Gilbert

[feltdizz]

Too soon to be drawing conclusions about Shazier's career. I hope he considers his health and well being before deciding about coming back, though.

nah.. I think we all know his career is over. I just he can lead a healthy life outside of football.

[phillyesq]

As for Gilbert/Hubbard, Hubbard did a great job filling in, but there were points where he struggled in pass protection. I never thought I'd say this, but Gilbert is upgrade, at least in pass protection.

Hubbard has been a great backup and will deservedly be paid well as a starter next year. For this year, he's nice depth to have.

[Shoe]

Hubbard is a UFA, and there is no way we’re going to be able to sign him if we’re franchising Bell again and paying Shazier $8 million...

I thought Hubbard was restricted? It will suck to see him go, because he is a good back-up. Don't get it twisted about him vs. Gilbert though. As for Villanueva, people need to chill a little bit unless you thought he would be Anthony Munoz. This is what you will always get from him, because he has physical limitations.

What this all says to me though, is that Munchak is a great coach. Villanueva, Hubbard, Gilbert, Beachum a couple years ago, BJ Finney... Munchak is the best OL coach in football.

[Steelerphile]

Gilbert is better than Hubbard, its not all that close.

Hubbard is a free agent at the end of the season

Do you have any statistics or something that backs this up. That it's not even close? Because just on the eye test, I think it is close and that Hubbard performs very well and is one of the best offensive lineman they have. Roethlisberger has not been sacked a lot this year. He generally has a lot of time and when he has been sacked it is usually a coverage sack.

Hubbard even led some sweeps that Bell ran against the Patriots very successfully so he is also a good run blocker, which is something I thought he was being criticized for. People were blaming him for Bells low ypc. but that stat is not the fault of Hubbard. I think Hubbard if physically one of their strongest lineman, if not the strongest. I don't see Gilbert's big advantage except he is taller and more the prototypical tackle in that regard.

[Slapstick]

I thought Hubbard was restricted? It will suck to see him go, because he is a good back-up.

He was an RFA after last season and signed his tender, a one year deal. Someone will pay him starter money. It will be up to Munchak (unless someone pursued him for a head coaching job) to develop new players to take his place.

[pittpete]

I want to be optimistic but tough for this one. I think Inside LB will be very high among our draft needs in 2018.

Safety and ILB should be our highest priorties IMO.

[Mr.wizard]

Safety and MLB are needs for us but we may fill those through free agency, at least for the safety spot I think we go free agent.

[feltdizz]

Do you have any statistics or something that backs this up. That it's not even close? Because just on the eye test, I think it is close and that Hubbard performs very well and is one of the best offensive lineman they have. Roethlisberger has not been sacked a lot this year. He generally has a lot of time and when he has been sacked it is usually a coverage sack.

Hubbard even led some sweeps that Bell ran against the Patriots very successfully so he is also a good run blocker, which is something I thought he was being criticized for. People were blaming him for Bells low ypc. but that stat is not the fault of Hubbard. I think Hubbard if physically one of their strongest lineman, if not the strongest. I don't see Gilbert's big advantage except he is taller and more the prototypical tackle in that regard.

granted I’m not an OL guy but I think the sack numbers are down because Ben has embraced the dump off to LB. He still takes sacks but they are usually coverage sacks like you stated.

I think Gilbert is a better run blocker and I don’t think a few sweeps are proof Hubbard is as good as Gilbert.

I would sign whoever saves us the most coin though if the difference isn’t that significant. I’m sure the OL coach probably prefers Gilbert but likes having a guy like Hubbard as a full in.

[K Train]

granted I’m not an OL guy but I think the sack numbers are down because Ben has embraced the dump off to LB. He still takes sacks but they are usually coverage sacks like you stated.

I think Gilbert is a better run blocker and I don’t think a few sweeps are proof Hubbard is as good as Gilbert.

I would sign whoever saves us the most coin though if the difference isn’t that significant. I’m sure the OL coach probably prefers Gilbert but likes having a guy like Hubbard as a full in.

From a financial standpoint gilbert is one of the highest paid RTs in the game...and he signed that deal before he became one of, if not the best RT in the league. Munchak has OL fairy dust and makes pure magic at developing linemen...he has obviously had tremendous talent to work with but between guys like AV, Beach, Hubbard he can really get the most out of players even if they lack experience and/or size.

Look back at David Stewart and Michael Roos on the titans a while back...blocks of raw clay transformed into pro bowlers. Most shocking thing about Munchaks time with us is the magnitude of what a lost cause Mike Adams had to have been for munchak to not get anything at all out of him.

That being said...Gilbert is VERY good. As far as stats go, I dont care for citing PFF stats because a lot of them seem obscure to me and their slogan should be "we watch the games so you dont have to" with the way PFF fan boys love talking about the stats they come out with on an individual basis....but the last two years gilbert has been in the top 5 for pass blocking efficiency, and that top 5 consisted of 4 left tackle and one right tackle. He has always been a good run blocker, but he has grown into a really great player overall.

Actually i just checked, when gilbert signed the deal he was like the 4-5 hight paid RT in the league...his current deal makes him the 13-14th highest paid now and he is signed through 2020

[feltdizz]

From a financial standpoint gilbert is one of the highest paid RTs in the game...and he signed that deal before he became one of, if not the best RT in the league. Munchak has OL fairy dust and makes pure magic at developing linemen...he has obviously had tremendous talent to work with but between guys like AV, Beach, Hubbard he can really get the most out of players even if they lack experience and/or size.

Look back at David Stewart and Michael Roos on the titans a while back...blocks of raw clay transformed into pro bowlers. Most shocking thing about Munchaks time with us is the magnitude of what a lost cause Mike Adams had to have been for munchak to not get anything at all out of him.

That being said...Gilbert is VERY good. As far as stats go, I dont care for citing PFF stats because a lot of them seem obscure to me and their slogan should be "we watch the games so you dont have to" with the way PFF fan boys love talking about the stats they come out with on an individual basis....but the last two years gilbert has been in the top 5 for pass blocking efficiency, and that top 5 consisted of 4 left tackle and one right tackle. He has always been a good run blocker, but he has grown into a really great player overall.

Actually i just checked, when gilbert signed the deal he was like the 4-5 hight paid RT in the league...his current deal makes him the 13-14th highest paid now and he is signed through 2020

yeah, there is no reason to get rid of Gilbert unless he is on that stuff.