Interest In OT Market Suggests Steelers Not Convinced With Villanueva

[Slapstick]

It seems that all of those FAs are roughly the same caliber/talent level...

As Pittpete said, someone will have to sign them...the Steelers will wait until the price drops (and it will drop) and pick themselves up a good player at a bargain price.

[RuthlessBurgher]

I would be interested in Boykin, Patrick Robinson, Rhaim Morre and Rashad Johnson. Could there really be any interest in Reggie Nelson after he took out Bell's knee and coming from the Bumgals?????

IMO Nick Fairley would be interesting pick up.

Reggie Nelson is a couple of years older than Weddle, which is why he is still unsigned. But he seems to pick off Ben at least once every time we play him (whether it was against Cincy or Jax). In spite of that, I don't harbor the same ill will toward him that I would Burfict or Pacman. He didn't seem to be slowing down too much last season, with 8 INT's overall. I would prefer someone like Rashad Johnson, though.

I figured Boykin would want to cash in elsewhere next season, but it doesn't look like he's getting the offers on the open market like he thought he would. It may be best for him and us to reunite on a short term deal to compete with Cockrell for a starting spot...worst case would be Senquez Golson insurance in the slot.

Wouldn't mind a second inexpensive NT option beside McClendon...someone like Sammie Lee Hill, I suppose.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Hopefully the drafting of Golson in round 2 and Grant in round 4 last year, and possibly taking another corner and safety among our top 4 picks next month is the beginning of a similar investment (and ultimate result), turning the weakness that is our secondary into a potential strength like we with our o-line not too long ago.

Tomlin: Steelers 'reaping the reward' of O-line investment

By Mark Kaboly


Wednesday, March 23, 2016, 9:42 p.m
Updated 12 hours ago

BOCA RATON, Fla. —— Ben Roethlisberger stepped to the podium following Super Bowl XLIII with the Lombardi Trophy in his right hand and proudly proclaimed: “Who is laughing now, O-line?”

The appropriate response at the time was everybody.

Times sure have changed.

Once a punchline to a joke, the Steelers have transformed their offensive line from a weak spot to possibly their greatest strength, and all it took was money, luck and a Hall of Fame coach.

“It is great to no longer get questions about the offensive line,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said during the NFL Annual Meeting. “We have invested a lot in our offensive line going back to 2009-10, and we are reaping the reward of that investment. We have quality players that are in their mid-to-late 20s that know what they are doing and have cohesion.”

The Steelers made an effort to upgrade the position not long after winning their latest Super Bowl, emphasizing it during the next couple of drafts. In reality, they didn't really have much of a choice.

Their franchise quarterback was heading into the prime of his career, and the line was giving up 47, 49 and 50 sacks in Tomlin's first three years. The running game wasn't producing much, either, so the Steelers went heavy on the position in the draft.

They took Maurkice Pouncey in the first round in 2010 and Marcus Gilbert in the second round the next year. They got lucky when David DeCastro fell to them in the first round in 2012 and doubled-down the next round by selecting Mike Adams.

Throw in a gem of an undrafted free agent in Ramon Foster and the signing of free agent left tackle Ryan Harris (he will compete with Alejandro Villanueva in training camp) from the defending champion Broncos, and the Steelers offensive line could be the most talented in the league.

“That's football, isn't it?” Tomlin said. “That's the balance that makes football what it is. It is such a level playing field in terms of resources and opportunities to acquire players that you may have some positions that are strong and have positions that aren't quite as strong.”

As little as 18 months ago, the Steelers were in danger of letting their core unit get away, but refused to let that happen.

They locked up Pouncey for $44 million and Gilbert for $30 million within a span of months. They picked up DeCastro's fifth-year option last year that will pay him $8 million this season. And it is likely DeCastro will sign a long-term deal within the next couple of months.

Earlier in the month, they brought back Foster for nearly $10 million for three years and signed Harris for nearly $2 million a season.

The Steelers have invested about as much as any other NFL team in their offensive line. They have the fifth-largest payroll for 2016 at $33.3 million for their linemen, according to overthecap.com. The Vikings are No. 1 at $44.1 million, with the Seahawks last at $8.7 million.

When healthy, the unit has been good, but the problem has been staying healthy.

They were in 2014 and it showed. The Steelers' 33 sacks allowed were a 10-year low. Their 1,752 rushing yards were the most since 2011. All of this transpired a year after the running game hit rock bottom.

The Steelers' 1,383 rushing yards in 2013 were their fewest in a 16-game season. So was their 24.6 carries per game. Roethlisberger was getting sacked at a record pace until the team went to its no-huddle/quick passing game over the second half to suppress those numbers.

A lot of that was because Pouncey was injured early in the year and, by the end of the season, the Steelers were down to their third center.

Pouncey missed the entire 2015 season, and the Steelers played without the injured Kelvin Beachum at left tackle for half the season, but the line had one of its best years, allowing 32 sacks and 4.4 yards per carry.

Some of that credit goes to offensive line coach Mike Munchak.

Munchak, a Hall of Fame guard for the Houston Oilers, has been a difference maker since joining the staff two years ago.

“Munch is a treat. He is a football lover,” Tomlin said. “He is a teacher. All of us who embrace what we do have a teacher mentality. It is lesson plans for him, not meetings. That's his approach to it along with his general passion and love for the game and his in-helmet perspective and experience aid him in doing his job.”

[URL]http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/10195500-74/steelers-million-offensive[/URL]

[Oviedo]

Hopefully the drafting of Golson in round 2 and Grant in round 4 last year, and possibly taking another corner and safety among our top 4 picks next month is the beginning of a similar investment (and ultimate result), turning the weakness that is our secondary into a potential strength like we with our o-line not too long ago.

I share the same hope but as the article points out Munchak may be the key factor. Despite the positive hype early, I think we really have to question the job Carnell lake has done the past couple of seasons. Who has improved under his tutelage? Who has taken that next step?

[RuthlessBurgher]

4 things Alejandro had to say
Posted 1 hour ago


Teresa Varley
Steelers.com


Alejandro Villanueva shares his thoughts on the o-line, Ben and more.

Alejandro Villanueva stepped up in a huge manner at left tackle last season, learning a lot about himself and what it means to play on the Steelers offensive line.

Villanueva shared his thoughts on his season earlier this offseason, and now gives his take on a number of topics, including the Gold Jacket standard on the offensive line.

•On having a Hall of Fame player as his offensive line coach:
“You wouldn’t know he is a Hall of Fame player. He’s extremely hard to define. He is not a friend, but he is not a boss. He is a natural leader of the room. He’s a guy you want to follow, a guy you want to do good things for. A guy who’s seen everything and gives you the confidence whenever you make a mistake that it is something that happens with the job. I honestly think that’s one thing that has made a difference in my life is having him as a coach. I would not have been able to play without his mentorship and the hard work I put in this year. I don’t think there’s a better offensive line coach in the NFL than Munch. His integrity and he’s an unbelievable human being. I can’t say enough about how good of a person he is and the values that he’s instilled in all of us.”


•On stepping up and embracing the next man up mentality:
“I think the thing about Coach (Mike) Tomlin is he’s very truthful to himself and to the players he’s transparent. He doesn’t hide anything and he doesn’t say anything if he doesn’t mean it. I’ve listened to a lot of coaches in the NFL and obviously a lot of coaches have to say things to motivate players that they don’t truly believe. Coach Tomlin actually believes in the next man up mentality. He believes in the development program to the practice squad. I’m a practice squad product.

“He believes in players stepping up and making plays and that gives you confidence. If you bring in a guy from the outside to do the job that will kill the confidence of the guy who has been waiting to step up. So when you hear the next man up and you actually get in those starting roles, it gives you the confidence of everything that he’s ever talked about.”



•On the best advice he received from Ben Roethlisberger:
“I had a really bad game against Kansas City, and he knew that I was coming back, that I was going to be the tackle for the team. For a guy like Ben to come up to me and tell me that he trusts me. He told me that the first NFL pass he threw was intercepted, that things were going to be okay and he was going to work through it. That was huge. For him to be joking around with me in the huddle, for him to include me as part of the conversation, that meant that he had faith in the things I can do. He was counting on me to make sure I performed to a high standard so we could all succeed as a group.”



•On the expectations of playing on the Steelers offensive line:
“Maurkice Pouncey is the guy that sets the expectations for everybody on the offensive line. From an aggressive standpoint, to the way you play, to an assignment standpoint, to a demeanor standpoint. Once he sets the standard then you just try to fall into it and he’ll make sure you play up to that standard. That’s why the offensive line here with the Steelers is so special. Everybody sets the standard and obviously Coach Munch, his experience and his play is the No. 1 standard, the Gold Jacket standard and everybody just fights and keeps everybody accountable.”


[URL]http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/4-things-Alejandro-had-to-say/d2615bc5-5e15-40a0-bb5d-1d8ad5510dab[/URL]

[Oviedo]

4 things Alejandro had to say
Posted 1 hour ago


Teresa Varley
Steelers.com


Alejandro Villanueva shares his thoughts on the o-line, Ben and more.

Alejandro Villanueva stepped up in a huge manner at left tackle last season, learning a lot about himself and what it means to play on the Steelers offensive line.

Villanueva shared his thoughts on his season earlier this offseason, and now gives his take on a number of topics, including the Gold Jacket standard on the offensive line.

•On having a Hall of Fame player as his offensive line coach:
“You wouldn’t know he is a Hall of Fame player. He’s extremely hard to define. He is not a friend, but he is not a boss. He is a natural leader of the room. He’s a guy you want to follow, a guy you want to do good things for. A guy who’s seen everything and gives you the confidence whenever you make a mistake that it is something that happens with the job. I honestly think that’s one thing that has made a difference in my life is having him as a coach. I would not have been able to play without his mentorship and the hard work I put in this year. I don’t think there’s a better offensive line coach in the NFL than Munch. His integrity and he’s an unbelievable human being. I can’t say enough about how good of a person he is and the values that he’s instilled in all of us.”


•On stepping up and embracing the next man up mentality:
“I think the thing about Coach (Mike) Tomlin is he’s very truthful to himself and to the players he’s transparent. He doesn’t hide anything and he doesn’t say anything if he doesn’t mean it. I’ve listened to a lot of coaches in the NFL and obviously a lot of coaches have to say things to motivate players that they don’t truly believe. Coach Tomlin actually believes in the next man up mentality. He believes in the development program to the practice squad. I’m a practice squad product.

“He believes in players stepping up and making plays and that gives you confidence. If you bring in a guy from the outside to do the job that will kill the confidence of the guy who has been waiting to step up. So when you hear the next man up and you actually get in those starting roles, it gives you the confidence of everything that he’s ever talked about.”



•On the best advice he received from Ben Roethlisberger:
“I had a really bad game against Kansas City, and he knew that I was coming back, that I was going to be the tackle for the team. For a guy like Ben to come up to me and tell me that he trusts me. He told me that the first NFL pass he threw was intercepted, that things were going to be okay and he was going to work through it. That was huge. For him to be joking around with me in the huddle, for him to include me as part of the conversation, that meant that he had faith in the things I can do. He was counting on me to make sure I performed to a high standard so we could all succeed as a group.”



•On the expectations of playing on the Steelers offensive line:
“Maurkice Pouncey is the guy that sets the expectations for everybody on the offensive line. From an aggressive standpoint, to the way you play, to an assignment standpoint, to a demeanor standpoint. Once he sets the standard then you just try to fall into it and he’ll make sure you play up to that standard. That’s why the offensive line here with the Steelers is so special. Everybody sets the standard and obviously Coach Munch, his experience and his play is the No. 1 standard, the Gold Jacket standard and everybody just fights and keeps everybody accountable.”


[URL]http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/4-things-Alejandro-had-to-say/d2615bc5-5e15-40a0-bb5d-1d8ad5510dab[/URL]

From a guy who knows a bit about leadership in situations far more harrowing than an NFL game he gives ringing endorsements for Tomlin, Munchak and Ben. Coming from AV how could anyone, well we all know one person, doubt any of those three men and the job they do.

[NJ-STEELER]

From a guy who knows a bit about leadership in situations far more harrowing than an NFL game he gives ringing endorsements for Tomlin, Munchak and Ben. Coming from AV how could anyone, well we all know one person, doubt any of those three men and the job they do.

pouncey as well

[RuthlessBurgher]

Mike Tomlin bracing for 'fun' Steelers left tackle battle



Mar 25, 2016
Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer



The Steelers' signing of former Broncos left tackle Ryan Harris to a two-year deal set the stage for a heated battle with Alejandro Villanueva for the starting spot.

My guess here is the job is Villanueva's to lose. That wouldn't surprise Harris, who said this week he's rarely been promised a job in his eight-year career. Yet here he is, with 70 career starts, fresh off a Super Bowl.

"The focus isn’t on another player or trying to get a spot," Harris said. "My focus will be making it through training camp healthy and proving every day."

Mike Tomlin will like the sound of that. In fact, he's already bracing for an entertaining competition. The Steelers promote open competitions everywhere, but at most positions there is a favorite. At left tackle, Harris' experience will be a factor.

Tomlin can't wait, and he wants more people involved.

"Isn’t that fun? Yep," Tomlin said at the NFL owners meetings this week. "But not only those two. Others, maybe guys you don’t even recognize. I think we always have to be open to the potential of players ascending, and the acknowledgment potentially of players descending. If we go through this process of team building, and we don’t acknowledge those two things, we are going to make a mistake or we are going to make mistakes. We aren’t interested in that, so we are excited about watching those two guys fight it out and others."

Tomlin said tight end Xavier Grimble, who's got a big frame at 6-foot-4, could "absolutely" be in the left tackle conversation. Tomlin admits he doesn't know a lot about Grimble's game because he hasn't gotten many live game reps. But he'd welcome Grimble getting in the mix here.

Grimble is a tight end by trade, so this would be an intriguing development if he switches to tackle.

Tomlin also wouldn't put anything past Villanueva, who showed up in 11 starts last year and has the staff's attention.

"I don’t know that he has failed at anything in his life, football or otherwise, given an opportunity to prepare and adjust," said Tomlin of the former Army Ranger. "We had an opportunity to watch him do that. I don’t think any of us that are around him on a day-to-day basis are surprised by what he’s done. I don’t think any of us would be surprised about the steps that he will continue to make, because he has that type of ability to commit and to work. He is a sharp guy. All of those things work in his favor."


[URL]http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/18194/mike-tomlin-bracing-for-fun-steelers-left-tackle-battle[/URL]

[Oviedo]

Mike Tomlin bracing for 'fun' Steelers left tackle battle



Mar 25, 2016
Jeremy Fowler
ESPN Staff Writer



The Steelers' signing of former Broncos left tackle Ryan Harris to a two-year deal set the stage for a heated battle with Alejandro Villanueva for the starting spot.

My guess here is the job is Villanueva's to lose. That wouldn't surprise Harris, who said this week he's rarely been promised a job in his eight-year career. Yet here he is, with 70 career starts, fresh off a Super Bowl.

"The focus isn’t on another player or trying to get a spot," Harris said. "My focus will be making it through training camp healthy and proving every day."

Mike Tomlin will like the sound of that. In fact, he's already bracing for an entertaining competition. The Steelers promote open competitions everywhere, but at most positions there is a favorite. At left tackle, Harris' experience will be a factor.

Tomlin can't wait, and he wants more people involved.

"Isn’t that fun? Yep," Tomlin said at the NFL owners meetings this week. "But not only those two. Others, maybe guys you don’t even recognize. I think we always have to be open to the potential of players ascending, and the acknowledgment potentially of players descending. If we go through this process of team building, and we don’t acknowledge those two things, we are going to make a mistake or we are going to make mistakes. We aren’t interested in that, so we are excited about watching those two guys fight it out and others."

Tomlin said tight end Xavier Grimble, who's got a big frame at 6-foot-4, could "absolutely" be in the left tackle conversation. Tomlin admits he doesn't know a lot about Grimble's game because he hasn't gotten many live game reps. But he'd welcome Grimble getting in the mix here.

Grimble is a tight end by trade, so this would be an intriguing development if he switches to tackle.

Tomlin also wouldn't put anything past Villanueva, who showed up in 11 starts last year and has the staff's attention.

"I don’t know that he has failed at anything in his life, football or otherwise, given an opportunity to prepare and adjust," said Tomlin of the former Army Ranger. "We had an opportunity to watch him do that. I don’t think any of us that are around him on a day-to-day basis are surprised by what he’s done. I don’t think any of us would be surprised about the steps that he will continue to make, because he has that type of ability to commit and to work. He is a sharp guy. All of those things work in his favor."


[URL]http://espn.go.com/blog/pittsburgh-steelers/post/_/id/18194/mike-tomlin-bracing-for-fun-steelers-left-tackle-battle[/URL]

Larry Brown, Part 2

Tomlin said tight end Xavier Grimble, who's got a big frame at 6-foot-4, could "absolutely" be in the left tackle conversation. Tomlin admits he doesn't know a lot about Grimble's game because he hasn't gotten many live game reps. But he'd welcome Grimble getting in the mix here.

Grimble is a tight end by trade, so this would be an intriguing development if he switches to tackle.

My money is on the Army Ranger

[papillon]

Larry Brown, Part 2



My money is on the Army Ranger

It will be difficult to out perform him IMO from a physical, mental and leadership perspective, he has those three things in spades by default. Just as a for instance, when the end of the Bengal got heated, AV was the player that stepped in and made sure that Porter was removed from a potentially volatile situation and keep the advantage that the Steelers had garnered due to the lack of the exact same leadership from the Bengals.

Pappy