2005 O-line vs. 2016 O-line

Smith - Faneca - Hartings - Simmons - Starks VS. Villanueva - Foster - Pouncey - DeCastro - Gilbert.

I say the '05 line is better on the left side, at present, than the '16 line. Villanueva could turn out to be one of the best Steelers LTs as he progresses... but he's yet to achieve the consistency that Marvel Smith achieved.

The '16 line is better on the right side. Center is a draw. Hartings was a beast of a center... and did not have the bad luck of injuries like Pouncey, but Pouncey is a little more athletic and quicker to get to the 2nd level.

 

05 is better but this line can be really special. Also doesnt hurt that haley designs plays to get the ball out quick.

 

In the run game,
05 was better at what they did (Power/Trap).
16 is better at what they do (Inside Zone/Trap).

Overall, I'd give the slight edge to 16... and by the end of year, AV may make that gap wider.

(Both Faneca and Decastro are phenomenal pulling guards)
(Hartings and Pouncey is also a push)
(Foster is significantly better than Simmons)
(Gilbert is significantly better than Starks)
(Smith was significantly better than AV)

 

I agree with all of that... but DeCastro is RG, Faneca was LG. Faneca is much better than Foster. DeCastro is much better than Simmons. It's not really fair to compare Foster and Simmons since they played different positions. DeCastro and Faneca are identical in skill set. If DeCastro keeps it up... he will join Faneca in HOF nominees.

 

It's perfectly fair, they are the primary pulling/trapping guard in the offense... doesn't matter what side they play

 

Winners....
'05 Smith, Faneca, Simmons
'16 Pouncey and Gilbert

 

Smith over Villy
Faneca over Foster
Pouncey/Hartings stalemate. I'd take 53
Decastro over Simmons
Gilbert over Starks

Just like you said... the left side was better in '05 and our right side is stronger now. We have a pretty good unit. It's no doubt a part of why we are so good offensively. Can't have Ben Bell and Brown killing it without the line holding up