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To be fair- Essex ALWAYS played his best football when filling in at LT.
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The people that are trying to make the world worse never take a day off, why should I?
Light up the darkness. -
Let the Steelers offensive tackle battle begin
by The Sports Jags
May 18,2012
Mike Adams and Marcus Gilbert are set - for now anyways – to be the Steelers’ starting offensive tackles. Together, they combine for 14 NFL games played and 13 starts…well, that’s what Gilbert brings to the table – Adams is a rookie. These two sub-25-year-olds are tasked with transforming the Steelers’ offensive line into one that’s capable of protecting Ben Roethlisberger in the passing game. No amount of ******** and moaning is going to change that – for some reason Mike Tomlin doesn’t read this blog nor does he take us to be serious journalists.
Whether you’re happy with the decision to keep Gilbert at right tackle and starting Adams at left, all thanks to Willie Colon’s move to guard, it doesn’t matter – these two kids now become the best tackles the Steelers have to offer. Adams and Gilbert pretty much have to work out or the Steelers are up **** crick because they have no legit replacements.
We’re still four months away from the games that matter so that make this a little easier to swallow but the battle to round out the Steelers’ offensive tackle depth chart just became the most interesting action that will take place in Latrobe.
The interior of the line looks stacked now with Colon moving to guard. The starters will be Colon, Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro, and it looks like their backups will be Trai Essex, Doug Legursky and Ramon Foster. The Steelers could have the best backup corps in the NFL…thanks in large part to the 25 different looks the line sported last year. Essex, and even Legursky and Foster in a severe pinch, can kick out to tackle, but what if the Steelers’ line hits the same “Get Well Soon” road block it hit last year (knock on wood)? The Steelers need serviceable reserve tackles.
Even the starters aren’t a sure thing. Gilbert should be just fine now that he’s staying on the right side, as long as he doesn’t hit a sophomore slump. But without even dressing for a single NFL game, let alone see action, the second-round kid out of Ohio State has more responsibility than anyone else on the line. Chances are, if Ben gets murdered, it’s going to be Adams’ fault on Ben’s blind side. The Steelers better figure something out.
Right now, Jonathan Scott and Chris Scott are the only other tackles on the roster with any real shot of hanging around. The Steelers are taking a $2.7 mil cap hit from Jon Scott, the second highest cap hit of any lineman, and he’s been useless since he’s been in the Burgh. We’re still not sure how he still has a job. Chris Scott hasn’t had as many chances as Jonny Boy but he’s still been a pretty big disappointment thanks to inconsistency and injuries. There’s no way he’s an option at left tackle so he’s really going to have to go balls to the wall in camp for a shot at making the team.
The Steelers just signed Kyle Jolly but he’s never been more than a practice squad guy since he came into the league two years ago, and the Steelers have already cut him once.
That really only leaves one option. Max Starks. Right? The big guy is coming off of ACL surgery so maybe the Steelers are just keeping Jon Scott on the roster until Starks gets the goahead…it’s a very real possibility. We saw how productive Starks can be last year when he pretty much saved the line from committing mass suicide…after he dropped about 100 pounds. If he’s rehabbing seriously this offseason there’s no reason he can’t earn himself a spot back on the 53-man roster. The organization loves him and more importantly, Ben loves him.
If the Steelers decide to go with nine linemen like they did last year, Starks makes the most sense to be that ninth guy. He has the experience, he knows Ben’s tendencies and he seems like the type of guy that would have no problem mentoring Gilbert and Adams. Most of all, he’s the most talented guy in this post that isn’t a projected starter. If Gilbert or Adams can’t hack it, he’s the best option for the Steelers’ offense not to completely fall apart.
[URL]http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/let_the_steelers_offensive_tackle_battle_begin/10823324[/URL]Comment
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it's Mike Adams' inconsistency that bothers me, I saw that game against Marshall and Vinny Curry really did eat him up. and in the NFL Mike Adams is going to face a lot better guys than Curry week in and week out...
Breaking Down the Steelers’ 2012 NFL Draft, Expert-Stye
Posted on May 21, 2012 by ryan
Our good buddy Doug Farrar of Shutdown Corner has a weekly podcast with NFL Films’ Greg Cosell. In the latest episode, they recount the AFC North draft haul and because I know many of you are among the laziest people on Earth, I transcribed the Steelers-related bits.
You can listen to the entire podcast here, and the Steelers talk starts around the 52-minute mark. Also worth noting: Farrar loves David DeCastro. Cosell likes him too, but was also a fan of Kevin Zeitler, the guy the Bengals took with their second first-rounder after passing on DeCastro with their first first-rounder (Cincy took CB Dre Kirpatrick instead).
On Mike Adams
Cosell: To me, he fits anywhere because I believe he’s the most athletic left tackle in the draft. Was he the best left tackle? I think there are games you put on with Mike Adams where you say that he was the best left tackle in this draft. There were other games — and I guess I didn’t see those games because, you know, you can’t watch every game and I don’t work for a team — where I was told that he was not quite as competitive snap after snap, where some flaws came out, some people, I guess, pointed to a game he played not this year but last year against Marshall and Vinny Curry apparently ate him up.
Are there flaws and some concerns? Absolutely. But as a pure athletic left tackle, I thought he was the best in this draft. … Athletic-ability-wise, he’s fine. There’s not an issue. … There’s one thing about linemen that goes beyond Xs and Os: you gotta compete in the NFL to play offensive line. It’s a ‘compete’ position. You’re gonna get beat, you’re gonna get your ass kicked at times.
(Note: Max Starks hasn’t heard from the Steelers and doesn’t expect to. Make of this what you will.)
On Sean Spence:
Cosell: This is my opinion, this is not something … Mike Tomlin called me and told me. I think they see Sean Spence playing inside in their 3-4, and I think they see Lawrence Timmons, who athletically could be dynamite as an outside linebacker in a 3-4, ultimately moving there.
On Alameda Ta’amu
Farrar: He played a lot of one-game at Washington. I think he’s a better two-gap guy.
Cosell: It’s funny you say that because after I watched him, here’s my line: best transitions to the NFL as a 3-4 nose tackle base personnel player. … For people who talk about where guys get drafted, I think he’s a perfect value. I think he can become the successor to Casey Hampton, either two-down or base personnel. … And I think he fits perfectly in that role.
Farrar: I believe that if you’re a team in need of an absolute two-gap, hole-plugging nose guy … — not a Haloti Ngata, who’s just a freak from another planet, but that traditional 3-4 nose — he’s a perfect fit there.
On Chris Rainey
Cosell: I love the pick of Chris Rainey. … I like Rainey more than Dexter McCluster and McCluster was a second-round pick of the Chiefs. … The reason he’s a fifth-round pick is because he is what he is: he’s not a feature back, he plays 12 or 15 or 20 snaps … but this guy can score from anywhere on the field. He was so smooth changing direction … he was so fluid doing that. … I think Rainey is faster (than McCluster). I think McCluster is more lateral. … Rainey did not dance, Rainey was a downhill guy with incredible hips.
[URL]http://www.steelerslounge.com/2012/05/breaking-down-2012-nfl-draft-steelers/[/URL]Comment
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Nice write-up on Rainey.
2019 MNFE CHAMPIONComment
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If by interesting, you mean watching Ben get face planted from his backside, then yes this will be an interesting season. Adams is not starter ready by any stretch of the imagination. I still can't imagine what the Steelers are seeing. Adams is a project, a talented but very raw project. If OSU hadn't had nifty, ultra fast QBs he would have probably given up 30+ sacks over his college career. He was a turnstyle for most of his college career against some suspect talent. Now he is ready to protect Ben's blindside?Trolls are people too.Comment
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Hawaiian, I agree with you. I haven't disliked a pick so much in many years. It wasn't just Curry. I wish Adams only got ate up by Curry. I did a little write up on Adams against Whitney Mercilus. He gives up 2 sacks and gets face planted during this game. Now mind you, most of the game Adams was physically dominant. He was pushing Whitney around. But, with all those tools...Adams finds a way to get his QBs killed. This was game after game while playing at OSU.
Here is the video showing exactly what I am talking about...
[URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ndXFxPUoJM[/URL]Trolls are people too.Comment
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They seen much less of OSU than myself, but look at it with an obviously trained eye. If the Steelers drafted Adams based on the potential that Kugler seen...terrific. I'm glad they see what the rest of the world seen...myself included. He is a freak...huge...strong...nifty. I watch him physically dominate good players, only to fall asleep give up a sack, or allow someone to penetrate and cause a fumble. Even though I had 4 years to grow personally frustrated with his play and tomfoolery, I recognize the guy has a gift. But, it's raw, his motivation in the past has been lacking, and he was an embarassment to the OSU program. He is not ready for the pros. Not yet. So forgive me if the thought of him starting at LT scares me a bit.Trolls are people too.Comment
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Actually, my post was NOT about you...but, if the shoe fits, feel free to lace that &!+€# up and wear it.Comment
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H...here is the video of Curry abusing Adams. Be prepared it's not pretty.
Adams is #75.
[URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QnxzVx2-gKs[/URL]Trolls are people too.Comment
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Another of Adams against Crawford. Not nearly as horrific as the Curry video, but check out around the 1:10 mark. He is pass blocking on a run play, almost like he forgot he needed to get some push to clear the B gap. All through out you are seeing people get a step on Adams, penetrating into the backfield.
[URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LI1P8Fm2gmM&feature=relmfu[/URL]
While Adams is now a Steeler, I will root for him. I sooo hope I am wrong about this kid. But, I think he is starting at LT only because our other options are so bad.Trolls are people too.Comment
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Geez Shawn...horrific? He got beat for a sack on one play, for sure, and there are 2 plays that are touch & go...but the rest he looks superior to every guy up against him. He won't be the Lone Ranger as far as getting beat by good defensive players, but you paint him out to being barely better than Sean Mahan. What Chadman sees, MOSTLY, from Adams is a guy that walls off pretty well in pass protection & has some balance issues in run blocking- at times.The people that are trying to make the world worse never take a day off, why should I?
Light up the darkness.Comment
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Chadman, we must have seen a different video. Yes, he gave up one sack...two against Mercilus...but I seen other issues as well.
1:15 Falls on his face, after missing block
2:20 gets beat with ease, gives up sack
3:16 Gets beat by Curry, split second more=sack, again face planted
3:55 Gets beat again, gives up on protection
5:20 Falls down-Curry makes tackle
This isn't even touching again on the Mercilus video. I believe he gets face planted several times in that video as well.
So, going against NFL caliber but rookie NFL talent, Adams gave up 3 sacks in two games. I may lack "emotional objectivity" but that seems pretty clear cut. What is Adams going to do against some real NFL talent?Last edited by Shawn; 05-22-2012, 11:08 AM.Trolls are people too.Comment
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