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hawaiiansteeler
05-20-2015, 12:37 AM
Steelers guard Foster likes offense's direction heading into season

By Mark Kaboly
Tuesday, May 19, 2015

http://triblive.com/csp/mediapool/sites/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?STREAMOID=obdCs xGSgOjQH4dhavBfRM$daE2N3K4ZzOUsqbU5sYs6Ds9qHnGVz1U CDGfkPWrfWCsjLu883Ygn4B49Lvm9bPe2QeMKQdVeZmXF$9l$4 uCZ8QDXhaHEp3rvzXRJFdy0KqPHLoMevcTLo3h8xh70Y6N_U_C ryOsw6FTOdKL_jpQ-&CONTENTTYPE=image/jpeg

Steelers guard Ramon Foster said he believes the tools are in place for the offense to build on last year's record-breaking season.

The Steelers offensive rankings in 2014:

Category Result Rank

Yards per play 6.2 1

Yards per game 444.1 2

First downs per game 24.7 2nd

Passing yards per game 301.6 2nd

Points per game 27.3 7th

Even though Ramon Foster hasn't been around long enough to know the full history of the Steelers, he is more than aware of the franchise's defense-first mentality.

That has changed in recent years, and it is just fine with the Steelers starting left guard.

“I don't think we ever talked about the offense like we have been,” Foster said. “To be honest with you, it gives you a little swagger. It doesn't make you feel like the red-headed stepchild. We have a shot at doing something special.”

It all starts, and maybe ends, with the offense.

Coming off a record-breaking offensive season that put an end to the Steelers' playoff drought, everything is in place for them to better it this year. That could propel them back to a record ninth Super Bowl appearance in February.

“Everything is lining up,” Foster said.

The Steelers return all 11 starters on offense for the first time since the strike-shortened 1982 season if Martavis Bryant doesn't unseat Markus Wheaton as the No. 2 receiver.

That means the Steelers will have the same players in place that put up a team-record 436 points last year, scored at least 30 points seven times and has the NFL's leading passer (Ben Roethlisberger), receiver (Antonio Brown) and the AFC's leading rusher (Le'Veon Bell) in their primes.

to read rest of article:

http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/8391747-74/steelers-offense-foster#ixzz3aeZWHOQ5

Count Steeler
05-20-2015, 05:25 AM
High expectations on our O this year for sure. Can Ben get to 5500 yds? And can Bell get to 1500 yds rushing? That is a lot of yards. Hopefully they don't fizzle in the Red Zone.

86WARD
05-20-2015, 05:52 AM
I'd be extremely happy with 5000 passing and 1200 rushing.

tube517
05-20-2015, 09:24 AM
I'd be happy with a 7th Lombardi

86WARD
05-20-2015, 09:30 AM
I'd be happy with a 7th Lombardi

It would be okay...;)

hawaiiansteeler
05-20-2015, 02:12 PM
High expectations on our O this year for sure.

And can Bell get to 1500 yds rushing?

1500 yards will be very difficult to attain, especially considering that Bell is suspended for the first 3 games of the season...

polamalubeast
05-20-2015, 02:19 PM
1500 yards will be very difficult to attain, especially considering that Bell is suspended for the first 3 games of the season...

I agree

Also, it's possible that Bell will ever be a 1,500-yard back, but he is a player that will probably be a 1200-1300 yards back with 700-800 yards as a receiver as last year.

The Steelers have hugely missed Bell as receiver against the Ravens in the playoffs


Even when Bell has not a good game on the ground,he has a big impact as a receiver.

Lady Steel
05-20-2015, 10:52 PM
I'd be happy with a 7th Lombardi

That's the goal! :tt02:

hawaiiansteeler
05-23-2015, 06:19 PM
Steelers offensive line targeting injury-free performance as key

By Mark Kaboly
Thursday, May 21, 2015

http://triblive.com/csp/mediapool/sites/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?STREAMOID=SLgH0 SvgU2AqPtREKaiuhc$daE2N3K4ZzOUsqbU5sYv3MPt9nH9F92_ Iqy2zLzMEWCsjLu883Ygn4B49Lvm9bPe2QeMKQdVeZmXF$9l$4 uCZ8QDXhaHEp3rvzXRJFdy0KqPHLoMevcTLo3h8xh70Y6N_U_C ryOsw6FTOdKL_jpQ-&CONTENTTYPE=image/jpeg

Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey (53) anchors a solid offensive line that includes guards David DeCastro (66), Ramon Foster (73) and tackle Kelvin Beachum (68). Marcus Gilbert (not in photo) completes the Steelers' unit.

The number of starting offensive line combinations for the Steelers over the past five years:

2014 3

2013 7

2012 7

2011 9

2010 4

Source: Trib Total Media research

All-Pro center Maurkice Pouncey believes the Steelers can have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL this season.

So does veteran guard Ramon Foster.

“Barring injury,” Foster said.

That's the catch, isn't it?

The Steelers made retooling and rebuilding their offensive line a priority for three consecutive years through the draft. They used first-round picks on Pouncey and David DeCastro and second-round picks on Marcus Gilbert and Mike Adams.

But every year, injuries would derail those plans.

• In 2011, the Steelers had nine different starting offensive line combinations, including seven in a row to start the season because of various injuries.

• In 2012, rookie first-round pick DeCastro missed the majority of the season with a knee injury in the preseason caused by Gilbert falling into his leg. Later, Gilbert missed the final 11 games with a shoulder injury.

• In 2013, Pouncey was lost for the year with an ACL tear eight plays into the season when DeCastro accidentally dove into the side of his leg trying to cut a defender.

It was frustrating, and at times, unbelievable.

“Hopefully, that's behind us now,” Foster said.

That may be the case.

Last year, Kelvin Beachum and DeCastro played every snap, Pouncey all but seven,. The starting five were on the field for 91 percent of the snaps a year after managing only 58 percent.

If all goes as planned, the Steelers will start the same offensive line to open the season for the first time in the Mike Tomlin era when they open the against the Patriots on Sept. 10.

to read rest of article:

http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/8414515-74/steelers-injury-offensive#ixzz3b0PrQWpa

GBMelBlount
05-23-2015, 07:28 PM
Category Result Rank

Yards per play 6.2 1

Yards per game 444.1 2

First downs per game 24.7 2nd

Passing yards per game 301.6 2nd

Points per game 27.3 7th

I would imagine we would be a lot higher than 7th in scoring if we were better than 19th in red zone touchdown percentage (51%).

Count Steeler
05-23-2015, 08:50 PM
Looks to be a stellar year on the offense. Hopefully the injury bug doesn't return, but I think Munchak had a hand in this as well. Better schemes, better spacing, more cohesive. The more the Mach 5 play together, the better they will become.

SteelerFanInStl
05-24-2015, 08:45 AM
I would imagine we would be a lot higher than 7th in scoring if we were better than 19th in red zone touchdown percentage (51%).

Yep, that's our Achilles heel. Far too many points left on the field. If we improve in the red zone, our offense will be deadly.

Craic
05-24-2015, 10:09 AM
Looks to be a stellar year on the offense. Hopefully the injury bug doesn't return, but I think Munchak had a hand in this as well. Better schemes, better spacing, more cohesive. The more the Mach 5 play together, the better they will become.

:buttkick:

cold-hard-steel
05-24-2015, 10:36 AM
:buttkick:

Did you just kick me ? Don't worry i won't start another MACH V thread.........................yet. {LOL}

polamalubeast
05-24-2015, 10:53 AM
I would imagine we would be a lot higher than 7th in scoring if we were better than 19th in red zone touchdown percentage (51%).

The red zone was a killer, but the Steelers scored 31 points per games in the last 10 games of the season.

In First 6 games, Tomlin had put Justin Brown in the lineup instead of Martavis Bryant:doh2::rolleyes:

hawaiiansteeler
05-30-2015, 11:02 PM
BJ Finney: Will we extend Foster or let him become FA and draft his replacement next year.

Gerry Dulac: No, they will let him go. You can't re-sign everyone.

Kelvin: Think we let Beachum test the free agency waters

Gerry Dulac: Absolutely. And he would be stupid if he didn't.

http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/steelers/2015/05/28/Gerry-Dulac-s-Steeler-chat-transcript-5-28-15/stories/201505280219