The OLine Desperately Needs Max Back

[flippy]

These guys are in complete disarray.

Good to see Haley helping with the play calling unlike BA. But we just look like a mess on the OLine.

Guess it's gonna take time to gel.

Maybe Philly is really good on D.

[hawaiiansteel]

Rookie linemen share struggles

By Mark Kaboly
Published: Thursday, August 9, 2012



Steelers offensive tackle Mike Adams recovers a Byron Leftwich fumble in the first quarter against the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field Aug. 9, 2012

PHILADELPHIA — Just as much as anybody else, Mike Tomlin was curious to see how rookie offensive linemen David DeCastro and Mike Adams would fare in their first game action.

“We’ll see more about them, and we’ll get to know more about them Thursday night,” Tomlin said this week.

Oh, did he ever, especially Adams.

The left tackle struggled during his professional debut Thursday night in the Steelers’ 24-23 preseason loss to the Eagles, allowing 21⁄2 sacks in a span of nine plays during the first quarter.

Adams allowed Ben Roethlisberger to be sacked twice during the quarterback’s 15 first-quarter plays before leaving at the end of the stanza with a knee injury he suffered when he tried to pick up a fumble after a sack. The injury isn’t expected to be long-term concern.

“I thought (Adams and DeCastro) represented themselves well, at times, at least from an assignment standpoint,” Tomlin said. “They were beat physically some, but that’s life in the National Football League. I am sure they will take the lessons learned in that stadium tonight and build upon it.”

It was an all-too-familiar sight for Roethlisberger, who was sacked eight times the last time he played at Lincoln Financial Field in 2008.

Veteran Trai Essex replaced Adams, but Essex isn’t expected to be the long-term solution at left tackle.

The Steelers signed veteran Max Starks a week before training camp as insurance. Starks still is recovering from January knee surgery and was placed on the physically unable to perform list at the beginning of camp. He is expected to resume practicing within a week.

Adams was the Steelers’ second-round pick in April’s draft out of Ohio State. He was forced to miss most of the offseason practices because of Ohio State’s quarter system — he had to finish school — and was noticeably behind for the start of camp.

Adams was running mostly with the second team during the first two weeks of training camp before moving to the first team earlier this week. The lack of reps against the first team showed against the Eagles.

“He made a couple of rookie mistakes; everybody gets beat,” left guard Ramon Foster said. “But he bounced back, and he wasn’t showing that it was affecting him too much.”

Adams allowed a sack on the seventh play of the game when Phillip Hunt got the edge and beat him off the corner to bring down Roethlisberger.

Four plays later, miscommunication between Adams and Foster allowed Darryl Tapp to split them and share a sack of Roethlisberger with Brian Rolle.

“It’s just miscommunication,” Foster said. “We have to stay on our angles. It wasn’t anything more than staying on our angles.”

On the first play of the Steelers’ second offensive series, Adams allowed Hunt to race around him again and slap the ball out of Byron Leftwich’s hand.

First-round pick DeCastro fared better but struggled at times.

“It’s football, like I have been saying all along,” DeCastro. “I did some good, did some bad. I am going to try to clean it up and learn from the bad things and don’t look too much into the good things.”

DeCastro got plenty of help from center Maurkice Pouncey early and was left free on other occasions.

DeCastro made a mental error when he was late helping Essex, which resulted in a sack by Brandon Graham. Later, DeCastro was pushed a couple of yards into the backfield by Kendricks during a second-and-goal that resulted in a short gain by Baron Batch.

Roethlisberger was encouraged by the rookie offensive linemen.

“It’s hard for me because I am not watching them, but by the look in their eyes, it looked like they were doing well,” Roethlisberger said.

[URL]http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/2381344-85/adams-decastro-roethlisberger-steelers-allowed-camp-rookie-sack-week-quarter[/URL]

[RuthlessBurgher]

Regarding Adams looking solid in camp practices but crap in the game...keep in mind that our usual weakside OLB, James Harrison is on PUP. His primary backup, Jason Worilds, is also on PUP. That made Chris Carter the starter there by default, but Adams wasn't even facing him for the first two weeks of camp, since he started out as the second string LT at first before being promoted earlier this week. So much of his camp performance was against the 4th string weakside OLB (I'm not even sure who that is...last night Adrian Robinson appeared to be lining up as the strongside OLB in Woodley's spot more often than not). Adams needs a dose of Deebo to indoctrinate him into what the NFL is all about.

[flippy]

Regarding Adams looking solid in camp practices but crap in the game...keep in mind that our usual weakside OLB, James Harrison is on PUP. His primary backup, Jason Worilds, is also on PUP. That made Chris Carter the starter there by default, but Adams wasn't even facing him for the first two weeks of camp, since he started out as the second string LT at first before being promoted earlier this week. So much of his camp performance was against the 4th string weakside OLB (I'm not even sure who that is...last night Adrian Robinson appeared to be lining up as the strongside OLB in Woodley's spot more often than not). Adams needs a dose of Deebo to indoctrinate him into what the NFL is all about.

The one thing I like about Adams that surprised me a bit was he'd hustle after he screwed up. I've watched so many times where many of our current former linemen for Ben have stood and watched him take a hit.

I think Colon and Pouncey may be the only 2 other guys on our line that I haven't see give up after getting beat. Likely DD won't either.

But I like that about Adams make up.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I've watched so many times where many of our current former linemen for Ben have stood and watched him take a hit.

I wish I had the "I'm Thinking Arby's" Photoshop version of this pic.

[steelfin]

I have to admit that the OL looked pretty bad in pass protection. However I am not ready to give up on the young guys just yet. It was their first preason game in the NFL.

I also have to wonder how much they have been practicing pass protection for intermediate and deep pass plays. It is my understanding that the offense has been focusing on the run gun and the short passing game. It seeme that everytime we took deep drops to let routes develop downfield we took a sack or had lots of pressure...

The OL will be ready before the season starts...but I dont think we can really expect an elite O-line early in the year based on all the youth we have learing the game in the NFL...As the year progresses they will get better.

The problem is that Adams was hurt and will probably miss a lot of preseason preparation that is much needed in his development...

The big question is what happens if Max is not ready to go?

SF

[Shoe]

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.

[flippy]

I wish I had the "I'm Thinking Arby's" Photoshop version of this pic.

Well there goes Colon. I thought I remembered him as a fighter once he got beat. Maybe we're down to Adams and Pouncey as the 2 that won't give up. Again, I'd include DD, but I'm figuring once this season starts, he'll just never get beat.

[flippy]

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.

Max isn't the quickest or most powerful LT. But he's gone through stretches against really good pass rushers that he's stonewalled. He's generally effective unless he's going against Aldon Smith.

[pfelix73]

I would've gone with the original plan before the draft. Gilbert as LT. Colon as RT. Let Adams compete with Colon at RT for his 1st year. Foster and DD would be my 2 OG's. Still bring in Max for depth. Gilbert is being wasted over there at RT. IMO.

[pfelix73]

"wasted' isn't the word I should've used, but I just think he would've made one hell of a LT..

[hawaiiansteel]

I would've gone with the original plan before the draft. Gilbert as LT. Colon as RT. Let Adams compete with Colon at RT for his 1st year. Foster and DD would be my 2 OG's. Still bring in Max for depth. Gilbert is being wasted over there at RT. IMO.

Gilbert looked horrible at RT last night...

[Dee Dub]

These guys are in complete disarray.

Good to see Haley helping with the play calling unlike BA. But we just look like a mess on the OLine.

Guess it's gonna take time to gel.


Maybe Philly is really good on D.

How funny. This is the first pre-season game with two new (rookie), starters and a player playing at a new position. They should be in disarray at this point.

[flippy]

How funny. This is the first pre-season game with two new (rookie), starters and a player playing at a new position. They should be in disarray at this point.

Just hope this disarray doesn't get #7 hurt.

[hawaiiansteel]

Just hope this disarray doesn't get #7 hurt.

or one of the OL like Mike Adams.

oh wait...