State of The Team............. O-line

It's that time of year again.. I'll be looking at, and posting my observations about the team leading up to camp... First will be the o-line as I strongly believe that our offenses hopes revolve around the effectiveness of the unit.. Games are and always will be won up front so these guys may just be the most important part of the offense, and with another season under Munchak's tutelage, may get even better... Now on to the evals.

Overview:
Under Coach Munchak, the o-line has become a top ten unit in short order (8th ranked according to Pro Football Focus), and it showed in the production of the offense.. The starters are set, although I personally feel that we could upgrade in the future at a few positions.... The real battles here are for the back up spots.. We have great need and a few intriguing players at the tackle position, and I feel the back up guard spots will be strongly contested as well... The real question is will the guys that win the back up spots be able to step in if the injury bug hits.

OT:
Kelvin Beachum --- All he does is produce wherever the coaches put him. Able to play all 5 o-line positions and solidified the line as a starter at either tackle spot the last 2 yrs... Technically sound, and he needs to be due to his lack of size, but he is always working to get better... Right now he's the unquestioned starter at LT, and I believe he will be a starter on this line no matter where he is placed in the future.

Marcus Gilbert --- The unquestioned starter on the right side.. Has his moments when he is very effective, but is also inconsistent.. Needs to work on his knee bend as he tends to get a bit too high, which usually results in him being walked back into the pocket far too often, or knocked over... I look for Coach Munchak to work with him closely in this area.. Gilbert's consistency needs to improve greatly in order to live up to that big contract he signed.. He's steadily improved since his rookie season, and I look for that to continue.

Mike Adams --- The #1 back up at both tackle spots and so far that hasn't been a good thing (at least on the left).. Much better on the right than on the left, but hasn't shown the ability to do it on an everyday basis.... Still needs help in pass protection and I feel the door is closing quickly for him.

Alejandro Villanueva --- Probably the most intriguing player we have coming into camp...A wr in college and came to us at 6'9" and 277 lbs... Since then he has put on approx. 60 lbs. and none of it is fat.....As a former receiver, his feet are more than good enough for either tackle position, and his size is impossible to ignore... When the pads come on, i'm sure he will be one of the most watched players on the field.. His development in camp and pre-season will be exciting to watch.. My personal hope is that he can show the ability to dominate at LT and give us the ability to move Beachum to LG for 2016, but for now I'll be pulling for him to make the team and become a valuable reserve for this season.

Mitchell Van Dyke --- Another tall man at 6'7", but I feel that he won't be mobile, or athletic enough to make much of a difference... Probably an early cut

Kevin Whimpey --- The man with an extremely unfortunate name for a football player (especially for a lineman)... I've watched his college tape some, and came away cautiously impressed.. He has good feet and moves very well in space...He's also fairly strong (as he showed at the combine with 39 reps).. Still think he will need some extra schooling and should be a candidate for the PS, without much fear of him being snatched up by another team.

OG:
Dave Decastro --- One of the stars of the O-line... Already one of the better pulling guards in the league and forming a great 1-2 punch on the inside with Pouncey... I strongly believe he was a pro bowl snub last yr., just as I also believe he won't get snubbed this yr..... Constantly improving and has very few holes in his game.... The sky is the limit for this one.

Ramon Foster --- One of the leaders of the unit, but also imho, one of the weak links of the line as well... Foster's footwork is his undoing.. Coach Munchak has done a very good job of masking that weakness, but against some of the better dt's in the league, that weakness tends to rear it's ugly head.. He does play with some nastiness though, but at the same time can get a bit over aggressive.... Technigue needs some refining, and i'm sure it's being worked on.. I do love his attitude and I do like the player overall, but I also feel that his spot could be upgraded .

Chris Hubbard --- I believe he is in for the fight of his life to remain on the roster.. It's very telling that when Foster was hurt last yr, that the coaches went to the back up C to fill the hole rather than Hubbard.. He's got some strong young competition coming in, which i'll get to later... His spot is one that will get a very hard look in camp. Is he up to the task.

Miles Dieffenbach --- A young, mobile guard that probably has the best chance of unseating Hubbard... May need to get a bit stronger, but otherwise, has the skill set required to be effective.

Reese Dismukes --- Almost a perfect fit for what we do on the o-line... May need to get bigger, but no issues with his speed and mobility for the position with a good deal of upside.... I don't think he stays around if we stick him on the practice squad..

Collin Rahrig --- An extreme longshot to make the team.... actually an extreme longshot to make it past the first set of cuts

C:
Maurkice Pouncey --- One of the elite Centers in the league, and is continuing our rich tradition at the position...... Compares very favorably to Dermonti Dawson due to his mobility.... Not quite as strong as Dawson was, but is no slouch either as evidenced by his nullifying the likes of Dontari Poe among others.. More importantly, he played a full season.... I look for more of the same this season as he continues to provide excellence at the position.

Cody Wallace --- Due to Pouncey's excellence and health, was not able to get on the field snapping the ball, but saw enough time at LG to know that the coaches have faith in him. A player with a nasty disposition... Probably the only back up spot that is not in question on the line.

BJ Finney --- Long shot to make it due to Wallace's play, but will get an extended look from the coaches before cutting him loose... a possible PS candidate.

Next up:
D-line

 

I absolutely agree with 90% of this. OT Villa is intriguing. Army Ranger type, large, strong, athletic, Smart. He's the perfect clay for Munchak. I'd love for us to get a great LT and move Beachum inside LG.

I disagree about Wallace. His job is not safe. He is too limited. BJ and Reese will push him.

Roster Locks- Beachum,Foster,Pouncey,DD,Gilbert:: Near Locks- Villa,Adams,Cody:: Serious contenders- Reese, BJ

Cajun

 

I disagree on Hubbard. I think there is a reason they brought him back... to compete directly with Foster. Ramon is getting up there in age, and they probably don't want to over pay him for another contract.

Hubbard made the team as a rookie it was only due to a forced roster move that they had to drop him. So Munch must like him. And I think the only reason Wallace got the nod over him, was experience and possibly situational match-ups. I think Hubbard is the better guard between the 2.

I like Beach at LT, as much as it would be a good story, but at best I think Villa could be a strong backup and unseat Adams.

 

I have a sneaking suspicion that Mike Adams is one of the 'shock' cuts of camp.

I have nothing to base this on, just a sense. But we need some diamonds in the rough to emerge.

 

Unfortunately I think our Oline is overrated. Ben is very good at avoiding the rush and making a play. This helps the Oline look better then they actually are. Bell is perhaps the most elusive RB in the league and makes guys miss left and right. Again, this helps the Oline look better than they are. Now of course there are times when Ben holds the ball too long and makes the Oline looks worse than they actually are, but for the most part I think the opposite is true.

We're definitely better in this area than we have been in years, and hopefully the improvement continues this year, but I don't think we were good enough last year and I think this weakness was exposed in the playoffs.

I hope i'm wrong though!

 

I pretty much agree with B&G assessment. The only reason Adams made the team after a horrible camp and subpar preseason is because of his draft status and the hirirng of a HOF OL Coach. He better show marked improvement or he could be cut this year.

Cajun

 

Thinking about it, I suppose another factor (though probably not a huge one) is whether they continue to use him as TE in certain packages, or whether someone else starts to fill that role.

 

Both of our tackles were certainly exposed vs. the Ravens last playoffs. If we want to win in December and January they will definitely need to improve their game.

 

Beachum is more of a finesse tackle. Relies on technique and speed. Big boys aka Suggs manhandle him. That's why big front 4 teams give our lines problems. Jets, Ravens, Bucs, etc.

 

Not as many problems as you would think.... we've beaten the lions, and you would be hard pressed to find a better defensive front than that.. we've also handled the bills front 4, which isn't much further behind the lions.... and it wasn't the bucs front 4 that gave us problems, it was our own back 4... we lost to the ravens in the playoffs due to our lack of offensive continuity without bell..... don't worry about us handling strong front 4's... we'll be ok

 

i agree. i think hubbard could turn into a decent lineman. he reminds me alot of beachum. i think he has that work ethic too.

i'm also pulling for AV. he too has the work ethic. i could see him sticking if the knee bend is there at his size. i believe we will keep as many of these high quality backups as we can for not only this year but next. they may be pushing starters the whole time.

beachum as most know is one of my favorites and i think he gets even better as he goes under munch.

i think we may see as many as 3 of these o-linemen that are in camp kept on the PS.

 

Steeler Nation Radio has been saying for a very long time that Mike Adams is unlikely to get a new contract.

 

Regarding Beachum, there have been multiple articles stating Beachum is one of the best Left Tackles in the entire NFL. If so id not move a converted wide receiver practice squad fodder in to replace him.

 

Yeah cause they're always right. At this point Adams is a solid backup.

 

They dont seem to think he will be kept and the Steelers use some of the SNR guys to teach their O Line. SNR is the best place online or on radio to get accurate steeler O Line info. google Tunch Ilkin and Craig Wolfley etc

You DO realize these guys played O Line for the steelers and know more than you or I or anyone on this board ever will regarding offensive line.... they know Adams needs a lot of work.....

 

I listen to SNR almost every weekday. I've heard Tunch and Wolf say plenty that they were right about and Ive heard them say plenty that never panned out.
It's all just opinions. I'm sure the Steelers would'nt want them broadcasting inside info If they had privilege to such things.

 

So we agree that Adams needs to improve or the steelers probably wont sign him again.

 

I see you edited your post.
Thanks for the info, I had no idea they were former players.

 

No. I believe as I stated earlier that he's a solid backup.

 

So you are saying theres a CHANCE he gets cut

 

Anything is possible. I have no idea what the Steelers plans with Adams are for certain.
I'm just stating my opinion and what makes the most sense to me.