He's BAAAACK

[SteelBucks]

When he fully recovered from his injury, this was a no-brainer move by the FO. Quality depth and protection if the Tackles struggle. Nice!

[steelz09]

21 hrs ago I tweeted that the Steelers need to sign Max Starks to a one year deal. A couple hours later, they made it official! I always knew the Steelers FO followed my Twitter account And apparently, they must follow this forum since they finally decided to move Colon to guard.

[Oviedo]

21 hrs ago I tweeted that the Steelers need to sign Max Starks to a one year deal. A couple hours later, they made it official! I always knew the Steelers FO followed my Twitter account And apparently, they must follow this forum since they finally decided to move Colon to guard.

...and put Legursky and Foster squarely into the back up role where they should have been all along. The change in the OL this off season has really been amazing. I'm just disappointed that it took the FO 2+ years to realize how inadequete some of the players on the OL were.

Just imagine if Ben hadn't taken the pounding he did how we may have done better.

[grotonsteel]

...and put Legursky and Foster squarely into the back up role where they should have been all along. The change in the OL this off season has really been amazing. I'm just disappointed that it took the FO 2+ years to realize how inadequete some of the players on the OL were.

Just imagine if Ben hadn't taken the pounding he did how we may have done better.

Don't forget HOF Centers Sean Mahan and Justin hartwig. Not only did Steelers drafted poor O-linemen they also signed some poor FA.

[Eich]

Just imagine if Ben hadn't taken the pounding he did how we may have done better.

Yep - injuries killed us last year. But just a healthy Ben alone and I think we would have gone past the Broncos and the Cheaters didn't want any part of our offense after what we did to them earlier in the season.

[hawaiiansteel]

Starks To Start Camp On PUP & Says Haley Offense Very Similar To Whisenhunt’s

Wednesday, July 18th, 2012 by Dave Bryan

Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Max Starks was welcomed back to Pittsburgh Wednesday morning in an interview on DVE Radio. During the interview Starks shared his thoughts on whether or not he thought he would be back with the Steelers, if he thinks he will start at left tackle and the new play-book of offensive coordinator Todd Haley.

"Did I think I would not be here? Yeah, yeah, I definitely did," said Starks, when asked if he had thoughts that he might not possibly be back with the Steelers. "I had that thought in my mind." He continued, "How things happened early on last year. You know, just trying to be realistic and having an injury, having an ACL, I did not think I had an opportunity here."

"I was very fortunate when I came in yesterday. Dr. Bradley gave me a good report and thanked me for working as hard as I did. And then the next thing you know I went and met with management and they gave me an opportunity and asked me if I wanted an opportunity. And I was blessed and fortunate to get it."

Starks was later asked if it was his intentions to teach rookie tackle Mike Adams by letting him watch on the sideline as he started. "I'm going to do what I've always done and that's always help young guys if they ask me for it. But once again, at the end of the day, I'll probably be starting out on PUP, so I'll be in a watching role."

When pressed further if he thought that he would be the starting left tackle this year, Starks said, "I'm a confident individual. If given the opportunity, yeah I don't see why I wouldn't compete for the starting the job."

Starks talked later about getting the play-book yesterday and his thoughts on the new offense being installed by Haley. "I already had some familiarity, because Todd's system is very similar to Ken Whisenhunt's," said Starks. "So I was already familiar with it and I talked to Koogs (offensive line coach Sean Kugler) yesterday and we went over some of the stuff."

"I'm pretty familiar with it," added Starks. "It's the old system I ran the first three years here. A little bit nuanced as far as the play-calling style and some of the play names, they kind of tweaked them a little bit. As far as knowing what the plays are, I don't think it'll be that tough to pick up."

The declaration made by Starks that he will likely be starting off training camp on the Active PUP list is not a surprising one. He is only 6 months now removed from the surgery on his right ACL, so it is possible that he will not see action in the preseason until about the third or fourth game. The first part of camp he will be working on strengthening that knee even more and working on his overall conditioning.

The Steelers know what Starks is capable and not capable of doing already, so with him working on continuing his own rehab, they can get a long look at Adams early on to see if he can win the starting left tackle spot outright.

[URL]http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/starks_to_start_camp_on_pup_says_haley_offense_ver y_similar_to_whisenhunts/11246965[/URL]

[Shawn]

Why would Haley's pb be that similar to whis?

[flippy]

Maybe they just wanted to go back to Whiz's offense. Thanks to Max for being the first to point it out. Doh!

[RuthlessBurgher]

Why would Haley's pb be that similar to whis?

Well, Todd's first opportunity to be an O.C. was under Whis...prior to that, he worked primarily with the WR's for the Jets, Bears, and Cowboys. When they both arrived in Arizona in 2007, Ken was a first time H.C. with O.C. experience and Todd was a first time O.C., so it would make sense that Whis would work hand-in-hand with Haley when creating his first playbook. I would imagine many of those basic offense principles he picked up from Whis would have followed Haley to K.C. and now Pittsburgh.

[Slapstick]

Well, Todd's first opportunity to be an O.C. was under Whis...prior to that, he worked primarily with the WR's for the Jets, Bears, and Cowboys. When they both arrived in Arizona in 2007, Ken was a first time H.C. with O.C. experience and Todd was a first time O.C., so it would make sense that Whis would work hand-in-hand with Haley when creating his first playbook. I would imagine many of those basic offense principles he picked up from Whis would have followed Haley to K.C. and now Pittsburgh.

It may be even deeper than that...

Both Haley and Whisenhunt worked in Charlie Weis' system in New York...Haley had been the QC coach for a few years and became the WR coach while Whisenhunt was working with TEs...their common offensive philosophy was born there...

Upon hiring Haley, Whisenhunt commented in the press conference how Haley was as close to Whis system-wise as he could possibly be...

[Shawn]

Well, Todd's first opportunity to be an O.C. was under Whis...prior to that, he worked primarily with the WR's for the Jets, Bears, and Cowboys. When they both arrived in Arizona in 2007, Ken was a first time H.C. with O.C. experience and Todd was a first time O.C., so it would make sense that Whis would work hand-in-hand with Haley when creating his first playbook. I would imagine many of those basic offense principles he picked up from Whis would have followed Haley to K.C. and now Pittsburgh.

Good call, thanks for the insight.

[NorthCoast]

I have no problem if we see shades of Whiz this season. His gameplans were head and shoulders above BA's.