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View Full Version : Forced to improvise, Steelers O-linemen star in new roles



stillers4me
11-09-2010, 05:03 AM
By Len Pasquarelli
The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com
Nov. 9, 2010
CINCINNATI -- One of the most detail-oriented franchises in the league, the Pittsburgh Steelers (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/page/PIT/pittsburghsteelers), were forced to ad-lib more than a little Monday night, and the unexpectedly successful adventure in musical chairs on the offensive line was a key ingredient in the team's 27-21 victory against the Cincinnati Bengals.

How's this for improvisation? With three offensive linemen injured at various junctures of the first half, and having dressed a complement of only seven blockers, backup tight end Matt Spaeth (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/421347/mattspaeth) was receiving a hurried sideline cram course on the unfamiliar art of playing offensive tackle.

"Yeah, things were a little scary there, huh?" said the fourth-year veteran Spaeth, who has never before played tackle, not even in high school. "I was kind of nervous but excited at the same time. I know the run stuff. The pass plays, they just told me they would keep things simple, and tell me who to block. Thankfully, guys went back in the game ... and it didn't come to that."

On the play-by-play documents, it will actually show that the game came down to the ability of linebacker James Harrison (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/303162/jamesharrison) and cornerback Ike Taylor (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/396097/iketaylor) to knock the ball away from Cincinnati slot receiver Jordan Shipley (http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/517045/jordanshipley) on a fourth-and-5 play at the Steelers 12-yard line. The Bengals, horrible for much of the contest, particularly on their special-teams units, very nearly stole a game away from the Steelers here for the second successive year, storming back from a 27-7 deficit.

But while Harrison and Taylor made the play that saved the Steelers from a second successive defeat, and will allow 6-2 Pittsburgh to limp into a home showdown next Sunday night with what coach Mike Tomlin termed a "scalded" New England bunch, the victory belongs just as much to the team's makeshift offensive line.........................

Read more: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/14265777/forced-to-improvise-steelers-olinemen-star-in-new-roles