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Steelers right guard DeCastro, offensive line starting to stabilize

antdrewjosh

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offensive line starting to stabilize

By Alan Robinson
Steelers Reporter
Published: Tuesday, June 10, 2014, 10:03 p.m.
Updated 51 minutes ago
Maybe this one is a keeper.

The Steelers have transitioned from one offensive line combination to another since right guard David DeCastro arrived as a first-round pick two years ago. Some moves were made out of urgency when a player couldn't get it done; some were made because of injury emergencies.

Ramon Foster went from right guard to left guard. Mike Adams went from right tackle to left tackle to the bench. Maurkice Pouncey got hurt, then Fernando Velasco did. Kelvin Beachum went from all-purpose backup to starting left tackle.

But now that Pouncey, the three-time Pro Bowl center, is back following his nearly season-long knee injury absence, the offensive line finally looks stable with Beachum, Foster, Pouncey, DeCastro and Marcus Gilbert lining up from left to right — with Adams, the former second-round pick, also pushing for snaps.

This is what the Steelers envisioned when they devoted four early-round draft picks to the offensive line from 2010-12. Now, all they have to do is to play like early-round picks are expected to play.

Especially the guy who is Pittsburgh's other No. 66.

“It's huge,” DeCastro said Tuesday of having his group back and intact. “Having Pouncey back, you can't say enough about that. We get along really well. We know each other so well, we almost don't need to make (line) calls because we know each other so well.”

There is one lineup addition: Mike Munchak, the longtime offensive line coach and former head coach of the Tennessee Titans. The Hall of Famer's portfolio of work as a player and coach is deep and impressive, and one his players greatly respect.

“What he knows about the game, the little stuff (he shows his players) in technique, I can't speak enough to him,” DeCastro said.

But of all the factors influencing this offensive line — Munchak's hiring, Beachum's ongoing development, Pouncey's long-awaited return — it is DeCastro who could most determine how well this line plays.

Based on his development during his first full season as a starter last season — his rookie year was reduced to a few late-season games because of a serious knee injury — DeCastro could become the Steelers' second Pro Bowl lineman.

“The jump from Year 1 to Year 2 is the biggest,” DeCastro said. “Now the rest is kind of fine-tuning things. Just being a rookie is great. Now you can kind of understand the game and build on top of that. … Nothing's a surprise anymore.”

It had better not be. The Steelers expect to have a much different look on offense, with LeGarrette Blount around to share carries with Le'Veon Bell, with Dri Archer's speed giving them a variety of options as a runner and a receiver and with Martavis Bryant's potential as a downfield threat.

It could be the most multidimensional offense the Steelers have had in Ben Roethlisberger's 11 seasons on the job, but it will flow that much more smoothly if DeCastro progresses into their best guard since Alan Faneca.

Munchak said the Steelers “have young guys that are talented and want to compete. That means the Steelers are going to have a pretty good offensive line if we can push each other.”

Archer hasn't moved beyond the early stages of learning this offense — and learning about the players who are blocking for him — but it didn't take him long to realize what's needed to make it all go.

“Those front five, they know their jobs, and they take everyone else with them,” Archer said. “They're the engine to our car, so once they get going, we all get going.”
 
I'll say it: "As long as he doesn't wipe out any more knees on is own line."

There, now we can move on.
 
It started to stabilize last year. This year should be magic Mike tweaking it and pushing the young group to better days.



hopefully
 
GREAT news / story, best i've heard in awhile. No to translate it to the field.


Salute the nation
 
Typical fluff/optimistic piece during the summer.

We get them every year.
 
"We know each other so well, we almost don't need to make (line) calls because we know each other so well.”

This.

Although, if are are solid and Ben has more time then he may get confused because he was used to the **** pile of the last 2 years.
 
With our luck right now the O line will remain healthy all year but one of them will fall on Ben's knees in the first preseason game and that will be that.
 
With our luck right now the O line will remain healthy all year but one of them will fall on Ben's knees in the first preseason game and that will be that.

Landry Jones FTW!!! Is that his name?
 
I want to hear more about Mike Adams and what work if any he's putting in with Munchak.
 
I want to hear more about Mike Adams and what work if any he's putting in with Munchak.

I saw an interview yesterday where Adams was quoted as saying "that coach Munchak dude is really cool and stuff, he came over to my crib and we watched some cartoons and ate a bunch of Doritos and stuff".

Somehow I don't think this is going to end well.
 
"We know each other so well, we almost don't need to make (line) calls because we know each other so well.”

I have a hard time believing that. They haven't even played 4 total games together.
 
I have a hard time believing that. They haven't even played 4 total games together.

At this point it is pretty easy to decide who can fail to make blocks or get beat by the guy across from them. Knowing what to do and being able to do it are not the same thing. I hope we find out that the problems were based on technique and coaching and that Munchak can correct them. At this point I have to agree with you Vader it has not been pretty so far with regard to the offensive line.
 
I think its like anything, you have to start somewhere. Our OL of the past has been VER questionable. Weather it was lack of ability or injuries, or coaching. Today, we have a healthy OL with early round talent. We have a fairly decent OL coach and I think these guys will come together. This is the most positive prospective OL scenario, we have had in a few years. May take a game or two, but I think this OL will be improved upon, over last year.


Salute the nation
 
When thinking about the offensive line..
I wonder

1. Is beachum really good enough to hold down the LT position...? He did admirably the rest of 2013...

2.. Do the coaches even consider replacing Gilbert with Adams? Maybe Gilbert is better than I thought.

3. I don't see much negative regarding foster... could we do better? Mabye he is all that he needs to be.
 
The only thing that sucks about this is that it took so many years to stabilize the O-Line, while our once vaunted D is now a former shell of itself due to age and less than stellar draft picks
 
Nothing is stabilized until they actually play during the season. They haven't even put on pads yet. All this "in shorts" walking around looks great but it doesn't mean anything until someone gets hit. I know journalists have to write about things during the off season but I put very little stock in anything they say or even what the players say because they are in shorts.
 
I'm going all in for halftime of the first game.

Definitely possible. I know the browns are the browns, but I think they put together a good staff last year drafted decently so you never know. Also Hoyer was doing well before he got hurt and they had no QB after that. Couple that with the fact that Hoyer might know some of the D tendencies might make for an interesting game if Johnny Football is not playing. If we lose to the browns on opening day at home I cant imagine the fallout on here........Just for the record I do not think the steelers will lose. I think the defense is a big question mark but has some potential, and I think the offense will be able to carry the team for a few games at least.
 
It could happen. Although the trip down the stretch was not with the same parts we have in training camp. It would be interesting to see who ends up where after pads get put on and they are actually blocking against some younger healthier players. I am interested in seeing what happens with Adams, Foster, Beachem, Gilbert on our line. Decastro, Pouncey seem to be solid with no real competition. The three remaining spots seem to be a bit up in the air with regard to who gets what spot.
 
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