Mike Munchak - Steelers' Best Offseason Addition to Offensive Line

Forrest Gregg, Norm Van Brocklin, Jack Del Rio... Not all great NFL players turn out to become great NFL coaches. The Pittsburgh Steelers, however, seem to have a knack for finding the ones that do. 

New offensive line coach Mike Munchak played 12 years in the NFL, was a 10-time All Pro and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. Credentials laudable enough to create for him a "very high" degree of deference.

“He understands each player is different. He understands how to cater to everyone,” Ramon Foster said of Munchak. “The respect factor is very high. … It's a joy right now to be taking advice and coaching from him.” -  http://tinyurl.com/qyu2mq7

As the Tribune-Review's Alan Robinson points out further in his article, his 'understanding that each player is different' is because he "adjusts to them rather than being one who insists the linemen adjust to him," especially because he is still learning about his group. 

Munchak believes that "starters Beachum, Ramon Foster, Pouncey, DeCastro and Marcus Gilbert and backups Mike Adams, Cody Wallace, Guy Whimper, Wesley Johnson and others" have the chance to be a special group. 

Munchak does, after all, have two first rounders and two second rounders amongst those starters. He not only has Pouncey, one-time First-team All Pro, coming back from ACL surgery, but also guard David DeCastro, whom he should be able to take to the next level. DDC started road-grading his opponents in the second half of last season, and has the chance to become one of the best guards in the NFL via Munchak’s tutelage. 

Left tackle protection picked up appreciably in the second half of the season, also, when Kelvin Beachum was installed, but Mike Adams and Marcus Gilbert are of greater interest. 

The Steelers invested high draft picks in both of them and neither has been great, although Gilbert has been serviceable. They will be Munchak's biggest challenge in helping this group to pick up where they left off in 2013.

Wallace, Whimper and this year's fifth-round draft pick Wesley Johnson rate high on the list of those who'll be the most likely backups. 

In reverse order, the fifth-round draft pick out of Vanderbilt, Johnson, has nice height (6'5"), but he's not even three bills (297 LBs), which indicates he'll need to get bigger and stronger to survive in the NFL. Being that he played all positions on a zone-blocking offensive line in college, Johnson will likely be moved into the role of swing lineman that was held by Beachum before he was inserted at left tackle. 

Whimper was signed back in March to a one-year veteran minimum of $920,000 ($635K against the Salary Cap), of which only $65,000 is guaranteed. Which means he'd only be a $65K dead money hit if released. 

The possibility of that happening increases if Fernando Velasco's achilles injury heals to the point where's ready to go by Training Camp. He had said he'd be back for OTAs, but achilles injuries take longer than that. Time will tell, therefore, on Velasco who brilliantly took Pouncey's place at center when he went down.  

It was then that the 2008 fourth-round draft pick, Wallace, took Velasco's place at center upon his injury against the Baltimore Ravens. Both men can play center or guard. Wallace, also, though has a nasty streak and physicality about him that showed when he responded by proving himself emphatically over the final month of the season.

The Steelers signed Wallace to a three-year deal back on March 12th.

These men are the core of an offensive line that allowed just seven sacks over the final seven games and helped boost the running game to more than a 100 yard per game average and to 4.0 yards per carry. 

Munchak has said that he isn't changing much terminology from when Bicknell, jr. was the OLine coach, and believes they can be molded into a "special" unit that may still be a zone-blocking one. -  http://tinyurl.com/n2x4rga

Though sparingly used last season, such a system is well suited for running back Le'Veon Bell and can help the run game get going even more so. 

In the interview linked above, Munchak said about the scheme that "it stretches the defense. They’re not sure exactly where he’s going to cut. Watching [Bell] run the inside zone and some of the runs they’ve run, I can [see] he has very good vision, he has a good feel for the game, and it’s just a matter of him getting more reps at it." (Brackets ours)

Then throw in LaGarrette Blount taking part of the load and you have the makings of a powerful ground game. And sharing the load to make for a more lethal corps is something Bell is "definitely" on board with.

“I’m definitely looking forward to it,” Bell said. “We’re going to give defenses different looks, a change of pace. [Blount will] bring that power to the game and bring a lot more tough yardage. I won’t have to get all that tough yardage runs. I’m definitely looking forward to it. I’m excited about it.”

And Steeler Nation should be excited that Mike Munchak is making it all possible. 

~

TIDBITS: Flashback on FA additions this offseason:

Mike Mitchell, S, March 11th
Greg Warren*, LS, March 12th
Cody Wallace*, C/G, March 12th,
Cam Thomas, DE/NT, March 14th,
Guy Whimper*, G/T, March 17th,
Michael Palmer*, TE, March 21st
Lance Moore, WR, March 21st,
Arthur Moats, LB, March 24th,
LaGarrette Blount, RB, March 28th,
Brice McCain, CB, April 1st,
Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR, April 2nd,
Eric Olsen, C, April 3rd,
Adam Podleah, P , April 15th

* indicates own free agent signed

Will Recent Free Agency Moves Affect Steelers Drafting Of A Defensive Lineman?

The Pittsburgh Steelers uncharacteristically acted quickly on the first day of free agency to sign safety Mike Mitchell. 

Wait, it gets better.

The Steelers signed yet another free agent on Friday, former San Diego Chargers nose tackle Cam Thomas. The 6'3", 330 pounder will add needed depth on the defensive line. - http://tinyurl.com/p7ow9rw

We emphasize "depth" here because the Chargers benched the true nose guard late last season, despite having 26 tackles, two passes defended and an interception. If he is in middle, Steve McLendon could move to defensive end. Though, we simply doubt Thomas will step in as starter. 

While, yes, a Casey Hampton-type space eater in middle could upgrade a declining run defense, is today's NFL completely conducive to that? Also, is Thomas even that man? After all, he was benched toward the end of the season. 

One upside to Thomas (@Baby_Zilla76 on Twitter), though, is his age - he just turned 27 years old this past December. So he does at least have youth on his side. 

Still, it doesn't quite balance the losses of free agent defensive ends/nose tackles Al Woods (Tennessee Titans) and Ziggy Hood (Jacksonville Jaguars). Their departure makes the Steelers paper thin across the defensive line, with the biggest loss being Woods, who, in just two starts at nose tackle, still recorded more sacks last season than Jarvis Jones. He has definite upside that was certainly in the team's plans. 

Now, with just Brian Arnfelt, Hebron Fangupo and Nick Williams under contract, the signing of Cam Thomas is a needed depth signing if nothing else. 

I bet Brett Keisel looks a lot more attractive now. (Anybody have Alameda Ta’amu's number?)

Which now begs the question of what the Steelers will do regarding the position in the NFL Draft? 

Since the Steelers strayed somewhat from the norm in free agency, might they do so in May and go after a Louis Nix III? No, we simply don't expect a high pick to be spent on a defensive linemen. Especially if the guys at PatsCap.com are correct.

Their interpretation of the new CBA suggests that it limits the number of compensatory picks to the number of teams in the league. As a result, the Steelers may not receive a "net value" pick. This is dependent, naturally, "on how the NFL values the qualifying players, and which of the qualifying players is used when multiple 7th round value players are involved. One of the earlier listed teams could lose their pick instead."

If the Steelers are one of the earlier listed teams, they may not be compensated for the loss of safety Ryan Mundy. That would mean the Steelers would need to get as much value in each round as possible.

As far as the defensive line is concerned, that could mean players such as Daniel McCullers (3th-4th round), Justin Ellis (4th-5th round), Ryan Carrethers (5th-6th round) or Deandre Coleman (6th round). But, more on them in a later article.

Instead, therefore, look for the Steelers to keep going right along with their original plans. They have been reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gerry Dulac to want a big/big-play receiver in the first or second round. That won't change.

Speaking of receivers, per Joe Person, the Carolina Panthers beat writer for the Charlotte Observer, on his Twitter (@josephperson) account Monday: "Jerricho Cotchery's free agent trip to Charlotte began tonight with dinner with Ron Rivera and Mike Shula. Continues tomorrow. #courting.” 

As a way of free agency balance, what do the Steelers do? Bring in another free agent. CBSSports.com reported that the Steelers will host former New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lance Moore on Tuesday. 

Business as usual this offseason. 

~

TIDBITS: “@steelers: We have re-signed veteran offensive lineman Guy Whimper.

READ: http://stele.rs/1qM8I2d http://twitter.com/steelers/status/445608791480889344/photo/1" 

~

We expect Cam Thomas' contract to be somewhere in the realm of two years, $2-$3 million with a minor signing bonus.

A Look At Steelers Free Agents And Offseason Signees

by Jason and Jayden

UPDATED 1/4/14
The Pittsburgh Steelers have a lot of free agents to consider this offseason in preparation for their 2014 Training Camp and season. There are 21 names that need to be considered as we move toward the new NFL year.

Only a few, however, are going to be brought back because of various reasons. Whether because of Salary Cap restraints, contract demands or simply just a lack need, only a handful of them should be in a Steelers uniform next season.

On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Ed Bouchette gave his estimation of who may and may not be returning. - http://tinyurl.com/ke8t5bt

If It Ain't Steel lists our views on who will, who should and who won't, and then will discuss briefly the ones signed to Reserve/Futures contracts. So, without further ado:

WR Emmanuel Sanders - Manny is going to be considered one of the top unrestricted free agent wide receivers this offseason. That being the case, he likely will be playing elsewhere in 2014. Basically, consider him gone and look forward to the 2015 compensatory draft pick the Steelers will get for him.

LB Jason Worilds - This is a must. No matter how the LaMarr Woodley situation unfolds, the Steelers need to work hard at re-signing Worilds. We wrote in a previous piece how he will certainly receive offers from other teams and what the Steelers may need to do. The Steelers are bereft of depth at outside linebacker even with Jarvis Jones, who still needs time to maturate and improve.

WR Jerricho Cotchery - Cotch led the Steelers in 2013 in YAC and was the touchdown receptions leader. If Manny really is gone, re-signing Cotchery is imperative, possibly to a contract similar to his 2012 (2-year) deal. Cotch is money in the red zone and can be a coach on the field for Markus Wheaton and either Justin Brown or another draft pick. Cotch is still a solid No. 3 receiver for at least another year or two.

RB Jonathan Dwyer - All I hear when Dwyer carries the ball is "boom, boom, boom" as he bowls over defenders. Dwyer works hard now. He is always excited to play could likely be gotten for the minimum.

C/G Fernando Velasco - Velasco will be in rehab for his Achilles for a while. Hopefully, he is willing to play for veteran minimum next season, because the Steelers need to bring him back to either serve as backup to center Maurkice Pouncey, or even as starting center with Pouncey moving to guard.

FS Ryan Clark - “I’m playing,” RC25 said Sunday. “Where that’s going to be I’m not sure." Regarding for how much, he said the vet minimum, which will be $955,000 for a player of his 10+ years, isn't what he wants. "I think I’m worth more than that, and if they decide that I’m not then you have to understand that and you have to move on. I respect the business.” Well, the business side dictates that RC25 won't exactly be in high demand during free agency, and likely won't be re-signed until very late in the offseason. Would he be willing to take the vet minimum then? I personally love RC25, but he had the worst tackling season of his career and is likely going to be elsewhere next season. Or on tv. - http://tinyurl.com/n6cb82m

DE Brett Keisel - Because of his age and the miles the Diesel has hauled, Keisel isn't likely to receive attention during free agency. If the Steelers want him back, it will be in more of a mentor role. He would have to be signed for the vet minimum or maybe for a deal similar to what Larry Foote was signed for last year. That is unlikely, though, because we can't have another Aaron Smith problem, either.

DE Ziggy Hood - With Ziggy still being fairly young, and that he is a former first-round draft pick, he could draw attention in free agency. A 4-3 defensive team might consider him at defensive tackle, but we honestly believe the Steelers, because of their lack of depth on the defensive line, will try to bring him back for both defensive end and nose tackle positions. The money would have to work, though.

NT/DE Al Woods - We believe Woods will be back. The Steelers have a lot of time invested in him and, since he won't likely be in high demand in free agency, they should easily be able to get him back under contract for next season.

S Will Allen - We believe Allen should be back. He came back to the Steelers after being released by the Dallas Cowboys. The team has to get younger on defense, but he outplayed Shamarko Thomas and proved his worth. Thomas is the future and will get better, so 2014 might finally be it for one of Mike Tomlin's guys, but he should get that much.

LS Greg Warren - As we've said before, Warren makes more plays than you realize and shows no signs of slowing down. The Steelers should have no problem signing him to another one-year qualifying contract.

T/G Guy Whimper - We killed Whimper at the start of the preseason and season, but he got better. That said, the Steelers will be in no hurry to re-sign Whimper. Another vet minimum deal if that. But likely he'll go out with a...

C/G Cody Wallace - Wallace should get a camp invite and an opportunity to compete for a backup role.

RB LaRod Stephens-Howling - With Le'Veo Bell, Dwyer, and Will Johnson, the Steelers do lack some running back depth, but they don't either need to be in a hurry to re-sign LASH who is still rehabbing his knee. Time will tell on this one because he is versatile when healthy.

TE David Johnson - The best DJ can hope for is a training camp invite. Mediocre blocker and pass catcher. We wouldn't miss him.

RB Felix Jones - Thanks, Felix.

WR Plaxico Burress - No.

P Matt McBriar - The Steelers will want a veteran punter in camp, so maybe.

TE Michael Palmer - As The Doctor would say, "Geronimo!"

LB Stevenson Sylvester - Umm...no.

LB Jamaal Westerman - Actually has a chance to be among the outside linebacker bodies in Camp. But it's doubtful he makes it out of it.

C/G Eric Olsen - Who?

~

The Steelers sign seven players to reserve/futures contracts on Tuesday: RB Alvester Alexander, WR Justin Brown, G Bryant Browning, G Chris Hubbard, WR Kashif Moore, S Ross Ventrone and LB Kion Wilson.

All seven signees to reserve/futures contracts ended the season on Steelers practice squad and at least two - Alexander and Brown - have a chance to be at least there again in 2014.

UPDATE: The Steelers have signed UDFA punter Brad Wing out of LSU. He was an All-American in his freshman year and one of the best in college football three years in a row. He even allowed just 73 yards on punt returns the entire 2011 season. However, he wasn't selected in the 2013 NFL Draft due to off-the-field problems.

Steelers also signed long snapper Bryce Davis out of Central Oklahoma.

As noted above, bot McBriar and Warren are free agents.

Analysis, Breakdown Of Steelers 2013 Roster

                      photo courtesy of Matt Vargo

The Steelers announced their cuts, current roster and current practice squad Saturday and Sunday. Because of knowing that certain players being designated for the PUP list, the 8-week Injured Reserve or complete Injured Reserve, we knew the names would change. We just didn't realize how soon. 

To start, the Steelers' initial cuts were Jonathan Dwyer, Alameda Ta'amu, Terry Hawthorne, Justin Brown, Brian Moorman, Josh Victorian, Marshall McFadden, Jamie McCoy, Reggie Dunn, Mike Golic, Joe Madsen, Chris Hubbard, Brian Arnflet, Alex Baxter, Terrence Garvin, Devin Smith, Alevester Alexander, Joe Long, Nathan Overbay, Brian Rolle and Ross Ventrone cut. 

The cut that was a big surprise to many was Dwyer, a fan favorite and the team's leading rusher last season. Yes, the yardage total, 623 yards on 156 carries for 3.99 yards per carry, was the lowest run total by a leading rusher in nearly 50 years (Dick Hoak in 1963 had 679 yards), but he was the most consistent. 

It also, though, should not have been a surprise to loyal readers of If It Ain't Steel as we had suggested that, if he did actually even make the team, that he could be gone once Bell returned. We even said so in our roster prediction blog which we weren't able to update because of personal matters. It also covers the practice squad parameters. - http://ifitaintsteel.blogspot.com/2013/08/its-time-for-our-look-at-projected.html

It isn't that we didn't want to see him stay, in fact, one half of If It Ain't Steel was livid over his release. And for seemingly good reason. 

Was it fumbles as some have suggested? No. Redman has fumbled the ball seven times in 273-career carries. Dwyer? Twice in 181 carries. More on this in our next piece, though.

As for those whom we thought would make the roster and then the players who did instead go as follows: Dwyer as we've stated, inside linebacker Marshall McFadden, cornerback Terrance Hawthorne (but he was in tub instead of on the field too much), Reggie Dunn and Alan Baxter (though he did make the practice squad). 

Those whom we were surprised over making it: tight end Michael Palmer nose tackle Hebron Fangupo (a very powerful 0-technique prototype nose tackle), cornerback Isaiah Green, safety Da'Mon Cromartie-Smith, linebacker Kion Wilson, that god-awful Guy Whimper, and Devin Smith and Alvester Alexander on the practice squad.

ASIDE: With approximately $3.9 million available under the Salary Cap, every tackle on two legs whose last name isn't Whimper is worth looking at at this point.

As for the roster change on Sunday, center/guard Cody Wallace was signed to the roster and replaced John Malecki. A true journeyman, Wallace has bounced around to seven teams now after being a 4th-round draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2008. Malecki has used up his practice squad eligibility and must be signed to a team's roster. 

It's a curious move considering the Steelers usually stick with what they know rather than they don't know. It was suggested that they felt they needed more experience for backups on offensive line. Ok, but Cody Wallace has 18 career snaps, whereas John Malecki has 31 career snaps. 

Curiouser and curiouser...

Here now is the link to the official Steelers roster complete with PUP and practice squad lists, minus DeMarcus Van Dyke whom the Steelers waived on Friday from the injured reserve with an injury settlement. - http://www.steelers.com/team/roster.html

~

TIDBITS: The short-version timeline for linebacker Sean Spence's return after being placed on the reserve PUP list is as follows: he’ll be eligible to return to practice after week six and through week 10. He'll then have two more weeks to be added to the regular 53-man roster. 

~

Steelers team captains have been chosen. They are: Big Ben, Maurkice Pouncey, Brett Keisel and RC25.

Steelers Go Out With A Whimper, Lose Bell And The Game 24-13 To Redskins

Is it safe to open my eyes now?

It was...bad. Just so bad. And not just the loss itself, going down 24-13 to the Washington Redskins. There were the injuries. LaRod Stephens-Howling was already sidelined due to a minor knee strain. Baron Batch got hurt (stinger). Fullback Will Johnson got hurt (ribs).

Then, I got hurt throwing things at the t.v. Feels like rotator cuff. I'm probably down for a couple of weeks.

What hit the hardest, though, was when Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said after the game that rookie running back Le'Veon Bell got hurt with a mid-foot injury and that there would be an MRI Tuesday. - http://tinyurl.com/mdhppr7

Then Will Carroll, lead sportswriter for Sports Medicine, tweeted from his Twitter (@injuryexpert) account: "Bad news on Le'Veon Bell. Midfoot sprain is going to keep him out weeks on the low end."

Well, let's just hope it isn't that b**ch Lisfranc, because we've had enough of her! Just ask Matt Spaeth. But, to ask Bell, he's ready to prove all doubters wrong.

UPDATE: Per Ed Bouchette from his Twitter (@EdBouchette) account: "#Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell's injury to right foot not as significant as teammate Matt Spaeth's Lisfranc." As Will Carroll said above, though, that still means Bell will be sidelined for awhile.

If he is actually down for an extended period, it could be even worse. The Steelers are a team doing all it can to simply tread preseason water. They were in the bottom six in rushing yards, yards per carry, and rushing touchdowns in 2012. So far, we are not seeing change in the offensive line play. They didn't even get their first 1st down until about nine minutes to go in the third quarter.

Le'Veon Bell is talented, but not that talented.

This just in: Guy Whimper was just penalized again.

The success that the Steelers did have running the ball last year was with power downhill running from Jonathan Dwyer and Isaac Redman. Proof? Dwyer had 14 carries for 68 yards, getting the majority of his yards on just such runs.

That, though, really isn't Bell's style. He actually somewhat resembles Rashard Mendenhall in that he's big, but agile. Bell runs with more of a finesse style for a bigger running back. He has the power and balance to be a bruiser, but he'd prefer to string things out.

Unless things are remedied quickly, that isn't going to work with this OLine.

Speaking of the OLine, Maurkice Pouncey was candid in his description of their play: "Everybody kinda knows the OLine is gonna carry the team this year. We all feel like sh** tonight. We'll get better at it."

Um...you have to. You'd better if the quarterback is expected to last the season. Or even to be at least to be somewhat successful. One of the very things we talked about in the pre-game write up. - http://ifitaintsteel.blogspot.com/2013/08/steelers-prepare-for-redskins-as.html

One way to get better is to send Guy Whimper packing. Now. Jonathan Scott was...aaaargh! Sorry, I still get flashbacks. Jon...he was let go for a reason. Why being him back in the form of Whimper? We wrote a month ago that Whimper was a revolving door. He proved it Monday night. He was beaten so many times his new nickname is Tina Turner. Seriously, he may as well have not even have been in there.

Speaking of not being there, too bad Jason Worilds couldn't make the trip to the game.

In other post-game comments from Tomlin, he also acknowledged the rash of penalties and attributes them so far to "poor execution. Maybe an official or two will be at our practices to help us in that regard."

Or just send Guy Whimper packing.

Neither team looked like the '78 Steelers nor the '91 Redskins, though. There were 15 penalties and seven turnovers, including three Steelers offensive linemen committing infractions to kill what was otherwise a good drive directed by Ben Roethlisberger and a sequence of three giveaways in five plays.

As Steelers safety Ryan Clark said after the game, "Too much Steelers beating ourselves."

Bright spots? There were some. Markus Wheaton had 3 catches for 52 yards, including a big catch for 36 yards. Shamarko Thomas, who was the Steelers Digest Player of the Week, laid several slobber-knocking hits. Jarvis Jones is making everyone believe. Big Ben was 5 for 6 for 66 yards before putting on the baseball cap early in the second quarter.

The Steelers got their only touchdown in the fourth quarter when rookie Landry Jones, 9 for 22 for 111 yards and one 1 touchdown, hit wide receiver Derek Moye for a 10-yard score.

That basically it as far as bright spots. Unless you count Guy Whimper running off of the field with a few minutes left in the 4th quarter.

The coaches, both coaching staffs, have a lot of...teaching moments this week. A lot of challenges to attempt to solve.

Oh...and send Guy Whimper packing.

Steelers Mike Adams Stabbed In An Attempted Robbery, Recovering

Bob Pompeani of KDKA TV in Pittsburgh reported this Saturday morning that Pittsburgh Steelers second-year tackle was involved in a stabbing early today on the South Side. Per his Twitter (@KDPomp) account: "Adams was an apparent victim of a robbery attempt. Stabbed in stomach and arm as my sources tell me. It happened 3 AM on Carson and 17th."



NFL Network's Aditi Kinkhabwala also further tweeted: "Mike Adams came out of surgery at about 8am and agent Eric Metz says Steelers security told him all considered, OT "was very lucky."”

“Agent Eric Metz says Mike Adams was stabbed in the stomach and though he had surgery, no vital organs were affected. Thank goodness."



All signs point toward a fairly quick recovery for Adams who has been through a lot already in his short time with the Steelers. And as Metz further told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "He's worked too hard to let a few morons screw it up for him."

According to Kinkhabwala again, the "Stabber(s) [were] apparently trying to steal Mike Adams' truck. Agent said he asked Adams why he didn't just let robbers have keys!” Good question.

Team General Manager Kevin Colbert released a brief statement regarding the incident and Adams' condition.

"We are aware of the situation regarding Mike Adams being stabbed earlier this morning," Colbert said. "We are in direct communication with both Mike and his family. Mike is expected to make a full recovery."

Little information has been released regarding the identity of the assailant or assailants, but the incident happened in front of his house and a cell phone believed to belong to one of the assailants has allegedly been recovered at the scene.

Adams is likely to be a full-time starter this season at right tackle, though he would've had a chance at left tackle. Likely Kelvin Beachum, whom we've highlighted before in a previous post as looking better on the right side, and Guy Whimper will rotate in on the right side at the next OTAs on June 3-6 and at the mandatory minicamp June 11th - 13th.

The stabbing incident once again brings up the problem of depth on the offensive line. With $5.5 million being available to the Steelers now via the release of guard/tackle Willie Colon and the June 1st designation, the signing of another player seems imminent.

Offensive tackles still available are Eric Winston, the best remaining right tackle left out there, Demetress Bell, the 29-year old former starter on the left side, former Baltimore Raven and 27-year old Jared Gaither (who has experience on both sides), Winston Justice, Barry Richardson and Sean Locklear.

Youth, Versatility Define Kelvin Beachum And Steelers Offensive Line

When Jack Bicknell, jr. was introduced as the Pittsburgh Steelers new offensive line coach back on January 29, 2013, one of the things all the pseudo-intellectual writers said was that the team was going to switch to a zone-blocking scheme. Well, two things about that: the Steelers have already been running behind some zone blocking the last few years, and they'd have to have the right personnel already in place to make a wholesale change.

Like Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin brought out regarding the subject when addressing members of the media at the NFL owner's meetings in mid March, the team will not commit itself to a philosophy it does not have the means to implement. He did point out, however, that the team will be looking into it throughout Training Camp and will look to use elements of it in their 2013 game plans.

That's to be expected since, top to bottom, the Steelers have very athletic offensive linemen, ones who have the ability to run this kind of scheme, despite not necessarily looking to run one scheme completely.

Once you get past potentially the youngest NFL starting five of Marcus Gilbert (as that seems to be the way the Steelers lean at left tackle), Ramon Foster, Maurkice Pouncey, David DeCastro and Mike Adams, your backups are Kelvin Beachum, John Malecki and new signee Guy Whimper. - http://www.steelers.com/team/depth-chart.html

Beachum should see most of his snaps on the right side at guard and tackle, which we'll explore deeper presently.

Malecki can play guard as well as center and would be third in line behind Pouncey and Doug Legursky if he were to come back.

The newly acquired revolving door known as Whimper, 30 years old in the 2013 season, provides depth behind Adams and Gilbert at tackle and, should he make the Steelers’ roster, could be the first lineman off of the bench. Whimper, however, is ideally a right tackle and would only likely get a look on the left side in a desperate situation.

He was signed instead of Max Starks, who remains unsigned. The reason Starks wasn't initially brought back last offseason was that he didn't want to be a backup, only to start. The same most likely occurred this offseason. The Steelers could conceivably bring him back, though, if injuries were to strike and he remains unsigned. - http://t.co/fuijAYpoWj

With respect to Dick Van Patten, eight is not enough, so behind them are a few players who have an outside shot at a roster spot, but more likely a practice squad designation. They will be listed in the TIDBITS section following the main body of the article.

However, the focus for the remainder of this will be on Beachum. There's a lot to like about Beachum. He's very smart and versatile enough to backup five spots. At 6'3", he's going to have to end up being above 300 lbs.(muscle weight), though, in order to do so on a regular basis.

But the coaches (should) know their personnel and will not ask them to stray too far from their own strengths, so don't expect Beachum to play the left side. He showed real promise last season on the right and they will be eager to see his progression.

Beachum is currently listed as the backup at two positions on the Steelers depth chart, he had experience in college at long snapper and believes he can backup the center position as well. But as was said earlier, he shows most promise on the right side as was evidenced last season against the Baltimore Ravens.

Beachum is decidedly better against the pass, but showed the ability to block the run also. He only gave up one sack against the Ravens, and that was in the fourth quarter. It was also one of the few instances when he showed his inexperience as he simply looked unaware of his protection assignment.

Otherwise, he more than held his own against Ravens linebackers Terrell Suggs and Paul Kruger in the Steelers 23-20 win. He played every offensive snap, only giving up the one sack. Not too shabby.



As an example, in the fourth quarter, he took on Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, allowing lead blocker Will Johnson to create a hole for running back Isaac Redman that resulted in a 24-yard gain.



At one point, Beachum turns Ngata just enough to allow space for Redman. He then forces Ngata backwards, and Redman is gone. (Photos courtesy of Andrea Hangst of Pro Football Focus)

If this truly is a sign of things to come, then Beachum could be a real integral part of the Steelers offensive line and team, and the offensive line itself could once again be a team strength.

(Addendum: Steelers depth chart has since changed and Bell nor, for some reason, Gilbert are any longer mentioned.)
~

TIDBITS: The men who have a chance to stick with the team:

Joe Madsen - Center, 6'4" 310 lbs. -
In four years at West Virginia, Madsen started 38 straight games, except for two bowl games for which he was academically ineligible. Three-year starter. Only 25 reps of the 225-pound bench press at the NFL Combine, so he needs to improve his strength, but he does have quick lateral movement. - http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1707200/joe-madsen

Mike Golic, jr. - G/C, 6'4", 300 lbs. -
Listed among the best undrafted players, National Football Post says of him, "he may be a long shot, but his competiveness and toughness will serve him well in camp." At the Steelers minicamp last week, Golic played right tackle.

The Notre Dame product has pedigree on his side as both his father, most recently of ESPN's Mike & Mike fame, and his uncle, Bob Golic, played in the NFL. Therefore, he knows first hand that there will be competition.

"Anywhere you go, there’s going to be competition," said Golic. - http://tinyurl.com/cygken9

Nik Embernate - Guard, 6'4" 300 lbs.
Embernate, as If It Ain't Steel informed its readers, payed a pre-draft visit to the Steelers. He was so impressed with the South Side that he is quoted as saying, "I love this place." He now wants to be the one to make an impression. - http://triblive.com/sports/steelers/3964040-74/embernate-steelers-diego#axzz2SmZMTABQ

There was another quote from him, though, that caught our attention. No manufactured ado needed, just read what he said about playing football.

“If I hear a quarterback call [a run] play in the huddle,” Embernate said, “I've already got in my mind that I'm going to take that dude and slam him into the dirt, and as he's trying to get up, just not let him get up. Try to inflict a lot of pain on him.

“That's what this game is all about — not to the aspect where you want to hurt somebody, but you're going to try to knock somebody out. You've got to play physical.”

I'm sold.