Ed: Adams to LT, Gilbert Stays at RT

[aggiebones]

I think that sets 4 spots with very good players. Colon, Pouncey, DeCastro, Gilbert
And it leaves 3 players to fight for LT.

Adams gets a crack to see how far behind he is. If he's close they may push him hard through camp. But it would seem more likely that he doesn't start opening day. And since Starks is also not quite ready, I think you'll see JScott start at LT in opening game. May not be ideal or even long term, but Starks and Adams have one thing in common. Neither will likely be fully ready to go in the first game.
That said and I know people don't love Scott as the LT anymore, but he may fair better with the rest of the line looking as it is. He needs some help, but how much? With a line made of Legs, Essex, Gilbert and Foster, he ain't getting any. But with Colon, Pouncey, DeCastro and Gilbert...he may get enough to be a short term effective player. Then when Adams is ready, JScott moves back to the swing T. Maybe at some point, they dump Scott for Starks, but I doubt it will be before opening day. And maybe at some point Starks has to come back due to injury. Our tackles have had alot of injury problems the last couple years forcing us to do all kinds of crazy stuff.

[RuthlessBurgher]

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?

He'll struggle like all rookies struggle. What is the other option right now? Jonathan Scott starting at LT again? We saw the disaster that was Jon Scott at LT in the first month last year. I don't want to see that again. Scott has no future here...Adams does. If the choices are Adams struggling as a rookie, or Scott struggling as a vet with Adams lingering on the bench, I'd rather give the rook the reps so that he can start adjusting to the speed of the NFL game (which he wouldn't get from the bench).

[phillyesq]

He'll struggle like all rookies struggle. What is the other option right now? Jonathan Scott starting at LT again? We saw the disaster that was Jon Scott at LT in the first month last year. I don't want to see that again. Scott has no future here...Adams does. If the choices are Adams struggling as a rookie, or Scott struggling as a vet with Adams lingering on the bench, I'd rather give the rook the reps so that he can start adjusting to the speed of the NFL game (which he wouldn't get from the bench).

Between Adams and Scott, I'd be shocked if Adams wasn't the better option. If it's even close, I agree with you - better to get Adams reps.

Where I think it becomes a better challenge is if Max Starks is healthy and returns. He was, at a minimum, a league average LT last year, which is nothing to sneeze at. A healthy Starks would provide competition and make Adams earn the LT job.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Between Adams and Scott, I'd be shocked if Adams wasn't the better option. If it's even close, I agree with you - better to get Adams reps.

Where I think it becomes a better challenge is if Max Starks is healthy and returns. He was, at a minimum, a league average LT last year, which is nothing to sneeze at. A healthy Starks would provide competition and make Adams earn the LT job.

Yeah, but that "healthy" qualifier likely throws a wrench in the works. Like Mendenhall and Hampton, Max is not likely to be ready to go full bore from the start.

[Shawn]

He'll struggle like all rookies struggle. What is the other option right now? Jonathan Scott starting at LT again? We saw the disaster that was Jon Scott at LT in the first month last year. I don't want to see that again. Scott has no future here...Adams does. If the choices are Adams struggling as a rookie, or Scott struggling as a vet with Adams lingering on the bench, I'd rather give the rook the reps so that he can start adjusting to the speed of the NFL game (which he wouldn't get from the bench).

And I agree with you as addressed in a previous post. Even as raw as he is...I would rather have him start than Essex and Scott. If the LT is going to get abused, then I want it to be a guy who has a high enough ceiling to learn a few lessons from that abuse.

My posts are to temper some of the enthusiasm with a realistic look at this OL. Adams is very raw, but has gifts you can't teach. As good as DeCastro is...he is still a rookie and will have some ups and downs. Colon who is injury prone, is being moved to a new position after not having any significant PT in a couple years. The OL problems won't be cured overnight. It will take Adams at least a season to be anything more than serviceable. If Colon stays healthy...same for him to learn a new position.

[Dee Dub]

....My posts are to temper some of the enthusiasm with a realistic look at this OL.

in other words...a total Buzz Kill!

[hawaiiansteel]

in other words...a total Buzz Kill!

[Chadman]

"Colon who is injury prone"

No, he isn't. He doesn't have lingering, repetitive injuries. He isn't banged up repeatedly every week. He's had 2 fluke injuries- achilles & torn triceps, that have been longterm injuries. Before these he rarely missed game time.

Ben is injury prone- always picking up new ailments, or repeat ailments. Colon is unlucky. If his achilles goes again, or his triceps- then you start seeing a pattern.

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers would have taken Adams in Round 1?

May 23rd, 2012

The Steelers got a gift when David DeCastro fell to them at pick 24 in the 2012 NFL Draft. DeCastro was a top 10 prospect but expected to fall into the teens because he is a guard. Pass rushers and cornerbacks passed him up on draft day and DeCastro continued to slip. The Steelers picked him up at #24 without hesitation.

What would have happened if DeCastro would have not been on the board? For most of us we would have been screaming Dont’a Hightower all the way. Many had Hightower as the Steelers pick heading into the draft. He was pretty much the concensus pick.

After seeing the Steelers reaction to Mike Adams I do not know if that would have been the case. The Steelers were extremely high on Adams. They had given him a first round grade. They had already looked past his character issues and wanted him on this team.

The Steelers were more then happy to get Adams in round 2. I think they may have also been more than happy to get Adams in round 1. It might sound crazy but I think the Steelers would have taken Adams at 24 if DeCastro was not available.

Look at how they are treating him right now. He is a second round pick who is expected to start at Left Tackle from day one. The Steelers barely ever start rookies and they sure as hell do not start second round blind side protectors unless absolutely neccesary. Yet Adams is basically being handed the job.

There is no real competition for him at that spot. Jonathan Scott is garbage. Trai Essex is a back up. Marcus Gilbert is now solidly on the right side since Colon moved to guard. This is Adams’ spot. There is no one who is going to take it away from him. He will have to blow it for him not to be the left tackle.

Since that is the case and Adams is getting the left tackle job and the Steelers believe he is the real deal then pick 24 does not seem to be a bad spot to grab a LT. While we all may have wanted Hightower to come in and play linebacker and fill the gap left by Farrior we may have been questioning when the team took Adams. They seem to love him though and that is what matters.

We will never know since DeCastro was on the board. It is something to wonder about though.

[URL="http://bleedblackandgold.com/blog/2012/05/23/steelers-would-have-taken-adams-in-round-1/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaig n=Feed%3A+BleedBlackAndGold+(Bleed+Black+and+Gold) "]http://bleedblackandgold.com/blog/20...ck+and+Gold)[/URL]

[hawaiiansteel]

Ed: Essex Believes Adams Can Step In

THURSDAY, 24 MAY 2012 WRITTEN BY ED BOUCHETTE

Good morning,

Trai Essex is running No. 1 at left tackle in minicamp, but he expects rookie Mike Adams to make his contribution quickly when he finally gets to report sometime in June.

Adams, the second-round draft choice, is ticketed to play at left tackle and many expect him to start. Even Essex, who has been a good utility offensive lineman with the Steelers, expects it.

“We had a lockout last year, and we had three or four rookie quarterbacks come in and tear up the NFL,’’ he told the PG’s Ray Fittipaldo Wednesday. “There aren’t any rookies anymore. If you get drafted that high there are expectations. It’s a business. You have to be ready to go.

“He is a rookie, so he will get some slack, but not much because there are no redshirts in the NFL. Guys are expected to contribute right away.”

Left tackle Essex’s natural position but he has not played much of it with the Steelers. He opened last season as the starting right guard, where he became the starter during the 2010 season. He started 18 consecutive games at right guard until an ankle injury kept him out of four games last season. He returned to start two more but then lost his job to Ramon Foster.

Essex resigned as a free agent this year and will back up the entire length of the line, including center if need be.

But now, “I was told my focus will be strictly on tackle, particularly left tackle. Because Ramon getting hurt, I’m getting some guard work.”

Essex is looking forward to seeing Adams in practice.

“They’ll give him an opportunity to come in and see what he has to do just because he hasn’t been here. They want to see what they invested a second round pick in. As a vet, I understand that. I won’t take it personal if he jumps the depth chart when he gets here. I understand how things work. I don’t catch feelings. The most I can do is give my hardest and show them I want to play, I want to start as well.”

[URL]http://plus.sites.post-gazette.com/index.php/pro-sports/steelers/116482-ed-essex-believes-adams-can-step-in[/URL]