New look O-line?

**BlackGold4vr** · 02-20-2007, 11:16 PM

Originally Posted by TOP GUN

Colon could very well be a beast guard or tackle for us or he could be a major flop. As I mentioned before the dude only started 2 games for us so he has a lot to learn. I want to see Max brought back if at all possible, and as you mentioned if he goes, I would like to see us grab a decent OT in FA just to help out with experience.

Not looking for an argument. Just saying that if they took an O-lineman I wouldn't be upset. I understand why their is an attachment to Starks. He is a 3rd year monster with lots of potential. But he did not play very well last year. Neither did Kendall Simmons! That side of our line was clearly the weaker side! Not sure how many games I would want to watch those 2 guys perform like they did last year without trying another option. Starks could also turn out to be a major flop! Simmons too! No guarantees with either of them! Grubbs could be a nice option to turn too! Willie could turn out to be an All-Pro! Poor performer with experience doesn't trump youthful aggression with potential in my book. Is that a Bill Cowher chapter?

We all agree that we should pick-up an O-lineman somewhere in the draft. If those vets cannot outperform the rooks in spring training........they should not start no matter what their experience!

**BlitzburghRockCity** · 02-20-2007, 11:22 PM

Originally Posted by BlackGold4vr

Not looking for an argument. Just saying that if they took an O-lineman I wouldn't be upset. I understand why their is an attachment to Starks. He is a 3rd year monster with lots of potential. But he did not play very well last year. Neither did Kendall Simmons! That side of our line was clearly the weaker side! Not sure how many games I would want to watch those 2 guys perform like they did last year without trying another option. Starks could also turn out to be a major flop! Simmons too! No guarantees with either of them! Grubbs could be a nice option to turn too! Willie could turn out to be an All-Pro! Poor performer with experience doesn't trump youthful aggression with potential in my book. Is that a Bill Cowher chapter?

We all agree that we should pick-up an O-lineman somewhere in the draft. If those vets cannot outperform the rooks in spring training........they should not start no matter what their experience!

Starks could suck
Colon could suck
Kemoeatu could suck
Simmons does suck
Okobi could suck

or they could all rock we'll have the best OL ever..nobody knows just yet so these guys have to want it bad enough and be out for blood come training camp. None of this win by default crap, we can't afford that. We need to have guys on the OL step up and take the job and claim it !

Yes the whole left side was the weak link, hell the entire Line was a weak link. Based on their play last year by rights we should can them all and start over IMO. However we as Steeler fans know that the entire team was a shadow of its former self last year and almost something of an enigma that we hope never returns.

I fully expect Faneca and Smith to bounce back. After that the other 3 positions are a crap shoot so may the best man win !

**BlackGold4vr** · 02-20-2007, 11:41 PM

Originally Posted by TOP GUN

Starks could suck
Colon could suck
Kemoeatu could suck
Simmons does suck
Okobi could suck

or they could all rock we'll have the best OL ever..nobody knows just yet so these guys have to want it bad enough and be out for blood come training camp. None of this win by default crap, we can't afford that. We need to have guys on the OL step up and take the job and claim it !

Yes the whole left side was the weak link, hell the entire Line was a weak link. Based on their play last year by rights we should can them all and start over IMO. However we as Steeler fans know that the entire team was a shadow of its former self last year and almost something of an enigma that we hope never returns.

I fully expect Faneca and Smith to bounce back. After that the other 3 positions are a crap shoot so may the best man win !

I think you meant the right side......didn't you? Faneca and Smith are on the left side. Simmons and Starks were on the right! Another factor as we have discussed before is that Jeff Hartings was injured and tried to play through it and was a shadow of his former self! When the middle of your line is collapsing in, that can have a domino effect on the whole line! We need depth there no matter what!

**BlitzburghRockCity** · 02-21-2007, 12:07 AM

Doh ! yeah my bad, the right side.

Agreed Jeff was a trooper but he definitely was playing hampered and all that pressure up the middle was just too much too handle. Jeff playing injured, Simmons just not playing well, then Starks having an inconsistent season and then getting hurt, it all just snowballed into a basically bad year for them.

**K Train** · 02-21-2007, 12:08 AM

damnit why cant you guys just see that it was cowher last year, it was all cowher, cowher didnt care and i dont care what anyone says but him playing hartings was the foundation of our oline problems, if your center gets manhandled you dont have success

**BlackGold4vr** · 02-21-2007, 12:27 AM

Originally Posted by K Train

damnit why cant you guys just see that it was cowher last year, it was all cowher, cowher didnt care and i dont care what anyone says but him playing hartings was the foundation of our oline problems, if your center gets manhandled you dont have success

Hartings was absolutely manhandled in the Jaguar game, the Chargers game, and both Ravens games! We lost every one of those games! The Charger game really stands out in my mind. Jamal Williams threw Jeff around like he was his biatch! Then they tried to doubleteam him and he was manhandling the doubleteams! Gotta fix it!

**Steelersfan** · 02-21-2007, 01:01 AM

Originally Posted by K Train

damnit why cant you guys just see that it was cowher last year, it was all cowher, cowher didnt care and i dont care what anyone says but him playing hartings was the foundation of our oline problems, if your center gets manhandled you dont have success

Hey! Isn't this one of Koopas lines?.......

**K Train** · 02-21-2007, 01:20 AM

im not completly hating cowher in general but i do blame him for the mess, you all act like we have trash for and oline, our players are good and the younger guys will have to step up which is what happens in the NFL, its actually the main purpose of drafting players out of college. We have bigger needs to address like OLB and RB...our line is fine, hartings and cowher are out...problem solved

**TEEMONT** · 02-21-2007, 02:19 AM

Originally Posted by K Train

im not completly hating cowher in general but i do blame him for the mess, you all act like we have trash for and oline, our players are good and the younger guys will have to step up which is what happens in the NFL, its actually the main purpose of drafting players out of college. We have bigger needs to address like OLB and RB...our line is fine, hartings and cowher are out...problem solved

1 out of 5 of our starting O-lineman are pro-bowlers, 1 out of 1 of our starting RB is a pro bowler. Hmmmmm, our line is not fine, we don't have a Center, RG, or RT, they re all average at best. Our needs are OLB and OL, RB should not be a priority.

Simmons hasnt been the same since his injury, Max Staks is too damned nice, and even though I want to think Chukki is the answer, I can't believe it.

**BlitzburghRockCity** · 02-21-2007, 10:19 AM

Cowher was a problem but so were the players. Hartings was a Cowher guy we all know that, but would chukki have done anybetter for us? Nobody knows.

We have SOME good players on our OL like Faneca & Marvel Smith, Starks potentially.
We also have some players on our OL where the verdict is still out: Colon, Essex, Kemoeatu, Okobi, and Starks.
And we have some players that just haven't been playing well at all like Kendall Simmons.

We have work to do on our OL that much is clear, whether that's having our backups step up and take a starting job or whether it's getting some fresh talent in the draft to step in sooner than later, is anybody's guess.