Kraig Urbik

Sounds like this guy has been doing a good job at Buffalo. How could we let him go and keep Kemo and Foster? Obviously, Buffalo has a better OL system to develop young linemen. I was never high on Kemo and he managed to start for nearly 4 years and get a good contract. We need to fill both guards who are real linemen, not wannabes.

 

From the Steelers Lounge:

When the Steelers waived Kraig Urbik, apparently a whole lot of teams were lining up to claim him.

According to the National Football Post, five different teams put in waiver claims on the 2009 third-round pick with the Bills winning the claim because they had the worst record among the five teams last year.

The fact that Urbik is in demand does make it clear that his improvement this August was noticed by other teams. And there were surely teams who liked his scouting report last year when he was coming out of Wisconsin.

But this doesn’t necessarily mean that the Steelers made a mistake by waiving him. Pittsburgh just ran into a numbers game. Pittsburgh doesn’t have a whole lot of starting caliber offensive linemen, but it was overflowing with backup caliber guards with some potential.

Pittsburgh was stuck choosing between Doug Legursky, who is likely on the gameday roster because of his ability to play center, guard and fullback; Ramon Foster who can play both guard spots and right tackle, and Urbik. Urbik may have the best pile-pushing ability of the three, but he also has the least mobility and the most difficulties blocking linebackers and other moving targets at the second level.

 

Urbik was given his chances in Training camp and pre-season games. If you couldn't look decent considering the talent level in front of you, then he wasn't good enough to make the team. That being said, sometimes NFL players take a while to mature and look good. That being said I agree with above written article they ran into a numbers game.

 

He is not that good, and not good enough for us. Then again, neither are the guys we have...

Also, he really was terrible when he was here. I thought we'd keep him one more year because of his draft status, and because he had room to improve. Those were the reasons other teams lined up for him. It certainly wasn't because of anything he'd shown. He was the worst lineman in every preseason game he played for us. He definitely got better, but I'm not convinced he's better than Foster or Legursky. He's a bust any way you look at it.

 

Just because he played for the Bills or several teams tried to claim him off waivers doesn't mean we messed up cutting him. As a run blocking OG he's okay. His position flexibility stinks. If he's no better than essex or foster or Legs why keep him? We need an upgrade.

Cajun-

 

Plus, his arms are too short.

 

Urbik is not that good. He has earned a starting job for some of the games this year but has not taken the league by storm or anything. He's done decent, or better than what Buffalo has had lately. Buffalo's line has been awful for years, just like ours. I don't think we made a mistake getting rid of Urbik. He's nothing special and nothing to fret about.

 

yep i dont think he is very good either.....glad he is not a steeler

 

I agree with this post and I think it is spot on....He is a man on man blocker and best suited to just mall people at the poc.....This is not the style of our O so cutting him was the right move in that case.....Make no mistake he is a Great Heads up push the pile guy.....We have others and we have cut others and we have RB'S who also fit that style......But ,,,that is not our approach so it was a correct move if we intend on continuing in that direction....

 

You must be pretty bad if you get cut from our group of offensive lineman.

 

Regardless, he went there and became a starter. He has also played starting center for them when pressed into service and done ok at that. Everyone on this board likes to berate our Oline and say it is the worst in the league. Fact is, it really is not and Ben's style makes them look bad. Ba's play calling makes them look bad. Play designs make them look bad. And subpar guards that are the key to our seemingly only running play make them look bad.

 

I'll agree with that, Batch and Leftwhich makes this offense look like it runs "smoother" at times.

I'm upset because they drafted Urbik and Keith Williams, and gave up on them early. Foster was actually a tackle coming out of college and Legursk a Center. Why are we throwing back up tackles and centers at the guard position? Position versatility? Really? Would you cut Jeff Otah or Ben Grubbs because he can't play tackle? Faneca hated playing tackle, he just did because he had to, would you cut him?

If these guys had more upside than what we had currently at guard I think you need to make a tough decision and keep one of them. How do you get experience if you don't have any?