Steelers Offensive Line Coach Drawing Interest from Oregon

[SteelerFan448]

90% certain they won't "bring in" someone. The Assistant-OL coach has previous experience as an NFL OL Coach. That'll be good enough for them to pay lip service to looking for someone only to turn around and just give him the job.

It's the cheapest option. While the Steelers pay their star players, it feels like they've been shopping the bargain section for coaches in recent years.

 

[steelcan58]

In other words, they didn't miss on the "can't miss' players, everyone else no so much.
And remember that Watt isn't Tomlin's "type" of LB and he's the best one they've drafted.

I don't think you can say Watt was can't miss. I recall many on the board called him a reach and a project because of his relative inexperience playing LB.

 

[Steeler Pride]

It's the cheapest option. While the Steelers pay their star players, it feels like they've been shopping the bargain section for coaches in recent years.

1. You don't pay BMW money for a Chevy Chevette.
2. What good position coach wants to come here and coach under Tomlin? It is pretty much a death sentence for most coaches.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Ben wouldn't tell us. He likes to be politically correct. He would just say he needs to be better. If you want finger pointing you have to ask the HC.

VERY very true,

In a poignant on field moment, Ben did tell us. "That's four!!" he yelled to Tomlin after the fourth time he was sacked by the Vikings. Ben might not indicate his frustration with this **** line publicly (except that one time), but you gotta believe he's letting Tomlin and Colbert know. And, with that, they were letting Klemm know. So Klemm, handed a lifeline by Lanning, better have taken it; or be out of work next year. The writing was on the wall.

Well said and correct. The chain of command on down the pipe. Klemm has his exit plan in place.

This also makes me think BEN may be back next year due to his & everyone else's pressure to improve that OL.

I think BEN has more left in the tank than what this OL indicates. He will be back depending on High value it is to their investment into OL play.






Salute the nation

 

[Ike Kelly]

It's about as official as these things get during the season. Klemm is gone.

Dulac has already posted on Twitter Klemm will be the OL/recruiter at OR and he will finish out this year with PIT. So he has insider sources.

I think klemm is ok… I also think this fanbase is way too knee jerk… teams dont get built in a year… thats why the Browns sucked for so long… they blew things up way too quickly way too often

Klemm is an aggressive philosophy coach but honestly a line isn’t going to play aggressive until it’s comfortable and that just was going to take time…

Its why the off-season plan was ******* insane and stupid… we had an oc the past three years that completely deconstructed the offense… we replaced him with an oc that was going to totally overhaul the offense… that takes time with an experienced team… this is one of the youngest offenses in the league and would be the youngest if not for Ben… then they coupled him with an inexperienced line coach, the second most important position on the offensive staff… then gave that coach the least experienced offensive line in modern Steelers history… to compound that their actual plan at center was to use an undersized guard with a small amount of center experience as the starter… with no solid veteran option behind him …

Mad has a serious point here, but he can only coach to the philosophy or scheme the OC wants. Canada doesn’t use true power formations in the running game, he uses motion and matchups for the line LBs and DBs on RPO. If you have players for power north south blocking, you don’t minimize the effect by using motion to set the tone. You use motion to set the matchup. The OL should be moving forward getting to the next level where those matchups favor. Canada seems to avoid the smash mouth concept of imposing your will, dictating pace. Rooney and Tomlin emphasized running game. To put it mildly, Canada philosophy emphasizes running “around”

Not to absolve colbert but if your coach tells you that chuks is starting material and that banner with a one career start is your other Tackle, then you gotta trust his assessment of the players. If they see they aren't starring material then you gotta hit FA for at least one T, let both Chuk and Banner fight for the other spot.

Then comes the ****** scouting drafting a G to play C without prior experience instead of aggressively finding a true starting Center in free agency if they weren't getting one in the first couple of rounds. That's on the Oline coach, Head coach and colbert all together.

Finally the medical department, they screwed it up with decastro didn't they? No idea your Oline leader was retiring due to injuries?

Iron Mike, Dirt Dawson, Jeff Hartings all started as Guards in college before being moved to Center in the pros. So scouting is no different than what it was before. Just the amount of information scouting depts receive has.

Speaking of DeCastro, Dave was on schedule to return by camp, until he felt like his ankle hadn’t improved by the time OTAs and mini camp came around. FO let him decide whether he wanted to go ahead and have surgery to clean up the ankle. He chose (not the medical staff) not to and thought rest would be better. Then he started think of quality of life, he approached Colbert and Tomlin and Art2 and that’s when he was waived. Several team mates, Foster, Al and Pounce all said, if David didn’t think he needed football in his life, he wouldn’t waste “anyone‘s” time.

In a poignant on field moment, Ben did tell us. "That's four!!" he yelled to Tomlin after the fourth time he was sacked by the Vikings. Ben might not indicate his frustration with this **** line publicly (except that one time), but you gotta believe he's letting Tomlin and Colbert know. And, with that, they were letting Klemm know. So Klemm, handed a lifeline by Lanning, better have taken it; or be out of work next year. The writing was on the wall.

Interesting point brought up by Buckeye, but several sideline witnesses indicated Ben was saying “That’s four!!” because of the play calls sent down. 2 of those sacks were due to RPO. Ben doesn’t thrive in RPO, he moves the ball when he is in uptempo, no huddle or middle huddle.

 

[Litos]

I don't think you can say Watt was can't miss. I recall many on the board called him a reach and a project because of his relative inexperience playing LB.

Agree, if he was a can't miss he wouldn't be available there. In a redraft exercise he would be top 3 of course

 

[topseed]

It's the cheapest option. While the Steelers pay their star players, it feels like they've been shopping the bargain section for coaches in recent years.

Yeah, except for the head coach, who makes top ten money at $8 million a year.

 

[Litos]

Dulac has already posted on Twitter Klemm will be the OL/recruiter at OR and he will finish out this year with PIT. So he has insider sources.


Speaking of DeCastro, Dave was on schedule to return by camp, until he felt like his ankle hadn’t improved by the time OTAs and mini camp came around. FO let him decide whether he wanted to go ahead and have surgery to clean up the ankle. He chose (not the medical staff) not to and thought rest would be better. Then he started think of quality of life, he approached Colbert and Tomlin and Art2 and that’s when he was waived. Several team mates, Foster, Al and Pounce all said, if David didn’t think he needed football in his life, he wouldn’t waste “anyone‘s” time.

If the staff recommended a surgery and decastro said no then that should rise a red flag as they didn't really know how well would he heal. They should have had a contingency plan. Obviously there wasn't any in place

 

[SteelerSask2]

Personally I don't think you can pay enough for quality position and coordinator coaches. It's not cap related and has a huge effect on the onfield product. If the head coach is not making calls he is easily replaceable. The Steelers have tripled in value in the last decade or so. Open up the wallet Deuce.

 

[Booted]

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I don't think you can say Watt was can't miss. I recall many on the board called him a reach and a project because of his relative inexperience playing LB.

Maybe but he's big and strong, where Shades likes smaller faster LB's who get blown up by the OL, get hurt a lot, and basically suck.

 

[SteelerSask2]

The linebacker 4-3 DE thing is kind of a joke. Yes he drops sometimes and there is some stance and Tech difference. But c'mon in all but what 4 plays a game he does exactly what he did in college. Hold edge and rush the passer. Did he have injury concerns coming out of college?

 

[SteelBuckeye]

Maybe but he's big and strong, where Shades likes smaller faster LB's who get blown up by the OL, get hurt a lot, and basically suck.

Maybe Timmons (6'1" 234) and Jones (6'2" 245). But Worilds, was 6'2" 262, Dupree 6'4" 267, Watt 6'4" 251 and Highsmith 6'4" 242 None of those last guys are small. Hell, Jones wasn't small. He wasn't fast either. lol

*Talking about those drafted to be OLBs and not including the Sean Spence, Devin Bush's at ILB.

 

[Ike Kelly]

Original thought Bobby? You regurgitate the same Tomlin smack talk that has been going on year after year and I am the one that doesn't have an original thought? K hobknob Bob you keep being that legend in your own mind. Twatwaffle on your own time.

Ok. Wait MB42 is Bob? WTH?

 

[Ike Kelly]

If the staff recommended a surgery and decastro said no then that should rise a red flag as they didn't really know how well would he heal. They should have had a contingency plan. Obviously there wasn't any in place

If I read the article correctly last spring, Dave had ankle surgery after the season, and then had a scope to clean out loose bodies So he could be ready for camp. By the time OTAs and mini camp came along, Dave felt he’s ankle still wasn’t 100% and wasn’t sure when it would. Dave said he understood being released “as that’s the business”, but as said, several teammates implied Dave wouldn’t play if he didn’t want to.

 

[Litos]

Did he have injury concerns coming out of college?

I think he did IIRC

 

[SteelerSask2]

I think he did IIRC

After this discussion I went back to read his draft evaluation. There was two concerns. His explosive speed and his production was all in his junior year. Kinda like Pickett. Was he a one year wonder.

 

[Drink IRON City]

If the staff recommended a surgery and decastro said no then that should rise a red flag as they didn't really know how well would he heal. They should have had a contingency plan. Obviously there wasn't any in place

That's the biggest concern, no contigency plan. WHY was there not somthing in place in case of no return. That is just arrogance or stupidity.





Salute the nation

 

[Litos]

After this discussion I went back to read his draft evaluation. There was two concerns. His explosive speed and his production was all in his junior year. Kinda like Pickett. Was he a one year wonder.

From NFL.com:

"Player Bio
The third Watt brother decided it was time to join his older siblings in the NFL after an excellent junior season. Following in the footsteps of J.J. (a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year) and Derek (sixth-round pick as a fullback by San Diego) won't be easy. In fact, it wasn't easy for Watt to get on the field his first couple of seasons with the Badgers, redshirting as a tight end in 2013 and losing the following season with a right knee injury. Watt then tore up his left knee during spring practice in 2015, having surgery but returning to play as a reserve linebacker in all 13 games (eight tackles, 1.5 for loss). Finally healthy in 2016, he won a starting job and excelled, garnering second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Big Ten honors with 63 tackles, 15.5 for loss, and 11.5 sacks."

There were injury concerns, this is why he didn't have an impact until his junior season

 

[SteelerSask2]

From NFL.com:

"Player Bio
The third Watt brother decided it was time to join his older siblings in the NFL after an excellent junior season. Following in the footsteps of J.J. (a three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year) and Derek (sixth-round pick as a fullback by San Diego) won't be easy. In fact, it wasn't easy for Watt to get on the field his first couple of seasons with the Badgers, redshirting as a tight end in 2013 and losing the following season with a right knee injury. Watt then tore up his left knee during spring practice in 2015, having surgery but returning to play as a reserve linebacker in all 13 games (eight tackles, 1.5 for loss). Finally healthy in 2016, he won a starting job and excelled, garnering second-team Associated Press All-American and first-team All-Big Ten honors with 63 tackles, 15.5 for loss, and 11.5 sacks."

There were injury concerns, this is why he didn't have an impact until his junior season

Good research. Wasn't mentioned in the evaluation I read. Steelers have been fortunate so far. Hopefully he doesn't break down as early as JJ.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Good research. Wasn't mentioned in the evaluation I read. Steelers have been fortunate so far. Hopefully he doesn't break down as early as JJ.

I hope he doesn't break down premature of his contract length.





Salute the nation

 

[SteelerFan448]

Klemm is no longer waiting until the end of the season. Steelers future OL coach, Chris Morgan, gets his start this week.