The OLine Desperately Needs Max Back

[hawaiiansteel]

Labriola on preseason opener

Posted 8/10/12
Bob Labriola - Steelers Digest

PHILADELPHIA – It was only the preseason opener, but it seems as though this one game that doesn’t even count in the standings has settled the competition to be the starting left tackle for the start of the regular season, which for the Steelers will come on Sunday night, Sept. 9, in Denver.

Unfortunately, this really wasn’t what they had in mind.

Last April, the Steelers spent their first two draft picks on a couple of offensive linemen they hoped could help re-make the unit into one that was more exclamation point than question mark. David DeCastro and Mike Adams were seen as the kinds of talents who could do for guard and tackle, respectively, what Maurkice Pouncey had done for center three summers ago.

For their preseason opener, which came last night against the Eagles here, the Steelers’ top two draft picks were in the starting lineup, albeit for different reasons. DeCastro was at right guard only because left guard Willie Colonwas out with an ankle injury and Ramon Foster had to slide over from the right side to fill that spot. Adams, on the other hand, had done enough in practices to earn the start against the Eagles.

What began with such promise ended with disappointment, because before the first quarter of the game against the Eagles was over, Adams had allowed two sacks and was knocked out of the game with an injury to his right knee.

Adams’ injury wasn’t the most disappointing aspect of the Steelers’ 24-23 defeat by the Eagles – that designation would belong to David Johnson’s knee injury that was termed “severe” by Coach Mike Tomlin – but it does seem to have ended Adams’ hopes to be the starting left tackle in Denver.

It’s not believed that Adams will require surgery, but the couple of weeks he seems destined to miss while rehabbing will put him too far behind to catch up in time for the opener.

All of a sudden, Max Starks, who was signed shortly before the opening of training camp and is still on the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury of his own, is the team’s best option at left tackle.

Once again, it’s going to have to be Max Starks to the rescue.

[URL]http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Labriola-on-preseason-opener/4809c14f-f326-45b4-9431-da087b779380[/URL]

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Gilbert looked horrible at RT last night...

Yeah...I was thinking Gilbert looked like he was struggling almost as much as Adams...

[feltdizz]

I can already tell you that this starting lineup is not the starting lineup we want in Week 1. I think it's actually fine to start one of the rookies (i.e. DeCastro), but having both will certainly create a sieve-like environment. Adams is what I've called him all along--fools good. I hope I'm wrong, but there is a reason why a guy with that much supposed "talent" (from a major college program) lasts til that point in the draft.

It's a dicey thing. On one hand, I'd like to leave Colon at Guard, where he is probably more suited. But he's probably one of our top two Tackles right now. Gilbert is one. But after that, I think Colon is better than Starks, a 350 lb. man coming off a knee reconstruction.

Even if Max is cleared, he's going to be slower than normal. For him, that's scary.

Couldn't the same thing be said about DeCastro in terms of dropping to us with all his talent? Its still way too early to predict how these 2 will turn out but I wasn't impressed with either of them the other night.

Rainey really impressed.

[hawaiiansteel]

Rainey really impressed.

[hawaiiansteel]

Steelers Young Offensive Lineman Having Different Camps

By Kyle Curry on August 12, 2012



When the Steelers used there first round draft pick on David DeCastro, the best guard in the draft out of Stanford, there was surprise (that he was still on the board) and excitement for the future of the offensive line. The Steelers added DeCastro to a line already including a young All-Pro in Maurkice Pouncey and a second year tackle in Marcus Gilbert.

Then the Steelers turned around and drafted a top tackle in Mike Adams, a player who had some off-field issues at Ohio State. Adams was expected to pair with Gilbert to give the Steelers a young pair of offensive tackles to open up the run game and protect Ben Roethlisberger in the passing game.

As the Steelers got closer to training camp comparisons between David DeCastro and ex-Steelers All-Pro Guard Alan Faneca became common-place. When DeCastro was given Faneca’s old number 66 jersey the comparisons were running wild. Adams, who was still being questioned by fans for his off-feild issues, wasn’t expected to start at left tackle. The Steelers resigned left tackle Max Starks, who is coming off an ACL injury, and Adams chances to start seemed to disappear.

However, when camp started the two rookies seemed to switch places. DeCastro was getting beat in drills regularly and Adams was receiving high praise from all of his coaches. Adams earned a first team spot before DeCastro and was all of a sudden expected to start on the Steelers line.

Just a week and a half later and DeCastro is getting praise from the coaches and has been named the Steelers starting right guard. Adams on the other hand struggled mightly in his first NFL game (A pre-season matchup with the Eagles) giving up 2.5 sacks. Adams also suffered an injury in that game and will be out of the line-up for at least two weeks.

In his absence the Steelers have moved Marcus Gilbert to the left side of the line, Ramon Foster is filling in at right tackle, and David DeCastro has officially taken Foster’s spot at right guard. Gilbert was talked about as potentially starting at left tackle for the Steelers in 2012 prior to the drafting of Adams. However, if Adams doens’t get better before week 1 and Max Starks isn’t able to return from injury Gilbert may get the start.

The Steelers will hope to have Starks and Adams both back soon and be able to build the line they want; not the one they are forced to use. We could see a line (from left to right) of Starks-Colon-Pouncey-DeCastro-Gilbert, Gilbert-Colon-Pouncey-DeCastro-Foster, or Adams-Colon-Pouncey-DeCastro-Gilbert. We will just have to wait and see who earns the starting jobs.

There is one thing that has become aware, however, the Steelers offensive line still has question marks. Gilbert, Pouncey, DeCastro, and Adams is a great young core for the future, but they may not be ready to do it all in 2012.

[URL]http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/steelers_young_offensive_lineman_having_different_ camps/11437795[/URL]

[Oviedo]

Things like Adams' injury is why we need to keep looking for quality OL in every draft. Just getting DeCastro and Adams doesn't mean the position becomes low priority. We still don't have lots of depth. Foster is good as a back up who can move around. Essex is average. Legursky is average. Need young players who challenge the starters.

[fezziwig]

It's just one preseason game so I'm not ready to panic yet. What would Steeler camp/season be like if we didn't have offensive line woes ?

The offensive line troubles were in the rearview mirror when Cowher was coaching his last couple of years so, it should be no surprise that it won't get fixed with the number 2's & 3's draft draft picks we been throwing at it prior to Pouncey and DeCastro. They've let this area of the team slip in my opinion over the years and I'm not stating anything new or that you guys didn't already know. About time we have a legit powerhouse of an oline will be time to start adding youth to it again and by that time, Ben's talents will have dwindled if he is still on the team by then.
This whole team is a work in progress or will need it up dates in many areas. As I said before, we are probably an 8-8 or 9-7 team this season

[Slapstick]

This whole team is a work in progress or will need it up dates in many areas. As I said before, we are probably an 8-8 or 9-7 team this season

It's a common thing to set your expectations low so that you can seem to be pleasantly surprised at a better outcome...

[fezziwig]

words to live by my friend, words to live by lol.

[hawaiiansteel]

Starks reality: He hopes to play before regular season

August 13, 2012 1:05 pm
By Gerry Dulac / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette



Steelers offensive tackle Max Starks works out with the PUP group during training camp workouts at St. Vincent College in Latrobe.

Max Starks is accustomed to quick turnarounds and baptism by fire. He just isn't sure when the next round of such events will be.

All of a sudden, his return from surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament -- sustained in the January playoff loss in Denver -- has become a bigger issue after rookie left tackle Mike Adams' rocky start in the Steelers' preseason opener.

But it probably won't be an issue for Starks, who, at 30, is the old man in the offensive line. Last year, four days after being re-signed because injuries had decimated their offensive line, Starks started against Tennessee and looked as though he never had been away.

The Steelers rushed for 174 yards, their second-highest total of the season, and Ben Roethlisberger had time to throw five touchdowns in an easy victory against the Titans.

Starks might have to do that again, only this time in the season opener in Denver. Still, he would prefer to get a little preseason warmup before he does.

"I didn't need it last year," said Starks, who is on the physically-unable-to-perform list and cannot practice until he is removed from it. "But this is a new offense. It's a lot more confusing than I thought it would be. It's the same stuff, but the names [of the plays] and the way it's called is different. I'm always going, 'Oh, this play is old such-and-such.' "

Starks has started 80 games for the Steelers in his eight years with the team and would be lending a lot of experience to a line that will start center Maurkice Pouncey, who turned 23 last month; second-year right tackle Marcus Gilbert and likely rookie David DeCastro at right guard.

But he is coming off ACL surgery and wasn't re-signed by the team until the week before training camp, leading many to assume that Adams, a No. 2 draft choice, was being handed the left-tackle job.

But, after giving up two sacks in his first 17 snaps in the preseason opener Thursday night in Philadelphia, Adams might have to wait a little longer. What's more, he sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee on his second allowed sack and likely will be sidelined at least two weeks.

Enter Starks. Again.

"I am more concerned with being ready for the regular season," Starks said. "That is the goal. Hopefully, I'll get out here sooner and at least practice and get back into the rhythm of things."

Starks' contribution at right and left tackle has been as massive as his 6-foot-8, 345-pound frame.

He is one of Ben Roethlisberger's best friends on the team and sits next to him in the locker room. Roethlisberger wore a No. 78 jersey to practice when Starks was unsigned -- a show of support by the quarterback to bring back the player who has protected his front and back side since 2004.

Eventually, Starks will be replaced by Adams, but that might not be as soon as some people projected.

"You just have to bounce back," said Gilbert, who has moved to left tackle to replace Adams. "I know my first start in the preseason wasn't that pretty, but you just have to learn from it and move on. He saw the film, he saw what he has to correct.

Unfortunately, the preseason is different than the regular season. When the regular season comes, it will be fast, it will be lights out."

And that might be the next time Adams gets to play. He is expected to miss the next two preseason games, beginning Sunday night against the Indianapolis Colts at Heinz Field.

But Gilbert said Adams' debut performance was not as bad as it looked.

"He did some pretty impressive things," Gilbert said. "Obviously, the sacks stand out, but he did some impressive things in run-blocking. He's going to improve. He's a player who's going to bounce back.

"But [the sacks] are part of being an offensive lineman. What's ever on film, you have to live with it and go out there and correct it. You're not going to have a perfect game. Everyone knows that."

And you might not always get a lot of sympathy.

"I didn't try to pat him on the back and give him milk and cookies," Starks said. "He came and asked me what I saw, and I gave him my opinion and that was it. The best thing is you get on the field and make the corrections yourself."

[URL]http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/sports/steelers/starks-reality-he-hopes-to-play-before-regular-season-648767/#ixzz23SYYFzLL[/URL]

[hawaiiansteel]

TACKLE MAX STARKS RETURN TO FIELD BUT PITTSBURGH STEELERS STILL TO REVIEW PUP

Posted By: Matt Davis



Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive tackle Max Starks returned to practice field on Sunday for the first time since injuring his right knee earlier this year, raising hopes of his comeback to the squad by the regular season opener on 9th of next month.

Max looked fine and comfortable with the process of recovery from the torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and upbeat about the chances of return to the side by the regular season. The present status of the recovery shows that his comeback by Sept. 9 is possible because he still has got more than three weeks left to work on the remaining part of the rehab.

The player said:

"That would be pushing it. We'd have to put some Popsicle (sticks) and rubber bands together to try to get myself going."

He added:

"Maybe if it was end of August, I would probably be able to. I feel like I'm coming along nicely."

It is pertinent to note here that Max is still on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and is expected to remain on it for about another week at least as coach Mike Tomlin said they will not review the list until their next preseason game is over. The team is due to face the Indianapolis Colts on 19th of this month. The game is second of the preseason campaign for both teams.

Starks’ return to the field is nevertheless a good development for Steelers given they have met with injury problems to a number of their players in the preseason opener. They include rookie safety Mike Adams, who was boasted to be well up to the task of offering protection to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in Starks’ absence.

Mike is expected to remain on the sidelines for two to four weeks with a knee injury he suffered during the first game of his pro career.

Although as confirmed by the coach that Starks still has to clear physical to get himself removed from PUP, the official is hopeful of the player's rejoining of the squad during the regular season campaign.

[URL]http://blogs.bettor.com/Tackle-Max-Starks-return-to-field-but-Pittsburgh-Steelers-still-to-review-PUP-NFL-News-a180048[/URL]

[SanAntonioSteelerFan]

Are the Steelers actually cursed when it comes to the O-line, or do all teams have woes like this? The Steelers' just seem worse to me, but maybe it's because they are the only ones I pay attention to at a granular level. I cant even name more than 3 or 4 O-line players in total in the rest of the NFL, much less comment on the state of their ACLs ...

[hawaiiansteel]

Let The Offensive Line Shuffle Begin Again For The Steelers

Aug 13th, 2012 by Dominic Di Tolla



It is official “Steeler Nation”: The 2012 version of “Offensive Line Musical Chairs” has started in Pittsburgh!

After he sustained a knee injury in Pittsburgh’s first preseason game against Philadelphia, Rookie Mike Adams will be forced to the sidelines for what appears to be 2 weeks. With Adams out, Left Guard Willie Colon back from his own injury, and David DeCastro having earned the starting nod at Right Guard, the Steelers shuffled substitute Left Guard Ramon Foster to Right Tackle, and Right Tackle Marcus Gilbert over to Big Ben’s blind side.

While it is a bit disheartening to see Adams miss some time, the roster moves themselves are not exactly a huge cause for concern. Gilbert was slated to move over to the Left side for this season anyway and had taken some reps there during the offseason. As for Foster, while he has not played Tackle extensively since he was at Tennessee, he has the body type the Steelers’ look for in a Tackle, can run-block decently, and possesses enough of a skill-set at the position in terms of his pass-blocking to shore up the Right side for however long Adams is hurt. Plus, popular veteran Max Starks is still on the roster, and once he regains full health, can slide over to Left Tackle in case of another emergency.

Although the Steelers have the ability to play some “roster Tetris” along their Offensive Line, the fact that a guy which appeared to be an instrumental part of the rebuilding process is already missing time is a huge blow. Cohesiveness (outside of talent) is probably the most important ingredient which goes into building a successive Offensive Line. And while the Steelers might have upgraded in the talent department at essentially every position over the last three years, Big Ben’s blocking unit has been maligned by injuries, numerous different lineups, and personnel changes across the board.

While I have complete and total faith that Offensive Line Coach Sean Kugler can “MacGyver” some sort of passable Line if disaster inevitably strikes, I am frustrated with the fact that he has already had to do it multiple times during his two year tenure with the franchise. What Kugler and the rest of the Offense needs is five guys to simply stay healthy for an extended period of time so they can build some chemistry and find out what works and what does not as a unit. My only hope is that the Steelers can find some sort of solution soon, because this “Offensive Line Question Mark” is something which has plagued this team over the last half decade.

All we can do now though “Steeler Nation” is cross our fingers’, wait until the music stops, and hope nobody gets injured trying to find a chair.

[URL]http://nicepickcowher.com/2012/08/13/let-the-offensive-line-shuffle-begin-again-for-the-steelers/[/URL]

[Oviedo]

TACKLE MAX STARKS RETURN TO FIELD BUT PITTSBURGH STEELERS STILL TO REVIEW PUP

Posted By: Matt Davis



Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive tackle Max Starks returned to practice field on Sunday for the first time since injuring his right knee earlier this year, raising hopes of his comeback to the squad by the regular season opener on 9th of next month.

Max looked fine and comfortable with the process of recovery from the torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and upbeat about the chances of return to the side by the regular season. The present status of the recovery shows that his comeback by Sept. 9 is possible because he still has got more than three weeks left to work on the remaining part of the rehab.

The player said:

"That would be pushing it. We'd have to put some Popsicle (sticks) and rubber bands together to try to get myself going."

He added:

"Maybe if it was end of August, I would probably be able to. I feel like I'm coming along nicely."

It is pertinent to note here that Max is still on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and is expected to remain on it for about another week at least as coach Mike Tomlin said they will not review the list until their next preseason game is over. The team is due to face the Indianapolis Colts on 19th of this month. The game is second of the preseason campaign for both teams.

Starks’ return to the field is nevertheless a good development for Steelers given they have met with injury problems to a number of their players in the preseason opener. They include rookie safety Mike Adams, who was boasted to be well up to the task of offering protection to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in Starks’ absence.

Mike is expected to remain on the sidelines for two to four weeks with a knee injury he suffered during the first game of his pro career.

Although as confirmed by the coach that Starks still has to clear physical to get himself removed from PUP, the official is hopeful of the player's rejoining of the squad during the regular season campaign.

[URL]http://blogs.bettor.com/Tackle-Max-Starks-return-to-field-but-Pittsburgh-Steelers-still-to-review-PUP-NFL-News-a180048[/URL]

Starks actually looks like he is in shape.

[phillyesq]

Wexell is reporting that the Steelers plan for the opening day OL to be Starks-Colon-Pouncy-DeCastro-Gilbert, unless Starks isn't ready or there is an injury.

Whether Starks or Adams begins the season, I have a feeling that both will play this year. And I'd much rather see Adams out there than Scott.