How would YOU feel if...

[SteelCrazy]

In light of the way our Offensive line has been playing, how would you feel if we resigned all the free agent OL and kept our line intact?

They have been playing really well and protecting Big Ben as of late. I'm not sure but wouldnt be totally against it, I think?

[papillon]

Re: How would YOU feel if...

In light of the way our Offensive line has been playing, how would you feel if we resigned all the free agent OL and kept our line intact?

They have been playing really well and protecting Big Ben as of late. I'm not sure but wouldnt be totally against it, I think?

You have a perfect username if retaining these 5 guys would be a possibility if you were Colbert. :P

Pappy

[birtikidis]

Re: How would YOU feel if...

i think we SHOULD keep them all. draft their replacements but keep what we have.

[MaxAMillion]

Re: How would YOU feel if...

You have to make changes to the OL. A couple of decent games in pass protection does not erase what we have seen over the entire season. You have to look to upgrade the OL this offseason. I would actually make a run at Brown (OC for the Ravens). He is probably one of the best young centers in football (Ravens may try and franchise him). If that means letting McFadden and Washington go then so be it. I would also draft a guard on day one and put him in Kemo's spot. Kemo is way too inconsistent. Resign Starx (unless the organization feels Hills can do the job). I would also try and sign someone like Runyan for cheap money. He allows Colon to move inside to his natural Guard position.

You definitely don't want to invest in this OL long term. The talent is just not there. The teams with the best OL invest high draft choices or big money in their OL. The Steelers need to do the same. Ben is too important an investment. The Steelers have a rare commodity. They have a championship caliber QB. You must surround him with top talent.

[Djfan]

Re: How would YOU feel if...

i think we SHOULD keep them all. draft their replacements but keep what we have.

I agree, sort of. They all seem to gaff at times. If we get something better in FA or even the draft I don't mind letting some go.

But, I will agree that they have done MUCH better lately.

[SteelCrazy]

Re: How would YOU feel if...

What about Marvel? Starks? Starks probably wont come very cheap.

[birtikidis]

Re: How would YOU feel if...

I'd let marvel walk. but no way do i get into bidding wars or put a ton of trust in a couple of rooks on the o-line.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Re: How would YOU feel if...

I would resign Essex and let him play LG. I would let Marvel go unless he would sign for a two year deal for half of what he makes now. Max Starks will not sign with the Steelers. I would try and sign Jordan Gross for around 9 or 10 a year and he plays LT. I would draft an OT if one was there I felt could replace Colon immediately at RT. If not, then I would shoot for the best OG I could draft and make them a backup OG and hopefully the OG stay healthy so they can learn for a year. We have Simmons coming back next year too.

LT - Gross (Essex)
LG - Essex/Stapleton (whoever doesn't start backs up at both OG, Stapleton at OG&OC)
C - Hartwig (Stapleton/Draftee)
RG - Simmons/Colon (Stapleton/draftee)
RT - Colon/ Hills/ Draftee

Wonder if Cappizi could develop into a starter?

[Discipline of Steel]

Re: How would YOU feel if...

To me, the first ones Id show the door are Marvel (old, damaged goods) and Simmons (sucked, damaged goods). The next wave might include Starks and Kemo, depending on their salary demands. Although Id cross my fingers for Kemo to return with a fair price because I believe we need a power running facet to our offense. If we are lucky, this wave of departures could finance a high profile free agent or high draft pick at OT.

[SteelBucks]

Re: How would YOU feel if...

I would resign Essex and let him play LG. I would let Marvel go unless he would sign for a two year deal for half of what he makes now. Max Starks will not sign with the Steelers. I would try and sign Jordan Gross for around 9 or 10 a year and he plays LT. I would draft an OT if one was there I felt could replace Colon immediately at RT. If not, then I would shoot for the best OG I could draft and make them a backup OG and hopefully the OG stay healthy so they can learn for a year. We have Simmons coming back next year too.

LT - Gross (Essex)
LG - Essex/Stapleton (whoever doesn't start backs up at both OG, Stapleton at OG&OC)
C - Hartwig (Stapleton/Draftee)
RG - Simmons/Colon (Stapleton/draftee)
RT - Colon/ Hills/ Draftee

Wonder if Cappizi could develop into a starter?

You can forget about Gross. There's talk that Carolina might break the bank and make him the highest paid lineman in the league.

[SteelCrazy]

Re: How would YOU feel if...

We wouldnt sign Gross if we could get him for 8 per. Love the thoughts of him being over there tho. Wonder how good Ben would be if he didnt have to worry about his blind side?

[Chadman]

Re: How would YOU feel if...

There is no way the Steelers OL will be 'fixed' to everyone's liking in a year. But the pieces can be put in place...

LT- Let Marvel walk. Can't hope that he can hold up again- 2 years in a row he's finished the season early & too expensive to take a chance on. Starks has done reasonably well at LT since stepping in. The Steelers will have to pay well to keep him, but Chadman gets an idea he'd like to stay (Off Topic- through the magic of Facebook, Chadman is in contact with Trai Essex, Darnell Stapleton & Willie Colon. One thing that becomes evident right away is that these guys, along with Max Starks, are good mates with eachother & with Ben R. Keeping them together might not be as hard as you would think...). Isn't Max Ben's 'best friend' on the team? Trai Essex is valuable because he can play OT & OG. Tony Hills needs a shot at LT before we can write him off. Also- On Jordan Gross, with Peppers saying he wants out, Gross will become the Panhthers number 1 priority to retain. Scratch him. And drafting a rookie LT at 32...you'll be looking at the 6th or 7th best prospect- there is better value elsewhere.

LG- Kemo was a promising player going into the season. He's getting less promising as the season goes on. He can't pass block. He just doesn't seem to know who to block. Chadman would let him walk. Move Simmons to LG for next season. His back-up will come later...

Center- Hartwig is solid. He should be the starter again next season. The Steelers can, however, still get a rookie to back him up & also play OG. Alex Mack (if still around at 32) could play OG right away until Hartwig moves on. Jonathon Luigs is a solid option in Round 2 to do the same.

RG- Darnell Stapleton is playing pretty well- but doesn't seem to have the strength needed in the running game. He's worth holding onto though because he's cheap & plays effectively. Chadman would move Willie Colon from RT to Rg. Watching Colon play, it's not a matter of his strength that causes him trouble blocking. He's solid once he gets his hands on you. It's his speed. He has the turning circle of the Titanic. If he was to move inside to RG, his lack of foot speed can be negated, and Chadman believes you get a solid player there. If you take away his speed, he's an effective blocker in both running & passing games.

RT- This is where the Steelers need an immediate upgrade. While drafting at #32 gets you the 6th or 7th best LT, it could get you the #1 RT. For Chadman, that man is Phil Loadholt. Chadman would draft him at #32 & plug him in at RT right away. Have Essex, Colon & Hills be his back-up if he struggles.

So then you have a line that looks like this-

LT- Max Starks
LG- Kendall Simmons
OC- Justin Hartwig
RG- Willie Colon
RT- Phil Loadholt

Essex, Stapleton, Luigs & Hills are the back-ups.

First thing you do schematically is dump ZONE BLOCKING & use the size of this OL to your advantage. These are some big boys. They are not agile enough to Zone Block.

By shoring up the right side of the OL in one year, you know that future work is to be done on the left. It's a process, but the players Chadman named have shown improvement this season.

[SteelCrazy]

Re: How would YOU feel if...

Watching Colon play, it's not a matter of his strength that causes him trouble blocking. He's solid once he gets his hands on you. It's his speed. He has the turning circle of the Titanic. If he was to move inside to RG, his lack of foot speed can be negated, and Chadman believes you get a solid player there.

You are absolutely correct there. That is why he is always false starting. He tries to get that extra time needed to block the rusher.

I'd be more than happy if we could do it like you posted.

[Mister Pittsburgh]

Re: How would YOU feel if...

I would resign Essex and let him play LG. I would let Marvel go unless he would sign for a two year deal for half of what he makes now. Max Starks will not sign with the Steelers. I would try and sign Jordan Gross for around 9 or 10 a year and he plays LT. I would draft an OT if one was there I felt could replace Colon immediately at RT. If not, then I would shoot for the best OG I could draft and make them a backup OG and hopefully the OG stay healthy so they can learn for a year. We have Simmons coming back next year too.

LT - Gross (Essex)
LG - Essex/Stapleton (whoever doesn't start backs up at both OG, Stapleton at OG&OC)
C - Hartwig (Stapleton/Draftee)
RG - Simmons/Colon (Stapleton/draftee)
RT - Colon/ Hills/ Draftee

Wonder if Cappizi could develop into a starter?

You can forget about Gross. There's talk that Carolina might break the bank and make him the highest paid lineman in the league.

I was seeing they would probably be able to sign Gross for 10 million a season, where if you look at it he would immediately be better than any option we have at LT, and the two we do have make 14 million plus. Essex would sign cheap so with Gross and Essex you would still probably be under or at 14 million dollars a year for a starter and backup.

[frankthetank1]

Re: How would YOU feel if...

i really really hope that simmons and colon are not on the team next season and if they are i hope its a back up role. especially colon, that guy is useless. i would like to keep max starks but not for a whole lot of money. kemo im kind of on the fence about. i guess he should stay but again not for a lot of money. you cant replace to many guys on the o-line in only one off season.