Over the next few days, maybe even weeks, depending on how ambitious I feel, I'm going to grade most of the Steelers with an individual grade, going on a unit by unit basis. I grade on a combination of ability, usage of ability, availability, and overall value to team. In the end I'll assess what future I think they have ( or not) with the Steelers.
Feel free to comment on or critique my grades or add your own.
Tonight I'm going to grade the offensive line, starting at left tackle and working across.
Max Starks. B. Probably the easiest grade on the team to give. Max isn't a superstar, but he's a solid NFL starting left tackle and there's value in that. Some may think he should be graded higher, some would probably put him lower ( Chidi) but to me B is just right.
As far as Max's NFL future, my guess it will be someplace else, I'll guess he'll end up in Arizona with Bruce Arains. While part of me would like to see the Steelers keep him I fully understand why they probably wont.
Willie Colon. C-. This was a tough one. You could break Willie's grade into 3 segments. The first 3 games he commited way too many drive killing penalties and gave up too many qb pressures. And his run blocking was up and down.
Then starting with the Eagles game and up until he first injured his knee ( was it the Giants game) he was playing at virtually All Pro level. He was road grading linebackers and linemen ( often two on the same play) and his pass blocking was more than adequete.
After aggravating his knee he tried to play a few more games, but then finally blew it out completely against the Ravens, and with him gone our ability to run the ball virtually ended. So basically what it comes down to is he was playing at D level early, jumped his game to B+, and even A level in mid season, then got injured ( again) and was diminished or unavailable from that point on. You can't completely blame a player for being injured, so overall I'll stick with the C-.
Colon's future as a Steeler is up in the air. I hope they keep him, perhaps get him to play a few pounds lighter, and hope for the best. It will cost more to cut him than to keep him the way his contract is written, and if you can get him back now that's he's got most of a season under his belt at guard he could be a special player next season.
Maurkice Pouncey. B+ I wrestled with this one as well. There were times Pouncey played the best he ever has in his career. But he also struggled towards the end of the season along with the rest of the line. Part of this was due to being moved back and forth to left guard, and the associated loss of practice reps divinding his time at both positions. And really if you get right down to it the second Bengal game more than anything else is why I downmarked him from an A.
As for Pouncey's future. Just stay healthy Maurkice and hopefully get him signed to an extension soon.
Ramon Foster. B at right guard. D at left guard. As a right guard Ramon's play was very steady, at times even exceptional. He could start on my team anyday as a right guard. And it's not his fault that he was moved to left guard when Colon got hurt. In fact it's to his credit that he was able ( sort of) and willing to do so. But the fact is his play as a left guard was often lacking, and barely adequete even at it's best. Truth be told the Steelers may have been better off moving him out to right tackle instead of left guard after Colon went down. I've heard numerous former linemen say how hard the transistion is moving from one side of the line to the other. You have to reverse everything in your brain, and the moment's hesitation that causes often makes you lose your assignment.
Foster is probably going to be moving on as an UFA. But I expect the Steelers to make a play to keep him. But unless they plan on offering him the inside track at left guard ( which means they'd part with Colon) I don't see it happening. Foster is good enough to start in the NFL and if the Steelers wont give him that chance someone else likely will. ( Cardinals?)
By the way if they do keep him and move him to left guard he should be fine. Left guard is a more demanding posistion, and I don't think his upside is as high as Colon's. But given benifit of a full offseason to fully learn the position he'd be competent starter at the very least.
Mike Adams C+ Here's another tough one. As a run blocker this kid is the real deal. When the Steelers were playing their best football this season Adams was often securing the strong side edge. As a pass blocker he's still got a way's to go. Also he needs to stay healthy! All in all though much more to like than not to like.
Adams will be the Steelers starting right tackle next season for as many games as he can stay healthy. If he stays focused he could end up being a solid starter in Pittsburgh for years to come.
Marcus Gilbert C-. Probably my most dissapointing Steeler on offense. Even before his season was ended by injury in week 5 Marcus Gilbert wasn't performing nearly up to expectations at right tackle. His pass blocking was mostly decent, but his run blocking was atrocious. Hopefully he'll be more focused this offseason and come in with a point to prove.
As far as his future, he's the projected starting left tackle next season. It's his job to lose. Gulp!. Seriously though the Steelers think he's more comfortable and a more natural left tackle than right tackle. There was much to like about his rookie season. So hopefully they gambled right ( assuming I'm correct in the plan)
David DeCastro D I'll probably be accused of being too harsh with this grade. But sorry I just didn't see much to like with this kid in what time he actually did play. Not this year anyway. I'm hoping that knee was still an issue, or that it inhibited his ability to lift, thereby making him weaker than he would normally be. Anyway he was absolutely dominated by the Bengals, and he wasn't all that great in his other games either. He didn't look much like a first round draft pick to me.
Whether I like it or not DeCastro will be awarded the Steelers starting right guard spot next season. It's his job to lose, and given the investment in him he'd really have to blow chunks to have the job taken away from him for any reason besides injury.
Hopefully a fully healthy DeCastro will prove to be a worthy investment. Though I'd love to have Foster around as an insurance policy, it's not likely to happen.
Kevin Beachum. C- . Played a pretty good game against the Ravens when thrust into the starting lineup, but after that his play was mediocre at best. Still proved himself to have some NFL chops. And given the investment he earned his roster spot.
Steelers future. Will possibly be given a chance to earn starting left guard spot. Which in my opinion would be a huge mistake. I'm not hating on the kid, but I also didn't see enough to give me great confidence that he'll be anything more than a marginal starter. I would consider this to be a huge downgrade to Colon or even Foster.
Doug Legursky. C- as a center, D- as a guard If I were the Steelers I would tell Doug to learn how to long snap.
2013??? Your guess is as good as mine?
That's it for tonight folks!
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Originally Posted by msafford
