one is starter quality on any NFL team with a better than average OL. We saw way too many times where opponents got too much interior penetration or we got no push from our interior OL. They can be adequete back ups but I love it that as of right now we are no longer talking crazy about them be starters.

[phillyesq]

What I like the most is that you see Legursky and Foster listed as "possible back ups" where they belong. How quickly things have changed for the better when just a couple months ago we were talking about them as starters which is why our OL was so bad last year. Neither one is starter quality on any NFL team with a better than average OL. We saw way too many times where opponents got too much interior penetration or we got no push from our interior OL. They can be adequete back ups but I love it that as of right now we are no longer talking crazy about them be starters.

I agree. Legursky is best suited to swing duty and spot starting. I think Foster can replace Colon in that lineup and the Steelers wouldn't lose too much. He is a decent guard, and with talent everywhere else, you can get away with one mediocre player (as opposed to a line full of them).

I'm surprised that Adams starts this year. I expect the lineup above to be what we would see in 2013, but Adams as a first year, first week starter surprises me.

Instead of hanging on to Scott and his over $2 million salary, I'd prefer to see Starks return, if healthy, to be the gameday swing tackle.

[calmkiller]

What I like the most is that you see Legursky and Foster listed as "possible back ups" where they belong. How quickly things have changed for the better when just a couple months ago we were talking about them as starters which is why our OL was so bad last year. Neither one is starter quality on any NFL team with a better than average OL. We saw way too many times where opponents got too much interior penetration or we got no push from our interior OL. They can be adequete back ups but I love it that as of right now we are no longer talking crazy about them be starters.

What he said.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I'll be happy with Adams-Colon-Pouncey-DeCastro-Gilbert for 2012-2014.

Then, going into the 2015 season, Mike Pouncey will be a free agent. He could be interested in taking his talents away from South Beach and joining his twin brother Maurkice and his quasi-adopted brother Chris Rainey in Pittsburgh. Willie Colon will be entering the last year of his contract in 2015 and will be due $6 million, so he could be a cap casualty at that point to make room for another Pouncey.

The dominant OL of the future will be complete in 2015:

Adams-Pouncey-Pouncey-DeCastro-Gilbert.

Or, perhaps at that point, they'd move DeCastro over to LG, to keep the 3 Gators next to each other, since Mike always played RG next to Maurkice at C for their whole lives until Maurkice left early for the NFL. Then we'd have:

Adams-DeCastro-Pouncey-Pouncey-Gilbert.

And they'll all be entering the prime of their careers at the same time.

[Oviedo]

I'll be happy with Adams-Colon-Pouncey-DeCastro-Gilbert for 2012-2014.

Then, going into the 2015 season, Mike Pouncey will be a free agent. He could be interested in taking his talents away from South Beach and joining his twin brother Maurkice and his quasi-adopted brother Chris Rainey in Pittsburgh. Willie Colon will be entering the last year of his contract in 2015 and will be due $6 million, so he could be a cap casualty at that point to make room for another Pouncey.

The dominant OL of the future will be complete in 2015:

Adams-Pouncey-Pouncey-DeCastro-Gilbert.

Or, perhaps at that point, they'd move DeCastro over to LG, to keep the 3 Gators next to each other, since Mike always played RG next to Maurkice at C for their whole lives until Maurkice left early for the NFL. Then we'd have:

Adams-DeCastro-Pouncey-Pouncey-Gilbert.

And they'll all be entering the prime of their careers at the same time.

Sounds like a very talented, but expensive OL of the future. I think they are going to need to keep drafting good OL the next couple of years because when his contract is up Pouncey will probably want to be the highest paid Center in the NFL. If DeCastro lives up to billing when his initial contract is over he will probably garner a Top 5 salary offer. All the more reason you have to balk at Wallace getting anything near Larry Fitzgerald money.

[MeetJoeGreene]

To be honest, I thought that would be our line in 2013. I am a tad more than a tad concerned about Adams at left tackle so soon with his strength issues combined with being a rookie... plus since he is from Ohio state on those goofy trimesters.. he can't attend OTAs initially -- correct?

[Dee Dub]

Interesting. When I was advocating the drafting of Cordy Glenn I said it would be best to play him at LT and keep Marcus Gilbert at his more natural position of RT. There were more than a few Steeler fans who insisted that Glenn would better serve the Steelers at guard (higher position of need).

So now it's right to keep Gilbert at RT and move a tackle to guard since the Steelers have drafted a LT? Ok.

[birtikidis]

Either way dub a tackle would be playing guard. Either foster or colon. With the drafting of Adams there was no way colon would start at tackle this year. As it is, it's only a matter of time before colon gets hurt and is out for the year.

[Slapstick]

Interesting. When I was advocating the drafting of Cordy Glenn I said it would be best to play him at LT and keep Marcus Gilbert at his more natural position of RT. There were more than a few Steeler fans who insisted that Glenn would better serve the Steelers at guard (higher position of need).

So now it's right to keep Gilbert at RT and move a tackle to guard since the Steelers have drafted a LT? Ok.

If Colon move to guard and Glenn moves to guard, there are people who think that both are playing a a position better suited to them...

[RuthlessBurgher]

To be honest, I thought that would be our line in 2013. I am a tad more than a tad concerned about Adams at left tackle so soon with his strength issues combined with being a rookie... plus since he is from Ohio state on those goofy trimesters.. he can't attend OTAs initially -- correct?

I believe Stanford is also on that same system...sucks.

[hawaiiansteel]

FRIDAY, 18 MAY 2012

WRITTEN BY ED BOUCHETTE

--- Many people have asked me if the Steelers plan to re-sign Max Starks, who had ACL surgery in January. I was told they would look at him again in June to see what kind of shape he’s in and how his recovery is coming along. I was told that before the draft and really have not talked to anyone about him since then. They have nothing to lose by taking a look at Starks but I don’t know if they want him as a backup. They do have depth at tackle when you consider Jonathan Scott along with Trai Essex and even Colon.

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[Flasteel]

Interesting. When I was advocating the drafting of Cordy Glenn I said it would be best to play him at LT and keep Marcus Gilbert at his more natural position of RT. There were more than a few Steeler fans who insisted that Glenn would better serve the Steelers at guard (higher position of need).

So now it's right to keep Gilbert at RT and move a tackle to guard since the Steelers have drafted a LT? Ok.

Dude...we drafted a guard AND a LT. Cordy Glenn - at his very best - could only be a guard OR a LT.

Having DeCastro eliminates the need to put a guy who can start at tackle there. However, having Adams FORCES a guy who can start at tackle to kick inside. It's only possible because Colon looks like a guard and quacks like a guard. If he was 6'5" tall and could smack you from across the room, I guarantee you he would not be moving to guard.

[hawaiiansteel]

Report: Trai Essex To Compete At Left Tackle With Mike Adams & Jonathan Scott

Friday, May 18th, 2012 by Dave Bryan

Some more news concerning the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line today as Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports via Twitter that veteran offensive lineman Trai Essex will get a shot to compete for the left tackle position against rookie second round draft pick Mike Adams and veteran Jonathan Scott.

Essex, who was re-signed prior to the draft, has played all five positions on the offensive line since being drafted by the Steelers in the 3rd round of the 2005 NFL draft. Essex was an unrestricted free agent heading into this offseason.

This announcement pretty much backs up the report by Ed Bouchette earlier this week that said second year tackle Marcus Gilbert will now remain at the right tackle spot where he played the majority of his rookie season after Willie Colon went down for the season with a torn triceps against the Baltimore Ravens in week one. It was announced earlier this week that Colon has been moved to left guard permanently.

When the Steelers report for their first OTA session next week, the starting offensive line from left to right could very well be Scott, Colon, Maurkice Pouncey, Ramon Foster and Gilbert as Kaboly also reported on Twitter Friday afternoon that both Adams and first round pick David DeCastro are not permitted to take part in any of the Steelers 10 OTA practices because of school graduation requirements.

Scott was the week one starter for the Steelers last season at left tackle and Foster assumed the right guard spot after starter Doug Legursky injured his shoulder in the week three game against the Indianapolis Colts. Scott was quickly hooked from left tackle when the Steelers re-signed Max Starks following the Steelers loss to the Houston Texans in week four. Starks started the remainder of the season at left tackle.

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