Will Steelers New Offensive Line Coach Be A Prayer Answered?

After Sean Kugler left to be the head coach of his alma mater, the University of Texas-El Paso, Pittsburgh Steelers fans prayed for an offensive line coach with experience and pedigree. Appropriately, those prayers were answered by someone used to playing that role. - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3ykWbu2Gl0

On Tuesday the Steelers announced that Jack Bicknell, jr. had been hired to fill that vacancy. - http://tinyurl.com/az9umb7

He played for his father, head coach Jack Bicknell, Sr., at Boston College from 1981-1985. Bicknell played center during Doug Flutie's 1984 Heisman Trophy season and snapped the ball to him for the famous last-second "Hail Flutie" pass that beat the Miami Hurricanes.

Bicknell was the offensive line coach for the Kansas City Chiefs in 2012 before they cleaned house at season's end. From 2009-2011 he was assistant offensive line coach for the New York Giants.

The Chiefs had a very good zone-blocking offensive line, as opposed to the Steelers' man-to-man and pulling styles, that enabled Jamaal Charles to finish the season with 1,509 yards. And as Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin accurately said, "the proof is in the pudding."

"They played the AFC North, and they ran the ball very well against all the teams in the AFC North," said Tomlin. "They ran the ball effectively against us when Jamaal Charles had a 100-yard game. That was attractive to me. The plan they were able to put together, the success they were able to have vs. some people we are going to see quite a bit was a selling feature." - http://tinyurl.com/aufdjnt

Those games against the AFC North that Tomlin spoke of included 142 rushing yards against the Steelers, 214 yards against the Baltimore Ravens, 180 yards against the Cleveland Browns and 113 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Despite Bob Labriola writing that success for the Steelers lies more 'in teaching than in a zone scheme', the young group of Mike Adams, David DeCastro, Marcus Gilbert and Kelvin Beachum ("Big Money?") should have their athleticism highlighted. - http://tinyurl.com/age3xvy

On the other hand, the veterans are an uncertainty, especially with contracts and injuries causing a state of flux.

Max Starks' status is uncertain as he may look to free agency to get all that he can in one last multi-year contract. Willie Colon, who ended the season on the Injured Reserve again, will cost $6.45 million against the Steelers' salary cap in 2013 if nothing is done with his contract.

Though the easy answer would be to cut him, Ramon Foster is sure to explore free agency as well, and that might force them to keep Colon on for insurance if nothing else. - http://tinyurl.com/a6a3adn

What of the quarterback and running backs? Though he doesn't oversee them directly, what his line does, or doesn't do, naturally affects their play.

For No. 7, it's easy: keep the franchise upright. 'Nuff said.

As for the running backs, the Steelers don't exactly have the caliber of backs that Bicknell had in New York, nor do they have near the quality of running back that he had in Charles. Especially not with Rashard Mendenhall's future in Pittsburgh not looking too bright. - http://tinyurl.com/azaq4lz

Mendenhall has a lot of talent and speed, but he fumbled, per Steelers beat writer Mark Kaboly, "11 times in 1,006 career touches." That's one fumble every 91.45 touches (rushes and receptions), or one every 3-4 games.

As we wrote recently, Isaac Redman has lost five fumbles in three years. Yet, he believes he can be a feature running back. He recently said in an interview that he believes he "had a big game against" the New York Giants, but that he "just never got the opportunity to be the every-down back after that." - http://www.nj.com/south-jersey-sports/index.ssf/2013/01/paulsboro_native_isaac_redman.html

Neither Steelers president Art Rooney II nor general manager Kevin Colbert spoke highly at all about any of the running backs on the roster, Mendenhall, Redman or Jonathan Dwyer. With Redman and Dwyer both being restricted free agents, therefore, expect both to be tendered at the lower level. Also expect them to have someone pushing them in Training Camp.

What Bicknell has in front of him is no small task. With the injuries suffered by the Steelers the last three years, especially on the OLine, any sort of stability and forward momentum would be welcomed. In fact, it'd be like a prayer being answered.

Steelers OL Coach Sean Kugler Leaves For Alma Mater

According to Asher Wildman of the ABC affiliate KVIA7 in El Paso, who first broke the story, Sean Kugler has been hired as UTEP's head coach: http://tinyurl.com/afygstq

MacGyver is moving to Texas.

Kugler, the Pittsburgh Steelers outstanding offensive line coach, will finish out the season, but has indeed accepted the UTEP job. Losing Kugler is a serious blow.

Kugler was liked by his players and coaches. You never heard the players speak of him in any way but with respect, and he wasn't reticent about his love for coaching the OLine or his players.

"The reason I like coaching offensive line is I like coaching all five guys collectively," Kugler said in a 2011 interview with 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh. "It's a challenge to get all five guys to play together as a unit, and I enjoy coaching the entire group. There's not a better position on the field to coach. The offensive linemen, those are usually the guys that are your most fun to be around, your must humble, and your hardest working guys. And I love my group here in Pittsburgh."

Kugler attended the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) from 1984 to 1988, where he earned letterman honors in football all four years. His 1988 team played in the Independence Bowl. His position coach at UTEP at the time was Andy Reid, future head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Kugler signed with the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 1989, but after sustaining a concussion in training camp, he was released.

He joined the Steelers as OLine coach in 2010 following the firing of Larry Zierlein. He had also previously replaced Zierlein as assistant line coach for the Bills in 2007.

In his first coaching season with the Steelers, they made it to the Super Bowl despite season-ending injuries to both starting offensive tackles, Max Starks and Willie Colon, and the presence of a rookie starting center, Maurkice Pouncey, who ended up not playing in the NFL's final game because of his own injury.

The Steelers would go on to lose that Super Bowl, only their second loss in eight appearances, 31-25 to the Green Bay Packers.

Kugler has been credited with holding together the OLine with duct tape, chicken wire or any way he could. Because of that, he earned the nickname "MacGyver" from many Steelers fans in Steeler Nation.

Each position on the line had an injury during his tenure, but, "the standard is the standard." The team's "next man up" philosophy has applied to the OLine as much as any other positions on the team. Maybe more. MacGyver will be missed.

The question now naturally is whether the Steelers will look in-house or not for his replacement. The Steelers have gone outside lately when looking for replacements at their coaching positions, but Behind The Steel Curtain has already suggested that another "Shaun" may be the inside choice. - http://tinyurl.com/abr4cef

The article also suggests that two former Steelers currently coaching elsewhere may be candidates. Whomever it may be will soon enough be disseminated. Until then, we have MacGyver through the end of the season, however long that lasts. As long as he has a fair amount of glue and bobby pins, that could still be awhile.

Steelers Offensive Line Coach Not Afraid To Start Two Rookies; Harrison Not Practicing.

Rookies David DeCastro and Mike Adams have both missed all of the OTAs this offseason because of certain NCAA and university requirements. Per Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Official rule for college players is that they are allowed to attend OTAs once individual classwork/tests are complete,not when school's out." 

Well, it was reported recently, again by Kaboly, that both will be present for mini-camp: "David DeCastro, Alameda Ta'amu and Mike Adams WILL be at minicamp next week. It's confirmed." This is good news because both DeCastro and Adams need as much time and reps as they can get if they're going to be part of the Steelers starting five offensive linemen Week 1. 

Per Scott Brown, also of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line coach Sean Kugler said that he wouldn't have a problem starting two rookies "if they can earn the jobs." He said further that he'd like to "have a starting five in place by start of training camp."

I wrote once before that I didn't remember the Steelers ever starting two rookies on the OLine opening day (not that I personally remember at least), and that research revealed that they hadn't done so in over 40 years (1968, if I remember correctly). That notwithstanding, Kugler is ready and willing if they are able.

The two rookies will be running with the first offense next week's mandatory mini-camp as well: "@ScottBrown_Trib: Kugler says DeCastro will work with first and second teams at mini camp as will Adams at left tackle." 

To this point, Marcus Gilbert, Jonathan Scott...AARGH!!! (sorry, I still have flashbacks... Can I finally just say goodbye to him and the over $2 million he's set to be paid this year??? That money could be used on someone who could actually block! But, I digress...), and Trai Essex have all had first team reps at left tackle. Gilbert has said not to count him out for the position, though. He says the left tackle spot is his natural and "dream" position. His dream is better than the nightmare that Jonathan Scott was, I admit. But he still has more experience, college and pro, at right tackle, and has reportedly seen most of his snaps on that side during OTAs.

Ramon Foster is speculated to be the backup at this point at right guard, the position he held last season, and has taken most of the first team snaps so far during the OTA sessions. DeCastro is a definite upgrade over Foster, but I'm on record as saying that he and Gilbert formed a good run blocking duo last year. He has his limitations, but he should continue to improve and be a good backup.

~ 

A little over two weeks ago I blogged that it was reported that outside linebacker James Harrison had looked fine at the beginning of that OTA session. Well, it was reported Tuesday by Mark Kaboly that Deebo "has worked out, but has not practiced since the first week of OTAs."

We haven't been given a reason as to why, but his back problems are well-documented.

Harrison was first diagnosed with a herniated disc in his lower back in October of 2010 and was presented then with the option of surgery, which would've caused him to miss the rest of the 2010 season, or play through it and put off surgery until after the season. The Silverback took the second option and ended up having two total back surgeries, the initial and the follow-up, within two weeks of each other after the Super Bowl loss.

Honestly, I refuse to speculate about anything going forward. Despite games missed due to injury and Goodell's hard-on for wielding his authority over Harrison, he still had 23.5 sacks over the last two years. Let's wait until Training Camp to see whether he's at full speed or not. He could be pacing himself and making sure his strength and conditioning are ready for the start of the 2012 season. It's early June, not late December, and too early to be concerned with Deebo missing games this year because of his back. 

I will comment, though, on how much work linebacker Jason Worilds needs behind the Silverback during Camp and the preseason. It's his third season, the year when ones are expected to fully come into their own. Harrison's back problems notwithstanding, more needs to be seen from Worilds. His Twitter handle is @WorildsGreatest-it's time to live up to his name.

~

TIDBITS: 

"Whatever it is they have designed for me to do I'm going to do it and do it to the best of my abilities." - Antonio Brown

"We're in week four. It's definitely starting to click and the light bulb is starting to come on. Everyone is getting more comfortable with it. You're starting to see guys playing faster because we're not thinking as much." - Emmanuel Sanders

The Steelers will hold their 10th and final OTA session at Heinz Field on Thursday. 

QUOTE OF THE DAY: Haley when asked how long it'll take Wallace to pick up offense: "He has to pick it up, so he will."

Finally thought: Look...my zipper is stuck, SO SOMEBODY PLEASE PUT SOMETHING IN WARREN SAPP'S MOUTH TO SHUT HIM UP!